Change My Mind (Riverdale AU)

Three

"Okay now that the ads have been chosen let's see what I can find" Veronica said to herself, she walked out of the hostel in jeans, and sneakers, a simple white shirt and blue blazer, her hair worn loose over her shoulders.

She walked to the first advertisement at a small grocery, but after awhile she realized her korean wasn't strong enough to get through the interview and she was dismissed.

At her next interview, Veronica was interviewed at a cosmetic shop. Although people spoke more english here, one of the shop assistants showed their cellphone to the manager, who then turned to Veronica.

She smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry we cannot hire you" she said simply, before showing Veronica the screen showing the scandal of the Lodge family back home.

Veronica sighed, giving a small bow before leaving the shop.

Her last shot was at a tiny tea store. "Please let this be the one. I'm a pro at tea making" she thought and arrived to see a lot of boiling of tapioca pearls, cleaning and mopping, and preparing of drinks.

"So what experience do you have?" a middle-aged-man asked her as she sat at a rickety table across from him.

"Um. I worked at a diner for a few months back home, and made coffee and tea there, and shakes" she explained.

"Uh huh" the man said looking at her resume and shrugged.

"Okay you start tomorrow, just make sure to wear all black shirt and jeans, hair always tied back." he explained and gave her some forms to fill and sent her on her way.

Veronica was surprised at how well that went and walked down the sidewalk relieved.

As she walked she spotted Nathan walking the same route on the sidewalk across from her, and he gave a nod.

She walked in silence for awhile, until he crossed the street so they were now walking side by side.

"Back from work?" she asked, trying to make conversation.

"Yeah. Any luck finding a job?" he asked, taking a swig of his water thermos.

"Uh yeah actually. Do you know the boba place down next to the Padak chicken a few blocks down?" she asked.

Nathan nodded, "Yeah. Their drinks are okay. Well the manager there seems pretty chill and speaks okay english so good for you" he said.

"Thanks" she replied sincerely, tucking her hands in her blazer pocket.

"So what's your story?" he asked, surprising her.

"What do you mean?" she asked as they crossed the street. He stuck his arm out to the right blocking the cars from their path although they were at a stop, and let her step on the next curb ahead of him.

"Well, obviously you're not from around here, and you don't seem the type to go solo work hunting" he replied.

She shrugged, narrowing her eyes. "And what type am I, Nathan?" she asked, curious.

Nathan pretended to really think for a bit, rubbing his chin. "Well,  highclass family probably, maybe raised in the city like Jersey maybe New York? So why come here, by yourself?" he asked.

Veronica pursed her lips, unsure if this was a conversation she wanted to delve into. As they walked, Nathan spotted a good street food stand, and gestured for her to take a seat.

A few minutes later, with two bottles of soju and two steaming pots of ramen, she was telling her story.

"So basically I've become my town's social pariah, and I can't go back there. My friends have turned against me, my boy-- ex boyfriend's been brainwashed by my own father to continue his shady dealings, and I just couldn't handle it anymore" she explained, staring at the steaming pot of ramen in front of her.

Nathan nodded here and there, his dark eyes serious as he listened. "That sounds rough" he said taking a slurp of some ramen.

"Well, do you think you made the right choice, coming here?" he asked, popping the tab off the soju bottle for her.

She thought about this for awhile, adding some more spicy chili flakes to her ramen, as Nathan's eyebrows raised.

"What I'm Latina" she said, explaining her penchant for spice. He shrugged, sipping on some soju.

"I think I have. I'm up for the challenge, but it is pretty scary not knowing anyone here, but I'll manage" she said with a quick smile.

For the first time since she arrived, he returned her smile, his dimples showing across his face.

"I do have to say though, I am curious about your story. Have you always lived here?" she asked, picking up a large clump of the ramen noodles with her chopsticks.

Nathan blinked a few times, before shaking his head, running a hand through his hair.

"I moved here when I was 12 so not too long ago, but it feels like ages. I actually grew up in Brooklyn" he started explaining and Veronica's eyes lit up.

"Really? I'm from Manhattan, well then I moved to Riverdale and you know the rest" she said.

He gave a small smile, nodding.

"So what happened?" she asked carefully.

"Well, my dad wasn't really around much, he got into gambling and such, lost a lot of money, had to foreclose our apartment back in New York and then we came here, my mom, my sister and I moved in with my grandmother, but my mom passed away a few months after we moved here" he explained.

Veronica's eyes lowered in solemnity. "I'm sorry" she replied quietly.

Nathan shook his head, shrugging. "It's fine. I miss her but life happens. well shit happens, but you know" he explained, a bit bitterly.

She took a bit of time to process this, as they finished their meal in silence. Reaching into her small clutch to grab some money, Nathan shook his head, putting a couple hundred won on the table.

"You're still starting out, it's cool" he said simply and waited for her to get up so they could walk back to the hostel.

"Thanks. I really needed that talk" she explained, and he nodded.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning or whenever then" she said as they went inside the hostel, going to their separate rooms.

"See you. don't forget to practice that book I gave you" he said with a smirk and she nodded, closing her door behind her.