Braking Hard (Riverdale-Jughead Jones)

25

As the door swung open I smiled brightly at my mom who had an apron and a small patch of flour on her cheek.

I reached out and wiped it away, my eyes meeting hers as she beckoned me inside her new house. Even though she had been released, she and me still lived separate, choosing to spend time together slowly before making any rash decisions.

She shrugged the apron off and her serpent jacket on, her eyes glimmering slightly and she let me sit on her couch before sitting opposite me.

"How are you Alice?" She asked, reached out to place her hand on my knee.

"I'm fine mom, heading down to Whyte Wyrm to pick up Jughead." I replied, smiling at my mom's messy hair as normal.

"Well let FP know that I'm making dinner for him. And I expect him to show up this time." My mom grinned, standing. "Anywho, I've got to fix this oven otherwise my food won't cook."

"Mom are you forgetting something?" I asked, pointing at the toolbox I had in my hand. "I may not be an electrician, but I can take a look."

"Aww thank you honey." My mom ruffled my already unbrushed hair and I swatted her hand away before walking into the kitchen and instantly turning to lean against the doorframe.

"Mom, have you tried flicking the switch to turn it on?" My mom's face instantly switched to embarrassment, her cheeks flushing bright red and I chuckled. "I won't tell anyone." I joked, tapping my nose as she instantly ran and flipped the switch.

"So you need my help?" She asked, her cheeks still red from the slight failure of her oven.

"Yeah. My court date is coming up and I have nothing appropriate! I just need a hand getting an outfit, so I was wondering if you'd come with me into town tomorrow?" I asked, smiling slightly.

"Of course I will Alice! I'll see you then darling, but I better start cooking." She shrugged, pointing at the now working oven. I smiled and agreed, leaving my mom to her work and heading to pick up my boyfriend.

***

As I woke to the loud knocking on the door I sighed and climbed out of my bed, my feet landing where Cheryl would normally sleep if she was here.

"I'm coming!" I pushed the door open, wincing at the sun, to see my mom smiling widely at me, folded up shopping bags in her hand and sunglasses perched on her head. I noticed that she had ditched the serpent jacket, despite the whole thing of 'a serpent never shedding their skin'.

"Hey mom. I'm not dressed yet. Come on in and sit while I get ready." I beckoned her in and she looked around, her eyes widening.

"I haven't seen it since you re-did it, it's gorgeous Alice." She said, staring at my bed.

"Thanks. Now, we have some shopping to do. By the way, sorry mom, I invited Cheryl along." I broke the news and she just chuckled.

"Of course, that's totally fine." She turned to see what I pulled out of the closet and raised her eyebrow. "Is that really appropriate to go out in?" I rolled my eyes.

"Yes mom. It is. Besides, it's something Cheryl helped me do. Do the opposite of what people expect you to do, because most of the time expectations are negative." I pulled the miniskirt over my pj trousers and then slipped them off underneath.

I pulled on the thigh high boots that Cheryl had given me as a "Your third day out of the hospital!" Gift. She'd gotten me one for every day of the first two weeks, despite me telling her not to.

I gestured to my mom and she threw me the long pirate sleeved shirt, which I proceeded to tuck into my skirt, and then clip a thick belt around my waist to finish the look. I took my hair down and ran my fingers through it, the first time I ever did so without finding excess bike oil.

I sighed and grabbed a pair of keys from next to the trailer door before holding a hand out for my mom to grab.

"Come on then, we have an outfit to find." I raised my eyebrows at her jokingly, and she smiled brightly.

"What about Cheryl?" She asked as I locked the trailer door behind me.

"She's meeting us there." I explained, leading my mom over to my bike. "Are you ready?" I asked as I clipped my helmet on.

"Always." She replied, I could practically hear the smirk in her voice.

"Then let's go."