Chapter 9: Oh mama, I can hear your crying you're so scared and all alone. (1/2)
Why things never go according to plan? That was something that Dante was asking himself as his plan of informing the Blossoms of the situation ended up backfiring.
After he told them about Polly's pregnancy, Betty went to meet up with the Blossoms. Jason's parents informed Betty that they didn't just want to support Polly financially but emotionally as well — emotional support that a "young mother-to-be needs" as they called it. They reassured Betty that Betty and Polly were part of the Blossom family now, and that they're willing to protect them ferociously, but only if Betty trusted them. Which Betty temporarily fell for it, until Cheryl warned Polly of her parents' ill intentions. Following the meeting that Betty had with the Blossom, in which they promised to take care of Polly and her child, they agreed to meet them at Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe, where Dante, Polly and Betty waited. However, only Cheryl showed up, and warned them that her family had no intentions of protecting Polly, in fact, they wanted her out the picture to keep the baby for themselves. Polly already suspected that from the beginning, and Dante really wished that he had listened, because that meant that they might have to deal with both the Coopers and the Blossoms now. With no place to go, Veronica and her mother insisted that she stay with them.
In order to avoid further problems, Dante decided to call Sheriff Keller so he could talk to Polly about Jason. Because the last thing she needed right now was to be a suspect in his murder.
"So Riverdale's star football player becomes a drug mule?" That was the Sheriff's question after Polly was done explaining what she told Dante and Betty earlier.
Polly was sitting in the middle of a couch with Betty and Veronica sitting besides her. With Sheriff sitting on a chair in front of them and Mrs. Lodge sitting on a chair besides Betty's side, while Dante was sitting on a chair besides Veronica's side.
"She said that he went to a bar on the other side of the tracks and made a deal with..." Dante spoke for Polly.
"The Serpents?" Sheriff Keller asked.
"He got an address upstate, where he delivered the drugs in exchange for cash and a car." Polly explained.
"The car that Dante hid for the two of you." He pointed out.
Polly looked at Dante. "Yes."
Dante smiled at her before asking a question. "Sheriff, did you find anything about the car?"
"Yes, actually the car was reported stolen a few days before Jason's disappearance." Sheriff Keller informed him. "But unfortunately, the owner has no clue of who could have stole it."
"Damn." Dante complained. "No fingerprints or anything?"
Sheriff Keller shaked his head in response. "I should get going." He informed them as he stood up from the chair. "I'll be in touch, ladies."
Mrs. Lodge also stood up from her seat. "I'll show you out." She told the Sheriff.
"Wait, Sheriff." Suddenly, Polly spoke up, calling everyone's attention. "I know, you'll probably warn my parents about me being here but..." She then looked at Dante. "Could you please not tell them about me hiding in Dante's home." She requested looking a bit worried.
Betty made a worried look as well, because ther mother's dislike of Dante is common knowledge.
"Don't worry, I'll leave that part out." Sheriff Keller assured them, then he turned to Dante. "And you, please try not to get in any more trouble."
"I promise I'll try but, trouble always seem to find me." Dante replied.
Sheriff Keller just nodded before he followed Mrs. Lodge towards the exit. Leaving the boy dressed completely in black with his three girl friends. A short silence ensued until it was broken by Polly. "I never had the chance to thank you, for allowing me to stay in your home." She told Veronica.
"Oh, it was nothing." Veronica replied. "What happened to you was horrible and I really wanted to help in some way." She explained to her.
"And I'm really grateful for it." Polly thanked her with a smile. "It's actually strange, I'm gone for a short while and in my absence, Betty gets a new BFF." She pointed out while looking at Betty, who smiled in response. "And to add to the strangeness, you and Dante become friends as well."
"Partners in crime would be a better description." Dante added as he leaned on the chair.
"More like partners in rescue of a mother to be." Betty added as well, while touching Polly's belly.
Polly then grabbed her sister hand. "Betty, I've decided..." She was about to say something which everyone listened closely. "I want you to be the baby's godmother." She announced.
Betty was caught by surprise. "Really? Me?"
"Oh, my god!" Veronica burst while putting her hands on her heart.
"If anything would ever happen to me, there's only two people in this world that I'd trust to take care of my baby." Polly stated. "You and Dante." She announced while looking at Dante. "Jason told me that he asked you the day before..." Polly obviously didn't want to talk about that dreadful day.
"And I said yes right away." Dante decided to interjected to spare Polly from talking about that day. "And the answer still yes." He stated.
"So it's mine." Betty also stated.
Polly smile in response before hugging Betty.
Both Dante and Veronica sar there, watching the two sisters hugging each other with a smile on their faces.
Soon enough, Dante had to leave the girls and return to his home. Where he only took a shower and went to bed on his black boxers. He slept peacefully, mainly because he know that Polly was going to okay with Veronica and her mom.
The boy with dirty blond hair woke up when his alarm ringed. He put on a pair of black jeans, a black T-shirt, black running shoes and the black hoodie that Veronica gave him. Before eating a bit of toast with coffee for breakfast. After that, he made his way to school. But before arriving, he received a text from Betty to meet her at the student lounge.
To his surprise, Betty, Kevin, Veronica and Cheryl were there waiting for him. They all sat down to discuss the situation.
"Polly's convinced herself that no one wants her baby." Betty explained.
"Besides, of course, the child-snatching Blossom monsters." Kevin added, not realizing that there's a Black sitting right besides him. "No offense, Cheryl."
"None taken." Cheryl spoke.
"Your parents want Polly but not the baby," He pointed out to Betty. "Your parents want the baby and not Polly." He pointed out to Cheryl who nodded in response. "And neither of the two options are acceptable, because no way in hell that Polly is going to be separated from her baby." Dante stated.
"Dan is right, it's an impossible situation." Betty agreed.
"Betty, come on." Veronica called her attention. "An impossible situation is being invited to both Vanity Flair Oscar party and Elton John's Oscar party on the same night." Kevin looked shocked when he heard that and touched Veronica's shoulder. "Which happened to me one year, I know." Kevin smiled in surprise. "This is merely an annoying situation." She assured Betty. "But luckily, I've been percolating on an idea, hellishly simple in its conception." Dante was curious. "What if my mom and I were to host a baby shower?"
"Count me in." Cheryl quickly agreed with Veronica's plan.
"You want Polly to feel loved and supported, right?" Veronica asked Betty.
"Yeah, but ideally by her own parents." Betty replied.
"Okay, so, baby steps, girl." Veronica told her. "Get Polly and your parents in the same room in a public setting where they can't fight, and, voila, let the healing begin."
"Although, I think avoiding your parents at all cost would be a better idea, I'll help in whatever way I can." Dante was quick to assure Betty.
"Good, because since you're the baby's godfather and Polly's best friend, your presence is obligatory." Verondica stated.
"I'm probably just going to stand on a spot eating something but, I'll be there." Dante replied. "Speaking of which, did you and your mother resolved that little problem you were having?"
"Well, we came to an agreement sinc-" Unfortunately, before Veronica could answer Dante's question, they were interrupt by a very undesirable voice.
"Elizabeth Cooper." Someone called Betty by her full name.
"Mom?" It was her mom.
"Oh shit." It was Dante's reaction to her presence.
"I need you,you and you." She pointed at Betty, Veronica and Dante. "Right now." She ordered them.
Dante just wondered, did Sheriff Keller told her?
Dante, although reluctantly, decided to go along with Betty and Veronica to talk with Betty's mom. She led them into a empty classroom and made them sit down on the empty chairs.
"Sheriff Keller told us everything." Alice Cooper told them. "How you're hiding Polly at the Pembrooke?"
"Better than an insane asylum." Betty instantly rebuffed. "Why is Dan here?" She asked, probably wondering the same thing as him.
Her mom folded her arms. "Because I'm pretty sure that he was the one hiding Polly before the Lodges took over."
"Got that right." Dante bluntly admitted. "But knowing that you're paranoid freak, I knew you'll suspect me."
Before Alice could reply, Betty spoke up. "He was trying to help." She quickly defended him. "Unlike you and dad, who want Polly to give the baby up for adoption."
"Betty, it's what's best for Polly and the baby." She tried to argue.
"That not your fucking choice, dammit." Dante was quick to input.
"Dan is right." Betty agreed. "Your choice is whether or not you want to be a part of Polly's life." She told her. "Veronica and her mom have offered to host a baby shower." Betty announced.
"Well, that is hardly appropriate!" Alice protested.
"So is looking a pregnant girl in a insane asylum." Dante bluntly added.
"Yes, and I think it's an amazing idea." Betty spoke up. "You want to be loving and supportive like a normal grandmother?" Alice seemed annoyed by that. "Then, great."
"If not," Dante spoke as he stood up from his chair. "Stay the hell away." He then walks towards the door. "I have class now, talk to you girls."
Betty waved him goodbye, while Veronica blew him a kiss, which caused him to smile at her.
The rest of the day was pretty unremarkable, with classes just being regular stuff which Dante mostly passed through with ease. Afterwords, he decided to pay a visit to Pop's to eat a pizza.
As he entered, he noticed Mr. Andrews sitting there and decided to say hi. "Good evening."
"Hey," Mr. Andrews greeted him, but Dante noticed that he looked bothered with something.
"Did something happened, Mr. Andrews?" He asked before sitting down on his table.
Mr. Andrews drank a cup of coffee before speaking. "Cliff Blossom made my crew an offer they couldn't refuse so they walked." He explained sounding really bothered by that.
"All of them?" Dante asked, which Mr. Andrews nodded in response.
"The business... It's in trouble, has been for sometime now." Mr. Andrews opened up to him. "This SoDale thing is very important to me, I can't break ground without a crew so every day I'm just hemorrhaging cash." Mr. Andrews explained to Dante. "We've got equipment sitting there, supplies, bills that are past due."
"Shit, Mr. Andrews, how did it got so bad?" Dante couldn't help but ask.
"It was never supposed to get this bad, but but jobs are just few and far between." Mr. Andrews finished drinking his coffee. "Sorry, I have to go." He stood up from the table. "I got make some phone calls, but it was really nice talking to you."
Dante didn't had a chance to reply as Mr. Andrews quickly left the Pop's. Leaving Dante there by himself.
"What is gonna be?" The waitress asked him.
"Ummm... The usual please."
After a really nice pizza, Dante returned to his home. There he just sat on his bed and played some notes on his guitar to think.
He thought about Polly, but he was a little more relieved about her, now that she was safe and sound with Veronica. But he was thinking about Mr. Andrews problems, Dante liked Mr. Andrews and really wish there was a way for him to help him.
I could be a girl
She could be me
I can be a boy
She could be free
I don't even care
We could be all free
She said she said
AHHH
The boy dressed in black decided to play a short song. But at the end of it, he had an idea on how he could help Mr. Andrews.
He picked his phone and send a message to Kevin.
Dante: Hey, are you and Moose still talking?
Next day came quickly, and Dante was on his way to put his plan into motion. But first he decided to message Betty to know about Polly.
Dante: How's Polly?
Betty: Having some nice breakfast with V and her mom.
Betty: The Baby Shower is up.
Dante: Great, I'll buy a gift.
Betty: Polly is going to invite Cheryl's mom.
Dante: WHY?!
Betty: In her words: To prove herself as a capable mother.
Dante: Should I bring a shotgun or something? Because the Blossoms and the Coopers in the same room is a recipe for disaster.
Betty: No, just bring your Karate skills if things do turn violent.
Dante: Will do.
"We arrived." Suddenly, Kevin called Dante's attention.
Currently, Dante was sitting on the passager's seat inside Kevin's car with him on the driver's seat. Yesterday, Dante explained the situation to Kevin and asked him to try to ask Moose to try to get some guys from the football team to assemble a temporary crew. Luckily, he brought some guys that looked strong enough for the task.
Once they arrived at Andrews Construction, he saw Mr. Andrews and Mrs. Lodge leaving the trailer as they all leave the car.
Dante was wearing a black denim jacket, a black tank top, black jeans and black work boots.
"What is this?" Mr. Andrews asked.
"A very improvised crew, reporting for duty." Dante replied.
I appreciate it, I do, but isn't there something more important you need to be doing?" He was quick to ask. "Like going to school, playing football?"
"They can work after practice and on the weekends, and I'm available any time after school." Dante informed him. "We can help you keep things on schedule, until you find a new crew."
Mr. Andrews looked at Mrs. Lodge, unsure. "Come on." She told him. "Desperate times, Fred, huh?"
After a small pause, Mr. Andrews sighed. "All right. Here we go."
"Ummm, I need to talk to Dante, could you please go ahead." Mrs. Lodge told them, making Dante wonder what did she want.
Mr. Andrews led the others to get started, leaving Dante and Mrs. Lodge alone.
"I'm meeting Alice Cooper at Pop's" She informed him.
"Oh boy." It was Dante's reaction. "Did V asked you to do that?"
She nodded in response. "Polly really wants her mother there, despite everything."
"If that's the case, please do your best to at least try to convince her to go." Dante requested. "I have a lot of problems with her , but this is about Polly."
Mrs. Lodge was a little confused. "What problems do you have with her?" She asked.
"I don't know why, but she's been on my ass since the day I met her." Dante explained. "I think she hated me more than Jason."
"Oh my god, is she still mad about that." She mentioned something that Dante didn't understood.
"That?" He asked in confusion.
"When your father and Alice were dating..." She was trying to find the right words. "Your father had a stalker."
"What the fuck?" He asked in confusion.
"Yes, this stalker would leave notes in his locker, gifts in his home and would even steal his clothes." Mrs. Lodge explained, making Dante even more surprised. "And well, this stalker kind sabotaged his relationship with Alice by making it look like that Virgil cheated on he, which led her to cheat on him with another guy."
"And... What? Is she still mad him about that?" He asked.
"I wouldn't be surprised if she was, you look a lot like your father, so that probably contributed." She explained.
Dante didn't know how to react, honestly, after all the stuff that he has been hearing about his dad, he doesn't think that anything can surprise him anymore. Although, there was one thing that he wanted to know. "So, was it ever found out who the stalker was?"
Mrs. Lodge seemed reluctant to answer his question. But she took a deep breath before telling him. "The stalker, was Penelope Blossom."
...
...
...
...
"WHAT?!" Dante instantly took back the whole, nothing about his dad surprising him anymore.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Lodge couldn't answer his questions as she had to go meet Alice Cooper. Leaving Dante with more questions than answers, as he couldn't believe that Jason's mother was his father's stalker, though that would explain all the times that she was staring at him while he was at the Blossoms home.
He kept on thinking about that, as he worked alongside the others to help Mr. Andrews. The hours passed pretty fast, before they knew it, it was dark. So everyone including Dante called it day and went to drop the equipment at the trailer.
"Hey, guys, you were a life-saver today. I appreciate it." Mr. Andrews thanked them as they entered. "Hard hats go in the bin, and there's sodas in the fridge." He instructed them. But then he looked at Dante. "Weren't you wearing a jacket?" He asked.
"Huh?" Dante then looked down and realized that he was only wearing his black tank top. Then he remembered that he took it off because he was carrying very heavy equipment and he was sweating. "Shit, I forgot." He put the hard hat on the table before making his way outside to find jacket.
He runs all the back to the construction sight, in order to look for it. But as soon as he arrives, he sees something. Two guys coming out of a car, one holding a crowbar and the other a bolt cutter. Out of nowhere, the two start to smash some of the electrical equipment.
"What the fuck?" Dante spoke out loud. "Hey!" He yelled at the two.
The two thugs turn around and see Dante standing there and they run towards him. The guy with the crowbar was the first one to get close, but when he was about to hit Dante with the crowbar, he instantly reacted by throwing a push kick at the guy's chest that send him stumbling back and falling into the ground.
The other thug with the bolt cutter tried to hit Dante with it, but Dante trapped his right arm under his left shoulder and delivered a knife-hand strike into the side of his neck, before grabbing his head and pushing it down and delivered a very hard knee to his face, which knock the guy out.
The thug with the crowbar stood up from the ground and seemed to want to attack Dante again. But then, Dante heard steps coming from behind, which happened to be Mr. Andrews and the others, who probably heard the noises.
Their presence however, caused the guy with the crowbar to give up in trying to confront Dante and turned around to try to run back to the car, leaving his buddy behind. Dante,in a split second, grabbed the bolt cutter that the other thug was carrying and without thinking, tossed at the thug with the crowbar.
Luckily, it landed on the guy's back, making him fall into the ground. Before he could stand up however, Dante charged at him and put him on a police style arm lock. "Don't fucking move!" He yelled at the guy. "Someone call the police!" He yelled at Mr. Andrews and the others, which Kevin responded by pulling out his phone.
WARNING: Don't worry, I'm not discontinuing this story.
I just need an to ask a question: Okay so, several people are requesting that I add Toni to the pairing. Which I had no intention of doing it, because I had no idea on how to do it in a satisfying way. Until a week ago where I did got an idea on how to do it. If the idea is good or not, I have no idea, is up to you guys.
The question is, should Toni Topaz be included in what I have installed for Dante's story, relationship wise? Or should I just go with my original idea, with only Betty, Veronica and Cheryl?
Please vote on the poll on my profile.
Thanks everyone for reading my story.
As always questions and answers:
Will Dante have something with Toni too? She's my favorite character after Betty.
Will do something different with the Farm? You said that Dante will never allow Polly to be with a bunch of unknowns, but I assume that the farm will still play role in the story.
Will Jughead and Archie appear in this story? It feels like Betty still has feelings for Archie, and I don't think she's going to move on and fall for Dante until she resolves that. Alongside the whole deal with the Serpents, as I don't think FP is going to escape prison without Jughead and Betty's involvement. Hell, Dante is probably going to testify in favor of his prison since Betty is close to him and not Jug. And FP going to prison will probably mark Dante as a enemy to the Serpents.
And this is sound like a very dumb question but, what is the style of Karate that Dante is a black belt on it?
It's up to the votes which I just mentioned above.
Everything after season 1 will have heavy alterations, including the farm (No organ harvest , that will be changed into something worse.)
Jughead and Archie will definitely appear later on. You're right about Betty's unresolved feelings and the Serpents.
It's gonna be left ambiguous as he uses techniques from several different styles.
How exactly is the relationship between Dante, Betty, Veronica and Cheryl going to work. I'm really curious.
It's hard to explain, you will wait and see.