HER- Veronica Lodge

The Blossom's Bash

        "Charles, do you have to go with Veronica?" Cheryl complained. "She was mean to me at practice and I just don't like her." "Cheryl," Charles spoke, giving her a look. "I already asked her to the dance, I'm wearing a matching suit to her dress..." "don't know why you didn't just wear the red one so we could match but," Cheryl mumbled but Charles just stared at her unamused. "Like i was saying, I already told her to meet me there, she's my date and that's it." Charles finished, adjusting his tie and grabbing his keys to the house. "And she was probably mean because you started it, like always. Now are you driving or am I?" Charles asked. "I am." Cheryl huffed, fixing her hair then grabbing Charles' hand saying bye to their parents and getting in Cheryl's car, driving toward their high school party.
         The siblings got to the school a little bit after the party started, "fashionably late" as Cheryl calls it. Charles texted his three friends telling them he was at the school. "Well, it's not the Met Ball." Veronica stated, walking into the party, unimpressed with its design. They all got quiet, and nervous. "Hey," Betty spoke. "When do you have to let Coach Clayton..." Betty stopped. "know about football?" Archie continued, making Betty nod. "This weekend." He answered. Veronica getting annoyed with all this school talk replied, "Guys, can't we just liberate ourselves from the tired dichotomy of jock/artist? Can't we, in this post James Franco world, be all things at once?" "I've been working on it, Veronica." Archie sighed. "Work faster." Veronica spoke. "I'm getting punch and going to look for Charles." She walked past Betty, not before saying, "You got this." Veronica stood at the punch table, filling a cup. Charles looked frantically around the crowd trying to find his date and when he spotted her, a smile crept on his face. Cheryl saw this and grimaced, she didn't want her brother with the girl she didn't like. Charles told Cheryl to have fun and snuck up behind the raven haired girl he was beginning to crush on. He saw her pouring punch into a red solo cup and being careful not to scare her or make her spill her punch, he slowly wrapped his arms around her waist. "Hey." He spoke in her ear, sending shivers down the girl's spine, making her automatically know who was touching her. "Hi." She breathed out, turning around in the boy's arms to see him smiling down at her. "You look very beautiful tonight, V." "Thank you. You don't look any bad yourself." Veronica blushed and complimented. Charles liked the music playing and decided to ask Veronica for a dance. "May I please have this dance?" He asked, now holding the girl's hand. "Mmm, i'm not sure, I was actually hoping for my date to ask me." She teased with a fake frown on her face. "Awww, well, what does this date of yours look like? He surely can't be better looking than me." Charles teased back, rubbing the girl's knuckles with his thumb, making her smile at the gesture. "Well, he has long, brown hair, these amazing green eyes, beautiful, plump, pink lips, i could go on." She listed, the boy now cheesing so hard, he was shining. "No need. It's a hard decision but I'll leave you to him, only because he sounds oh so special." Charles spoke, faking a frown to look disappointed, causing Veronica to laugh. "Oh, he really is," She said, looking up at the boy. "Come on." Veronica dragged the boy to the dance floor, smiling and shaking her head before wrapping her arms around the boy's neck and him to wrap his arms around her waist. Veronica saw Charles glance Archie and Betty's way. She had to know where they stood considering Charles acted like a brother to Betty but also a lover. "Charles, can I ask you something?" "You just did." Charles laughed as Veronica rolled her eyes and smiled. "I'm just kidding, go ahead." He spoke. "Have you and Betty ever, you know, had something?" She asked. Charles quickly shook his head no, "No, no, no. We've never. Look, it's complicated but let's just say Betty is like family to me." He said. Veronica nodded and smiled, "Good." Charles smiled as they continued to dance and play and joke. The song soon ended and Cheryl walked on stage. "Good evening, friends. Are you all having a good time?" She asked. The crowd cheered loudly. "As honorary chairperson and de facto queen of tonight's semiformal, it is my great pleasure to introduce this evening's main entertainment. To know them is to be obsessed with them. Though they usually perform their own material, tonight, they're making an exception and debuting a cover of the song my parents claim they were listening to the night Jason, Charles and I were conceived.This one's for you, JJ. I give you Josie and the Pussycats." Cheryl finished, before walking off stage. "Hey V, can we like, do something else? I'd rather not dance to a song my parents listened to while they had sex to create my siblings and I." Charles cringed. Veronica laughed and shook her head yes. The two just talked for the remaining part of the song, laughing and joking around. "Make sure those two turtledoves come to my after-party. Veronica and my brother too. I want to show my brother the truth behind Veronica Lodge. I'm in the mood for chaos." Cheryl told her minions with a smirk on her face. The party soon ended and the minions did tell everyone to come to the party Cheryl invited them to including Betty, Archie and Veronica. Charles lives where the party was being held but the minions still had to beg him just so he didn't go make other plans and not show up at all. They would know, he's done that before.
           The house quickly became packed. Veronica and Betty sitting next to each other with Charles standing by the fireplace behind Cheryl, sending winks and smiles to Veronica and getting some in return every once in a while. "It's game time at Chez Blossom, kiddies." Cheryl started speaking. "We're going old-school tonight. Seven Minutes in Heaven-" Cheryl spoke before Reggie cut her off. "Let Charles go." He spoke, making Charles head snap up. "Come on, C. Go in." Reggie encouraged. Cheryl looked at Charles to see if he wanted to go, making him shrug, which shocked Cheryl because usually Charles would never want to play games at a party. Cheryl shrugged as well, "Okay," She said as she spun the bottle that was in the middle. Veronica scooted in her seat. She wanted alone time with Charles, even if they went to the dance together, there was still so much she did not know about the boy. The bottle slowly started to stop before it finally did, pointing right at Betty. Betty's eyes widened. "Come on B." Charles said, extending a hand to Betty before they started to walk towards the closet. The door than closed and they sat on the floor of the closet. "So, you and Archie?" Charles spoke, wiggling his eyebrows, making Betty laugh then sigh. "He's so confusing. I don't know what I want from him anymore." Charles moved to sit on the same side with Betty, making her lay her head on his shoulder. "Look. You are funny, smart, amazing, beautiful, and great overall EC. If Archie can't see that, he's not worth it." Charles spoke, looking at her. "And besides you know he is a fake red head? Wouldn't want you dating fakers now, would we?" Charles spoke, making Betty laugh. "Thank you Charles." She said smiling. "You know, I always thought we were related. You just always been so protective over me, I wouldn't mind if you were my brother." She said. Charles' eyes widened, "Yeah..." he chuckled awkwardly, "Same." The door was knocked on and they knew time was up. Charles stood, then helped Betty stand as well, "Prepare to be questioned," Charles whispered making them chuckle on the way out. Veronica saw this but thought nothing of it. They're just friends, she thought. "Who wants to try in the Closet of Love second? My vote is "A" for Archie. Anyone care to second it?" She spoke, Archie and Charles made eye contact, same for Veronica and Betty. "Wait, actually-" "Hold u-" "Yes, Andrews! Yes." Reggie yelled, cutting Archie and Charles off, nudging Archie and snickering. Charles rolled his eyes at his childish behavior, it was obvious Reggie was tipsy or drunk or was it just because he was dumb? Either one, Reggie just annoyed him right now. "All right. Gather round again, kids. Let's see who's riding the ginger stallion tonight." Cheryl placed the empty bottle she had prepared for this game and spun it, walking around the couch occupied with people, keeping her stare placed on the bottle, Charles staring at the bottle as well, lifting his eyebrows with his arms crossed against his chest, nervous about the result of the spin. The bottle slowed until it just stopped, pointing between the middle of Betty and...Veronica. Charles dropped his head, shaking it then rubbing his temple. The bottle was obviously pointing at Veronica, no if, ands, or buts about it. Reggie gave Charles a look of sympathy before shrugging and snickering. "Oh, no way! It's clearly pointing to the new girl." "This should be fun." Cheryl spoke, walking back to her original spot which was in front of her distressed brother. After seeing how nervous Archie was and how anxious Charles was,  Veronica replied, "Um I'm not doing this." "That's up to you. But, if you don't, house rules decree the hostess gets to take your turn." Cheryl said, making Charles snap his head up to look at Betty, seeing her face drop instantly ruined Charles' mood more. Charles turned his attention to Cheryl and glared at her. Cheryl turned around, feeling a stare on her only to see her brother glaring. She knew how protective he was over his friends, especially Betty for some reason and she pulls a trick like this. She knew how her brother was starting to like Veronica and she decides to hurt him. She knew she was definitely going to have to pay the cost of this. Veronica and Betty shared a look, Betty and Charles shared a look, and when Veronica tried to look Charles' way, all she saw was the left side of his face with his jaw clenching and unclenching, fists balled by his side, since he didn't want her to see how badly this was affecting him. Veronica and Archie walked towards the closet and then into it, Betty and Charles sharing a look. "I know her brother died and everything, no offense to Charles, but Cheryl Blossom truly is the antichrist." Veronica said, causing Archie to laugh. He then looked at the timer and decided what other way to waste time other than asking questions. "So, uh, do you miss New York?" He asked. "It's been less than a week." Veronica sighed. "But yes." "Six minutes, twenty seconds." Archie reminded. "Okay. Your turn. Ask me a deep, probing question, to kill time." Archie spoke. Veronica chuckled and began to speak, "It looked like you and Betty were having fun at the dance." "Definitely. We've been friends forever. My turn." Archie rushed. "I didn't ask my question yet." Veronica challenged. "Is that all it is? Just friends?" She pushed. "We're not just friends, we're best friends." Archie chuckled, "My turn. Did you have a boyfriend in New York?" "No." Veronica said, she was kinda wishing Charles would be hers in Riverdale though, but the way things looked right now, it may not happen. Speaking of Charles, outside of the closet, everyone was chatting about what may be going on in there. "Maybe they're having sex?" One girl said. "Archie and the new girl? Oh of course they are." Someone else said. Charles looked at Betty, seeing the tears well up in her eyes quickly made him push off the wall he was leaning on, chasing after Betty since she was now leaving. "Betty!" He yelled, Betty still walked. "EC!" He tried again with no reply "Elizabeth!" He yelled once more, finally making her stop in her tracks. Charles never called her Elizabeth; Even when he found out it was her real name, he ALWAYS called her Betty or EC, short for Elizabeth Cooper, but that was then and this is now. She slowly turned around and just one look of the sad, sympathetic look on Charles' face made her break down. Charles opened his arms and she gladly ran into them, sobbing into his chest. "I know what you said about "he's not worth it , but it hurts Charlie, it hurts so bad." She sobbed. Charles took off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. "Come on, let me give you a ride home." He softly spoke. Betty nodded, head still in Charles' chest and they began to walk away. Back in the closet, Archie and Veronica were still talking. "My turn. Could it ever possibly become something more?" Veronica asked. "Are you asking for Betty or for yourself?" Archie spoke, inching closer to Veronica. "For Betty, and you didn't answer my question." Veronica said. "I have never felt whatever it is I'm supposed to feel with Betty." Archie responded. "Have you felt it, though? With anyone?" Veronica flirted. It was wrong and she knew it but she had to see where this was gonna go. "Yeah. This summer. Have you?" Archie asked. "Maybe once." Veronica said, thinking of Charles. "You're a little more dangerous than you look, aren't you? All boy-next-door-ish?" Veronica spoke confidently now, taking steps closer and closer to Archie, so close they were breathing on each other. "You have no idea." Archie spoke, leaning a little bit closer. "Your turn. Ask me a question, Archie.Ask me anything you want." Veronica flirted, now 1 centimeter away from Archie's lips. "We shouldn't do this." Archie whispered."We definitely shouldn't do this." Veronica whispered back, before leaning forward and closing the gap between the two, creating a full blown make out session. A minute or so passed and the two then walked out the closet, lipstick on Archie's lips, his hair scattered all over the place, they looked a messed. Somebody whistled and Reggie spoke breaking the silence. "Nailed it. Yes." The two noticed their friends were missing. "Where's Betty? And Charles?" Veronica asked, worried about the two. "She spiraled and fled, Charles went after her. Between us, she's a lot more high-strung than she looks and even if I do love my brother dearly, he's totally not a Blossom." "You shady bitch." Veronica barked, quickly leaving the house, Archie following behind. "Crap. Betty's cell is off . So is Charles' cell."Archie spoke. They looked at each other with a look of distress. "I'm getting an Uber." Veronica said. "Can I come with you? We should probably try to find them." Archie said. "Believe me. The last thing Betty or Charles would want is us tracking them down, together-" Veronica sighed, about to walk away when she bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't-" Veronica stopped when she saw who she collided with. Charles stood there, no jacket, tie loosened, running his hand through his hair with a blank expression on his face. "Charles," Veronica spoke, "where did-" Charles raised his hand, silencing Veronica. "You have no idea what I have to go through. My brother literally just died, my sister made this night the worst, and my "friend" played Seven Minutes in Heaven with my date to the dance. That was only hurting me but when you hurt someone I'm close to, you cross the line. You know how that makes me Archie?" Charles spoke aggressively, Veronica and Archie looking at each other then looking down in shame. "You two are the lowest, most disrespectful people in the school now. You know this night was going great. I was starting to like you Veronica and you just reversed it, you made me not wanna even breathe the same air as you. Do you know how hard that is? Quite frankly it's none of my business what you did in the closet, by the looks of it you sure did something and honestly I don't care.However, Betty does and you just-" Charles couldn't even speak anymore with all the anger built inside him, he balled his fist and turned to his left, throwing his right hand in the form of a punch straight at the wall, putting a little dent in it, he huffed, leaned his head down, looked back at Veronica and Archie who were now in shock, shook his head and walked away. "We messed up." Veronica said, now sadden by all the things Charles just said. Archie and Veronica just got the nicest boy in school to hate them. And so, it wasn't one heart that broke that night, or two or three, it was four. And the night was far from over.Because that night when Kevin and Moose went for a late night swim, they'd come to find the late brother of Cheryl and Charles Blossom. By morning, everyone would be talking, texting, and posting about it. We'd all be feeling it. That the world around us had changed, maybe forever. That Riverdale wasn't the same town as before. That it was a town of shadows and secrets now.On Monday, the autopsy on Jason's body would take place. And on Tuesday, halfway through fifth period, the first arrest would be made.