The Serpent Queen

1.2

"Many of you are lucky enough to have known my brother personally. Each and every day one of you meant the world to Jason. I loved my brother. He was and always will be my soulmate. So I speak with the confidence only a twin could have... Jason wouldn't want us to send the year mourning. Jason would want us to move on with our lives. This is why I've asked the school board not to cancel the back-to-school semi-formal. But rather, to let us use it as a way to heal collectively, and celebrate my brothers too, too short life on this mortal coil. Thank you all." Cheryl announced to the whole school.

Cali began to applaud, as her speech came to a close. Even though she was taught to hate the horrible Blossom family, she couldn't help but feel bad for Cheryl.

***

As Cali began to exit the auditorium, she noticed her brother socializing with the football team.

Callista found this suspicious, so she walked over to him.

"Hey, Simon. Can I talk to you for a sec?" She asked.

"Uh, yeah." He replied, as Cali pulled him into a vacant corner.

"What's been up with you lately? Skipping dinner, and talking to the football team? Those are two things I have never seen you do in the 16 years that I've known you."

"Cali... you need to stop worrying about me. I know we've basically lost Mom, but, I'm not going anywhere." Simon said, pulling her into a hug.

"I guess your right. All this mom stuff is getting to my head." She smiled. 

"I'll see you later Cali. Remember exactly at 3:15. No interacting with Betty or Archie or even Jughead." He smiled.

"Whatever." Cali sighed.

***

The iconic group sat at their lunch table, listening to Archie's music.

"Can I join?" A familiar voice asked.

"Yeah," Betty said, as Veronica sat with the group.

"What are we doing?" Veronica asked.

"Listening to Archies songs." Betty smiled.

"I thought we were going to have to pretend to like it, but it's actually good," Kev said.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm pretending." Cali laughed.

"Thanks, Cali." Archie smiled fakely.

"I'm kidding, Arch they're great." Cali smiled.

"Wait, that was you singing?" Veronica asked. "Something you wrote."

"It's rough." Archie sighed.

"No, it's  great." Betty smiled.

"It's incredible, actually, the little snippet I heard. Is that your thing? Music?" Veronica smirked. "Are you doing something with that?"

Betty looked at Veronica sadly, as Cali and Kevin exchanged awkward glances.

"Yeah, that's the plan. So how's your first day going? Good?" Archie asked.

"Not to be a complete narcissist, but I thought people would be more..." Veronica began.

"Obsessed with you?" Kevin interrupted. "Any other year, you'd be trending number one, for sure. This year though, it's all about Cheryl trying to win the best-supporting psyco, Oscar for her role as Riverdale High's bereaved Red Widow." 

"Hey, I should go. I got that meeting with Grundy and then football tryouts, so." Archie said, standing up.

"You play football, too? What don't you do?" Veronica quipped, her eyes shooting from Archie to Betty.