Chapter 16- Not All Surprises Lead To Promising Endings
A week later, a surprise showed up. A surprise named Polly Cooper. Alice hadn't heard from her daughter in months. The visit was sure a blow to her mind. She thought she had lost her. After everything she had caused her. The Sisters, Jason and most of all she lied about her past.
When she welcomed her oldest daughter in her arms. She just started breaking down. Her daughter gave her a soft smile and began soothing her.
"Mom, I heard about Dad." Polly paused, tears forming at the bay of her eyes. She shook her head to keep them from falling. "I'm so sorry. I didn't believe you. I should have taken you with me." Alice felt a stab to her heart. Her daughter didn't know what her life was.
"Polly..." She gasped as she led her the the couch. "I can't come with you, Polls." It broke her heart. Before she knew it. Her oldest daughter threw her arms around her again.
"Shh... it's okay, Mom." She felt chills at the calmness in her daughter's voice. "I can help you. We can find another way." She was confused what did she mean by another way.
"Polls, what are you taking about? Another way? I'm very confused." She didn't know what was going on.
"Come mom, with me. We can start over. Forget about our lives. What Dad caused. The horrible human he had become." The pleading teen was making her heart break again. She can't leave Fp. Betty or even Jughead.
She stood up from the couch, she wiped her cheeks before eyeing her in the eyes again. "Polly, what about F— Betty. She's your sister. I can't leave her behind." Tears we're releasing at the mention of Fp. She almost said his name. They were happy. Leaving would tarnish everything.
Soft eyes met with hers again. "Mom, I can't bring her." That stunned her. Why?" There's only room for one. She can stay with Jughead." She shook her head. That statement appalled her.
She stood locking eyes with her, still not sure what to do. She can't leave her. "Polly, she needs me. I can't even believe your asking me to leave her."
A car horn beeped distracting her. Polly stood up and approached her mother. "Mom, we have to go now. Something is going to happen. I can only bring you. Betty will be fine." She rushed as she grabbed her mother's arm and pulled her with her.
Before Alice could even take in the words. She was taken by her daughter and led to a car. She sighed before she stepped in the back seat. She hovered a hand over the swell on her abdomen. She couldn't believe she was leaving. Once again. But this time. She had no idea where she was heading. In the back of her mind as the car was set into motion; she could still not forget what her oldest girl had said before she was led to the car. Something was going to happen. But what? Her heart throbbed as she saw the "now leaving Riverdale. The town with Pep." pass by. Her heart felt hollow as she felt the car speed down the roads. Why did she do this? She was leaving a great, wonderful and amazing guy behind. Her other daughter and the only Redhead blossom for a new life. She felt wrong. Almost tainted. When she turned her head to look behind. She realized that it was too late. Maybe they would be better off without her.
Betty was walking into the observation area with Fp a few feet away from her. Her heart was pounding so hard. She couldn't believe she was actually doing this. That she had the courage to do this.
As soon as she saw her father's sly grin, her stomach turned to the point she had to hold back the vomit that was being lodged in her throat begging to be released.
"Betty, it's nice seeing you." He breathed with a chuckle sneaking behind the greeting.
She rolled her eyes. She was disgusted. Her father wasn't the man she wanted him to be.
"It's not good seeing you." She enhanced her tone to an almost yell.
She sat down in the chair across from the glass. Where he was held safe from hurting her. She was grateful for the glass. If she didn't have it. She was sure she would be dead or maybe she would kill him herself. She held the phone in her tight grip, hoping she wouldn't leave marks from the phone on her palms.
"Why are you here then?" His voice was haunting her again.
She bit her lip to keep from exploding. He caused her so much unnecessary pain and heartache. She breathed out and glared in his eyes.
"To finally confront you. And this will be my last ever word with you. I will refuse to be associated with you or any of your bloodline." She heard him chuckle again.
"You think you got the guts?" He laughed. "I would like to see you try." She rolled her eyes and tightened her grip on the phone marking her palms.
She thrusted forward and snapped her jaw tightly. "Yes Hal!" She glanced to the left where Fp was grinning proudly at her with Jughead beside him just as proud or even prouder then his father was at her. She watched as her father's jaw slacked. "I would rather be a Jones. And by Jones I mean. Fp Jones has been more a father to me then you ever had been to me. A father doesn't torture his daughter for some sickening old bind he had with his family when he was young. I can't even remember a time. When you were my father. Yes the times we went to Pop's after ice skating or fixing cars with you." She was now felt trapped in her pain. She took a pause. "But after you betrayed me. I can't think of anything else. I'm not you." She felt tears burning in her eyes.
"Aren't you?" The words sent her chills. She glanced by at the door. Where Fp was almost fuming outside. She knew how anger he would be.
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
"To say goodbye Dad." She taking a pause to gather her final words. "And also to say no more darkness." It was becoming easier to confront him. "No more evil. It's over." With a heavy smirk she stepped closer. "You have no power over me. And yes I tried to kill myself. I felt like it was all my fault. But in the end. I know. I knew it was all you and this my way on starting over." She said with confidence as she started walking toward the door.
Walking away gave her more power then she ever had in her life. She didn't feel trapped no more. She felt free. She was freed. As she walked, she heard her father yelling like a wild man. She couldn't even care anymore. The power felt so great.
As soon as she opened the door, Fp pulled her into his arms. Her power slowly diminished into nothing. She was only running on adrenaline. Jughead pulled her into his arms as they walked back to their bikes. Outside Betty was met with Archie, Veronica, Kevin, Toni and Cheryl who were applauding her for what she had said. Cheryl wished she could have told her father off. But by time she a chance it was too late. He had taken the cowards way out.
Fp wasn't very sure about the meeting at first. But after seeing how brave she was. That made him less afraid. He was still thinking back on what she had said. He was more a father to her then Hal. He was very touched by her words. It made his heart swell in happiness. He never thought she cared for him. He was driving to get pop's. He was so over the moon. When he stopped to order Alice's favorite. He was over the moon. He was going to tell her as soon as he got home.
Jughead was stuffed after he ate three burgers. He hopped on his bike and Betty held onto his waist as they drove back to the haunted house. Fp followed closely behind them to make sure they were safe. He was now more on alert ever since Jughead almost died and Betty did too. Lucky nothing was too broken to repair. Once he got back to Alice. He hopped off his bike, taking off his helmet and brushing his hand through his ruffed up hair as he grabbed the pop's steaming bag in his loosely clenched hand. Her car was in the drive way. He sighed in relief. He turned to feet and headed for the front door. Betty was already standing in the door away. The house still smelt like horrible memories. She walked to the kitchen and stopped at the fridge to grab something to get rid of her thirst.
Something felt odd to her. It was too quiet. She was expecting to see a home cooked meal already spread out on the family dining room table. "Jug?"
"Yes, Betty." Her boyfriend asked literally seconds later.
"It's too quiet. It's usually much louder then this." She started to worry.
"I'm sure she's just sleeping." He assured her. But that didn't calm her down.
She started rampaging all over the house. "Mom?!" There was no response. "Mom?!" She shouted again. There was nothing. She started feeling panicked.
She raced upstairs, panting in a labored breath as she finally reached the top steps. Jughead lowered his head and went after. Betty was right. Something just wasn't adding up. Her car was still parked in the drive way. He met with Betty after she came to a halt. "What is it, Betty?" Before he could get a response he saw something that caught his eyes more. "Dad? What's going on?" He asked as he walked slowly toward the bed.
Fp had been searching for her. He didn't find her. Instead he found something more devastating. It was the kind of something that knocked the wind out of someone. The pain surrounding his heart, legs and throat. A note piece of paper with his name. He nearly collapsed when he reached for it. It took everything out of him. Everything single part of his body responded in the same unbearable feeling.
"Fp, I'm so sorry. I just realized that you were just bad choice." That shocked him. It hurt so much. Why was she doing this? He didn't understand. They were so happy. What changed? "I'm very sorry that I'm leaving like this. Don't bother looking for me. I don't want to be found. Take care of Betty for me. I'm sure you will be devastated. And that's very understandable. I just don't love you anymore. And the baby. I decided to abort. I can't stand looking at you or a memory of you. That could remind me. Reminding me on how much I don't love you." His eyes were drenched with tears.
She didn't want his baby. Their baby. She was leaving him. Correction she left him. And her daughter. How was he supposed tell Betty? That her own mother abandoned her. Gladsy leaving him didn't hurt as much as what Alice did. He couldn't help but have this searing pain in his chest. He could hear Betty shouted for her. And then footsteps approached where he was. "Fp?" He looked up to see the distraught looking Betty staring at him. Not too far behind was another sound of footsteps dragging behind her.
"What was it, Betty?" He heard his son ask his girlfriend. Then he saw his son's worried and confused expression. "Dad? What's going on?" Pain rose in his chest.
He sat on the bed looking down at the letter, his eyes fixated on his son and his love of his life's daughter in front of him. He could feel his throat closing up. Jughead still was clueless as Betty. They were trying to figure out what happened. He saw the pain in his father's eyes. Unlike before it was hard to distinguish. He could see his father clenching something in his tightly fisted hands.
"She left me." His father choked out before sobbing into his hands.
Jughead felt his eyes pop out and heard the heart-wrenching sobs of his father. He was astonished by the news. He picked the fallen letter from the floor. While reading he couldn't believe what he had read. This didn't make any sense. Alice wouldn't hurt him like that. Or maybe she could. Betty felt like she was punched in her stomach. Why? Why did her mom leave her? She couldn't believe what she had read also. Her mom was going to get an abortion. Her heart was burning from the neglect and hatred. How could she just leave Fp? Just the way he is. She knew it wouldn't be long before he drowned himself in liquor. Her mom wanted him take care of her.
Jughead sat down next to his father. The shell of the man he knew was starting to crumble. "Dad?" His father didn't stop sobbing. He didn't even know if he would be able to stop. "Dad, forget her. We will find her." His father lifted his head and he could see the bloodshot red eyes bruising up from crying so hard.
"Jug, she doesn't want to be found. And said I was the worst mistake she ever m-ade." His father snapped with unwanted emotions.
"Dad—" Fp put a hand up to stop his son from saying anything. "It's too late, Jug. I'm nothing to her. And she just wanted to abort my child. After she told me she loved me and was so happy. But then she wants to hurt me worse then she ever had before. Leaving for her new life. But now she's leaving her daughter too. That's just a cold bitch." He iced her name as he stalked off.
Jughead was left with a shocked face and a heartbroken girlfriend. He didn't know how they were going to find her. The only thing was that he asked Alice before how she felt about his father. And she told him that she loved him all her heart. Was that all a lie? Or was it something they weren't thinking of. Betty was still trying to understand what was going on. Her father had wanted her mother to have an abortion to fix her "mistake". But why would her mom say that? If she was so against it in the first place.
Country roads widened as Alice stepped foot on the dirt road. She looked around to see miles and miles of grass and fields. She was hours and miles away from Riverdale. She wasn't sure if she would ever want to go back. All she saw was a sign that said "Sundale". Sundale was very different from Riverdale. First off it wasn't a small town. It was more like a urban town or city she would say. Where the hell was Sundale? She never ever heard of the town ever. It was strange that it almost felt like a home.
She followed Polly to a house at the end of the path. Her first thought was. It looks strange. Almost too perfect. Was this town perfect or something? She had no idea what was going on. "Mom?" She looked over to her daughter who was smiling.
"Yeah." She said almost on point but missed by two seconds.
"I would like you to meet my good friend and this guy is who helped me figure out how to cope with losing Jason and the pain Dad caused. Here he is now." Polly explained to her. The guy was tall, attractive and looked charming. It almost made her want to fall at his knees. She shook her head. Alice what is wrong with you? You love Fp. And always will, she mentally scolded herself.
He started to approach Alice and sent her a grin as he walked to introduce himself. "Hi, I'm Edgar. Edgar Evernever." Edgar introduced as he shook her hand in a firm grip. "Polly has told me a lot about you. You're even hotter then she described." She felt her cheeks blush up.
"Awe thank you very much, Edgar. The names Alice Smith." She introduces herself with a smile.
"Oh I see you have a bundle of Joy on the way." He said gesturing to her growing swell on her stomach.
She looked down at her stomach and placed her hands on her stomach and smiled. "Yes I am." Then her smile fell. "But I broke it off with him." She could tell that she was going to get sympathy by the look in his eye.
"Oh I'm sorry." He said as he took her hand into his. She felt something when his hand touched hers. "Maybe I can make the hurt go away." He suggested as his lips were closer than they were seconds ago.
Something in her was telling not to do it. But the way he looked at her. It was almost like a trance. And she was being sucked in. Their lips were touching and then before she knew it. They were kissing. His lips didn't feel like Fp's. It almost felt wrong. How was she supposed tell him she was sorry? Or that she was going to keep the baby.
Not to her knowledge something very bad was going to happen. And maybe it was going cause chaos. Neither of them heard the clicks of the camera capturing their moment.
A bittersweet letter was left for him. Fp was at the Wrym shooting down shots to make the pain go away. He didn't care about his sobriety. All he cared about was the fact that Alice had left him. Nothing hurt more then being left. He couldn't breathe without her.
"Fp? What happened?! Why are you drinking again?!" A angry voice yelled at him.
He turned his head to see Fred and Hermonie storming toward him. Hermonie couldn't believe that she had to deal with this again. She snatched the bottle out of his hand and smashed it on the ground.
"Hey!" Fp scowled as he ordered another shot and sucked the shot glass dry.
The two didn't realize he was crying until they truly looked into his eyes. Even through his dilated eyes; they could tell he had been crying. Hermonie slowly sat herself down in next stool. Staring at him with concern in her eyes. "Fp, what's going on? Are you okay?" She heard him scoff.
"You don't even care!" He snapped as he slammed his fist down on the bar top. "And of course I'm not okay! Do I look like I am okay?! For someone who just got left. I think I look pretty fucked and just wanted to drink. Can you just leave me to do that?!" Their eyes widened in astonishment.
Alice left Fp. That didn't sound right. Not too long ago they were so happy. Fred could see the tears welling up in his best friend's eyes. "Fp, I had no idea." He was cut short by his best friend sobbing into his chest.
Hermonie got off her stool, trying to help Fred balance Fp as they carried him out of the bar and to Fred's truck. The challenge for her was that Fp was much heavier then she was and she wasn't as strong. She couldn't believe that Alice would break Fp's heart. The drive wasn't very pleasant. She heard a word that made her blood boil. She was going to abort his kid. She knew nothing hurt more then losing his chance to be a father again. She remembered the countless texts that he had sent her about how excited he is to finally have another chance and this time he wasn't going to fail. She remembered his priceless face when he showed them the ultrasound picture. He was smiling like a kid with candy. You could tell how proud and how dedicated he was. Now that chance was being ripped from him. Her daughter once told her that Jughead had told her that he was crying to a picture of his late son Charles. A son he just found about. Her heart shattered when she heard that.
It became more of a challenge when he fell asleep. They knocked on the door and to their surprise Betty was still there. "Uh Betty? You're mom didn't take you?" A nod and a sad smile was all the couple had gotten before she directed them to where Fp's bed was at the end of the hall two rooms from Jughead's.
They laid him down on the bed, unzipped his boots, removed his vomit covered shirt and put a new one him instead. Hermonie grabbed a blanket and threw it over him and shut off the lights.
Jughead sighed the next morning discovering his father's shirt. It reeked of alcohol and vomit. He plugged his nose and picked the vomited shirt and threw it into the wash to be cleaned.
He heard a knock on the door. He groaned and walked over to the door. When he opened the door, no one was there. Only a packet in a Manila folder lying on his welcome mat. He bent down to grab the packet. He shut the down and slowly unsealed the seal. His eyes widened at the evidence. Their were several images. All with the same two people. When he glanced at it longer. He gasped and felt his heart break. It was Alice and some mystery man.
"Jug? What are you looking at?" He looked up and saw Betty. He was grateful his father wasn't up yet. He didn't know how he was going to tell his father about what he was sent.
"Uh Nothing." He stuttered as he hid the photographs behind his back. Betty rolled her eyes. She knew he was hiding something and in fact it was behind his back.
"Don't lie!" She snapped as she tried to reach for what was behind his back. He thrusted his body away from her and she fell forward. Luckily she was able to catch her fall and stood back up. This time was furious. "Give it!" She scolded as she yanked the photographs out of his hands and they fell to the floor. She got down and picked them up. She gasped when she saw her mother and some strange guy. "Omg!" She gasped in shock as she put her hands to her mouth.
He watched as her eyes popped out of her sockets. "Betty, we can't have my dad seeing these—"
"Seeing what?" A voice startled them. They turned around to see Fp rubbing his temples to relieve the throbbing migraine. He looked over at his son and Betty, noticing their faces. "Geez why do you guys look like you have seen a ghost?" He questioned as he observed their facial expressions.
Jughead cleared his throat and tried avoiding his father's eyes. They still looked like death killed them thirty times. "It's nothing. Dad, you promised you wouldn't drink again." He tried to change the subject.
"Jug, I know when your lying to me. So spit it out before your grounded." His father threatened grinding his teeth. Betty saw how her boyfriend was struggling and decided to help out.
"Fp, we were just worried about you." He looked at her with the eyes. Eyes that make people want to cry. "Okay fine here. But you won't want to see it."
"Unless it's some nudes of you, Betty. I might be worried and I would say I'm quite disappointed if there are some." He chuckled as he took packet from her hands. Betty cringed at that statement and felt her cheeks.
"Oh their definitely not that, Fp." Her voice was soft and also she was trying to hold back her heartbreak.
Fp looked down at the photographs and felt his heart shatter. They were definitely not of Betty. But another Smith. The only one who could make his heart pounded when he saw her for the first time ever. He went through the photographs. Each one caused more of his heart to shatter and his feet to feel like it was stuck in quick sand. The women in the photographs was Alice. His Allie. Or was his Allie before she left him.
"Oh." Was all he said before he gave the pictures back to Betty. He was fighting back the tears. He wanted to drink and drink and drink until he was nothing but in a vague state.
"Fp!"
"Dad!"
He just ignored the voices and slammed the trailer door. Once he slammed the door he felt his foot smoosh down and then he tried to move his foot. He lifted his foot and saw a gum drop stuck on the sole of his shoe. "Damn't" he cursed at his kicked his truck until something fell. He looked down to see what dropped and saw a note. Great another note, he grumbled underneath his breath. He reached down and unfolded the note.
"Fp, you thought you had seen the last of me. Seems like you're love of your life has moved on. Maybe you should just kill yourself. Your already halfway there. Maybe you can commit and finish what your son or Betty couldn't.
- B.H."
He crumpled the paper and stomped until it was buried. He then looked over at his bike. He had come to a realization. Maybe it was time. Time to finally make a choice. He hopped onto his bike drove off. He had just the right place in mind.
As he drove he thought about ever little detail, big or small. It didn't matter. It was making him miss her even more.
Jughead decided to look for his father. He noticed something on the grounded. It was buried. So he called for Betty and she helped him dig it up. A note.
"Fp, you thought you had seen the last of me. Seems like you're love of your life has moved on. Maybe you should just kill yourself. Your already halfway there. Maybe you can commit and finish what your son or Betty couldn't.
- B.H."
His heart was racing. He had to find his father before it was too late. He looked at the letter Alice left and picture. There was a sign in the back. He could barely read it. So he used a mini magnify glass. He saw the name Sundale. Then it clicked. Alice was in Sundale. He had to find her but first he had to stop his father from doing something he would later regret. Betty was driving the truck so fast. She thought she broke several laws. She was speeding so easy. She didn't even realize she was doing it.
"Over there!" Jughead shouted. She turned down the road. "He's standing on the bridge. Betty we need to stop him."! He was nearly on the verge of tears.
Fp was standing on the bridge. Standing right over the river that caused his life to break. Sweetwater River was where it all began. "Dad! Please!" He could hear a cry come behind him.
"Jug?" He said as he turned his head but didn't turn his body. "Go. I don't want you to see this!" He yelled as his eyes welled with tears.
"Dad, Alice went to a place called Sundale. And we believe someone came to take her there. Against her will!" Jughead yelled over the rushing water.
"So what?! She was kissing a another man not even hours after she left me!" Fp yelled so much he felt his feet slipping more over to the edge.
"Dad! Please! You saved me! Now I need you to listen! Please stay away from the edge! I don't need to lose you. I already lost my only mother figure. And I'm not going to lose you again. You being in prison was hard enough. But you dying. That wou-" he cut himself short by a sob escaping his throat.
Fp looked over at his son. His heart shattered. He couldn't do it. Jughead stepped closer and helped his father turn away from bridge.
Jughead started shaking and thrusting violently. He squinted his eyes. "Jug?" He opened his eyes. He was met with father.
"Dad? You're alive." He heard a chuckle come from his father.
"Jug, of course I am. You woke me up by screaming. Saying get off the bridge. Boy, you had me worried, son."
"Wait is Alice?" He saw his father shake his head.
"No, she left me. I saw photos of her and some man."
"So you never tried to kill yourself." Fp felt like heart was working overtime. His so thought he was trying to kill himself.
"No Jug, I never tried that." He sighed. "Betty is going to stay with us for awhile. But not in the same room."
"Dad, Alice's in Sundale. The Black Hood has her." He couldn't believe what he just heard.
"Jug, are you sure? Cause I don't need false hope. You should get some rest." He suggested as he stood up from his son's bed and shutting off the lights.
"Dad, just listen to me. She's in danger." He wasn't sure what to believe.
"Jug, go to bed."
But maybe Jughead had been right. Alice was indeed in danger. Alice wasn't aware of it. But something wasn't quite right.
"Polly you did great. You proved that you have my darkness. Now we just have to wait until she realizes how she's trapped and then we drop the bomb" Polly held her phone to her ear.
"I want revenge for what mom did and Fp did to Jason." Polly stated as she walked over to the door. She could see her mom sleeping in the back room. Her plan was just getting started.
"How did you know she was pregnant? I gotta say you maybe smarter then I thought you'd be." She grinned at the statement.
"Oh well Penelope told me that Alice was. And that we need to make another move. Since Hiram was killed and Penny was arrested. And since Betty disobeyed us. She's going to have to live without her mother. And Fp well he was part of Jason's cover up. Betty wasn't the darkness keeper. She was going to expose us. I think Alice might be suspicious. She asked why not bring Betty. Well I didn't answer. Now she's all happy with Edgar just like I planned. And when she allows him to be close. His plan is to kill her. And we keep cleansing the town of sin. And the sinners." She laughed evilly.
"I couldn't have been more prouder, Daughter. You might not be the second Hood. You're more like my eyes and ears. Since I'm locked up. I will need you to be on eyes and ears. And the second Hood would be my very own Penelope. I hired Tall boy to be one. He was supposed to kill Fp while he was still in prison. But he didn't compile. And now he was going to expose. I wasn't going to let that happen. So I had Penelope kill him and have him have a note that says his name and what he had done." She heard her father state. She liked the plan. She was beyond excited to get her revenge for what her mother and Fp had caused her.