I was studying for the 'algebraic championship', as Doug explained it, when I heard Archie across the hall, boxing. I sighed, walked to his room, and flung open the door. I didn't say anything until he looked at me, but when he did, he raised an eyebrow.
"Dude," I said, emphasizing the D's. "Did the power go off or something?"
"No…?" he asked, confused.
"Well, in that case, do you see what time it is?" I asked, pointing to his clock to the right of him. He chuckled at me, and punched a few more times.
"Ah, sorry, Al. Just trying to get back in fighting shape for the field," he said, as he continued to do the thing he was sorry for. Figures.
"So, this is all for football? The staying up late, the extra working out, the abs…not practicing music anymore…?" I asked, hesitantly.
"Coach Clayton's about to set the starting lineup, name a new captain. It's like Dad said, football gets me a scholarship, which gets me to college where I can study music. Captains get scholarships. " He said every word with another punch, and it drove me crazy.
"Okay, stop. That chain ticking and the puddle of sweat on the floor is driving me nuts. Why do you care so much about football of a sudden? Don't you want to pursue music?"
"I do. But like I said…"
"Football brings scholarships, scholarships bring college, and college brings music. Yeah. I get it, Nancy Drew, but you didn't answer my question."
He sighed, stopped boxing, and said, "It's just more important right now, Alex."
"You know what's more important? My sleep. So can't you just do the stuff that isn't so loud at night?"
"Sorry. But no. I need to keep this schedule."
"Fine, but If I fall asleep during school tomorrow, I'm blaming you." I pointed my finger in his direction and left. As I closed the door, I heard him start back up again, and I sighed. The next day I, like I said, fell asleep in biology and got detention. At lunch, we all sat on the bleachers and ate there.
On our way to join Archie, Veronica said, "Betty, you're positively radiating Nicolas Sparks. Tell me everything about this Trev."
"Oh, there's nothing to tell. Just one of Betty's sources. There's nothing romantic in the offing," Kevin said, obviously trying to say it was nothing but. I rolled my eyes as I sat down next to Jughead.
"Why is everything weird, here? Why can't a date just be a date? What about you, Archie, how's life in a PG world?" Veronica asked, as she ate her French fries. I continued to roll my eyes into another dimension. Then everybody looked at her, and she explained.
"PG. Post-Grundy. What, too soon?"
"Coach Clayton says I have a chance at being varsity captain. So I'm not thinking about anything else right now."
"And you're back to being boring," Veronica said, dreadfully.
Betty asked Archie, "Are you, maybe, throwing yourself into football as a way to avoid your feelings?" She asked it with so much hesitance and caution; I thought she was trying to convince the queen of England to not have so many corgis.
"I'm not avoiding anything, Betty. I'm trying to get my life back on track." He reassured her that wasn't the case. My twin-senses are tingling. I have a feeling that's not all it is.
Valerie came around the bleachers and said, "I can help with that. I know Miss Grundy was tutoring you…"
Then Veronica said under her breath, "Understatement of the year." I turned to her, giving her a look, and she nearly spit out her French fry because she was trying to stop herself from laughing.
"…But there's this amazing songwriter from New York, who's an adjunct at Carson college? Incredible mentor. He does some coaching on the side, and I told him about you. You wanna meet him?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'd love to. But football…" Archie said, as he sighed.
"No, Archie can. And he will," Betty said, as she smacked his arm.
Then Val added, "Call him if you want, but do it soon. His spots fill up fast."
"Thank you, Val." Then she smiled, and she left.
"Hey, now you have zero excuses to be avoiding music," Betty smiled at him. Then I heard Cheryl's all-too-early morning chipper voice on the track.
"Sorry to interrupt sad breakfast club, but I'm here to formally invite you to Jason's memorial at Thornhill this weekend." Then she handed out black invites to everyone. She turned to Veronica, instantly shooting daggers, and said, "To my surprise and chagrin, mother added you to the guest-list. In case you're tempted to steal our silver candlesticks…don't. We'll be searching bags." And on that happy note, she left, leaving everyone in a shocked pause.
"Hey, try to remember, she is burying her brother," I said to Veronica, and she nodded. After lunch, I went to the student lounge and saw Marybeth sitting with Skyler on a couch.
"Hey, guys." I smiled, and sat with them.
"Alex, hi. Are you ready to go to the regionals with us?"
"Yeah, but I do have some concerns on how to go, and not tell my dad." I sighed, and clutched a pillow in my lap.
"Wait, why can't you tell your dad?" Skyler asked, instantly confused.
"Because he doesn't approve of my love for math. But I'm going anyway," I said, defiantly. He nodded at that, stunned and shocked into momentary silence.
"Well, when does he usually go to bed?" she asked, sitting up.
I thought for a moment before saying, "Around ten-ish. Why?"
"well, then you can just sneak out after he goes to bed, and stay the night at my place until we have to go."
"Really? I could?"
"Totally. My mom would be fine with that. Why not?" she asked, not giving a care in the world about it.
"Okay, yeah. Uh, thank you. Wow, I can't believe this is really happening," I giggled, and she joined in on the excitement. The regionals were two days after Jason's memorial, which meant I would need to start planning my trip when we got back from that. The next night, I walked into my room and started cleaning my closet this time. I walked in, flipped on the light, and sighed. There, in the corner of the closet, was my stash of leather items.
I walked to it, and started flipping through them until I came across one of my leather jackets. I turned it over and saw the emblem on the back. My breath hitched, and my fingers ran across it like I had just discovered the Ark of the Covenant. The green slithering 'S' almost sparkled when it hit the light, and the red eyes stared back at me with such determination I thought I might drop it.
I sighed, and then with my hand still holding onto it, I used my other to run across the spot on my arm where my snake tattoo was. I couldn't see it due to the makeup covering it right now, so I sighed, and closed my eyes. My breath came out shaky as I remembered when I got it.
I shook my head to rid myself of the thought and put it back on the hanger, I walked to my bed and cried. The morning of Jason's memorial, I got up and went for a run on the Southside. I ran as fast as I could until I found myself at the Whyte Wyrm. I walked in, not caring if people saw my tattoo, and found FP at the bar.
I walked up to him, and said, "Hey." It was quiet, shaky, and slightly slower than normal. But he heard me, and his head shot up, and asked, "Alex? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in school?"
"It's the weekend. And I wanted to ask your advice," I said it like a question, and his eyebrows rose.
"Me? You…" He chuckled, staggered off his bar stool, and said, "I'm the wrong person for that, kid."
"Actually, I think you are the right person," I said, as he started to leave.
He turned back to me, asking, "oh yeah? And why is that?"
"Because it's family advice. Well, dad advice."
"What do you need?"
"You and my dad are close, right?"
"Not recently."
"I mean, well, enough to know how he'll react to something."
"Close enough. Why?"
"I want to be a Serpent, again. How bad will he blow up when I do?"
"Like a volcano. You know how he reacted last time, kid."
"Ok, well…Um, hypothetically, if I were to disappear for three days and go to Greendale for a mathematical championship, what would he do with that knowledge? Hypothetically, anyway?" His eyebrows rose even more, and he chuckled.
"Mathematical…" he chuckled again, and I rolled my eyes.
"Forget it. I knew this was a bad idea," I mumbled, as I walked away.
But before I could get too far, he grabbed my left forearm, and said, "Don't test Fred with his patience, kid. He won't do too kindly to the idea of you going missing with a murderer on the loose." He said it with a slouch of his shoulders and a slight roll of his eyes.
Uh, I hadn't thought of that. I thought, and then nodded, and said, "Thank you, FP." He nodded kind of sideways, and then he let go of me, and I left. I walked in the front door right when Dad came down the stairs for his morning coffee.
"Dare I even ask?"
"I went for a run to clear my head." He nodded, went into the kitchen, and disappeared. I sighed, ran up the stairs, and laid out every piece of black clothing I had on the bed. Which wasn't much. I decided to go with a black lace knee-high dress, and my leather jacket. I wore my hair up in a French braid, and I wore my black lace heels with the same lace as that of my dress. I ran down the stairs right as Archie was walking out the door to go. I walked out to my bike right next to him, and sighed.
"Want a ride?" I suggested, and he grinned.
"Yeah. Thanks." He smiled and jogged over to me. I gave him an extra helmet, and he smiled like a kid as he put it on and slung a leg over the back of the bike. As he wrapped his arms around me, I rolled my eyes, and drove to Thornhill. Archie and I walked in and took our seats. I was squished between Kevin and Archie, with Betty and Jughead behind me and Veronica in front of me. I got up, and went to the bathroom; on my way back, I spotted Mrs. Blossom by the archway.
I walked to her, and said, "Mrs. Blossom? Hi. I just wanted to say that…I am so sorry for your loss. He was a good kid. He didn't deserve this." I quickly glanced at the coffin, and back to her.
She looked shocked, but then she smiled, and said, "Well, thank you, Alexandra."
I nodded, and went back and sat with Archie. A minute later, he got up and went to talk to her too. He gave her Jason's football jersey, and I could tell she was about to cry. But then, she composed herself and thanked him. I couldn't tell what they were saying; but then, she reached out and touched his hair. I sighed, knowing she was thinking he looked like Jason. I feel for her. No matter how bad she is, no parent should ever have to bury their child. Then he walked back to us and sat down next to me, not saying a word.
"Did she just touch your hair?" Kevin asked, uncertain.
I rolled my eyes, and said, "That was really sweet, what you did."
I touched his shoulder, and he said, "She deserves it. More than I do." A minute later, people started to murmur, and everyone turned around and saw Cheryl walking down the aisle, covered in white. But not just any white. The exact same outfit she was wearing when Jason drowned.
"Oh, my gosh…" Veronica whispered. Kevin smiled, and mouthed "Yes…" Cheryl's parents stopped in their tracks at the sight of her.
She walked around to the podium, and said, "Welcome to Thornhill. Thank you all for coming. If you'd kindly take your seats…" she said, and gestured to the few people who stood up to see her, and they sat down.
"…I'd like to start the memorial with a few words, about Jason," She said, as she took off her gloves.
Mrs. Blossom tried to stand up, but Mr. Blossom stopped her, and Veronica whispered across the hall, "You are only going to make things worse." She sighed, and then Cheryl continued.
"The last time I saw Jason, I was wearing this dress. I know it's impossible, but I swear, when I put it on it feels like he's in the room with me. Even though we were twins, I used to demand I have my own birthday party. Until one year, out of the blue, Jason convinced me we had to combine them into one. It wasn't until years later I found out why. It was because no one wanted to come to mine. And Jason didn't want me to know. He protected me. Every single day. I wish, that day at the river, I had protected him." Then she broke down crying, ran to his coffin, and sobbed onto it, saying, "I'm so sorry Jay-Jay. We failed you. All of us."
Then Veronica got up, and went to her side. Cheryl hugged her, sobbing still. Then a few people started to get up. Mrs. Blossom got up and went to the podium, saying, "I think we'll adjourn now to the winter salon for a light supper." Then everyone started to file out, and I excused myself and went outside for some fresh air. On my way to the front door, I saw Dad and Hermione Lodge talking by the stairs. Then she leapt into his arms, and they stayed like that for a good thirty seconds before they separated.
Dad looked up and saw me. "Alex, wait. Please!" I shook my head in disgust and ran outside.
I slowed down at the sound of his voice, and whipped around, and asked, "Did it feel good? Hugging her?"
"What are you talking about? We were just—"
"I am not a child! I saw you."
"Saw what?"
"Just because mom isn't living with us, doesn't mean that you aren't still married," I spat, and he looked shocked that I brought up mom.
But he swallowed it down and said, "I had just offered her a job at the office, she got excited. That's it."
"Oh, my g…fine." Then I walked up closer to him, and said, "Look me in the eye, and tell me you didn't like it. Tell me you haven't thought it before. Tell me that 'friend date' with you two at the drive-in didn't matter to you."
"Alex, I…"
"That's what I thought," I said, and then turned around, got on my bike, and drove away. If Archie needs to get home, he can walk. I ended up on the Southside at the docks where some of the Serpents go to hang out. I sat on the ground, knees to my chest, crying. I don't know how long I had been sitting there until I heard a faint motorcycle off in the distance. I didn't look up until I heard a masculine voice behind me.
"Alexandra? What are you doing here?" I looked up just long enough to see it was fangs, and I instantly wiped my eyes dry and sniffled.
"Wanting to be alone."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just go." I pushed my head deeper into my knees, and he sighed. I could tell he got closer to me, and then I felt a hand on my kneecap. I looked up just enough to see his big hand on me.
"What are you doing here, Fogarty?"
"Nothing. Why are you crying?"
I sighed, knowing he wouldn't give it up, and dropped my knees, saying, "It's stupid."
"No, it isn't. Just tell me." He sat down next to me, and I sniffled again. "Well…two years ago,"
"Yeah."
"Two years ago, my mom and dad took a 'break' and she moved to Chicago. And now, my dad, I think, is having feelings for someone else."
"Ok…?"
"They're still married. And I just, I don't know. I…." I shook my head and sighed.
He nodded, and said, "But you love your mom and don't want to lose her. And you're afraid that if your old man decides to be with this other woman, then you might never see your mother again."
I looked up at him, and gave him a questioning look, and asked, "How did you know that?"
He chuckled, and said, "Trust me. I know a thing or two about things like this."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a long story. Never mind."
I nodded at his forwardness to end the discussion about him, and I asked, "But really, how did you know I was here?"
He sighed, and said, "I was going home when I saw a motorcycle with a redhead on it drive by. I kind of figured it was you."
I chuckled and sniffled again. After a moment, he asked, "Why are you so dressed up?" I looked down at myself and realized I had never changed out of my funeral clothes.
"Oh uh, it was Jason blossom's funeral today."
"And you went?"
"Not because we were friends or anything. Because my brother was going, and he needed support."
"Why?"
"Jason was the captain for the Riverdale football team. Since his death, my brother has been given that spot. They weren't close, by any stretch, but it had been hard on him." He nodded, thinking. I cleared my throat, and said, "It's getting late, I need to get back home. I have to pack."
"Pack? Why?"
"Remember that 'algebraic regionals' thing?"
"Yeah."
"Well, it's the day after tomorrow, and I'll be gone for three days."
"Oh. Your father actually said yes?"
"No. I'm sneaking out after he goes to sleep and staying the night at a friend's house until the bus arrives." He nodded, and I nodded back as I wiped my tears away. He stood up and offered me a hand, which, I welcomed. When I stood, I realized: With me being 5'5, and him being around 5'11, plus my five-inch heels, I was almost as tall as he was.
"Goodbye, Fangs."
"Goodbye, Alexandra," he said, with a slight smile. Then I walked around him, got on my bike, and drove home. When I walked into my room, I closed and locked the door behind me, and started packing. Two of my three bags were books and supplies. The other held four shirts, pants, underwear and bras, two pairs of shoes, and my leather jacket. I came this close to picking my Serpent one, but I couldn't just yet. So, I chose the lesser of two evils and went with my logo-free one.
