Dare [unfinished.]

02 | INVITATION

"And they'll say, "I told you so"
Come on, when you know, you know"

- Only the Brave, Louis Tomlinson

— — — — — — — —

CHAPTER TWO
INVITATION

HOMECOMING. Of course homecoming was the talk of the week. Veronica couldn't even escape that aspect of school. Just when she thought that she'd been done with almost everything pertaining to the "shithole" the Homecoming Dance had to pop up when she'd been done planning that as well.

After giving Betty an article for the Blue and Gold, Veronica had put the dance behind her. Only for it to be the talk of the school for the whole fu— week. For the whole week.

Why were social events so important? All you did was mingle, talk and get drunk while others hook up in closets where they think they won't be caught. Veronica knows all of this because she was all of these people. After a while everything turns boring and overrated. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she heard the sharp excited whispers of "homecoming" and "dates."

Veronica opened her locker and didn't expect to see a card tumbling out. This ought to be good.

She leaned down, picking up the note with the barest touch of her fingers. The paper was smooth, almost like velvet, it did not feel like cheap lined paper they all used to take notes. It was thick, weighted, and when she read the ornate cursive script on the other side of the crème colored card, her heart dropped down to the pit of her stomach.

You are invited to the Homecoming After-Party at Thistlehouse. Don't be late.

Thistlehouse? Veronica questioned, haven't heard of the place in her years here. Then, her eyes widened.

Cheryl Blossom's house, well former house.

The gossip about her exile was well spread but there were no teases or taunts about her predicament like there usually would be. No one wanted to cross the Queen Bee or HBIC of Riverdale High lest they be exposed for something far worse.

As far as Veronica knew the Blossoms had two houses. Thornhill and Thistlehouse, Thornhill being the main mansion while Thistlehouse was given to Nana Rose and was significantly smaller. But that's not what made her curious, it wasn't.

It was the fact that she had been invited in the first place. Veronica had wanted to be a ghost, a phantom if you will, through the halls of Riverdale high it was fairly easy. But why was she being noticed now? Did it have to deal with the article she'd helped Betty write? Or was it because of the infamous Archie Andrews and his conquests?

She really hoped that it was the former, she really wanted it to be.

•

"REAL subtle Cheryl." Was the opening sentence her cousin decided to say.

"Honey," she started sickly sweet, opening her locker. "I'm anything but subtle. Have you seen me?"

Archie rolled his eyes, looking straight ahead at the lockers on the other side of the hall.

"She's not there right?" The quiet a bit tense for her liking. "'Cause you look like you're about to explode if you don't speak."