*I don't own Riverdale or anything to do with Riverdale, but I do own Diana and her storyline*
"We were wondering about something Cheryl" a brunette said in a snotty tone.
Diana rolled her eyes at the girl and her friend as they cornered in on Cheryl Blossom. Normally she would've stepped in, but at the moment, her mind was focused on another ginger. The boy in question was staring intently at Cheryl as she continued to be accused. He was nervous, his frantic fidgets making Diana more inquisitive by the moment.
Her judgements were interrupted by her Biology teacher shouting for everyone to take their seats. His orders were quickly followed by two words Diana detested more than any two words in the English language.
"Pair off"
Diana sighed as Archie piped in "Can I be with Cheryl?" His excitement only matched by her twin as Veronica exclaimed "And I wanna be with Betty!"
Veronica sent her twin an apologetic look to which Diana answered with a roll of her eyes and a nod. Archie moved beside Cheryl and Kevin was being led away by a burly jock, leaving Diana without a partner.
Her eyes scanned the room until they found a familiar sight. A smirk graced her lips as she descended across the room until she stood across the mysterious teen.
"I have a burger deluxe combo with a strawberry milkshake for Mr. Hemmingway" She rang out, looking onto the beanie wearing boy.
His sea eyes regarded her with recognition and dismay. Letting out a sigh, he rubbed the bridge of his nose in what appeared to be frustration "Is this going to be a thing now?" His deep voice sending chills through Diana's body as he gazed back at her with a taunting glare "Because I'm not sure if I feel so inclined to be a fan".
"Well..." Diana said, taking the seat next to him as she continued "If you don't like it, you could always give me your actual name. I'm Diana if that aids in your decision making".
The teen smirked, his eyes softening into a grassy color as he turned his attention to the table "Everyone in this town knows who you are". Staring ahead he continued "Diana Lodge, sister to one Veronica Lodge and daughter of Hermione and Hiram Lodge. You just moved here from New York due to your father's embezzlement scheme coming to an end over the summer. You are on the cheerleading squad much to the annoyance of Cheryl Blossom because you told her off during tryouts. You've become friends with Betty Cooper and Archie Andrews and you work for the great Pop Tate". When he looked back at her, the unimpressed stare he offered did nothing to settle the wrestling in her stomach. "Am I missing anything?"
Diana shook her head with a chuckle "I'm assuming this all based on observation since your social skills don't seem too keen on gossip".
"You don't know anything about me". He scowled yet it had no heat causing Diana to think that this boy was used to going on the defensive.
"I don't think that's true. You see, I've been here for almost a week and I already know who every single person in this town is". Diana offered a grin, shifting her hair to one side as she finished "Would you like to know what I've deduced about you?"
Before he could respond, their biology teacher placed a dead frog on their table. A grim line came across his lips as he said "How about we focus on the task at hand Ms. Lodge?"
Diana snickered, turning away from her lab partner to look at the teacher "I'm a great multi-tasker Mr. Ross. However, if it will appease your mind, this frog as my undivided attention". She finished her sentiment with a smile as she slipped her gloves on.
Mr. Ross rubbed the bridge of his nose and replied "Thank you for that kind gesture" With a quick glance to her lab partner, Mr. Ross said "Please make sure that her attention remains on the subject Jughead".
Jughead let out a sigh once he saw the smirk that fell on Diana's lips.
"Jughead huh?" She said as she picked up the scalpel, offering a side glance. "It suits you"
As she made the first incision into the frog, Jughead scoffed "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit Diana". Slapping on his gloves, he continued "Jughead is a nickname. My real name is something you will never find out".
"Is that a challenge Jughead?" Diana teased, drawing out the teen boys name as she made another incision.
Jughead offered Diana a stick to separate the walls of the frog's outer layer. "Make it what you will, I'm just here to help dissect a frog".
"And to provide the outside details of my life's story through the lens of a witty teenage boy" Diana answers with a smirk.
"Witty? I was going for sardonic" Jughead said as he finished pinning the deceased animal to the slab. When no reply came, he glanced up at Diana to find she was smiling at him. "What?" He asked in a frustrated tone.
His obstructions grew alongside her beam. "Nothing, just..." She turned away from him to analyze the frog as she said "This whole cynical loner act you're putting up is a front. For what, I don't know" She said with a shrug before continuing "But if there is anything I'm good at, it's digging beneath the surface of interesting things. It's just a matter of time before I figure you out Jughead. Now please pass me diagram, I want to know where the heart is".
Jughead swallowed the lump forming in his throat and passed her the sheet of paper. He looked at Diana the same way she looked at the diagram, like a puzzle waiting to be put together.
As he glanced down at what he was actually supposed to be studying, Diana rang out "Oh and Jughead" His eyes met her hazel gaze, a smirk becoming evident on her lips as she finished "I wasn't being sarcastic; the name does suit you".
"So, what did Moose want?" Veronica asked from beside Kevin as they alongside Diana and Betty made their way to the lunch table.
Diana stayed close to Betty. Even though the blonde said that she had forgiven Veronica, the sad sapphire gaze she held told Diana a different tale.
As Kevin talked with Veronica, Betty leaned into Diana and whispered "What were you and Jughead talking about?"
"He had some exciting insight into our lab experiment" Diana answered with a shrug, smiling down into her coffee.
Betty plastered on a smile as she said "It sure seemed exciting. I don't think I've ever seen him talk that much" Finally coming to their table, Diana took a seat next to Betty.
"I suppose I have that effect on people" She muttered with a chuckle before looking to Archie. "Speaking of interesting lab partners, how was Cheryl?"
Archie shrugged, playing with a few strings on his guitar as he said "She seemed..." He shook his head and wrote a few words down on a sheet of paper "...like Cheryl so I guess she's okay". More words flowed onto his paper, his instrument singing blissful tunes into the air as the ginger boy became lost in his music.
"Anything new to share with a forgiving audience?" Veronica asked, her eyes glancing over at Betty before she met Archie's eye. "Please?" she pleaded quietly as she took a sip of her coffee.
Archie nodded as he nervously ducked his head down "I'm still working on the lyrics so..."
"Oh Cherry, I'm sure it's amazing" Diana said with a dramatic roll of her eyes. Shifting her gaze to Betty, she smiled "Wouldn't you like to hear a song?"
Betty stilled beside her as the entire table waited for what the blonde bombshell would say. A smile formed on the pink lips of the girl-next-door. It was the perfect mask; one that Diana had learned long ago alongside the New York elite. The thing that no one ever taught Betty though is that a smile doesn't make the mask. It's the eyes that sell the tale and in Betty's cobalt iris's, Diana could see that the perfect girl was falling apart.
"It's just a matter of time" Diana thought solemnly as Betty replied "I'd love to hear it"
"Okay" Archie whispered, looking to his guitar as he began to play.
"Come on, turn the radio on
and honey we'll dance, dance, dance.
For the rest of the night,
I'm not ready to go".
As the words flowed from Archie's lips, Diana made haste to catch a glance of Betty. Just as she had predicted, the mask had crumbled into a somber and lonely expression. Without thought, Diana stood up from the table as the song came to a close. She quickly shushed the words that dared to leave the songwriter's tongue. "Hey Betty, will you come with me for a bit. I wanna go over that English assignment with you".
Before anyone could contradict her story, Diana tugged Betty up and began to lead her away. No one dared to follow her as she dragged Betty into the ladies' room. The entire way, Betty remained silent, not once offering any fight.
Diana came to an abrupt stop in front of the blonde as she said "It's okay to cry now Betty. Or be angry or whatever you're feeling". Letting her arms drop to Betty's side, Diana muttered in a comforting tone "It's okay".
But it's not okay!" Betty exclaimed, shaking away from Diana as she offered a watery glare. "I want it to be; I thought it could be, but it's too much all at once". Tears start falling free down her rosy cheeks as she continues "When I think of where I feel the most myself, it's with Archie at Pops and now...that's not true anymore. I think I just lost my best friend and it's all my fault" she sobbed as she tried to contain herself.
"Hey, it's no one's fault" Diana cooed, inching closer to Betty as she dashed away the never-ending tears. "Archie is still your best friend and I have no doubt that he still loves you Betty. It just isn't the love that you want nor the love you deserve".
Suddenly, something in the air changed as the tear-stain gal became a fiery spirit.
"You don't know us Diana" Betty spat with such venom that Diana had to take a step away in fear of getting burned. The blonde shook her head furiously "In fact, we were fine before you and Veronica got here".
"Betty, you don't..." Diana began, but was quickly interrupted by Betty.
"I'm sick of people telling me how I should feel! Just..." Her gaze sharpened in on Diana as she growled "Just stay away from me".
With that, she stormed away, leaving Diana to sigh into the mirror.