Ah yes, despite the steaming pile that was Town I've decided to write yet another show-inspired fanfiction. This time based on Riverdale. Ladies and Gentleman I present Summer Haven.

…...

The bell over the door to the malt shop jingled alerting the owner to the arrival of a customer. Riley grinned toothily upon seeing who it was.

"If it ain't my second-best customer," exclaimed the stick-thin, red-haired man.

"Your second-best customer has a tab a mile long," Melissa snorted, sliding into her favorite booth, brushing her black-brown hair over her shoulder and pulling her red beanie lower.

"You'll work it off as soon as they finish downstairs," Riley reminded her, bringing her a dark chocolate milkshake and a basket of fries.

"Singing three nights a week to down and out businessmen, joy"

"What's got you down in the dumps today?"

"The counselors say I need to write out my feelings," Melissa snarked, "I am not a diary person,"

"What if you're a memoir person?"

"I'm sixteen, Riley," Melissa said before taking a long sip of her milkshake, "Besides, I'm an artist, not a writer,"

"Hey, you just need the right tools,"

"Such as? A sparkly journal and glitter pens? I'm not Christina,"

"Actually," Riley disappeared into his office before reappearing with a box, "This might do, I've never used it,"

Tentatively, Melissa opened the box finding a shiny new laptop inside,

"Riley, I don't have-"

He waved it away, "Consider it an advance Christmas gift and we can keep it here so you know who won't destroy it,"

"Thanks, Riley,"

"Anytime Mel, now get to writing,"

And she did, putting her fingers to the keys she began:

Our story is about a town. A small, seemingly perfect town. A haven where like-minded humans and monsters exist side by side, peacefully but with any town, you only need to look closer to see the darkness that lurks behind closed doors, the secrets that no one dares to speak of.

Like what really happened to Alex Belmont on July fourth.

The only thing Sherriff Rogers knows for sure is that he was last seen with Googie Hale, cheerleading captain and queen of Summer High.

Googie was later found by her longtime boyfriend, Shaggy in the middle of his early morning jog through the surrounding woods.

Alone.

With no leads, the case went cold and life carries on...

…...

If Googie was the queen of the school that made Christina Rose Shadowfae Dracula a dish maid or so she often joked.

"You aren't a dish maid!" Drew argued, "Stop saying that!"

Christina turned to face her best friend, dress swirling as she did so, "I'm no princess either," she rolled her brown doe eyes, wings twitching with annoyance.

"I think so," Drew reclined on her four-poster bed, kicking his sneakers off after a glare.

"That's because you're delusional," Christina snorted, fixing her braid.

"Would Evelyn be dating me if I were delusional?"

"Yes, it's called pity,"

"Oh, you wound me, Princess,"

Christina chucked a book at his head, "Stop calling me that!"

"Fine, then I guess you have no interest in the fact that your forbidden love is home?"

With a yelp, Christina flew to the window just in time to see Shaggy amble in, his arms full of pizza boxes, Scooby at his heels.

So cute

…...

Two words that would describe Shaggy at the current moment would be tired and hungry. Sweaty would also be a good word. Nonetheless, Shaggy sank onto his bed and cracked open the first pizza box. He needed to keep up his energy after such a taxing run.

"Norville don't you dare eat in your room; you'll attract mice!" hither scolded from the doorway.

"Mom-"

"Kitchen now!"

"Yes ma'am,"

"And please get ready for school,"

"But school isn't until tomorrow,"

"There's no shame in being ready,"

"Okay,"

"a shower would also do you some good," his father added sneaking up on them both.

"You're right!" Sugie giggled, skipping past.

Shaggy couldn't help but smile at his family.

…...

"I heard someone finally bought that house,"

Christina looked at her mother, "Shadowfall Manor?"

"Yes, that one,"

"I didn't think it vould ever be purchased," Radu remarked, "I vonder who bought it?"

"I guess we'll find out soon enough," Alissa mused, setting the table for dinner," Butterfly, please go get Chase,"

"yes, ma'am," Christina nodded.

Padding down the hall, Christina poked her head into her brother's room.

"Chase,"

Startled, the twelve-year-old dropped the book he'd been flipping through.

"What?"

"Dinnertime, spaghetti night,"

Chase shout out of the room with a grin.

…..

Meanwhile.

Move to tiny town no one has ever heard of. Check.

Start over, in progress.

Killing the engine, Dick Grayson tiredly exited the car and trudged to the looming manor. Big, lonely and, looming over him. He'd bought the house for a bargain price, not expecting it to be so big. Oh well, he could think about that later. Realizing he had forgotten to grab his suitcase he turned back to grab it, surprised to see a girl around his age running down the street. On instinct, he searched for danger but belatedly realized she was probably just out for a run.

Shutting the trunk with his rolling suitcase in hand he returned to the dilapidated porch and pushed the large cedar doors open.

Next step, unpacking.

…...

Melissa ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Living on the bad side of town, on the actual wrong side of the tracks had her cursing herself the whole way there. Finally, the rundown mobile home was in her sights. With a final burst of adrenaline, she bounded up the creaky steps and slammed open the front door.

"HEY, get away from him," she yelled charging the man with his back to her.

"Well, welll, take you long enough, Carly?" John slurred, lumbering towards her with the broken beer bottle in hand.

She knew all-too-well what he intended to do with it.

The same thing he's wanted to do to Chance.

But Melissa wasn't a child anymore she dodged her father's swing, kicking him in the shin in the process. He stumbled back.

"Why you little-"

"What Dad?" she challenged, "Useless brat? Stupid clone? You hate my guts still? Blame me for Mom's slights when she's probably six feet under?"

John caught her by surprise, punching her in the eye before grabbing her by her hair and cutting her arm.

She kicked him in the groin.

He hit the floor.

She slugged him, knocking him out.

"Pills and beer?" she asked the trembling eleven-year-old boy.

"Yeah,"

"He'll be out for a while then,"

"I'm hungry, Melissa,"

"To Riley's!" she declared, pulling Chance to his feet.

"You're hurt," he exclaimed, looking at her arm.

"That's why they invented band-aids, come on,"

…...

The change in the air was felt by everyone who stepped through the doors of the school on that first day. Googie, for instance, dressed in all black and paraded around the school in a veil. Everyone expected to turn a corner and see Alex goofing off with his track buddies. Instead, there was nothing but quiet greetings among friends.

Christina was welcoming Felix back from summer camp.

Drew was kissing his girlfriend like there was no tomorrow.

I was lurking when Shaggy poked his head into the student lounge looking for Googie...

"If you're looking for her royal highness, she's called an early practice for the cheer team," Melissa droned, not even glancing away from her sketchbook.

"Like, why do you call her that?" Shaggy questioned with a snort.

"Between you and me Rogers, you're daft," Melissa responded, snark sliding off her tongue as easily as Christina greeted people with hugs.

Shaggy brushed the comment off like lint, "Okay, have you seen Christina yet? Or the gang?"

"Your gang or the Rodents?" Melissa questioned, "Your mystery buddies are in the courtyard, Christina's showing the newest prisoner around and the good for nothings are lighting up in the woods,"

"Like, I thought you and JD-"

"Drop it unless you want a broken nose,"

Putting his hands up in surrender Shaggy responded, "Aren't you going to reign it in for the first day?"

"Ha! You should know by now, I don't reign it in, not now, or ever,"

Shaggy hurried from the room. The last thing he wanted was to cross Melissa again.

With him gone, Melissa snapped her sketchbook shut, picked up her ratty bag, and slunk into the hall. A seat in the back of the classroom would do quite nicely.

…..

Christina shut her locker door only to come face to face with Shaggy.

"Hi," she squeaked, mentally kicking herself for how childish she sounded.

"Hey, I didn't see in the park yesterday,"

"Oh, Drew came over for a movie marathon," she explained, "Thought it was better than walking to the river, you know?"

"I understand,"

"Shaggy" Googie cooed, sneaking up on them.

He turned to greet her only for her to lift her veil and smash her lips against his.

Christina looked away, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

When they didn't come up for air she snuck away, heading to her first-period class.

"Velma," she forced a laugh, "You stole my spot again,"

"First come first serve," Velma replied merrily, patting the prime desk like it was her pet before catching the look on Christina's face, "Googie again?"

"Yeah," Christina slid into the desk to Velma's right.

"Sorry,"

"It's not your fault,"

"Still,"

"I choose to believe everything will turn out okay,"

…...

A few rows over, Dick twiddled his thumbs and observed his classmates and potential friends. In stomped the same girl he'd seen before. While she leaned on the wall, picking a seat he chose to discreetly observe her. Messy brown hair spilled out from her worn red beanie, the shades of brown changing depending on the light, sharp green eyes studied everything were arguably the most prominent feature in her tanned face, judging by the tan line on her wrists she spent a lot of time outdoors. Her clothes were rumpled, clean but old and weathered. Even her leather jacket and tears here and there.

She strode to the desk in front of him and kicked her bag under the desk before flopping into the chair with an uninterested groan.

He tapped her on the shoulder with his pencil.

"Hi," he greeted when she turned to face him.

"Well, well, Dick Grayson himself," her eyes flashed with mirth, "What are you doing at the edge of the world,"

"You..."

"I watch the news," she turned back to the front

…...

Mindless drones, the lot of them. I was more than happy to disappear into the student lounge when lunch finally rolled around. Sadly, whatever lives in the heavens clearly has it out for me as I encountered my worst enemy,

My ex-boyfriend.

…...

"Lissa, Lissa, Lissa,"

"JD," Melissa growled, "You're blocking the vending machine and I want Cheetos!"

"Are you sure that's all you want doll?"

"Get lost, Skeez,"

"Ya know, I don't blame ya for it,"

"I'm sorry?"

"For offing Alex a course," Alex snorted, "It runs in your veins,"

Melissa was tackled to the ground.

…..

Limping along the shoreline Melissa hoped Chance was okay with Chase and Christina. Night was falling and she needed a place to crash. There were several nice spots along the river where she could crash. Of course, there was always the possibility she'd roll into the water and drown which would leave Chance defenseless. Pushing past a bush she screamed.

There was Alex.

A corpse in the river.

...

Season One's main storyline only. No overly complicated family stories (Melissa's the exception of course)

Review!