This is a spin-off/alternative outcome from my other Riverdale fan fiction, Take Me to The Races, which is about Malachai. In this story, Abby never works the nightshift at Pops, so she never meets Malachai. You don't need to read that one to understand this one.
Abigail Andrew was in her room with her two best friends, Tomoko Yoshida and Trevor Brown. As a tradition, they would gather up on the last night of summer to watch movies and pig out on junk food. This time, they were at the Andrew household to help Abby pick out an outfit.
"Guys, I don't know about this." She stared down at the outfit on the bed. It was a gray sleeveless top that had a deep v cut that went down to her mid breasts that had two straps making an x across and a high neck to make it look like she was wearing a matching choker. It was paired with tight black ripped jeans and black flats. She plans to wear her dog mom bracelet, her favorite accessories since she found it online midsummer. She was going to wake up early to straighten her hair and do light make up.
"You can't back down now. You spent all summer working your ass off at Pops to pay for this new wardrobe. There's no way in hell, I'm going to let you go back to hiding in baggy sweatshirts and jeans." Tomoko shook her head.
"There's nothing wrong with sweatshirts and jeans." She crossed her arms.
"No, there isn't if that is what you truly want to wear and not something you're hiding behind." She got up from the bed to put her hands on her friend's shoulders.
"She's right. You can't back down, Abs. We made a pack that we were going to own high school. We have been doing great preparation for it. Tomoko went to that writer's camp, I've been training, and you've been creating the wardrobe of your dreams." Trev sat down on the chair in front of her desk.
"I happen to know that the fates are on our side." Tomoko spins around.
"How do you know that?" Abby tilts her heads.
"Because puberty has been good to all of us this summer," She wiggled her eyebrows. In writing camp, they were made to do activities like sports or crafts, and then they somehow had to put the experience into a story or essay. Her legs got tone making her appear much taller than 5 foot 2. The curves she gained although small made her feel more like a woman. She looks like a high-end model.
"Amen to that." Trevor flexes his arms. He gained muscles from all the working out he was doing. The baby fat melted off his face making his jawline and dimples stand out. He went from what times do you want your daughter home sir to she calls me daddy too.
"I guess." Abby ran a hand through her thick red waves. Puberty came for Abby two summers ago, but she didn't have the confidence for it. She was a born wallflower, so two years ago on the first day of seventh grade when guys kept hitting her for getting curvy, she retreated into baggy clothes.
"There's no guessing about it, we are all babes now," Tomoko smiles.
"Yeah, we went shopping with you. You look like a thick baddie." Trevor winks.
"You guys are right. Besides, I took all the tags off so there's no returning anything." She laughs. She was grateful to have friends that were always able to lift her spirit.
"That my girl." Tomoko kisses her on the cheek. "Now, let turn on Sixteen Candles and dig into that pizza." She jumps on the bed. Tonight, they decide to have a cheesy high school movie marathon.
"I don't know about this. I'm wearing the outfit and I feel amazing in it. Isn't that enough?" Abby hides behind her open locker while she decorates it with fandom stickers.
"I'm not going to force you to go out with him. But, you did say that you wanted to experience what life is like and not just read about it. A passionate love was top on your list. Now, I'm not saying it's going to be with Reggie, but you find him attractive and he finds you attractive so it's a good place to start." Tomoko leaned on her locker that was next to Abby's. It wasn't a coincidence, Abby had to trade lockers with another girl to get this one.
"I know you're right. I'm sorry you had to give me a pep talk twice in the last 24 hours." Anna closes her locker.
"Nothing you wouldn't do for me." She shrugs.
A loud slam next made the girls jump. "Sorry, I just lost my breath when I saw you." Reggie in a blue polo and snapback throws himself against the lockers. He put a hand over his heart as he forced himself to take deep breaths.
"Oh god," Tomoko walks away. She hopes her friend's flirting skill would be decent since she had no practice.
"Hi Reggie, how was your summer?" She put some of her hair behind her ear.
"Summer was good. Must have been good for you too, you're dripping with confidence. I dig it a lot." He looks her up and down making her blush all over.
"It's just a new wardrobe." She laughs.
"Nah, I think it's a new lease on life." He winks. Something caught his eye. "Damn, I didn't know it was the summer of Andrews. I'll catch you later, babe. Yo Archie," Reggie threw her a smile before walking down the hallway where her brother was at his locker. The other teen got ripped and as his main competition for football captain, he had to check up on it.
"So, what happened?" Tomoko hurried over with Trev to get the details.
"He said I'm dripping with confidence and he digs it." She smiles ear to ear.
"Did you compliment him back?" Trev asked.
"Oh my god, no, I just let him compliment me. He must think I'm an arrogant ass." She groans.
"Don't worry, you'll get another chance. I bet you could even get a date with him after school." She pats her back.
"Even if I could, I wouldn't be able to. I got tutoring at Southside High after school." She reminds them.
"Is Archie going to give you a ride?" Tomoko asked.
"He got football tryouts and besides I haven't told him or my dad about it." She locks her locker.
"What? Why?" Trev pushed his eyebrows together.
"Because you know how overprotective they can get. They wouldn't even let me work nights at Pops." She groans in irritation. "This tutoring program will look amazing on my college application. It includes tutoring at an unprivileged school."
"Okay, but be careful." Tomoko pleads.
"Of course," She nods. She remembers the Southside from when she was a kid and it wasn't as bad as it was made out to be.
Abby, Trev, and Tomoko were sitting next to each other at the school assembly. "Thank you for that moment of silence. Many of you were lucky enough to have known my brother personally. Every one of you meant the world to Jason. I loved my brother. He was and always will be my soulmate. So I speak with the confidence only a twin could have... Jason wouldn't want us to spend the year mourning. Jason would want us to move on with our lives. This is why I've asked the School Board not to cancel the Back-to-School semi-formal." Cheryl in a black dress and headband with a lace veil stood at the podium. The crowd cheered at the dancing being back on. "But rather, to let us use it as a way to heal collectively and celebrate my brother's too short life on this mortal coil. Thank you all." After the cheering faded out they were let out for lunch.
"Does anyone else find her too cheerful for her twin dying?" Tomoko whispers to her friends as they walk to the cafe.
"Yeah, it's not like her to want people to enjoy themselves while she is suffering." Abby agrees. She shivers when she remembers when Cheryl got a bad hair cut in middle school and made everyone's lives hell until her hair grew back.
"Come on girls, our first high school dance didn't get canceled why question it." Trev threw an arm around each of them.
They grabbed their trays and went outside to eat. A whistle made them turn their heads to see Reggie waving them over. He was sitting with Moose and another football player. They move over to make room for them. Reggie made sure to pat the seat next to him when Abby's eyes fell on him. Not that Tomoko or Trev would let her sit anywhere else.
"So, how's your guy's first day of high school going?" Reggie's question was formed like it was for all of them but his eyes never left the redhead at the table.
"It's simple so far, it's just syllabus and ice breakers." She shrugs.
"There's nothing simple about your guy's debut. You guys are the fresh meat hotties." Moose let his eyes trail over the three of them.
Trev felt like they were on him a little longer than the girls. "So, are you guys trying out for football too?" He clears his throat to ask.
"Oh yeah, aim for captain this year." Reggie nods.
"I bet you're pretty good at football. You look like you've been working out." Moose lean on the table as he stares at Trev.
"I'm alright." He shrugs.
"He's just being humble," Tomoko spoke up for her laidback friend. Trevor was someone who was skilled athletically and musically but he shied away from being the center of attention. He wanted to be the star on the field but didn't want anyone to acknowledge it off the field.
"Yeah, he's been practicing drills all summer. He has an amazing time on all of them." Abby adds on.
"They're nothing amazing. They're decent at best. I'm sure I'll make Junior Varsity. Not varsity like you, Reggie, Archie, and Chuck did your freshman years." He didn't want the guys to build him up to be some star in their heads then see him try out and find out he's average.
"There's nothing wrong with that. This is my junior year and this will be my first year making it to varsity." The blonde football player, whose name was still not mentioned, assured Trev.
"Thanks..." He trailed off when he realized he didn't know the guy.
"Sam and you're welcome. How's your day going?" He looks over Trevor to nod at Tomoko.
"Fine, great, I'm very giddy right now. I feel grown-up." She bounced in her seat.
"I felt the same way my freshman year." Sam laughs. He found her excitement and honesty to be cute. "So, are you going to the formal?"
"Yeah," She nods.
"I would be glad to be your date to it." He smiled.
"I would be glad too." She gave him a flirty smile that she's been practicing in the mirror.
The bell rang letting them know lunch was over and to get to class. "I'll walk you to your next class." Reggie picks up Abby's backpack and swings it over his shoulder. Seeing him with her kitty cat backpack on was odd. He grabbed their empty trays and carried them to the trash can. She followed behind him, telling him she had physical science next.
"So, that wasn't how I was planning lunch to go." He sighs when they were walking through the hall.
"How did you plan it?" She looks up at him.
"With me flirting, not Moose, with me getting a date to the dance, not Sam." He groans at his friends taking his opportunities.
"Who would your date be?" She played innocent. Reggie was the only guy that kept flirting with her after she started wearing baggy clothes.
"I agree with Moose, Trev a definite freshmen hottie." He rolled his eyes. Abby cracked up at that. Moose's bi-curiosity was the worst kept secret in Riverdale High. The only person who never heard it was Midge. She was such a sweetheart no one had the heart to break it to her.
"I can put in a good word for you if you like." She giggles.
"Sure, we can discuss what I want you to say when I pick you up for the dance." He stops in front of the lab classroom.
"My dress is light blue and white. So, see if you can find a tie by tonight." She smiles at him before slipping into the class.
Abby looked out the window as she rode on the bus to Southside High. Her jaw hung when they crossed the border. It was amazing how clear the poverty line was. One street was big houses with pools and large yards, and then you turned the corner to see run-down houses and trailers. As a kid she never noticed, she was always so excited to see her favorite Uncle and his friends that she never paid attention to anything but how close they were to the Whyte Worm.
She thanked the bus driver as she walked off the bus. She looked up at Southside High School. There was graffiti everywhere. Some were artistic while others were ugly. She went inside to see more graffiti. She was amazed that this was supposed to be a functional school. There were holes in the wall and most of the lockers didn't have doors on them. You could tell by how the hinges were that they were ripped off.
"Don't you look like a lost kitten?" Abby turns to see a beautiful blonde with the prettiest blues eyes she ever saw leering at her. She had only a bra on under her leather jacket with jeans that looked painted on.
"Oh hi, do you know where the library is?" She put her hands in her pockets.
"Why would you want to go to that hot box? There are only ten books on it." She tilted her head.
"That where I'm supposed to meet the people I'm tutoring." She told her.
"Oh, you're a tutor. I might have to sign up." She stares at her cleavage.
"Yes, can you please show me?" She smiled.
"Sure thing, it's Sassy by the way." She walks ahead of her. Abby followed the girl who was speed walking. She noticed her jacket had studs all over the back with a skull without a jaw bone in the middle. There were red chains around it and under it was the word Ghoulies. "This is it." She stopped in front of a door.
"Thank you, Sassy." She smiles.
"No problem, us girl gotta watch out for each other. Especially, in a place like this," She leaned over to kiss her on the forehead. "Here some mace," She hands her a keychain mace that has glitters all over the can.
"Thank you. I don't have anything to give you." She remembers the candy that Reggie bought for her from the vending machine in the student lounge. "Oh, here a king-size Hershey bar," She took it out of her bag and held it out to the girl.
"I'd say we even." She laughs while taking the candy.
"Are you going to be okay without the mace?" She asked.
"You are precious. Get to work, tutor vixen." She smacked her lips before walking away.
Abby walks into the library. The heat hits her right away. She looked around the small room that was more like a storage closet than a library to see there was only a cart with literally ten books on it and one table. There were two people in that room other than her. A cliché she never thought would happen to her did at that moment. She lost her breath when her eyes landed on the tall teen. He looks to be the same height as her while he was sitting down. So, she knew he would make her look like a dwarf if he stood up. With his good looks, she would look like a troll standing next to him. Not the cute toy kind, but the kind that lives under the bridge. His jet-black hair was styled to the side, a button nose, and pouty lips. He had slightly chubby cheeks, not big enough to make him look bloated but enough to make him look adorable even with the angry snarl on his face. "Well, hurry the hell up and get over here. We want to get this over with." His deep voice made her jump.
"Sorry," She ran over and took a seat at the table across from the quiet one. He was also good looking with his defined jaw and cheekbones. He gave her a small smile showing off his dimples. She almost coos right there at him.
"God, you show up late and then you stare at us like an idiot." The tall one rolled his eyes.
"Sorry, the bus was late and when I came in I didn't expect..." A blush went over her face when she stopped herself from saying you to be so handsome.
"Didn't expect what… to see two hoodlums?" He glares.
"No… not that... it ..." She felt like a complete idiot. Her heart was beating fast and her brain felt so overwhelmed that she couldn't think of something to say. She shouldn't be so nervous about him. So, what if he was the handsome male? He was being an asshole. It shouldn't matter how he looks, she should be able to tell him off.
"What kind of English tutor are you if you can't form a complete sentence?" He snapped.
"Lay off, Sweet Pea. Your aggressiveness is going to make her short circuit." He put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "What is in your hand?" He nods to her hand.
"Oh, the nice girl who showed me where the library was gave it to me. She said it was mace and that I needed it. I asked if she would need it but she called me precious and tutor vixen and walked away." She rambles on in nervousness.
"You found a nice girl, here." The smaller one pointed down at the table.
"I'm sure you guys know her. She was a beautiful blonde with blue eyes. She had on a stud leather jacket that said ghoulies in the back. I don't get the reference since the only ghoulies I know is that old horror movie. But, those things were ugly and her jacket had a skull. I don't know why I am telling you all those details she had a pretty unique name, Sassy." She remembered the girl said her name.
"That was a gang member you met. You're sitting at the table with two rights now." Sweet Pea pulls his leather jacket's collar down to show his double-headed serpent tattoo.
"Oh, you're a serpent. So you know F.P. then?" She looked at his detailed tattoo.
"How do you know F.P.?" Dimples asked.
"He's my godfather." She smiles proudly. She loved F.P. He made her childhood great. "How is he doing? I haven't seen him a while."
"Why haven't you seen him?" Dimples look curious.
"I don't know. A few years ago, he and my dad got in some big fight and he stopped coming around. He wouldn't answer my calls." She looks down at the table.
"He's doing great." He lied. F.P. was a good leader but he was drinking himself to an early grave.
"That's good." She smiles. "Sorry for this first meeting. The program calls for it even those it the first day and there is nothing to tutor on. It's just an introduction. My name is Abigail Andrews." She put a hand up to her chest. "You're Sweet Pea and you are..." She pointed at the angry one before pointing at the nice one.
"Fangs Fogarty," He stuck his hand out. She shook it. "Next time let's meet somewhere else. I'm dying in here." He fans himself with his hand.
"I was thinking the same thing." She took out a piece of paper. "Here's my number, you can text me where you want to meet next week or if you have any English questions you need help with before then." She pushes the paper over to them.
"If we want to text you for other reasons," Sweet Pea glares. Despite her ties to his gang leader, he wasn't about to be sweet on her. She was a Northsider and they were always trouble for the Southside.
"Then you better start being nice to me." She throws her hair over her shoulders as she laughs. She stood up. "I'll see you guys next week."
"Are you getting home by bus?" Fangs stood up from his seat.
"Yeah," She nods.
"I can give you a ride home." He offers.
"What?" Sweet Pea glares at his friend.
"I don't want to trouble you." She shook her head.
"No, it's fine. It is dangerous to wait at these bus stops, even if you have a can of mace." He insisted.
"What are you trying to do, fuck her?" Sweet Pea snarled.
Fang leans over and whispers to him so Abby can't hear. "You want to explain to F.P. how you let his goddaughter get kidnapped by sex traffickers. Even you couldn't help but eye her cleavage."
"So, she got a juicy pair of tits and now I have to escort her home." He grumbled under his breath as he stood up and stormed out of the room.
"Come on." Fangs link his arms with hers. They walk toward the entrance of the school.
"They don't fix anything around here, do they?" She looked into a classroom that had folding chairs with TV trays as desks and a cracked chalkboard.
"No, the city doesn't have the funds." Sweet Pea turns around to snort.
"Bullshit." She sighs. She unlinks her arms with Fangs and walks ahead. "I have to get out of here. I'm getting upset."
Sweet Pea used his long legs to walk in front of her and block her path. "Well, some of us don't have the luxury of getting out of here. We have to stay in this dump and face the angry."
"You don't think I know that. I wouldn't be angry if people didn't have to go to school here. That library is a joke." She waved her hand in the direction they came from. "What is this weird smell?" She has smelled an odd stench since she stepped foot in this school.
"That would be Jingle Jangle." A new deep voice answered her. She looks in the sound's direction to lose her breath for the second time today. He had curly hair that looked tempting to run your fingers through. He had a jawline and cheekbones that were more pronounced than even Fangs. He stares at her with these big brown eyes that hold amusement in it. "I can give you some free of charge." He pushed himself off the broken lockers he was leaning against to walk over to them.
"She's good." Sweet Pea grabs her wrist and yanks her behind him. Him being protective of her made her scared of the curling haired stud. He must be dangerous if Sweet Pea wouldn't want her with him.
"Aren't you serpents here a little late? School got out like an hour ago. You know when that bell rings this is Ghoulie territory." He glares up at the tall teen.
"Malachai you don't even go to this school." Sweet Pea scoffs.
"We both know I own it." He raises his hand. He was about to put two fingers between his lips to let out a whistle. The two Serpents knew he was about to call for backup.
Fang was always up for a fight but he knew that F.P. and Toni would have their heads if they found out they let the tutor get hurt. "Look, we don't want any trouble. His girlfriend just wanted to see the school he went to. We took a little longer than we thought." The two to his right glares at him.
"I can see why spending some time with her would take a while." He licks his lips while leering at Abby who was standing next to Sweet Pea and not behind him. When her faux boyfriend noticed she moved, he yanked her back.
"No need to be so possessive if she truly is yours." He smirks.
"We're going to get out of here. My girl and I got some making up to do." He pulls her out of the school with Fangs trailing behind them.
"Why the hell did you have to say she's my girlfriend?" He roughly drops her wrist when they were standing in front of two motorcycles.
"It seems more believable than us going to a tutor. You two were practically having a lover's quarrel in the hall." He took off his leather jacket revealing his muscular arms and his serpent tattoo. He threw it at Abby. She caught it out of instinct. "Put it on, unless you want to risk flashing people." He pointed at her cleavage. She slips it on with no argument and zips it up. He walks over to one of the bikes and grabs two helmets from the satchel. He puts it on her head and tightens the strap before putting on his.
"Thanks." She nods. He got on the bike and pats the spot behind him. She swings her leg over and wraps her arms around his midriff.
"If your arms slide lower don't worry about it. Just hold on tight." He winks at her from over his shoulder. She hid her face in his back as she blushed. Sweet Pea laughed loudly on his bike next to them.
After she gave Fangs her address, he led Sweet Pea on his bike to her house. "Thank you." She got off the bike and handed the helmet back to him.
"No problem." He turned off his bike and put the helmet back in the satchel.
"Why are you turning off your bike?" Sweet Pea groans.
"From now on I'll take you to and from our tutoring session." Fangs told her.
"That's way too inconvenient for you, I can just take the bus." She shook her head.
"It's not an option. You ran into two Ghoulies already. It's not safe, especially now that Malachai seems interested in you and they think you're Sweet Pea's girlfriend. I don't want to even think of what they would do to you if they find out your F.P.'s goddaughter." He listed off the reasons she needs an escort.
"I have to give you gas money or something." She put her hands in the leather pockets. "Oh, I'm still wearing your jacket." She laughs and peeps down to see that she fell out of her top. "I just have to adjust." She adjusts the top over the jacket to cover herself before unzipping it.
She was about to pull it off when she heard the front door open. "What the hell are you doing Abigail Andrews?" She turns to see your brother speeding down the porch steps.
"If you don't shut the hell up and take your ass back in the house." Her eyes and tone held venom in them that made all three men freeze up. Abigail did not need Sweet Pea to have another reason to be rude to her. "Inside, I mean it." She pointed at the door. Archie walks back into the house but spies through the window.
"Sorry about that." She took off the jacket and handed it to Fangs.
"It's fine. I wouldn't want my sister being dropped off by some bikers either." He put his jacket back on.
"I'll see you next week." She leans over to kiss him on the cheek. Fangs thank god for his tan skin that hides his blush.
"I leave you with the wise words of a Jedi master: you've become the very thing you swore to destroy." She nods to Sweet Pea before walking into her yard.
"What?" He screams at her back but she keeps walking into her house.
Archie was waiting for her on the other side of the door. "Who the hell are those guys?" He asked.
"Two guys I'm tutoring from Southside High." She went into the kitchen where her dad was making a pot of coffee.
"What is going on?" He asks when he saw his children glaring at each other.
"She got dropped off by two guys on motorcycles." Archie tattled on her.
"The tutoring program that I'm involved with says I have to tutor a few unprivileged students. So, I had to go to Southside High today. They were nice enough to give me a ride home." She explains to her father, purposely not looking at Archie.
"Then you have to drop out of the program," Archie demands.
"What is wrong with me tutoring? I'm helping." She crosses her arms.
"It's in a dangerous neighborhood." He slams his hand down on the kitchen counter.
"Archie has a point there. Taking the bus can be dangerous." Their father agrees.
"Fangs has already offered to drive me there and home." She told him.
"Is Fangs the one you kissed?" He glares.
"I kissed him on the cheek." She corrected him before their father could ask any questions. "This isn't up for debate. I let you control when I work at Pops, but not this." She walked out of the kitchen and went to her room.
Abigail walked down the stairs in her light blue asymmetrical dress with a sweetheart neckline that had white rose on it. It had a retro-modern feel to it. She paired it with a white ankle strap heels. She had on a diamond-studded choker, a gold chain that had a pearl on it, and dangling pearl earrings. All three of the jewelry pieces were passed on from her dad's mom. She took an hour and a half curling her hair. She painted her lips pink, cheeks a rosy brown, and eyelids the same as her cheeks but darker.
Archie gasps and turns paler than usual when he sees her. He recovered quickly and cleared his throat. "Hey sis, you look great. I figure I'll give you a ride along with Betty and Veronica." He insisted that tonight was a friend thing and not a weird triple date.
"Thanks, but I don't need a ride." She shook her head.
"Her date is picking her up, Arch. You look beautiful, Abs." Their dad went over to kiss her cheek.
"Oh, Trev is picking you up." He leaned against the staircase banister.
"No, Reggie is." She told him.
"Reggie, Reggie Mantle? First, a guy on a biker drops you off and now you're being picked up by Reggie." Archie squinted at her. It felt like it was just yesterday when his sister was in pigtails and overalls, copying his every move. As he looks at her now, he could see she was a woman who was quickly attracting the attention of men. That scared the shit out of him, more than his dilemma of music or football.
A car horn beeps. "That's my date. Have fun on your polygamy date." She waved to Archie as she ran out the door. She hopped into the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454. "Hey," She boldly leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
"You look amazing." He pulled away from the curve and drove to school. "It kind of unbelievable how good you look."
"I know I was an ugly duckling, but damn Reg." Abby was trying to let it roll off her back as a joke, but it stung.
"I didn't mean it like that. You were never an ugly duckling. It's just in middle school you did everything you could to blend in with the crowd. You wore baggy clothes, never talked, and hid behind your friends or brother. It's unbelievable to see you at school all week, right now willingly standing out. I always knew you could." He smiles at her. He didn't want the date he had been dreaming of since the eighth grade to be ruined because he put his foot in his mouth.
"I'm happy that someone likes the changes I'm trying to make. I think I scared the hell out of Archie when I came down the stairs tonight." She laughs.
Reggie laughs as he pulls into the parking lot and parks in his usual spot near the front of the school. He got out of the car and went around opening the door for her. "Are you ready for your first high school dance?" He wraps an arm around her waist after locking the car.
"Is it that different from middle school dance?" She asked. He led her into the school and toward the gym.
"The punch gets spikes and the after parties are amazing." He hummed as he opened the door to the gym. "Yo Moose," He yelled out his friend's name when he saw the big guy. He pulled Abby over to the couple.
"Reggie!" He turned from Midge to see his friend.
After they did their little bro hug, Reggie turned to Abby. "I'm going to spike the punch with Moose. I'll be right back." Reggie, being much bolder than her, leans down to give her a peck on the lips. He and Moose went over to the punch table.
"Hi Midge," Abby turns to the other girl.
"Hello Abby, finally said yes to Reg." She smiles.
"He does have a charm." She shrugs. She didn't like to think about why she was going out with Reggie too much. She did find him attractive and witty but she didn't find herself in a daze while looking at him. Not like the heroines in her books would when they look at their love interest. She never daydreams about him like she did with Steve Harrington and the Weasley twins. The only reason she said yes was that she wanted to start dating and he seems to be the only one interested.
"Hey, you two look great." Tomoko came over in a pink A-line off the shoulders dress.
"Hi, you look good too. I saw you dancing with Sam." Abby smiled.
"It's been a fun night." She smiled.
"Where is Sam?" Midge asked.
"He's getting some spiked punch." She pointed to the punch bowl to see Moose pouring the flask into the bowl before taking a sip. He passed it to Reggie who took a sip and passed it to Sam.
"Look at them all indirectly kissing each other." Abby teased making the other girls giggle.
"Hey, what are we watching?" Trevor came over in a black tux.
"Watching the guys spike the punch," Midge told him.
"Good evening, friends. Are you all having a good time?" Cheryl in a stunning red dress spoke to the crowd and they cheered.
"You're Cheryl's friend. How red is her closet?" Tomoko asked Midge.
"Cheryl is all about the signature look and she believes hers is red." She explains.
"God did choose that color for her." Trev thought of her hair.
"As honorary chairperson and de facto queen of tonight's semi-formal, it is my great pleasure to introduce this evening's main entertainment. To know them is to be obsessed with them. Though they usually perform their own material, tonight, they're making an exception and debuting a cover of the song my parents claim they were listening to the night Jason and I were conceived. This one's for you, JJ. " Cheryl told the crowd.
"That's a little too much information." Abby pulled a face.
"Let Cheryl for you." Midge giggles.
"I give you Josie and the Pussycats." She got off the stage to let the band take over. Josie sang All Through the Night by Cyndi Lauper.
The guys came over with their mission completed. "You want to dance to the song the Blossoms did it too?" Reggie held his hand out to his date.
"Such terrible wording," She put her hand in his. He pulled her to the dance floor. She wraps her arms around his neck and he wraps his arms around her waist.
"Hello, love birds, Cheryl having a party at her house after." Ginger Lopez, one of Cheryl's lackeys, stood in front of them. "I hope to see you there, Reggie." She winks at him before walking away.
"How is she going to call us, love birds, then flirt with you." She glares at the pretty Latina's back.
"Don't worry about it." He leaned down to kiss her.
She kissed him back until she felt his tongue brush up against her lips. She pulls back in a panic. "I'm sorry, I never kiss like that. I know I'm going to be shitty at it." She apologized when she saw his confused face.
"Well, just thinking of me as your kissing coach. You just have to follow my lead." He pushed his lips against hers again. This time when he licks her lips, she opens her mouth for him. She tried to copy his movement but his skill level was much higher than hers. She was overthinking it so much that she was more stressed out then she was aroused by his tongue and roaming hands.
She was relieved when she heard someone clear their throat. They pull apart to see Coach Clayton. "Don't do anything that could get you kicked off the team, Mantle?" He glares at his football player. The only reason he chaperoned this dance was to make sure his player didn't get in trouble. He already had to distract another teacher when he saw their dumbasses spiking the punch.
"Yeah, of course," He nods his head.
"Then get your hands off her ass." He shook his head as he walked away.
Reggie moved his hands to her waist. Abby put her head on his chest as she giggled.
Abby was in Reggie's lap on a couch in Blossom Manor. Cheryl Blossom stood in front of the fireplace to take charge of the party. "It's game time at Chez Blossom, kiddies. We're going old-school tonight. Seven Minutes in Heaven. Who wants to tryst in the closet of love first? My vote is A for Archie. Anyone care to second it?" Cheryl looks around at the crowd.
"Wait …" Archie objects.
"Yes, Andrews! Yes!" Reggie pumps his fist in Archie's direction.
"He doesn't want to." Abby grabbed his hand to stop him.
"He's just playing the gentleman." He winks at her brother.
"Alright, gather round, kids. Let's see who's riding the ginger stallion tonight." Cheryl spins an empty bottle on the table.
"I hope you know if it stops here, you'll be going in the closet with him." Abby pulled on her date's tie. Reggie let out a drunken giggle and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek.
Veronica and Betty stare down at the bottle with anxiousness. It stops just short of Betty, but clearly at Veronica.
"Oh, no way!" Reggie obnoxiously laughs.
"It's pointing to the new girl. This should be fun." Cheryl leaned on the back of the couch Abby and Reggie were sitting on.
"Um... I'm not doing this." Veronica shook her head after glancing at Betty. Her crush on Archie was an even worse secret then Moose's.
"That's up to you. But, if you don't, house rules decree the hostess gets to take your turn." She smirks as she points at herself.
Abby had enough. She stood up from Reggie's lap. "I know we're in high school, so this peer pressure shit supposes to be cute, but fuck off. Archie doesn't have to get in the closet with anyone he doesn't want to."
"Calm down. Veronica and I will just stand for seven minutes. It's boring but whatever." He pushes her back down in her date's lap.
"Watch her." He nods to Reggie.
"Gladly," Reggie hugs her tightly and kisses her neck. Veronica got up to follow Archie who was opening the closet door for her.
Cheryl had a twisted smile on her face as she watched Betty stare at the door with tears in her eyes. Betty wasn't stupid or blind. She could see the spark between them that lit up as soon as they saw each other at Pops. She believed Veronica was her friend. Even though they knew each other for a short time, she wanted to believe Veronica was loyal to her. But, she couldn't help her imagination turning to the worst. She stared at the closest door until she couldn't take it anymore. She got up and ran out the door with Cheryl and her hyenas laughing.
Abby got up and grabbed Reggie's tie to pull him out of the house. A few guys whistle and howls, thinking they were leaving before Archie could stop them. "Betty!" Abby called out to the blonde who was tearing up.
"What?" She snapped, not wanting anyone to see her right now.
"Come with us." She let go of Reggie who was giggling about a threesome. She walked over to whisper to Betty. "Look, I'm going to drive Reggie home and call an Uber from there. There is no need for us to both pay for one."
"Alright," She nods her head.
They got into the Chevrolet and Abby drove them to the Mantle residence. The ride was filled with Reggie slurring dirty things to her. "Alright, stud, you're home." She parked in front of his house. "Are you going to be able to sneak in?"
"I can just walk through the front door. My dad's got sleep apnea, so between the noisy machine and my mom's sleep pills, nothing wakes them up." He got out of the car. Betty and Abby got out too. She locks it and hands the key to Reggie. "I'll see you tomorrow." He gave her a sloppy kiss before going into his house.
"The uber is on its way," Betty told her.
"Great." She was getting chilling in the night air.
"What made you see Reggie in a different light?" Betty asked, thinking of her and Archie's relationship.
"It's not that I see him in a different light, it's just I didn't feel ready to date before and now I am." She told the blonde on the verge of heartbreak.
"Oh," She sighs.
"Look, Betty, I know you love Archie, so it is not easy to just say forget him. But, forget him. If only temporarily. It's not his fault that he doesn't feel the same way, but you need space to get over him and he has to respect that." Abby hugged her. The Uber pulled up. "Come on." She opened the door for Betty and got in after.
"Are you girls coming from the formal?" The lady driver headed towards their street.
"Yes," Abby nods.
"You guys make a cute couple. It's nice to see, back in my day people weren't so good with it. But, time is changing." She sings.
"And we are happy about it." Abby grabs Betty's hand to lace it with hers. Betty let out a bitter laugh as she stared at the other teen. She hoped to be holding hands as she was taken home by an Andrews tonight. She got her wish just not how she imagined it.
"Here you are love birds," The driver smiles.
"Thanks, I'll give you a five-star rating," Betty promised as she got out of the car still holding the redhead's hand. They dropped their joined hands when the car was out of sight. "Why are you being so nice to me?" Betty looks over at the curvy redhead.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"I know you don't like me. Is it out of pity because your brother is probably going to break my heart?" She sighs.
"It's not that I hate you. I resent that you don't completely reject Trev. It keeps his hopes up of you returning his feelings one day and that stops him from finding love with someone else. I realize that is hypocritical because of how I used to brush off Reggie. I know it's hard to crush someone's affection. Remember that." She waves goodbye before walking into her house.
When she heard the door open, Abby stood up from the couch and walked to the doorway. "You need a hug." She held her arms out to her brother.
Archie wraps his arms around her and holds her tight. "I lost Betty." He whispers.
"You didn't lose her. She might need space for a little while but your guy's friendship is strong enough to survive this." She rubs his back.
If you've read Take Me to the Races, I know that Abigail seems very different, that's because she is. This is who Abby was before Malachai, a wallflower who was trying to find the nerve to get out there and experience life. But, this time she doesn't have Malachai to show her the way. She has to do it herself.