Braking Hard (Riverdale-Jughead Jones)

21

I clapped my hands to get rid of the flour covering them and checked the recipe once again before pushing the cake tin into the oven to bake.

A knock sounded at the door and I turned in shock. He wasn't supposed to be here for a couple hours yet. I pulled the apron off and flung it into the bathroom, pushing the dirty dishes into the sink and running over to the door in time for it to open.

I plastered a smile on my face to try and not arouse suspicion, but as the door swung open I breathed out and relaxed. It was only Cheryl.

She walked in and dumped some bags of shopping down on the couch, turning to me with when hands on her hips.

"What happened to resting?" She had sarcasm running through her voice and I sighed.

"I am resting, just not in my bed." She rolled her eyes and began unpacking the bags. "Look, I heard about Jughead's birthday party ages ago. About it going wrong, and I thought I would make him a belated birthday surprise." I pointed to the presents set around me.

"You know Jughead's not really into celebrating his birthday." I smiled at this.

"He will with this one. Trust me." I began to get changed, and Cheryl looked at me in confusion.

"You're not going out?"

"Well..."

"Ali! You're supposed to be on bed rest!" She snapped, ripping whatever was in her hand. I rolled my eyes at this.

"All this staying in bed is driving me mad. Besides, I'm only taking him down the road, to the preserve. Honestly." I raised one hand and put the other over my heart as a joke, before turning to a mirror and fixing my hair.

"Do you think it looks ok?" I asked seriously, turning back to Cheryl. She nodded with a smile and grabbed a small looking top from her shopping bag, throwing it to me.

"Try it on." She said, pulling out a similar top.

I took one look at it and turned back to Cheryl, pulling a face. "This, isn't really me,"

Cheryl simply smiled in reply. "Trust me Ali, you have the body for it, and the best way to move on from things is to do the opposite of what people expect you to do." She came over and took it from my fingers, stretching it out. "Trust me, wearing this, you'll be as confident as any of us. But, before you put it on, wipe some of the bike oil from your arms. And next time try to hide the fact you've fixed a bike a little better. Ok?" She smudged some bike oil from my wrist and I blushed bright red.

I didn't think she'd notice I'd been working on bikes, but I guess I underestimated her. I popped into the toilet and scrubbed away the oil, leaving my arms slightly red, but knowing it would fade.

I grabbed the black and white stripy crop top and pulled it over my head, the spaghetti straps fitting perfectly over my shoulders, and the tie at the back sitting just right. I turned to the mirror and admired my reflection. Cheryl had been right.

I exited the toilet and self consciously pulled the top down slightly, trying to cover the large dressing covering where I had my operation. Cheryl turned and instantly broke out into a smile.

"Told you! You do have that body hiding under the baggy plaid shirts and sweats!" She threw me a pair of skinny black jeans and pulled out a pair of sandals heels. "If you're going on a date, you need to look nice at least." She held them out to me and I took them gratefully, pulling the trousers on and sitting to strap the heels on.

I stood and pulled a pose, resulting in both me and Cheryl bursting into laughter. The oven dinged and I bent down instantly to swap the two cakes round.

"So the cake is?" Cheryl started, watching me flick the top of the cake to see how well it had baked so far.

"Ones chocolate, ones vanilla. Then I'll cut them into circles and make like a checkerboard style cake. Just because why not." I shrugged and shut the oven once again. "Then I'm icing it with white, and putting some candles on it." I finished, flopping down onto my bed and pulling the heels back off.

Me and Cheryl began giggling over something trivial and soon enough I was sticking 16 candles into the finished cake.

A knock sounded at the door and my head snapped round. "Cheryl! Distract him! Please!" Cheryl opened the door and smiled widely.

"Hello Jughead, give her a minute, she's in the toilet." She learnt against the door. "So, how are the serpents?" I quickly pushed the cake into the tin I had pulled out and put my heels on, grabbing the cake tin and the picnic basket I had prepared earlier.

I nodded to Cheryl who had been chatting to him and glanced at me to check if I was ready and she smiled.

"She's just come out, here she is." Cheryl left the doorframe and sat down on the couch, pulling out her phone and I walked over, my eyes meeting Jughead's.

There was a wide smile on his face and his eyes looked me up and down at the outfit I was wearing.

"Whoa, you look incredible Al. Is that dressing ok though?" He said, concern lacing his voice. I giggled.

"It's fine Jug. And I don't mind showing it off. Now come on, before it gets dark." I grabbed his hand with my spare one and pulled him away, the door shutting behind me.

I turned left out of the trailer park and began walking to Riverdale Preserve, my heart fluttering in my chest in excitement and anxiety.

Would he really like it?

I pushed the doors to the preserve open, refusing to look at his face, and pulling him through the many plants and foliage.

As we reached our final destination I heard a small gasp behind me and smiled, feeling the skin around my eyes crinkle slightly.

"It's... It's amazing Al!"