The next day, I was seated with my friends in the student lounge as Veronica and Archie proposed a weekend getaway...a romantic couples getaway. I sighed into my coffee, guess I was staying home. "Fair warning, our Shadow Lake chalet is rustic, but it has breath-taking views of the mountains, the water…" Veronica trailed off.

"That sounds heavenly, V." Betty said. "What do you say, Jug?" Betty turned to her boyfriend, gently shaking his knee. "Can you bear it?"

"As long as it's cool with your dad." Jughead asked Veronica.

"Mister Lodge actually suggested it." Archie put forward.

"Well, then, cue the duelling banjos."

"What the hell, Jug?" I wondered. He shrugged,

"And it'll also be a good chance for me to work on my novel." He finished.

"Excellent." Veronica said with a smile. "But remember, the point of this luxury weekend is to relax and unplug."

" 'Luxury' and 'weekend', two of my favourite words." Cheryl said, walking into the room. "So, where are we going, and how extravagant a wardrobe should I pack?"

"Sorry, Cheryl. It's kind of a romantic, couples-only weekend." Veronica told her. Cheryl glanced at me, and I could only give her a half-shrug.

"I see. Of course. My mistake. Well, have fun with your romances." Cheryl then turned and walked out.

"Alright, I'm out." I said, standing.

"Wait, Lia, you're invited too." Veronica said. "I just-"

"Said that to get rid of Cheryl?" I supplied. "That sounds really bad, you know. Besides, I did have plans already, you know, making sure the people living in Sunyside Park have a place to live?" I directed that at Jughead, who looked down. "Have fun, you guys." I then stepped back and turned, leaving the Student Lounge.

TIMESKIP

That afternoon, I found Cheryl in the girls' bathroom, just getting off the phone with someone. "Enjoy your couples-only weekend. Kisses to all, bye now." And with that, she hung up.

"What was that all about?" I asked. Cheryl turned to me and flashed a small smile.

"Lia." Cheryl greeted. "I was just making a call to Jughead."

"To tell him that Betty and Archie kissed." Toni said, walking out of a stall to wash her hands.

"Cher, seriously?" I said softly.

"So what if I did?" Cheryl huffed.

"Did you at least have a reason?" Toni asked.

"Oh, that's right...you're new here." Cheryl turned to Toni as she spoke. "Hi. I'm Cheryl Blossom, AKA Cheryl Bombshell, which means I need no reasons. I simply am. Feel free to tremble."

"You remember Cheryl, from the protest." I said, scratching the back of my head. "Cheryl, this is Toni, she's my oldest friend from the Southside."

"Pleasure." Cheryl eyed Toni up and down.

"T, can you…" I trailed off, gesturing to the door.

"Yeah, 'course. See you 'round Stiletto." Toni then turned and walked out of the bathroom. I turned back to Cheryl.

"Now, do you wanna tell me what that was all about?" I asked my girlfriend.

"I was just…" Cheryl sighed. "I was mad that we weren't invited to the couples retreat. I certainly needed it."

"Look." I said softly. "Why don't we go to the movies tonight, to get your mind off everything, yeah? I can see it in your eyes, something else happened this morning that you're not telling me." Cheryl nodded silently. "I'll pick you up about 7, ok?"

"Ok." I stepped forward, pecking Cheryl's cheek and then headed out.

TIMESKIP

That night, I pulled up to Cheryl's house, only to see her waiting out the front already. She got in the car and closed the door. "Can you get me out of here?" Cheryl demanded softly.

"Yeah, sure." I replied. I drove off, heading toward the theatre. "So…" I trailed off. "Did you want to tell me what's been bugging you today?"

"Well…" Cheryl started. "She…she said some things that really got to me. She said…I was a jealous, spite-filled, starving, emotional anorexic." I glanced over at Cheryl, who had tears in her eyes as she said that.

"You're not." I assured. "Cher…my god, I'm so sorry your mother is…the absolute worst. You may be a little jealous, but every person is. Spite filled? I don't think so. An anorexic? Cher, I've seen you devour three bowls of my pasta in one sitting." I could feel Cheryl's eyes on me. "You are nothing that your mother said you are, ok? I'll remind you every day."

"Thanks, Lia." Cheryl said softly. We soon arrived at the theatre. We got our tickets and I paid for our snacks. As we waited for them, I could see Cheryl wasn't herself again. I pulled her close, kissing her temple.

"You can stay at my place tonight, ok?" I said. "You can keep away from your mother." I felt Cheryl nod. Once we had gotten our popcorn, I lead Cheryl into the movie. We watched silently, sharing popcorn. But, when Simon's mum was talking about being herself, I heard sniffles. I looked over and saw Cheryl trying to hold in her tears. I took her hand, gently squeezing.

TIMESKIP

After the movie, Cheryl and I made our way to Pop's for milkshakes. We sat at the counter next to each other. Cheryl had her trademark strawberry shake while I had my usual vanilla. "Are you alright baby?" I asked softly. "I saw you crying in the movie."

"I never cry in movies." Cheryl told me, "Real life's tragic enough, you know that. But...when Simon's mum said he used to be such a carefree kid growing up, and at a certain point he stopped being that happy kid because he was hiding a secret." I could hear Cheryl trying not to cry. "Everyone thinks I'm this loveless monster...but it isn't true." Cheryl took a breath, "Before I met you...I loved someone…who loved me. My mother destroyed it...her name was...Heather." I nodded slowly, I remember her, we were never close, "She was my best friend in Junior High, she used to sleep over every weekend. Until one night...my mother caught us in the same bed. She said I was...deviant." I reached forward and cupped Cheryl's cheek, gently brushing a tear away with my thumb.

"Cheryl, I wish I could take away your pain. And...I need you to know that your mother is a psychopath, and she's wrong." With my free hand, I took Cheryl's hand that was resting on the table. "You are not deviant...you are the most amazing girl I have ever met. And loveless?" I laughed lightly, "If you were loveless would I even be here right now?" Cheryl gave me a small smile. I gave her one in return as I cupped her cheek with my other hand. I pulled Cheryl close and pressed a tender kiss to her lips.