Darlin' ~ FP Jones

Tomorrow Never Came

The town of Riverdale was in an uproar. Polly Cooper was missing, accused of murder, and pregnant with a dead boy's baby. The feuding Coopers and Blossoms were at each other's throats, parents pitted against one another, daughter verses daughter. Dead son verses the town.

Harper laid on the couch watching the news broadcast as Mrs. Cooper announced Polly's pregnant on county wide news. She raised her eyebrows at the woman's dramatics and wondered how FP could have ever liked her. She thought about that so often, the idea that FP loved other women, but he only loved one girl. His girl. His Harper.

"Did you know she was pregnant?" Her mother asked from beside her on the couch. Harper glanced over startled, she had forgotten her mom was there.

"I didn't." Lie. Her cheeks didn't turn red when she lied anymore, she was used to it by now.

"I hope they find the poor girl, she's probably out freezing somewhere. She was a good friend to you, wasn't she?"

"She was." Harper whispered, guilt crept inside her a little, remembering how quickly she forgot about Polly's friendship once she and FP became closer. She imagined Polly, shivering alone without a friend to turn to; without Harper to turn to.

"Harper," Her mom said quietly, "You aren't hiding Polly here, right?" She asked. Harper looked at her mom and laughed slightly.

"No mom! I mean I wish I was because then I'd know she was safe, but no!" She smiled at her mom's sigh of relief.

"Okay good, I don't want to deal with Alice Cooper. She is my boss after all." She smiles and so did Harper. She had not spent much time with her mom in the recent weeks, and the time they had begun to spend together brightened her spirits slightly.

Suddenly her phone rang from the table in front of her, she frowned, knowing FP was working. She grabbed it and read the caller I.D.

"Betty?" She said into the receiver.

"Harper! I found Polly!" Harper breathed a sigh of relief into the phone.

"Thank God." She said.

"We are at the Lodge's, come see her now!" She could hear Betty's relief.

"The Lodge's?" Harper rolled her eyes, pulling on her shoes trying to not let her annoyance with Veronica to get in the way.

"Yes! See you soon, okay?" Betty hung up.

"Mom, I have to run out okay?" She smiled at her mom and she nodded. She grabbed her car keys and trotted down her front steps to her car.

When she arrived at the Lodge's apartment door, she took a deep breath and knocked, praying to God Polly didn't hate her. The door was opened by an older woman with a glass of red wine in her hand.

"You must be Harper Stratford?" Mrs. Lodge smirked a very Veronica smirk. Harper nodded.

"Mrs. Lodge?" She shook the woman's hand before entering the apartment.

"How could you tell? Ronnie and I do look like sisters," Her voice oozed charm, "Polly and the girls are in the living room." Harper walked forward and looked into the living room.

"Harper?" Polly's smile filled up the room. Harper let tears spring to her eyes.

"Pol!" Harper ran to her friend and gathered her into a tight hug, both girls were crying.

"Thank God you're alright." Harper whispered. When they pulled apart Harper looked down at her friend's very pregnant belly. Polly smiled and put a hand gently on her stomach.

"I'm pregnant, Harp." Harper blinked back tears and smiled at her friend, before some guilt smothered her.

"Look, Polly, I need to say... I'm sorry I wasn't a better friend to you, I – I let bullshit feelings get in the way and I'm so sorry for that Pol. You were the best friend I ever had, and I was a terrible friend to you. Forgive me?" Harper looked hopefully at Polly in front of her, the girls smile hadn't left her face.

"Harper, of course." She said, pulling the girl back into another hug.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Harper pulled up in front of FP's trailer that same night, she got out of the car and felt the cold Riverdale wind hit her cheeks. She walked up his rickety steps and knocked on the door. A very drunk and disheveled FP answered the door.

"Haaaarper." He slurred, smiling and pulling her inside. She frowned slightly, smelling the alcohol which he reeked of. She yelped slightly when he squeezed her too tight.

"S-sorryy d-darlin." FP giggled. She frowned now. She had been under the impression that FP would be working with Fred more lately, thus getting drunk less.

"FP, did you work today?" She asked, he frowned now, his entire demeanor changed. He turned and grabbed a half empty beer bottle off the counter.

"No, I don't wanna work for that Freddy Andrews. I don't need to stoop to him." He growled, Harper leaned against the door frame and watched him stumble around the living room.

"FP, you promised Jug." She said, he whirled around an anger in his eyes.

"I do not stoop! Do you know who I am? And who are you to tell me about my goddamn son." He seethed, and the girl jumped and for perhaps the first time she was afraid.

"What about Jughead, don't you ever consider that poor boy?" She yelled back, angry at him as he growled and grumbled to himself.

"Oh please. Poor boy. If you have so much fuckin' pity for him, get the fuck out and be with him instead!" His voice boomed, he threw the beer bottle at the wall next to Harper and it shattered. She felt droplets on her skin. The girl turned on her heel and ran out the door, tears filling her eyes and fear filling her heart.