i am giving therapy another chance as inspired by andrew joseph minyard. i mean it could go all wrong again. but we persist. i keep wondering to no end what his motivation was, why did he bother with bee, why keep going, why give it a shot, whhhyyyyy andrew, i want to know!
anyway here's to me trying to appear as unhinged on the outside as i feel inside
Their reunion is a little crazy. Aldrich sees her helping a soldier in battle and corners her. One thing leads to another and she’s disappeared into his empire (and his arms let’s be so for real.) As I’ve said it’s not kidnap if you’ve been trying to run away for months.
Last but not least, we have Sarah my Narnia Oc that decide to come true after being forgotten for about 6 years. I all know about her is that she is a fierce warrior but an excellent queen as well. I will try to find more info on her.
A/N: This part’s a little different from the rest of the story but I wanted to introduce the other characters at this point. Hope you like it! As always, send an ask over for any requests/tags. As usual, this is not proofread.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
Words: 1715
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The weekend went by in a whirlwind of late night coffees and days spent around town. Streetlights whipped around in a blur, schooldays went by as a mirage of desks and pencils. The nights were spent in my car, darkened alleyways and the Wyrm. Any semblance of routine was destroyed with every breath taken in Riverdale. Some things, no matter how much we may wish, never did change.
Chatter of the infamous back to school formal spread throughout the school like wildfire. Whipped around every direction of you, leaving you disoriented and struggling to understand. You could call it a mess. Or, perhaps more accurately, like a bombshell. Cheryl-bombshell, that is. She had taken it upon herself to turn the entire debacle into yet another memorial for Jason. Posters with his face plastered on the walls, ginger hair like a siren. Loud, recognizable no matter what. It seemed everyone and their mother had decided it was the place to be. People were rushing to find dates, scrambling for dresses. For what it’s worth, if nothing else, it reminded people that some things in Riverdale will never change. There was always a nice party to distract yourself with, if nothing else.
Sitting in my fifth block for the day, science, I looked around the room. Everybody had already partnered up, leaving the spot by my desk empty. It wasn't surprising, and it saved me from the useless chatter. Glancing at the front, I turned down my music, looking sheepishly at the teacher who sent a pointed look in my direction. Propping my leg underneath myself, I rested my head in my hand, staring at the pattern of the desk below me.
As I turned to grab a pencil out of my bag, I felt a body slide into the seat next to me, dropping their notebook on the table with a notable thud. Without looking up, I mutter, "There's other seats left."
The truth is, I had been so distracted lately by Joaquin and my life, I had taken up my habit of people watching again. Late night conversations and drunken confessions in the back of the Wyrm opened up some interesting avenues of discussion. Most notably, that Clifford Blossom himself had walked into the basement, suavely ducking behind a rowdy crowd of serpents and weaving his way against the walls. Perhaps if I had followed-
"Yeah, but this is my table." The familiar voice says, breaking me out of my reverie. There's another shuffling noise, before the feet shift and a beaker is set on the table.
Smirking, I look up. "I don't see your name on it." I was taken aback. Had I known it was Jughead, I wouldn't have responded. The way his slightly curled hair tucked into a beanie, the signature plaid and black combo. It was distracting, and I had no time for distractions. An inconspicuous smile hinted at his lips.
"Actually, that's where you're wrong." He points to a piece of tape haphazardly placed in the centre of the table, with the words 'Property of Jughead Jones III' scrawled over it.
"I'm never wrong." I state, going against my better judgement and ripping the tape off and rolling it into a ball. Suppressing a smirk, I drop it onto the floor. With an small, but astute thud, I set my notebook on the table, looking over at him expectantly. “You have a thing for vandalism, don’t you?”
He blinks, opening his notebook to copy down the notes on the board, and without looking at me states "Me? Never.” He rolls his eyes with a faux-casual smirk. “I saw you at the drive in. Last night. Nice car, by the way. Is it even legal for you to drive it?”
I shirk back, shifting my eyes towards him and setting my mouth in a thin line. "No, but I haven’t been pulled over yet. It’s in someone else’s name." I respond, making a point not to look at his face.
"You were at the drive-in.” His statement held a final note, and I was glad I I didn’t have to mention that I’d also seen him. I had no idea how to approach his living situation, or if I even should at all. "Why?" His voice took on an acidic tone. I shirked back, narrowing my brows as I scoffed. Somehow, this conversation went from being a simple banter back and forth to an interrogation, with a simple question.
Had it been anybody else, I would've lied and called them crazy. Certainly I had nothing to do with the Serpents. This wasn't someone else, this was Jughead. A boy I barely knew, mind you. "I was visiting someone." I said, "He spends some time there."
Jughead nodded, his eyes downcast. "Has he been using Jason Blossoms death as an excuse to get out of school? I haven’t seen you hanging around anybody. But if he is, he might be onto something there." The false laid back tone in his voice set my nerves on fire. Or, that’s what I pretended it was. Truthfully, I was much more interested in how he knew I spent my time alone.
"You shouldn't joke about that." I deadpanned, knowing damn well I did the same thing more often than both usual and necessary. "He doesn't go to school." I left it at that, knowing he was just fishing for information.
"Can't help it, I relate to the world through sardonic humour." He replied, very evidently unhappy with my answer. He went to continue, before being interrupted by a high pitched squeal.
"Jughead's talking to a girl Betty! A real life girl." Veronica smiles, sauntering over. Instead of the typical antagonistic smile one would expect, she wore one of happiness. "You know what that means- right?" She looked at me pointedly, and paused. "I may be new here but I thought I knew everybody. What's your name? I'm Veronica, Veronica Lodge."
"I know." I said, looking between the confused faces of Jughead and the small, thin smile of Betty. "Noah DeSantos"
"Well you're talking to our little Juggie here, so I'm sure you're already making plans." Betty smiles, "You can come with me and Ronnie! We're going with Archie, and have to buy our dresses today, why don't you come with us?" She had an open, friendly air to her.
Blinking, I took in the situation. I was very confused, what plans, why were they buying dresses and what did I have to do with it? Then it hit me. I raised my eyebrows, a look of shock taking over my features."Jughead was not asking me to a dance, huercas. He was asking about-"
"Science questions." Jughead interjected, his brow furrowed. Almost imperceptibly, I noticed his cheeks were ever so slightly pink.
Veronica raised a brow, "Science, huh?" She looked back at the board. "Well Noah here is still coming with us- date or not. We have practice with the Vixens today so why don't you wait around the school? We'll be done by five."
I blinked, eyebrows raised. "Alright."
~
I leaned against the bleachers, watching the Vixens practice. Glancing at my phone, I saw the time read 4:52.
Turning up my headphones, I blinked, thinking about the way today had unfolded. It had started with my usual routine. Wake up in some kind of alley, or the drive in. Leave before someone said something, go to school, and restart the entire process all over again. Yet instead somehow I managed to get roped into dress shopping for two girls. It wasn't my ideal Monday afternoon, but these days I don't think I had an ideal anything.
A tap on my shoulder caused me to turn, hair whipping whoever it was directly in the face. A mumbled 'ow' floated through the air. "Shit. My bad." I said, turning to see the slightly scrunched up face of Jughead Jones III. With an eyebrow raised I looked at his slightly disheveled appearance. "What do you want, Jones?" I ask, crossing my arms.
"Nothing." Jughead replied quickly. He just blinks, walking away with a furrowed brow and a frown. He looks over his shoulder, pausing. "Actually, meet me at Pop's on friday." I watch as his figure melts into the shadows beginning to cast across the ground, like claws making their way through the mud.
I raise my brow, “Isn’t that the night of the dance?” I call to his retreating form.
“Are you busy?” He questioned, voice cutting through the air. I shake my head, and turn away. Looking down at the field, I see the Vixen’s dispersing, making their way towards the changerooms. Or, almost all of them.
"Noah? Are you coming?" Betty's voice calls, and I rush down the bleachers towards the field.
"Yeah." I mumble, following the two vixens.
"So, what kind of dress are you going to get?" Veronica asks Betty, looking at her pointedly.
"I'm thinking something nice and pink, but no sequins."
Veronica nods. "I think that would be cute, I'm definitely getting something purple. Any excuse to wear a cute party dress.." She trails off, chuckling. Betty looks over at me expectantly.
"What about you? I think something green would look cute on you!" Cocking my brow, I look at her incredulously.
"Maybe I'll get a t-shirt dress or something. Those are in now, right?" I reply, sarcasm heavy in my voice as Betty looks towards Veronica for approval.
"Maybe, if you pair it with a belt or a cardigan or something. You should expand your horizons, the entire world of fashion awaits you." Veronica beams, reaching her car and pulling open the passenger door. As Betty climbs in, I take up residence in the back seat.
Quickly, Veronica speeds out the parking lot, taking a hard right towards downtown. “So, Noah, you were talking to Riverdale’s most reclusive emo, what’s what about?”
With a shrug, I look out the window. “He just started talking to me- and he didn’t ask me to the dance, so I’m not really sure why I’m here.” I really had no clue, I had never spoken to either of the two girls before. Now, I’m shopping with them like we’re best friends.
Best Friends. The term felt foreign in my mind, a reclusive ideal I was always chasing.
“Really?” Betty asks, a small smile on her face. “Nobody should go to their first dance alone.”
I snorted, side eyeing the blonde. “That’s why I’m not going in the first place. Plus, it really isn’t my scene.” With a gasp, Veronica turned her head to face me, road forgotten.
“What do you mean you’re not going? That’s not even an option. Betty, did I give her that option?”
However, Betty was ignoring her, instead reaching across the wheel to try and keep the car from crashing. “Ronnie, you might want to watch the road. Especially since, from a legal standpoint, none of us should be in this car.”
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A/N: Cant say this is my favourite part so far, but it certainly gets better. The next part will be out sometime in the next two days! :)
