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Maren stood uncomfortably next to her mother, tugging at the collar of her necked yellow dress hand picked by Jessica, of course. Jessica almost dropped dead when Ren asked to at least unbutton the top of the dress, but that was inappropriate. Pickens was already off to a terrible start and they had just arrived.
"You could at least look happy to be here" Aaron mumbled, biting into a candy apple as he rejoined the two, "Still ignoring me then?" Maren continued to stare blankly at the ground, rolling her eyes not so discretely as Aaron scoffed. "You can't keep this up forever Maren, eventually you'll see the truth" Aaron smiled sarcastically before walking away.
Ren let out a sigh of relief just as Jessica had stopped entertaining the masses. "Come Maren, Fred's about to start" Jessica beamed, socially she was thriving in this situation. She looped her arm around Marens and walked her towards the stage, the pair standing next to Kevin and Archie.
Ren smiled at them before turning to listen to Fred.
"Welcome Riverdale" Fred Andrews beamed, "on behalf of Lodge Industries and Andrews Construction, we are thrilled to kick things off with a new twist on an old favourite" He shifted positions, introducing Veronica and The Pussycats to the stage.
"Can you let go now?" Maren asked her mother quietly as she clapped, Jessica instantly dropped her arm, watching as Ren walked closer towards Kev and Archie.
The boys greeted her happily as Maren scanned the crowd, "Where's Jug, and the rest?" She whispered, still aware of her mother's eyes on her.
Archie and Kevin shrugged, both saying they didn't know where the usual Serpents were. This worried Maren Campbell, she knew they didn't agree with the ideology around Pickens, which confused her. But knowing they weren't around only meant trouble.
Veronica had began the performance, with the crowd listening intently when all of a sudden Maren was tugged harshly backwards. She almost screamed before realising it was her father, he held her and her mother close. Maren quickly realised the problem. Her eyes fell onto a certain Serpent. Her Sweet Pea, and the fellow Serpents had arrived, holding signs of protest with some, including Pea, having tapped their mouths shut. Her jaw dropped slightly as they got closer, the music cutting out almost instantly.
"Toni? Jughead? What the hell is going on?" Veronica asked through the microphone as Nathan held onto Marens arm tighter, as if to stop her from joining them.
Toni's face was solemn, causing Maren to feel empathy for her best friend, her hidden best friend.
"We're here representing the dead and the silenced" Toni spoke strongly through the megaphone, "Pickens Day is a lie, General Pickens slaughtered the Uktena tribe, my grandfathers family" Maren furrowed her brows at Toni's words, she glanced up to her father who held an unreadable expression, but she noticed the hint of guilt easily, "-And this land, the land that we're standing on, the land that will soon give way to a new Southside was stolen from them"
Maren took the pause in Toni's words to look to her parents once again, "Is it true?" She asked quietly, deep down she knew it was true but she didn't want to believe this part of unwritten history. Ren watched in horror as Jessica nodded simply and Nathan just gripped her tighter, almost causing pain in her arm before letting go and walking away quickly
"-But we can and we must honour them" Toni wasn't done, but she flinched as the one and only Nathan Campbell took to the stage.
"Hey folks, hi" Nathan smiled charmingly, waving his hands, "I think we can all be proud to live in a Riverdale where young people can stand up for justice, it's incredible to see as your town's Deputy" Marens jaw fell open again, embarrassed and hurt by her fathers actions, "Where a young woman can honour the legacy of her grandfather and where we can celebrate the living legacy of the Uktena who contribute to the rich tapestry that is Riverdale, that is the Southside"
Ren was almost going into shock as she met the eyes of Toni, she shook her head in an apologetic way before her eyes locked onto Sweet Peas. The boy was already staring at her, continuing to do so even as Jessica rehooked her arm around Marens.
"-So let's hear a round of applause for that, am i right?" Nathan laughed slightly as everyone, especially Aaron and the bulldogs cheered loudly and clapping soon erupted.
Nathan Campbell exited the stage, earning a clap on the back from Hiram Lodge as Jessica beamed in pride. He eventually rejoined his family, smirking cockily as others came over to rejoice in his words.
"That was incredible Nathan" Jessica smiled sweetly, "truly a way to bring us together"
"Thank you dear, i try my bes-"
"You're seriously proud of that?" Maren was stunned, only just snapping out of her thoughts.
"Maren" Jessica began, turning her head slightly as if to warn her that her words would have consequences.
"Dad you- you just silenced them" Ren spoke in a hushed tone but still harshly.
"No Maren, i gave everyone exactly what they needed to hear" Nathan shook her head, opening his mouth before Maren cut him off once more.
"No dad, you shut them down" She yanked her arm from Jessica's grasp, causing her mom to gasp a little, "that was embarrassing and disrespectful and-"
"Quiet" Nathan snapped, standing closer than before but still eyeing those around them, the less attention drawn the better, "I gave everyone what they wanted to hear whether i was being truthful or untruthful, it worked so be grateful that those pathetic snakes" He pointed his finger towards the group that was currently leaving, "didn't cause a full blown riot"
"You're unbelievable" Ren scoffed under her breath, running her hands through her hair before stepping back, "i can't do this right now"
Maren ignored the shouts of her father, she glanced back to see Jessica holding his arm to calm him but she kept walking faster and faster. She eventually reached the street, letting out breaths of air as she was finally alone.
"Renny?" Maren would've flinched but only two people call her that name, and by the sounds of the voice it was confirmed. She turned around to face a solemn looking Toni.
"T, i'm so sorry about what happened back there" Ren shook her head, praying Toni's opinion on her didn't change, "if i knew my dad would have said those i would've stop-"
Toni held her hand up, "Don't Maren, it's not your fault" She gave the girl a sad smile, "we didn't expect anything less than that"
"It's not fair Toni" Ren walked closer, slotting into the girls open arms, "I don't wanna end up like him"
The pink haired girl pulled back, looking down at her with shocked features, "You're nothing like him Renny, you never will be....you're one of us or at least our cheerleader"
Maren let out a laugh, shaking her head as she pulled back, "This means war doesn't it?" She was worried a little as she watched Toni's expression harden.
"If they start it" Toni looked off to the side as her friends joined them, "we'll finish it"
