Chapter 22: New Introductions

Ali grumbled as she walked down the stairs with her heels in her hands. Cecile and Theo were speaking in the family room, but stopped when their daughter made her way into the room. Theo walked over to his daughter with his open arms as he took her in. Ali's dress had a long sleeve bodice. It was black with gold detailing covering every inch. The bodice had a V-cut that showed slight cleavage. Her white skirt started at her waist and was a mullet cut. The front of the skirt was cut slightly above her knee while the back draped down behind her in a V shape.

"You are the most beautiful young lady in the world." Theo complimented his daughter when he walked up to her and placed a kiss on top of her head.

"She gets that from me." Cecile added as she walked over to her husband and daughter. Ali went to sit down on the chair, so she could put on her black strappy heels while Theo kissed his wife's cheek.

"I don't know why I have to come to this." Ali complained as she stood up and followed her parents out the front door.

"The Lodges' invited us to show our support for them and this upcoming project, mon chou." Theo explained as the three got into Theo's brand new car.

"Je connais, papa." Ali sighed.

"They are well respected business people and we need to make sure that we are all on the same side." Theo spoke as he began to drive to the destination.

"Besides, you're friends with Veronica, so it shouldn't be too much to ask you to come to this event." Cecile said.

"I just wanted to stay home." Ali confessed. After Ali had learned that Reggie and Josie shared an intimate moment, she didn't want to be very involved at school. She felt a slight pang of jealousy whenever she thought of the two together, but she would never admit it out loud.

"You can stay home tomorrow. Besides, you have never been one to pass up on the opportunity to dress up." Cecile said. Cecile was right about her daughter – Ali always loved to dress up for fancy occasions, despite her normal attire.

The trio safely made their way to the destination. The sun was shining and all the guests were dressed in some of their nicest clothing. Theo walked in-between the two lovely ladies he had in his life as they walked on the red carpet, into the canopy. Ali knew how to act in these social situations – a gracious smile, polite manners and the speech of royalty. The trio were stopped by Mr. and Mrs. Lodge. Theo and Cecile happily spoke with the other business couple in front of them. Mr. and Mrs. Lodge were pleased that Ali and Veronica had become friends because they believed that it is important to have friends who are of similar standing. Ali politely excused herself after that comment and made her way to the snack bar. Her eyes scanned over the expensive appetizers that were laid out and debating on what she should eat.

"The crab cakes are to die for." Ali heard an unfamiliar voice behind her. She looked over her shoulder and was met with a boy who had black curly hair that was cut short. He wore a tuxedo that was clearly tailored to him and his light green eyes popped as he looked at Ali. However, Ali noted that hit bowtie seemed too big for him.

"Thanks, I guess I'll have to try one." Ali thanked the boy in front of her.

"What is a beautiful Brit, like yourself, doing here in Riverdale?" The boy smiled at Ali.

"I live here now. I was told to come and spruce up the place a bit." Ali smirked.

"Well you definitely do. You look absolutely stunning in that dress." His eyes scanned Ali's body in a predatory way. A familiar feeling of uneasiness settled into her stomach, but she waved it away because she has faced much worse.

"Why thank you. You look rather dashing yourself…" Ali trailed off her sentence because she didn't know the boys name. "Nick." Ali gave him her hand and he placed a peck on the back of it.

"I'm Ali."

"Well, Ali, would you like to have this dance with me?" Nick held out his hand and Ali took it.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the canopy, Cecile made her way to a long lost friend of hers from high school. She walked over to the familiar man who now had a beard as an accessory to hit overall look. Cecile's hand was lightly placed on Fred's arm and when he looked at her, for the first time in over 20 years, he was shocked.

"Cecile?"

"Hi, Fred." Cecile was nervous and shy, but Fred quickly wrapped his arms around her and the two embraced.

"I heard that you were back, but I didn't believe it." Fred held Cecile at arms length, so he could take her all in. "You look radiant! How are you?"

"I'm well. How are you? I heard about what happened at Pop's." Fred felt a familiar shudder run through his bones at the mention of Pop's.

"I'm okay. I'm still on medication, but I'm out and about now. But how are you? The last thing I heard about you was the cancer. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you." Fred held Cecile's hands. She gave him a soft smile and a soft nod. Fred's heart broke as he looked at Cecile's face. This was the woman that he used to love. This was the woman he had wanted to marry and she had to go through such a traumatizing experience without him.

"It's been several years, so I'm very much in remission. After the surgery, they're pretty confident that it won't come back, but I have to go in for check-ups every couple years." Cecile explained.

"That's good to here. If I had known then I would've flown to you and helped take care of you." Fred explained. Cecile smiled at Fred.

"Don't worry. I'm sure your wife wouldn't be very pleased." Cecile used a baiting statement – she wanted to know what Fred's marital status was.

"I'm actually divorced." Fred corrected as he let go of Cecile's hands.

"Oh no, what happened?" Cecile questioned.

"It just didn't work out. We should get coffee together sometime? Catch up?" Fred suggested the date to Cecile.

"I'd love that." Fred's eyes wandered over to the dance floor and noticed a young girl wearing a black dress with gold stitching.

"Is that your daughter?" Fred pointed out the young lady to Cecile.

"That is. Alita Dubois, but she only ever likes being called Ali by non-family members." Cecile smiled at she watched her daughter dance with a young man wearing a tuxedo.

"She very beautiful. Just like her mother." Fred complimented Cecile. Cecile's cheeks began to heat up as blood rushed to them. "You have a son too, right?"

"I do, I have twin boys. Mathias Dubois, but he only likes being called Matt if you can't pronounce Mathias the way they do in French. Then there's Clovis, but everyone calls him Clo." Cecile said.

"I see that both your kids have very strong characteristics already." Fred laughed as he was reminded that Cecile was the exact same way in high school. "Where are they?" Fred scanned the room, hoping to find a young man that resembled the woman beside him, but he did not.

"They're not here. He didn't move with us." Cecile answered.

"Oh?" Fred looked at Cecile with a raised eyebrow.

"Hopefully, he'll be joining us soon though." Cecile smiled at Fred before looked back at Ali – who was now dancing with Reggie.

Okay woah...we got a bit of information here if you've been paying attention!

1) Ali meets Nick...WHAT DO WE THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN?! Do we think she'll end up beating him up? Maybe she'll end up being his target instead of Cheryl?!

2) Fred and Cecile know each other from high school? Is there more there?

3) ALI HAS TWIN BROTHERS?! NO WAY! THEY'RE COMING SOON?! WE GET NEW DRAMA?! WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?! WHY AREN'T THEY HERE?!

Leave me a review with your theories!