✔️ Wild Rose [1] (Riverdale) ✔️

19

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"You Shine Bright Enough To Guide Yourself"

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"Why did I agree to this?" Jughead questioned as he sat down at Rosalie's kitchen table.

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Why are you complaining? You have nothing to complain about. This situation benefits both of us." Jughead rolled his eyes. "And how exactly does this benefit me?"

The timer on the oven beeped causing Rosalie to smile. She put on her gloves and removed the tray from the oven. She put it on the side, watching as Jughead stared at the cupcakes.

"Free food sounds beneficial" Rosalie teased. "Why not invite Archie? Doesn't he enjoy free food?" Jughead questioned.

A sigh escaped Rosalie's mouth causing Jughead to give her a questioning look. "What's wrong?" He asked. "Is it selfish of me to say I miss him?"

"He's still there, at school, the student lounge, at home" Jughead listed.

"I know he's physically present, though emotionally, mentally, he's not there. After Jason's death, he was there for me at first, but it's like he slowly vanished from my life." Tears welled up in Rosalie's eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

"I feel like everything around me is falling apart. Everyone is leaving me and-and" she stopped speaking.

Jughead looked at her concerned. "You're entitled to feel a mess." She looked up at him, the tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

"While Archie brightened your day, Jason was your light in the darkest of times. While both are, or were important, you need to adjust to life without them, to adapt to the change in your environment. Find a new light source, or better yet, realise you shine bright enough to guide yourself" he explained.

Rosalie had no control over the tears that fell. "Jug, that's- I." She took a deep breath and smiled at him. "The cupcakes should be done now." Jughead grinned. "Let's eat."

* * * *

Rosalie sat in class with Midge next to her, drawing on her hand. "This class is so boring" Rosalie whined. "I like it" Midge replied as she continued her drawing.

"What are you even doing?" a curious Rosalie asked. She smiled when she saw the writing as well as the small picture. Midge wrote the letters MK & MM with a heart around it.

"It's beautiful" Rosalie said. "Yeah." Midge smiled sadly causing Rosalie to frown. "What's wrong? What happened? Who hurt you? I can beat them up." Midge laughed at Rosalie's over protectiveness.

"No one hurt me. It's just Moose" she sighed causing Rosalie to raise an eyebrow. "He's been distant lately. I'm worried that he doesn't.. that he doesn't care about me, that he doesn't love me anymore" she confessed.

Rosalie took her hand. "People go through rough patches, it's normal. If anything bad happens you can always vent to me. I'm here for you."

Midge smiled at her. "Thank you. Now give me your other hand." Rosalie laughed as Midge took her hand and started drawing again.

"You really enjoy this, don't you?" Midge hummed in response to the question.

Rosalie smiled as she noticed the letter's 'MK & RW' written in a heart.

"Is this your way of saying you love me" she teased.

"Oh Rose, you are the only one for me" Midge joked making Rosalie chuckle.

"You've been single for a while now. Have you got your eye on anyone?" Midge asked curiously.

Rosalie started to think about Fangs. She felt a connection with him, though she was unsure what the connection meant. Were they meant to be friends? Was it something more?

"I'm not sure" Rosalie admitted. Midge was confused. "Tell me about them."

"Have you ever felt an immediate connection with someone?" Rosalie asked. Midge nodded her head. "Yes, I have."

"Well there's this boy, I feel something for him, though I'm not sure how I'd categorise my feelings" Rosalie confessed.

"You should talk to him. Tell him your conflicted about your feelings. What's the worse that could happen?"

'He could want nothing to do with me' she thought but didn't say.

* * * *

A fake smile was on Rosalie's face as she listened to a customer complain about the service she received from James.

It was uncommon for people to complain about their service. She also knew how kind James was, so there must have been a reason for his apparent 'terrible' service.

"-his lack of manners was disgusting. I only asked him a simple question."

"Could you repeat what you asked him, for reference" Rosalie spoke cutting the woman off.

"Of course. I asked him why sinners were allowed in the diner. It's bad enough they allow Serpents, but allowing homosexuals, it's disgusting." Rosalie's face twisted into one of disgust at the woman's comment.

The Diner bell went off informing Rosalie customers entered. She smiled as she saw it was Toni, Joaquin and Fangs.

"Watch this" Rosalie told the woman, who smiled, believing she was about to kick them out.

Rosalie went over to the three Serpents. "Hey Bunny" Fangs greeted. Rosalie ignored him as she pressed her lips against Toni's. Toni was hesitant but kissed back.

When Rosalie pulled away she looked at the homophobic customer and smiled. "No one from the LGBT community are sinners. They are allowed to love whoever they want, despite their gender."

The woman stormed off causing Rosalie to smile. She turned to the three serpents. "You used me" Toni stated. "I'd rather kiss you than any other girl" Rosalie replied truthfully.

Fangs looked at her shocked and a little turned on. "That was hot" he mumbled causing Joaquin to elbow him.

"Go to your table, I'll bring food over soon" she informed them. They listened and Rosalie prepared their food. She knew their order off by heart.

When she finished she went over to the serpents with a smile. "My special service, for my special customers." Rosalie put the food in front of them.

"Are you joining us" Toni asked. Rosalie was about to reply when the diner door opened, revealing many people. "I'm afraid you'll have to be without my lovely company today."

"See you soon Bunny" Fangs said before Rosalie walked away.

Toni turned to Fangs. "You need to tell her how you feel." Fangs groaned. "How the hell am I supposed to do that when I don't know how I feel?"

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