The Art Of Us

4 • All Hail The Queen

With no mood to cook, Alice had gone to Pop's to pick up some food for her and Charles. She was patiently waiting at the counter, when she felt the presence of someone who was coming to stand next to her.

When she glanced sideways, she noticed it was FP. She let out a sigh and rolled her eyes, making known to him that she was anything but happy about running into him.

"You're still in town, I see. I thought you said you were going to leave. That's what you're good at anyway." She said bitterly, trying to hit a sore spot.

After their last conversation she had figured that he had left Riverdale, but what was unknown to her was that FP's conversation with Charles is what made him stay, eventually.

"You can't tell me where to be and where not to be, Alice. You don't own the damn town." He said annoyed, waiting for Pop to come out so he could order something and leave right after. Today he wasn't in the mood to talk to her either.

"Then at least stop stalking me. It's creepy." She said, looking straight ahead instead of giving him any eye contact.

"Ever heard of a coincidence?" He arched his eyebrow as he looked her way.

Alice ignored him, mostly because she didn't have a comeback and secondly because she didn't want this to escalate. The faster they were out of there, the better.

As they waited next to one another uncomfortably, FP's eyes fell on a flyer on the counter. He noticed the big green serpent out of thousands. It said that there was a celebration for their Serpent Queen. The flyer was merely an open invitation.

"Having a party, tonight?" He questioned, waving the flyer her way.

This time, she looked at him.

"Yes. To celebrate that I've been Serpent Queen for ten years." She didn't even crack a smile.

"Impressive. Never thought you'd stay with the Serpents that long, let alone become a gang leader." FP said, his voice a lot calmer than a few minutes ago. He truly meant well, but Alice couldn't hear that.

"Not everyone has a better option, FP." She spat at him, feeling that he was purposely trying to throw in her face that she had been stuck here, while he lived his dream.

"I didn't even want to celebrate it anyway, Charles insisted. He organized the party." She told him, trying to take a breath and not get mad at him for his comment. After all, she did appreciate her son's effort.

"But you're not welcome so don't even think about showing up." She added instantly.

"Who said I wanted to come? Don't flatter yourself." FP shot back, as he let out a scoff. Alice remained silent.

"I talked to your son, by the way. Real nice kid." He said, after a moment of deafening silence.

"You think so?" She wondered, her voice soft this time.

"Yeah, he seems like a dreamer. Reminds me of you." He told her, the faintest of smiles on his lips.

"Dreams are not reality, FP." Alice said, as she casted her eyes away.

"You don't have to tell me, Alice. I know more about that than you think." FP said, trying his hardest not to let his eyes shimmer because of tears that were welling up.

"Your dream came true, FP. Don't pretend you know what it's like to be stuck in the same place." Alice said, scoffing a little.

He had everything, didn't he? He was rich, had a loft in New York, a wife and a successful career. What was there for him to complain about?