A sixteen year old brown eyed brunette girl with a slightly tan skin tone walked into Riverdale high on her first day of starting her junior year at a new school. She is nervous partly because it's a new school and because she is supposed to be a sophomore, but she did summer school classes so that she would be able to graduate early.
The teenage girl sighed and looked at the paper in her hand. It had the name of her tour guide written on it. She nervously approached the students, who were talking and laughing amongst themselves before class.
"Um…I'm looking for Veronica Lodge." The girl spoke
A raven haired teenage girl turned to look at the brunette, "I'm Veronica Lodge. You must be the new student that I'm supposed to show around."
The brunette gave a small nod, "Yeah. I'm Zareah." She wasn't too excited about having a tour guide.
"It's nice to meet you, Zareah." Veronica replied "These are my friends Betty, Jughead, Cheryl, Toni, Josie, and my boyfriend Archie."
"It's nice to meet you all." Zareah said with a small smile. 'Jughead. What an interesting name.' She thought 'But Josie is cute though.' Zareah is bisexual, which means she likes boys and girls, but she steers more towards girls.
Betty looked at Zareah, "So what class do you have first?"
"Um….Math in room 102 with Mr. Alker." Zareah responded
"Me too." Cheryl added "We can walk to to class together, but we still have a few minutes before the bell rings. You should sit and talk with us."
"Yeah. Tell us about yourself?" Josie requested.
Zareah shrugged as she sat down opposite of everyone, "Not much to tell." She really didn't want to be there, but she didn't have a viable excuse to get away. That and she did need someone to walk to class with her, since she didn't know where her classroom is.
"Why'd you move to Riverdale? How'd you hear about it?" Archie wondered
"Oh….um I just kind of stumbled upon it." Zareah explained.
Toni nodded, "What about your family? Parents? Do you have any siblings?"
"I have a little sister." Zareah answered "As for my parents, all I have is my mom."
"That's cool. Are you close with your sister?" Jughead asked casually
Zareah gave a small nod, "Very. She's like my shadow, follows me everywhere. Especially when she's tired. She's really clingy, but she's so cute that I don't mind. Plus she's only six. I know she won't always be like that."
"Sounds like you are close." Cheryl added "Jay-Jay and I used to be like that. He was my twin brother. He was killed a year ago."
Zareah eyes widened, "I'm sorry. I know how it feels to lose someone you love."
Suddenly the bell rang and Zareah felt grateful, because it meant she could get out of this conversation. Plus she actually liked math. It was one of her favorite subjects.
"Well we should probably get to class, guys. See you all at lunch." Archie said as he stood up.
Everyone stood up and walked their separate ways to their classrooms. Cheryl and Zareah walked to math class together.
"What did you mean when you said you know what it's like to lose someone you love?" Cheryl asked
"Just that I've lost people in my family too." Zareah answered. She wasn't ready to talk about who she lost. She couldn't. It was too long of a story.
Cheryl gave a sad smile. "I'm sorry."
Zareah shrugged it off, "It's alright. It was a long time ago. I've made peace with it."
"Okay, so are you nervous about your first day of school?" Cheryl wondered
"No. I'm used to being the new girl." Zareah responded happy to have a change in subject. "My sister however was so scared. She cried and didn't want me to leave her."
Cheryl pouted, "Aw. That's so sad." They walked into their classroom together.
Cheryl sat down near the back and gestured to the seat next to her while looking at Zareah.
'Sorry.' Zareah mouthed as she sat down in the front first row of the classroom. Zareah is very studious and always sits in the front of her classes.
Later after Algebra 2 math, physics science, and French, it's finally lunch time. Zareah sneaks off of the school property and heads across the street to the elementary school to check on her sister. She knows that her sister has lunch break at the same time she does. Zareah stands by the fence and rattles the fencing a little bit.
Zareah's six year old sister Seraphina is playing on the monkey bars by herself when she notices her sister on the other side of the fence. She smiles brightly, jumps down from the monkey bars, and runs over to the fence.
"Mimsy!" Seraphina exclaimed excitedly as she is now face to face with her big sister.
Zareah smiled, "Hey Chipmunk, how are you?" She has called her sister 'chipmunk' since Seraphina was a baby, because she was a fat baby and had really chubby cheeks.
"I'm good, Mimsy. I was playing with Jonah." Seraphina said. Jonah is Seraphina's imaginary friend.
"That's good, but maybe try making some non-invisible friends." Zareah encouraged. She didn't have a problem with her sister playing with Jonah. She just didn't want her sister to be a loner, or to get teased when she's a little bit older.
Seraphina nodded, "Okay Mimsy. I'll try."
"That's my Little Dove. I have to go now, but I'll see you after school." Zareah told her sister "I have to work at Pop's, but I'll get you a milkshake to have while you work on homework."
Seraphina smiled, "Okay. Bye Mimsy. I love you."
"Bye. I love you too, Little Dove." Zareah replied
Zareah watched her sister run back to the playground and then walked back to the high school. She headed to the library to eat her lunch, and then after lunch break was over, she headed to class. Upon reaching the classroom for US history, she saw Veronica sitting in one of the desks.
"Zareah." Veronica called softly as she pointed to the empty desk next to her.
Zareah sighed as she reluctantly sat next to Veronica. She didn't have the heart to tell Veronica that she wasn't at this school to make friends. She just want to graduate and get a job, so she could take care of her sister.
"Hey where'd you go over lunch break?" Veronica asked in a hushed tone "I looked for you so that you could sit with us."
"Oh I ate in the library and then I went across the street to check on my sister at the elementary school." Zareah explained in a whisper
Veronica nodded as the teacher walked in and everyone became silent.
At the end of the day, Zareah was walking out of the school when she heard someone call her name.
"Zareah!" The voice called
Zareah turned around to see who called her name. She furrowed her eyebrows at the girl. 'Why is she following me?' She thought 'Why won't she leave me alone?'
"Veronica, what's up?" Zareah eventually asked
"Do you want to get a milkshake at Pop's?" Veronica wondered
Zareah thought for a moment, "Um…I don't really have time to socialize. Between working, my homework, and watching my little sister my time is usually all used up. Anyways I have to pick up my little sister from school and then I'm going to work at Pop's."
"How about I buy your sister a milkshake?" Veronica offered "And I can help her with her homework if she needs it."
Zareah furrowed her eyebrows, "Why are you being so nice to me?"
"Because I know what it's like to be the new girl." Veronica stated "I moved to Riverdale last year."
"Okay. Fine." Zareah gave in "But we have to hurry. I don't like to be late picking up my sister."
Veronica nodded, "I completely understand."
Soon Zareah and Veronica are standing outside of the elementary school. Zareah is waiting for her sister. She smiles when sees her little sister approaching.
"Mimsy!" Seraphina yelled as she ran the rest of the way and then hugged her big sister.
Zareah hugged her sister back, "Hey Little Dove."
"Who's that?" Seraphina inquired pointed to the raven haired girl.
"This is Veronica." Zareah introduced "Veronica, this is my sister Seraphina."
"Or Sera." Seraphina added
Veronica smiled at the little girl, "It's nice to meet you, Sera."
"Veronica is going to Pop's with us. Maybe you could sit with her at a booth while I work." Zareah suggested as she looked at her sister
Seraphina thought for a little bit, "Okay. I guess."
"What's your favorite flavor of milkshake?" Veronica asked the little girl as she, Zareah, and Seraphina started walking towards Pop's.
"Chocolate." Seraphina replied while holding her sister's hand.
Veronica gave a small, "I like chocolate too, and Pop's makes really great milkshakes."
Seraphina nodded, "The best I've ever had, but not better than Mimsy's."
Zareah just listened and enjoyed hearing her sister interact with Veronica. She didn't even think about having to explain her sister's nickname for her to Veronica.
"Mimsy?" Veronica wondered. She'd heard the word earlier, but it just registered now. She didn't understand what it meant.
"Mimsy is Zareah." Seraphina clarified
Veronica looked up at Zareah questioningly, but not saying a word hoping that her look would be a big enough clue of her confusion.
"Oh…um well since my mom is always working when Sera was starting to talk she was calling me 'mama', but I didn't want her to hurt our mom by calling me 'mama' so I came up with mimsy." Zareah explained. It was partially true.
Seraphina nodded, "Yeah, Mimsy is like my mommy. She helps me with my homework, plays with me, feeds me, and reads to me and sings to me at bedtime." She doesn't remember her mother. To Seraphina, Zareah is her mom.
"You sound like a great sister, Z." Veronica told Zareah
"She is." Seraphina spoke. She looked up at Zareah, "What's that song called that you sing to me every night?"
Zareah blinked, "Oh…um Baby Mine by Bette Midler."
Zareah, Veronica, and Seraphina walk into Pop's. Zareah goes behind the counter and settles in. She puts on an apron.
"Hi Pop!" Seraphina announced
"Hey sweet pea. Chocolate shake, right?" Pop Tate spoke
Seraphina nodded with a big smile on her face, "Yes please." Then she sat down at a booth with Veronica.
"Do you have a lot of homework?" Veronica questioned
Seraphina shook her head, "No. Just Math, English, and Reading. Mimsy has a lot though. She stays up forever doing homework."
"Well that comes with being in high school. I have a lot of homework too." Veronica informed "You'll have a lot of homework when you're older."
Seraphina's eyes widened as she then took out her math folder. She opened her folder and took out her worksheet. It was the two times tables. "It always do my math first. Mimsy and I do my reading before bed."
Veronica nodded, "Very cool."
Seraphina started on her worksheet and a few moments later, Zareah placed a chocolate milkshake in front of her sister.
Veronica took out her Chemistry homework to start on. She spoke, "If you need help let me know. I'd be happy to help."
"That's okay." Seraphina said without looking up. "Mimsy checks my homework every night."
Veronica nodded, "Well my offer still stands just in case you change your mind."
Later when Zareah is done with her shift. She walks over to the booth where Veronica was still sitting with a now sleeping Seraphina.
"Thanks for staying with my sister. You really didn't have to." Zareah whispered
"Nonsense. It's fine. I really didn't mind." Veronica replied "I checked her homework after she fell asleep so you wouldn't have to."
Zareah smiled softly, "Oh…uh thank you." She thought, 'I wish you hadn't done that.'
"You're welcome." Veronica responded "Your sister mentioned how you stay up 'forever' every night. I just thought I could help a little bit, so you wouldn't have to stay up so late."
"I appreciate that." Zareah said gratefully as she gently shook her sister awake. "Sera, baby, I need you to wake up for a second. You can go back to sleep, but it's time to go." She sat down on the booth bench, "Here. Hop on my back. I'll carry you."
Seraphina sleepily wrapped her arms around her big sister's neck and got into her back. Zareah grabbed the backpacks and then stood up.
"Well thanks again, Veronica. I should get home now though." Zareah stated.
Veronica gave a nod, "Would you like me to walk home with you?"
Zareah shook her head, "No, thanks. That's alright. I'll be fine."
"Okay. I'll see you at school tomorrow." Veronica stated
The two teenage girls went their separate ways. When Veronica arrived home at the Pembrooke, she heard a voice when she walked into her penthouse.
"Where have you been, Mija?" Veronica heard the voice of her father Hiram Lodge ask
"What do you care?" Veronica wondered
"I was worried about you." Hiram admitted
Veronica scoffed, "As if."
"Believe whatever you want, Mija, but I do love you." Hiram defended as he lied through his teeth "Where were you?"
"I'll have you know, daddy, I was at Pop's with a friend. I was babysitting her little sister while she worked." Veronica told her father simply.
"What friend?" Hiram questioned
Veronica rolled her eyes, "Daddy, stop! You are not going to interrogate or intimidate my friends. This girl is nice and she's new. Her name is Zareah, and I'm going to bed."
Hiram sighed as he watched his daughter storm off to her room. He wished they could be close again like when she was a little girl.
Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.
What would you like to see happen next?