Thinking 'Bout You- SP 3 ✔️

Chapter 55- Prom Night

"Rory? Archie?" I hear mom call from the bottom of the stairs. I jump out of my vanity chair where I'm brushing my hair before school. Pea is lying across my bed watching TV
"Mom your here!" I yell running down the stairs with Vegas and Hot Dog behind me. Archie follows not far behind me. She pulls me into a hug then Archie joins
"I would have picked you up from the airport, but dad took his truck " I hear foot steps walk across the landing
"That's fine. I took an Uber. Have you had breakfast yet?"
"Hi Mrs Andrews" Pea says coming down the stairs
"Hello Sweet Pea. Did your dad let him stop the night?" mom asks me
"No, he's taking me to school but got here early"
"Well in that case then shall we all go to Pops, my treat?"
"Can we go for dinner instead? I was gonna head to the gym before school starts"
"Yeah your dad mentioned that you'd taken up boxing. Said you were pretty serious about it"
"I am, yeah. That's not why you came is it? to talk me out of it"
"Not at all. Things were slow in Chicago, and I just wanted to spend some time with my children, that's all. Also thought Rory might like me to come with her dress shopping for prom"
"I'd love that mom thank you"
"Fantastic. So Sweet Pea will you join us for dinner tonight at Pops?" mom asks Pea
"I'd love to thank you"

"Hi" I jump as Cheryl is suddenly stood at my locker
"Cheryl you made me jump outta my skin"
"Sorry. Now as my bestie..."
"I'm still your best friend?" I raise an eyebrow looking at her
"Of course why wouldn't you be?"
"Oh I don't, because of the Farm?"
"Don't be silly" Cheryl smiles as if nothings wrong "now as I was saying, as your my bestie you aren't allowed to run for prom queen"
"And why is that Cher?"
"Because Toni and I are. The first openly gay couple to win prom queen and queen. Also you must vote for us. Ok ciao" and with that she starts to walk off but quickly turns around "oh and don't forget to buy your tickets later on"
"Thanks Cher... I think" I shake my head and continue with putting my books away in my locker
"Hey gorgeous" I feel Pea wrap is arms around my waist making me smile
"Hey handsome"
"What was Cheryl talking to you about?" he lets go and leans on the locker next to mine
"Just about prom and how we aren't allowed to campaign against her and Toni because I'm her 'bestie' and then she said for us to buy our tickets later"
"Bestie? thought the Farm didn't let you have best friends outside of them" Pea looks down a little sad. He's lost his best friends to the Farm at least I've still got some of mine
"Hey. You ok?" I close my locker and look at Pea
"Yeah just miss Fangs and Toni"
"It won't last forever Pea. Betty is figuring out what's going on and she will stop it"
"What is they're so brainwashed though that they won't come back?"
"Then" I place my hand in a comforting manner on to his crossed arms "we help them. Things will be ok again, promise" I kiss his cheek then take his and and we walk to the student lounge where the others are.

A few days later mom helped me buy a beautiful black ball gown that puffs out and comes off at the shoulders. Right now I'm sat in our old Serpents meeting class room
"Serpents, Poisons, we have a proposition for you" Jughead starts but is soon cut off by a Pretty Poison member, Peaches
"The Pretty Poisons don't take orders from you"
"Please, Peaches, we're talking about a Prom Night Truce , so that we can all work together
to catch the Gargoyle King"
"That's still going on?" I frown
"Unfortunately yes Rory it is so what do you say Poisons"
"We can get behind that" Peaches smirks
"During prom, groups of you will be stationed at every entrance. Once the announcement for Prom Queen begins, you guys are gonna bar anyone from exiting the gym. Whoever's cosplaying as the Gargoyle King is gonna be there and its our one shot at nabbing him"
"Will he be in costume?" Peaches again speaks
"Maybe, maybe not. At the minimum,
he'll have some sort of kingly signifier, like a crown, or antlers, and the like. He's gonna make his move after Betty is crowned prom queen"
"Wait Betty is going to be prom queen?" I ask
"Yeah. Apparently the Farm don't allow their members to be prom king or queen. So Cheryl and Toni are out of the running. Let's end this nightmare" Betty sighs.

Finally prom night arrives Pea and I have our photo taken together. We keep an eye on Jug and Betty, dancing close by. After a few dances I watch as Betty goes to the punch bowl
"You ever wonder what's gonna happen after high school?" I ask Pea
"Of course. You'll probably go to collage for something smart, I'll probably end up at community college close by and we will get out of this awful town"
"Really?" I ask smiling
"Definitely" Pea leans down and kisses my lips when we get interrupted by one of our teacher speaking into the microphone
"Good evening, Riverdale Renaissance revelers. At long last, it's time to announce this year's court"
"Where's Betty?" I ask looking round
"Fuck" Pea cusses under his breath
"And the winner of prom queen, is Betty Cooper" we all look around for her while clapping
"Shit where is she?" I nervously say as I begin panicking
"Is Betty here?" Jug walks over to Pea and I
"Where did she go?" Jug asks
"I.... I don't know she was getting a drink then she was gone. I'll go and check the bathroom" I say leaving Peas side and walk out the hallway. As I continue walking I notice how dark it is and when I enter the bathroom there's red writing all over the walls. That's when I realise somethings wrong. I run back to the face to tell Jughead and all of us Serpents and Pretty Poisons go looking for Betty. Thankfully Jug finds her before she get hurt.

"It's horrible, What happened at the dance" mom says as Archie and I sit at the kitchen table for breakfast
I can't believe we were all in the gym while that was going on. Well all of us except the Serpents and Pretty Poisons. You ok Rory?"
"Yeah. Nothing happened, but Betty... god she must have been so scared" mom then sighs
"I'm gonna stay in Riverdale a little longer. I don't want either of you alone while your dad's away"
"That's great" I smile at mom
"I'm gonna go for a run, if that's cool"
Archie gets up from his seat
"You're really committed to this, aren't you, to boxing?"
"Well... I tried music, I tried football"
"This is your path. I want to support it and you, as long as you do it right. Will you help me convince dad?"
"Sure" mom smiles at Archie. He smiles back and walks out of the door ready for his his run
"Now he's found his calling. What's yours? you were amazing in the musical..."
"No mom that was a one off. It was fun but not 'my calling'. I don't know I've always liked the idea of being a teacher or a lawyer like you"
"You'd make an amazing teacher or lawyer, but don't be a lawyer just because I'm one. Make your own decisions and choices" mom kisses my head and I continue to eat my food.