Braking Hard (Riverdale-Jughead Jones)

24

I stumbled as my feet hit what seemed to be a curb and I swore at Cheryl, her manicured fingernails gently digging into my face.

"Look I'll keep my eyes closed just please move your hands!" I promised, but Cheryl instantly shut me down.

"No way. I don't trust you. We're nearly there anyways." She said. I groaned and held my arms out in front of me to try and feel any obstacles.

"What is it we're even doing?"

"You'll see." I rolled my eyes, even though Cheryl couldn't see it, and kept edging my way along the floor. I heard a click as what I thought must be a door opened, and then a very empty silence that filled the space.

Cheryl's hands gently left my eyes and I peeled them open, staring round the room in shock as what seemed to be hundreds of students I didn't know jumped out and screeched surprise.

"This is your welcome back party, you're starting back at school tomorrow aren't you, so I threw you a congrats party!" Cheryl squealed, her hair bouncing on her shoulder.

I sighed and smiled at her, giving her a large hug and waving at the students surrounding me.

"Listen." Everyone went silent and I instantly faced the speaker. "This is stupid."

"Doiley cut it out." Cheryl stepped forward menacingly.

"A party like this, is just going to attract the black hood!" He spat at her, and I couldn't help but jump in. 

"Look, I understand you're a Pyschopath, but try to keep a lid on it, just for tonight, okay Doiley?" I sighed. "Just let us have a bit of fun. It's only one night. Besides, the black hood won't come after an entire school. Will he?"

Everyone turned back to what they were doing and I chuckled as Doiley's face slowly changed to a deep red colour and he stormed out.

I grinned as I spotted a familiar black beanie hat across the room, and took a step to walk over, but a hand stopped me by grabbing my upper arm.

I turned to grin at Sweetpea, and he gently knocked my shoulder.

"So, now you're even harder than before. Everyone knows not to mess with you!"

"The hell are you talking 'bout Sweets?" I chuckled. "I got attacked, surely that makes me more vulnerable?"

"No way Ali, everyone knows that the black hood goes after the cool ones." I cocked my head in confusion. "After all, he went after you." I swore and punched his shoulder as he laughed away.

"You make no sense half the time!"

"Are you sure?" He skulked off to talk to someone else and I groaned.

Since moving to Riverdale High, the younger serpents had been keeping their heads down, and I hoped it would stay that way.

I grabbed a drink and walked over to stand next to Betty, who was silently watching the dance floor.

"Hey." I whispered. "You ok?"

"Yeah," She looked to me and forced a slight smile onto her face. "I'm fine."

"You don't have to lie to me Betty. Let me guess, you're worried about the Hood?" Her eyes trailed to the floor and she sighed.

"That obvious?"

"Just a little." I chuckled and Betty joined in reluctantly.

"I just, I know this is a mood killer, but I can't help thinking about what Doiley said. What if it happens?" I stood straighter and faced the ponytailed girl.

"The black hood will not be here tonight." I looked her in the eyes. "I give you my word."

Her eyes glimmered slightly and she opened her mouth to speak when I realised that a single universal word was being changed by the crowd.

"SPEECH."

"SPEECH."

"SPEECH."

I rolled my eyes and smiled at Betty before turning to grin at the crowd.

Cheryl grabbed my hand and pulled me up to the front of the room and left me there, blending back into the group of people who had faded their words into silence.

"Listen. I know you want a speech," There were a ton of groans as I trailed off. "So I'm going to give you one!" The crowd cheered and I heard Archie shout from the back.

"Go on Ali!"

"Listen, I know you all proabbyl had no idea who I was until this happened, but I can bet that at least 80% of you have had something repaired by me." The students laughed. "So thank you. For giving me your money."

A defeating silence rang and I couldn't help it, I grinned and laughed out loud.

"I'm kidding! No but really, thank you, for throwing this party, for supporting me. Thank you to Cheryl who's helped me through this, thank you to my incredible boyfriend Juggie, who's been so caring and understanding." I took a breath. "I didn't think, that I'd ever get past what happened last year. But somehow, one tragic accident has helped me get over another. I may have been raped. I may have been attacked. I may have been alone, but I'm not anymore. And that's what counts."

The crowd cheered and I grinned at Jug, who I'd watching through the crowd the whole time.

The crowd dispersed and I pushed my way through the people to catch up with Jughead.

"Nice speech." He smirked, and was leaning against the wall carelessly.

"You think? Took me ages to write." I chuckled.

"Of course Al. You totally wrote that ahead of time." He rolled his eyes at me and I kissed his cheek.

"I gotta go, Cheryl probably wants me to sign autographs or something." I replied with sarcasm lacing my tone.

"See you around?" Jughead asked.

"See you around." I confirmed.