The Forgotten Blossom | A Riverdale Story

Chapter 28: New Girl In Town

The next day came easily for both families. Fp was woken by the doorbell ringing. He got out of bed and put on his dressing gown.

"Don't go, you're warm" Alice protested.

"I have to, there's someone at the door" Fp looked back at the woman before going downstairs. Another impatient knock was heard before Fp reached the door. He grabbed the keys from the side table, unlocking it only to reveal his 13 year old daughter. "Jellybean"

"Hi dad" Jellybean smiled. She was carrying a backpack and a small suitcase.

"Where's your mom?" Fp asked, looking around for his ex wife before letting Jellybean into the house.

"She's in Toledo" Jellybean replied innocently yet bluntly.

"You came here on your own?"

"Yeah, but don't tell mom, she'll kill me" the girl pleaded.

"If you wanted to come and visit us why didn't you just asked her to drive you?Fp ushered her into the living room.

"Well, mom that she doesn't want me seeing you now that you're back with Alice because she's a bad influence but I don't like her new boyfriend either" Jellybean chatted, taking off her backpack and putting it down on the floor.

"So she doesn't know that you're here?" Fp questioned how his 12 year old daughter could have made it from Toledo to Riverdale on her own on Christmas night.

"Nope" Jellybean looked around the room.

"Who was it Fp?" Alice came walking downstairs wearing only one of Fp's flannels and her underwear expecting to see Hermione or Fred, it's not like they hadn't seen each other in such a state before. "Oh, Jellybean" she quickly pulled it down.

"Hi Alice" the young girl grinned.

"Nice to see you honey, I'll be back in a minute" Alice rushed upstairs and got changed before coming back down.

"So uh, did you get the bus here?" Fp asked his daughter.

"Yeah, can I stay here for a while?" Jellybean hesitated. Fp stuttered.

"Of course" Alice elbowed him in the ribs.

"Thanks Alice" the girl threw her arms around Alice's neck much to her surprise. Alice gratefully hugged the girl back. All that was on Fp's mind was the fact that he'd have to phone Gladys and tell her that Jellybean is safe.

"Come on, let's get your stuff into a room" Alice led Jellybean upstairs. "Claire, Betty wake up!" She knocked on both of the sleeping girl's doors.

"Why?" Claire groaned from inside.

"We have a visitor" Alice replied.

"Fred and Hermione?" Claire exclaimed, sitting up in bed.

"Nope, someone else" Alice signalled for Jellybean to follow her into their spare room. Jellybean put down her bag at the end of the bed before falling back into it. Fp put his arm around Alice and smiled at his daughter. Claire came into the room rubbing her eyes. "Morning sleepy head" Alice pushed hair out of the girl's face.

"Morning, who's that?" Claire asked, referring to Jellybean.

"This is daughter, Jellybean" Fp smiled, pulling Jellybean over.

"Hey, I'm Claire" she put out her hand.

"JB" Jellybean took Claire's hand and shook it.

"So, JB, are you staying for long?" Claire asked.

"I don't know" Jellybean looked to Alice and then to Fp.

"As long as you like baby" Alice smiled and put her hands on the young girl's shoulders.

"Great, you wanna go to Pop's?" Claire asked. "I can show you around town a bit"

"What's Pop's?"

"A diner. I can show you the school and the park and the Bijou, Riverdale's pretty cool" Claire smiled before going back to her room to get ready. Claire led Jellybean out of the front door and down their steps just as Fred was getting his mail. "Hi Fred!" Claire greeted her neighbour.

"Hey Claire, who's this?" Fred asked.

"This is Jellybean" Claire pushed the girl forward.

"Fp's daughter" Fred put his hand out and Jellybean shook it hesitantly.

"Freddie, breakfast is ready" Hermione shouted from their open front door. "Oh, who's this?"

"Jellybean" Claire informed the woman. Hermione gasped.

"Gladys' girl! Come in for some breakfast honey" she waved for the girls to come inside. Fred, Claire and Jellybean walked over and followed her inside.

"I thought we were going to Pop's" Jellybean spoke quietly to Claire.

"Nothing beats breakfast with the Andrews" the other girl smirked as they walked inside the house. Veronica came downstairs still clipping in her left earring. "Morning Ronnie"

"Hey Baby Blossom" Veronica used the the nickname fondly but it still caused Claire to scowl.

"This is Jellybean if you're wondering" Claire quipped after Veronica failed to ask.

"Jughead's sister, right?" Veronica asked, smoothing out her skirt.

"Yeah" JB smiled as they sat down.

"Where's Archie?" Hermione asked, putting plates down on the table.

"I tried to wake him up but he just said that he's lying in" Veronica began to pick at her food.

"Eat properly please Veronica" Fred noticed what Veronica was doing causing the older girl to roll her eyes. Hermione sat down between Fred and Veronica.

"So Jellybean, What brings you to Riverdale?" She asked.

"Toledo got boring and my mom's boyfriend isn't very nice" JB shrugged.

"You know, I was good friends with your mother in high school" Hermione smiled.

"I know, she talks about you sometimes, when she's drunk. Different from the way she talks about Alice" Jellybean trailed off. Hermione looked at the girl sympathetically before looking back down at her plate. Fred took Hermione's and squeezed it gently.

"Are you alright my love?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine" Hermione rested a hand on her stomach.

"So what do you girls have planned for the rest of the day?" Fred asked Claire and Jellybean.

"Well I was thinking of maybe giving Jellybean a quick tour of the town, maybe catching a movie at the Bijou" Claire explained.

"Could I come with you? I don't have anything planned for today. Veronica asked.

"Of course" Claire agreed.

"Thanks" Veronica smiled. "Josie's performing at La Bonne Nuit tonight, you should come"

"I'd love to" Jellybean nodded, nearly finished her food.

"So what are you guys up to today?" Claire asked Hermione and Fred.

"Well, we have a doctors appointment and we'll be finding out the gender of the baby" Hermione smiled glancing over to her fiancé.

"Good luck" Claire replied putting down her cutlery. The family finished breakfast, Claire, Veronica and Jellybean left and and Hermione and Fred cleaned up before heading to the doctors.

A/N

long time no see 🤣 another part will be up tonight, i'm feeling productive 🙂