The Art Of Us

23 • You And Me Against The World

"So, what do you think?"

Alice had handed over the papers to FP, where she had written down all that she wanted to achieve in their town. It were still only words, but it was supposed to change to lives for women in Riverdale.

"Your plans sound great, Alice. This might mean more to Hal's survivors and every other woman in Riverdale than you know." FP had read every single thing, feeling more and more proud every single day.

"I hope it will. We need to stick together, don't you think? I want to start the community that I missed so much." Alice's eyes sparked with hope. FP wished for that to never vanish.

"Look, Fred is helping me searching for a venue like the Wyrm for us to come together. We hope we can get this one." She took another map and showed him the pictures of what once used to be a club, which she wanted to turn into a sweet cafe.

"An own place, that's amazing! Is there anything I could help with?" FP asked, wanting to be able to contribute to what she wished to achieve.

"Actually there is..." Alice nervously bit her bottom lip. She was afraid to ask him, considering how touchy this subject was to him.

"I've been to Waldo Wheaterbee, principal at Riverdale High to ask him about any classes in extension of the biology and social classes about sexuality, with a main focus on sexual harassment and consent."

"He agreed, on the premises that first we come up with a plan to organize a day at the school on Sex Ed week." Alice told him.

"But what I can do for that?" FP asked confused. He didn't really consider himself a teacher.

"I hope you will come to speak, too. I don't want this program just to be about my own expierence." She said, soft but quietly.

"I know that I am asking a lot from you, but will you please think about?" She took his hand into her own, but he quickly took it back.

"I never want to think about Gladys again." FP said, the crack in his voice betraying how it still hurt him.

"Okay. That's fine, don't worry about it." Alice said softly, giving him a sweet smile to tell him that it was more than fine.

"Sorry." He mumbled.

"You don't have to apologize. I am sorry I brought it up." She said.

"But... if you need some help with renovating the veneu, you know I am good at that." FP dared to look at her again.

"I could use your muscles." Alice smiled back at him. She knew he had her back in any way that he possibly could.

**

It had been some time since FP last called his best friend. There had happened so many life changing things, that he could barely find the right words to explain it all.

All he knew was that he couldn't wait to see her again and tell her every single thing that had happened to him and this town during his stay. To a stranger it might sound unbelievable, but Hermione knew he would never lie to her.

"Still enjoying yourself in Riverdale? We're missing you out here." Hermione smiled at the other side of the line. She was glad FP called her.

"You missed a lot, Mione. You have no idea." FP said, shaking his head a little in disbelief.

Where to start? The fact that he had a son? That Fred and Alice never used to date? That his wife tried to murder him? That Hal Cooper was a creep just like they thought in high school?

"Tell me, juicy gossip?" Hermione teased, not having any clue what FP was about to reveal.

"Sorta, yeah. I have a son." He said, smiling brightly. He had never said those words out loud to anyone. A son. He was a father.