1 | Now or Never • FP Jones

01 | riverdale

01
r i v e r d a l e

            Juliet looked out the window the green trees moving past them in a blur, her parents sat in front talking but she couldn't hear any of what they were saying. Call Me by Blondie was playing the loudest it could in Juliet's headphones blocking out any noise. The blurring green was making her grow tired, but the song kept her wide awake as she saw her mom's hands move around as she talked to her husband. Juliet began nodding her head along to the song, about to start singing when her mom's hand was waved in front of her face. "What is it?" Juliet asked pushing back her headphones letting them hang around her neck.

"We're here darling." Juliet's mother said pointing the sign that read 'Welcome to Riverdale the town with pep!' Juliet leaned back into her seat her fingers running down her skirt as she grew nervous.

"It really looks like we're in the middle of nowhere." Juliet said watching as they drove past towns people and buildings. A cute little dinner called Pop's that Juliet knew she would check out later once she was settled. "Are you sure we're not going to move until I've graduated?" Juliet asked leaning forward in her seat her chin settling on her mother's shoulder.

"We promise." Juliet's dad said sending her a smile before he turned back to the road. Quickly he slammed on the break causing Juliet to be slung back into her seat. "Is everybody okay?" Mr. Sung asked looking around at his wife and daughter before turning back to see the boy he had almost hit with the car. The boy removed his hands from the hood of the car, a smirk on his face as he raised his hand pointing the middle finger in their direction before he continued his way.

"You couldn't have picked a better place?" Juliet asked watching as the boy ran up to his friends greeting them with handshakes and pats on backs. As the car passed them, Juliet noticed that all the boys, including some girls in the group were wearing leather jackets with the same design sewn on the back. "There's gangs here." Juliet said quickly looking away when the boy and his friends looked into the car.

"There are gangs everywhere darling." Mrs. Sung said turning to look at her daughter. "You just have to stay away, you don't want to get mixed with that crowed." Letting out a sigh Juliet decided to put her headphones on glad that she was able to get new batteries for her Walkman.

Juliet's parents had resumed to whatever conversation they were having before they entered Riverdale. Juliet's eyes were closing, tired from having had to wake up so early only to have them fling open when her mom shook her leg. Letting out a groan Juliet pulled her headphones back to see that the car had stopped, it was now parked in front of a beautiful big white house. "Welcome home darling." Mrs. Sung said opening her door before walking out of the car.

Juliet put her Walkman into her purse before pushing the door open and stepping out to see her dad carrying to boxes while her mom worked on opening the door. Juliet hiked her purse up her shoulder before walking to the back of the car and picking up a small box. Juliet then followed her dad to the house as her mother walked past her to help them pull in the boxes. It wasn't long before the moving truck parked in front of the house as well. Juliet looked at the truck and then to her mom who walked up to the movers. Licking her lips Juliet stepped into the house finally getting her first look at the house.

The living room was big and homey, a fireplace like Juliet had always wanted and to the corner a staircase. Juliet was sure the place would look a lot nicer once they had all the furniture moved in. Juliet decided she would look around the house more carefully later and slowly made her way upstairs to look for a bedroom that she would like. From the outside she had been able to see that one bedroom from upstairs had a balcony. Quickly Juliet pushed open door after door, the second one being the bedroom she was looking for.

Her parents never had a problem with Juliet picking whatever room she wanted, even if it was the master bedroom so taking a step into the room she knew it was hers. The bedroom was big, on one wall was the closet, the sliding doors made of mirrors reflecting the door located on the wall in front of it. Putting her box down Juliet walked over to the door and opened it to be met with a bathroom, something she liked even more after the last house they lived in.

Beside the bathroom door was a bookshelf built into the wall, Juliet's hands ran down each shelf before she walked to the balcony doors opening them to see her parents and the movers pulling out furniture. "Juliet!" Mrs. Sung called out looking up at Juliet. "Come help with the boxes will you darling? Your father and the movers will take the big stuff." Juliet nodded her head and moved away from the balcony, leaving the doors open she ran down the stairs and outside to help her parents.

"Would you like help?" Juliet heard somebody ask, looking up Juliet saw two girls standing in front of her on the lawn of the house next door. "I'm Nebula Vera your neighbor, we heard all the noise and came out to see what it was. It's really great to see the new neighbors have a daughter."

"What about the last neighbor?" Juliet asked looking over to the house wondering about the last people who lived there.

Nebula shrugged stepping over the planted bush along with her friend, "It was an old man who lived all alone- his kids came to visit every now and then with the grandchildren but after he died they decided to sell the house." Nebula added picking up a box. "This is my friend Christina by the way and you are?"

Juliet turned her head looking over to her mom who gave her an encouraging smile, this was new for Juliet- staying in a place long enough for her to make friends. "I'm Juliet Sung, it's really nice to meet your girls."

"You're lucky you live next door to Nebula, you really have to be careful with the friends you make around here." Christina said bending down to pick up a box. "Just tell us where you want them."