ROYALTY | RIVERDALE

chapter -42

chapter 42 || 042

'what keeps you going'

It was always something.

Always.

I just got protection ordered from the literal government and now I've got a murder on my hands. And it's not even on my hands! It's on Ravyn's ! I shouldn't have anything to do with it but she just had to gloat about it.

I just had to ask her.

Why couldn't I just ignore her? I had to go an investigate. I had to be a better person and try to get to know her.

Now I know too much.

FP let me stay at home for three days now but I doubt he'd let a fourth day slip by. He's gonna ask why I'm not going out or going to school. And if he was wondering then the gang was definitely wondering about me.

I have everything I could ever want here. And I don't wanna run away. 

But if Ravyn really did kill her father, there really is no other option. I look guilty. I look like the murderer. Anyone could take my words and twist them and then boom I'd wind up in a cell. The system only works for so long.

-

"Why hasn't Diana been at school since she's been cleared?" Toni asked the group as she approached them with her girlfriend inside the student lounge. Fangs and Jughead stopped talking to each other while Sweet Pea looked up from his notebook. "I mean- she is free right?"

"Yeah. She's at home, but she said she doesn't feel well." Jughead curtly explained and even he didn't believe it. They had all witnessed her much Penny Peabody the night of their reunion, she was happy to be free.

So why wasn't she acting like it.

"I wanna know what she and Ravyn talked about." Cheryl added and everyone in the group nodded along with her words. 

"Maybe it has something to do with that." Fangs agreed.

Before anyone else could speak up the bell sounded and the other kids in the lounge all dispersed out. The gang let them as they all took empty seats facing each other.

"Let's go visit our princess."

-

I sat up on the couch with my feet on the carpeted floor.

Sleeping wasn't helping. And I used to think it was a great problem solver just a few months ago. But now my mind can't run away from the thought of Ravyn killing her own father. What did he do to her that made her want to actually kill him.

Not saying it's not valid but-

Just so suddenly?

The front door unlocked and I watched as my group of friends all walked in. 

Worried faces. I knew I should have just faked it and kept up with my appearances. Why didn't I just suck it up and pull it together? 

I looked up at all five of them and sighed.

"What's going on?" I asked very low- even my own voice was betraying me. I'm not gonna be able to lie to them. They're my family. They already knew something was wrong with me before. No doubt they're gonna catch on now.

"What did your sister say to you? I can't imagine why you would stay home after being granted freedom. And I think it has to do with her. So speak up." Cheryl ordered at me and I sat back further into the couch with a confused look on my face. I don't remember us being this close that she could make me fess up like this.

Toni nudged her a bit.

"What she means to say is that there is clearly something going on with you, so can you just spill?" Sweet Pea asked me and I looked away from the group in front of me. I shouldn't have to protect a sister that I don't know. But it's so much more than that. She could easily just pin this on me.

She's got diplomacy or some shit here. They can't prosecute her. But the sure as hell can go after me all they want. 

And she hasn't told anyone the way she feels about her father besides me. She's daddy's little girl to everyone but me. And that means the finger lands on me. It always lands on me.

"I can't catch a break. That's what's going on." I muttered to myself but saw them from the corner of my eye all lean in to hear me more clearly. I rolled my eyes and looked all of them the eyes. "I don't think I should tell you."

Fangs scoffed at me which made my face contort.

"Diana I don't care what you think you should or should't do. You remember the rules." He took a seat next to me and held a stare down with me. Was he really gonna make me restate it? I know the damn rules.

I just don't want to drag them through this.

"In unity there is strength." I exhaled and placed my head in my own lap. I can't believe this. I can't run anymore and I don't wanna disappoint them. But I can only opt out of one here. Ravyn just had to suck me in to her shit! "Fuck."

"Diana we're not leaving until you tell us." I could hear Toni's voice say that.

I lifted my head up and shut my eyes.

"Ravyn, what she wanted to talk to me about that night. She wanted to deliver the good news." I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head at the thought of that night. It was supposed to be a good night. "She killed her father. She killed the constable."

Everyone in the room went stark silent. I mean they were already silent before but now it was like they weren't breathing at all. 

"I don't get it, what does this have to do with you? We all know you didn't do it. And she confessed to you! We can go to the cops!" Fangs sounded ecstatic, god he just was so pure for all of this. He deserved a bullet buddy that could actually be here. 

"We can't go to the cops. Ravyn killed her father but she's royalty. She has immunity here no doubt. And if we even tell anyone the next person in line to be charged would be Diana." Jughead got with that quick wit of his. The kid was just a walking mystery solver. 

"I will never not be free of him. Even in death he haunts me." I croaked out as I felt the shakes begin in my body again. The same one that came when Penny returned. The same one when I was freed. Sweet Pea lent forward and wrapped his arms around me. 

"I'll never be normal."