Betty and A.J. quickly went to work designing and drawing out a cool flyer, with Betty printing our copies as fast as she could. Mark and Lucas assembled some records to play and sprayed out the Music Town logo on the aprons. Birko, Eric, Jughead, and Gina went to work setting up the sidewalk with artwork from the store and a table to take donations from.
Deb even pulled out a chair and a large, plastic jar which she set at her feet. A small, blue sign saying "Give us your money' was leaned against the chair as Deb reclined. Corey was out front making her own sign asking for donations. When she started to price small pottery pieces for $10, Veronica quickly came over and doubled the price, explaining that they needed to make money.
A.J. and Mark carried out some large murals just as people started to pull up in the street for the event. Bills were casually added to Deb's jar as people passed by her on the way in to the store, for which they were given a grateful smile.
Birko and Gina were busy installing band equipment up on the edge of the roof, overlooking the store front, for an impromptu concert. They set up the drums together, while Gina mentally prepared for her singing debut.
Jughead and Eric were on the sidewalk, talking to some little kids about music, showing them vinyl records and launching into deep explanations about their importance. Got to start music fans young.
As the night progressed, more and more people flocked to the store, the crowd spilling from the streets into the store. Each employee was busy selling memorabilia, artwork or records to the eager crowd. It was a fun event for all, a secret block party that reunited die hard music fans and the heart of the vinyl record industry.
Mark's friends arrived with an army of kegs for the party, setting them up on one of the tables. A.J. and Mark were then responsible for selling beer for $5 a cup on the street for the rest of the night, despite not having a permit. Due to the music loving heart of the public, it wasn't even their biggest seller of the night, but it did put the event over its goal, saving Lucas.
Music fans old and young mingled through the night, everyone bonding over the importance of the store. Cheryl Blossom took one look at the crowd and just saw a fine, as she struggled through the throngs of people to get through the front door.
"Joe! What is going on here?!" Cheryl yelled as she burst through the back room doors. "Why do I feel like you are screwing me over?" Cheryl rolled her eyes at him, as she stood defiantly in front of him.
"Because I am, Cheryl," Joe said smoothly, throwing his leather jacket on and walking over to her from his office. "There was no money in the bag. One of my employees needed it," Joe explained in a calm tone.
"Who?" Cheryl nearly choked out, ready to kill the person who had her money.
Lucas emerged from the back door, greeting Cheryl warmly, although she forgot who he was again.
"Lucas. I still work here," he quipped in a flat tone, coming to stand next to Joe. "Next week you will be the proud owner of one of many Music Towns across our great nation," Lucas began, while Cheryl huffed and tossed her hair over her shoulder. "You like that because it will make you more money, right?" he inquired.
"Yes. Smart boy," Cheryl spoke in her tone of fake happiness.
"Well, when that happens, Joe is out. A.J. is out. All of our tattooed, gum chewing freaks are out as well," Lucas explained in a simple tone.
"What's your point?" Cheryl asked condescendingly, throwing up her hands and stomping her heels.
"What Lucas is saying is that I'm opening my own store," Joe explained, staring at Cheryl intently.
Cheryl smirked. "You don't have the money," she sneered with a smile.
"No, I don't. But I will," Joe revealed. "Cheryl, I quit," Joe deadpanned, as he and Lucas walked out towards the front to enjoy the party, without another word.
Back on the roof, the band had finally set up, with Birko's voice booming through the mic and blaring out into the street, bringing a new life to the large crowd. People cleared space in the street for a massive dance party, with people head banging and swaying wildly to the beat. A bunch of hippies even showed up, nearly taking over the crowd with their numbers. Lucas even got Joe to loosen up and dance in the street and enjoy the music celebration.
All of the employees paused for a bit when they heard a new voice singing the lyrics to "Sugar High." It was Gina. She was fulfilling her dream of singing in a band and loving every minute of it. She was killing her notes, bopping her head, her smile wide and genuinely happy.
Mark and Corey jumped up and down in surprise at Gina continued to sing, and even Deb cracked a smile for her fellow employee. If that wasn't enough of a surprise, Betty suddenly appeared on the roof, aided by Jughead, and Gian welcomed her up to the mic. Her usual blonde ponytail was gone, her long blonde tresses flowing down her shoulders as she danced along to the beat. Jughead was beaming up at her from the street, his grin nearly breaking his face, looking at her in such adoration.
Back inside, Cheryl was at the register, her clothing a bit frazzled, her hair mussed, as she stood frantic at the register. She had never worked in retail and it was hell for her now. She was overwhelmed with people and orders, not even able to open the register.
"Doesn't anyone work here?" she called out angrily into the mob of people waiting to pay. Suddenly a teenager popped up behind her, wearing a dark maroon jacket and a wide grin. He was holding up a name tag that was secured around his neck, the name Warren present on it.
Back outside, Corey wandered around in the crowd looking for A.J. She looked up and spotted him up on the roof top again, attempting to fix the still broken light sign. She screamed his name, but he was unable to hear her over Birko's guitar solo, so she resolved to head up there herself.
Joe, happy with the turnout, pulled the full jar of money from in front of Deb and headed inside the store. He found Cheryl standing in the middle of an aisle, randomly screaming at people. She turned to face him and Joe handed over the whole jar of money.
"Here's your money," Joe explained quietly, leaning in so she could hear him.
"Joe," Cheryl said in her fake polite tone. "I hate this place. You love it. Let me sell it to you," she quipped sincerely, looking a bit relieved.
Joe smiled and clapped a hand on Cheryl's shoulder. "Thanks, Cheryl. You won't regret it," Joe revealed, turning to walk away.
Up on the roof, Corey had finally reached the top and looked for A.J. He spotted her when her feet disrupted the pavement, immediately moving to stand in front of her as she approached. What he was not expecting was the shove to the ground he received once she was close enough.
"You're so talented and you're so special and you're so stupid that you don't know that," Corey yelled at him, her voice breaking with emotion. A.J. quickly got over the shock, realization hitting him and he didn't try to stop the smile from growing on his lips.
"And I know you don't love me anymore, and that I blew it, but if you don't go to art school and understand how special you are, then you know nothing!" she finished, shoving him back again as he rose to stand in front of her again, although this time he didn't fall back.
"And I still love you!" Corey screamed at him again. "And I'll never love anybody as much as you and I hate you!" she continued to scream, smacking him lightly as he tried to stifle his laughter and the pure elation in his heart.
"Corey! Corey!" A.J. tried to get a word in around the screaming, grasping her arms trying to still her. "I quit," he continued, which finally did the trick in stilling her. "I'm going to art school. In Boston, so I can be near you," A.J. spoke happily, his happiness fading into content, as Corey searched his gaze for the truth.
Suddenly he was nearly blinded by her brilliant smile, her hand coming up to brush her brunette locks away from her face to see him more clearly. "Really?" she chirped happily, in complete disbelief. A.J. nodded, his mind much more focused on finally kissing her for the first time.
He felt a heavy weight in moment later, only to discover Corey had nearly fainted, throwing all her weight on him to stop her fall and he caught her easily and without another thought. He swung her around a circle and they danced haphazardly for a few steps, basking in the happiness of being this close to one another. Then he placed he gingerly back on her feet and stared deeply into her brown eyes. This was the moment. A.J. took a breath and leaned in, the same moment that Corey did. Fireworks blew behind his closed eyelids as a warmth he never knew existed flooded his entire body. Holding Corey close and kissing her, having her return that soft kiss perfectly, was a moment so wonderful he could never have dreamed it or explained it if he tried.
A.J. didn't know how long they stood there, kissing and holding each other, but eventually the rest of the group joined them on the roof. They cheerfully danced the rest of the night away around the newly happy couple. Warren and Gina jammed out, Lucas waltzed with Deb, even Betty and Jughead pulled out some moves, until Veronica and Joe cut in to show everyone how it was done.
After awhile A.J. and Corey let each other go and the whole crew danced together, the girls forming a haphazard train, the boys twirling each other around to their endless entertainment. Even Lucas busted some moves with Marc and Eric in tow. For the rest of that night, the empire Records family danced until the bright lights of their roof top sign, without a care in the world.
Because damn the man. They saved the Empire.