2
Fred heard the rev of the engine a mile away. He went to the window and saw the car slow down on the makeshift dirt road before parking in front of the office. Imagine his surprise when his son hopped out of the driver's seat, followed an older woman he just couldn't make out.
Panic set in.
Until he saw it was his baby sister.
They walked into the office and Fred stared at her in shock
"You always have to make an entrance"
"Why mess with tradition?"
She walked across the office and hugged her brother, slightly longer then she would have normally and Fred noticed the bandage on her hand
"What have you done?"
"She ran a stop sign"
"A driving record like yours and you drive something like that?"
"Well, I totalled my hatchback"
"Like Dads pick up"
"Hey!" she said playfully "That tree came out of nowhere"
"That tree that was there for what? A hundred years"
"That's the one"
She was joking around but she was in pain, Fred could see it, although she was putting on a brave face
"Break up with the stiff shirt boyfriend?"
"Why do you ask?"
"You always hit the road and get space after a breakup"
She crossed her arms over her chest and smiled at him
"Didn't work out, clearly"
"Gracie, I could have told you that" he chuckled "He was an investment banker"
"Yeah well, it doesn't matter anymore"
"Glad to have you home, even if only for a little while" She smiled at him before he gave her a squeeze. "I'm starving"
"Are we going back to Pop's?" she asked laughing
"Yes" both the guys answered
She tossed her keys to her brother
"I'll take your truck"
"I'm so glad your home"
She laughed before turning off all the lights and following then outside. Small town life, there was nothing like it.
#
She walked up to the counter and gave Pop's her second order of the day. Grace was suddenly remembering that everything in this town revolved around this diner.
"For you Gracie?" Pop's asked
"I think if I eat another thing I'll exploded" she laughed "But maybe a slice of pecan pie"
"They not feeding you in the big bad city, Princess"
Grace saw him walk out from the back in the Pop's uniform, but it was unmistakeably FP Jones.
"This is a different look for you"
"Pays the bills"
He told her leaning his forearms against the counter. She leant forward and played with his bow tie
"I'm not hatin' " she smiled sweetly at him
"Probation and all"
"Hey, you have to do what you have to do to get by. Especially when it comes to the kids"
After a while Grace realised that they were staring at each other in a way that had never been them, in the past. She cleared her throat before standing back up. She went to walk away before he called her back
"Princess, you might want to reapply make up on the shiner around your eye. If you don't want Freddie boy to realise what is actually going on. Jug said it was a car accident."
"Airbag straight to the face"
"Pretty small airbag"
Grace walked away and out of side to do exactly what he had just told her. Last thing she needed was Fred losing his mind.
#
The sound of the Andrews family laughter filled the diner for the rest of the night. That was the thing when family lived far apart. They were always happy to see one another. They conned FP to join them, after his shift
"He beat the crap out of the captain of the Baxter High football team" Fred told her
Grace looked over at her brother quickly
"Which one?"
"You know which one" Fred laughed
"You beat up Jimmy Mitcham?!" she asked turned to FP
"Yeah"
"Why?"
"It was after a football game and I didn't like his face" FP told her laughed "How do you know him?"
"She dated him" Fred told him
"I was a junior, he was a senior"
"The third time he repeated his senior year" Fred kept going before watching her roll her eyes.
"What happened? You come to your senses"
"No" she chuckled "He cheated on me with Lauren Pymble"
"Suddenly, so glad I kicked the shit out of him"
"Awww, you're so sweet"
"Gracie, you really have the worst taste in men"
"You have no idea"
FP didn't remember her, the way she was now. Gracie was still twelve in his head. Time away from Riverdale had done her a world of good. Staying here would only afford her one road to go down. Marriage, kids and FP didn't think she was meant for that life. She was too much of a rebel.
Though while they were all talking and she absentmindedly took her hair out of the bun on top of her head. It took FP all his willpower not to stare.
"Soooo" Archie leaning across the table
"Sooo" she said teasing him
"Can I drive the car back? Please?"
"I'll take the truck. You and your dad can fight it out"
Archie and Fred looked at one another, without saying a word before Fred blocked Archie's way out of the booth. Archie broke free and they both raced out the door. Grace watched them out the window and laughed as Fred drove out of the parking lot, he had the keys the whole time.
"Here I thought I may cause a stir but it ended up being my car. My ego is a little bruised"
"No, I think you are too. Don't worry"
"Good to know"
"Heard before you go by your mom's maiden name"
"Business wise, yeah. Seemed easier in a lot of way"
"I was telling Jug about her knife skills"
"She's not the only one"
"Your Dad would have loved that"
He hadn't changed much, not in any major way. Grace remembered all the girls in the high school, no matter the age, they were all so in love with him. She never really understood why, because it was just FP. Her brother's friend but now, she saw it. It was all about the eyes.
"I have a very important request of you" she told him leaning closer
"Ohhh, good. Go on"
"Can I wear the hat?"
He looked down at the Pop's hat on the tabletop, he hated that thing. Of course she loved it.
"Be my guest"
She picked her hat up of the table and placed it melodramatically on her head
"What do you think?"
"Hmmm, I think it looks better on me"
"Pfft. Not possible, I look great in everything"
"I don't doubt that"
His compliment hung thickly between them, as they looked over at each other. She chuckled and looked away
"Well I better go catch these boys before they total my car"
"Might be a good plan"
She stood up, and walked to the other side of the booth, which was right next to the front door. Just before she could walk out, he called her back
"Princess?"
"Ugh, is that going to stick?"
"Maybe" he chuckled "Glad you're home"
"Yeah, you too. I mean, somewhere without bars"
She smiled cheekily at him before walking out the door. She had just teased him about prison, No one teased him about prison. No one dared do that.
FP didn't intimidated her and he liked it.
