The Art Of Us

9 • The Missing Piece

It was a busy night in the Wyrm when FP came back after having a quick bite at Pop's. After all these years it still was the best fast food he had ever tasted. He hadn't realized how much he had missed it until he had his first burger there after sixteen years. It tasted like home.

Another place that felt like home as well was the bar he had just walked into. It was good to see that it was still loved as much as they did back then. People were dancing, playing darts or pool or simply just chatting away in a booth.

FP however, sat down at the bar, where Alice was serving customers. She smiled when she saw that he had come in. He didn't really blend it with his dress shirt and expensive tailored pants, but for some reason it was amusing to her. As if he was on his way to his old self, but his fashion was just a little behind schedule.

"Hey, is it okay if I get a drink? If you would like me to go, just say the word." He said, not wanting to overstep after they had gotten so close the night before.

"Oh, you're suddenly going to listen to me? That's new." Alice said sarcastically, with a grin on her face to show him that she was teasing.

"You're right, I am staying anyway. It's your own fault, you know you make great cocktails." He told her, grinning too. She had made him one after the attempted robbery and ever since he had been obsessed.

"Do you want the little parasol?" Alice quirked her eyebrow.

"I can see in your eyes that you're trying to shame me. But yeah, gimme one." FP smirked.

While she made his drink, FP's phone went off time after time. She eyed him, trying to see why he was purposely ignoring it, but he wasn't picking up on the question in her eyes.

"Your phone rang ten times already. Shouldn't you pick up?" She asked him, wondering who he could be ignoring when it seemed important.

"It's either my wife or my publisher, and I don't want to talk to either of them." FP said plainly, before taking a long chug from his drink.

"FP, what is going on?" Alice asked him, this time more straight forward.

He looked at her and saw genuine concern in her eyes, which is why he realized it was time to be completely honest with her about why he was in Riverdale and why he can't finish his work. She deserved to know that, he believed.

"I told you that I didn't know how to finish my story, right?" He asked, which was followed by a confirming nod from Alice.

"Well, they're pushing me to give them the ending. It has been a long time since I've given them anything and they are getting anxious. There are high expectations and I just... can't live up to that." He summed up, with a defeated expression on his face.

"You have been a success, why is this last one so hard for you?" She wondered.

"Because it's not just a fictional story, it is..." FP was about to finish his sentence, when Fred came walking their way.

"Hey, FP! You're here again!" He chirped happily, before sitting down next to his former friend.

"Never thought I'd see you in the Wyrm, Fred." FP smiled. It wasn't really usual for Norhtsiders to come to a Southside bar.

"When your best friend is Serpent Queen, you don't have much of a choice. It's a good way to bond with the Southside too. Since Riverdale has a Northside mayor, they are rightfully critical of all decisions that I make." He explained, giving him a small smile.

"You're doing a great job, Fred. Don't be so modest all the time." Alice told him, smirking a little. He had been the best mayor the town ever had, and yet Fred had still trouble giving himself credit for that.