DISMANTLED | riverdale

ii/

two (ii.)| a blossom death

The alarm clock blared right by my head and I launched my hand out to hit snooze. I didn't get a good night's rest, not after what Fred Andrews had told me. 

Jason was dead.

I didn't think that anything would change while I was gone. I figured that some people would grow up. But I didn't think that my best friend would die. I was only gone for two years! We're supposed to be kids! 

"Honey! You're gonna be late don't take too long!"

My eyes rolled.

Who cares about being late to school when one of the best people I know is dead. I knew. One of the best people I knew.

How could that be?

How could my mom not tell me? After dad died she just jumped ship and left Riverdale. And she banned me from talking to the Blossoms. And she kept Jason's dea-

I can't.

I don't even have time to get dressed properly. 

Without a second thought I rolled out of bed and dived right into my unpacked suitcase. I just need bottoms and a top. And some shoes. I can do that.

My hand went for my blue jeans, one of the many long sleeves I packed, and some converse. The shirt was black, simple. Sneakers were black as well. I didn't need to stand out. I just needed to go back to being the Riverdale Syd I was.

I dressed up quickly and lathered on some deodorant while I was doing it. My hair could wait. I picked up one of the shoulder bags from my other luggage case and filled it with useless things. Headphones. Lipgloss. Lotion.

It was my first day, I wasn't supposed to be prepared anyways.

Soon enough I felt I was done. 

Quickly I jogged down the steps and met Grandma Aggy downstairs. She already had her apron over her clothes. In her hand was one of the blue bags that she uses for her store. I looked at the bag and then at her.

"Didn't have time to make you breakfast honey, gave you a corn muffin and a strawberry tart. Also I wrapped up a twenty in there for lunch or whatever you need." She handed my the blue bag and started walking me over to the front door.

But how was I going to get to school?

She jiggled her keys in front of me.

I took them into my hands and looked at her car outside.

"Your mom said you already have your permit. Just be safe and no running any red lights." She warned me before placing a kiss on my cheek and headed back to her post at the counter. 

I looked behind me, "I'll see you later Grandma."

-

I put the car in park and turned off the engine. I didn't have to be right on time. 

It's not like one lateness will set back my non-existant grade.

Looking over to the passenger seat I saw the blue bag of goodies and grabbed it. I can't forget to eat. I reach into the bag and pull out the strawberry tart and take a big bite out of it. She knew how to bake, I'll never say she's bad at that.

But she got me a babysitter.

Why do I need a babysitter is the more important thing here. Is he supposed to report back to her with everything that I do in the day? Is she trying to make him a spy?

A knock on the window startled me and caused me to drop the tart on the car floor. I groan and look at the culprit only to find Harrison.

Going back to the Riverdale Syd means putting on a show for this kid.

I rolled the window down, "You made me drop my tart so I am not calling you Harry."

"We're gonna be late if you don't get out of the car you know that right?" He asked but- he definitely knew I was trying to be late. Like it was evident he had a smile on his face.

"I think we both know that Harrison. I don't need a tour of the school, I used to come and watch football games here so I know my way around." 

He began to say something but I rolled up the window.

I grabbed the muffin out of the bag  in one hand and got my backpack with my other. With a skilled hand I opened my door and got out of the car.

"Yeah I'm just here to make sure you don't ditch." He explained and then it hit me.

Grandma did hire me a babysitter. But not to coddle me, to discipline me! Wow!

I turned to him shocked, "Are you going to be my school mother?"

-

Harrison walks very fast- too fast.

"Hey flash can you slow down! Theres no need to rush, it's the first day of classes. Teachers should expect students to be a few seconds or minutes late trying to find their rooms." I joke with him bit and try to keep up with him.

"Maybe freshman but not sophomores." 

Scoffing I dart in front of him to get him to stop. "I'm not a regular sophomore, I'm a transfer. So I have an excuse- you on the other hand..."

He points to my right and I see locker number 306. 

"This is your locker and this is your schedule. You currently have english, which is with Ms.Saltson, in room 111 with me." He says simply to me and oh-so smoothly pops open my locker.

"Fun! Well I didn't have time to buy supplies so you can close my locker now."

"Syd Simon?"

The sweet voice of one of my childhood friends startled me. I hadn't heard it in so long.

I turn around and there she was. Josie McCoy. Standing a few feet away with pussycat ears on. Can't help to feel like I missed something big here? Instead of waiting for her to come over to me I make my way over to her.

"Josie! Hi!" My arms wrapped around her small form.

I let her go after a few seconds- we were friends but we weren't that close.

"Wow! You're back in Riverdale, what a great way to start sophomore year!" She smiled at me and I smiled back.

"I know. Hey I have to get to class, see you around yeah?" I began to walk back towards Harrison as she waved me goodbye.

I'm not so sure how to be Riverdale Syd to the people who knew me. They knew who I was before I lost my father. But I'm different now. The type of different that this town probably isn't used to, or that it calls trash.

But now that Harrison is my babysitter. I don't have to lie with him. I do have to put on a show but- it's not like the one I have to put on to everyone else who knew me.

"I thought you wouldn't mind being late, isn't she your friend and all? Thought you two were gonna play catch up."

I look up at him for a moment, in the eyes but not really paying attention. I know that It must seem like a perfect homecoming but its not. I was left out of the loop, separated from my best friends, struggling with my self and my education. Coming back to Riverdale should be like getting back on track.

But I have a feeling that it's not going to be that easy.

"Since you are my babysitter, did my grandmother tell you about me?" I asked him, and focused in on his face. It didn't falter even a little bit, so if he's about to lie to me I won't know.

He shrugged at me. "She told me that you had a rough adjustment when you moved away from Riverdale. And that you're back now to do better."

I nodded along with him. "I think if you're gonna be my baby-sitter then you should know a little bit more than that.."

"Like what?"

"firstly, saying that I had a rough time out of Riverdale would be an understatement. I'm only back because my mother felt that I was spiraling so much that this would be the only solution. And lastly,  they hid the fact that my best friend died while I was gone."