Behold: Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe.
Once the heart of Riverdale, now the latest casualty in the town's ongoing battle against darkness.
Jughead decided to pay Pop a visit when he saw the usually full parking lot was empty.
Someone spray-painted the words 'DEATH DINER' on the wall.
He went inside and saw Pop at the front desk, crying.
Smoke came out of the toaster. Archie quickly took the toast out and set it on a plate.
"Do we need a fire extinguisher?" came Fred's voice.
Archie turned around and saw Fred entering the kitchen. "Dad, I was gonna bring you breakfast."
"I appreciate it, son, but I gotta move around."
Archie chugged a can of soda.
"A little early for that, isn't it?" Fred remarked.
"No, I'm good," Archie assured. "Dad, the only thing you need to worry about is getting better." That's when he got a call from the sheriff's office. "Shit. I gotta take this. Bye."
He walked upstairs and answered the phone.
"Hi, Sheriff Keller," he greeted. "No, deputy, I've been leaving messages for the sheriff. I need him to call me back about my dad's case."
Archie groaned and hung up.
Veronica was about to leave for school.
"TTFN, Smithers," she said.
"Wait, Miss Veronica," Smithers called. "You might want to take the side exit."
"Why?"
That's when Hiram came in. "Yeah, Smithers. Why? Because she might bump into me coming in from an early run?"
"Good morning, Father," Veronica greeted.
"Mija, you leave before breakfast, you come home after your mother and I have dinner. I can't remember the last time the three of us had dinner as a family."
"I can. It was at the Dakota, the day you got arrested."
"Perhaps we should talk about that at dinner tonight."
"Unfortunately, I have plans. To quote that New Yorker cartoon, how about never? Is that good for you?"
Veronica left before Hiram could respond.
Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead sat together at lunch.
"It's another win for the bad guys," Jughead said. "No one was there. His entire staff quit. He's not sure how much longer he can keep the doors open."
"It's because of what happened to my dad," Archie realized. "People are freaking out and, I'm gonna be honest with you, I don't see myself going back there soon."
"Sorry, am I hearing acceptance?" asked Betty. "I'm not letting one psychopath dictate what happens to our place. Jug, you went crazy trying to save the drive-in."
"I can't take on any more social issues right now," said Jughead. "My hands are full."
"With your dad, I know, and that should be your priority. I'll help Pop Tate."
"I'll help too," said Veronica. "Anything to get me away from my parents. I'm in."
"Another Bee and Vee team up," Jughead remarked. "They should make a video game about you guys. I gotta jet. I'm off to meet my dad's court-appointed joke-of-a-lawyer at the sheriff's station."
"I'll come with you," said Archie. "I gotta drop off some flyers for Sheriff Keller."
Veronica kissed Archie goodbye, and he and Jughead left.
Once Keller finally got out of his office, Archie followed him.
"Archie, how's your dad holding up?" asked Keller.
"Honestly, he'd be doing a lot better if you caught the guy who shot him," said Archie.
"We're doing everything we can."
"Me too. I'm out here handing out flyers, talking to neighbors. If you guys are out there patrolling, Sheriff, let me go with them. I can help."
"No, Archie, I can't allow that."
"10-4," came a voice on Keller's walkie. "We got a 53 in Greendale."
"Copy that," Keller replied before turning back to Archie. "Let us do our job. You take care."
Keller left to deal with the situation.
"Let's talk about the damn deal," FP impatiently demanded.
"First, to review the charges you're facing," said the lawyer. "Arson, destruction of evidence, making a false confession, obstructing justice, not to mention dumping a dead kid in the river."
"I know what I did. Just tell me the deal."
The lawyer handed FP a sheet of paper. "You might wanna take it. Trust me, I've been doing this a long time. It's a strong deal."
"How many damn years?" Jughead demanded.
That night, Archie stayed up and watched for intruders. He almost fell asleep when he heard a creak coming from the back.
Archie bolted up and saw the back door open. He readied his bat and charged.
It was just Jughead.
Archie backed down and sighed with relief. "Jughead, are you insane?"
"You're the one that looks like a Dream Warrior," Jughead retorted.
"What did the lawyer say?"
"I've been walking around all night trying to wrap my head around how bad it is. It's bad." Jughead sniffed. "My dad's facing twenty years, Archie."
"Shit. I'm sorry, it sucks."
"The lawyer thinks FP should take it, and that if he doesn't, and the case goes to trial, he could be facing forty years. I'm scared."
"Yeah, me too."
"About what?"
Archie looked out the window and saw a man wearing a black hood.
A split second later, the man was gone.
Riverdale
Chapter 15
Nighthawks
"I couldn't sleep last night, Jug," Betty said over the phone. "I keep thinking about your dad and Pop's, and how maybe we can kill two birds with one stone."
She looked out her window and didn't see Archie in his room.
An idea popped into her head. "Can you meet me at the mayor's office? Great, I'll get us set, but right now, I need to call…"
Veronica knocked on Archie's front door. Archie answered.
"I know you haven't been sleeping in your room," Veronica confronted. "Where exactly have you been spending your nights?"
Once Archie got his shirt on, he and Veronica left the house and started walking.
"Betty told you?" Archie assumed.
"Yes," Veronica confirmed. "She's noticed that your room's been unusually empty and quiet since your dad got out of the hospital. Why?"
Archie sighed. "So I can watch the doors and make sure no one gets in. I know it sounds crazy, but the guy who shot my dad is still out there, Ronnie, and I'm scared he's gonna come back and finish the job."
"Archie, you went through something deeply traumatic. Can I make a suggestion?"
"Please. Anything."
"Back when I was in New York, I saw a therapist once a week to help me get through all sorts of Park Avenue drama. I'm not saying you need therapy, but maybe the school counselor can help?"
Betty and Jughead waited until Mayor McCoy left her office.
"Mayor McCoy," Betty greeted.
"Hello Betty, Jughead," McCoy replied. "How may I help you?"
"So, the Chock'lit Shoppe is on the verge of closing, and we want Pop to know that the whole town is rallying behind him."
"We were thinking you could… make the building a landmark," Jughead suggested. "Or declare a national holiday for Pop's in support."
"What if I endorse Pop's and someone else is shot there?" McCoy argued. "My priority as mayor and mother is keeping this town safe. If it involves shutting down a small diner, I'm all for it."
"Are you also 'all for' shipping my dad off to a state prison for a murder he didn't commit?"
Betty shushed Jughead, but it didn't matter.
"What is this, an ambush?" McCoy asked.
"I know you have an in with the state attorney," Jughead replied. "Can't you just call him and get my dad a better lawyer?"
"Your father made some mistakes. I'm sure he'll get a fair hearing."
McCoy tried to leave, but Jughead said one last thing. "Mayor McCoy, one day, you will look back on this as the moment you turned your back on both my father and Pop Tate."
Midge Klump, a girl with short, brown hair wearing a gray jacket, a white flower shirt under it, and blue jeans, approached Reggie.
"If it isn't Midge Klump," he smiled. "The Klumpster."
"What do you know about jingle-jangle?" asked Midge.
"I know you shouldn't say it so loud while we're on school property." Reggie leaned towards Midge's ear. "But I can get you some. Who's it for?"
"Me and Moose."
"I'll see what I can do."
Reggie then noticed Archie standing in front of the door to the counselor's office.
"What's on your mind, Andrews?" he called out. "Girl troubles? Scabies? Why are you seeking help from Ms. Burble?"
"I'm not," Archie replied.
"Maybe you should. You look like my nuts after football practice."
"Hey, do you have anything that can help keep me awake?"
"Many things. Amphetamines, Baclofen, Modafinil, jingle-jangle…"
"Jingle-jangle?"
"That'll keep you up for days in more ways than one. Why do you need it?"
"Until they find the guy who shot my dad, I wanna be on high alert. Will you help me or not, Reggie?"
Reggie patted Archie's back. "I got you, man."
Betty brought Veronica and Kevin to the Blue and Gold.
"We can not let the terrorists win," she told them. "We need to host an event at Pop's that reminds the town of simpler times, like a throwback to when the shoppe first opened its doors."
"Betty," said Veronica. "I like milkshakes as much as any girl, and Pop's puts Serendipity 3's to shame, but why this hill to die on?"
Betty teared up as she remembered the good ol' days. "Orange freezes with my mom and Polly after ballet. Chicken noodle soup with my dad after ice skating. Grilled cheese with Archie on the last day of summer vacation. It's where I met you for the first time, Vee. Same with you, Kevin. Also, Jug… he may lose his dad, but maybe, I can save this one place for him, for all of us."
That's when someone knocked on the door. The door opened to reveal Hiram Lodge. He had some flowers and a donut box in hand.
"Veronica, may I speak to you for a moment?" he asked.
Veronica and Hiram walked outside the school.
"Every day when I was in prison, I thought of nothing but coming back to you," said Hiram. "I knew it wouldn't be easy, and I knew it would take time. Meet me halfway."
"Do you not think I want to, Daddy?" Veronica asked. "Don't you think I want everything to go back to the way it was before? The three of us, walking into some fabulous gala or ball? You with your two favorite girls? Well, I can't. The blindfold's off, Daddy, and I can't just put it back on. I'm sorry, but I should get back to my friends."
"So, were you planning a dance in there, or…?"
"An event, to keep Pop's from closing."
"Well, if I can help in any way…"
"I'll let you know."
Veronica went back inside to meet up with Betty.
"I tried being nice," Jughead ranted to Tall Boy. "I even talked to the mayor. It's just… it feels like the whole system is rigged against us."
"What's FP saying?" asked Tall Boy. "Is he taking the deal?"
"Not if I can help it. Tall Boy, what if we bust him out of jail before he gets transferred to state?"
Tall Boy made an 'I don't know' face.
"It's doable," Jughead assured. "The sheriff's station has worse security than Riverdale High, and once he's out, it's just one shot right across Sweetwater River before he's in the Canadian border."
"You've seen 'Escape from Alcatraz' a few too many times, kid," Tall Boy remarked. "Your dad needs a snake-handler, someone whose livelihood depends on snakes. I got someone you should meet."
Veronica went to the gym to see Cheryl there with the other Vixens.
"Veronica, you're just in time," Cheryl smiled.
"Cheryl, are you taking the Vixens back from me?" asked Veronica.
"Were they ever really yours?"
Veronica shrugged it off and got to the point. "Cheryl, Betty and I were wondering if you and the Vixens were willing to partake in an event to save Pop's."
"Oh, Ronnie, I didn't emerge from the ice-cold depths of Sweetwater River or the burning hot flames of Thornhill, just for Riverdale to still fall from grace. The answer is a double cherry-on-top yes."
"Okay, great."
"May I have your attention, please?" Weatherbee asked the students in the classroom. "I have some tragic news to share. Ms. Grundy, who was a teacher here last semester, was found murdered in her Greendale home last night."
Kevin gasped and fought the urge to cry.
"I know some of you were students of hers," Weatherbee continued. "And that this news will be difficult to process."
Kevin bolted, ignoring Weatherbee's calls to come back.
Jughead went to the Southside's tattoo store.
"I'm… here for Penny Peabody," he said to the first person he saw.
The person simply pointed Jughead in the right direction.
Jughead went into the next room. There, he saw a long-haired woman wearing a long-sleeve shirt and sweatpants. Jughead could only assume this woman was Penny Peabody.
"Sorry for the lack of office space," she apologized. "But I'm a firm believer in low overhead. Plus, I like being close to my clients."
"Your clients being the Serpents?" Jughead assumed.
"Well, I was and still am a Serpent."
Penny rolled up her sleeve to reveal a tattoo. The tattoo was a snake that formed the letter S.
"Makes sense," Jughead realized. "The Serpents are usually on the other side of the law, so it helps to have one of their own helping out as a retainer."
"FP always bragged that you were smart," Penny remarked. "Yeah, I know your dad, and I know from some… other mutual friends, about the deal he's been offered. It's garbage."
"Can you help?"
"I know loopholes. In this case, there are none, but if you get the victim's family to forgive him, in front of a judge, that might shift things in FP's favor. Instead of twenty years, he'll get time with parole."
"Great. Thank you. Am I supposed to pay you or…?"
"We're friends. I do you a favor, one day, maybe, you do me a favor. Let me know how it goes, and tell your dad to wear a tie."
The two got up and shook hands.
"You're twitching, Kevin," Alice pointed out. "Which means this must be serious."
"I just… I don't understand," Kevin cried. "Out of everyone, why her?"
Betty put a hand on Kevin's shoulder to comfort him.
"I think whoever got Ms. Grundy is the same person who shot my dad," Archie theorized. "The fact that both of these events happened one right after the other can't be a coincidence."
"My my," Alice remarked. "We've come a long way since dancing at the gym or varsity football tryouts, haven't we?"
"You were the first to know about Jason's autopsy, Mom," Betty pointed out. "Which is why I'm wondering if…"
"If I can get intel about Ms. Grundy's death and see if they line up with the attack on Fred?"
Betty nodded. "It would be really helpful, and put Archie's mind at ease."
"Fine, I'll reach out to my ghoulish friend."
"Thank you, Mrs. Cooper," Archie thanked. "Thanks, Betty."
With that, he left the house.
"Spreading ourselves a little thin as the patron saint of lost causes, aren't we, Betty?" Alice remarked. "Oh, you can cross saving Pop's off your list. Haven't you heard? Pop is selling the diner."
"What?" Betty reacted. "To who?"
"To, and you'll love this, an anonymous buyer. Ring any bells?"
The moment Veronica got the call from Betty, she confronted Hiram.
"Are you buying Pop's?" she asked him. "The same way you bought the drive-in, anonymously, and are you doing it just to buy me? Yesterday at school, did you think, 'Oh, Veronica's working so hard to save the chocolate shop. I'll just save it for her'."
"Veronica, I'm not buying Pop's," Hiram assured. "Now, please, lower your voice and sit so we can speak civilly."
"You really wanna talk, Dad?"
"That's all I've wanted. A free hearing, to explain myself."
Veronica sat down. "Okay, let's talk about Mr. Andrews. Mom asked him to sell his portion of the SoDale project, and the day after he rejected the offer, he was shot. Was it your doing?"
"Veronica, first you accuse me, then your father?" Hermione asked.
"No, no!" Hiram assured. "I didn't shoot Fred, nor did I hire someone to do it."
Veronica started to tear up. "I was your fiercest protector, Dad. Ask Mom. Whenever someone called you the devil incarnate, I defended you. I kept telling myself, 'he's not that bad. You can forgive him.' Then you sent me this."
She went into her bag and pulled out a piece of paper. She gave it to Hermione.
"A letter threatening you, Mom," Veronica explained. "That's the kind of man you're letting back into our lives."
But Hermione didn't react at all.
"Your father didn't write this letter," she said. "I did."
This confused Veronica. "I don't understand."
"I needed you to testify on your father's behalf, so I took drastic measures."
"She did it for us," Hiram justified. "So we can be a family again."
"Wow," Veronica said. "You two really do deserve each other."
She grabbed her stuff and walked out.
It didn't take Betty and Jughead long to find the Blossom's new address. It was a smaller mansion covered in vines, not too different from Thornhill.
"Not exactly downsizing, isn't it?" Jughead remarked.
Betty knocked on the door. Cheryl answered.
"Hello," she greeted. "Welcome to Thistlehouse. Mother's in the conservatory. Follow me."
Cheryl led the two inside.
Betty and Jughead sat with Cheryl and Penelope at the dinner table.
"Thank you for having us," Betty thanked.
"Of course, Betty," Cheryl assured. "You're family."
"Okay," said Jughead. "The reason we're here is because my dad's lawyer thinks that if the victim's family shows mercy…"
"Mercy?" asked Penelope. "That's why you're here?"
"It's an appeal for leniency from you, that'll give my dad a lesser sentence."
"Where was your father's mercy when I spent those countless nights walking the halls of Thornhill in agony obsessing over what was happening to Jason? Imagining the worst? Where was it when I slept in the same room as a cold-blooded killer, night after night?"
"FP didn't kill Jason!" Betty snapped. "That was your husband!"
"If it were up to me, I'd watch FP fry in the electric chair," said Penelope. "We need to wrap up this sordid chapter of our lives, and FP is the last loose end to tie up. I will not have a living reminder of the darkest chapter of my life walking the streets of Riverdale."
Betty took a breath. "Thanks anyway."
Betty and Jughead headed for the front door.
"Wait!" Cheryl called.
Betty and Jughead paused and turned back.
"Mom's right about one thing," Cheryl admitted. "This chapter does need to end, but leaving your father for dead is not the way to do it. Just tell me when the trial is, and I'll be there."
Jughead smiled. "Cheryl, you are a lifesaver."
"Don't mention it."
Dr. Curdle Jr. uncovered Ms. Grundy's body.
"Lacerations on the neck," he analyzed. "Her trachea is crushed. Broken veins in her eyes and the skin tears suggest brutality. This is a crime of passion, hatred. He wanted to hear her struggling as she died."
Alice handed Curdle the money.
"Tell me, Mrs. Cooper," Curdle asked. "Did you know this woman?"
"No," Alice lied.
Archie was cleaning the dishes when he saw something out the window.
It was a man wearing a black hood.
Archie rubbed his eyes. When he opened them again, the man was still there.
Archie grabbed his bat, charged outside, and prepared to hit the man.
The man removed his hood to reveal he was actually Reggie.
"Archie, it's me!" he yelled. "Are you fucking insane?"
"What are you doing here, Reggie?" asked Archie.
"Delivering your uppers, clearly the last thing you need. You've lost it, Andrews."
"You're the one who came wearing this hood!"
"It was just a prank. I didn't expect you to attack me. What if I had been the guy? Would you have just whacked him until he couldn't breathe anymore?"
"Damn right."
"He has a gun, Andrews. Only a dumbass would bring a bat to a gunfight."
The next morning, Alice came to the Andrews' house to give them the news.
"There was no sign of forced entry," she said. "Which probably means she knew her killer. The police don't know if any of her personal belongings were taken."
"How did Ms. Grundy die?" asked Archie.
"The autopsy shows she was strangled. It was something the killer grabbed on hand. A cello bow of all things. There was a struggle, but Archie, this was a crime of passion, in another town, with a different murder weapon. The likelihood of these crimes being connected are slim to none."
Archie took a breath. "If I say what I'm thinking, you'll just think I'm crazy. You're probably right. They're probably not connected."
"So why'd you do it, Pop?" Jughead asked Pop. "Did they make you an offer you couldn't refuse?"
"Who's buying it?" asked Betty. "Do you even know?"
"It shames me to say," Pop replied. "ChugMo."
"The liquor store chain?"
"Could I make a request of you?" asked Jughead. "For a last supper?"
"Anything you want," Pop replied.
"Actually, not for me. For my dad. He'll be spending twenty years serving that weird meatloaf they feed prisoners. So, barring an eleventh-hour miracle, I was kind of hoping for his last meal in Riverdale, you'd make him his favorite."
"Fried chicken, onion rings, cornbread, and an orange freeze if memory serves."
"It's very generous of you, Pop."
"It's something I've been doing for a long time. I was hoping it would be until I die."
"This is… unacceptable," said Betty. "All of this. Pop, have you officially sold the diner?"
"The contract's being drawn up."
"Don't sign it. We can still fix this."
Veronica sat in the Blue and Gold, scrolling through photos of her family, when Jughead came in.
"I don't have red hair, or broad shoulders," he said. "Or a blonde ponytail for that matter. Do you wanna talk?"
"You were ready to walk away from your dad," Veronica pointed out. "Now you're crusading for his freedom? What changed?"
"He did. He made an effort. He took a swing at being a dad."
"But don't you think some people can't change? Like it's in their DNA to be bad?"
"I'm not gonna presume what's in your father's heart, but Archie's dad almost died, and my dad's going away for twenty years. If there's even a very tiny chance that your dad is trying…"
"I get it. Thank you, Jughead."
Kevin sat in the music room and tried to play a song. He couldn't play a single note without thinking of Ms. Grundy.
He eventually broke down again.
"Hey, are you alright?" came a voice.
Kevin tried to wipe his eyes, but he couldn't stop crying.
He looked up and saw Moose Mason, one of the Bulldogs.
Moose approached Kevin and hugged him.
"It's okay," he assured. "Let it out."
Kevin leaned on Moose's shoulder and let it all out.
"Ms. Blossom, you may proceed with your statement," the judge told Cheryl.
Cheryl got on the stand and spoke. "Your Honor, I speak for myself and my mother when I say we forgive FP Jones for the part he played in covering up my brother's murder, and we humbly ask the court for leniency. FP's guilt has been blown out of proportion to satiate what my father's suicide denied us: closure."
"As much as I sympathize, I can't ignore the quality of Mr. Jones' crimes. There were no extenuating circumstances."
The spectators in the audience started whispering to each other.
"My father threatened him," Cheryl said suddenly, much to Betty and Jughead's surprise. "Daddy said he'd hurt Jughead if FP didn't comply. Is that extenuating enough?"
"In light of these revelations," the judge decided. "I suggest we take a step back and reevaluate certain aspects of the case, in which case, we will revisit the sentencing." He slammed his gavel. "Adjourned."
"Is that a win?" asked FP.
"It's a delay, so yeah," Jughead said as he hugged FP.
Veronica and the Vixens had just finished decorating Pop's for the party. The only ones that showed up were Betty and Jughead.
"No one's coming," Betty worried.
"It's still early," Jughead assured.
That's when Alice came in.
"Mom, came to gloat?" asked Betty.
"Don't be so cynical, Elizabeth," said Alice. "I came to write an obituary over one last float. I call it, 'Requiem for Pop's'. Can I get a quote, dear?"
"You're a fiend, Mother, but this is one obituary that you're not gonna write."
A bit later, a few more customers showed up. Veronica and the Vixens served food while roller skating.
Then Josie and the Pussycats showed up.
"Why the hell did you broadcast all over social media that the Pussycats would be doing a free concert here tonight?" Josie asked Betty.
"I knew that if you asked, you would've said…" Betty replied.
"No! If my mom even hears that I set foot in this place…"
"Josie, you care about this place. I know you do. You come here all the time."
"I mean, you do love your cheese fries, Josie," Melody pointed out.
Josie sighed and relented. "Fine. Tell Veronica to get her Pussycat uniform on. We're on in five."
Play "What Inside" from Waitress - The Musical
Once Veronica got her uniform on, she and the Pussycats got on top of Pop's and began their song.
Melody:
Sugar
Valerie:
Butter
Veronica:
Flour
Melody:
Sugar
Valerie:
Butter
Veronica:
Flour
Melody:
Sugar
Valerie:
Butter
Veronica:
Flour
Josie:
My hands pluck the things I know that I'll need
I'll take the sugar and butter from the pantry
I add the flour to begin what I am hoping to start
And then it's down with the recipe and bake from the heart
What's inside, everyone wants to know what's inside
And I've always told them, but I feel something needs to change
Archie tried to enjoy the performance, but he always thought back to his last visit to Pop's.
He knew that anyone in the crowd could be the man in the black hood.
He looked at everyone to see if they'd put on a hood or pull out a gun. None of them did.
You wanna know what's inside?
I could tell you if I wasn't hiding
My whole life is in here
In this kitchen, baking
What a mess I'm making
End "What's Inside"
When the song was over, Archie walked inside.
"Hey, you made it," Veronica smiled.
"Yeah, just taking deep breaths," said Archie.
"I'm proud of you." Veronica kissed Archie's lips. "Come on. I'll get you a booth, I'll get you a shake."
Once Archie sat down, two more faces entered.
They were none other than Hiram and Hermione.
"Mom, Dad," Veronica greeted bitterly.
"We're not here to fight," Hiram assured. "We're here to support."
"I've been thinking. Tonight is a new beginning for Pop's, so maybe it can be one for us too."
"If that's what you want, mija."
"Let's try, but total transparency, okay?"
Hiram hugged Veronica. "From now on. In the spirit of that, I propose Lodge Industries make a charitable contribution."
Veronica nodded.
Hiram and Hermione found themselves a booth. Veronica got back to work.
A little later, some Serpents came in.
Betty tried to step in and keep things from getting out of hand.
"Relax, Betty," Jughead assured. "They're probably here to enjoy Pop's world-class burgers and service, just like me."
Alice looked out the window and saw what looked like a drug deal in the parking lot between two of the Bulldogs. She took a couple pictures of them.
"I gotta put her on the spot," Pop said, pointing at Betty. "It's thanks to this young lady here, Pop's gets to stay open today, tomorrow, as long as you folks keep coming."
The crowd cheered.
"Thanks also to the Lodge family for making a donation that gives us a little cushion to weather any storm that might come up," Pop added.
"I didn't know we were in the charity business," Hermione remarked.
"No we're not," Hiram replied. "As of five minutes ago, we own this diner. In exchange for silence, I allowed Tate to stay on as manager."
Hermione smiled. "Nice to have you back, Hiram."
"Hermione, thank you for saying you wrote that letter. Veronica never would've forgiven me for that. Once again, your loyalty knows no bounds."
Hermione's smile faded a little. "Yeah."
"Ronnie, should I introduce myself to your dad?" Archie asked.
"You've faced enough dragons for one night," Veronica replied. "Next time, Archiekins."
"I guess tonight's a win for the good guys," Betty assumed.
"A rare win, but yes," said Jughead. "Thanks to you, Betty."
"Are you okay?" Veronica asked Archie.
"I'm with you guys," Archie replied. "So, yeah. I'm fine."
He looked out the window. Dilton Doiley was standing outside, waiting for him.
After the events at Pop's, the Lodges returned to the Pembrooke.
There, a middle-aged man Veronica didn't recognize was waiting for them.
"You must be Veronica," he assumed.
"I am," Veronica confirmed. "Where's Smithers?"
"He didn't tell you?" asked Hiram. "His mother fell ill, so he went home to take care of her." He turned to the new guy. "Did he forward an address?"
"I'll try to track one down, sir," the new guy replied.
"Gracias, Andre."
Veronica felt a lingering suspicion, but she didn't want to pry. This was her family's chance at a fresh start, and she was not gonna blow it.
Jughead was getting ready for bed when he got a call.
"Hello?" he answered.
"You went to see Penny Peabody?" came FP's voice. "You asked her for help?"
"Yeah, we didn't have a choice? Why, is something wrong?"
"Did you pay her?"
"No, she said it was a favor."
"Jughead, listen to me. If she reaches out again, do not respond. You do not want to be in bed with the Snake Charmer."
Before Jughead asked why, FP hung up.
"You do know that several drug deals went down tonight?" Alice asked Betty.
"What?" Betty reacted.
"And if you think that Hiram Lodge, Riverdale's answer to Scarface, helped for altruistic reasons, I have a bridge to sell you."
"Mom…"
"The Serpents have officially crossed the tracks and are now officially on the Northside, so congratulations, Betty. You're almost single-handedly responsible for giving crime a haven in Riverdale."
Alice left the diner without saying another word.
Far from the glow of Pop's neon sign, one Sweetwater Bridge, Archie Andrews had arranged a secret rendezvous with Dilton Doiley.
"Hey Dilton," he greeted once they met up.
"Hey Archie," Dilton replied. "I got what you asked for."
Dilton handed Archie a bag. Archie opened the bag to reveal a loaded gun.
"I'm not crazy," Archie assured. "This is just for protection."
"Sure, whatever you say," Dilton said in a way that showed he was not convinced.
For the first time in weeks, Archie would sleep.
Before waking up the next morning to a living nightmare.
Moose Mason and Midge Klump scarfed down on jingle-jangle and made out.
Before they could take it to the next step, though, Moose heard a voice.
Moose got himself in position and started the engine.
Then a light shined right in his eyeballs.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Riverdale
A.N.
Not much changed here.
First off, I replaced the Milkshake scene with a different song. I already used Milkshake in another fic, and I don't want to reuse songs too often.
Since Kevin was the one tutored by Ms. Grundy in my version, I made sure to include a scene of him grieving. It also provides the first bit of setup for Kevin's gay awakening.
The biggest change was the fact that Cheryl didn't have to be blackmailed to stick up for FP. I just felt it made more sense for her character arc.
That's all I have to say. Thanks for reading.