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Chapter Two

Trouble Begins

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Unedited

It was the first day of school, a day I had been dreading. It of course would be idiotic to hope that summer would last forever and I wouldn't have to go back. That Monday morning I had to call Cheryl for her to pick me up for school, because my lovable idiot of a brother forgot to tell me he had morning practice and left me without a ride.

The ride was definitely awkward, Cheryl and I hadn't spoken much since Jason's funeral. The reasons varied from my own grief and anger that she survived, while he hadn't, to us never being close from the beginning. Cheryl and I got along best when Jason or Teddy were mediator between us. It wasn't like Cheryl bullied me or put me down, we were just both very opinionated people with strong personalities. So we conflicted on things. A lot.

"Thanks for the ride Cheryl, I know it was out of the way." I said unbuckling my seat belt.

"Its fine, after us girls have to stick close in this family." She smiled sweetly at me.

I nodded my head, just letting the comment go in one ear and out the other. I didn't buy it, as much as Cheryl might think she can manipulate me. I know she's hiding something. Cheryl walked toward her two little min-friends; Tina Patel and Ginger Lopez. I never understood why she remained friends with them, both of them hated her as much as they wished to be her. Then again maybe that's what makes them such good minions to Cheryl's Regina George.

I waited by the car for Opal, since we had homeroom together. I leaned against the bright red car, it had been Jason's a gift from his father when he got his permit. I remember when he got it in March, how immediately all four of us: Jason, Teddy, Cheryl and I took off on a roadtrip for a week. When we got back both our parents were pissed, and Jason got the car taken away for the follow week.

"Effie!"

I looked up, Minnie was walking with her boyfriend Moose Mason, and his jackass of a friend Reggie Mantle.

Moose was a typical football player, big and tall. His personality however was more thoughtful and sweet. If Chuck and Nance were known as the Hot and Cold Couple, Minnie and Moose would be the Dream Couple. Moose and Minnie had only been dating a year and people already said they would probably be high school sweethearts.

Although I might like Moose, Reggie Mantle was a whole other story. Reggie and I had never gotten along, since I had moved to Riverdale in the 3rd grade he decided to hassle me every single day. And this continued until Jason and he became friends in the 6th grade, and then it stopped and he started ignoring me. Until our freshman year, crazily enough we had almost every class together. It seemed like we were even on the road to being friends before I started dating Archie. He was tall, there weren't many tall guys in this town, and he was sinfully attractive with black hair and dark eyes but that didn't change the fact he was a narcissistic asshole.

Moose smiled politely at me while Reggie gave me a once over, "Damn looking good Buffy."

"My name is Effie, Reginald."

"I know."

"So what's the deal, why'd you drive up with Cheryl?" Minnie asked, tucking herself into Moose's side.

I looked at her, and then the boys, "Um football practice?"

"We didn't have morning practice today, Coach wanted us ready for tryouts after school," Moose stated while Minnie fixed his collar.

"Then why did –" I began, but was interrupted by Minnie as she spotted something over my shoulder.

"Oh shit, look who grew up over the summer."

I looked behind me, and watched as Archie Andrews strolled past without a care in the world. I felt a giant lump form in my throat. He did look good, the baby fat he once had was now chiseled. His letterman jacket that had been a little too big for his frame, suddenly fit him. He didn't look like the Archie I had dated, that was for sure.

"Wanna bet he's taking steroids?"

"Shut up Reginald," I sneered at him. He just gave me a cocky grin in return.

"Hey," Opal said walking up to us, her leather bag swinging from her shoulder and her hair thrown in messy bun. "Whatcha talking about?"

"Just about how Andrews is –"

"Nothing at all, let's go Oh I need to go to my locker before class." I grabbed her arm and pulled her way from the group, while calling over my shoulder, "See you at lunch Minnie."

"What the hell was that about?" Opal asked as soon as we hit the packed hallway.

"Just Reginald acting like an asshole, so you know the usual."

"Yeah, I get that," she said, then turning to face me while walking backwards. "But what was it about this time?"

"He just brought up Archie, talking about how he might be on steroids." I said, while stopping at my locker to throw my lunch and my sports bag in there.

She leaned against the locker next to mine, "Well, have you seen him? I could see were Reggie got that impression, it's like the when Chris Evans went from malnourished child to hunky Ken doll in that one Marvel movie."

"It was Captain America, hon. We saw it two weeks ago with my brother at the dollar theater."

"That's beside the point. He's definitely bulked up."

"Yeah, but he didn't need to say he was on steroids. Archie would never do that."

I waited for a reply and none came causing me to look up, "What?"

Opal face was pulled into a frown, "You miss him don't you."

I stared at her, opened my mouth a couple of times trying to think over my answer. Did I? I mean, yeah I missed our time together. Hours of sitting in his room listening to him strum on his guitar for fun, walking his dog Vegas with him, and even sitting in a booth at Pops – him, with his typical burger and vanilla shake and then me with a chocolate shake while we talked about our days and laughed over which was truly better: vanilla or chocolate. Maybe I did miss him, but I didn't miss the dishonesty, or drama that seemed to follow him.

"Yeah," I sighed, "I do miss him to an extent, but that doesn't change what he's done."

"You never did say what happened." I didn't say anything.

"Fine, but I expect answers at some point." Once again I didn't offer her a response, I just followed after her to homeroom, I didn't want to making a promise that I couldn't keep.

. . .

"That was beyond brutal," groaned Nancy. We both were walking out of our class room on our way to the assembly, "Thank god for the Cheryl or we'd be stuck listening to Mr. Stein for another 30 minutes."

"Agreed, he could literally talk your ear off."

"Of course Chuck warned me about his oversharing behavior, but I didn't believe him." Nancy stated rolling her eyes, "I should learn to trust his judgement."

Or perhaps you shouldn't."Have you spoken to him yet?"

"No, but that's okay a-a lot of couples take breaks."

Every couple of months?I wanted to question but I kept silent, knowing what would happen if I spoke those inner thoughts.

As we entered the gym, I took a glance around and spotted Minnie and Oh sitting together in front of the football boys. Football boys that happen to include two boys both Nance and I didn't want to see.

Nance turned to me suddenly, her eyes were watery from unshed tears. "You know what – I've got to go talk to Tina real quick."

"Nance..."

"I'll see you at lunch. Okay?" She smiled at me, her tearful eyes were gone.

"Okay." I watched as she practically sprinted to Tina's side in the front next to the rest of the cheerleaders and other student council members.

I turned back in the direction of Opal and Midge, took a deep breath and walked toward them. As I walked toward them, Midge spotted me and waved me over which caused the rest of the crew to notice me, "Hey!"

"Hey," I noticed there were two places I could sit, one on the edge of the row in front of my ex, that I still cared about, or the seat in-between Opal and Midge which was right in front of Reggie, who I considered the spawn of Satan. After making eye contact with Archie and seeing him open his mouth to talk to me. My decision made, I slid into the seat in front of Reggie.

"Hey doll."

"Reginald."

I heard him chuckle, before I felt a sharp yank to my hair. I pulled my hair forward and turned to Reggie, "Don't touch my hair."

He smirked, "Don't want a repeat of middle school, Buff?"

I glared at him for reminding me of that horrible incident in the 4th grade where he cut off my hair – and I do mean he cut off all of it, I had my hair in a ponytail and then sip it was all gone. Main reason I've never worn my hair in a ponytail since then, even for volleyball matches I braided it to keep it out of my face. "Threating to cut off a girl's hair, come on Reginald. What are you five?"

"No...six." He laughed.

Rolling my eyes, I turned my attention forward as Principal Weatherbee called the school to attention.

. . .

"My god couldn't they have told us over the PA system that the semi-formal was back on instead of Cheryl giving that cringe worthy speech." Opal stated as all four of walked toward the picnic table outside for lunch.

I gave her a look, she put her hands up, "Don't be mad at me, I wasn't the only one thinking it. I just happen to say it out loud."

"I don't think it was that bad," Minnie muttered from around a Nature Valley, she seemed to be getting a head start on her lunch as we walked.

"That's because you don't like to think ill of anyone," Nance said with a wave of her hand, "I agree with Oh, that speech was weird. But it got us out of Stein early so I can't really complain."

"Can we stop bagging on my cousin? Let's talk about something else." As we sat down at the table right under the trees by the soccer field.

"Fine," Nance muttered taking out her Italian salad, "I overheard Klara from the softball team is fooling around with Rebecca Glagsten, she was in our Science class last year Min."

"Doesn't Rebecca have a boyfriend?" I asked confused taking a bite of my sandwich. The taste of strawberry jelly and peanut butter hit my taste buds almost making me gag. I hate strawberry jelly.

"And don't Klara have a girlfriend?" Opal asked putting her bag lunch down on the table.

"Yes, and yes." Nance said with smirk, we all shared a laugh at that before I noticed a new face that I hadn't seen before.

"Who's she?" I asked looking toward the brunette walking toward Archie, Kevin, and Betty were sitting.

"Oh that's Veronica Lodge. She's a transfer from New York I believe. I have homeroom with her." Minnie said, around the sandwich she had stuffed into her mouth.

"God, Minnie how you have a boyfriend is beyond me with those table manners." Nance said in disgust.

"Have you seen the way Moose eats?" I asked laughing. We all turned toward Moose's table, in typical Moose fashion he seemed to be trying to fit as many food items as he could into his mouth without choking.

"Good point."

"Uh no," We looked toward Opal, "you might want to call off Cheryl, Eff." She gestured to my left, I watched as Cheryl, got up from her table behind Moose's, to march toward Archie's table.

I groaned before reaching out and grabbing her wrist before she could walk past our table. "Cheryl," I began.

"Effie," Cheryl smiled at me, but I knew better. She had that look in her eye that she was looking for trouble. "Just the girl I wanted to see, wanna come help me welcome a new member of the Riverdale High?"

"Not really."

Apparently Cheryl didn't hear (most likely ignored) my comment, and proceed to pull me out of seat and force me to go with her. I looked back at the table my unfinished peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich suddenly looked a lot more appealing.

As Cheryl and I walked toward the table, Archie practically ran from the table pushing past Cheryl and I in his haste. I can't lie and say it didn't hurt a little.

We came to a stop in front of the table, and Cheryl smiled sweetly while I tried not grimace, "Veronica Lodge, I'd heard whisperings. I'm Cheryl Blossom and this is my cousin Euphemia West. May we sit?"

"I don't want to – "

"Betty would you mind?" Cheryl said speaking over me. I felt my frustration start to grow with Cheryl she knew damn well I didn't want to be here especially around her.

Betty shrugged before scooting all the way down for both of us. I looked back and my friends before sitting down, it looked like Nance was watching with rapid attention, Opal in disinterest, while Minnie had gone to sit with Moose.

"So, what are you three hens gossiping about? Archie's Efron-esque emergence from the chrysalis of puberty?"

I will give Cheryl credit, she knows how to intimidate people. The moment we sat down, Cheryl dominated the small little space, expecting their full attention.

"Extracurriculars. Weatherbee wants me to sign up for a few." Damn right he will, and if you don't he'll put you in one. That's what happen to Opal last year.

"Cheerleading. You must." I tried to keep a poker face, but I could help but wonder what the hell was going through Cheryl's mind. Letting a pretty new girl on the team, without pause. That doesn't sound like a Cheryl thing to do. "I'm senior captain of the River Vixens."

"Is cheerleading still a thing?" I could help but smile at that. I had always liked Kevin, he seemed relatively normal and we got along fine. That is until Archie and I started dating, and he had to pick between me and Betty. And of course he chose the girl he had been friends with longer.

"Is being the Gay Best Friend still a thing?" Cheryl snapped back.

"Cheryl." I warned her, I didn't care if she went after Betty but Kevin was still a friend despite what happened.

Cheryl gave me a look, before turning her attention back to Veronica, "Some people say its retro, I say it's eternal and iconic."

"At Spence, I sat at the top of the Elites' pyramid. I'm in. Betty you're trying out, too."

My eyes widened and I tried giving Veronica the hint, to not include Betty if she wanted to stay on Cheryl's good side. But alas, Veronica can't read minds.

"Of course, anyone's welcome to try out, but Betty's already got so much on her plate right now and being a Vixen is kind of a full-time thing. But open to all!" Cheryl got up smiling sweetly but there was venom behind that smile. I knew, Kevin knew, and even Betty knew, that by open to all she didn't mean Betty. But if Betty wanted to humiliate herself for the second time all the power to her. "Follow me on twitter and I'll do the same. My handle is /cherylblomshell."

I watched as Cheryl walked away. I turned my attention back to the table, their eyes on me. "I'm not like Cheryl, I don't hid behind false pretenses of friendship. Especially with you," I looked toward Betty. I turned my attention to Veronica. "But I do think it's best to warn you. Don't mess with Cheryl, she's like fire. And she willburn you. Just ask Betty."

Veronica stared at me, almost like she was trying to get a read on me. She had the same look in her eye that I'd seen in Cheryl's. This girl was a mean girl, a queen bee. Interesting."I'll keep that in mind."

"I hope you do." With that I got up and walked back toward my table and slid in right next to Nancy.

"What was that all about," Nance asked.

"Cheryl invited Veronica to try out for cheerleading." I said picking up my sandwich.

"Not surprising, she was probably thinking she'll be like Tina and Ginger. Another person to bow down to her." Opal said twirling her fork, before stabbing her pasta salad.

"Yeah..." I took a bite of my sandwich. "I have a feeling...that's not going to happen this time. Something tells me that Cheryl might just have met her match."

Hello again!

This chapter was originally going to be like 9+pages long, but I decided to split it up. So this is the first part of the pilot episode, the next chapter will being dealing with the dance and of course the spin the bottle scene.

I really wanted to establish relationships before we get into the mystery surrounding Jason, because I'm going to be changing some things. First off we meet Reggie! My adorable little (not really little but you know what I mean) asshole, he and Effie have a very interesting relationship one that will be revealed the more we go on. Secondly I still don't know what I'm going to do about Moose, I think I'm going to make him bi -curious or perhaps make it where he was planning on ridiculing Kevin (typical high school stereotype - football player makes fun of gay kid) or make it where Kevin met with a whole other character. I haven't really decided...Let me know what you think. Thirdly I know some people are confused about why Effie has so much animosity toward Betty, but all will be revealed in time.

Any way I love you guys, and please review!