The Only Beanie - Book 4 (Riverdale Season 4/5)

In Memoriam - Part 1

Normally my author's note is at the bottom, but I wanted to say this first. This was a hard episode to write and the next chapter is the same. I know it's a sad way to start this book, but it wouldn't be right to me to leave this episode out. However, I understand that death and grief can be a trigger for people or you may not be in a place mentally to read this chapter and the next. Either way, I completely understand.

The school year ended and life seemed to become normal again. Gryphons and Gargoyles had been quickly forgotten, the Farm had mostly disappeared, and the town was getting ready for the parade for the fourth of July that Pop's sponsored. The town was quiet, allowing everyone to return to their normal lives.

"Oh, I win again, Princess."

"Again is very subjective," Aminity said as she stood up straight from where she had been leaning over the pool table. "I won most of the games today, lest you forget."

"Only by one."

"Still won," she smirked before going and hanging up her cue.

"Not gonna give me a chance to tie?"

"Normally I would, just to see you lose again," he laughed at her, "but I promised to meet Jughead, Archie, Betty, and Veronica at Pop's to keep working on the floats for the parade."

"First parade in three years."

"Gotta make it special."

"Well, have fun with that," he sighed as he sat down in one of the seats in the Serpent Den. "I'm gonna enjoy my time here in the air conditioning." She rolled her eyes. "I knew you'd be jealous."

"I'm leaving now," she told him, picking up her keys.

"Don't die of heatstroke."

"Don't die of boredom," she called back before the door closed behind her and she got onto her motorcycle, sliding on her helmet. She started the engine, riding through Riverdale and enjoying the breeze on her skin before pulling into Pop's parking lot. She got off the bike, putting her helmet on the handlebars before walking over to her friends and brother.

"Nice of you to finally join us."

"I'm here when Betty told me to be," she defended herself as she picked up a paintbrush.

Jughead rolled his eyes before smiling. "Who won?"

"Eight to seven, me."

"That's my girl," he smiled before going back to work with Archie as they built framing and the girls painted the giant milkshake, laughing and talking about any little thing, music playing from the radio in the background. They all looked over as a red car pulled into the parking lot, Cheryl getting out.

"Well, well, well," she closed her door. "Stop the presses. The Riverdale Rag finally reported a story accurately. Not only is there going to be some hideous janky parade sneaking its way through town, you five are the architects of this outrage."

"What's your problem, Cheryl?"

"My problem, Veronica, is that the fourth of July is a day of tragedy for Riverdale, not celebration. Or have you forgotten what happened to my poor brother, Jason?"

"Cheryl, Riverdale hasn't held a parade out of respect for what happened to your brother in... like, years. I think it's time."

"I mean," Jughead sighed after his girlfriend, "you don't have to come."

"Oh, I'll be there, Insufferable Smurf. Front and center with a sign of protest in one hand and horn of compressed air to silence any revelry in the other." She turned and got back into her car, glaring at them before driving off.