***I DON'T OWN ANYTHING FROM RIVERDALE, BUT I DO OWN DIANA AND HER STORYLINE***

"So tell me again how you both ended up going to the dance with Archie Andrews?" Diana asked, picking up an emerald dress with distaste before placing it back on the rack.

Since the dance was later that night, Veronica had the euphony of going shopping alongside resident girl-next-door and new bestie, Betty Cooper. Diana, whom wasn't attending said dance, was "persuaded" by her sister's puppy eyes into tagging along. After a flurry of walk throughs, Veronica exclaimed that she was going to try on a few of her choices thus leaving Betty and Diana to their own findings.

Betty shrugged as she went through the line of dresses "As much as I want to go with Archie, I also don't want Veronica having to go stag to her first dance at Riverdale" Shifting her attention to the raven haired girl, she said "Are you sure you have to work tonight? I bet Pop would let you off if you asked him".

"The social scene has always been more of Ronnie's thing than mine. Plus, I like working; it gives me time to think". Pulling out a knee-length scarlet number, Diana asked "This is a little flashy for your tastes I'm assuming?" The doe-eyed look Diana received made her chuckled outright as she slid the dress back on the rack and walked over to Betty. With a side glance at the blonde, she muttered "I know this move has been harder than she's saying so thank you".

"No problem" Betty answered with a shy smile.

As they continued their hunt for Betty's perfect dress, Diana regarded the girl with apprehension before she stated "About yesterday..."

"You want to know about Polly and Jason right?" Betty sighed, her nails beginning to dig themselves subtly into her palm as she continued to look through the aisle.

The action caught Diana's eye just like it had the day before. Instead of embarrassing the blonde, Diana touched Betty's arm gently and said "I was actually more concerned about you. Cheryl was pretty harsh with you yesterday and I didn't get to talk to you about how you were doing".

She felt Betty stiff in her grasp before a look of shock overcame the girl's expression. Her shock was quickly replaced by a ghostly smile as she said "It was Cheryl being her usual charismatic self. It's nothing I can't handle".

"You shouldn't have to handle anything, not alone anyways" Diana sighed, dropping her hand to her side as she began to sift through the rack. "I'm not one of those people who pushes anyone to do anything they don't want to do, but..." Picking a salmon dress away from the stack, she circles back to Betty with a soft smile "if you need someone to listen, I'm here" Offering the dress to the blonde as she finishes "This dress would look good on you by the way. It's modest and hot, just like you".

Betty takes the garment from Diana, another wave of shock seeks to the surface as silence overtakes them. Finally she sputters out "Why did you defend me? "The dress fidgeting in her hands as she spoke in a nervous stammer "I know the crowds you ran with in New York. Why are you being so nice?"

"When I lived in New York; I didn't have any close friends. I was the lone wolf and ice princess because that's all I could afford to be. When we moved, I decided I wanted a change. I don't ever want to be who I was. " Diana replied, her hazel gaze never leaving the sapphire eyed girl "Also, you deserve to be defended Betty Cooper. I don't know what happened between your sister and Cheryl's brother, but..." She placed Betty's hands in hers as she finished with another smile "You seem like a good person. Don't let Cheryl take that away from you".

Another silence came over the duo before Betty said "When Polly and Jason got together.." She glanced down at the dress as she let out a sigh "it meant everything to her and nothing to him. When my mom found out, everything became super intense and weird and toxic. My mom turned on Polly, said that she wasn't her daughter anymore and..."

Diana reached out, holding onto Betty's arm as the girl-next-door finished sadly "Jason hurt Polly, but my mom is the one who broke her".

"Betty..." Diana began just as Veronica came racing over to the duo.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, she said "Why is it so hard to find a decent dress?" As she came to stand beside the duo, she continued sheepishly "I didn't interrupt something did I?"

Before Diana could make up an excuse for the interaction, Betty offered her twin a smile that dared not reach her sad eyes.

With a shake of her head, the blonde said "I'll take your advise on this dress I think. I'm gonna go buy it then we can go to another store" She then hurried to the cashier, leaving the twins to glance at each other with puzzlement.

Diana glanced down at her watch and sighed "Actually, I have to get ready for my shift at Pop's. Have fun at the dance tonight, but not too much fun with Cherry!" she called out as she left the store.

Diana hurried off to Pop's for her 2nd shift, memories of her first day keeping her company.

*FLASHBACK BEGIN*"

Pop Tate gave Diana the grand tour of Pop's and a uniform then told her to begin taking orders.

"I'm sorry that I don't have someone to train you.." Pop Tate grimaced her first day as he said " But if you have any questions, come to me alright?"

Diana smiled and thanked him before heading out on the floor to begin her work. Everything seemed self-explanatory so her shift went by without a hitch. The few times she did mess up, she managed to enchant her way out of the situation with a bright smile. As her shift came to an end, Pop Tate came over to her with a huge grin.

"I'd say someone had a good first day?" He teased, looking at her small pile of tips.

Diana shrugged with a teasing smile "If you say so Pop". She quickly stuffed her money in her pocket then glanced at the elder man. "Does that mean I get to stay?" she asked tentavily.

With a chuckle, Pop replied "Finish cleaning up rookie and I'll see you tomorrow at 5" When he turned away, Diana let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding before doing her rounds.

*FLASHBACK END*

The customers were kind to her as were the other employees. They still looked at her with curious eyes when they thought she couldn't see them, but she was far to busy to feel irritated. It was a good distraction from reality.

The bells chimed as she walked into Pop's, Pop Tate offering her a smile as he served coffee to a customer.

As she came behind the counter, he said "I heard there's a big dance at the school tonight".

"I can watch the restaurant if you want to go Pop. I bet I even have a dazzling little ruby number with your name on it" she teased as she went into the kitchen to get her uniform.

"Well I do have the legs for it" Pop followed her into the kitchen with a chuckle. "I think we can manage without you if you were interested in going".

Diana shook her head as she picked up her clothes "I was never a dance kind of girl Pop Tate" There was a sadness in her tone that Pop was going to ask her about before she looked to him with a smile "But thank you for asking and thank you for washing my uniform"

Pop returned the gesture "My wife would've had my behind if I hadn't. Now get changed and I'll see you out there"