Chances ▻ Riverdale

34

Later on that night, Eliza was walking through the Wyrm when she heard a new recruit talking with a few older Serpents, "Eliza Clarke is leader of the Serpents?" The unknown girl asked in disbelief, "She looks like a biker barbie."

Eliza laughed slightly, walking over to the girl, "Why thank you..." She trailed off, pointing her index finger at her, "What's your name? 'Cause I have no idea who you are."

"Gladys Reyes," She awkwardly replied, feeling guilty after Eliza heard her say something about her, "Look, I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it in a bad way."

Eliza smiled, grabbing the beer bottle that rested at the table Gladys was sitting at, "It's totally fine, but I'm taking this." She told her before walking off.

Eliza walked over to where her friend group stood together, "What'd I miss?" She asked, wrapping her arms around Johnny as she did so.

"Nothing much," Johnny replied with a sigh, "Just that it's pretty sad that you're the only one of us that's actually graduating."

Eliza frowned in concern, glancing at the rest of the group, "What?" She questioned confused, "That...That can't be. FP, I literally just saw you at school last week. You too, Nate."

"None of us have enough credits to graduate and none of us feel like retaking senior year," Nate informed her, "All of us are just going to get our GED," He explained to her and Johnny scoffed loudly.

"What do you mean by all of us?" Johnny asked Nate with a frown on his face, "I'm definitely retaking senior year. I want a diploma, not a GED. And when I get that diploma, I'm going to shove it in my father's face and tell him that I proved him wrong. He said I would never pass high school, I want to show him otherwise."

"All of you need to pay up," Eliza spoke up and the whole group gave her a confused look, "Remember the deal we made freshman year? If only one of us passes high school, everyone in the group has to give her ten bucks."

"Hey, I wasn't even in your friend group back then," FP commented, holding his hands up in surrender.

Eliza nodded her head in agreement, "You get a pass." She replied.

Johnny smirked, wrapping an arm around Eliza's waist as he pulled her closer to him, "I'd rather pay you in some other way." he whispered to her, but of course, the whole group heard him.

Eliza smirked as she looked up at him, "Fine by me," She replied, pressing a quick kiss to his lips.

"Get a room," FP scoffed, giving them a look of disgust.

"Ooh is FP getting jealous that Eliza won't be spending as much time with him now that Johnny boy is back?" Teddy asked jokingly and FP flipped him off, "Right back at you, Jones."

Eliza pulled away from kissing Johnny, turning to the rest of the group, "So who's coming to graduation to come to support their leader graduating high school?" She asked and the whole group immediately agreed.

__________

The following day was graduation and Eliza sat with the rest of her graduating class, wearing her cap and gowns. Principal Haddox walked up to the stage and stood at the podium. Eliza turned her head to see Johnny sitting with the rest of her friends. She smiled at them, waving her hand. Johnny smiled back at her and waved before Eliza turned to face the front once more,
"Welcome parents, family, and friends. What a beautiful day it is for a graduation. Thank you for joining us today on this special day, as we celebrate all of our graduates. So let's get this thing started," He announced loudly, glancing around at everyone, "Fred Andrews," He called out and Fred immediately walked up on stage, receiving his diploma, "Clifford Blossom. Penelope Blossom."

One by one, the names of the students of the graduating class was called up. Eliza zoned out most of the names and only paid attention when it was someone she knew well, "Eliza Clarke." He called out and Eliza smiled when she heard her friends cheering for her.

Eliza walked up on stage, shaking the principal's hand. She received her diploma before walking back to her. One by one, the rest of the students were called up and a single tear fell down Eliza's cheek. She quickly wiped it, not wanting people to know that she was crying. She couldn't help it. Out of all of her friends and all of the Serpents in her grade, she was the only one to graduate. She felt sad when she realized that. Even if they were there to support her, she was the only one to actually get through it successfully. She honestly wished that the rest of her friends had been able to do it, too, but they weren't.

"Greetings, Serpent Queen," Someone spoke up, causing Eliza to turn her head to see one of the Ghoulie that kidnapped her over a year ago sitting behind her.

"What do you want...whatever your name is?" Eliza asked the male Ghoulie annoyed.

"The name's Cole," He introduced himself, "You killed my brother and it's time us Ghoulies finally make you pay for what you did."

Eliza chuckled, trying her hardest not to sound as scared as she was, "And how do you suppose you're going to do that?" She questioned curiously.

"Look around, Eliza. I have recruited members from every single rival gang nearby, all of which have been wronged by the Serpent in some shape or form. You're young and are capable of loving someone, unlike your father and Forsythe Jones. Which means, you have much more weaknesses that they ever had. We're going to start spilling the blood of every person in that inner circle of yours. We'll start with the ones you're not as close with and when we're done with them, we'll go to FP Jones, and when you're pleading for us to stop because you've don't want to lose anyone else, we're going to end the life of your beloved Johnny right before your eyes." He explained to her in a threatening tone and Eliza showed no fear toward him.

"I'd like to see you try," Eliza replied, turning to face the male Ghoulie as she gave him a cold stare.

Eliza frowned as she watched Cole turn his head and made a gesture with his hands while staring a platinum blonde haired man standing behind Teddy. She watched as the man pulled out a pocket knife from his pocket, ready to the stab Johnny, "Teddy, look out!" Eliza screamed out loudly, but it was too late, he already been stabbed.

The whole graduation turned into chaos as everyone got up from their seats and ran for their lives. Eliza rushed toward her friends, roughly pushing people out of the way. She finally made it to her friends and found Teddy's head lying in Johnny's lap while he sat on the ground.

A small gasp escaped her lips as she quickly covered her mouth when she saw all the blood. Teddy's eyes were open, but he didn't blink at all. They were lifeless. Johnny looked up at Eliza with tears threatening to spill from his eyes, "He's dead. Teddy's dead," He spoke up in a fragile voice, "That guy killed him."

AN: I'm going to make this a part one and part two book with a bit off added cast when part two is started. Part two will be the next chapter and it will be about a 2-3 year time jump. The conflict with the Ghoulies will still continue, also.