Take Me to The Races

Labor Day

It's been three months. I was eight months pregnant now. I had to waddle everywhere, pee every 20 minutes, and get my ribs kicked by my daughter.

I tried to stay stress free for the baby's sake, but it has been hard with Archie on trial for the murder of Cassidy Bullock. He was apparently some kid that tried to rob them when they were staying at Lodge's lake house.

I was sitting in the back of the courtroom, holding up my small electric fan which was doing very little to help since it was only blowing hot air in my face.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the evidence and testimony that was presented in this court tell a dark story. That Mr. Andrews has a history of violent behavior. That he started not one, but two masked vigilante groups. That he assaulted an innocent boy who was helpless with two broken legs. That he went wilding in the Southside of town and threatened to shoot a young man in the face. That while partying with his friends in the Town of Shadow Lake, Mr. Andrews ran into the woods and shot the victim, Cassidy Bullock, point-blank in the head. Now Mr. Andrews claims that it was his girlfriend's father's doorman who shot Mr. Bullock. A shot Mr. Andrews claims to have heard, but not seen. Who knows the truth of what happened that terrible night in the woods near Shadow Lake? I'll tell you who." The older blonde lawyer was talking directly to the jury. She's turns to point at my brother. "That man. Archie Andrews may be a varsity athlete and he may be a sensitive musician. But he is also a cold-blooded Killer." She glares at Archie before taking her seat. I roll my eyes at many points in her speech. Nick St. Clair was no innocent boy. I like how she left out the fact that Cassidy was robbing them.

Mom stood up to walk to the jury on her son's behalf. "Ladies and gentlemen, we know, for a fact, that Archie Andrews constantly puts the needs of others ahead of his own. We know he helped to solve the murder of Jason Blossom. We know that he offered both friends and enemies shelter when they had nowhere else to stay. We know that he punched through a river of ice to save the life of his classmate Cheryl Blossom. Let me remind you that there were no witnesses to the actual killing. There was no murder weapon. There was no motive. At the end of the day, all the prosecution has is cloudy testimony from unreliable people. Now, it is my solemn duty as a mother to protect my son. But as an attorney, it's my duty to adhere to the facts, to the evidence. There is nothing here that proves that Archie Andrews is anything less than an innocent boy. Thank you." She took her seat next to Archie.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, the charge is first-degree murder. You may retire to begin your deliberations. All rise." Judge said dismissing us.

I stay in my seat as people walk out. My mom's eyes went wide when she saw me. She grabs me by the arm to pull me out of my chair and out of the courtroom. "You're really pregnant." She reaches out to rub my stomach.

"Yeah," I folded my hands over my stomach. I felt everyone eyes on me. How as it that there was a murder case going on and a pregnant teenager was still getting attention? My dad and Jughead walk over to us. Dad didn't even glance at me, while Jughead stare at my large belly. "Dad?" I spoke to be ignored.

"You were great in there, Mary." He smiles at my mom.

"Thank you, Fred. It's only the most important case of our lives." Mom nods her head, hoping that what she said was enough to persuade the jury.

"You were amazing, Mrs. Andrews. Really," Betty joins the group to compliment my mom.

"Betty, your help over the summer was a godsend," Mom smiles at the teenager that was interning for her.

"Have you guys seen Archie?" Veronica came over to ask. Her eyes pause on me for a second before looking back at the other people in the group. The teens went off to find her boyfriend, leaving me with my parents.