but I'll be right there, next to you, doing what I can to help. if you'll let me. - archie andrews

Homecoming week, apparently the most important week at Riverdale High. Even back in New York I was never interested in these kind of events. Veronica explained to me, since our best friends are football players and also head of the planning committee, I have to go.

"You ready to go Vi?" Veronica asked, finishing off her strawberries.

"Yeah, let the torture begin." I joke, following her out to the dining room.

"That's incredible, Paul." Our mum looked ecstatic while she talked on the phone. "You will keep us posted, won't you? Okay, thanks...Thank you."

"Some good news for a change?" Veronica asked, once mom hung up.

"That was your dad's attorney. Turns out, both of our statements did make a difference and the judge seems inclined to give your father a break." Mom told us, a grin forming on her face.

"How much of a break?" I demanded.

"Time served. A few more months, if that." Mom explained, looking throw the mail.

"And then what? We move back to New York?" Veronica asks, not looking too impressed.

"Or your father moves here." Mom shrugs.

"What about the crimes he's committed?" I asked in disbelief.

"Including, maybe, Jason Blossom." Veronica adds.

"Stop it, both of you. There is no proof that your father had anything to do with that. Violet he is willing to forgive you, so stop accusing him of things." Mom snapped, pointing a finger at us both.

"He's in jail because of the Blossoms, Mom, that gives him a motive." Veronica reminded her.

"Okay. Both of you need to be supporting your father, not demonizing him." Mom tells us, grabbing both of our hands in hers. "Again, for things that you have no proof of."

Then we need to find proof, I though. Veronica looked as though she had the same idea.

<><><><><>

"Violet wait up." Archie called, catching up to Veronica and me.

"I'll meet you there." I promised her, gesturing for her to go ahead.

"Hey, I just wanted to explain why I didn't call you after the party.
My mom showed up out of nowhere." Archie explains, as we continue to walk through the crowded hallway.

"It's fine, you don't owe me an explanation." I assure, trying to rush ahead.

"Wait, Violet, are we seriously not gonna talk about what happened between us?" He asked in confusion.

"Archie." I mumbled, pulling him into a quiet corner. "You have to keep quiet."

"You literally just told me you loved me and now you don't want to tell anyone?" Archie snaps, frustrated by my lack of interest.

"I do love you Archie..." I began.

"And I love you." He told me, cutting me off. "I don't regret what I happened the other night, Violet."

"And neither do I, but Archie a lot is happening with me at the moment. Everyone keeps staring at me, knowing I'm the girl who burnt a building down."

"I don't care about all that." Archie says, taking my hand in his.

"I just want to make sure we'll work out before we tell anyone." I assure him.

"Let's test that theory at the Homecoming Dance." Archie suggests.

"Unfortunately, I don't have the bandwidth to explore anything right now." I sigh, looking down.

"Well, in that case, what if we just finally get to sing that duet together? " He chuckles at the smile forming on my face. "I kind of told my mom I was performing with my girlfriend."

"You told your mom about us?" I snapped, a scowl replacing my smile. "You didn't think to mention this a few minutes ago?" I looked down at my buzzing phone.

BETTY
Where are you?

"I thought we were back together, you know after confessing our love to each other and having sex on my couch." Archie gestures between the two of us.

"I have to go." I muttered, remembering I had to find Betty and Veronica. "I'll see you at lunch."

"Violet!" Archie called but I ignored him, continuing to the classroom where they write the school newspaper.

"Oh, finally, close that door." Mrs.Cooper tells me, as Veronica and Betty stand in front of her.
"Ladies, I need you to look around the room. Whoever is not in this room is on the table as a possible murder suspect. Including those Pussycats."

"Oh, my God, Mom." Betty groans.

"Now, let's talk about your father." Mrs.Cooper points to Veronica and I. "He has an epic grudge against the Blossoms, so yes."

"It's totally within the realm of possibility that he hired someone from jail to kill Jason. Maybe Jughead's dad." Veronica admits.

"You really believe that?" Betty asks us, giving us a desperate look.

"My dad paid Jughead's dad to trash the drive-in. Maybe he paid him to..." I explained.

"Commit murder." Mrs.Cooper, finished for me. "And, for all we know, that gay Greaser Serpent is an accomplice."

"And what are you basing that off of? That you saw FP and Joaquin talking?" Betty snapped.

"It didn't look like they were talking. It looked like they were conspiring." Mrs.Cooper defends.

"Conspiring about what?" Betty asks.

"That's what I need you to find out. Either through Jughead or FP directly, without raising suspicion, of course.Which is why I have prepared a seemingly innocuous list of questions." Mrs.Cooper holds up a sheet of paper, waiting for her daughter to agree.

"I already asked Jughead, point-blank, if he thought his father had anything to do with Jason's death, and he said no. And I believed him, and I still believe him." Betty defends, moving closer to her mother's desk.

"Betty, you're too close to this." Mrs.Cooper warns.

"I'm not going to insult Jughead or betray him by entertaining this.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Homecoming Dance to plan." Betty gave her mom one final glare before walking towards the door. "You guys coming?"

"Yeah." Veronica nods, following Betty out the door.

"I'll meet you guys in first class." I call, waiting for the time leave before turning back around to Mrs.Cooper. "I'll help you."

"Why? I thought you were friends with the Jones family?" Mrs.Cooper asks, sending me a suspicious look.

"I'm good friends with Jughead, but I need to find out if my father had any part in killing Jason Blossom." I explain.

"What are you saying?" Mrs.Cooper tilts her head slightly, waiting for my reply.

"If you want to go after FP Jones, I'm in."

<><><><><>

"Sorry to interrupt, but I have an announcement to make." Cheryl announces, standing in front of our table during lunch. "One that tangentially involves you, Betty.
I'm bringing Polly to the dance as my date, and we're campaigning as co-queens of Homecoming Court."

"Why?" Betty wonders, giving Cheryl a confused look.

"Because, Nightmare Smurfette, by all rights, it should've been Polly and Jason on that stage being crowned." Cheryl explains. "This is the next best thing. So Don't forget to vote, and I'll see everyone at my coronation!" With one last fake smile, Cheryl turned and finally left us alone.

"Betty, about the Homecoming Dance, can I play a couple songs? I kind of told my mom that..." Archie cringed at the face Betty was giving him. "Whoa, you don't want me to?"

"No, no it's not that, Archie, it's just, um..." Betty struggles to find words, to gently let Archie down.

"This dance needs to be fun. And your songs, as amazing as they are They make you wanna slit your wrists." Jughead speaks for his girlfriend. "In a good way."

"In an amazing way." I speak up, noticing Archie's face drop. "But no need to fret, Betty. 'Cause Archie asked me to sing with him, and we can use some of my songs."

"We are?" Archie asks me.

"Aren't we? I can't promise you pop songs but they definitely won't make the crowd tear up." I assure. "Archie can I talk to you for a minute?"

I didn't wait to hear his reply, as I stood up from the ice cold bench and walked into the school building. When I felt him close behind me, I reached behind to grab his hand. I pulled him along to an empty science lab, making sure to check if there was anyone else inside.

"Not that I'm complaining, Vi, but why the change of heart?" Archie mumbles, leaning down to kiss my lips.

"Because I'm hoping you'll say yes to the favor I'm about to ask you." I told him, leaning back to avoid his awaiting lips.

"Hey, if it's gonna help you, then I'm in." Archie smiles, finally capturing my lips on his.

"Remember I told you that Ronnie and I think our dad might have something to do with Jason's murder?" I pulled away to tell Archie the favour. "Veronica and I have a strong suspicion he hired Jughead's dad to do his dirty work. Also, FP's done my dad's bidding before. He trashed the drive-in."

"It's a big leap to go from vandalism to murder, Vi." Archie reminds me.

"I talked it over with Mrs.Cooper." I sighed, knowing he won't take the news well.

"She's a part of this? Are you nuts?" He snapped.

"She's gonna keep FP busy while we search his trailer to find anything that links FP to Jason.
Or, more importantly, FP to my dad." I explain the plan.

"We should just talk to Jughead." Archie suggests.

"No, what if he's protecting FP or tries to warn him?" I ran my hand through my hair.

"He's our friend, Vi." Archie scowls, being to get angry.

"My dad is this close to being released, and my mom's in denial and she's ready to welcome him back with open arms." I inform him. "Me, I'd like to know exactly who we're inviting back into our lives."

"Look, Violet, I really wanna help you, I do, and I definitely don't want Jughead to get hurt, but I'm telling you, FP's cleaned up his act." Archie tells me.

"I hope you're right about that, Archie, because if not, Jughead could get dragged into something very messy and very dangerous." I remind him, before giving him a final kiss and leaving him alone in the classroom with his thoughts.

<><><><><>

I was at my apartment door, it was twelve at night. Archie texted me about twenty minutes ago telling me he was on his way over. We haven't had a proper conversation since I told him about my plan. I also talked to Veronica about it and she agrees to help us.

"Archie." I whispered, watching his barge past me and into my apartment. "If this is a booty call..."

"Look, I've been thinking about what you asked me." He panted, obviously he ran all the way here. "I wanna help you."

"What changed your mind?" I asked.

"Jughead. He's been hurt and let down by his dad so many times." Archie admits, joining our hands.
"And what if FP did help your dad?"

"That's what I'm saying, what if?" I mumble, looking down at our joint hands.

"But, Violet, Jughead can never find out." Archie told me.

"And neither can Betty." I add, knowing she would be crushed.

++++++++++++

I'm so fucking excited to write the next chapter! I love this episode, it's one of my favourites.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, please comment and vote.

~Nix xxxxx