Emily Keller-A Jughead love story (Book two) *Discontinued*

Ten

Emily's POV
" Hello?" I said answering the phone
"!How did it feel, Emily? Knocking your best friend's mother of her high horse?" The black hood asked
" We had a deal." I said
" What's your question? And it can't be my name." He said
" The face under the hood...Would I recognize it?" I asked
" Yes. Do you feel closer to me now? I do.
I feel as if we're friends. But I'm selfish, Emily.
I don't like sharing you with other people.
So I need you to cut them out of your life, or I will, my way. Let's start with that daughter of a philanderer, and an embezzler, complicit in her father's crimes" he said
"Veronica's not...She's innocent." I said
" Oh, Emily, you don't really believe that." He said before hanging up.
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I was sitting in Pop's waiting for Jughead. He texted me earlier asking me to meet. He walked in and came over to me with a smile. I stood up and he gave me a hug.
" Emily Keller. You are a sight for sore eyes.
Thanks for coming to meet me." He said giving me a kiss. " God, I've missed you, I just I'm feeling I don't know Unmoored." He said before we sat down in a booth a crossed from each other.
" Me, too." I said
" I just wanted to make sure you were still alive." He said
" What do you mean?" I asked worried.
" That expose that you published about Betty's mom, that article." He said
" Oh, um That's a long story, but yeah, pretty intense. What happened to your hand?" I asked trying to change the topic
" I'm dogsitting. You remember Hot Dog, that mutt? Don't worry, he's got the shots." He said with a smile grabbing my hand.
" I wish we could just go. Just hop on the motorcycle and just leave Riverdale." I said
" Go someplace where there's no Northside, or Southside, or Serpents, Ghoulies" Jughead said smiling
" No Crazy families, no Black Hoods. Like Romeo and Juliet, but we live happily ever after instead." I said looking at him with a smile.
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" Emily!" I heard Archie call from behind me. He caught up and we started walking down the school hall together.
" What's up?" I asked
" I uh I went by your house this morning, to walk you to school, but your dad said you'd already left." He said confused " Did he call you again?" He asked
" No, he didn't." I said
" Emily!" Veronica yelled coming towards me with Betty and some guy.
" My old friend Nick here is having a little soiree at his hotel tonight. Will you come?" She asked " Emily is my other bestie and the best." Veronica said giving me a side hug
" I won't take no for an answer." Nick said
" I wouldn't miss it." I said with a smile
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" And then, we walk into the Gilded Lily, and there's Gal! Again!" Nick said. We were in his hotel room and he was talking with Ronnie about some old memory.
" Gal?" Archie asked
" Gadot. Keep up, Archie." Cheryl said
" Archiekins. A refill, s'il vous plait?" Veronica asked handing Archie her cup.
" Forget the teetotaling. Let's move on to something with a little more kick." Nick said showing Jingle Jangle in his jacket pocket.
" Is that - Jinglejangle?" Archie asked
" Why, yes. It is." Nick said
" I hooked him up." Reggie said with a smile
" Tasters? Who's up first?" Nick asked
" Dude, we told you, we're not..." Archie said
" Archie, don't take this the wrong way, but you are an epic buzzkill." Nick interrupted "Come on, Vee. Like back in the day. Aren't you supposed to be showing me a good time? Per Daddy's orders?"
" Down, Nicky, I'm just getting going. And now that you mention it, I, in fact, wouldn't mind a little sugar to spice up this party." Veronica said causing me and Betty to give her a look.
" What? Every other night it's burgers and milkshakes. Can't we just cut loose and pretend we're normal, for once?" She asked
" I'm in." Veronica said
" Me, too." Cheryl said
" Kevin? Pussycats, care to partake?" Nick asked and they nodded there heads and I gave Kevin a look that he ignored.
" Betty? Emily?" Nick asked
" No, thanks." We both said
" Come on, it'll be fun." Veronica said
" We said no, Vee." Betty yelled causing me to turn and look at her.
" Okay, relax, Betty, this is strictly voluntary." Veronica said
" Perhaps we should decamp to the bedroom, so as not to corrupt the country mice." Nick said
" You know what? I changed my mind. I'm in." Archie said
" Bravo, Archie Andrews! There's that good, strong Riverdale stock I've been jonesing for! " Nick said. Everyone was dancing and making out well Betty and I were sitting looking at them like they were crazy.
" Come on, Emily, Betty, don't be such wallflowers! Emily You're boyfriendless for a night! Have some fun!" Veronica said
" Like you, you mean? I was gonna say you're making a fool of yourself. Acting like some privileged, shallow, airhead party girl." I said standing up
" Excuse me?" Veronica asked upset
" Yeah. I mean, it's all recycled banter and plunging necklines and throwing shade to distract us all from the fact that there's really nothing going on underneath" Betty said standing up next to me
" Betty, what the hell are you saying?" Veronica asked her
" What we're all thinking. That the only reason Veronica hangs out with us is circumstance.
She's not our friend. The minute someone from her trashy past shows up, she starts using us for drugs or music or distraction, and why should we be surprised? Like father, like daughter, right?" I said
" You better shut it down, Emily." She said
" Or what, Veronica? You'll have your dad put a hit on me? Or maybe you'll do it yourself, because you may have fooled all of them, but not me and clearly not Betty. Try to reform all you want, but you're a bad person, Veronica.
You'll always be a bad person." I said
" Why don't you just go, then, if I'm such a monster?" She said and I left gladly not being able to hold my tears in any longer. Betty followed after me and as soon as we got out into the hallway I lost it. I started balling my eyes out and fell to my knees. Betty quickly came and held me in her arms.
" Emily, are you okay?" She asked
" No. I am nowhere near okay. I can't do this anymore Betty. I can't be his pawn and hurt the people I care about" I said through my tears
" Emily, is he calling you too?" She asked. I looked up at her to see she was crying as well.
" Yes" I said " Did he tell you to get rid of Veronica as well?" I asked
" Yes, He said I would get to ask him a question if I did and if I didn't he would kill her" she said
" He told me the same thing" I said.
" Come in. Let's go, we can go back to my house. We'll call him together." she said. I nodded and we got up and left.