The Forgotten Blossom | A Riverdale Story

Chapter 21: Dinner With Penelope

The next day was slow until later on when it eventually came the time for Claire to go to dinner with her mother. She sat at her vanity table getting ready for dinner with her mother. She coated her lashes with mascara and her lips with red lipstick. She stood up, looking at herself in a full length mirror, smoothing her dress and running her fingers through her hair.

"Hey twinkie, are you ready?" Alice peeked her head arounds Claire's door.

"Yeah, I'll be right down" she replied. She put on the perfume that Veronica gave her. Cheryl was coming to pick her up at five and it was five to.

"Come here" Alice said as Claire walked across the living room towards her. Alice licked her thumb and wiped some of her makeup off.

"Alice!" Claire groaned.

"You need to let your skin breathe baby" she replied. There was a knock on the door. Alice hugged Claire tightly, not wanting to let go, knowing what Penelope was capable of. Claire pulled away to go answer the door. There was Cheryl standing in the doorway wearing her serpent jacket and black skinny jeans.

"Cheryl! Mum is going to kill you when she sees you wearing that" Claire said to her sister.

"Who cares? She can't tell me what to do anymore, come on" Cheryl laughed.

"Bye Alice" Claire said turning around and waving.

"Love you kiddo" Alice replied.

"Love you too" Claire closed the door behind her and followed her sister out to her car. When they reached the large gates of Thornhill, Claire's heart started racing. Cheryl noticed her stress and held her little sister's hand. She parked in the driveway, got out of the car and knocked on the door. Penelope answered.

"Cheryl, Claire" she nodded. "Good lord Cheryl, is that a serpent jacket you're wearing?"

"Yes" Cheryl said confidently, taking Claire by the wrist and leading her into the main room. Penelope rolled her eyes and followed her head strong daughters. They all sat around the dinner table awkwardly, not talking, just eating.

"So Claire, do you enjoy living with Alice?" Penelope broke the silence.

"Yes, I do" Claire replied awkwardly.

"And what do you do in your free time?" Penelope asked. Claire was slightly taken aback at her mother's seeming interest in her life.

"Well, I help Betty at the Blue and Gold and I'm in the glee club and drama club" Claire told her mother. She could ramble on about her school and clubs forever but she didn't want to bore her mother.
"Hmm.. how common" Penelope smiled. Claire forced a smile back, she was just glad that she decided to live with Alice instead.

"What subjects are you taking in school?" The woman continued.

"English, art, I'm not doing very well in maths" Claire trailed off.

"Well that's not good enough, a Blossom is good at everything!" Penelope exclaimed. "Cheryl, please tell me that you have her on your junior vixen team"

"Well actually mother, it's her junior vixen team now" Cheryl told her mother.

"Well that's good enough, I suppose" Penelope practically spat. Penelope took the dishes into the kitchen and waved her daughters goodbye as they drove off.

"Rule 1 of being a Blossom, never show your weaknesses." Cheryl told Claire very seriously as she started the car. 

Claire unlocked the front door with tears in her eyes. She felt like a failure to her family. She saw Alice sitting on the sofa with a glass of wine and her laptop. "Hi Alice" She sulked.

"How was it?" Alice asked already anticipating the answer.

"It was awful! I can't believe you let me go!" Claire replied. Alice put her glass on the side table and put an arm around the girl. "She kept asking me all of these questions, like do I like living with you and stuff" she continued

"Well, can't say I didn't warn you" Alice said raising her eyebrows. "Now, go and get changed and take all that makeup off. Hermione and Fred are coming over to talk about wedding plans and Fp, he should be back from work soon" as if on cue, Fp walked through the door holding his hard hat in one hand and his car keys in the other. "Speak of the devil" Alice said getting up and giving him a kiss.

"Hi babe" they looked into each other's eyes for what felt like forever. Claire began making disgusted faces behind them.

"Didn't I tell you to go upstairs?" Alice said, breaking the gaze. Claire smiled sweetly and skipped upstairs. They all laughed.

"We are so lucky" Fp said once Claire was out of sight.

"The luckiest" Alice smiled back.

A/N

Another longer part today, what do you think of Claire and Penelope's relationship?