Helpline ((Jughead Jones)) 2

23

Know how there are some towns where bad things always seem to happen? Well, Riverdale has become one of those towns. The most recent horror: The school janitor turned out to be a serial killer. But we were putting him away along with our Christmas decorations. Now we were back to your typical small-town intrigues. Clandestine meetings behind closed doors and the like. Yes, by and large, it was business as usual in Riverdale.

We, Jughead, the Serpents and I, were moving to Riverdale High. Even though I had previously gone there, and I had once been the popular girl's sister, I knew that I wouldn't have that privilege. When the Bulldogs kick off with any of my friends, he will see the new Cynthia Blossom, not the anxiety filled, timid girl that left the school. I also couldn't see Cheryl welcoming T and I into the River Vixens with open arms, either. Sweet Pea and Fangs were already planning who they would target, who they could leave; it was as if they were planning on playing the new school like it was Southside, and I knew that they wouldn't get let off like they used to.

Getting ready for school was different. On my first day, I wanted to look more badass than when I had left, put in a little more effort and show that I was no longer a perfect Blossom, but the lady Serpent i had now been nicknamed. My bright red hair was braided at the top in a thick dutch braid and the rest of my hair curled. I pulled on ripped skinny jeans and a grey crop top, adding my heeled boots and a leather jacket. My makeup was a dark brown smokey eye, with the classic red lipstick. That would be my image.

The moment we walked into the school, the halls feeling familiar as if I never left, all eyes watched the Serpent gang walk in, looking me up and down and whispering behind cupped hands. Jughead held my hand and we led the group through the halls so we could get our timetables.

Instead of walking to reception, the usual procedure, we were met by a desk in the hallway and Archie and Veronica greeting us with fake smiles.

"Friends. On behalf of the students and faculty here at Riverdale High, welcome to your new school." Toni gave me a look after Veronica was finished. We both rolled our eyes at how false that greeting sounded, and I wondered how many times she had rehearsed that line in front of the mirror this morning. She kept talking about lockers, schedules and pointless extracurriculars, but Toni and I were silently wondering when she would leave us be to get what we needed, while Jughead was shocked at this level of a welcome.

".... to drink deeply from the cup that is fair Riverdale." That made too many Serpents laugh.

"A bit late for the pride of Riverdale speech, right Ronnie? Given the murders, and the fact we don't actually give a crap." I snapped. The fake smiles, the fake welcome, the fake happiness, was suffocating. I knew Jughead was stunned at my response, but also slightly appalled by this entrance. This wasn't Northside. Ronnie was only like this because her parents are slowly taking over the town.

"Stand down, little sis," My sister demanded, coming down the stairs in a red dress, with the Vixens and Bulldogs behind her. Reggie walked beside her and they looked as if they were headed into battle. "You are, after all, a new girl here. Wouldn't want to make enemies." I turned to the Serpents, telling them that this is the proper Riverdale welcome that we were all hoping for. Veronica looked a little hurt at the dismissal of the welcome desk, but no one looked away from the oncoming army of Serpent haters making their way towards us.

"No one invited fascist barbie to the welcome party." Veronica responded back to her, Jughead grabbed my hand tighter, in preparation for the response coming our way.

"Wrong, Veronica. No one invited Southside scum to our school." She snapped. I knew then that Jughead and I would be stopping the Serpents from ripping the Northsiders heads off if we weren't careful. Before long, Cheryl's insults about Serpents being underachievers, and other slightly offensive comments, Toni began to square up to my taller sister.