Living Without A Heart

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"See you later guys, I'll be home soon Jughead."

"Bye," the teens both replied before walking out. Alice walked into the bathroom and gripped the edge of the porcelain sink; a shaky breath escaped her lips. The next thing she knew, FP was pushing the door open and came to stand beside her facing the opposite wall. His brown eyes refused to leave her silver ones and she helplessly fought the urge not to look back. This however became very difficult when he placed a finger underneath her chin and made her look at him. His expression was determined yet soft and held so much love that it made her heart crumble in her chest.

"Ali, what was that about out there?"

"Like I said, just Hal being Hal. This is the ladies toilet you know?"

"I know I can't just come back here and start changing things but he isn't right for you..."

"How many times are we going to have the same conversation?"

"Until you stop choosing him..."

"FP..."

He swallowed and pulled her so she was stood in front of him. 10 centimetres apart. He could feel her shaky breath on his face and her eyes glistened with crystals of tears. He wrapped his arms around her and she collapsed on to his chest reluctantly - scared to get close to him. They remained in the embrace for a few minutes until they pulled out of the hug but still held on to each other.

"Ali I'm sorry-"

He was cut off by soft, trembling lips brushing his. He could taste the coffee on her breath. The same familiar butterflies erupted in their stomachs and he brought his hand up to wipe the tear from her face. Her delicate fingers cupped his chiseled cheekbones. They could have been clinging to each other for a minute or an hour for all they knew. Thoughts became irrelevant - the world became irrelevant. A buzzing sound came from her pocket and the screen lit up with the name: Chic  

Alice's phone continued to ringing and she was forced to answer. She ended the call quickly, promising to phone him back. FP searched her anxious face and guilty eyes.

"Who's Chic? Why does he make you so nervous?"

"I can't talk here, I'm sorry it's too much," She began to turn away but he caught her face in his hands. Her eyes brimmed with tears again causing him to frown. Lifting her chin up, once more he pressed their lips together. Despite the feeling of safety she got from the kiss, she pulled away and left the diner. Parked outside her house she wiped away the tear stains and lipstick smudges before heading inside the house.

"What was that at the diner? What gives you the right to control what I do and who I see?" Alice shouted at Hal. He rose from his seat and attempted to grab her arm but she slapped his cheek. A long list of swear words fell from her lips as anger bubbled in her veins...

"Mum what's going on?" Betty asked.
With an exhausted look on her face Alice answered "Nothing... nothing ever happens!"

Slamming the door shut behind him, Hal left Betty and Jughead staring at the woman in shock. 

"Mrs C, are you okay?"

"I- I need... space!" She shouted and stormed off to her room, taking a bottle of red wine with her. The teenagers looked at each other, brows furrowed with worry.

A few days later, it was FP's returning party as he had changed his mind about retiring as Serpent King. Alice burst through the doors of Pop's and jabbed her finger in his chest. "Don't even think about letting Betty wear a serpent jacket! I won't have her make the same mistakes we made!"

"They weren't all mistakes..." FP responded. "Come to the party - chaperone her! Say hi to some old friends,"

"I can't! Plus Hal would never come,"

"Well then leave him..." FP snapped at the man's name. He and Alice looked deep in each others eyes and she hesitated for a minute before stepping back slightly. "...At home,"

She turned around and sped out of the diner before leaning against the wall behind the building. Covering her face with her cold hands she fought the blush creeping up her face. After a long debate with herself - she decided to go with to the party with her daughter. She wore a sheer black top with a black bra, a leather skirt and tall black heels. Her hair was in teased curls and her lips were painted with a deep red colour.

Alice and Betty walked side by side into the Whyte Wyrm to be greated by Jughead. He kissed Betty and payed Alice a compliment - shocked by her Southside apparel.

"So where's the guest of honour?"

"He's waiting to make his big entrance - it's a shame he missed yours." A greying man spoke from behind the bar. "Hey Alice, the usual?"

"You know me, Hog eye. It's good to see you again!"

Betty and Jughead left Alice catching up with some of her old friends. Half an hour later, the ex-serpent was dancing in the crowd, which parted as the serpent king made his way to her - he marvelled at her sultry beauty.

"Wow... You look... You're stunning, Ali - I'm glad you decided to come."

"I couldn't leave my daughter unsupervised, could I?" She laughed to herself. Her eyes trailed over his body and absentmindedly bit her lip. "You look good..."

"Careful, that almost sounded like a compliment."

"Dance with me Forsythe,"

"I thought you didn't dance," He smirked placing his hands on her hips.

"Only with you," She smirked back and they danced late into the night. Betty, Jughead and Toni had left relatively early as they got bored of the adults. FP dragged the woman into the adjoining room where it was just the two of them. As soon as she knew they were alone, Alice planted a clumsy kiss on his lips before quickly pulling away. FP looked at her knowing how she felt about betraying Hal no matter how much she hated the man. However, she quickly dispelled all thoughts of her husband and kissed him again. Passionately. Hungrily.

The next afternoon, Alice arrived back at the Register, wearing her usual clothes, having removed her smudged makeup and washed away the scent of aftershave that had lingered on her. She had to get changed in the back of her car and hid her clothes in a bag in her boot. Hal rushed up to her the moment she arrived, anger evident on his features.

"Where have you been?"

"I got delayed in Greendale." Alice lied. "I would have called but my phone died." He tried to call her but her phone had died the night before. "What's up? Do you not trust me?"

"Were you out with Betty last night?"

"No."

"Good. So did you get your report done?" She nodded and poured herself a coffee. "I'm leaving."

"What?" She rolled her eyes and turned her gaze on him. 

"It's either Chic stays or I do."

"This again, seriously? Do what you want, Hal." She sighed and walked into the living room, flicking on the television and drinking her coffee. He gave Betty a look before shutting the door behind them. 

It was late in the evening and Alice and Chic had both been waiting for their family for an hour so they decided to start eating without them. "This is just typical of your sister, she gets caught up doing something and drops off the face of the Earth."

"And Hal? Where is he?"

Alice went to speak but a knock at the door interrupted her. "That'll be him now," She headed for the door and when she opened it, a bleach-blonde man stood on her doorstep. 

"Is Chic home?" Alice stared at him and then looked around at her son who had gone ghostly pale. The man burst through the door, pushing Alice into the wall. She confronted him, trying to get him to explain but then the man went limp and stumbled back onto the floor. A pool of crimson spread out from beneath his head and the colour in his skin drained along with it. She glanced over at Chic who was still holding the shattered lamp in his hand. 

"What the hell is going on? Who is this man?"

"He's a-- I'm need to get out of here!" Chic bolted for the door and left Alice standing over the body in her kitchen. Breathing heavily, she grabbed her rubber gloves, bleach and lots of rags before locking the front door.