No Turning Back [Archie Andrews]

NINE

Lily and Veronica were in Pop's later that day. Lily was sitting in a booth, stirring her chocolate milkshake silently, and Veronica was speaking with Hermione. "You're doing great, Mom. Better than me this week." Hermione sighed. "Yeah, we're surviving, Ronnie, by our wits, because that's what we Lodge women do. If Dad could see us now." Veronica chuckled. "He'd say you look stunning in that new uniform." Hermione gushed. "I'm going for this Joan Crawford, Mildred Pierce thing. Is it working?" Veronica smiled. "Definitely."

The door opened, and Archie walked in. He looked over at Lily, who was watching the whole thing, and then walked towards Hermione. "And who might this heartbreaker be?" Lily looked towards them, nervously. "I'm picking up an order for Andrews." Lily stood up. "Oh, you're Fred's son? You're as handsome as your father was." Veronica sighed. "I'll see you at home, Mom." She turned to leave, but Hermione interrupted her. "Uh, wait. I'm sure Archie would happily escort you." As Archie and Veronica left, Reggie walked in.

"Is, uh, Betty still mad at you?" Archie sighed. "We're back to no texting. What about you?" Veronica shrugged. "I'm back to being the shallow, toxic, rich bitch who ruins everything in her path. And Lily has been kind of distraught since she snapped at Betty. I haven't seen her this upset since she left New York." Archie nodded.

"Betty and I have been next-door neighbors since we were four. We've always gone to the same school, been in the same class. I remember in the second grade, I was having trouble reading, and my teacher, Mrs. Gribrock, told my mom and dad that I should stay back a year, to get caught up. Betty was so against us not being in the same grade that she took it upon herself to tutor me every single day." Veronica raised an eyebrow. "In the second grade?" Archie nodded.

"Anyway, when I passed, thanks to Betty, I kissed her and I asked her to marry me. She was like, 'Oh, little Archie, we're too young. Ask me when we're 18 and I'll say yes.'" Veronica chuckled, while Archie continued. "And when Lily showed up, Betty welcomed her with open arms." He sighed. "I hate that I hurt her."

Meanwhile in Pop's, Reggie sat down next to Lily, and she turned to him with tears in her eyes. "Lily, what's wrong?" She wiped the tears from her eyes. "I think I just lost one of my best friends." She started to cry, and Reggie gave her a hug. "Shh, everything's going to be okay." She smiled. "What did I do to deserve you?" She looked at her watch and wiped her eyes. "We should go. We've got the game tonight." Reggie nodded. "Yeah, we should." They got up to leave.

At the game, Lily pulled her hair up into a bun, her go-to hairstyle. She looked over at Betty and Veronica, and sighed. She knew Betty might never forgive her. She looked over at Mayor McCoy, who was giving the announcements.

"Thank you, Principal Weatherbee. It is heartening to see so many of you here, even in weather like this. But a lack of heart and school spirit has never been the Riverdale way.
Tonight's pep rally isn't like any other we've had in the past. And we shouldn't pretend that it is. Which is why I would like to dedicate this evening to the memory of one of our brightest. Jason Blossom. We're with him tonight. Now please, join me in welcoming to the field our very own River Vixens, and their special guest stars, my daughter, Josie and her Pussycats!" Lily sighed, and got in position.

As the song went on, Lily found herself distracted from everything that had been going on. However, once the song ended, not everyone was feeling the same way. As Cheryl watched the football players run the field, she saw something that made her very upset. She turned around and ran towards the locker room. Lily dropped the pom poms, and sprinted after Cheryl.

Once she got inside, Lily saw Cheryl crying on the bench. "Cheryl?" Cheryl looked up at Lily, her eyes watery. "L-Lily?" Lily sat on the bench next to Cheryl and hugged her. Cheryl started to cry. "He's gone." Veronica and Betty walked in, and looked at the two. "You're not alone Cheryl," Lily muttered. "You have me." Cheryl smiled.

After the game, Lily stood with Veronica and Betty. "Hey Lily. I saw you and Cheryl.
Not many girls would've done what you did. If you're not doing anything, do you wanna go get a milkshake at Pop's?" Lily started to reply. "I'd love to, but..." She was cut off by Reggie. "Hey Lily." Lily shrugged, and looked at Betty and Veronica. "Rain check on those milkshakes?" Veronica smiled and Betty nodded. They left. Lily turned to Reggie.

"I heard what you did for Cheryl." Lily smiled and looked at the ground. "Yeah, she was upset and I wanted to help." Reggie cupped her face in his hands. "You are the kindest person I know, Lily." He leaned in and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him back. It was just the two of them.

The next day, in Bio, as Lily sat next to Cheryl, the Sheriff's deputies walked up to them. "You're here for me, aren't you? Because of the autopsy?" Principal Weatherboo sighed. "We don't need to do this in front of your classmates, Cheryl." Cheryl shook her head, looking at Lily. "It's all right, Principal Weatherbee. They'll find out soon enough." She stood up and put her hands together. Lily grabbed her arm. "Wait, Cheryl, find out what?" Cheryl sighed and said three words that Lily never expected to hear. "That I'm guilty."