Riverdale High Class

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Thicker than Blood. More precious than oil. Riverdale's big business is maple syrup. Since the town's founding, one family has controlled its lucrative syrup trade, the Blossoms. They were a part of the fabric of our daily lives... Rich or poor, old or young, we consumed Blossom syrup by the bucket. That sickly sweet smell was inescapable. The death of Jason Blossom precipitated a crisis. With heir apparent gone, who would inherit the family business one day? Certainly not Cheryl. It was a question that brought the wolves to Riverdale. And now, the Blossoms were circling the wagons against possible attack, from within their own ranks.
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Mercy POV

I walk into the student lounge and Veronica smiles at me and Bughead behind me.

Veronica:Just in time, we're celebrating.

Kevin:Archie was just telling us how he's going to some super- exclusive music program this summer.

Archie:Maybe. If it happens, though, it would be huge for me.

Jughead:Do you have to audition for it?

Archie:Well not exactly. Mrs. Blossom came by earlier and said she'd put a good word in for me.

Kevin:Amazing.

Veronica:Terrifying.

Jughead: uh huh. What's she getting out of it?

Archie:I told her I'd take Cheryl to their family's tree-tapping thing. I already talked to Valerie, and she's cool with it.

Jughead:Cool with you being a gigolo now?

Archie:I'm doing someone a favor for my music, Jughead. I need to make connections outside of Riverdale.

Veronica:That's the way of the world.

I just look at all of them talk, head banging from the stress and anxiety. God help me.

Kevin:What's wrong with you Mercy?

Betty:Yeah, you haven't spoken all day.

Veronica:Yeah, no slick comments have be thrown not once.

I cut my eyes to her then shake my head.

Me:Nothing, I've just been in my head all day.

Kevin:Well get out of it and tell me where you got that top from I love it and does it come in men's sizes and fit?

I look at my long sleeve jersey shirt and nod. I grab my phone and send Kevin the link to the website he thanks me and I sit deeper into the couch. Jughead sits next to me and puts a arm behind me, moving it so it's on my neck and he pulls me into him.

Jughead:Is everything okay?

Me:Yeah.

Jughead:You sure? Did something happen at my dad's house? You stayed back after me and Betty left.

I see the rising anger in his eyes and grin shaking my head.

Me:He didn't do anything Jug, it's just a bad day mentally for me. I'm exhausted mentally.

Jughead:Okay, well you know I'm here for you.

I smile and nod. He moves his arm and rubs my arm, I stiffen slightly when he rubs at the bruise and goes to sit back with Betty.

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I lay in bed, my books all around me, the notebooks on top of them. I can't concentrate and I don't feel like studying, I don't feel like school and I can't wait until break. I hear a knock on my door and I sit up telling my mom to come in. She walks in and moves a book before looking at me with a sad smile.