"When you dance with the devil, you wait for the song to end."
In the gritty world of Riverdale, Neveah James, a spirited yet misunderstood student, finds herself expelled from the confines of Riverdale High. With no choice but to transfer to Souths...
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"Lightning strikes every time she moves."
CHAPTER ONE
The Southside of Riverdale sprawled out before Neveah like a totally different world, a rough contrast to the shiny, polished halls of Riverdale High. She walked down the graffiti-covered streets, feeling like an outsider in her own town, separated by invisible lines that no one ever crossed.
Her foster parents, Savana and Dale, were cool and all—they tried their best. But it never really felt like home, not like it did with her mom. Her dad had bailed when she was a kid, and the pain of losing her mom still hung heavy, no matter how much she tried to pretend otherwise.
As she stepped through the school gates, Neveah kept her head down, doing her best to blend in. She moved through the crowded halls like a ghost, unnoticed by most, and honestly, she preferred it that way. Silence had become her go-to defense mechanism, keeping the chaos of Riverdale at arm's length.
Her closest friend was Kevin Keller, son of the sheriff. Somehow, they just got each other—two people with secrets and pasts that weighed them down. When it was just the two of them, Neveah wasn't the icy, distant girl everyone thought she was. She was real, warm, and Kevin saw that part of her like no one else did.
Betty, Veronica, Archie, and Jughead were her squad too. They were like a second family, each with their own brand of drama that Neveah found herself wrapped up in more often than not. But honestly? She wouldn't trade it for anything.
She sank into her usual spot in the lounge, trying to ignore the feeling that the calm of her life was just the calm before the storm that was Riverdale. Something was always brewing in this town.
When the bell rang, snapping her out of her thoughts, Neveah grabbed her books and headed to class. Her friends were already deep in conversation about weekend plans and the latest gossip. Neveah? She was in her own head, memories of her parents still floating around.
Archie's voice cut through her haze. She blinked, looking up just in time to nod at something he said, though she had no clue what it was. Her mind drifted again, back to the mornings she used to have with her mom—memories she'd never get back.
After school, the gang split up, and Neveah headed home, crossing the invisible line between the shiny, perfect Northside and the gritty, lived-in Southside. The change was always so... intense. Riverdale was basically two towns in one, and Neveah was stuck in the middle, not really fitting in on either side.
When she reached her foster parents' house, she spotted Savana in the front yard, gardening like usual. Savana was sweet and always made Neveah feel cared for, but it wasn't the same as having her real family around.
"Hey, Neveah! How was school?" Savana called, wiping dirt from her hands with a smile.
Neveah forced a smile back. "Same old, same old, Sav. Nothing exciting."
"Dinner's almost ready!" Savana replied cheerfully.
"Thanks," Neveah mumbled, giving her a quick hug before retreating to her room.
Her room was her safe place, where she could actually be herself. The walls were covered with posters of her favorite bands, giving it a messy, moody vibe. Fake vines hung from the ceiling, mixing with the string lights that added just enough glow to make everything feel cozy. Her record player sat in the corner, and a stack of vinyls was neatly arranged nearby—music was everything to her.
Neveah plopped down on her bed and threw on a record, letting the music drown out the noise in her head. This was the only place where she didn't have to worry about fitting in or the craziness of Riverdale. Here, in her room, she could just exist.
