ROYALTY | RIVERDALE

chapter -13

chapter 13 || 013

'all in a days work'

I checked myself in the mirror one last time before leaving the bathroom. I had an early shift at Pops to get to. 

I exited the bathroom and as I looked at the living room I saw two faces that weren't supposed to be here. It was that Lodge girl and some man- he was a hunk. They were sitting across from the Jones men who were sitting on the couch.

"Who are they?" I pointed to the two strangers in the room and Jughead's eyebrow raises.

"Veronica Lodge and her father Hiram Lodge. They came to talk about the statue business." FP explained and I almost scoffed at the memory of that. That damn statue could have caused displacement for so many people, including the Jones' and me.

While Veronica seemed to glaze over me, her father didn't. It was like he wanted to speak up about me or something. But alas he didn't.

"Good luck with that boys. I'm taking the truck FP I'll be back by nine." I announced and headed out the door. But then I thought back to the situation going on back inside and poked my head back inside. "And what you did Mr.Lodge was very evil villain like. Have a nice day Veronica."

-

That was hours ago. And I'm glad I spoke my mind about it. But this whole Betty situation was also weighing on me. I forgot for a little bit that she stashed a body someplace. Almost.

"Diana, booth four." One of the other hostess called out for me, making me pear my head around the corner of the kitchen to get a look at the costumer.

Of course it was him.

Reggie.

I grabbed the two plates of burgers for my other table and headed out with a slice of dread. Of course he would go and do this. I mean I smiled at him once and maybe I do wanna figure out what his damage is but this -

This is interesting.

I hurriedly give the booth their food and head over to where Reggie is sitting. Knocking him off guard I take a seat across him and lace my fingers together in front of me on the table.

"I'm gonna ask again what's your damage and now you'll answer truthfully." I plastered a smile on my face as I waited for him to stop being starstruck of being this close to me. 

"You're just intriguing Diana. What can I say?" He leaned further back into the booth seat and crossed his hands over his chest as he eyed me. Not that I don't love the attention but this little cat and mouse game was getting boring.

"Last time I asked a guy what he wanted from me he ended up on the floor beaten up. I suggest that you choose your next words wisely." I threaten him nicely and mimic his posture with a smirk on my face. He looked around the dinner for a few seconds and then his eyes were back on mine.

"You have the look, the talk, the walk of a northsider. But you hang with the serpents and live on the southside. You're an anomaly here and I wanna know why." His words struck me and he noticed it too because my smirk fell and I began to sit normally.

I cleared my throat and got out go the booth and stood up next to the table.

"Can you place your order already?" 

-

It was getting late and my shift was soon to end and I was ready to go home. I had an eventful day if I do say. It cannot get anymore twisted or jaded than it already is.

"Diana!" A person whisper shouted to me.

Who was that?

I spun around to look for a familiar face that would have called me. My eyes look in all the booth and in the second to last one I see them. Jughead, Betty and a woman. She looks like she could be Betty's mom, she probably is.

Silently I make my way over to them and sit next to Jughead.

"Jughead why'd you call over a waitress? Sorry honey we don't need anything right now." The lady tells me but her face is telling another story. That they were all up to something.

Betty looked at the lady- her mom- "Mom, she knows. I told her."

The lady drops her shoulders and sighs. "Elizabeth how many people did you get involved in this?!" She whispered and managed to shot to her daughter. 

I raise my hand slightly and she looks at me. "It's not her fault. I practically pried it out of her. But I won't tell, trust me I've- uh been in this type of situation before." As I said all the words quickly I caught wind of what I really said. Her eyes widened at the realization too.

"What's your name?" She asked me sweetly from across the table.

I pointed to my name tag. "Diana."

She looked at me for a moment, then another. She didn't say anything. That's when FP came though the front door looking like a pure mess and slid in beside the woman. 

"Diana? What are you doing here?" He questioned and I sent him a look. "Are you serious?"

I shrugged my shoulders at him "Don't look at me. I was just being a nice person."

He looked at the others and the looks their faces were just all over the places. Confusion, guilt and nervousness. "It's done I took care of it."

They all sighed at the same time and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. They were all worried about the body. FP must have moved it for them hopefully to someplace better. Or maybe he got rid of it permanently. 

"Jeez dad you reek." Jughead told his father.

He didn't smell like the woods. Which meant that he got rid of that body for good. He smelt like chemicals. I didn't know FP was willing to cross the law for Betty like this. I didn't even know she told Jughead. Or her mom.

"It's the sodium hydroxide." His dad answered back. "In a week there'll be nothing left. Not even his teeth." I watched Betty's mom put all her attention on FP. 

Oh!

That is a thing.

 "Thank you FP." She sniffled from his side. Oh this is gonna be a thing. I never knew I needed something so badly but now that I know I need it. Badly. FP with Betty's mom? They'd look so cute together.  "I'm sorry that I involved Betty and that she pulled jughead into this. And Diana too."

His hand went over hers and she sniffled again.

"We take care of our own." FP told her and she gave him a look. A look that two people share when they know they can count on each other, trust each other.  Oh this was a thing alright. 

FP looked at the three of us on the other side. "The circle ends here. No more loose ends." Betty nodded and Jughead did too. That's when FP and Betty's mom looked at me.

"I mean of course. This is my second time, I'd go down faster than anyone here."