BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP ➙ TONI TOPAZ

CHAPTER ONE - THE DREADED ANNOUNCEMENT

CHAPTER ONE — THE DREADED ANNOUNCEMENT

In the early wakes of the morning most kids were sleeping, trying to hold on to each minute before they had to come back to school from winter break. That was quite the opposite for Bethany Stone who was up all night drowning in her thoughts. Thoughts that swamped her mind made her crave to go to school as a buffer for all the things she was feeling. School kept her busy, kept her from the lonely darkness that was trying to take over her body.

Soon enough the alarm rung throughout Bethany's room, she let out a sigh of relief and got out of bed. She got ready for school not missing a single beat, the night was over there was no time for any hint of sadness.

Bethany walked downstairs to smell eggs and toast being cooked by her mother, Emily Stone. She smiled to herself, there was nothing better than her mother's eggs for breakfast.

"Morning Buttercup, excited to go back to school?" Emily asked setting down a plate in front of her daughter. She knew not to ask her daughter about the anniversary of her father's death as that only ended in the sweet girl to snap, and having a repeat of that was not on Emily's agenda.

"I'm super excited, Cheryl's picking me up today and some of the cheer team is gonna get in an early practice today" Bethany beamed while taking a bite of her eggs. "By the way mom, your eggs are delicious"

Emily smiled softly at her daughter, for some reason today she knew all the right things to say and do and maybe that's how she coped. Bethany's father, William Stone, was taken away from her Sheriff Keller deemed a "Car Accident" but that crash was anything but an accident. Years ago Bethany found herself sneaking into Riverdale's junk yard with the infamous Cheryl Blossom and her twin Jason Blossom. The three snuck in to see her father's precious 1965 red mustang. As Bethany was checking the car for anything they left behind so she could hold onto but the only thing she could find was the car freshener shaped as a tree that read "Royal Pine" but then Jason and Cheryl found something that caught their attention and brought Bethany to see, the brakes pulled and in the car Bethany found a switchblade with "S.S" engraved into the base of the knife. Seeing that broke Bethany's heart but it also caused her to have the still standing grudge on the Southside Serpents.

"Thanks Buttercup, have fun today at early practice" Emily gave her a sly wink and smile as she heard Cheryl's car pull up. "Oh and tell Cheryl to come for dinner some time this week, I've missed my little red"

Bethany nodded and as she opened the door Cheryl strode in the house with a big smile on her red painted lips. "Mrs. Stone, you didn't think I'd pick up your daughter without saying hello did you?"

Emily just chuckled her smile bright as ever, "Cheryl it's so nice to see you, have a good first day back, try not to cause too much mayhem"

"I'll try my best but no promises" All three of them shared a soft laugh, it was refreshing for both of the Stone women.

Bethany and Cheryl walked out of the house and got into Cheryl's red convertible. Bethany looked at the cherry shaped freshener hanging from her rearview, then she roamed her eyes around the car. Bethany never wanted to drive, it didn't feel right since her first car wouldn't be the junker her dad promised to fix up for her. Cheryl knew what today was so she decided to be easy on the girl and not tease her and just enjoy the ride.

The locker room was packed with girls getting changed for early morning cheer practice, this wasn't something that was required but if you wanted to be in Cheryl's good graces you would go. All the girls were catching up on what they did on break. Out of nowhere the in the midst of all the girls chatting the PA goes off and they all look up and hear Principal Weatherbee's voice.