Cheryl Blossom strode through the halls of Riverdale High, her red heels clicking with purpose against the linoleum floors. Her eyes scanned the faces of her fellow students, all blissfully unaware of the storm brewing behind her perfectly coiffed hair and crimson lipstick. The Queen Bee of Riverdale was planning her revenge, and no one could stop her.

She adjusted her signature red leather jacket, smirking to herself. Everyone thought Cheryl was simply returning to her usual dramatic flair after the latest town scandal, but no—this time, it was personal. And when Cheryl Blossom made things personal, someone was bound to end up regretting it.

The lyrics to Taylor Swift's "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" echoed in her head as she sauntered toward the student lounge: "Here's a toast to my real friends, they don't care about that he-said-she-said…" It reminded her of how betrayal had led her to this moment. A betrayal so deep that even Cheryl, queen of schemes and scandals, had been blindsided. She was about to set things right, and she was going to do it in the most Cheryl Blossom way possible—loud, theatrical, and with a whole lot of drama.

Her target? Veronica Lodge.


It had all started when Veronica, supposedly one of Cheryl's few "friends" in Riverdale, had gone behind her back to secure a deal with Cheryl's business rival—something about expanding Lodge Industries into the maple syrup market. Cheryl's maple syrup market. The Blossoms owned that legacy, and here was Veronica, swooping in with her designer handbags and Wall Street charm, trying to snatch it away from her.

"I trusted you, Ronnie," Cheryl muttered to herself, her fingers curling into fists as she reached the lounge door. "And this is how you repay me?"

Inside the student lounge, Archie, Betty, Jughead, and Veronica were seated at their usual spot by the window. Veronica was laughing about something, probably some story about her latest business venture or one of her ever-expanding investments. Cheryl rolled her eyes. Of course, she's laughing. She thinks she's untouchable.

Cheryl paused at the door, her mind racing. This wasn't just about business anymore. This was about respect. Friendship. Betrayal. And Cheryl Blossom wasn't one to let someone wrong her without paying the price.

Taking a deep breath, Cheryl plastered a smile on her face and swung the door open, making her entrance as dramatic as possible. She could feel all eyes on her as she walked in, her heels clicking like the final countdown to some inevitable explosion.

"Veronica," Cheryl purred, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. "We need to talk."

Veronica raised an eyebrow, a little too nonchalantly for Cheryl's liking. "Cheryl. You look… intense. What's up?"

Cheryl ignored the question, gliding over to the table and placing her hands flat on the surface. "You and I, we have some unfinished business, dear. Or rather, you have some unfinished business with the Blossom family legacy."

Veronica exchanged a glance with Betty, who looked uncomfortable, while Jughead and Archie both shifted awkwardly in their seats. "Cheryl, if this is about the Lodge Industries expansion, I already told you it's just business. There's nothing personal."

Cheryl's eyes narrowed, the fake smile falling from her face. "Oh, Ronnie, darling. Everything is personal when it comes to me. You, of all people, should know that."

Veronica sighed, clearly exasperated. "Look, I didn't mean to—"

"Oh, spare me," Cheryl snapped, cutting her off. "This isn't just about business. You went behind my back, knowing full well what that maple syrup empire means to me and my family. And now you're trying to edge me out like I'm some second-rate entrepreneur in a bargain-bin boardroom? That's low, even for you."

Veronica straightened up, her own demeanor growing colder. "Cheryl, this is Riverdale. Everyone's looking for an edge, and you've never exactly played nice either. So don't act like you're some innocent victim here."

Cheryl's eyes blazed. "Oh, I never said I was innocent, Veronica. But you've made one fatal mistake." She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "You crossed me."

Archie, ever the mediator, finally chimed in, his voice nervous. "Hey, maybe we should just all take a breath and—"

"Stay out of this, Archie!" Cheryl snapped, her glare stopping him mid-sentence. She straightened up, composing herself with an air of regal authority. "The point is, Lodge, you can have your little expansion. I'll even let you enjoy it for a bit. But mark my words: you will regret ever thinking you could outmaneuver me."

Betty, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes, spoke up softly, "Cheryl, don't you think this is a bit… extreme? I mean, it's business. We're all friends here."

Cheryl let out a bitter laugh, the sound sharp and cutting. "Oh, Betty. Sweet, naive Betty. I used to think that too, but then I remembered—this is why we can't have nice things."

Veronica's jaw tightened. "What are you going to do, Cheryl? Start some petty high school revenge plot?"

Cheryl smiled—a slow, dangerous smile that sent a chill down the room. "Oh, Veronica, you underestimate me. This isn't high school anymore. This is war."


That night, Cheryl sat at the head of the long dining table at Thistlehouse, swirling a glass of red wine in her hand. The fire crackled in the background, casting flickering shadows across the ornate room. Penelope Blossom sat at the other end, watching her daughter with a raised brow.

"You look positively devious, Cheryl. What are you scheming now?"

Cheryl took a sip of her wine, her lips curling into a smirk. "I'm going to ruin Veronica Lodge. Publicly, spectacularly, and with flair."

Penelope leaned forward, intrigued. "I must say, I do love a good spectacle. What's your plan?"

Cheryl's eyes gleamed as she set the glass down. "Oh, it's already in motion, Mother. You see, Veronica may have her fancy Lodge Industries connections, but she forgets one very important detail." She stood up, walking slowly to the window, looking out over the darkened grounds of the Blossom estate. "I have the town of Riverdale wrapped around my perfectly manicured finger."

Penelope chuckled, her tone icy. "Ah, yes. The Blossom charm."

Cheryl turned back, her expression one of pure determination. "By the time I'm done with her, Veronica will have nothing left—no reputation, no friends, and certainly no place in my world."

Penelope raised her glass. "To revenge, then."

Cheryl smiled, her eyes glinting dangerously. "To revenge."


Over the next few days, Cheryl set her plan into motion with the precision of a general preparing for battle. She started small—spreading rumors, planting seeds of doubt about Veronica's business ethics around town. But that was just the beginning. Cheryl knew how to play the long game, and she was about to make Veronica's world crumble from the inside out.

It wasn't long before whispers started to circulate. Lodge Industries was involved in some questionable business deals, shady investments, and—worst of all—rumors of fraud. Veronica, always the picture of composure, tried to keep everything under control, but even she couldn't stem the tide of gossip that was spreading like wildfire.

One afternoon, as Cheryl sat at Pop's, sipping a milkshake and pretending to scroll through her phone, she overheard two women at the next table discussing the latest Lodge scandal.

"I heard they've been cutting corners on the new development project. And that Veronica's been keeping some of it hidden."

Cheryl smiled to herself, tapping her nails lightly on the table. Perfect.

Just then, Veronica walked into Pop's, her expression tense. She spotted Cheryl almost immediately and made her way over, clearly furious.

"Cheryl," Veronica said through gritted teeth, "I know this is your doing."

Cheryl looked up from her phone, feigning innocence. "Whatever do you mean, Ronnie? I've been here the whole time."

Veronica leaned in, her voice low and venomous. "I know you've been spreading rumors. You think you can just ruin me and get away with it?"

Cheryl leaned back in her seat, crossing her legs and raising an eyebrow. "Oh, darling, you brought this on yourself. You wanted a battle? Well, here it is."

Veronica clenched her fists, her composure slipping. "You'll regret this."

Cheryl's eyes glinted. "Maybe. But I doubt it."

Veronica stormed out of Pop's, leaving Cheryl sitting alone at the booth, a satisfied smile on her lips. She knew Veronica was scrambling, trying to fix the damage, but it was too late. The town was already turning against her, and soon enough, Veronica would be left with nothing.


As the weeks passed, Cheryl watched with barely concealed glee as Lodge Industries' stock plummeted and Veronica's pristine reputation was dragged through the mud. Business deals were falling through, and even the Lodge family name couldn't save her now. Every carefully calculated move Cheryl made chipped away at Veronica's power until, finally, the cracks began to show.

It all came to a head at one of Riverdale's most prestigious charity galas, where Veronica, ever the socialite, tried to salvage what little remained of her public image. She stood at the podium, trying to give a speech about philanthropy, but the whispers in the crowd were louder than her words. Cheryl stood in the back, watching with a victorious smirk.

As Veronica stumbled over her words, the crowd began to murmur more loudly, and Cheryl knew that the final blow had been dealt. Veronica's empire was crumbling, and everyone in the room could see it.

Cheryl leaned over to Betty, who was standing beside her, looking concerned. "This is why we can't have nice things, Betty. Veronica never understood that."

Betty glanced at her, her expression torn. "Cheryl, I get that you were hurt, but was this really necessary?"

Cheryl shrugged, her smile never wavering. "Maybe not. But it was fun."


Later that night, as Cheryl sat in front of the fireplace at Thistlehouse, swirling another glass of red wine, she felt an unfamiliar twinge of something—guilt, maybe? But she pushed it away. Veronica had made her choice, and Cheryl had simply reminded her what happened when you crossed a Blossom.

Penelope entered the room, raising an eyebrow at her daughter. "I must admit, I didn't expect you to win so thoroughly."

Cheryl smirked, setting her glass down. "Oh, Mother. I always win."

But as she stared into the flames, Cheryl couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, this victory wasn't as sweet as she thought.

Still, Cheryl Blossom would never admit defeat. Not to anyone. Not even to herself.

Here's to my real friends…