Riverdale- a spinoff

Chapter 2: Ruby

It was really hot. That's all I could think about, well besides seeing Audrey. I thought it might be easier to focus on the excruciating heat and the fogged up windows then my old best friend. I was snapped out of my thought when he let out a groan, now all I could think about was this gross sweaty body on top of me. Now I was hoping that Archie would come outside and in a jealous rage rip this random guy off of me. But I knew that was unlikely, he hadn't shown any romantic interest In me and was completely oblivious to my hints that I wanted to be more than just best friends. Finally the random guy finished, I sat up and pulled my skinny jeans back up.
"That was fun," he said slightly slurred.
"Uh Yeah." I zipped my pants as quickly as I could and practically ripped the door off its hinges. The cooler outside air had never felt so good. The music was louder as I made my way back inside. I looked for Archie, I stumbled down the steps and into the kitchen there he was talking to Audrey. Sweat innocent Audrey. It must have been the drinks because tears started pouring out of my eyes. I turned and walked back to the living room,
"Ruby!"
"Hey girl,"
"Oh my god are you ok?" All these people that were supposedly my friends bombarded me with fake hello's and love you's. Finally having enough of the shallow and meaningless conversations I grabbed the nearest full red cup and headed back outside. Just like the car, inside was stuffy and crowded and I needed to get out of there. I found the first path I could and made my way down to the edge of the lake. The farther I walked the more distant the screaming voices and loud rap music became. It also seemed to grow colder and the trees seemed to tower hundreds of feet over me. Finally the calm surface of the dark blue lake emerged. There were two chipped white lawn chairs facing the water but one seemed to be occupied. I continued to the chairs and noticed a grey beanie sat atop the head of the occupant.
"This seat taken?" I asked. The grey beanie turned around and I noticed who it belonged to, Jughead, just my luck.
"Is The Ruby Laemmel asking to sit next to me?" I rolled my eyes- at least I tried to. I stumbled over to the chair and sat down.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I took another sip from the cup.
"It's supposed to mean what's a pretty popular girl like you doing out here alone?"
"I just needed some fresh air," he seemed to accept that answer. I pulled my attention to the watching the water but I was aware of him staring at me.
"Why are you staring at me?" My voice came out meaner than I wanted. He didn't answer,
"And why are you here? This doesn't exactly seem like your scene?" My voice was softer this time. He didn't say anything again. I waited not taking my eyes off the water.
"I'll make you a deal," he started. I turned to face him.
"Ok?" I furrowed my brows.
"I'll tell you why I'm here if you tell me the real reason you came out here," 
I didn't know if the alcohol took over because all I said was,
"Ok you first."
"I'm writing a book," he had my attention now.
"What's it about?"
"Well I'm not sure yet, that's why I'm here." He sat up a little, "thought i should be a part of the highschool experience if I was gonna write about it."
"So you came out here?" I scoffed a little.
"About 3 minutes of being around those intoxicated hormonal teenagers was enough for me," I couldn't help but smile.
"Am I going to be in your book," I joked. I looked up at him and caught his dark brown eyes.
"Depends," he smirked. Suddenly I felt the blush coming on. That's one thing I couldn't change about myself as hard as I tried. He seemed to notice and I was grateful when he kept talking,
"Your turn," I took a breath before opening up a bit too much to this random kid I'd never talked to before.
"Well there's kind of this guy," I started.
"Isn't there always," he added.
"But he sees me as more of a best friend." I felt myself choking up a bit "and then there's my old best friend who he seems really into."
"Why aren't you guys friends anymore?" I wasn't expecting him to ask me that so I sat there stunned for a moment.
"Uh I don't know," I looked at my hands and noticed my nails were digging into my palms, I looked back up and saw him looking down at my hands too. Before he could say anything a high pitch scream filled the air and seemed to echo off the still water.
"What was that?" I asked looking at Jughead for answers.
"I'm not sure." We both stood up. Then I heard more screams follow and what seemed to be chaos erupted near the house. Soon the sounds of car engines and crying people joined in. My first thought was that the cops had shown up but a lack of sirens led me to think it was something else.
"Should we go up there?" I asked. He just nodded. I walked closely behind him tripping and stumbling over roots and rocks. Then I felt a hand grab me and stead my me. We slowly approached the now empty house. All I saw in the driveway was my car and a few others I recognized but couldn't place. We stepped to the front door that lay slightly open Jughead peeked in his head and called out hello.
"Ruby," I turned around to face the quivering voice.
"Zoe?" I didn't know she was there but I thought there were more pressing issues than what she was doing at a party, "What's going on?" She looked shaken up.
"Did something happen?" Now it was Jughead talking.
"Ruby," she looked into my eyes with her watery ones "it's Malia," now tears pooled out of her eyes. "She's dead." My heart pounded and I felt my knees trembling beneath me, the only reason I didn't fall was because of Jugheads strong arm still holding me up.
Ruby

Jughead

Zoe