The Forgotten Blossom | A Riverdale Story

Chapter 11: Memory Lane

"Look who it is, my two favourite girls!" Fp said when he saw them. He grabbed Alice's hand, spun her around and kissed her lightly on the lips. She laughed, Claire thought about how happy Alice and Fp were, she thought about Hermione and Fred and remembered that time she overheard them talking about Hiram. She had heard Fred saying that Hermione would always be safe with him. Claire let a tear slip down her cheek.

"What's wrong babe?" Alice asked, noticing.

"Nothing, I'm fine. It's just- it's been a lot lately" Claire replied semi-truthfully. Alice nodded in understanding.

Hermione went back into the living room. "Who was it?" Hiram asked.

"Veronica, she is staying at Betty's tonight." if there was one thing Hermione Lodge was good at, it was making up lies to keep her husband happy. "So how was your trip?" she swiftly changed the subject but still managing to keep the conversation simple.

"It was great, I met up with Potterman and his wife to discuss the plans over dinner. Do you remember them?" he asked.

"Of course, who could forget Julie?" Hermione laughed awkwardly as memories of the insufferable woman flooded her head along with that irritating laughter. She smiled but she certainly wasn't fooling anyone.

"What's wrong?" Hiram put his hand on Hermione's shoulder as she began to cry. She looked away without replying. "What's your issue?" he shouted in her face as he pulled her around to face him.

"I'm sorry Hiram, I'm fine" she wiped away her tears and wriggled out of his grip. Hermione ran to their bedroom, slamming the door behind her. As she sat crying on the floor, fiddling with that damned wedding ring, all she wanted to do was call Fred. He knew how to make things better.

As for Fred, he sat at home with a beer in his hand as he thought about Hermione.

The way she fell asleep in his arms.

The way her nose crinkled when she laughed.

The way she ran her fingers through his hair.

The way her eyebrows arched when she got angry.

The way she squeezed his hand when it got to the scary part of movies.

The way she looked at him.

The way he looked at her.

The way his world lit up when she walked into the room.

He pushed the thoughts out of his mind. Hermione had Hiram, he was always going to be the second choice.

Across town, Alice, Fp and Claire were on their way home from the hospital.

"Ali, do you remember when we all carved our initials into that tree outside the school?" Fp asked, holding her hand.

"Oh my god! Yes, I remember. Me, you, Hermione and Fred" Alice laughed fondly.

"Let's go and see them!" Claire suggested.

"Ok, Fred and Hermione aren't on the best terms at the moment but I guess we can go" Alice said, willing Fp to turn around the car. He started driving to Riverdale High, slowly along the quite streets. When they finally arrived, Alice and Fp helped Claire out of the car with her crutches and led her to the very that the group had carved their initial into almost two decades ago. Once they found that tree a tear slipped down Alice's cheek as she watched Claire squeal with joy. A million memories flooded her head of herself in high school, how happy she was with Fp. When Fp noticed that she was upset, he wrapped around her waist, kissing her cheek.

"What's wrong Ali?" He asked.

"Nothing, it's just.. this moment is so perfect" she laughed at how sappy she sounded. Claire went over to the couple and snuggled into there hug, wishing that she could hug properly if it weren't for those damned crutches.

A/N

Whew! That was a long part, comment if you want more long parts. Also I just published the third part of Riverdale Parents Group Chat and updated the cover to this story, hope you like it 💜💜