Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from the Archie Comics nor any recognizable storylines from the CW's Riverdale. I only own my character(s) and basic plot of this story. This is rated T for language and mature scenes.

"So what happens now?"

"Well," Miss West sighed, removing her glasses to fold them on the polished wood desk in front of her. "We've been in contact with your family in Riverdale. They're your closest relatives and they've agreed to let you stay with them until… well, until further notice."

"Will they have custody of me?" she asked, staring down at the desk with pursed lips before meeting the woman's eyes. Miss West gave her a sympathetic look and took a few seconds to reply.

"With your mother's condition being what it is," she began carefully, "and the fact that you're unable to stay here with her, she has to forfeit the right of guardianship to you. So yes, for the time being, they will be your legal guardians. It may not be permanent," Miss West reminded her gently. "You still have another two years."

"And they're okay with it," she continued, more as a statement than a question as she ignored the last part of her comment. "Me staying with them."

"Yes," Miss West answered honestly. "It's your mother's brother. Of course he's okay with it. As is his son. You've met them before, right? Fred and Archie Andrews?"

"A few times," she answered. 'A few times' was a bit of an understatement. Before her and her parents moved away, she spent almost every weekend with them having grill-outs and picnics; your typical average neighborhood family. But that was a long time ago. A lot had changed since then. She hadn't spent any proper time with them in a good two years because her family couldn't afford to travel. That's what medical bills did to you. "I can still visit her right?"

"Whenever you want," Miss West nodded. "I'm assuming your mother's lawyer went over everything else? Money, for instance," she added almost apologetically as Billy looked away. "A lump sum of it went to remaining healthcare balances. Some was left in your mother's care currently tucked away in a safe deposit box, and some was left to you. It's a small amount but it can go a long way. You could use it to help settle in or save it for a rainy day," she suggested.

Billy didn't like thinking about the money. It was her Dad's money. It didn't feel right taking it.

"I want you to keep this," Miss West tore a sheet of paper from her notepad and handed it across to Billy who accepted it with ginger fingers. "It's a list of numbers – your mother's nurse, her lawyer, my number along with the insurance company's, and the location of that safe deposit box. Just in case."

Billy stared down at the chicken scratch of numbers, blinking at the barely legible seven-digit number along with Miss West's name next to the title of Social Services. For a woman of her age and field Billy didn't expect her to write like a doctor. They wrote badly on purpose, didn't they? So no one could forge their writing? Billy didn't know if that was actually true or not but if it was it just proved that Miss West didn't write badly on purpose.

"We'll just be a phone call away. If you need anything, anything at all," Miss West stressed, looking about ready to reach across the desk and grab Billy's hand, "don't hesitate to pick up the phone. If you need to get a hold of your mother, call the number below the nurse's. That's the number of the nurse's station which always has someone on call. I gave you Nurse Wanda's personal cell which works just as well but may not be as quick if it's an emergency and you need to get to your mother right away."

"Thank you," Billy said quietly. She was still having a hard time processing everything. It didn't feel like anything around her was actually happening, like she was watching a movie of someone else's life take place around her in real time.

"We have someone who can take you to your Uncle's house early tomorrow afternoon. It's about a two hour drive, too short for a plane ride, but I figure it'll be helpful to see how to get there from here in case you need to drive back yourself. I've already spoken with your Uncle so they'll be expecting you.

"I know it's not the most appealing idea in the world but I've asked him to register you at Riverdale High. I sent him your transcripts yesterday so he could start enrolling you now. Even though you missed the last week of freshman year, your GPA was high enough that missing some days didn't really affect you and luckily enough you already finished your final exams so you should be able to start with everyone else when the summer's over as a sophomore. It's still a few weeks away. It'll give you time to adjust to your new surroundings, maybe meet a couple people and get to know the town. Or rather, reintroduce yourself to the town. You probably hate me," Miss West mused, "but I think it'll do you some good. School will keep you occupied."

Billy didn't say anything, still gazing down at the sheet of paper in her hand with a faraway look in her eyes. Miss West watched her for a few seconds.

"Is there anything else you want to talk about?" she prodded lightly. Billy shook her head. "You know you can talk to me about anything." Lie.

"I know."

Miss West exhaled. "I know you're sick of hearing it so I won't say it, but… my condolences are with you and your mother."

Billy knew what she avoided saying. I'm sorry. That's all Billy ever heard lately. I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I'm sorry, it must be so hard for you. I'm sorry about the house. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

"Thanks," said Billy quietly. She quirked her lips sardonically. "I think she probably needs it more than I do."

"She's just grieving in a different way," said Miss West, sounding sure of herself. "Doesn't mean you're hurting any less. Doesn't dismiss the way you feel."

Billy took a deep breath. "They're letting me stay with her tonight, right?"

"Yes. It'd be a waste putting you in a foster home for one night. They're bending the rules a little bit," she gave a half-grin. "I'll stop by in the morning with the driver to see you off. Is there anything else?"

"I think we're good," said Billy, running her thumb over the paper full of sloppy phone numbers. Miss West looked her over another second or two before nodding. She stood from her chair and gestured to the closed door. Billy pushed herself out of the chair and opened the door, Miss West following her out.

She was escorted back to Hartford Hospital with the promise from Miss West that they'd meet again tomorrow. Hartford Hospital was a tall white building that had multiple smaller buildings branching off of it, turning it into a cluster of windows and geometric shapes that hurt your eyes. There was a small wing of the hospital dedicated to the mentally ill. They were almost like dorm rooms except with a bit more color and less freedom. The Institute of Living they liked to call it, though the patients within looked like they wanted to do anything but. Billy didn't want to go in at first when everything started, too afraid of what she'd see. The media had portrayed psychiatric hospitals far too harshly, she realized, too macabre. Truth be told, most of her fears had nothing to do with the hospital itself and more to do with the woman who would be living there.

The psychiatric wing was actually quite colorful and peaceful, something that seemed to put Billy even more on edge. She was expecting white walls and cell blocks with patients leering at her through their tiny windows. If the situation had been different the halls might not have made her skin crawl like they did. A majority of the rooms were open and inviting and most of the patients just wanted to be left alone. Those Billy had come into contact with, all of which were either accidental or in passing, were polite and not at all intimidating and the staff was both friendly and accommodating.

But still. Her mother was in there.

Billy sent a brief smile to the nurse's station, eyes almost immediately finding Nurse Wanda's startling red hair. Billy continuously heard one of the patients referring to Wanda's hair as a ball of fire because it was so bright and vivid. Wanda found the comment endearing and it's not like Billy disagreed. Her hair probably could've directed ships through the fog on a stormy night.

Billy followed the winding corridor down to her Mom's room and paused in the doorway, spotting her mother resting in a chair near the window while the TV silently played some random sitcom. She watched the back of the woman's head for a good two minutes before she silently stepped into the room and removed her hoodie.

"Hi, Mom," she greeted in a light voice. The woman didn't acknowledge her and she stepped forward to place her hands on her Mom's shoulders, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of her head. "How's your afternoon?"

"Fine," her Mom said silently.

She maneuvered around the chair until she was kneeling at her Mom's side, propping herself up on the arm of the chair. A pair of tired brown eyes peered down at her and Billy still wasn't used to the lack of sparkle in her Mom's eyes. Talia Whitaker used to be such a force, so vivacious and full of spirit and life. Her smile had the ability to light up a room, to warm anyone's heart. Now when Billy looked at her, she only saw a shell of what once was. It made her feel nothing and everything all at once.

"Did you eat your lunch?" Billy asked even though she saw the tray full of fruit and soup on her mother's bedside.

"Yes," Talia answered as if Billy hadn't noticed. She sighed.

"You need to eat, Mom," she attempted to scold her, only managing to sound weary and drained.

"Not hungry," said Talia, unaffected by the fact that Billy broke her charade. "Did you talk to them?"

"Yeah," Billy leaned her head against her hand on the arm of the chair, looking up at her Mom with fatigue. "I'm leaving tomorrow."

"So soon?" Talia whispered, voice broken. Billy's nose twitched and she had to swallow down the urge to cry until her tears were spent.

"We've been planning this for two weeks, Mom," Billy reminded her gently.

"But we just had the funeral…"

"No, Mom," Billy shook her head, feeling drained. "That was over a month ago."

Talia looked lost with her eyebrows wrinkled, full lips pursed. Her eyes were sad. She looked away and returned her gaze to the open window. Billy followed the direction she was looking, spotting a cloudless blue sky with building tops blanketing the ground for miles. There was shuffling behind them and Billy looked over her shoulder, eyes landing on Wanda who was giving the full tray of food an unimpressed glower. Even though she was younger than Talia she still managed to make the expression look maternal and Billy's heart softened. Wanda's blue eyes met hers and she raised her delicately primed eyebrows that were as red as her hair.

Billy turned back to her Mom and stroked the top of her hand with her fingertips.

"You need to eat, Mom," she urged quietly. Talia turned her head further from Billy, pressing her nose into her shoulder. To an outsider it looked like she was sleeping but Billy knew better. She almost wished she hadn't. "Please, Mom. Please eat."

"Not hungry, Bea," she uttered, voice muffled into her sweater. Billy's throat hollowed at the familiar shortening of her name. Only her parents called her Bea.

Billy sighed in defeat, turning her attention back to Wanda who apparently heard everything. They shared a look and something in Billy's face made Wanda nod as if she heard her loud and clear. The woman wordlessly dismissed herself and Billy returned her head to the arm of the chair, keeping her Mom company as the room gave way to silence that made Billy's skin itch.

She spent the evening in the reclining chair next to her Mom's bed as they watched TV. Billy didn't pay much attention to what was on, instead thinking about what the following day was going to be like. What the following year was going to be like. The coils in her stomach tightened the longer she thought about it but she couldn't bring herself to focus on anything else. She worried that she'd only be a bother to her uncle and cousin, that her Mom would panic once she left and cry herself catatonic. She worried about feeling disconnected from her Mom, that separating would only manage to distance them even further. There were too many factors. Too many possibilities.

She almost wanted to call everything off. Refuse to go to Riverdale and stay with her Mom where she could take care of her. She'd taken care of her before. She could do it again.

But then she remembered what it felt like. What the responsibility felt like, knowing her mother's life was left in her hands. It was overwhelming. If she left her alone at the wrong time, if she looked away at just the right moment, it could've all been over. It was too much. This was better. The nurses here were professionals. They knew what they were doing. They weren't hindered by their emotions, by the responsibility of looking after the person who put them on this Earth. This was better. She would get better. She would heal. She just needed time.

Billy fell asleep sometime after one when the lights were dim and the door was shut. The TVs were scheduled to automatically shut off after idling for a certain amount of time. Talia was already sleeping, curled up into a tight ball under her white sheets and looking smaller than Billy. Billy's head was crooked at an odd angle as she rested her cheek on her closed fist. Her eyes slid shut slowly, the last thing she saw being her Mom's head of frizzy brown hair fanned out over her pillow, her delicate breathing lulling her to sleep.

She awoke a few hours later with a cramp in her neck, her head having fallen against the side of her mother's bed sometime in the night. She felt a bit detached from herself as she watched her Mom continue to sleep, her socked feet peeking out from the hem of her bedsheets. Billy tiredly pushed herself out of the chair, stretching and cracking her stiff joints before pulling the covers down over her Mom's feet. She dragged herself into the bathroom where she robotically breezed through her morning routine before clearing out her things off the sink. She packed away all of her belongings into a suitcase she brought over with the help of Miss West the day before.

Once she was finished, Wanda snuck into the room with a smuggled sandwich she handed to Billy from the lunchroom. Billy gave the woman a tender look and munched on it while the nurse went about her business, gently rousing Talia from her sleep.

"You want to use the shower, Billy?" Wanda asked as she helped Talia sit up. Billy wrapped up the rest of her sandwich to save for later and nodded.

"Yeah, thanks."

She showered and redressed in twenty minutes and before she knew it Miss West had arrived along with a burly man who had a kind smile and light-colored eyes.

"Billy, this is Jonathan. He's going to be your chauffer today," Miss West introduced her in the hallway outside her mother's room.

"Nice to meet you," Billy quietly shook his hand.

"Likewise," he said amicably.

"Are you all packed and ready to go?" Miss West asked. Billy nodded, stuffing her hands deep inside her jean pockets. The woman nodded. "I guess now's as good a time as ever?" she gave Billy a tender look.

Billy exhaled. "I guess so."

Saying goodbye to her Mom didn't feel the way she expected it would. Maybe it was because of the mental pep talk she gave herself the night before, or maybe it was the way her Mom's eyes glistened, seemingly more aware than the day before. Whatever it was, a part of her felt positive. There was sadness there too and uneasiness, some of her unsure if this really was the right decision, but there was hope as well.

"I love you, Mom," she whispered, kissing the woman's rosy cheeks. Talia had a soft grip on Billy's shoulders as they embraced, though it was mostly just Billy standing close to her and breathing in her lavender scent. "I'll call you, okay? Be good. Be safe," she kissed her other cheek and Talia's eyes flashed amber up at her.

"My sweet Bea," she cooed. She was in one of her better moods today. It made it easier to leave but it also made it harder. Her good moods were so few and far between that Billy wanted to stay back, to watch as her mother's full pink lips curved into a smile. She wanted to feel her warm hands cup her cheeks, feel her fingers run through her hair, feel loved.

"Love you, Mom," she said again because she felt like she needed to. Talia gave her a smile, one that made Billy feel like it was last year again when things were better. She saw the sun in that smile and she wanted it to consume her.

She turned and left the room before she let that happen.

Her breathing was ragged, heart palpitating in uneven beats when she reached the lobby. Her eyes burned and it took all of her will power not to turn around and run back. Miss West gripped her shoulders tightly when she caught up with her, grounding her, tethering her back to reality. She didn't let go until Billy's chest was no longer heaving, when her senses became more aware and she didn't feel like she was going to drown or sink to the floor.

"Breathe, Beatrice," Miss West soothed in her ear.

"I'm trying," Billy choked. "I'm trying."

It took another minute before Billy felt Miss West's hands fall away. Billy licked her lips and clutched the messenger bag tightly against her shoulder. Miss West appeared in front of her, her light pink shoes click-clacking against the linoleum floor. Jonathan looked wary as he slipped into view with her suitcase, slightly uncomfortable but no less sympathetic.

"Everything good?" Miss West asked.

Billy nodded even though it wasn't. "Yeah. Yeah, everything's good."

"If you need to take a minute…" Miss West started, only to be interrupted by Billy who shook her head.

"No, no I'm good. I'm ready. Let's go," she sniffed and wiped her eyes, walking forward with a purpose as the front doors to the hospital slid open. She breathed in the fresh air, closing her eyes tightly. Her fists slowly unclenched at her sides and when she opened her eyes again, Miss West and Jonathan were standing in front of her, watching her closely. "I'm fine," she stressed, a small smile curving up one side of her lips. "Promise."

Miss West gave a meaningful smile. "You've done well, Beatrice."

"Please," Billy gave the woman a slightly larger smile. "Call me Billy."

"Billy," Miss West conceded. "In that case, I think I should return the favor. Just call me Amy."

Billy nodded and gripped the messenger bag tightly over her shoulder.

"Jonathan's going to go get the car," Miss West—Amy—gave the man a pointed look and he nodded, tossing Billy another easy smile before disappearing into the congested parking lot with her suitcase rolling in tow. Once he was out of earshot, Amy turned to Billy and held her shoulders lightly in her grip. Her thumbs rubbed the material of Billy's hoodie and she watched the motion before pulling her eyes up to Billy's. "Be safe. Think about yourself," she instructed. "Enjoy the time with your family and don't worry too much about school. They'll go easy on you."

"Because they'll know?" Billy asked stiffly.

"No," Amy countered softly. "Because you're new," she shook Billy's shoulders lightly. "You'll be fine. You can call me if you need anything. I'll check in on your mother while I can."

"Thank you," said Billy, feeling a swell of gratitude for the woman. Despite her position and the fact that it was her job to help Billy adjust, she genuinely cared and that was something Billy couldn't forget. "For everything."

"You're welcome," Amy smiled. She gazed down at Billy for a few moments before pulling her into a loose hug. Billy was momentarily taken aback by the contact but carefully returned it nonetheless. Amy pulled away with slightly misty eyes and bestowed Billy with one last smile before a silver hatchback pulled up behind them. Amy gave Billy a quick thumbs up and before leading her to the passenger door where she pulled it open for her. After Billy climbed in she held the door open. "Safe," she reminded her.

"I will," Billy promised.

Amy nodded, satisfied, and shut the door. She waved and Billy watched her out the window as Jonathan pulled away, her smile following their car out the parking lot until they hit the main road.

Billy took another deep breath and leaned back into her seat.

Here we go.

XXX

The drive to Riverdale was long as expected. Billy spent most of her time with her earbuds in listening to music or an audible book, thankful that Jonathan didn't expect any sort of real conversation. He did stop once to put gas in the car about forty minutes or so away from the Andrews's and he offered to buy her a snack and drink which she gladly accepted. She took the gas pump out of the car while he was inside paying for their food and then they were back on the road.

Billy was leaning against the window with her earbuds still in when they passed Riverdale's welcome sign. Billy perked up a bit and watched the familiar green scenery roll by, recognizing a few buildings while others seemed either repainted or remodeled. Much to her relief the town still harbored its classic, small-townsy feel with its historical architecture that she always loved about it as a kid. It made the pressure in her chest lighten just a bit at the unmistakable 'home' vibes that were returning to her, even if it felt like a piece was still missing. She had a feeling it would always be that way as long as her and her Mom were separated.

They pulled up to a quaint, light-colored home in the middle of a clean looking neighborhood. Billy felt both like she'd seen this place yesterday and like she'd never seen it before. She immediately gazed down the road at her old house, realizing it—like many others—had been repainted which was what gave her such mixed feelings. Jonathan killed the engine and stepped outside, causing Billy to follow with a heaved sigh. Jonathan slipped around the back to retrieve her suitcase while she tugged her messenger bag from the backseat. She only just reached Jonathan when she heard the click of a door and she pulled her earbuds free from her ears, pocketing them in her hoodie pocket as she peered around the car.

A man stood tall on the porch with thick scruff and unkempt brown hair, hands stuffed in his jean pockets as their eyes locked. She hadn't seen her Uncle Fred in so long that for a split second her breath caught in her throat. And then her heart sank upon realizing that this was the first time she'd seen him without her Mom and Dad by her side. She felt tears sting her eyes and she pursed her lips, watching as his own mouth turned downward into a frown as he made his way down the steps.

She sidestepped Jonathan who had her suitcase on the ground and was closing the hatch and stopped a few feet away from Fred. His eyes skimmed her from head to toe, calculating how much she'd grown, how much her appearance had changed since they last saw each other.

"Billy," was all he said and that was it.

Billy closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around her Uncle's frame, resting her head beneath his chin as she squeezed her eyes shut. His arms immediately enveloped her and they hugged for an eternity, a minute, ten seconds, she couldn't tell. She could smell the familiar scent of sawdust and cinnamon spice on his flannel and a ghost of a smile spread across her lips. Some things never changed.

When they finally pulled away, Fred was grinning in an endearing sort of way that only Uncles seemed capable of and Billy was powerless not to return it.

"You got taller," he said, lifting a hand just below her shoulder. "Last time I saw you, you were about here."

"I had a late growth spurt," she told him, chuckling lightly.

"Does this mean I can't call you shortie anymore?" another voice chimed in from behind Fred. Billy leaned around him to see a familiar redheaded waltzing down the porch with a cheeky grin on his face. "Well, I guess I can. I'm still taller than you," he announced smugly once they were within arm's reach. Obviously he stood a good four or five inches taller than her.

"I was always destined to be shorter than you, Arch," she said. With that she pulled him into a hug as well, only to pull back right after with raised eyebrows. "Whoa, hello muscles."

Archie laughed. "Football."

"Right," Billy nodded, remembering how excited he'd been to try out. "My cousin the football player. I can't believe I'm related to a jock."

"Bite your tongue, Whitaker, or this jock won't be your bodyguard the first day of school."

Billy made a face at the reminder and Fred tousled her hair. "Don't worry, you've still got a couple weeks to go. But you're all registered, just need to pick up your schedule."

"Oh good," Billy mused. "Academics. Education."

"Very important things," Fred gave her a pointed look before walking over to snatch up her suitcase. "Let's get you settled. Thanks for dropping her off," he shook Jonathan's hand.

"No trouble. She's a good road trip partner. She doesn't ask to stop off at every other exit like my wife does," he grinned. He reached a hand out to Billy and she shook it. "Take care of yourself. Don't forget to let Amy know we made it in one piece or she'll have my head. She won't believe me if I tell her."

"I won't," Billy agreed with an easy smile. "Thanks for driving me."

With a salute Jonathan hopped back in the car and Fred gestured Billy ahead while he pulled her suitcase along. She followed Archie into the house, breathing in the fresh scent of pine and lemon—a smell their house always seemed to have. A dog barking startled Billy and she jumped, only to be tackled by a large brown dog that panted and slapped Archie's legs with its viciously wagging tail as it attempted to lick her face off.

"Hey, down Vegas! Down!" Archie scolded in vain. Vegas barked again, tongue lolling out of his mouth as Billy carefully stroked behind his ear.

"Wow, look at you, buddy. You've grown almost as much as I have," Billy scratched the dog's head and he jolted in his arms, his fury arms flailing against her chest before he finally pushed away from her. Billy pet him a few more times before Archie shooed him away.

"If we don't stop him now he'll never leave you alone," he chuckled. She smiled and pulled on the strings of her hoodie as Fred made for the staircase.

"We made up the spare bedroom for you," he said, lifting her suitcase. They trudged up the stairs, Vegas stomping closely behind as Billy glanced over each photograph on the wall. Fred motioned to the room at the end of the hall, depositing her suitcase on the bed once inside. Vegas tried jumping on the bed but Fred snapped his finger and the dog scurried back, but not before whining in weak protest. The room was simple and bare with a nice view of the street. "If you wanna repaint we could go to Home Depot one of these days and pick out some colors. Feel free to spice up the room anyway you want. You can hang stuff," he flicked a wrist, "do just about anything really. We never use this room."

"Thanks," Billy said with a small smile. "Maybe it'd be fun to repaint it later."

"Nothing wrong with a little summer project," Fred nodded as Archie squeezed around him in the doorway. "Archie's been helping me at work so we're not home a lot. You'll have the house to yourself but you don't have to stay cooped up inside. Explore the town, revisit everything if you want. As long as you're home before curfew."

"Or you could come with us to work and pour concrete," Archie suggested with a sarcastic smile. "It's loads of fun."

"We're not gonna make her work, Arch," Fred scolded before narrowing his eyes. "I sense your words were sarcastic but I'll have you know it actually is quite fun."

'No it's not,' Archie mouthed out of Fred's eye line. Billy's lips quirked up.

"Will I get as buff as you?" she teased as she began unpacking her messenger bag.

"You could try," Archie shrugged. "Maybe you'd look like a female Hercules by the time school starts."

"No one can look like Hercules more than you, Arch," Billy raised her eyebrows at his red hair and large biceps. He grinned again, flexing a bit.

"So," Fred interrupted them, rolling his eyes at his son. "I was thinking pizza tonight? Maybe watch a movie? I don't know. We don't exactly cook a lot so there's a lot of takeout most nights. Unless you want something else?"

"Pizza sounds good," Billy nodded, partially amused by how indecisive and awkward her Uncle was as a host.

"Toppings?"

"Doesn't matter," Billy shrugged, feeling the bed shake as Archie wiggled around on it. "Just no anchovies?" she winced.

"Don't worry," Fred smirked. "This is an anchovy-free house. I remember what happened the last time you had anchovies. I distinctly recall having to pick up the mess."

"No one told me there were anchovies on it," Billy defended herself with chagrin.

Archie wrinkled his nose. "Who puts anchovies in a pizza? Or pineapple?"

"I happen to like pineapple on pizza," Billy squinted at him.

"Absolutely disgusting."

Billy stuck her tongue out at Archie immaturely.

"Right," said Fred, still lingering by the door looking sorely out of place. "So no anchovies for Billy, no pineapple for Archie. Got it. I'll order it while you get situated," Fred made to leave but paused outside the door. He looked up at Billy with an uncharacteristically gentle look in his eye. "And Billy? Welcome home."

Billy's heart fluttered despite the circumstances, despite how much she didn't want to leave her Mom at first, despite everything that had happened the past month, despite the fact that her world was flipped upside-down like a roller coaster and she felt like she was slowly slipping out of the seat.

"Thanks Uncle Fred," she said sincerely. With a nod Fred disappeared down the hall, his boots thumping on the stairs as he descended into the kitchen, presumably to find the phonebook. Vegas nuzzled the outside of her thigh before following after Fred, seeming to find his shuffling downstairs much more interesting.

With that Billy and Archie were left in silence. Billy unzipped her suitcase and rummaged through it, feeling slightly uncomfortable at the fact that this was the first time her and Archie were alone in at least five years. Half a decade.

It was unreal how fast time had flown by, especially since the more she spent in the house, the more it felt like just yesterday she lived down the road from him. Her and Archie were close. As close as cousins could be, anyway. They got along really well and even though they didn't spend much time together at school or during the week, they'd reunite almost every weekend as if they'd seen each other the day before. It was crazy to think how much that could change just because Billy moved two hours northeast. Even when her family would visit them over the holidays it was obviously something had shifted. Things weren't the same. They grew up apart which meant inevitably they grew apart as well. At the funeral Archie had barely spoken two words to her, not that she really expected him to. He probably had no idea what to say.

Archie had a troubled look on his face as Billy pulled her toiletries bag free from one of the pouches. The quiet made Billy anxious, hating the fact that Archie was tiptoeing around her whether it was on purpose or just an absentminded thing. With everything that happened, the last thing she could take was Archie avoiding her just to spare her feelings. She didn't even know what she was feeling.

"You can ask you know," Billy said, breaking the silence. Archie furrowed his eyebrows at her and Billy could tell he was trying not to be obvious. She gave him a tight half-smile before looking back down at her suitcase. "She's your family, too."

Archie didn't say anything for a few seconds.

"How is she?" he finally asked, kicking aside the charade.

Billy exhaled slowly and leaned back, honestly contemplating the question. "Alive and coping."

Archie gave her a serious look, flashing his warm brown eyes up at her. "And how are you?"

Billy stared at him for a moment. "Alive and coping," she repeated.

His lips thinned. "I guess that's all anyone can ask."

Billy started unloading the clothes from her suitcase to fold them in the dresser across the room. Archie fiddled with the sleeves of one of her sweaters, the only sound being her shoes squeaking against the floorboards as she carried a few articles of clothing at a time.

"How long is she going to stay there?" he then asked.

Billy sighed and returned to the bed, plopping down adjacent from him in front of her half-empty suitcase.

"As long as it takes," she said. She gave a shrug, trying to ignore the way her stomach clenched. "It's undecided. We'll know when she does."

Archie leaned back against the pillows, resting against the headboard. He shook his head as he stared up at the ceiling.

"God, this summer's just been…"

"Sucky," Billy answered for him. He looked over at her. "It really, really sucked."

His eyes were somber when they returned to the ceiling. "Yeah, it sucked," he agreed. "You know what happened here? Some kid drowned last month. He was the golden boy at our school. It was a freak accident and the whole town's been in an uproar. There's been nonstop investigations."

"That's horrible," Billy remarked, brows pulled together. "He was our age?"

"Yeah."

"Drowning," Billy shook her head. "Not a good way to go. But I heard it's like falling asleep, it happens pretty fast so… hopefully he didn't suffer."

Archie was watching her again. "Your dad's not suffering anymore, Billy."

"I know," she nodded. Her eyes were misty and she blinked until they were clear again. She gave him a wan smile. "That's actually one of the few things that make this easier. He's not… inhibited anymore, wherever he is. He gets to be him again. He's not trapped in his own body."

"No," Archie said softly. "No, he's not."

Billy opened and closed her mouth a few times. "You know, during his last few days, he didn't even know who I was."

"Billy, you don't have to—"

"No, it's okay," she swallowed. "I wasn't able to talk about it with my Mom. It's just," she looked down, wringing her fingers in her lap. "During his last few days he didn't even know who I was and… and at the time it was bad. It was really bad. It hurt so much that I cried myself to sleep one night which was a first for me but… in a way it made things easier, too. His last days I spent most of my time either crying or trying not to cry but back when he actually did recognize me, when he still had the ability to perceive what was going on around him, I was happier. My Mom was happier. So I just have to remind myself that the last time he saw us, I mean really saw us, we weren't sad. We were smiling and laughing and trying to make him comfortable. And… that helps."

"I'm sorry," he whispered, voice wrought with emotion. His eyes were glossy and Billy was reminded that her Dad was his Uncle. He wasn't just some person giving her their robotic condolences, someone who didn't even really know her Dad. He was hurting just as much as she was except maybe in a different way.

"Yeah, me too," Billy played with her fingers some more.

"Pizza'll be here in twenty minutes!" Fred called from downstairs. "When you're ready come down so we can pick a movie!"

"Okay!" Archie called back. He pushed himself up and off the bed and Billy stood with him but she paused. Archie noticed her hesitation and tilted his head.

"Are you sure you guys are okay with me staying here?" she asked carefully. "I hate that I'm intruding. It's not an easy adjustment."

Archie's face softened. "Billy… we're not letting you stay in a foster home," he murmured fiercely. "Of course it's okay. You're family."

Billy licked her lips to conceal a heartfelt smile that Archie would've surely teased her for. "Your Dad's never had a teenage girl in the house before. At least, not as long as I'm going to be here."

"Trust me," Archie tossed an arm around her neck and steered her out of the room. "That's what I'm going to enjoy the most. At times I may even have a camera on hand."

"Why are you so mean to your father?" Billy asked in a disapproving voice even though there was an amused smile on her face.

"He's making me pour concrete all summer," Archie deadpanned as they made their way down the stairs. "I deserve to have this one."

"I'm not messing with him on purpose just for your enjoyment," Billy denied immediately.

"I'm not asking you to," Archie assured her, tugging on a strand of her hair near his hand. He considered something and then backtracked. "I mean, maybe just a little tantrum? Enough to make him flustered and do that thing where he stutters and rubs his forehead?"

"No, Archie, I'm not going to torment your father with female angst."

"What was that?" Fred shouted from the living room.

"Nothing!" Archie was quick to holler back. "What if I gave you $5?"

"You're really desperate, aren't you?" Billy grinned.

"Concrete, Billy. Concrete. In 98-degree weather."

They ended up watching a comedy. It felt good to laugh again, the rumble in her chest almost unrecognizable to her but no less elating. But by the time the movie was over and her stomach was full, Billy was mentally drained. The weight of the day was weighing heavy on her despite the early hour and she politely dismissed herself after helping them clean up their mess, both Archie and Uncle Fred thankfully unoffended by her desire for some alone time.

She trudged up the stairs and gently closed the bedroom door behind her, staring blankly at the empty suitcase on the bed. Her bed. Tapping the side of her legs, she ambled around the room to get a good look at what she had to work with. The ceilings were tall with cream-colored walls and there was enough room left underneath the window for a desk. Her laptop was resting at the foot of the bed in its bag and she'd need something to sit it on when she had homework.

Billy gracefully sat on the edge of the bed with her hands in her lap, eyes flitting around the room. This was her room now. This was her life. A wave of sadness washed over her and Billy had to swallow down the urge to cry even as her eyes stung with unshed tears. Her throat felt hollow and as she sat there in the quiet she felt like an outsider, like she was looking through a film at someone else's life she didn't belong in. She felt alone. She knew isolating herself would make her feel this way but at the same time she'd exhausted her social etiquette. She needed time to think.

She missed her Dad. She missed her Mom. She'd already been through the 'everything's unfair' stage but it didn't make it any less true. In a perfect world her Dad would've never gotten sick. In a perfect world she wouldn't have lost him, and in return, lost her Mom, too. In a perfect world she'd be back home in Connecticut listening to her Dad strum his guitar as her Mom whistled along with the tune.

The world definitely wasn't perfect but she already spent too many nights hating it. She was determined not to do that here. She wasn't her Mom. And that wasn't even her trying to convince herself she wasn't. She knew she wasn't. She knew she had to move on. She had to get past it even if it sucked. She would find a way to exist in a world where her Dad didn't. It would just take some time.

But as she curled up on top of the covers in her jeans and t-shirt, knees bent to accommodate the suitcase that still rested on the bed with the lights still on, she couldn't help but think one more time that everything, absolutely everything, was just really unfair.

XXX

Billy awoke with a start the next morning, feeling a dull throbbing behind her eyes and a cotton-dryness in her mouth. She blinked at the ray of sunlight filtering in through the blinds, vaguely remembering waking up in the middle of the night to see that her bedroom light had been turned off and the covers were pulled up her neck. She twisted around to see Archie peering in through the doorway with an apologetic look on his face.

"Sorry to wake you," he said a bit sheepishly. "Dad and I are heading over to the site soon so we wanted to make sure you were okay before leaving. There's breakfast downstairs," he added with a hopeful half-grin. She ran her fingers tiredly through her messy hair.

"I thought you guys didn't cook?" she rasped.

"If there's one thing my Dad can cook," he said, grinning wider, "it's a mean pancake breakfast. Blueberries and strawberries included. Sometimes there's Nutella and powdered sugar, too. It's like diabetes on a plate."

"Yum," Billy said even though she typically didn't eat breakfast. She stretched, face scrunching up at the way her jeans were twisted under the covers. "Give me five minutes and I'll be down."

"Cool," he tapped the doorframe before leaving to give her privacy.

Billy rubbed her eyes a few times before forcing herself to roll out of bed. That same hollow feeling was left over from the night before and part of her just wanted to crawl back in bed after they left and sleep the day away. But if the headache she had was anything to go by and the way her limbs felt like lead, she had more than enough sleep.

She curled her lip at the fact that she'd been wearing the same wrinkled t-shirt and jeans for the past twenty-four hours but she couldn't bring herself to change. She brushed her teeth and tried taming her hair a bit in the bathroom mirror before making her way downstairs where she heard Uncle Fred and Archie chatting idly as silverware clanked against their plates.

"Morning," Fred greeted when she entered the kitchen. "Sleep well?"

"Yeah," she dutifully didn't mention how he must've been the one to shut off her light and cover her up. It probably would've only made him uncomfortable and clear his throat too many times. Something Archie would probably find way too much pleasure in. "Thanks. You made breakfast?"

"It's a pancake smorgasbord," he pointed his fork towards the leaning tower of pancakes, all stuffed with either blueberries or strawberries. "Pick your poison."

Billy made herself a plate, taking two pancakes even though she was almost positive she wouldn't finish them. She cringed at the way Archie's pancakes were lathered in syrup until there was a sticky puddle almost spilling off the plate and instead was much more frugal with her syrup, using about a third the amount he did.

The three of them stood around the kitchen while they ate, Billy's eyes involuntarily skirting over to Archie's biceps he had on display with his tank top. She couldn't believe how much he'd changed. Last time she saw him, before the funeral, he was tall and lanky with only minimal body muscle. If it weren't for his flaming red hair and sweet smile she wouldn't even recognize him.

"You sure you're going to be alright by yourself?" Fred asked, seemingly unsure as he rinsed his plate. "I hate to leave you here alone on your first full day with us. Maybe Archie should stay home with you."

Archie perked up at this but Billy shook her head.

"I don't want you guys to change your routine or anything just to accommodate me. Don't worry about it," she assured him with a small smile. "I'll be fine. I think maybe it'll help being alone. I can… adjust at my own pace."

"Well if you're sure," Fred still looked skeptical.

"Maybe I'll take a walk," Billy said, thinking out loud. "Get to know the town again."

"Not much has changed," said Fred halfheartedly.

"Just don't go too far downtown," Archie advised, lips shiny and sticky as he rinsed his own plate off. "Remember the kid I told you about yesterday? His family's doing this charity thing by the courthouse trying to raise money for whatever," Archie looked like he wanted to roll his eyes but figured it'd be too disrespectful. "Doesn't make any sense because they already had the funeral so what other expenses are there? It's not like they don't have plenty of money as it is."

Fred didn't look too happy with Archie's comment but he didn't say anything. "I hope they figure out what happened to that boy. It's just not right. I mean, here? In Riverdale?" he waved his hands around. "Things like that don't just happen."

Billy paused mid-chew, feeling like she was missing something. "I thought he drowned?"

Archie hesitated, his face twisting into some emotion Billy couldn't identify.

"Well, it was ruled as an accidental drowning but the thing is," his forehead wrinkled, "they never found the body."

Billy felt her blood turn to ice. "But didn't you say they had a funeral?"

Archie was visibly uncomfortable now. "They buried an empty casket."

"What?" Billy felt horrified. "But why? If they didn't find a body then he might still be alive. Isn't this more like a missing person's case? Why would his family do that?"

"He has a twin sister who has some sort of twin telepathy thing with him or whatever, or at least she says she does. She claims to know he's dead even after they swept the lake and found no traces of him. That's why there's so many investigations going on," he reported stiffly. "It could be a homicide. So just… steer clear of downtown. You don't wanna get mixed up in any of that. They'll hassle you for money and guilt trip you if you don't. Trust me. Been there, done that."

Billy frowned, not liking the dark twist her hometown had suddenly taken.

"Why would his family give up so easily?" she asked, baffled. "What kind of closure is that?"

Archie sighed wearily. "The Blossoms are an enigma."

Something in Billy's mind clicked. "Blossom," she repeated. "Why does that name sound so familiar?"

"Probably because they've been more or less running this town since the beginning of time," he retorted dryly. Billy made a sound in the back of her throat.

"Go time," Fred announced after checking the time on the microwave. "Billy, our phone numbers are on the fridge. Typical Mom thing to do, I know," he rolled his eyes, exasperated with Archie's smirk. "Just plug them into your phone when you get the chance and call one of us if you need anything. Here's some money," he said slowly as he dug through his wallet, pulling out two twenties and handing them to her. "If you want to go to the store and grab some snacks or whatever you like, go ahead. I can leave the truck. You have your license, right?"

"A Connecticut license," Billy raised an eyebrow.

Fred floundered for a moment before pointing at her. "I'll get back to you on that one."

She smiled lightly again. "I can just walk like I said before. It's no big deal. Pretty sure I remember where most of everything is."

Fred made his way to the front room, throwing on another flannel shirt. "Call us if you need us," he reminded her. "For anything."

"Will do," Billy nodded, holding the front door open for them.

"Remember Pop's Diner? Chock'Lit Shoppe?" Archie asked as he followed his Dad out the door. Billy nodded, vaguely recognizing the name and its clever play on the word chocolate. "You should go there and get a milkshake. Best welcome back present you'll find."

"I'll keep that in mind," Billy chuckled. She waved as they scrambled down the porch to the truck. "Don't pour too much concrete! You won't have anything to do the rest of the summer," she smirked. Archie gave her a false laugh.

"Be good, Beatrice."

She waved again as they pulled out of the driveway and onto the road. Fred gave her one last wave before the truck disappeared down the road and Billy watched it go, staring in the direction it left in until she felt too warm from the humid summer air. She closed the door with a whoosh, feeling the perspiration tickle her forehead. She turned and leaned back against the door, meeting Vegas's eyes who was watching her with a tilted head.

"It's just you and me, pal," she said. "What should we do?" Vegas made a noise in the back of his throat and spun around, ambling into the living room where he plopped down on his large doggie bed in the corner and looked up at her with his wide eyes. "Yeah," she huffed a laugh through her nose. "I agree."

Rather of sitting down with him though, she instead made her way upstairs so she could take a shower and finally peel her clothes off.

She stayed in the guest shower until she felt satisfied that enough of Hartford was washed off of her before she got out, wrapping a towel around her body before wiping the condensation off the mirror. She gazed at her reflection with pursed lips, spotting the stripe of swollen skin under her eyes. The stress of the summer had piled up above her cheekbones and it showed, making her eyes look dull and her cheeks thin. She fingered her wet hair that landed a few inches below her jawline, smoothing a strand of grey-blonde hair between her thumb and pointer finger. Her hair feathered from its natural dark brown halfway down into a light grey where her ends had washed out. Every few weeks or so she'd put a vibrant color over the blonde until it grew out enough. Eventually—maybe once or twice a year—she'd cut off the blonde ends and have them re-bleached so she could start the process over again.

She'd neglected the routine for a while now. She didn't know what color she wanted to do next or if she even wanted to do one at all. It was a tradition of her old life, a symbol of who she once was. She didn't know if she was that person anymore. She couldn't tell, didn't know if enough time had passed for her to really know.

She gave the mirror one last look before she towel-dried her hair and dressed into a fresh pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Feeling refreshed and like she'd made a successful step forward, however minimal it was, she made her way back downstairs to see that Vegas remained where she left him. She paused in the middle of the living room, unsure of what to do next. She figured now was as good a time as any to take that walk she talked about all morning, even if she wasn't completely motivated to do it. Maybe she could try to find the Chock'Lit Shoppe Archie mentioned. A chocolate milkshake didn't sound half bad.

Eyeing the clock, she saw that about an hour had passed since they left. She strolled over to the fridge and copied the numbers Uncle Fred had written down into her phone. She pulled up a new text message to Archie.

Hey it's Billy. What should I do with Vegas if I walk around?

It only took about a minute before he replied. She wondered if her Uncle would confiscate Archie's phone if she texted him enough. The idea made her grin a little.

You can take him with you or put him in his kennel. Doesn't matter

Billy glanced over at Vegas and as if the dog knew he was being talked about, he lifted his head in her direction.

"You wanna go for a walk?" she asked him. He whined and put his paws over his muzzle, looking up at her with his big brown eyes. "I don't blame you," she sighed. "Alright, just this once you can stay home but I'm taking you with me tomorrow. Just because it's summer doesn't mean you can be lazy."

She walked over to his kennel and opened the door. Vegas didn't need much persuasion before he walked inside and curled up on his other bed. After filling his water bowl and placing it inside, she went upstairs to grab her wallet and earbuds before throwing on the first pair of shoes she could find and slipping out the door. Having remembered where their spare key was, she locked the front door before pocketing it and making her way down the porch. She shielded her eyes from the blistering sun, squinting up at it as if it personally offended her.

She glanced from left to right down the road before settling on making a right out of the yard. She walked at a steady pace with her earbuds in, listening to her music on shuffle. Despite the heat it was a nice day out and the smell of freshly mown grass filled her senses as she passed house after house until she reached the street corner. She headed in the direction she knew led into the smaller half of town where, if she wasn't mistaken, Pop's Diner was located. There weren't many people out on the sidewalks aside from the occasional bicyclist. Billy hummed along to her music, matching her stride with the tempo, and let her memory lead her to a large intersection on the outskirts of "downtown" Riverdale.

She paused at the light, peering up and down the road with narrowed eyes. Her mental GPS was failing her at this point and she decided to take a guess, crossing the intersection and continuing left. The streets were slightly more congested the further she got into town, quaint shops popping up along the sidewalk. Billy spotted a florist, dry cleaning, a dainty little clothing boutique and a coffee shop along one of the strips. She filed the coffee shop away for later in case she needed a pick-me-up.

She ended up crossing two more intersections still with no signs of the diner before she realized she might be lost. Her lips thinned and she branched off down one of the roads with trees littered on each side. The shade felt about ten degrees cooler and she idly glanced around, not really recognizing the area before a familiar school crosswalk sign appeared. Knowing this wasn't where her elementary school used to be, she furrowed her brows and crossed through it, trailing up a slight hill before a red-brown brick building came into view over the expanse of trees.

It was an older looking building faded from time and weather with rows of windows decorating its face and a large engraved sign at the top that read RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL. Billy's thighs ached by the time she reached the top of the incline and she paused in the small caul-de-sac in front of the school, head tilted back as she observed the building with mixed feelings. She then stared ahead at the two red double doors that waited at the top of a flight of concrete stairs. In less than a month she'd walk through them for the first time as a new girl once again.

When she was younger being new wasn't all that special. Kids didn't really care whether you lived there your whole life or just for a few days. They were all pretty welcoming because that was just in their nature. But Billy didn't expect high school to be the same. At least her freshman year she went into it knowing most of her classmates. Now she only knew one.

Billy walked a few paces to the left where a patch of grass sat on the side of the building and plopped herself down under a cover of branches. She briefly wondered if she'd get in trouble for sitting on closed public property. She mused how ironic it'd be if she got kicked out of school before it even started.

She fell back against the grass with a sigh, gazing up through the canopy of the large oak tree. Sunlight was spilling in through the cracks, sparkling against the leaves and she watched the wind tousle the branches. Her eyelids began to feel heavy and she blinked slowly a few times, the breeze ruffling her hair. She didn't know when her eyes fell shut, only that the smiling faces of her Mom and Dad were the last thing she saw before she was out.

She jolted awake sometime later feeling groggy and disoriented. She lifted her head, squinting up at the blurry image of Riverdale High standing four stories above her head. The sun had moved a bit in the sky, no longer directly above her but instead at a slight angle. She dropped her head back into the grass to rub her eyes with the heels of her hands before running her fingers through her hair. It took a good five minutes before she felt competent enough to sit up, wincing at the ache in her temples from too much sleep.

Her stomach was growling a bit when she finally checked the time. It was a little after 2:30 and she blinked dumbly at the fact that she slept for two hours in her new high school's front yard. Thankfully the school was isolated just enough that there was a slim chance anyone actually saw her. She had a feeling if they did they would've immediately called the police because a still body sprawled out in front of the school had to have been a bad omen. Especially with the news of that Blossom kid still hovering over the town.

Billy made her way back home by retracing her steps, completely forgetting about her mission to find Pop's Diner. Dark clouds were rolling in from the south as she finally approached the house, digging through her pocket to find the key. Vegas started barking the second she turned the key and she winced through her headache at his piercing whines, kicking the door shut behind her before running to his kennel. She let him outside and he did his business while she leaned against the back of the house, the image of her parents still on the forefront of her mind.

She looked at her phone for a few seconds before she decided to dial Nurse Wanda's number. It rang four times before she answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi Wanda, this is Billy. Um, I was just calling to check up on my Mom. Is she… is she available?" Billy had no idea how to do this.

"Oh, sweetie… now's not really a good time."

"What?" Billy panicked, straightening her spine. "Why not? What's wrong?"

"She's sleeping," Wanda said, voice apologetic. Billy's shoulders slumped and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh," Billy rubbed her forehead. "Well… she's doing alright, isn't she?"

"Yeah. Yeah, she is. She's still not eating much but I suckered her into trying a piece of chocolate cake last night. She seemed to enjoy it."

"Chocolate cake always was here favorite," Billy smiled softly. "Did it have chocolate icing, too? That was always the kiss of death for Mom."

"Vanilla," Wanda said distractedly. Billy heard voices in the background. "Billy, honey, I've got a new patient coming in so I'm going to have to let you go."

"Oh, okay," Billy tried to mask her surprise at the abruptness. "Um, well give my Mom a hug for me."

"Will do. Bye, sweetie."

There was a click before Billy could say anything back. She pulled her phone back with pinched eyebrows, trying to ignore the anxiety rolling through her and the disappointment that pooled in her gut. She didn't want to feel too upset that she didn't get to hear her Mom's voice or speak to her. This was always how it was when she lived in Hartford. Sleep was an important aspect of a patient's wellness at The Institute of Living, as Billy was told more times than she cared to count. Whenever she tried visiting when her Mom was asleep, they either shooed her away or made her wait until her Mom woke on her own. Billy appreciated their concern. She really did. But it's not like she would've forced her Mom awake. She was perfectly fine sitting back and watching the steady rise and fall of her Mom's chest.

Just knowing she was alive and breathing was enough for Billy.

The ominous rumble within the storm clouds above snapped Billy out of her reverie and she shot the sky a look before urging Vegas back inside as it began to sprinkle. She slid the back door closed behind her before strolling into the kitchen. She sent Archie a quick text asking about food for Vegas and she peered into the fridge for a snack of her own until he replied.

Pantry. Bottom shelf.

She retrieved the bag of dog food and poured a generous amount into Vegas's bowl. He went to town the second she sat it down with his water and she listened to him crunch and scoot the bowl across the wood floors while pulling sandwich ingredients out for herself.

By the time she was walking over to the couch with a ham sandwich and a glass of tea, Vegas's was already licking his floppy lips on the floor. Billy turned on the TV, flipping through the channels until she settled on a low budget horror film to pass the time. It didn't take long after she was done eating before Vegas hopped on the couch beside her, nervous by the gentle storm taking place outside. She scratched behind his ear until he laid his head in her lap.

The rest of the day went by with Billy and Vegas being couch potatoes. She went between watching what was on TV and skimming through her phone, receiving the occasional text from her friend Nathan back in Hartford.

Hows rivendell?

That's an elvish city, you goon.

She was surprised to hear the sound of a truck rumbling out front at around 4:30. Two sets of boots echoed on the porch before the lock was turned and the front door open. They clambered into the front room like a herd of elephants and Vegas looked mildly put-off by their noisy arrival.

"We're home!" Uncle Fred called.

"In here!" she shouted back.

They made their way into the living room, Archie looking exhausted and thrilled to be home.

"Hey," Fred said, removing his flannel that now had sweat stains under the arms. "How'd it go today?"

Billy shrugged. "Not very eventful. I found the high school," she said, cleverly leaving off the part where she took a nap beside it. "You guys only work six hours?" she changed the subject, frowning a bit in confusion.

"Not usually but the rain had other plans," said Fred, going through some papers on the counter in the kitchen.

Archie plopped down on the couch beside Billy, reeking of sweat and dirt. She wrinkled her nose at him, feeling Vegas hop off the couch to give Fred some attention.

"And how was your day?" Billy asked a bit dryly.

"Long, hot, boring," Archie leaned back and rubbed his face. "I'm tired and in need of a nap. Like, an eight-hour nap."

"I thought you were supposed to be a tough guy," she smiled lightly. "I'm the one that pants after seven seconds of cardio, remember?"

"I've learned that football and construction are two completely different things."

"No," Billy gasped in false surprise. "Really? I'm so taken aback by this information."

Archie narrowed his eyes at her. "You think touchdowns in football are goals."

"Are they not?" Billy squinted.

Archie deadpanned. "I just told you they're touchdowns."

"Why are they called touchdowns?" Billy wondered out loud. Archie just stared at her. "I mean, the whole point is to not let the football touch the ground, right? You don't want it to touch down on the ground. So why call it a touchdown?"

"Because," Archie waved his arms around intelligently, trying to come up with an answer. "Because you touched down on the winning side."

"That's anticlimactic. They should be called goals."

"You can't have a goal without a net," Archie argued.

"Who said?" Billy retorted.

Archie rolled his eyes. "You're impossible."

Billy gave him a fond smile, the warmth in her stomach returning at the familiarity between them coming back. She missed this. She missed how they used to argue about meaningless things just for the sake of arguing and knowing they had someone who would always fight back. This was what she remembered about growing up, besides the relentless teasing Archie always gave her for being so short. It was moments like these she had when she was little that made her feel like she wasn't an only child. Archie was the closest thing she had to a brother and she was thankful that at least this one thing hadn't changed. He was her constant.

Later that night after having Chinese take-out, Archie and Billy slipped outside and climbed up on the railing of the porch, their legs dangling as they gazed up at the stars trying to peek through the foggy clouds. The nighttime air was cool and smelled of rain, the wet grass glistening under the luminescence of the moonlight.

Billy spotted something out of the corner of her eye and glanced to the side, noticing a figure watching them from the second story of the house next door. They disappeared into the yellowish glow of their room and Billy didn't remove her gaze until Archie spoke up.

"That's Betty's house," he told her. She turned to look at him and he elaborated, "Betty Cooper. She's my best friend. I think you met her once a few years ago. The year we went on that camping trip and your Dad brought his guitar."

"Oh yeah," Billy laughed. "We played songs around the pit until your Dad's pant leg caught on fire," Archie's shoulders shook from laughter at the memory and Billy's chest felt light for once at the thought of her Dad. "You played some songs too if I remember correctly," she gave him a half-smile. "You still play?"

Archie fiddled with his hands in his lap. "Yeah, every now and then. I sing too sometimes."

"Really?" Billy asked, surprised but also not. Despite how Archie may seem, she could definitely picture him as the singer-slash-songwriter type. He had the mind for it not to mention the skill. There weren't a lot of things Archie wasn't good at. "Can I hear sometime?"

Archie flashed her a small smile. "When I finally have something done then sure."

She didn't say anything for a second.

"I think you got that from my Dad," Billy mused. She felt Archie's eyes on her, feeling the warmth of his arm brush against hers at the movement. "He was always really musical. Always had a guitar out playing some old song you never hear anymore," she smiled absently at the picture that formed in her mind of a middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair and a deep blue six-string in his lap. "I think the last song he ever played was Annie's Song," she gave Archie a quick smile. "By John Denver. It was one of his favorites. He sang it to my Mom all the time because her middle name's Anne. Even when he was hurting he still sounded good. Anything to make her smile."

"I'll have to learn that one," Archie said. Billy chuckled but didn't disagree. She imagined he'd do the song just as much justice as her Dad did. "If only my Dad loved music as much as yours did."

Billy could see he was troubled by the stiffness of his shoulders and the way he bowed his head.

"He will someday," she assured him. "You'll see."

Archie hummed, not commenting more on the subject. She felt him looking at her again, studying the side of her face.

"You ever going to put more of that teal color in your hair?" he asked, gesturing vaguely to her hair that hung limply just below her chin. She looked down at it as if she could see it, pulling at the strands closest to her.

"I don't know. Maybe."

The two were silent for a moment, just enjoying the peaceful atmosphere as the stars continued to twinkle above whenever the clouds slipped away.

"We're going to be okay, right?" she looked at her cousin, only able to see his silhouette and the flash of his eyes in the dark. "We'll get through this year, won't we?"

Archie took a deep breath before nodding.

"Yeah, yeah we'll get through it," he paused for a second. "I mean, it's only sophomore year, right? How bad can it be?"

First off I just wanted to say that I did not expect this first chapter to be so long. I'm a long chapter kind of person but this one kind of just got away from me after the first few thousands words. Yikes. Sorry about it.

So here's my new story. Riverdale. Let me just start off with a disclaimer: I've never seen any of the Archie comics. I won't even pretend to be familiar with them or act like I know what I'm talking about in terms of validity or what have you. I'm basing everything off of what I've seen in the TV show only which, so far, I'm already pathetically addicted to. I've been excited for this show since last year when they started hyping it up and I'm more or less in love with Jughead Jones because honestly. I love how witty and cynical and how much of an absolute sarcastic shit he is. Plus he's already got a real special place in my heart. Also, Cole Sprouse. Need I say more? I'm feeling kind of really nervous about the fact that the Riverdale section on here is so small. I don't want to disappoint anyone with my lack of knowledge on the comics or how I portray the characters in the show. I'm really hoping I get their personalities right but it's hard considering how early we are in the show. Let me know if you find any discrepancies and I'll try to fix whatever needs fixing. Otherwise I'm just going to have to rely on my imagination.

And yes, just to clarify now, this is going to be a JugheadxOC story. Like I said I've not read the comics but I have heard that he's asexual and I recognize that. Not sure if that's going to be portrayed in the show or not but I would like to explore it in this story. It'll be a challenge but it's a challenge I'm excited to take. I can't wait to introduce him next chapter and work our way into the school year. I didn't want to immediately start off on episode one because I thought it'd be interesting to bounce back a little bit, plus I don't want to catch up with the show as it airs.

Let me know what you guys think! I know there's not much to go on so far so I get if it's hard to tell how you feel from this chapter alone. This was mostly an introductory to Billy and a little bit of her backstory. Also: this story is heavily inspired by the song "Maybe Tonight" by The Summer Set. I highly recommend you check out their music video on Youtube because I feel like everything about it from start to finish explains this story perfectly.

Until next time guys!