Lexy Andrews

Labor Day

Summer was supposed to be fun. Especially the summer before junior year. The year of S.A.Ts and trying to figure out what the hell you want to do with your future. Those three months before it were supposed to be your last months of freedom before you were caged in for the rest of the year.

Not for Lexy.

She spent most of it in courtrooms, listening to Archie's case over and over again. And when that was done, she was at home, helping her mother and Sierra McCoy go through the case over and over again. But she wasn't a complete robot. She also spent a lot of time with Sweetpea. At the quarry, Sweetwater river, they even went on a small road trip to New York. When she was with him it was like she was a different person. Carefree and crazy. The way she used to be before Hiram Lodge and the Black Hood.

Her trick was to keep busy, that way she wouldn't actually have to face what was happening.

Archie was worried for his sister. At the moment, the jury was 50/50. There was a big chance that he would be going to jail, and Lexy would be left alone. She had already been through so much. He knew that this was going to be the thing to push her over the edge.

"Hey Arch." Lexy said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Everyone was waiting outside the courtroom as the jury deliberated. Most people were looking for Archie, who was sitting alone at the top of one of the staircases. When their parents used to fight, Archie and Lexy would always listen in from the top of the staircase at home. It was easy for Lexy to find him.

"Hey, Lex." He smiled.

"How are you doing? I know it's hard, hearing the opposition say all of that stuff about you."

"Yeah, well, most of it was true."

"No it's not Archie."

"So I didn't start two vigilante groups? I didn't beat up Nick Sinclair? I didn't try shoot your boyfriend in the head?"

Lexy sighed and looked away.

"Those were different times, Arch. And at the time you thought you were doing those things for the right reasons." She said.

"I don't know, Lex." He turned to look at her. "But how are you doing?"

"Me? I'm fine. But it doesn't matter about me-" Lexy started but Archie grabbed her hands.

"Yes it does. This affects you too. Please just talk to me. How are you doing?"

Lexy hesitated. She didn't want to put any more worries on her brother. But she hadn't talked to anyone about this. Sometimes it felt like way too much.

"What if you do go away?" The crack in her voice broke Archie's heart. "I just... I feel like-"

"Archie, there you are!" Veronica suddenly chirped as she walked up the stairs towards them, followed by Betty and Jughead.

Lexy shook her head violently, trying to snap out of the worried and scared emotions she was just feeling. Nobody could see her like that.

"Uh... I.. I have to go... talk to mom." She stuttered as she stood up.

"Wait but Lexy-" Archie started.

"I'll see you in there." She dismissed the group before running down the stairs.

***

Cheryl's pool party was what you would expect for a Cheryl Blossom pool party. Strict dress code, cliché pool games, a big velvet couch for Cheryl and Toni to lounge on. Sweetpea stood at the edge of the pool talking to Reggie Mantle, of all people.