Something about Her: Cheryl and Billy

Not from Here

They knew he wasn't from there.

They didn't say anything.

But they definitely knew.

As he walked through the crowd, they would glance at him for a few seconds, and then go back to dancing or eating or whatever they had been doing prior to his arrival.

He grabbed a red solo cup filled with what seemed like bourbon whiskey, but Billy didn't really care what it was as he drank it down in one gulp.

"Woah man how'd you do that?"

An obviously drunk guy yelled from somewhere behind him.

"Do what?" Billy responded, annoyed.

"Drink that whole cup in one gulp! How'd you do it?"

After some hesitation, he finally answered,

"I guess from experience."

The guy was in awe.

"Moose," He said, holding out his hand.

Billy looked at him, perplexed.

"Moose?"

The guy nodded.

"Yeah, my name's Moose."

Billy waited uncertainly then shook his hand.

"Billy."

"I've never- we've never seen you before, Billy," Moose stated, "Where are you from, man?"

"Indiana," Billy told him, chugging down another cup of bourbon whiskey.

"Indiana?!" Moose laughed, "Why'd you decide to come here all the way from Indiana?"

Right at that moment a guy with black hair and a guy with bright red hair appeared next to Moose.

"Hey Moose," the guy with black hair turned to Billy, "Who's this?"

Moose looked from Billy to the black haired boy and explained,

"Oh, this is Billy. He's new here."

The black haired boy looked Billy up and down.

"Archie," The red haired guy held out his hand to Billy, "And this is Reggie."

They all shook hands.

Moose looked at Billy, and grinning said,

"Welcome to Riverdale."

. . .

They went into a lounge they found in Cheryl's mansion that was away from the dancing and the music so they could chill out together.

Reggie cracked open another Budweiser, chugging half the bottle and letting out a long burp that all the guys laughed at; even Billy let out a little chuckle.

"Cheryl's got it made, man," Reggie commented, looking around the lavishly furnished lounge.

"Yeah she's loaded," Moose added.

"Hey Billy, how does Cheryl know you?" Archie asked, slouched back in a forest green colored velvet recliner.

"She really doesn't, actually. I just saw her at Pops this morning when I arrived in Riverdale," Billy said, taking a seat on the garish couch next to Moose.

"And she just invited you right then and there?" Moose inquired.

"No, I just came on my own," Billy confessed, "I overheard some other people talking about the party so I decided to come."

Billy took out a cigarette and while lighting it, he continued,

"As a matter of fact, she was a little short with me at Pops, so I thought it only fitting that I come and enjoy her..." He gesticulated at the expensive surroundings, "Extravagant party."

"Haha, yeah," remarked Moose, patting Billy on the back, and then leaning back into the couch cushions.

"So where're you going to stay the night- nights at while you're in Riverdale?" asked Archie.

"I don't know. A motel, something like that."

"You could probably crash here tonight," Archie suggested, "You wouldn't be the only one doing it."

"Are you guys?"

"No," Archie answered, "We have football practice tomorrow morning."

Billy couldn't believe they were going to go from drinking for hours to shoving each other on a grass field in the early morning dawn.

Billy turned to Moose.

"You're not going to crash here Moose?"

Moose anxiously looked at Archie and Reggie, trying not to get on their bad side if he disagreed, but obviously wanted to skip practice.

"I think I will actually," Moose said, then looked to Archie and Reggie, "Come on guys, we won't be any use at practice when we're hung over. Let's just stay."

There was a hesitation from both of them, until Reggie got up and opened the shining mahoney liquor cabinet, taking two bottles of vodka out, and then turning to the guys saying,

"Cheers to Cheryl."