Safe Place ~ WayHaught

Love Is New, Don't Break Down

~Nicole POV~

Waverly's worrying about me. I know that I promised her I wouldn't do this again, but that was before everything that happened.

To recap:
• Her father is an angel which makes her half angel.
• The revenants and other demons in the triangle want her dead for it.
• Me, Waverly, and Chrissy Nedley faked our deaths and crossed the border into America.
• Me and Waverly are 16, so that doesn't help.
• Chrissy is 18 and is our legal guardian.
• Officially, we all got murdered in Purgatory and our bodies were taken God knows where. So we can't use our real names for anything.
• I'm "Cheryl."
• Chrissy is "Veronica."
• And Waverly is "Toni."

(A/N: yes, I named them after Riverdale characters on purpose ;) you'll get it in a bit.)

So that's it. It sucks, but it's what we have to put up with from now on.

Originally, Sheriff Nedley told us to go to Seattle, but then he changed his mind. He told Chrissy to take us somewhere nobody would find us, not even him. So that's exactly what she did. I don't think anyone will find us in this place. Which is both terrifying and comforting.

After all the supernatural shit I've seen in Purgatory, this feels like nothing. I have absolutely no idea how Chrissy knows about it, but I'm glad she does. It's a small town located next to what the locals call "Sweet-Water River." It seems normal at first glance, but the closer you pay attention, the more things start to make sense.

The people here have iPhones and modern computers, but it's obvious that we are not in 2018 anymore. They dress in a style that crosses between modern and 1950's. The cars are vintage. Everything about this town is a mixture of different decades and it's honestly a little spooky, but not as spooky as Purgatory.

I miss it though. I miss C.J. and Wynonna. I even miss them awkwardly barging in and interrupting my make outs with Waves. I miss Sheriff Nedley, he was like a dad to me. Hell! I miss Champ Freakin Hardy! I miss him coming up to Waverly in the halls, begging for forgiveness, and me putting him on the ground faster than he put that calf on it's knees in the rodeo.

Champ can take a calf to it's knees in 8 seconds flat, but I can take a Champ to it's knees in 0.8 seconds.

"When are you going to start talking again?" Waverly asks me as we eat lunch at Pop's.

I look over at her and shrug my shoulders before taking her hand in mine. I still remember the last time I stopped talking. It was the night before Mictian possessed Waverly again. I don't remember how long it took me to say something, maybe two or three weeks. Everyone in this town just thinks I'm mute, they aren't exactly wrong either.

"Hey, Toni!" It still freaks me out when people use our new names. "Can I sit with you guys?"

"Betty," Waverly (aka Toni) laughs and gestures to the empty seat across from her. "You know you don't have to ask, right? You're always welcome to sit with us."

"Great!" Betty sits down and orders a burger and orange freeze. "So, how's that history project going?"

"Good, I know a lot about the subject." Waverly smiles at Betty.

"You got Wyatt Earp, right?" I nearly choke when I hear the name and Waverly notices. So does Betty. "Cheryl, are you alright?"

I nod and regain my composure. I can't break down. I can't let my memories or emotions get the better of me. It's not easy, I know that, but I've survived way worse than Riverdale.

"Nicky?"

Okay. Now you can panic.

"Shit!" Waverly nearly jumps out of her skin at the slip she just made. "I'm so sorry, Cheryl!"

"It's fine, Toni." I make sure to exaggerate the name so she doesn't forget again. I realize how pissed off my words sound, but I don't think anyone cares about that right now.

I think that's the first thing I've said since we got to Riverdale.

Betty is looking at me with her mouth slightly open and her eyes wide. Honestly, almost everyone is. Normally I don't mind attention, but this is just too much. I grab my bag and race out of Pop's before I start crying. I can't cry in front of everyone. Especially not after she called me Nicky.

I turn around when I feel a hand on my shoulder, pulling me back gently. I expect to see Waverly when I look, but it isn't her. It's Betty and Jughead. Yeah, the name takes some getting used to. Betty smiles at me a pulls me into a hug. She whispers in my ear.

"You have a beautiful voice. Don't ever be afraid to use it."

She pulls away and Jughead pats my shoulder in a best friend/big brother kind of way. I see Waverly standing a few paces behind them, obviously scared to say anything right now. She slipped up, but it's okay. I know we're technically not supposed to, but I think we should tell Betty and Jughead. They're our friends. And I know they can keep a secret.

"Hey," I look towards my girlfriend. "Come here."

She walks up to me and I take both of her hands in my own. She smiles at the touch and lifts one of my hands to her cheek, leaning into it.

"You aren't mad." She kisses my wrist.

"Of course not, baby." I somehow find the strength to speak up about what I've been thinking. "I'm actually kind of glad you called me Nicky." I whisper quietly enough so she's the only one who hears.

"Why?" She whispers back to me.

"Because I think we should tell them." I take a deep breath in. "Only them."

"I agree."

So, we head back to the trailer that me, Chrissy, and Waverly are staying in. Betty and Jughead have never been because there's a lot of stuff from our past lives there, but that doesn't matter now, or won't soon. I know it's dangerous, we all do, but having someone who knows the truth is worth the risk.

~~~

Hey!! I don't know if this is good or not, but I saw an opportunity to go multifandom with the whole fake death thing.

Comment what you think about the Riverdale storyline! I would love to hear your opinions/thoughts!!

Love you, Cheetahs

~Jordan Ben