*Knock**Knock* That was the sound that woke me up that brisk Friday morning. One of the orphanage owners was here to see me. So I got up changed my outfit to something a little nicer, but I didn't have much so that consisted of a plain black long sleeve shirt and black jeans. I walked down the stairs to see standing there, with an empty duffle bag around her arm. I knew what today was, it was gonna be my last day in this orphanage. I've always been every adoptee's last choice, they didn't want me. So today was suppose to be moving day to the older facility all the way in Greendale for kids my age. I didn't want to move out of Riverdale, it's my home even if no one in it wanted me. So I had to think quick and I made my escape plan.
"Here is your bag Kacey if you need more I have more in the car, we leave in 10 minutes" she said to me. I wanted to laugh at her statement, I had nothing so why would I need more than one bag, but I put on a fake smile and politely took the bag from her and went back to my room. I had about 7 shirts and 7 pairs of pants. They weren't anything cute just warm comfy clothes. I grabbed my notebooks and pens for writing bc that's all I do in my free time. I also had a picture of me as a baby my first day at the orphanage and I'll always keep it because it's the only picture of me I have from the past. The picture also included my parents but the orphanage caretakers scratched out there faces. But I guess I can't be mad since they never wanted me anyways so why care who they are. I pushed that thought out of head and I packed up my small pillow and blanket, and slipped on my only pair of shoes that were thankfully black and headed downstairs. I hugged all my caretakers that knew me, especially my favorite she was crying before I even got to her, she had been here since I was a baby and is the one who taught me everything I know, she basically was the mother figure I never had. Her tears made me tear up a bit but I smiled as. "I'm gonna miss you so much" she said while sniffling back her stuffed up nose. "Thank you so much, for everything" I said with my face smushed into her shoulder. We pulled apart and she smiled at me. I wiped my tears and said my final words to her, "Take care of Jake and Eddie for me, who knows what trouble they'll get into without me". She laughed and nodded. I turned back around to and she opened the door, I took a deep breath and took one step out the door before I heard yelling and feet stomping down the stairs. I turn around and of course it's little Jake and Eddie. They ran over to me and hugged me, they were like 12 and 10 so they weren't much shorter than me. "Guys I gotta go now, I'm gonna miss you but I promise I'll try to visit" I said trying not to cry. "Okay we will miss ya sis" Eddie said and left we wasn't good at saying goodbye. But I smiled to myself that's the nickname the boys gave me because I acted like there older sister. "Take care of yourself sis" Jake said and smiled trying not to cry because he's a boy, I laughed "I will". I could tell was frustrated with how long this was taking but she just stayed silent, so I waved to everyone one last time and turned and walked out the door. Her car wasn't anything special as we approached it, it was small and perfect for my escape. The so far 5 minute car ride was smooth and silent. I peered out the front window and saw a stop sign approaching, This was it! My chance! I held on tight to my duffle bag, and as soon as the car came to a stop, I opened the door and bolted into the woods. I heard screaming for me but I was never going back. Everyday came the new challenge of where I was gonna sleep. On the weekends I slept at my only friend in Riverdale House her name is Amanda. She's a southsider and fits the part, she has the black hair and black clothes just like everyone else on the Southside. And the answer to your question is No, she is not a Southside Serpent, her father wasn't one and neither is she. Then to answer your other question, I met Amanda on the nights I would sneak out of the orphanage and walk around town to get to know it since the orphanage never took us out. She was in a fight with her dad and she was walking around too, I stopped her and asked for directions to any cool places in town and we walked and talked all night about The Twilight Drive in, Pop's Choc-o-lit shop, and The Quarry. We became very close and this became and almost every night thing. was the only one who ever caught me sneaking out but she understood why and allowed me, it was one of our many secrets. But on the weekdays I would find an abandoned shelter and spend the night there. But I finally got caught by the one and only Sheriff Keller.
"Miss can you please tell me what you are doing here" he said flashing his flashlight at me. I winced at the light, and nervously said "well I don't have anywhere else to go". He started at me not believing me, "Where's your family?". I laughed, which made his face more stern, "I don't have a family, I'm an orphan". His face softened up, "How old are you? Shouldn't you be at an orphanage then?". "I'm 14, and yeah but they were gonna take me out of Riverdale and I don't wanna leave the only place I've known as home, so I had to runaway". He looked stuck, like his thoughts were fighting in his head. "Okay, what's your name?", "Kacey" I replied. He smiled and said "Come with me", I didn't want to get arrested so I followed him, if he took me back to the orphanage I would just runaway again. But he didn't he took me to a house, a nice one, I quickly found out it was his home and he used keys to unlock the door. When we got inside I heard a female voice come from another room, he gestured for me to follow him. We walked into the Kitchen and the female looked at me very confused and then to her husband. "Hunny, this is Kacey, she's an orphan I found sleeping in an abandoned Shelter, and I couldn't just leave her out in the cold, alone." He looked at his wife as if he was looking for her approval. She nodded and looked back to me, "Hi Kacey my name is Claire, are you hungry?". Yes of course I was I haven't ate since Sunday Night, it was Tuesday, but I felt bad for asking for food so I just shrugged. I think she got the hint, "Do you like Spaghetti hunny?", I nodded and she made me a plate and brought it and me to the dining room table. She walked out of the dining room to the kitchen and whispered with Sheriff Keller. I quickly ate the entire plate, oh my god it was so delicious. She came back in and was surprised to see my plate empty, "Do you want seconds?", I slightly nodded and she brought me another plate. Why were they being so nice to me? They don't even know me? After I ate she brought me upstairs to the bathroom, "Here's a towel and some spare clothes help yourself to a shower hunny" she smiled and closed the door. I wasn't gonna object I hated being dirty. I took a quick shower not wasting their water and put on the spare clothes. I quietly opened the door but Claire must have heard the shower turn off. "Alright now it's off to bed, you can have the guest room, and I'll see you in the morning you can meet my son Kevin when you wake up" she said still smiling. I smiled back, "Thank you , I really appreciate it" and I walked into the room. The room was simple, but I wasn't expecting anything spectacular anyways. I didn't waste any time and went to bed immediately because I felt no danger like I did in the woods.
Waking up that morning to the smell of bacon, something I haven't had in years, was a blessing. I sat up and saw a new pile of clothes at the end of my bed. I quickly changed into them and slowly made my way downstairs. At the dining table sat and a boy. "Good morning Kacey! Come sit!" She gestured me over, I sat down away from them both. "Kacey this is Kevin and Kevin this is Kacey" she introduced us, "Nice to meet you Kacey!" He said with a big smile on his face. He was dorky but really nice, "Nice to meet you too Kevin". After Breakfast Kevin and I hung out all day, he was a really nice and funny, it was nice to hang out with someone my age. He asked about my childhood and I told him I felt like I could trust him, I asked him the same questions and his childhood was all that I dreamed of. It was around 6pm when Sheriff Keller or Tom, came home. We all ate dinner together, as if I was apart of the family or something. After dinner Tom asked me to come to his office with him, so I did. We both sat down on opposite sides of the desk. "Kacey today I talked to the Riverdale Orphanage…" is instantly cut him off, "Please don't take me back there! I can find someplace to live, I don't want to leave Riverdale!". He laughed as I stammered out that sentence. I stared at him confused, Why was he laughing? " No Kacey, I'm not taking you back, I don't usually do this but I was wondering if you wanted to stay with us while we find you a home in Riverdale?". I froze. What?! He was going to let me stay here, I must be dreaming. I must've been silent for too long because he was waving a hand in my face. "Oh I'm sorry, uh, Yes I would love that, Thank you so much!" I said with the biggest smile on my face, and he smiled back. After that the Keller's and I all watched a movie together, I fell asleep during the movie and on the couch, but I could get used to this, even if it's not forever it's temporary family.
It had been two months since I moved in with the Keller's. They have become my family, and being a child in a "normal" family meant going to school, and that's what they were gonna make me do, tomorrow. Kevin and I have became inseparable over summer except when he would go to his friends house Betty Cooper. I never went with him because I didn't want to be an intrusion on his life, so when he would leave so would I to go see Amanda! I probably saw her once a week and it was great because she has been my only friend, well till I met Kevin! Tonight was the last night of summer tomorrow was gonna be my first day of school ever, I was so nervous and excited at the same time. I had read books all summer long that would prepare me for what I was gonna learn in school. I was homeschooled but they stopped at like 8th grade because then you were suppose to go to the bigger orphanage in Greendale, that was much stricter and taught high school education. But you know what happened there. So on our last night Kevin was leaving to go meet up with Betty, I never thought I would say this but "Kev, could I come with you?". He turned to me and the biggest smile popped on his face, "oh my god yes! I would love for you and Betty to meet!". I smiled back and slipped into my shoes. The Coopers house was like a 5-10 minute from The Kellers house, when we got there Kev knocked on the and a woman answered, "Hi Kevin Betty and Archie are upstairs! Oh and Hi! Whose this Kevin?" She smiled looking at me. " this is Kacey she's the friend that lives with me remember, I brought her to meet Betty!" I held out my hand and said "Hello ! It's so nice to meet you". "It's lovely to meet you too Kacey, come right in!". She moved out of the doorway and Kev lead me up the stairs to what I'm assuming is Betty's room. *Knock**Knock* "Come in!" A girl yelled from the other side. Kev opened the door and inside was a blonde girl with a ponytail and bright colored clothes sitting at a vanity, and a red headed boy in sweats was laying on the bed tossing a ball up and down in the air. "Hey guys! I want you to meet my friend that has been staying with me, Betty and Archie this is Kacey!". They smiled and waved and I did the same back. We all sat in Betty's room just talking about how excited everyone was for Freshman year. Archie was gonna tryout for the football and Betty just wanted to focus on her studies. Kev wanted a boyfriend, of course, out of everything. I laughed at his comment. They all looked at me all I wanted was to blend in not be seen and get my school work done, so I wasn't gonna lie and told them that. I prepared for the awkward silence but it never came because Archie bursted out, "Too late you aren't gonna blend in with all of us". I looked up at and smiled at him. Not gonna lie Archie was cute, he had the boy next store persona and he was just really hot. After we ate dinner It was late so Kev and I headed home.
The next morning came too fast, it was the first day of school. First impressions matter so I put on a really nice outfit that the Keller's had bought me. I wanted to look nice for my first day of school, ever. It was a pretty black & gray striped dress paired with some black thigh high socks, black boots and a flannel. I grabbed my white book bag and went downstairs to meet Kev. drove us both to the front door of Riverdale High. I was amazed at the amount of kids walking into the doors. How was I gonna do this, I was having a mini panic attack, but Kevin opened my door and held out his hand. It'll be okay Kacey let's go! I took his hand and we walked into school. Kev immediately brought me to the principal Weatherbee's office. I had a brief introduction meeting with him, before the secretary came in and gave me a large packet. It had my locker assignment, my schedule and many other school things. Kev and Betty ended up showing me around to all my classes which I had a lot with them and Archie. Now I'm not gonna bore you with details about every class but let's just say I became instantly intrigued. The only awkward part of it was when each teacher did roll call I didn't have a last name so when teachers made comments about it it made me nervous. However. It was finally time for Lunch I searched around in the indoor cafeteria and found nobody. So I began to walk to the outside cafeteria when a tall man stopped me he wasn't very attractive but he had the attitude like he knew he was. "Hey sweetheart, haven't seen you around before what's your name?" He said with a smooth voice. "Uh...my names Kacey" this guy kinda creeped me out but I just stood there not knowing what to do. "My names Chuck beautiful, why don't you give me your number and I'll take you out for some fun?" Was he really asking me out? I stood there silent not knowing how to say no nicely, but my savior came. Archie. "Leave her alone Chuck she doesn't want you" Archie grabbed my hand and led me outside to a table with Betty and Kev. "Thank you so much Archie, I froze" I said disappointed in myself. "It's fine Kacey, Chucks always been a player, and I didn't want him messing with you too" he said with a soft cute smile. I blushed. We let go of each other's hands and sat down with them. We all just talked and and had fun. I could get used to this. When Kevin and I got home dinner was already being made, which was unusual. We both walked into the kitchen to see working hard away at like 6 different sides for dinner. " do you need any help?" I asked and she looked up at Kev and I and started crying. She ran over to us and hugged us both. "What's wrong mom?" Kev asked as she let go. "Oh nothing I just missed you both when you were at school" she wiped away her tears and went back to cooking. Kev and I knew this was a lie but we weren't gonna push it. Dinner time came around when got home. We all sat in our seats and dug in, everything was delicious, meals always were. But broke the silence. "Darling, I love the dinner, but what is all this for?" She looked up at him the same broken hearted look washed over her face. She grabbed his hand, "Okay everyone I have some news" We all looked at her attentively, "I got a phone call today, from the Army, they said they needed me back". The tears filled her eyes again, but seeing her cry made both Kev and I tear up too. "For how long mom?" Kevin said softly. "I don't know, they said for awhile, it is a long important mission they need me for". That next week became half leftovers and half full course meals again until that Sunday when she left. The airport had me and Kevin balling. But didn't cry in front of us, but we could hear him heavily workout at night to cover up him crying but Kevin and I both knew. I had became more or less the family chef, had taught me how to make many meals over the summer, so I was somewhat of an expert. But we all pushed through things were normal at the sheriff's office, but school for me got different. I had joined the cheerleading squad per the request of Cheryl Blossom, a red headed posh bitch. I put up with her because of one night we had a talk after I found her crying in the girls locker room. Her mother and Father had made her break up with this girl that Cheryl was madly in love with, she didn't tell anyone at school, and I promised her I would keep her secret. From then on Cheryl stopped hating on me but we weren't friends. I had a very persistent Chuck Clayton hit on me everyday, but I finally got a backbone to say no to him, especially because of the one and only Archie Andrews. Who is now my first ever boyfriend. It wasn't forced it just kind of happened, we talked everyday we were kind of inseparable. The cute part was when he came over for dinner and interviewed him as if he was my father. He knew who Archie Andrews was but still he wanted to take the Father role for me. The only problem was with Betty, Kevin couldn't keep a secret from me and told me that Betty has had the biggest crush on Archie forever. I felt a little bad but that's not my fault, I never knew, and she can't be mad at me for liking him too. But she was, and Archie was oblivious. The only thing that mattered to me was that I was happy for once I had great grades, friends, a boyfriend, a home, and a family. What more could I ask for, life was great.
Freshman Year had ended me with at a 95 GPA. Life was good. Me and Archie were great, going on 11 months now. The answer to your question is No, Archie and I had not had sex yet, I trusted him and he wanted to but I wasn't ready, so he waited for me. I couldn't believe I got so lucky with him. But then again I didn't get lucky. I had barely seen Archie at all this summer he had worked with his dad at the construction site, helping him do jobs. So it was the weekend before July 4th weekend, and I thought Archie would have off. So I called him early that morning but he didn't answer so I stopped by at his house Fred said he wasn't there. So I took Kevin's bike and rode around to bring Archie some breakfast from Pop's, I decided to check the construction site.