Abigail reached across Vegas, who was sleeping beside her, to grab her ringing phone off the nightstand that woke both of them up. "Hello." She groggy answered.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU MEAN?" A voice on the other end demands.

"Who the hell is this?" She felt more wake as angry began to flow through her veins.

"Sweet Pea, who else would it be?" She recognized the deep voice that she found so alluring even those he was always upset with her.

"You make like you call me all the time." She rolls her eyes before opening them wide when she sees the time. "Sweet Pea, it's six in the morning on a Sunday. I could have a whole other hour before I had to wake up for my shift at Pops." She stared at her light blue owl alarm clock.

"I'm surprised you work, Princess." He snickers.

"You better have an English question?" She sneers.

"Oh yeah I do, why the hell did you quote star wars to me? It's been driving me crazy all week." He grinds his teeth.

"Oh that," She sat up to lean against her headboard.

"Yes, that." He growls.

"Why do you hate the Northside?" She asked.

"Are you trying to avoid my question with one of your own?" He accused her.

"No, I'm asking a question that leads to your answer." She purposely phrases it like a riddle.

"Because they're pretentious assholes who group all us Sorthsiders as dangerous savages, that's why they don't care to fix up the school or give us funding to build anything in our neighborhood, not a park, not a young center, nothing." He would have gone on to rant more but he found his voice rising and he wasn't trying to wake the whole trailer park.

"You realize you're doing the same thing right, you're group Northsiders all together. I didn't treat you like a dangerous savage, yet you acted like I was unworthy of your time." She felt a headache coming on from having a confrontation right after she woke up.

"You did stare at me like I was a bear digging through your trash." He read the situation all wrong.

"I was not staring, because I thought you were dangerous." She defends herself.

"Then why were you?" He asks.

She clears her throat not wanting to answer that. "I quoted the great Obi-Wan because the hate you have for the North for being prejudiced has made you prejudice yourself." She explains.

"That's different." He told her.

"How?" She sighs at his stubbornness.

"Your people are prejudiced because they fear what they don't know, which is leading them to hurt my people, while my feelings for the North are based on experiences." He thought he had her corner.

"So you have a few bad experiences and you judge a whole group of people from it. Look, I'm not saying that you're wrong. There a lot of people who are like that, but that doesn't mean there aren't people who care. People that want to help." She pet Vegas who crawls into her lap. Being as big as he was, his top half was on her lap with his butt hanging off.

"Is that what you were doing with your tutoring?" He didn't think he would have a calm discussion when he made this call. He was sure it was going to be a stupid comment from her and him telling her to go fuck herself.

"If I'm being honest, I entered the tutoring program because it will look amazing on college applications. I don't remember the Southside being that bad as a kid." She told him.

"How do you remember it?" He asks.

"As a fun place, I used to run around the trailer park with the other kids, drinking virgin drinks at the Whyte Wyrm, and going to the drive-in. My favorite was when F.P. would take Jellybean and me to the quarry and we would pretend we were mermaids. I guess when you're having fun as a kid you don't notice the rundown houses and the broken playground." She stops talking when she hears him chuckle. "What's so funny?"

"I just never thought I would hear a Northsider talk about the South with so much love in their voice." He let out a few more weak chuckles.

"I always pressure myself here that I have to be the perfect daughter and sister because my dad and brother are so popular. There I was me and could be free." The only people who knew the pressure she felt were Tomoko and Trev. She couldn't believe she told that to someone she met once, and it wasn't even a pleasant meeting.

"Still?" When she said always, it gave him that idea.

"My first day of high school was on Monday and in every class, it was oh Andrews, is Archie your brother? He is so helpful and outspoken. I just want to scream I'm not him. I don't want to pass out papers or give my opinion on everything." She sighs.

"So, even the princess has legit problems." He hums.

"I'm sure they're nothing compared to yours." She wasn't trying to make this all about her.

"I got regular teen problems like school, but I got adult ones like paying bills." He didn't add on how both problems didn't care about the other. Teachers didn't cut them any lack of having to work to pay bills. It was hard to do homework when he had Serpent duties to do, that's why Toni signed him and Fangs up for tutoring. She said if they couldn't find a balance she would for them.

"That sucks. This will be my first time working while going to school and tutoring. I'm nervous about it because I want to be able to do it all." She told him. They went on talking about balancing things and more about the Southside like the drive-in and the quarry. They found that they had some of the same childhood memories.

Her owl clock hooting put an end to their conversation. "What the fuck is that?" He squinted like that would help him see over the phone.

"My owl alarm clock, I got to get ready for work. I'll see you later on this week." She got up to turn it off.

"I'll see ya. Don't get any ideas that you change my mind about the Northside or that we're friends. I just learn to tolerate you, that's all." He wanted the recorder straight.

"I would never get that idea. Bye." She waited until he said it back before hanging up the phone. "He can't fool me, Vegas. You don't stay on the phone for an hour with someone unless they're your friend." She told her dog as she went to the closest to pull out her work uniform.

"Alright. Here you go, Vegas. Good boy." Fred reaches back to give Vegas a piece of bacon.

"And you say I'm the reason he begs." Abby laughs from her seat at the table they use as an island.

"You are." He watches as Vegas moves to her feet after he finishes his bacon.

"Way to be obvious." She whispers to her dog.

"Morning, Dad." Archie came into the kitchen.

"Hey, bud. Where'd you sneak off to last night?" He asked, not taking his eyes off the bacon he was cooking.

"You, uh, you heard that?" He looks at his father's back wondering if he was upset.

"How could he not with your heavy feet." Abby was about to put some pancakes in her mouth when Archie grabs her fork to eat them himself. She glared as he hummed at their deliciousness.

"Son, I've been hearing you sneak out since you were eight years old going to Jughead's treehouse." He wiped the grease from the bacon off his hands before walking over to the table where his kids were.

"I couldn't sleep. I went for a jog to tire myself out." Archie poured himself a glass of orange juice.

"Yeah? Got something on your mind?" He asks.

"Just all this stuff with Jason," Archie told him. Abby stared down at her plate as she thought about the older boy. She never talks to him personally. He was always in the background standing there while Reggie hitting on her or while Cheryl made some vicious comment. She wonders who could hate him that much, to save him from drowning just to shoot him in the head.

"Hmm, no more midnight runs until the police catch whoever it was that shot that poor kid. I swear to God, this town." He sighs as he shakes his head.

After they ate their breakfast, Abby walked to Tomoko's house. She knocked on the door for it to be opened by a five-year-old with a large fluffy ball by his side. "Akira, you know you're not supposed to answer the door." She scolds him. The Hokkaido wags its tail, so she reaches down to pet her. "Hello, Mochi."

"Yeah, but it's you. It's always you around this time." He smiles up at her blushing.

"Akira, you know you're not supposed to answer the door until you can see through the peephole." Tomoko came from behind to scold him.

"But, it's Abby." He points at her.

"You didn't know that. Now go back to mom before I tell her what you did." With that threat, he ran back to his room where he was supposed to be getting ready for school. Mochi ran after him.

"You're so lucky to be the youngest." Tomoko sighs as she shuts the door.

"You complain but you know Akira's cute face brightens up your life." Abby laughs. They took a small detour to pick up Trev. He was on his porch waiting for them.

"Finally," He stood and walked over. They made their way towards the high school.

"Sorry, Akira answered the door again." Tomoko apologized.

"He was excited because he knew his girlfriend was on the other side." Trev nudges Abby.

"Don't remind me, it's so embarrassing." Tomoko groans.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about. Younger siblings have crushes on their older sibling's friends. I used to have a crush on Melody." Trev reassured her that it was a normal thing.

"Besides it is so innocent it's cute. I still have the Valentine's Day card he gave me last year." Abby had it pin on the cork part of her dry erase board calendar that was hanging above her desk.

"Speaking of cute crushes, did your biker boyfriend call you for another early morning chat because he can't get you off his mind?" Tomoko winks.

"Oh my god, that is such a suggestive way of putting it." Abby rolled her eyes.

"It's impressive. In less than a week you went from having no potential boyfriend to two." Trev joined in on teasing her.

"A football player and a biker, no less, it is exactly like those trashy romance novels that you like to read." Tomoko giggles.

"Except in the novel, the football player didn't act differently in front of his friends and the biker wouldn't be such a stubborn ass." She points out. She went to the movie with Reggie on Saturday and everything was good until they ran into his friends. He went from being a gentleman to a fuck boy. She was ready to leave when he smacked her ass just to impress his friends.

"I know the date was a disaster, but you talk to him about it, didn't you?" Tomoko asked.

"I was going to but, never found the right time." Abby looked down at her feet. She could handle a confrontation when they came her way, but she wasn't good at starting them. If she could avoid being around his friends, she didn't see why she had to bring it up.

"Abby, you have to talk to him about it. You can't let him treat you that way." Trev was in the locker room with those guys. He heard how they talked.

"I will... fuck." She cursed when she saw Reggie outside of the school with Chuck and Moose. Moose, she didn't mind but Chuck was a chauvinistic pig who liked to peer pressure the other guys into being just like him.

"Hey Babe," Reggie calls out when he sees her.

"See you later," Tomoko and Trev walk ahead, not wanting to be around Chuck either.

"Good Morning," She sighs. Reggie wraps an arm around her shoulders.

"Where's your cute Asian friend going?" Chuck watches Tomoko's ass as she walks away.

"Far away," She glares at him.

"Lighten up. You don't want your friend to be as happy as you. Jesus Reggie, you must not really be putting the work in like you said if she is still this uptight." Chuck smirks at his friend.

"What?" Abby glares at Reggie.

He uses the arm he had wraps around her to pull her towards the entrance. "Don't worry about it." He whispers to her. He pushed open the door to let them in.

"Don't tell me not to worry." She snaps.

He hushed her because Chuck and Moose were right behind them. When he saw Jughead about to walk past him, he stuck out his arm to make sure his elbow hit him roughly in the chest. "Watch it, Wednesday Addams." He yells at the smaller teen.

"You're such an asshole, Reggie." She shoves his arm off her and pushes her way through the crowd.

"Hey," He went after her with Chuck and Moose oohing in the background. "What up with you?" He asks when she finally stopped at her locker.

"What's up with the split personality? When you're with me you're a charming gentleman and with your friend act like a caveman." She roughly opened her locker.

"All this because I shove Jughead," He huffs.

"No, that was the last straw. At the movie, you smack my ass telling me to get the drinks and popcorn while you talk to your boys. You're bragging so loud about how you pick everything to do that night. What does it matter that your friend knows that you ran everything past me? Then this morning to find out you're lying on your dick about me. We haven't done anything past light petting." She glares at him.

"That's just how guys talk. They wanted a good story so I gave it to them. It's all in good fun." He shrugs.

"So it's fun to humiliate me." She feels the tears building in her eyes.

"I'm going to leave you alone, so you can calm down and think rationally." He backs away.

"Why don't you leave me alone forever," She yells at his back. "This is why I didn't want to date. I didn't want to be humiliated." She hated that she let herself get set up like this. She knew what kind of guy he was, but she still went for it anyway, all in the pursuit of experiencing life.

"Good morning, students. This is your principal speaking. There have been many inquiries about the upcoming pep rally. So let me state clearly, it is happening, as scheduled. Now, on a less felicitous note, if you could give your attention to Sheriff Keller," Weatherbee's voice came over the intercom.

"Most of you already know the details, but your classmate Jason Blossom's body was found late Saturday night. So as of the weekend, Jason's death is now being treated as a homicide. It is an open and ongoing investigation." Sheriff's speech was interrupted by someone who probably shouldn't be there.

"And may I interject, neither I nor my parents will rest until Jason's death is avenged, and his cold-hearted killer is walking the green mile to sit in Old Sparky and fry. I, for one, have my suspicions. #RiverdaleStrong." Cheryl spokes.

Tomoko came over to get some things out of her locker. "Shouldn't she be the main suspect? She saw him last."

"If you know anything that could help us find and apprehend Jason's killer or anything about what happened to him on July 4th, I strongly urge you to come forward immediately. You can speak to me or Principal Weatherbee. A death like this wounds us all. Let's not let Jason down." Keller finished his speech.

"They must have cleared her." Abby shrugs, closing her locker.

"Are you okay? I heard your argument with Reggie." She walks with her to algebra.

"It's not heartbreaking, it's frustrating. I am not going to be with a guy that disrespectful me for his friend's amusement." She held onto the straps of her backpack.

"Good for you." She nods.

"So, Tomoko tells me you talked with Reggie," Trev said as they sat down at the table for lunch

"I'm alright, you guys." She opens the hot sauce to put on her taco

"I just don't want you to crawl back into your shell, because you got hurt." Tomoko didn't want Reggie to ruin all the progress she made. "Maybe it's a football thing because Sam was more into hanging out with his friend than me at the dance."

"I'll admit that it sucks that the only boy who showed interest in me, is a douchebag who doesn't see anything wrong with ruining my reputation to make him better. But, I'm not going to let that ruin my plan. I don't need love to enjoy life. When I think of the things I missed out because I was trying to fill my mother's shoe, it wasn't boyfriends. It was spending time with you guys. I want to enjoy simple things like going to the mall and sleepovers." She didn't want them to worry about her.

"I have to tell you guys something." Trev was nervous about how to phrase what he needed to tell them. When they look at him, he realizes he couldn't make Abby feel bad when she was starting to look on the bright side. "I quit the football team."

"What?" The girls gasp.

"I'm going to focus on basketball. That is the sport I like anyways. The training is completely different and the seasons are too close together to prepare my body for it." He tried to confuse them with sports talk.

He succeeded. "If you're sure," Tomoko looks like she was suspicious but she wasn't sure what else it could be.

"I'm sure." He nods.

"I'm going to pick up your girlfriend, you coming?" Fangs swung his leg over, so he was straddling his bike.

"She's not my girlfriend." Sweet Pea grunted.

"I don't know, you spent an hour talking to her on the phone. You don't even do that with us." Toni put her helmet on.

"I see you guys every day. Why would I need to talk to you on the phone?" He scoffs.

"I'll let you know if you got any competition over there." Fangs rev his engine to take off down the street.

"I don't care." He yells at his friend who wouldn't hear him over his engine.

Fangs put his kickstand down but kept his engine running when he stopped in front of Riverdale High. He watches Abby wave bye to her friends before jogging over to him. He turns off his engine when he sees a jock roughly grab her arm to stop her. He got off his bike to make his way over to them. "Don't pin everything on me when you're seeing other guys. Do you know how stupid you're making me look?" He heard the jock shout at her.

"Oh, so it okay for me to look dumb but not you." She tried to pull away from him.

He tightens his grip and pulls her closer. "If I knew a new wardrobe made you such a whore then I wouldn't have asked you to that dance."

"The lady wants you to let her go." Fangs grab Abby's other arm to pull her out of his grasp.

"I'm her boyfriend. You can get on your bike and take yourself back to the ghetto." He growls.

"So what if you're her boyfriend, that doesn't give you the right to grab her when she doesn't want you to." He scoffs.

"You're not my boyfriend, Reggie. You took me to the dance and a movie. You were a shitty date on both occasions." She glared at him from behind Fangs.

"You want to choose him over me, whatever, having fun living in a trailer park, prude bitch." He sneers.

Fangs went to go after him but Abby held onto his jacket. "Let's go." She pulled him to his bike. She got on for him to take her to the Whyte Wyrm.

He parks his bike to get off of it and help her off. "Is FP in there?" She looks at the bar's door.

"I don't know." He shrugs.

"I don't know if he would be happy to see me." She didn't want to get Fangs in more trouble than she already did.

"I'm sure he would. Now come on, you need a virgin drink after everything." He threw an arm around her shoulders to pull her inside.

"Please, I'm the one who owes you a drink after what you did for me." She told him as they walked over to the bar where Sweet Pea was sitting. A pretty girl with pink hair was behind the bar.

"Hi, I'm Toni. You must be Abby, the juicy tutor." She threw a teasing glance at Sweet Pea.

"Juicy?" She raised an eyebrow.

"What did he do for you?" Sweet Pea quickly changes the subject.

"I had to brush off a guy that was getting too rough. No big deal." Fangs shrugs.

"It's a big deal. No one else would have stood up to him. I don't know what would have happened if you didn't come over." She didn't think he would harm her physically. But, she didn't want to be pushed around to help him save face.

"You don't owe me a drink for it. If I wasn't there he wouldn't have got mad anyways. Just don't give him another chance." Fangs pat her head.

"Don't worry after two dates, the first he was a sloppy drunk, and the second an asshole, I learned my lesson." She laughs.

"Look you're here to tutor us, not for us to be your therapists." Sweet Pea wanted to get off the topic of some guy mistreating her. It was filling him with a rage that made him want to go searching the halls of Riverdale High to kick this guy's ass.

"Sweet Pea," Toni glares at her rude friend.

"No, he's right." She opens her bag to pull out three manila folders. She gave one to Fangs and the other to Sweet Pea. "I was surprised when I saw that your teacher wanted you guys to annotate The Banking Concept of Education by Paulo Freire." She pulls out her copy of the short essay.

"Why?" Fangs ask.

"Because it is a critical analysis of what is wrong with the education system. A system that he was to work within," She told the boys who obviously didn't read the essay yet.

"I was thinking the same thing." Toni wipes down the bar.

"From a literature educator standpoint, I think I know where he is going with this," Abby told her. Toni put her elbows on the counter and her head in her hands to give the redhead her full attention. "English is the one class where the banking concept really doesn't fit. It doesn't fit anywhere because it's not built for long term memory and it's only one point of view. Even most math equations have more than one way to solve it, but you're only taught one."

"You're getting off-topic." Sweet Pea noticed that happen a lot when she spoke about theories. She would take you through the whole thought process, sidetracks, and all.

"Right, English is my favorite subject because no opinion is wrong. As long as you can prove it with quotes and know how to argue your viewpoint, you're right. To force a viewpoint on literature, even if it's the Author's one ruins the magic of literature. It strips it from being an art form, and makes it another way that society tries to shape us into the people they want us to be." She had been driving herself crazy wondering why a teacher would assign this essay. When she finally had a theory, she was so excited to share it. The problem was no one cared, because they didn't want to read an essay they didn't have to. Now, she was with people that had to.

Sweet Pea stares at her in awe. The way her face lights up and voice grows confident as she explains her viewpoint. It made him wish he face-timed her that Sunday morning so he could've seen her light up when she talks about the Southside.

"That's deep. I have one question though, how does one annotate." Fangs ask.

"Oh, like this." She showed him her copy of the essay. "You just highlight strong points, metaphors, or phrases you like. Then you write on the side, why you highlighted it. Like how I highlighted both are simultaneously teachers and students. I wrote on the side the ideal learning experience."

"Okay," He pats his pockets.

"You need a highlight and a pen." She pulls out her pink cat pencil case. She gives him a unicorn pen and a syringe highlighter. "Do you need any?" She turns to Sweet Pea.

"Yes, he does," Toni answered for him.

Sweet Pea grabbed her pencil case to grab his own. "Does everything have to be cute with you?" He snickers when he sees her paw whiteout and Stitch posts it.

"Little red, Abigail Andrews, I never thought I lay my eyes on ya again." Hog Eye came out of his office. She was bigger now, but those pouty lips and hazel eyes were still the same.

"Hey Hog Eye," She got up to hug the older man.

"What are you doing here, kid?" He asks.

"I'm tutoring Fangs and Sweet Pea." She told him.

"Good, maybe you can get through to those thick skulls." He playful ruffles their hair. The teens who took the time to style their hair in the morning cried out. "I'll make ya a virgin sunset." He pointed at Abby as he went behind the bar.

"Is this too much to highlight?" Fangs point to the list the author made of how the banking education system mirrors an oppressive society.

"Not if you think it's a solid point. As long as you know why you're highlighting, it's okay." She sat back in her seat between Fangs and Sweet Pea.

"I can't believe I liked something a teacher gave me to read." Sweet Pea stared down at the paper. Toni and Abby let out a chuckle at that.

"In the folder, I put a character map, a timeline, and study guides to help you through each Act of Macbeth, which is the book you guys are going to be starting next week. Call me if you need anything before we meet again? See you guys next week." Abby waves to Toni, Sweet Pea, and Hog Eye as Fangs and she walks out the door.

"You're lucky that girl is passionate about literature." Toni turns to Sweet Pea when the door closes. "If she wasn't so into the homework, she would have noticed you looking at her every other second."

"I was surprised someone could be so nerdy." He grunts.

"That's why you were staring at her like a fat kid stares at a chocolate cake when she was explaining why Mr. Phillips assigned that essay." She smiles ear from ear. "You were upset about the guy harassing her."

"I could care less about her going out with other guys." He took a sip of his beer.

"I didn't say anything about her dating." She smiles.

"The jerk was harassing her because she went on a date with him and thought he owned her after it. She needs to be a better judge of character." He grumbles.

"Well, I'm sure a great guy will come along." Toni laughs when he groans at the thought of that.

Abby, Trev, and Tomoko were sitting in the student lounge as Reggie rants so loud that they could hear him from across the room. "And Sheriff Keller's grilling me, Mantle the Magnificent, because I'd want Blossom dead, when he was, like, the only good quarterback we had. And speaking of offensive tight-ends, I should've sent the cops to you, Moose. Because here's another unsolved mystery, what exactly were you and Kevin doing at the river, huh? Or does being with the sheriff's son give you a free pass? Keller?" He looks over at the sheriff's son who didn't reply to him.

"It's like every word he says now making me feel like a giant idiot." Abby couldn't believe he was willing to throw Moose under the bus. Moose was his best friend.

"I mean, let's think about it. If a kid at Riverdale killed Jason, it's not going to be a jock, right?" He threw the football he had in his hands to one of his teammates across the room.

"Maybe the second-string quarterback," Tomoko whispers.

"Now let's be honest. Isn't it always some spooky, scrawny, pathetic internet troll, too busy writing his manifestos to get laid? Some smug, moody, serial killer fanboy freak, like Jughead?" He looks over at the boy standing next to the vending machine. "What was it like, Suicide Squad? When you shot Jason? You didn't do stuff to the body, did you? Like... After?"

"It's called necrophilia, Reggie, can you spell it?" Jughead asked, making Abby laugh loudly.

"Come here, you little…" Reggie charged him. Jughead got in a stance ready to at least get a punch in.

Archie got in between them and pushed him back. "Shut the hell up, Reggie."

"Boys," Veronica stood up from her seat on the arm of Chuck's chair.

"What do you care, Andrews?" He glared at the slightly shorter teen.

"Nothing, just leave him alone." Archie might not be on good terms with Jughead, but he didn't deserve to get beat up for standing up for himself.

"Holy crap, did you and Donnie Darko kill him together? Was it some sort of pervy, blood brother thing?" Reggie looks between the two teens laughing. Archie pushed him, wiping the smile off his face. He grabs Archie by his shirt and slams him against the vending machine causing the glass to shatter.

"Hey!" Jughead tried to separate them but ended up falling on the floor.

As Moose pulled Reggie off Archie, he was able to throw one last punch knocking Archie out. "Reggie, you fucking idiot," Abby ran over to her brother.

Chuck walked over to lean down and whisper to her, "You know this is all your fault."

"Fuck off." She glares.

"What, it is. You think Reggie would be this agitated if you didn't dump him because you're a prude." He sneers.

Trev came over to shove Chuck away from her. "Back off, unless you want to join Archie on the floor."

"Is everything alright?" Veronica came over.

"Yeah, Trev is helping me get Archie out of here before security comes," Abby told her.

"Offer to help but they don't need it." Chuck walks out of the room. Veronica watches with Abby and Tomoko as Jughead and Trev helps Archie who was conscious but groggy out of the room. They follow after them, not wanting to be there either when someone of authority showed up.

Tomoko, Trev, and Abby were sitting in front of Fred Andrews as they watched the first football game of the season. "Now to kick off this pep rally, I'd like to hand it over to our very own Mayor McCoy." The football coach had to quickly move out the way to not be hit by the large black umbrella that Mrs. McCoy was holding.

"Thank you, Principal Weatherbee. It is heartening to see so many of you here, even in weather like this. But a lack of heart and school spirit has never been the Riverdale way. Tonight's pep rally isn't like any other we've had in the past. And we shouldn't pretend that it is. This is why I would like to dedicate this evening to the memory of one of our brightest, Jason Blossom. We're with him tonight. Now please, join me in welcoming to the field our very own River Vixens, and their special guest stars, my daughter, Josie, and her Pussycats!" She introduces her daughter's band. They sang their version of Candy Girl. The cheerleader did a dance routine in front of the stage.

When the song ended, Cheryl came on the stage and Josie hugged her. "Alright, you all ready? Let's make some noise! Put your hands together for the Riverdale Bulldogs!" The coach announced his team.

Cheryl froze when she stared at Archie leading the bulldogs onto the field. She ran off stage and across the field to the locker rooms. Abby didn't know what possessed her. She didn't even like Cheryl, but she ran right after her. She was on her tail when she slammed the locker room door open. She went in after her to see Cheryl sitting on the bench sobbing. "Was Archie running in the front with his red hair too much?" She sat in front of her.

Cheryl threw herself at her and cried into her shoulder. "You don't have to be the head bitch in charge about this. You're allowed to hurt, Cheryl. Archie and I were not as close as you and Jason were. He gets on my nerves most of the time, but it would be heart-wrenching if something were to happen to him. So, I imagine it's ten times worse for you." Jason was Cheryl's world. The only person, she was always nice to. You could tell from the way she used to talk and look at him, that she idolized him.

"Cheryl, what is it? What happened?" Veronica came into the locker room.

"It was too much for her, too much for her to do something that Jason and her normal did together. He was always on the football field while she was cheering on the side." She explains so the other redhead didn't have to.

"Jason. He's gone..." She sobs.

"I know. I know he is." Veronica patted her back. Abby hopes that she gets better at this comforting thing or never does it again because she had no idea what to say. You're supposed to let them know it okay to feel the way they did and that it was only temporary. It would always hurt for Cheryl to think of Jason, but one day she will be able to look back at the good time without breaking down.

"No, you don't. You don't understand. He was supposed to come back." Veronica and Abby thought she meant he was supposed to come back with her that day. They didn't know the true meaning behind her words. "I'm alone. I'm alone." She sobs.

"You're not alone, it's okay" Veronica rubs her back.

Cheryl pulls them both into a tight hug. "I don't think I can go out there." She whispers.

"Come on then, let's go to Pops." Abby stood up and held out a hand to Cheryl.

"You should go back out there, Veronica." Cheryl grabbed her hand and let the plus-size redhead pull her up.

"Are you sure? I can come if you want me to." Veronica stood up from the bench.

"Yeah, you shouldn't miss your first game as a Vixen." She nods.

Cheryl didn't feel like being in public, so they ended up getting take out from Pops. They were in Abby's room watching Bob's Burger. "I love Louise." Cheryl laughed as the bunny-eared girl told her older sister she decorated her room like a perverted jockey.

"She's my favorite character too." Abby picked up a chili fry.

"I like how tight she and Gene are." She smiled weakly at the screen.

"A sibling bond is a beautiful thing." She held the container of fries out to Cheryl.

"I don't think I can live without Jason." She took a sip of her shake after eating a few fries.

"It feels like it right now, but you'll figure it out," Abby told her.

"You think so?" She asks.

"I figured out how to live without my mom. I didn't think I would. It was hard in the beginning to figure out how to cook, clean, and garden. It was frustrating with each hurdle I face I wanted to run to her but she wasn't there. It was painful, but eventually, I learned how to stand on my own two feet." She explains to her. "Hatred is what got me through it. Every time I wanted to give up I remind myself I couldn't, me failing would be a win for her. I hated her for leaving for so long. It's almost like I don't know what else to feel anymore. I think for you it could be the opposite: let love get you through it. Every time you feel like giving up, remember that Jason would want you to pull through. "

"He always wanted me to shine." She smiled. "I understand the hatred though, it is a comfortable place. But, I can't live there, at least not while thinking about Jason." She whispers.

"You shouldn't," Abby told her.

"You shouldn't either." Cheryl smiles at the younger redhead. "I should get going. Thank you for everything." She leans in to give Abby a soft peck on the lips before getting off the bed and walking out of the Andrew household.