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

The day of the Pep Rally did little to lift Diana's mood. As she moved things around in her locker, she thought about the complexity that was her life.

"You were right" Betty's voice broke the raven-haired girl from her thoughts.

She quickly shut her locker and circled around to look at the blue-eyed girl as Betty continued "About Archie and how I was being unfair" She sighed, stepping closer to Diana. "Sometimes it's hard to admit things to yourself. I mean, my mother's crazy and I'm afraid I'll never see my sister again. Now the boy I like doesn't like me back" She finished, her watery gaze causing Diana to rush close the distance between them.

"He may not be crushing on you, but he does love you Betty" Diana comforted the young woman. "He looked miserable when he couldn't go after you if that's any consolation".

Betty chuckled and said "That's would've been quite the sight I imagine" Then she sighed as a small smile erupted on her lips "Do you think Veronica will accept my apology?"

"No apology needed!" Veronica called out as she came to rest at her twins' side, a matching grin on her face. Then she linked her arms through both girls' arms and said "I'm just glad we can all be friends again"

They slowly descended down the hall and into the student longue. Veronica took a seat next to a solid and attractive football player while Diana and Betty made their way over to the sheriff's son. Diana realized too late that just because one part of her life had solved itself, didn't mean the rest of her problems would get with the program.

"So, Sheriff Keller is grilling me, Mantle the Magnificent, like I would want Blossom dead when he was our only good quarterback " Reggie Mantle, resident jock and sort of douchebag ranted on causing Diana to roll her eyes.

Her only interactions with the firmly build Asian boy were limited to him calling her "hot" on more than one occasion and attempting to flirt with her (to which, she quickly shot him down because arrogant douchebag wasn't her type), his showing off on the football field in attempt to show he was the best, and his incessive need to bully those he didn't deem "worthy" of his time.

"Speaking of tight-ends" Reggie smirked at his burly friend "Maybe I should've sent the cops over to you Moose because here's another unsolved mystery; what were you doing down by the river with Kevin?" Then he turned around and taunted the brunette beside "Or does being with the sheriff's son give you a free pass Keller?"

After feeling Kevin tense, she offered Reggie a sugary smile as she said "Hey Reggie?"

"Yes gorgeous?" He replied with haste much to her amusement.

Diana got up from her seat, still smiling down at Reggie as his eyes traced her movement. Once she stopped in front of the teen, she bent down to get in his face and muttered "Shut the hell up".

His smirk dropped at an animated rate making her chuckle as she walked over to the vending machine. She hadn't noticed Jughead was in the room until then. The sight of him caused her blood to boil as she thought about the previous night's events; his intense stare only made her rage all the more valid.

As she put her dollar in, Reggie thought not to heed her advice. Instead, he continued with his speech "Let's think about this; if a kid at Riverdale killed Jason, it's not going to be a jock, right? No, let's be honest here. Wouldn't it be the spooky, scrawny, pathetic internet troll too busy writing his manifestos to get laid? Some smug, moody, serial killer fanboy freak...like Jughead" He finished, smirk returning at he turned his eyes on the beanie-wearing boy.

Jughead sat unamused by the jock's antics as Reggie continued on his tirade "What was it like Suicide Squad, when you shot Jason? You didn't do stuff to the body, did you?"

Diana opened her mouth to defend him, but Jughead was quick to retaliate with his own dig. "It's called necrophilia Reggie, can you spell it?" He asked innocently, his arms still crossed as he stared blankly at his tormentor.

As Reggie leaped over the couch, Archie came in from the side, pushing him away. "Shut the hell up Reggie" He exclaimed, moving himself in front of Jughead as he spoke.

"What do you care Andrews?" Reggie replied, stepping closer to Archie as he sent a glare to Jughead. Then a dawning look appeared on his face as he looked between the boys "Holy crap? Did you and Donnie Darko kill him together? Was it some pervy blood brother thing?"

Diana watched Archie turn red, his ears smoking at Reggie's smirk. Before things escalated, she shifted in between the fight and pressed her palms against their chests. "Boys, this isn't the time or place to get into this. Why don't you both go your separate ways?"

"Peace-keeper Lodge to the rescue; too bad you weren't there for your dads trial huh?" Reggie replied, his grin widening as he felt Diana's hand clench.

Removing her hand from Archie's chest, she grabbed a hold of Reggie's arm. She quickly twisted it to his back and pushed him into the vending machine; so hard that glass cracked in response.

"Listen up you wanna-be Biff Tannin, I tried to nice when you shamelessly flirted with me even though I told you I wasn't interested. I tried to be nice when you insulted my friends, but I'm done being nice to you Reggie. You don't harass girls into liking you and you definitely don't pick on people because you think they won't defend themselves. Now, you're going to apologize to Archie and Jughead then you're going to drop this stupid tirade. Apologize!" She said, pressing his arm further into his shoulder blade.

He grimaced in pain, shouting out "Okay, okay! I'm sorry! Just let go already!"

"Good boy" She grunted then pushed him away before stalking out of the room.

She was halfway down the hall when she felt someone tug on her arm. As she went to confront the mysterious person, her eyes found Jughead Jones shifting uncomfortably in front of her.

"I just wanted to see if you were okay. What Reggie said in there..."

"Oh, now you want to talk to me?" Diana growled, recoiling from his touch as she struggled to contain herself. She sighed as she ran a frustrated hand through her hair "I just need to be alone right now; don't follow me".

As she stalked away she realized, it wasn't Jughead she was angry with. She was angry with herself for becoming who she once was, even for a moment. It was like every time she felt like the world was finally giving her a break, some darkness came in to remind Diana her place in the scheme of things.

God, she needed some air.