Desperado

Chapter Seven

The Last Picture Show 

"The drive-in closing is just one nail in the coffin that is Riverdale. No, forget Riverdale. In the coffin of the American dream. As the godfather of indie cinema, Quentin Tarantino likes to say-"

"Please, God, no more Quentin Tarantino references." Kevin says making me snort.

I notice Betty was staring down. What was she thinking?

"What, I'm pissed. And not host about losing my job. The Twilight drive-in should mean something to us. People should be trying to save it." Jughead says and I stare at my lemonade.

If he knew I had a hand in this he would hate me. I didn't know that was where he worked. FP must have known. That explains why he didn't want it to happen. That why he didn't want to take the deal. Hell, it's better that way.

I look to Jughead in question as they talk. Why hadn't he showed up while I was there? Did he stay with someone else or did he live by himself or maybe he was with his mom. But whenever I'm there... Jughead isn't. FP must tell him when to show up.

"Anonymous buyer? What do they have to hide? No one cares."

"Clearly some people do." I speak for the first time this night.

"Also, you guys should come to closing night. I'm thinking American Graffiti or is that too obvious?"

"I vote for anything starring Audrey Hepburn."

I roll my eyes at Roni suggestion.

"Or The Talented Mr. Ripley."

"Godfather if you have it." I state.

Hell, it's a classic and everyone loves The Godfather.

"Betty, your choices?" Kevin ask her.

Betty looks up at us seeming confused.

"Everything okay, B?" Roni ask.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm just thinking. Um... maybe Rebel Without a Cause?"

Betty and Jughead look to each other and snicker. I raise an eyebrow at this. Strange are they flirting?

"Here you go, kids."

"Thanks, mom." Roni and I say smiling at her.

Mom touches my hair and smiles to me. I watch my mom seeing her go to Cheryl table. She reaches for the money but Cheryl slams her hand on the table. Oh hell no.

"Be sure to put all that cash in the register. You are a Lodge, after all." I stand telling Roni to stay as I make my way toward them. "And Lodges are known to have sticky fingers."

"Excuse me, Cheryl." I state pissed at hearing her say this.

"Honey, I got this." My mom states holding up her finger to me. "Cheryl, I went to school with your mother. She didn't know the difference between having money and having class, either."

My mom walks off and I smirk before tilting my head to Cheryl. "Seems that runs in your family."

She glares at me as I smirk before turning and leaving back to my table. I sit down and pick up some fries. "Now, that's an odd combo of people."

"I'll be right back."

"No, Betty. No, don't."

Betty leaves and goes toward Archie.

"What was that about?"

We watch as they go outside and Jughead looks unsettled and nervous. "What's happening out here? Is it about me?"