Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Are they still doing those things to you?" My mom asked as we sat in her silver Sedan outside of Riverdale High School.
"Of course. But it's fine, I can deal with it." I mumbled, tapping my foot against the rug rapidly.
She scoffed. "It's not fine. What they're doing is wrong."
"Mom," I softly. "You already have legal stuff to deal with as it is. Get that squared away, I'll be fine."
She sighed, squeezing my hand and giving me a gentle kiss on the top of my head. "I'm going to get you away from them eventually, okay. Trust me."
I nodded as I reached down to pick up my bag. "I need to go now, Mom. I'll see you soon."
"Okay, baby. It's the first day of sophomore year! Enjoy it, I love you." She called as I shut the car door, walking across the empty lane.
"Love you too, Mom."
|-/
"Does everyone here know?" I heard a voice around the corner ask. There was a pause. "Wonderful."
I turned around the corner. Standing there was Betty Cooper, Kevin Keller, and...a new girl, I suppose.
I smiled at them. "Hello, everyone."
Betty smiled warmly, her eyes lighting up. "Hey, Leah."
The girl with black hair looked at me. She was pretty. But not prettier than- you know what, never mind. Haha.
"Veronica Lodge." She introduced herself, giving a small wave.
"Leah Bergenia." I said back, waving back in return.
"Isn't that..." Veronica started.
"A flower, yes." I admitted. I hated the last name. Bergenias were my favorite flower at one time, why the name was given to such a bitter family, I had no idea.
"You're new to this town, I presume?" I asked, flipping my hair so it was off of my shoulder.
"Yeah. I just moved here a couple days ago, actually. You?"
I sighed. "I moved here the summer before freshman year, but I think I've become kind of knowledgeable about this town, if I do say so myself. Right, Betty?" I asked.
Betty snapped out of her trance, and looked down at the floor. "Right, yeah, um- definitely."
I saw Kevin roll his eyes. "Well, I need to go. I'm late to first period. But you know, if you're late already, who cares if you're even later? Well, anyway, enjoy the rest of your tour. I'll see you around. Happy first day!" I squealed, turning and strutting down the hallway, books in hand, knee high heels clacking on the tile floor.
"Beware." I heard Kevin say as I walked away. "She can be nice, but she can also be a total bitch. Sure, maybe she's nicer than Cheryl Blossom, but she's still a devious little...Betty!" He yelled, snapping his fingers.
I smirked as I entered my first period, not phased by all of the eyes on me as I sat down in front of Jughead Jones, who everyone called a weirdo for some reason, but he seemed pretty cool to me.
|-/
"Thank you for that moment of silence. Many of you were lucky enough to have known my brother personally. Each and every one of you meant the world to Jason. I loved my brother. He was and will always be my soulmate. So I speak with the confidence only a twin could have, Jason wouldn't want us to spend the year mourning. Jason would want us to move on with our lives. Which is why I've asked the School Board not to cancel the Back-To-School semiformal."
Everyone started to cheer, clapping and whooping.
Cheryl continued. "But rather, to let us use it as a way to heal, collectively, and celebrate my brother's too...too short life on this mortal coil. Thank you all."
|-/
As I was grabbing my bags in my locker, preparing to walk home, the senior captain of our track team, Sierra, came up to me.
"Hey Leah," She smiled, leaning on the lockers. "We have tryouts in about...ten minutes. Coach told me to tell you we need you."
I closed my locker. "Why do you need me?" I asked, confused.
She sighed. "Because you're the best we have on the team. Even though you're just a sophomore, you're amazing. You're our anchor, and we need you to see if the people trying out are good enough."
I exhaled. "I'll be right there, just give me a minute."
She nodded and walked out of the front entrance to the track outside. I bent down, grabbing my bags.
I narrowed my eyes as I heard the squeak of sneakers behind me.
I turned to see Cheryl standing right behind me. Her gaze moved up to meet mine. Then, she let a quick little breath out of her nose and walked away, her cheerleading skirt riding high on her thighs.
