THE SOUTHSIDE TAPES (RIVERDALE 2)

In Memorium

Fred Andrews.
Fred Andrews Death.

"Hey, Dad!"

In one moment, one single phone call, your whole life will change. For me it was a motorcycle ride but for Archie Andrews it was a phone call from his father. For the whole entire summer, Fred Andrews had been away on business while Mary Andrews watched over Archie.

Sheriff FP Jones allegedly found me dead in Sweetwater River in a similar fashion to the late Jason Blossom which nobody, not even Hiram Lodge truly believed. Hell, my father has had guards come and go to Greendale looking for me, The Southside Starlet. Yes, people still call me that.

Bzzz.

"Hey, Peaches, I gotta take this." I said.

"Ambrose." Peaches commanded, "Go make sure Starlet is protected mmkay, boo?"

"Archie?"

"Co-Colette? It's m-my dad... He's gone... It was a hit and run. Please just... I'm at my house right now..."

"Oh my god, Archie. I'm so sorry. I can be there by this afternoon if that's..."

"Thank you... I just... He'd want you and even Peaches here with you to speak at his memo- god... I can't even say it." Normally the voice crack would make me laugh but not today.

"Hey, take a breath, Peaches and I will be there in a couple hours."

You see, even though I no longer lived there, I kept tabs on Riverdale and my loved ones especially Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Cheryl. Needless to say, Veronica and I have been distanced.

As I hung up, my eyes flooded with tears. Ambrose looked at me in confusion, "What is it, sister?"

"PEACHES!" I gasped, "FRED ANDREWS IS DEAD."

"Holy shit!" she said, "I'm guessing that was Archie Andrews then? We gotta go sooner than expected."

An hour later, Peaches and I loaded out bikes into FP's pick up truck with our luggage.

Ambrose clutches my hands, "Keep this, cousin. It's a miniature spellbook that i made for you. Each one can be completed with the flick of your wrist. I'll visit soon."

"Love you, Bro."

Next was Sabrina and Roz. Rozaline burst into tears, "I'm jealous of your vision still being somewhat intact but call me every night. I love you. Tell me if your visions happen. I have no one else to talk to about them."

"I promise." I hugged her, "Brina, say bye to Nicholas for me."

"Will do."

"Starlet." Peaches said, "We gotta get going."

-

"Anyone else have a memory of Fred they'd like to share?" Mary Andrews chirped.

"When I left town I made, uh, a phone call to your dad, Archie. There was no other adult I trusted enough after Hiram and Alice fucked me over."

"COLETTE!" Archie wrapped me in a hug.

"Hey, guys." I said, "As I was saying, I called your dad and he actually took time out of his own day to come and have dinner with my aunts and me. He even fixed their staircase that always creaked. And when Ambrose asked if he was my father, he said he wished he was." That last part made me burst into tears, "Archie, that was when I realized that Fred truly was what my mother wanted for me. Hiram never, no offense Veronica, but he never loved me. He just wanted to control me but Fred saw something in me that no one else did. He would call me everyday asking me if I was alright and lied to Hiram's men when they approached him. I can't believe he's gone."

After that we sat in silence for awhile before Archie said, "Colette. I think I want you to stay with us for awhile, like in the house."

-

"COLETTE! WE GOTTA GO! I NEED TO GET MY DAD!"

"Huh? Archie, it's five in the morning and I..."

"I NEED TO BRING HIM HOME, COLETTE! YOU AND I BOTH KNOW HE'D WANT TO BE HERE!" Archie was screaming now, "please."

"Alright, alright... You're lucky Mantle owes me a favor from a bet we made at the speakeasy otherwise I'd be opposed."