No Turning Back [Archie Andrews]

THREE

Lily unplugged the earbud from her ear and looked from Betty to Archie. "I like it. It's got a nice tune." She looked at Betty. At that point, they heard a voice. "What are we doing?" Everyone turned their heads to see Veronica with her tray. "Listening to one of Archie's songs." Veronica sat down, and Kevin immediately started talking. "I thought we were going to have to pretend to like it, but it's actually really good." Lily glared at Kevin.

Veronica looked at Archie. "Wait, that was you singing? Something you wrote?" Archie nodded. "It's rough." Betty smiled. "No, it's great." Lily nodded, and she looked at Veronica. "It's incredible, actually, the little snippet I hears. Is that your thing? Music? Are you doing something with that?" Archie nodded. "That's the plan."

After a little silence, Lily spoke up. "So, Veronica, how's your first day?" Veronica shrugged. "Not to be a complete narcissist, but I thought people would be more-" Kevin cut her off. "Obsessed with you?" Veronica smiled. "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 Psycho Oscar for her role as Riverdale High's bereaved Red Widow." Lily turned her head to see Cheryl walking over. Archie noticed this as well. He started packing up his things.

"Hey, I should go. I got that meeting with Grundy, and then football tryouts, so..." He got up to leave, leaving Veronica shocked. "You play football too? What don't you do?" As soon as Archie left, Lily turned to Veronica. "He's like Riverdale's very own Troy Bolton." Veronica nodded.

Kevin looked at Veronica. "Before you ask, Blue Jasmine, no she has not invited Archie to the dance yet." Betty looked at Kevin. "Not yet, and don't talk about Archie." She sat back as Cheryl walked over, her hands on her hips. "The two Lodge sisters are reunited, I'd heard whisperings." She looked at Veronica, then Lily, then Betty. "I'm Cheryl Blossom, may I sit? Betty do you mind?" Betty shook her head and moved over. Cheryl sat down and smiled.

"So, what are you four hens gossiping about? Archie's Efron-esque emerge from the chrysalis of puberty?" Lily chuckled. "Extracurriculars." Veronica cut in. "Weatherbee wants me to sign up for a few." Cheryl pushed some of her red hair behind her shoulder. "Cheer-leading. You must. I'm senior captain of the River Vixens. Your sister is already on the team." Veronica looked over at Lily, who shrugged.

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Is cheerleading still a thing?" Cheryl narrowed her eyes at Kevin. "Is being the gay best friend still a thing?" She sighed. "Some say it's retro, I say it's eternal and iconic." Lily looked at Veronica. "You used to do cheerleading, didn't you?" Veronica nodded. "At Spence, I sat at the top of the Elite's pyramid." Cheryl and Lily looked at each other, and smiled.

Veronica looked at Betty. "Betty, you're trying out, too." Cheryl smiled, and Lily sighed. She knew that Cheryl wasn't happy with the idea of Betty being a River Vixen. "Of course, anyone's welcome to try out, but Betty's already got so much on her plate right now, and being a River Vixens kind of a full time thing..." Lily cut in, trying to make Betty feel better. "But all are welcome." Cheryl smiled. "Follow me on Twitter, and I'll do the same. My handle is cherylbombshell." She walked away, and Lily went back to eating her food.