Issues ▷ Reggie Mantle

ZERO

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ZERO; THE TOWN WITH PEP!

     THE TOWN OF RIVERDALE has always been Kalani's home. Quiet and sullen as it appeared — it was all she had ever known. Perhaps she was a tad biased; after all, Kalani grew up with no quarrels or misgivings. Archie Andrews made sure no one ever spoke ill of her and Betty Cooper always radiated sunshine around Kalani.

     Following a misguided elation and turbulent relationship, Kalani broke up with Archie Andrews by the end of their freshman year. Their love was short lived for it only lasted mere months before it collapsed. The boy was equally heartbroken and confused, not understanding what he had done wrong to make Kalani lose all faith in him. She had not seen Archie or Betty all summer, and she tried her best to make amends with her former partner, but he was having none of it.

     Every time Kalani set a date for them to meet at Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe, a local diner, Archie would continuously cancel, stating he made other plans. She could sense in his tone that he was bitter over Kalani's notion that she couldn't tell Archie why she had broken up with him in the first place. Consequently, when Kalani would call up Betty to see what she was doing, her plans were with Archie.

     Kalani felt like she had become the ultimate enemy. Archie no longer wanted to be a part of her life, but she had known him for as long as she could remember. It wasn't her fault that Archie and her weren't meant to be. Nonetheless, she still needed her best friend by her side. She was left with nothing but her cousin, Lucas, who was usually off kissing another guy or girl. His catastrophic social schedule held no place for Kalani.

     Kalani first stopped smiling when she heard of Jason Blossom's death. She didn't know the football player well, but the most awful thing a high school can bounce back from is someone's death. Kalani suddenly felt trapped underneath her own weight, as if she couldn't breathe.

     Her whole life had been filled with nothing but sunshine and rainbows. She had never experienced something so severe.

     Her haunting thoughts led her to the front door of her ex-boyfriend — a person now estranged from Kalani's life.

     "Archie."

     He knew that voice. He fell asleep listening to that voice on the phone. He strummed his guitar while that voice belted out chords at the top of her lungs. His body went stiff.

     "Kal."

     The last time he had seen Kalani Rose, she was a beautiful, sparkling, and radiant teenager with a flower in her hair and a smile painted upon her lips. The Kalani standing before him now was a faded reflection of his Kalani so many months ago.

     "Jason's dead. Jason died in July and you haven't spoken to me for months."

     Archie visibly flinched at the harshness of her tone. His day with Geraldine Grundy on the Fourth of July suddenly popped into his mind, and he tried his best to shake it out. He had gone to extreme measures just to ensure Kalani was far from his desires that summer.

     "Kal, I'm sorry. I've just been-"

     Kalani scoffed, interrupting him. "Preoccupied?" She scanned him, noting how much he had grown in the past few months. His muscles were clearly showing through the fabric of his white shirt. "The first day of sophomore year is tomorrow, Archie. How long are you planning to ignore me? Do you know how long we've known each other? We grew up together. We didn't just grow from children to teenagers, but we experienced everything with one another. I learned to find my voice with you. I have never denied any feelings I had with you until they faded. Love fades, Archie. Friendship is the only thing that can last until the end of time and even then, I still wouldn't count on you."

     Kalani descended from the Andrews household, head held high. Archie was distinctly calling out her name before she left him behind, allowing him to feel guilty about his careless actions.

i'd like to personally thank riverdale for filling up my favorite tv show spot while teen wolf is wrapping up their final season