After school, I went into the lounge and saw a few of the students from my math class studying. I walked to the vending machine, and as I punched in the combination, I heard one of them saying, "Ugh! I will never figure this out."

"Just keep trying, Doug; I'm sure you'll get it." I heard a feminine voice behind me reassure a dark-haired boy about something on the couch.

"I know the answer," I said, as I walked over to them and leaned down to look at their books.

"What is it?"

"922." I pointed to the different steps, and Doug sighed with relief.

"Thank you, you are a goddess."

I laughed and said, "No problem. I love math."

Then the two shared a look, and the girl asked, "What is your name?"

"Alexandra Andrews. But you can call me Alex."

"Well, Alex, we're short a person, for a—well, I guess you can call it a school class field trip to the regionals. Wanna join?"

"There's a regionals for math?" I asked, leaning on the back of the couch.

"It's very complicated algebraic equations that are set up on a screen, and your team has ten minutes to solve them. They usually put on three or more. Last year, our team came in dead last because I forgot to add the exponent." Doug said, in a rush.

"Wow. And how many teams are you going to be competing against?" I asked, as I sat down.

"There are four total teams that get accepted, usually one from each town—Greendale, Centerville, Seaside, and Riverdale."

"So what does this have to do with me?"

"You took one look at that problem and knew the answer. We need you on our team, Alex. Please?" the girl asked. I was taken aback by their words. I didn't know what to say.

"When are the regionals?"

"Next month, the 1st…which means we have two weeks."

"Can I think about it for a few days before I make my decision?"

"Of course. But they need to know by the end of the week," the girl said, and I nodded.

"Okay. Uh, if you want, I can help you out while I make up my mind."

"Thank you!" Doug said, and I laughed. I got situated, and then we got started. The girl's name I learned was Marybeth, and the boy's name was Doug. The other was in the bathroom right then, but his name was Skyler. We studied for what seemed like hours, before I checked the time, and saw it was nearly eight.

"Shoot! I need to go. It's getting late."

"Oh, alright," Marybeth said.

Then I got up, and grabbed my purse, saying, "Oh, I would like to join your team, if that is still alright?"

"Yes! Of course that is alright! Oh! Thank you, Alex, thank you!" she got up, and gave me a bear hug. I grunted out of sheer surprise, but hugged her back none-of-the-less. We backed up, I said my goodbyes, and then I was gone. I raced home as fast as humanly possible, ran in the door, and slowly closed it, forgetting when I came in that dad would be asleep.

As I slowly walked into the living room, the side lamp was turned on, and I jumped back, surprised. "Dad! I thought you were asleep. You scared me."

I walked to the couch, and sat down my quiver and bow as he said, "I wanted to make sure you got back home. I was worried."

"Why? Just because you grounded Archie because he was an idiot, doesn't mean I'm going to do the same thing."

"Well, are you?" he asked, as he got up, staring at me.

"No, of course not," I said, annoyance lacing every word. Then I had a thought, and asked, "Oh, and I was wondering if I could go to Greendale for a few days next month? The school is having a mathematical regionals thing on the first, and they're down a person."

"No. I'm sure you can go to more in the future, but for now, you're staying here."

"What? Why? Because it's in Greendale?"

"No, because—"

"Because it isn't sports," I concluded, glaring at him. But he just sighed, and looked anywhere but at me. I sighed, and said, "Fine." Then I walked past him, and said, "But you have to own it."

"Own what?"

Then I turned back to him, and asked, "Okay, if I had an archery game tomorrow night, would you stop me from going?"

"I, uh—" he stammered.

I cut him off and said, "No. Because sports, you understand, you respect. But ever since I told you about my love for math, you don't care."

But all he did was glare at me, and said, "We're done here."

I then clenched my fists at my sides and went upstairs before I said anything else. When I got upstairs, I slammed the door shut, hard, and then my phone buzzed.

Betty
8:51 p.m….
Hey, we might have a lead on the playbook. You in?

Me
8:52 p.m….
Yes. I'll meet you at the school in ten.

Then I went to my closet and changed into jeans, grabbed my jacket, ran out of the house, and drove away. "Football players behaving badly, what else is new? Steubenville, Glen Ridge. The coach's son being the ring leader, I mean, how depraved is this town?" Veronica asked, as Betty, Veronica, Ethel, Kevin, and I walked down the hall. I had just turned a corner with my flashlight blaring; I heard a sudden voice behind me.

"Color me impressed," we all whipped around, Kevin and I gasping in doing so. When I looked, I saw Cheryl at the end of the hall, smiling like the Cheshire cat as she blinded us with her flashlight. "A B and E with B and V. What would your holy roller mother say about this, Betty?"

"What are you doing here, Cheryl?" Betty asked, confused and annoyed.

"And where did you get those thigh-high boots? They're amazing," Kevin whispered, as Cheryl walked toward us. I rolled my eyes, but smiled in my head.

"Trev told Valery, who told Josie, who told Ginger, who told Tina, who told me. And I thought I would help out," Cheryl said. I rolled my eyes as I left to Join Ethel in the boys' locker room. She was searching the unlocked lockers, the shelves, even in the bathroom. But as I scanned the wall with the hung up football jerseys on them, I saw something. It was a red, tall book shoved against the wall by a helmet. My heart bolted as I pulled it out, and started searching it. It was the playbook.

"Hey guys, get in here," I hollered. Ethel came to my side a moment later. Every page was filled with names and numbers, scoring the girls on one side, with the conquester's name on the other side of the conquestee.

"Trev was right. They didn't even bother to hide it," Ethel said. I sighed, as I flipped another page of names. At the end of the page was Veronica's name right next to 'new girl bonus' in brackets.

"'New girl'? Is that what I'm reduced to? Nine points?" Veronica asked, almost saddened.

"Better than 'Big girl', seven point five," Ethel said, as she pointed to her slot, which had 'big girl' in brackets next to her name. Cheryl stifled a chuckle, which made me want to throw the book at her, but something stopped me. Above Ethel's name was the most unexpected name in the book…Polly Cooper.

"Polly's in this book," Betty said. My eyes widened at whose name was next to hers. Jason Blossom.

"Next to Jason's name," Cheryl stated, as she saw it. Betty walked away, putting a hand on her mouth as she thought.

"I'm so sorry, Betty," I said, as I handed the book to Ethel, and joined Betty, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"This isn't…Jason would never…"

Cheryl tried to defend her brother, but Betty cut her off and yelled, "It's right there, Cheryl! Your brother hurt my sister. This is what guys like Jason and Chuck think about women. We're objects for them to abuse. And when they're done with us, they shame us into silence. They have zero remorse for the lives they destroy." Betty laid it on thick, and the whole room was stunned into silence.

"Maybe I don't know Jason," Cheryl said, as she walked to Betty, a few feet away.

"I'll take a picture, and we'll show it to Weatherbee. It'll be the perfect cover for your exposé, Betty," Veronica said, and I instantly got confused.

"Yeah, but…no. These girls deserve justice, don't you think, Cheryl?" I asked. Cheryl, horrorstricken, stared at me like I just killed her cat.

Then Betty walked up to Veronica, and asked, "You want to go full-dark, no stars, Veronica? I'm with you." Veronica slowly nodded at that, smiling as she thought about it. "And I have a plan," Betty said, and nodded to herself.

The next night, was the Mayor's Taste of Riverdale thing. And, also, it was the night Veronica and Betty would be getting revenge on Chuck. But given I didn't want to commit a felony, I stayed behind. The whole time I was getting ready, I was checking my phone for texts from Veronica or Betty, letting me know how it went. But my phone was silent the whole time.

After about twenty minutes of staring at my phone, I went upstairs, and got changed. It was a simple outfit: my fish nets under a black skort and black flats, with a cream colored, sleeveless blouse. The chest was covered with a pattern of a black, embroidered string of different shapes turned into a crown. At the neck of the blouse, was a string that went around my neck so I could make a bow if I wanted to. As I was putting on my shoes, my phone buzzed.

Marybeth
8:27 p.m.…
Hey, are you going to the Mayor's thing-y tonight?

Me
8:29 p.m.…
Yeah, I'm on my way. Want to go together?

Marybeth
8:31 p.m….
Yeah! That'd be great. I'll meet you at your house in ten?

Me
8:34 p.m….
Sure, sounds great.

"Welcome all, to the first annual taste of Riverdale," Mayor McCoy said, from the stage as Marybeth and I walked in. "As a lead up to our 75th Anniversary Jubilee, this event proves that Riverdale truly is a town that, when tragedy knocks us down, we get right back up!"

"Do you want a drink?" Marybeth asked. I nodded, and she disappeared into the crowd. I sighed taking in my surroundings, and then I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

"I thought you said you'd be staying in tonight?" I looked behind me, and saw Dad was looking at me with an eyebrow raised.

"Yeah, well, I changed my mind. And besides, Marybeth didn't want to go alone."

"Who's Marybeth?" he asked, confused.

"A friend from my math class." At that, he almost scowled, but nodded and walked away. I huffed, turned back to the stage, and saw Marybeth walking to me with a warm smile.

"Here you are," she said, smiling, and I thanked her, taking the glass. She was about to say something, when I heard Alice's voice beam ten feet away.

"Penelope Blossom. I thought I might run into you here. May I get a quote regarding—" she was cut off by Mrs. Blossom's hand going across Alice's face. A few people gasped, and it seemed the whole place went silent.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa," the sheriff said, as Alice was thrown into him by the force of the hit.

"How dare you, Alice Cooper! Printing my son's autopsy? He was tortured, shot, and thrown into the river like a piece of garbage," Mrs. Blossom sobbed, as Mr. Blossom held her back.

Then Josie walked up on stage, with the rest of the pussycats, and she tried to get everyone's attention away from the cat fight sure to ensue. "Hey, uh, Riverdale. We are Josie and the Pussycats. Are you ready to rock?" she asked, unsure. When people resumed their stares to the stage, they started their song, 'All for me'.

As they sang, I saw Archie sneak up the stairs, and to the loft above the stairs. I smirked, and then looked back to the stage. As my view scanned the crowd, I saw Dad talking to Mr. Kaine, our math teacher. They seemed to be in deep conversation when Dad asked a question, and then Mr. Kaine instantly replied with an urgent string of words. Dad nodded at that, and then excused himself, and disappeared into the crowd. As the song finished, I saw Jughead walk away from the loft and then to the stairs leading to the door.

The next day, I walked outside, and to my bike. I stopped and saw dad working in the garage. As I walked to the open garage door, he turned to me, and I asked, "Is this the part where I say 'I told you so' and then we get into a big tiff over who was right and who was wrong?"

He sighed, and then took off his safety glasses. "No, actually. This part is for Archie, but I wanted to tell you something." He walked to me, putting his safety glasses on the table. He looked at me, and then said, "I've decided to let you go to that regionals thing on the 1st."

My eyes widened in shock, and I asked, "What changed your mind?"

"I talked to your math teacher, Mr. Kaine? Yeah, he said you are the best in his class, straight A+ student, really talented."

"Yeah you see, normal dads already know those things about their child. And you know, doesn't need to be told by their teacher…at the Taste of Riverdale event," I stated, with a glare. I crossed my arms over my chest, and said, "No thanks."

"Alex, I…I'm trying here. But you have to help me out. This is more than one-sided."

"Only because you made it that way."

"Honey—"

"You found out I was a serpent and sent me to Maine a month early. I was only thirteen, Dad. You were like…a superhero to me. I thought that you—that you could do no wrong. But…the one thing that you did wrong…was the thing that broke us. And I—I can't just be given a few hugs and apologies and expect that the last two years didn't happen. It's going to take a lot more than this," I gestured to the wood, and his actions, and said, "to make me forgive you."

With that, I turned, got on my motorcycle, and went to school. When I walked down the hall, I walked past the music room, and saw Archie in there. I sighed, but kept going to my locker. Behind me, Veronica and Betty were talking about someone getting what they deserved. But I tuned them out, grabbing my books, and went to math.

Halfway through first period, I heard Principle Weatherbee call upon Betty and Veronica over the intercom.

Given Betty's article, Weatherbee needed a sacrificial lamb, needed to make an example of someone. So, after Hermione Lodge negotiated a lesser sentence for our two avenging angels, Coach Clayton, to save his job, to save the school's reputation, was forced to cut his own beloved son, and his goon squad, from the team.

I stood behind a few girls in the wake of the whole school in the main hall, watching in satisfied disbelief as Chuck and his goon squad were escorted out of the building.

"Thanks, Betty. Thanks Veronica," Ethel said, as she smiled at the two.

"Thank you, Ethel, for going on the record. It made all of the difference with Weatherbee," Betty said, as she leaned in front of Veronica, and smiled up at Ethel.

"You're the bravest of them all, Ethel Muggs," I said, and Veronica smiled up at her.

I heard Cheryl say, "Hashtag justice for Ethel." I rolled my eyes at her, but smiled none-of-the-less.

I don't know all of what went down at Ethel's, but apparently, Betty and Veronica tied chuck in a hot tub, and forced him to tell the truth about the playbook. It was quite genius, to tell you the truth. But one thing was certain, Betty and Veronica, now B & V, and maybe forever, had been forged.