perfect family

twelve

We all got ready together in Cheryl's room. I was wearing a knee-length dress that was off the shoulder. Cheryl stared in the mirror when Veronica and I finished. "You ready?" I asked. "Just about. You go ahead. I'll be down." She said.

Veronica and I made our way downstairs to sit down with the others. Just as we came in we saw the strange conversation between Ms. Blossom and Archie. "Days like today really put things in perspective, huh? I mean, at least we're here. At least we're alive." Veronica said to the others as we sat down. What I wasn't expecting when the music started playing was Cheryl in all white. She stepped forward down the hall to the dais, her parents looked at her in shock.

"Welcome to Thornhill. Thank you all for coming. If you'll kindly take your seats I'd like to start the memorial with a few words about Jason. The last time I saw Jason, I was wearing this dress. I know it's impossible, but I swear when I put it on, it feels like he's in the room with me. Even though we were twins, I used to demand I have my own birthday party. Until one year out of the blue, Jason convinced me we had to combine them into one. It wasn't until years later I found out why. It was because no one wanted to come to mine. And Jason didn't want me to know. He protected me. Every single day. I wish that day at the river, I had protected him." She turned to the coffin while she cried. "I'm so sorry, Jay-Jay. We failed you. All of us."

Veronica got up, went forward and took Cheryl in her arms. "I think we'll adjourn now, to the winter salon for a light supper." Said Penelope who had gone forward. Everyone rose and made their way to the parlor. I went to Veronica and Cheryl and hugged Chery. As we were about to make our way to the Winter Salon, Ms. Blossom came over and took Cheryl with her. Before I could follow them, Mr.Blossom appeared and led us to the salon.

After an hour, Betty appeared in front of me, telling me that Polly and Jason were engaged. They had gotten the ring from Nana Rose. And she told me about the weird conversation between Dad and Clifford that she wanted to ask Dad about. We looked for him and persuaded him to go home. "You both dragged me out of the Blossom house and then you don't talk to me the whole way home?" "Dad, Jason and Polly were engaged. Did you know that?" My dad said nothing, but the expression on his face said it all. "Oh, my god. Of course you did." said Betty in shock. "Is that what you and Clifford Blossom were talking about?" I asked him curiously. "" That is none of you business." "Yes, it is our business. So stop avoiding it and just tell me what's going on." "Clifford and I were arguing because he and his filthy clan came this close to destroying our family. Your little friend Cheryl's great-grandfather murdered both of yours." "That's why they don't like me!" Betty and Dad ignored me. "Why?" "The same reason they do everything. Greed and hate." He sat down and explained the reason for the hatred between the Blossoms and the Coopers. "That's why you hated Jason? Because of some blood feud that happened before you were even born?" I asked him concerned. "They stole our livelyhood, Kati. And I'd die before I'd let them steal my daughter too." "Where is she?" Betty asked him angrily. "She is sick! And Jason made her sick. And she's not coming home until she isn't sick anymore. Fair warning, stay out of it." My father said and left the room. We both looked after him in shock.

***

Breakfast the next morning was really weird. I went to school so I wouldn't need to sit any longer with them on the table. Betty had invited Jughead to breakfast.

When I was about to go into my next class, Kevin caught me. "The Varierty Show Audition is today and I'm calling for your help. Betty canceled at short notice. So actually you can't say no because I've already registered you for it and apologized to your teacher." I looked at him pissed  as he just pulled me on to the stage room. One by one it was their turn. The next person surprised me. It was Archie. When he wanted to start he panicked and quickly left the stage.

As we were about to leave the room, Veronica appeared in front of us. She persuaded Kevin to give Archie a chance, since he's heard Archie enough times. While Veronica and Kevin made their way out to see the others, I went to pick Reggie up from his class. When he came out the door and saw me, he came up to me. He put his arm around me as we made our way out to his car. We went to Pop's and got us something to eat.

With that we sit down at our old chill place. We were halfway through eating when he dropped the bomb. "I'm the team's new captain!" he said happily. I looked at him in surprise and then hugged him. "Oh, my god! That's so cool. I'm so proud of you Reggie, I know how hard you fought for it." We talked about so much more as it slowly got darker. In the evening he dropped me off at home and promised to pick me up the next morning.