Reborn

Just a Normal Student

The walls began to close in around me, but it seemed as though my body was paralyzed. I couldn't move, I couldn't scream; I just had to watch the walls and listen to everyone just scream repeating the same things over and over.

Money can't buy happiness
Who needs happiness though
When you have everything else?

I muster up enough strength to shake my head, but just as I do, my body, that I once couldn't move, I now had no control over. My left arm raised beside me with a gun in hand. I begin to scream and cry as it finds a place beside my temple. Then the screams stop and then the pleading stops. And a smile burns across my face.

Then...

BANG!

I dart up from my king size bed with a gasp. I look around the room. Everything is normal.
"Excuse me Ms.Holloway, I'm sorry to barge into your room like this, but you seem to have missed your alarms for school, you only have an hour to get ready now," spoke Deardrick, my head house keeper.

That's what the bang was, the door. Okay.

"Thank you Deardrick, I will make sure to turn my alarms up louder! I'll get ready now." He nodded his head and left as he closed the door behind. "Welp," I whispered to myself, "I guess moving to a new town doesn't get rid of weird dreams." I swung my legs over my bed and continued to get ready, putting on my usual, but also a bit more dressy attire. I make sure to put on my favorite maroon beanie and add a tiny bit of makeup. Once I've finished, I head downstairs, grab the toast my chef made for me and wave goodbye to Deardrick.
"Goodbye Ms. Maxine, have a wonderful first day!" He waved from the front door step. I smile as I walked to the car.
"For the last time, just call me Maxx!" I said waving back at him as I leaned into the car. One of the chauffeurs closed the door for me and continued into the back seat as the other began driving to school. So much for being inconspicuous right? I don't want to be noticed, but showing up to school in a fucking limousine is kind of flashy, but, that's my parents for ya. The only car they gave me just had to be one that I couldn't drive. I looked out of the window at the trees and buildings. I noticed a small diner. "How cute," I mumble. I drift back to my thoughts. I could have bought a new car, I have the money, don't get me wrong, but all of these people would be put out of a job. They all have families, real ones, not just me. But they are my family, or the closest I have to one. My family only ever acted happy. I never knew what it was like to feel utter happiness from deep down. I sound like a spoiled rich kid don't I? I didn't want to be born into this money, that's one reason why I left, I wanted to leave it all behind. But my parents wouldn't allow that, so now I have a 4 story house on the edge of town with everything anyone could need, and countless amount of butler's, housekeeper and just people to help me and I'm coming to school in a limo. Great.

"Money can't buy happiness." Thats what I always told my parents, but they didn't get it. I sure as hell did though. I felt the backlash of the money and it all leaded to depression, emptiness, loneliness. I went to therapy one time because I tried to kill myself before, you know? Okay, maybe more than just once, and I'm not proud. But it's hard when you're parents fake everything for money, even their love for you.
We hit a bump as we pull into the drop off entrance at the school. I shift uncomfortably in my seat as I notice people already staring and talking. There were news vans out infront of the school and people ready with notebooks and microphones crowded around the area. Nope. Nothing has changed. I guess I should have figured this would happen. My door opens and I see 4 big men in all black towering above me.
"Hello Maxine, we will be your personal security until things cool down here at Riverdale High."
"Great..." I sigh. "Thank you very much." They take my hand and help me out of the car, then all stand around me. As we being to enter, I watch students stare in disbelief.
"Thats Maxine from The Scarlet Flames!"
"And she's a solo artist too!"
"Oh my god!"
"She's going to school with us?"
"Holy shit! I'm gonna get a picture!"
I sigh in frustration. "Why did I ever think coming here was a good idea?" The bell rings which dismisses everyone to and from class. But apparently, there was an assembly going on today. I can only guess what this would be about. I sit in the office as all the students pass by on their way to the gym.
"Pft whatever, people already think you're undead Jughead, what are you trying to prove?" I whip my head around and look out of the windowed walls of the office. A laughing boy looks over at the same time and our eyes meet and are in an instant lock as his laugh fades to interest. His eyes were a piercing green and his hair cascaded around his face and the beanie he was wearing. His red-headed friend nudges him playfully and they continue on their way towards the gym. Was that The Jughead? I look down at my lap as a tall blonde girl walks in.
"Hello, my name is Betty Cooper and I'm you're student helper! I'm here to make you feel as comfortable as you possibly can in our school and help you with anything you need!" I snap back to it and shake Betty's hand.
"Uh, hey. I'm Maxine Holloway, but you can call me Maxx if you want!" She smiled and nodded. "So, this assembly, is it about me?" Betty nodded once more and began to speak.
"Yeah, it's just to let the students know that you're going to be coming to school here and to just treat you like another student."
"Thank God. Do you think it'll work?"
"I'm not sure, but we can hope! Let's go, you're gonna be late!"
"Be late? Uh, what the hell? I was not informed that I was going to have to speak in front-"
"Don't worry, you're just gonna go up and say hello, that's it. I promise you can do this!" She grabbed my arm and guided me to the gym, where everyone was gathered and sitting, while the principle was already in the middle of giving his speech.
"She should be treated as another student and only as another student. Even though you may know her as a pop star or as the daughter of the man who owns Holloway Holograms, she is just Maxine Holloway, newest student at Riverdale High School!" He gestured over my direction and everyone started clapping and screaming for me. I made my way to the wooden podium at the center of the gym and waited for the applause to die down and spoke.
"Hello everybody, uh, my name is Maxine Halloway, but I go by Maxx. Um, yeah! I'm here to see what public school is like, I've never actually attended one before, so, thanks for welcoming me."
"Hey! Are you going to sing for us or what?!" A boy in a lettermans jacket yelled.
"Um, no I'm not, I'm sorry. But yeah, thank you all for welcoming me here." At that moment, I found the boy with the hat again. I froze as he just sat in the bottom corner of the bleachers and typed on his laptop. He was beside a dark headed girl, the red-head from before, a smaller boy in a pink shirt and Betty. It was then that I realized that everyone was clapping for me and I was free to leave back to Betty. I smiled and left the podium as the Principal began dismissing people back to class.
"Maxx! Over here!" Betty called gesturing me to come over to her. I made my way over and stood next to her. "Hello," I said nervously to her friends as I shifted my gaze to the floor.
"These are my friends! This is Kevin Keller, Veronica Lodge, Archie Andrews and that over there, is Jughead Jones!" They all smiled and shook my hand, all except Jughead, who was still on his laptop.
"It's so great to meet you!" Veronica exclaimed
"It's nice to meet any one who is richer than you Veronica, or Cheryl, or both of you combined for that matter!" Kevin continued. Everyone began to laugh.
"Well, it's my parents that have all of the money," I say with a slight smile, "I don't actually live with them anymore." Everyone stopped and the group became sort of awkward for a moment until Archie began to speak.
"Why don't you-"
"Well, hello Ms. Maxine Holloway! My name is Cheryl Blossom. I'm captain of the River Vixens, that's our cheer team. Anyway. I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know that we could be friends! Or enemies, you decide. Okay! Bye bye!" She turned with an apparent fake smile and walked away. Everyone was quiet and everyone seemed too nervous to speak. I broke the tension and spoke.
"What the fuck was that all about?" I blurted. Everyone snapped their head my direction and began to laugh. It was then when I realised Jughead Jones had put his laptop away and made his way over to the group. He smiled at me and I exchanged the favor.
"That's uh, 'She-Devil Blossom', she's one of the richest people in all of Riverdale. Her brother d-" I interrupted Kevin.
"He died last year, yeah, I read about that," I turned towards the boy in the hat,"Jughead, as in Jughead191 on Tumblz? I follow your blog and I've read your story about what happened here last year!" Jughead's smile grew ear to ear and everyone turned towards him in shock.
"Y-yeah! I didn't think anybody actually read that! Also, cool beanie!" I smiled and adjusted the maroon beanie I forgot I was wearing.
"You're a great writer, so of course! Oh, and I like your beanie too "
"Anyway! Sorry to interrupt, but it's almost time to go back to class! So, I'll see you guys at lunch! And I'll bring Maxx!" Betty stated. We all walked to the lockers together, talking and laughing like normal students, where we split up to go to classes; I followed Betty to my class. It was nice to have friends already, at least, that what I think they were. I mean, they are acquaintances right now, but who knows? Maybe things will work out here after all! ♡