Aftermath

Part 1

Betty walked in to the old-fashioned speakeasy. The familiar smell immediately made her nostalgic. Her memories in here came flooding back; playing Midnight Radio with her four best friends, attended her then-boyfriend Jughead's dad's birthday party, throwing a "study session" for Archie Andrews after he was freed from prison. Alas, that was five years ago. Today, she descends down the staircase on her boyfriend Reggie's arm.

She scanned the room, looking at the familiar faces of her old friends. The only one she had stayed in contact after everything that happened senior year was her cousin Cheryl, who ran to Betty to give her a tight squeeze.

"Hey Cheryl-" Betty started but was interrupted by her cousin.

"Hello cousin, it's been so long!" She said, but Betty was more distracted by the others in the room as she caught their gaze from over Cheryl's shoulder.

"Yea..." Betty said, clearly distracted as she noticed everyone and how they'd changed.

Archie sat at a table, a beer in hand, as his stare burned Betty. She had cut off all ties with Archie after they'd kissed in high school. Of course he reached out, but Betty denied every friend request and blocked every number.

Next, Veronica. She wore a tight plain black shirt, a red and black plaid mini-skirt, and a maroon overcoat that matched her skirt. Veronica stood behind the bar, giving Betty and Reggie both a dirty look.

Then Kevin who say next to Fangs on the end of the stage. Kevin wore jeans and a brown sweater while fangs wore a gray shirt that was slightly tucked into black jeans. Fangs leaned back on his hands and rested one behind Kevin.

Last, but certainly not least, Jughead. He stood in the corner, and he was relentless. It was almost as if his eyes were glued to her. She had seen him out of her peripheral vision, but now she could really look at him. Their eyes met and for a moment it was like everything came to a halt. It may have been fleeting, but it was there. Betty felt it. In that short second, she saw a smirk grow on his face but he quickly suppressed it. But she saw it. She saw him. Although their gaze was interrupted when he looked away, turning to the little girl on his hip. She had dropped her pacifier. He reached down to pick it up and then trade it for an identical one. He gave it back to her, then looked back up. The little girl couldn't be older then two, and she had dark brown hair pulled back into pigtails.

Betty followed Cheryl to a random table with Reggie trailing behind them. Cheryl sat on one side while Betty and Reggie sat next to each other on the other. At the same time, as if it were planned, they went to hold each other's hand. Once their fingers intertwined, the two made eye contact and smiled at each other. Betty couldn't help how much she adored Reggie and she couldn't believe how cute he was when he had that boyish smile and glint in his eye. He reached down for her chair and pulled it closer to him so that the chairs were right next to each other as if they were one. Betty instinctively giggled before leaning on him as he wrapped an arm around her and kissed her forehead. Reggie whispered "I love you," in her ear. She didn't get the chance to respond.

"So..." Veronica started the awkward conversation. "Did everyone bring the invitations?" Betty reached into her purse to grab her and Reggie's. The invitations were sent in red envelopes with a card inside. It said the name of the person it was sent to in gold cursive along with "Le Bonne Nuit Speakeasy, Riverdale, 4/17/2025. The Gargoyle King Awaits." Of course, returning to the small town was a difficult decision, especially with how accustomed Betty and Reggie had gotten to their life in New York. She had managed to climb the ranks at New York Times from an intern to an editor. Meanwhile, Reggie had been working as a bouncer at a popular nightclub called "Rook." When they had gotten their letters, their first instinct was to throw them away, tear them up, act as though nothing had happened. Of course, Betty wanted to think. The more she thought, the more she realized they had to go. If they didn't, it was likely bad things would happen considering their history with the "Gargoyle King." Betty places both letter on the table as the rest of the group took out theirs.

"Well where is he?" Archie said, causing Jughead to chuckle a little in the corner of the room.

"You expect the Gargoyle King to be here? Ready to slaughter us all like lambs?" Veronica teased. Betty felt bad for Archie, he just asked a question.

"Well he's obviously not here... unless one of you wrote them..." She suggested.

"Who the hell would have done that?" Veronica said.

"Hey I'm just saying-" She started but was interrupted when Veronica continued.

"Believe me Betty I doubt anyone wants that chapter of our lives reopened we've all moved on from the trials of junior year I mean- Jughead has a child now!"

"I can see that but it only makes sense-"

"Oh shut up already Nancy Drew," She taunted Betty, and of course it made her mad. Betty just looked away and bit her tongue, not wanting it to become something much bigger.

"Well why don't we all... catch up? while we're here?" Kevin said, causing a wide variety of different looks from everyone. "I mean obviously the damn Gargoyle King isn't gonna come out of those curtains and give us a fashion show. We should... talk. Maybe that's what he wants."

"Yes of course Kevin, because the Gargoyle King wants us all to be best friends and love each other and sing kumbaya" Cheryl retorted, she started sarcastic but got more and more aggressive as she went on.

"Well I'd be lying if i said I wasn't curious about what's happening with you guys now..." Betty said. The room went silent. "I mean... I'll start?"

"Okay," Jughead said. She smiled at him for a second before forcing herself to look away.