It was the last day of regionals. I pulled my hair into a tight pony tail and put on my blazer and tie. We all had to wear the school's uniform: plaid skirts for girls, khaki pants for boys, and white dress shirts and plaid ties along with black blazers. We all sat at the table with the rest of the teams, when I saw the judge come up on stage. She called the start, and the first equation was set up on screen. I almost instantly rang the buzzer, and a few people in the team to our right, Centerville, threw up their hands or angrily cursed.

"Riverdale, what is your answer?" the judge asked, surprised we rang the buzzer so early.

"9.5," I had called, nervously. The judges nodded their answer and I jumped in excitement in my chair. The next few we got right, shooting our team right into top spot on the leader board. But Greendale and Seaside got a few after that, sending us down to second. Skyler huffed, but Marybeth reassured him we could win, and he seemed to calm down. I smirked at them and kept answering questions.

It was the last round of regionals, and the leader board was taken down so no one could see what their tallies were except the judges. The judge put the last question up, and Greendale instantly reached for their buzzer, but I saw them, and slammed my fist into our buzzer first. A teammate on the Greendale team glared at me, but I merely stuck my tongue out before Marybeth gave the judges the answer.

".000273," Marybeth said, confidently. I rubbed her shoulder as the judges thought for a moment. She momentarily glanced at me and gave me a weak, nervous smile, and I firmly nodded.

"Correct, Riverdale. Good job." We gave a collective sigh of relief, and the screen was turned off.

"Thank you, Greendale, Riverdale, Centerville, and Seaside for another exciting and well-rounded mathematical regionals. Now, please exit through the upper-left door, and wait for your results in the cafeteria," a judge said, smirking.

"Let's go," Skyler said. Marybeth instantly followed him, with the rest of us following suit.

I had just sat down in the cafeteria when my phone buzzed with a text from Fangs.

Fangs: So? Is it over? Did you win?

Me: No. We're waiting for the judges to announce the winners.

Fangs: Do you think you might win?

Me: Well the judge that was handing off the questions has a stone-cold poker face, so I have no idea. But I saw a couple of the other teams flub more than once. So, fingers crossed.

Fangs: Don't worry. I believe in you. And besides, you already convinced FP to lie for you, so you have my vote.

Me: Ha-ha. I just hope I don't get crucified when I get home.

Fangs: Your dad will have to go through me first.

Me: Ah, how noble of you. But I'm sure that I'll be grounded for at least a month. Then a judge came in, and said to meet everyone back in the other room.

Me: The judge just called us back. Wish me luck.

Fangs: Good luck. Tell me how you do.

Me: Thanks. Will do.

Then I got my bag and headed back with everyone else. We sat down at our table and Marybeth nervously started to bite her nails. Skyler was rubbing small circles in her back to calm her, while I and Doug sat patiently. A few minutes later, three judges walked onto the stage. The women said into the microphone, "In third place, Centerville." Then I heard a disgruntled sound behind me, and I saw the Centerville team huffing and puffing. One of the girls actually started crying.

"In second place, Greendale." Then the table to our left started smiling, and their teacher praised them.

"Now, without further ado, the first place winner of the Fifteenth Mathematic Regionals is…Riverdale." I was in shock. We all just sat there for a second, making sure we heard her right. But then, Doug and Skyler got up and started laughing, clapping, and hugging each other. I laughed as I got up, and Marybeth and I hugged.

"I can't believe it! We did it!" Marybeth exclaimed, and I laughed.

Then we pulled apart, and Doug walked over to me, picking me up in his arms, and said, "I told you guys you were our good luck charm!" I laughed, and hugged him back.

Then he put me back down and after the excitement calmed, the judge, smiling this time, said, "Congratulations, Riverdale. You earned it. I hope to see you all next year." As we all headed back to our hotel, the boys were up ahead, yelling, and jumping around, picking each other up. I rolled my eyes at them, but then I had a thought and pulled out my phone.

Me: Guess what?

Fangs: What?

Me: We won first place! I can't believe it.

Fangs: I told you, you could do it. Just out of curiosity, who was last?

Me: Centerville.

Fangs: Figures. They're all scum bags and morons.

Me: Speaking from experience are we?

Fangs: Ha-ha. No, I've been there a couple of times though. I'm happy for you.

Me: Thanks. We're heading back now. We'll probably be back around five.

Fangs: Okay. Thanks for the heads up. I'll make sure FP can stop worrying.

Me: He was worrying?

Fangs: He has been the whole time. You gave him quite the scare when you vanished.

Me: Well, tell him he can change his underwear now, because I'm safe and heading home.

Fangs: Good to hear.

M: Talk to you later?

Fangs: Can't wait. Bye, Al.

Me: Bye Fogs.

Then I put my phone away, and went back to the hotel. I walked in, and instantly started to change back into my real clothes. Marybeth walked in a few minutes after I got done changing, and almost flew to the bathroom. "What's up with you?" I asked, chuckling.

She blushed, and hung on the door as she said, "Nothing. Nothing at all." I rolled my eyes at her, figuring she was probably talking to Skyler. She came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, in normal clothes, clutching her phone in her hand. She walked to her bed, and started to put things in her duffle bag. But there was something different about her. It was like she was almost floating, like she was daydreaming. I smiled at her as she slowly took her bag in her hand, and replied to a text with the other.

"Okay, Juliet, what happened to you?" I asked, slightly startling her from her thoughts. She blushed again, put her bag down, and sat on my bed with me.

"He kissed me," was all she said, waiting for my reaction. I was confused yet overjoyed at her words.

"Who did?"

"Skyler." My eyes widened, and I made a kissy sound as I playfully hit her shoulder.

She laughed at me, and said, "Don't do that! Gosh, I'm so nervous." She hid her face in her palms, and I got even more confused.

"Why?"

"Because my mother doesn't approve. And…I am crazy in love with him. I've had a crush on him since the third grade." I instantly understood, nodding.

"Well, what does he want?"

"All I know is that he likes me, and I like him, and nothing feels right until I'm with him. But…"

"But what?"

"My mother doesn't approve of him. She said he isn't worth it."

"Isn't worth it how?"

"Because he isn't…wealthy. Like us. She said I could do so much better than him."

"That's crazy. Who cares if he isn't wealthy? Who cares if he isn't up to your mother's expectations? He doesn't have to be wealthy to be the right guy for you." I think that took her by surprise, because she was silent for several seconds until she looked back up at me, and nodded.

All the way home, I had my ear buds in, listening to music staring at the gold medal in my hands. We all got one. It was about the size of my palm, and it had a blue ribbon that you could use to wear it. As we passed Riverdale's borders, I glanced back at Marybeth and Skyler. She was asleep in his side and he had his arm firmly wrapped around her, his head on hers. I smiled, and looked back out the window.

When I saw we were almost there, I shut down my iPod, and got my bags ready. Doug and I exited the bus while Skyler and Marybeth said goodbye. Doug caught a ride back with Mr. Kaine, while Marybeth and I waited for her mother. Skyler kissed her on her forehead, and back pedaled several steps while he smirked at her, walking away. When he was walking the other way, I gave Marybeth a mischievous glance, and she blushed at me. Her mother showed up five minutes later and she got in.

"You know what? I'm just gonna walk," I said, as I grabbed my bags and backed away from the car.

"Oh, but your bags are so heavy."

"I'm fine. I need to be alone for a while to think things over anyway. You guys go ahead."

"Are you sure, honey?" Mrs. Fay asked, and I instantly nodded.

"Yeah, thank you so much, Mrs. Fay." I smiled, and then they left. When they drove off, I looked up at the other side of the road, and saw Sweet Pea, Fangs, and FP leaning against their bikes. FP was scowling, but Fangs's face held a boyish smirk. I tried to discern what I could call the look on Sweet Pea's face, but all I could come up with was a slight smirk of 'dang'. I smiled sheepishly, took my bags, and walked over to them.

"Hi," I said, my tail between my legs, as FP eyed me. Then he lunged forward, and hugged me.

I gasped out of sheer surprise, but then he stood back up, and said, "It's good to see you're okay."

"I said I was." He nodded, and then his eyes dropped to my stomach/chest. I was about to slap him, but then realized he was looking at the medal.

"Oh, yeah. We won first place."

"Good. I'm not surprised, to be honest. You're a math genius."

"Thank you."

My attention had solely been fixed on FP, but when I looked over at Fangs, he held out his arms and said, "My turn." I rolled my eyes, but I hugged him none-of-the-less.

We let each other go, and he said, "Want a ride back home?"

"You just want the credit for bringing me home, don't you?" I said, as I smirked at him.

He rolled his eyes, and said, "Yeah, yeah. You can ride with your boyfriend. I'll take your bags."

I pretended to throw up. He just laughed, while Fangs put his hand over his heart like I actually hurt him. Sweet Pea just chuckled, agreeing with me. FP reached to grab one of the duffle bags, and when I let go, his hand dropped to the ground because he didn't know it was so heavy.

"What do you have in here? Bowling balls?"

"Books, actually," I said. He then put them in the back of his truck and got in. Fangs rushed to the passenger's side and jumped in, laughing evilly. I rolled my eyes, looked behind me, and saw Sweet Pea was offering a hand.

"Unless you'd like to walk," he had said. I just smirked, and got on. I wrapped my arms around his middle, and then we followed FP's truck to my house. I felt a flutter in my stomach as his warm hand connected with my cold one, and I started to get butterflies the more I held onto him.

I don't know why, though. After I left Maine, I made a promise to myself that I would never let myself get involved with someone ever again. Yes, it sounds harsh, but if you've ever been through what I've been through, you'd understand why. So I tried to loosen my grip a little, try not to smell his scent, and blush on the way there. Once we pulled up outside my house, FP dropped my bags at my feet. I got off, but my legs were unsteady, so Sweet Pea caught my middle as I righted myself. I thanked him, and then he let go of my hand as his bike roared to life, and Fangs took my place.

The front door opened, and I heard my father's voice as Sweet Pea and Fangs vanished. "Alex!" he walked down the sidewalk to us, and then he did the most unexpected thing—hugged me. I hugged him back a second later. "Where did you go?" he asked as he stepped back, and then he saw my medal around my neck.

"What is that?" he asked, confused anger lacing his voice.

"A gold medal," I said, in anticipation of his outrage. But he just stopped what he was about to do, and sighed. He was obviously angry at me for going, that much was clear.

"The Variety Show is in an hour. We'll talk about this later," he said, sternly. I nodded, and then he turned to FP. FP backed up a step, unsure. But Dad just sighed, and said, "Thank you for bringing her home, FP."

"That's what we do. We look after one another."

Dad looked at me, and then him, and something seemed to click in his mind. But I don't know what. He was still ticked off as all get out, but he wasn't yelling, so that was a good sign. "Well, why don't you come inside, then?"

"I'll be in, in a minute, Dad." He stiffly nodded, and headed back inside.

"I'll talk to you later?" I asked FP, and he nodded. I nodded, picked up my bags, and headed inside.Tonight is the Variety Show. I promised Archie I would be there for him, and frankly, I forgot about it when I left. But now I get to be there for him.

"Hello Riverdale High! And welcome to the 75th Annual Variety Show!" Kevin said, into the microphone on the stage. He was wearing a dark blue suit, and too big of a smile as he hyped everyone up for The Pussycats. Everyone applauded, and I clapped my hands with everyone else. As we walked in, Dad and Mrs. Lodge sat around the middle area of the left rectangle of seats. But when I saw she was joining us, I sat up close to the front and gave some half-hearted excuse as to why.

Now I sit here, listening to The Pussycats' rendition of I Feel Love. When they finished, Josie quickly ran off the stage, and the other three walked off a second later. Kevin ran onto the stage right after them, and said, "That was Josie and The Pussycats! Long tails and ears for hats!" I rolled my eyes at his description, and then he said, "Here's Archie Andrews!" He scurried off the stage, and Veronica pushed Archie onto the stage. When I saw him, I started clapping, and then everyone followed suit, as he awkwardly walked to a stool by the mic.

"Stick to football!" one of the football team members yelled, and I tried to stay in my seat. He closed his eyes, and slightly shook his head. He looked out over the crowd, and once he found me, I smiled and nodded. Then he smiled back, and he started playing I'll Try.

He faded off into the final note, and everyone cheered. He smiled, got off his stool, and bowed. He started smiling uncontrollably as he walked off stage. After The Variety Show ended, everyone was in the halls of the school when Archie came out from the stage door. People saw him, and everyone erupted in cheers.

"Archie! You the man!" someone shouted from off in the distance, and I smiled. He walked to me, and I said, "You totally rocked it out there, Arch." I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him into a hug.

He chuckled as we pulled apart and said, "Thanks. I was so nervous."

"Yeah, I could tell. But the important thing is: you got up there, and you didn't flake out. You went all the way through. And you sounded amazing."

"Thanks. What are you doing after this?"

"Homework. I have a lot to catch up on since I left." He nodded, and then he left and went to talk to Val. I haven't seen him smile like that in so long; I forgot he could even smile that big.