Author's Note: Some things need to be established.
First, is that I know Oscar didn't fake his death in the show and that Oscar in the show is actually Fred's older brother, not younger brother. Fred has a younger brother named Frank. Hopefully Frank will clear things up and explain how Oscar and Virginia died. I'm also hoping Hermione and Frank will eventually get together. But not everything in this fanfiction is going to be exactly the same on the show. Another thing to establish is that Jughead goes to Stonewall Prep in the show. In this fanfiction, I'm having him go to Greenwich Prep. I don't want to write the same things from the show. Hopefully that can be understood.
The third thing is that Hiram got out of prison too easily in the show. In this fanfiction, he'll be remaining behind bars for a longer time. I feel like Hiram manages to evade trouble and disaster all too easily. Let's make things slightly harder for him here.
With all of this being said, let's continue the story…
Hermione and Oscar continued kissing for approximately two minutes.
"Wait!", Hermione said.
"What is it?", Oscar asked in a gentle tone.
"We can't do this…not here", Hermione said. "Archie and Veronica can't know about this."
Oscar smiled. "Would it really be that bad? Hermione, you obviously know Hiram is a terrible husband. He's done horrible things to you! You can't deny that."
Hermione nodded, acknowledging Oscar's statement. "I love you, Oscar. Clearly, you're such a better person that Hiram ever could be. Fred would have been proud of you."
Oscar hugged Hermione. "I love you too, Hermione. But you know, we could have a secret romance. We don't have to tell anyone else until the time is right."
They kissed each other briefly before Hermione left.
July 29
Cheryl and Toni were having the time of their lives. They would spend many nights in bed together and make out for a couple of hours per day. With Penelope out of Riverdale, there clearly seemed to be nothing standing in their way. At least not yet.
Toni had loved Cheryl ever since their first romantical interaction. That would never change. Now, Toni was feeling so overjoyed. Being able to kiss the person she loved the most with no one to stop them or interrupt them.
Toni kissed Cheryl's cheek. She then kissed her forehead. Kissed her neck.
All of this was being done with the corpse of Cheryl's late brother obscured in the attic, and Toni didn't even know it.
August 27
It was Oscar's 50th birthday. Archie invited Veronica, Hermione, the Coopers, the Joneses, the Kellers, Cheryl, Toni, and Reggie.
"I need to get something from the basement", Oscar said.
"Let me help you", Hermione said. No one seemed to notice anything suspicious.
When Oscar and Hermione were alone in the basement, they looked at each other and smiled like second graders on the last day of school.
"Happy birthday, Oscar", Hermione said before kissing his cheek.
"Look at the present I got you", Hermione said. She then pulled a picture out of her pocket. It was a picture of Oscar, Fred, and Hermione when they were all in elementary school.
"Wow", Oscar said. "I love it."
"We better head upstairs before anyone suspects anything", Hermione said before heading upstairs.
Oscar nodded in agreement as he grabbed two cans of beer. Later, Oscar, FP, and Tom Keller drank a few cups.
Oscar then held up a glass. "To Fred!"
"To Fred!", everyone there repeated.
Overall, it was a wonderful celebration full of love. Even in a town with a dark past and bloodthirsty future. Even in Riverdale.
September 8
It was the first day of school. As Archie, Veronica, and Betty sat with the other seniors at Riverdale High School, they were talking about what the new principal, Mr. Honey, would be like.
"Not gonna lie, Weatherbee was a buzz kill", Chuck Clayton said.
"Yeah", Reggie said. "I only hope this Mr. Honey person is tolerable."
Just then a man with dark hair and glasses approached the podium. Archie could tell he was serious-looking and all business. There would be no pretense or sugar-coating.
"I will have your undivided attention", Mr. Honey said in a commanding and adamant tone. "My predecessor and your former principal, Waldo Weatherbee, made some mistakes and repulsive choices during his tenure here. Well, I plan to run things much more differently."
Archie glanced at the others. This school year might be more challenging than they thought. Then again, they faced a serial killer and an insane board game. They solved a murder mystery and confronted Hiram Lodge. A strict principal didn't seem to be that big of a deal.
"The first thing I will do", Mr. Honey said, "is to confiscate all your cell phones."
Okay, maybe this is a big deal, Archie thought.
Not surprisingly, this provoked outrage and backlash from many of the students, mostly the freshmen and sophomores.
"This is outrageous!", Ethel Muggs exclaimed angrily.
"Preposterous!", Kevin exclaimed.
"Are we suddenly living in Soviet Russia?", Reggie asked. "How we are going to contact our parents if something goes wrong? This is absurd!"
The students continued yelling angrily.
"SILENCE!", Mr. Honey thundered. This quieted everyone and got their attention, although they gave Mr. Honey dark stares.
"Now everyone pass your cell phones up right here, in this bucket", Mr. Honey said while motioning to a bucket in the front of the auditorium.
The students grudgingly passed their cell phones forward into the bucket.
"You will have your cell phones back at the end of the day", Mr. Honey said.
"Good thing Jughead doesn't have to deal with this", Betty whispered to Veronica.
Meanwhile, at Greenwich Prep…
The headmaster of Greenwich Prep, Mr. Colon, gave Jughead a tour of Greenwich Prep.
"Seems like a decent school", Jughead said.
"Let me introduce you to your roommate", Mr. Colon said.
Mr. Colon led Jughead to where his dormitory would be. He then knocked on the door.
Jughead couldn't believe his eyes when he saw who opened the door.
It was Nick St. Clair!
Later that day…
Kevin, Fangs, and Adam were hanging out at the Keller household. The three of them had gotten closer that summer and had hung out often.
When Fangs was sleeping on the floor, Kevin and Adam were having a conversation.
Kevin said to Adam, "You know, the jokes you said today were pretty funny. I wished we could have met earlier."
Adam took a deep breath. "Kevin, do you know why I transferred to Riverdale High?"
"No, you never explained to me what had happened. Why did you transfer?"
Adam sighed before he said, "I was bullied at Centerville High School. Like, really badly."
Kevin looked like he was in complete disbelief.
"That's terrible", Kevin said.
"The other students at Centerville High pulled terrible pranks on me. One day, during football practice, one of the offensive players pulled my pants down."
Kevin was burning in anger against this injustice.
"Then that player and four other guys dragged me to the middle of the football field and started kicking and punching me multiple times."
"Did the school do anything?", Kevin asked.
"The players that attacked me were all given strict warnings. I was suspended for two weeks for trying to defend myself during the fight."
"What kind of a monstrous school would do that?", Kevin asked rhetorically, clearly not afraid of showing his disgust with the situation. "But why would they do all of those horrible things to you."
Adam took a deep breath before explaining.
"Kevin, I'm gay."
Author's Note: And that was Chapter 8! Sorry it took so long.
