I didn't want him to go. I stared as my father threw papers into his briefcase.
He looked over at my sad face, his shoulders slumped for a moment.
"I know, Violet. I will miss you more than you believe is possible. I will be home soon." I couldn't help but stare up at him as he approached. Why did everyone lie to me?
My father wrapped me in a tight hug and placed a kiss on my head.
"Please, have friends over. Go visit with FP. Don't stay locked up in this house." He said before he moved out of his office and down the stairs.
The front door shut behind him, it echoed though the empty house.
A horrible feeling ran through me as if it was warning me of something darker than normal. I took a weary glance around the foyer as if I were waiting for someone to step out from the dark corners. I hated being here, there wasn't a point in anyone being in this house.
My eyes latched onto the third stair from the bottom- the stair that was once covered in so much blood we had to have a cleaning crew come in.
My hands shook with the memory as I let out a deep breath in attempt to steady myself from the darkness trying to swallow me whole again. I wanted to snatch my car keys and flee Riverdale, to never come back or tell anyone I was leaving but I knew I couldn't do that. I was either going to run or I was going to get as messed up as I could handle. The second option sounded better to me, as it always did.
Despite the tears that weld up in my eyes at the thought of how I would disappoint my father I pulled out my phone.
"Hi Reggie. I want to have a party at my house." The boy only yelled on the other line in excitement. Clearly excited at the thought of a party and also glad that I finally talked to him after the Quarry.
"Everyone will be there at 10 o'clock, baby!" The call was quick but she could only trust Reggie would share the word.
It was Saturday night. I didn't want to be alone in this huge house, in all honesty I was terrified. I had felt so safe the last few days having Daddy home, now it all felt suffocating.
I was scared of the Blackhood, if someone had gone after Mr. Andrews of all people, I was sure I was a much easier- understandable target. My brain replayed my nightmare of Sweet Pea being killed.
Sweet Pea. I couldn't help but let my mind wonder, where was he? Would he even want to come if I had invited him?
I called a number I hadn't bothered with in a long time.
"Hey? Everything okay?" His voice was concerned and soft as he answered the line. The noise in the room he was in was loud, I was sure it was the Wyrm.
"Hi Jug, I'm having a party. Everyone is invited if they wanna have some fun." I tried to sound excited. I used to have parties all the time, it felt like a lifetime ago.
I was "sober" now after Daddy had come home after three months to see me in such a state, immediately booting me into an out patient program. I hadn't ever felt like he had ever cared about me truly until then.
"Wait, Ash. Why are you having a party?" I really didn't have a response to this one.
"I want to get trashed for once." I laughed slightly.
"For once? Asher do you not remember that whole year? I don't know how I feel about this." I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him bringing up the worst year of my life.
"Who's on the phone?" A voice asked, I recognized it as Fangs.
"Jug, put me on speaker." He sighed but did it.
"Hi Fangs, I'm having a party tonight. Everyone is invited, free booze." I laughed and he did too.
"Everyone is invited?" He repeated and I knew what it meant.
"I just want to have fun, don't bring anyone who will start a problem with me. I'm not in the mood for it." I hung up right after.
I walked around and put away all the breakable stuff. Set up the big speakers and the pool lights outside. I called my hook up for alcohol- Tristan and had him bring Tequila, Vodka and a bunch of beers.
I made sure to lock my fathers office and bedroom doors along with my own to ensure nobody would get in.
I spent about an hour getting ready. I was in a tight black dress with a pair of platform sandals. I put on a dark red lip and straightened my bright red hair.
I felt pretty enough so I made my way downstairs. Reggie and the inner circle bulldogs showed up and soon enough it's as if the whole school was in my house.
I kept a drink in my hand at all times. I couldn't spot a singular friend of mine. I guess I really didn't have any, besides Reggie.
I had greeted people I recognized but it made my heart feel broken when I didn't spot any of my oldest friends. Archie and Betty, even Jughead nowhere in sight. I shouldn't be surprised by now.
I've always just been the tag along friend, who got in invited when they had a guilty conscious. I was the one who always was able to give anyone a ride anywhere, who always had an open house for them to stay at. Nobody really cared about me, especially after I was attacked. I became a burden when I stopped speaking, and part of me liked it.
I sat down on the couch besides Reggieas we watched teens play beer pong. I wasn't feeling any better despite the drinks I had consumed.
"What is it?" Reggie asked, compassion filling his expression.
"I just remembered that my only friend is you." I laughed and he smiled back.
"Well your snake friends just showed up." He leans up to look through the front window. Sure enough bikes were pulling up in a straight line in the grass.
I sat back with Reggie on the couch, I didn't let myself look for him. There was no point looking for someone when you knew they didn't want anything to do with you.
Jughead found me though, a smiling Toni by his side. "Hey there, stranger."
I smiled at him, feeling unreasonably uncomfortable. Probably due to my own personal reminder that Jughead wasn't really my friend. That and Toni was giving me puppy dog eyes as if she was begging- maybe apologizing for something.
I didn't want anything from them, I didn't want or need anything from anyone.
"I'm gonna get another drink." I said as I quickly stood, Reggie set a gentle hand on my waist as I passed him so I didn't trip.
Toni stared at the gesture.
She had also followed me into the kitchen. "I'm really sorry for the other night."
I stared at her for a moment before giving a slow nod. I really did not want to speak, I regretted inviting anyone over. I could have been drinking by myself sprawled over my large couch.
"I'm also sorry I'm about to bring it up again but Sweet Pea never said those things about you. Reggie did, that day you told him not to talk to you."
Of course he did. I looked away from her and made myself a third drink. My mind darkened even further at this information.
"Are you gonna say anything?" Toni pestered looking at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Want a drink?" I offered with a small smile but she only rolled her eyes at my comment.
"He really likes you. You've made all of us change our view on Northsiders. You're caring and aren't judgmental towards us. You don't blame us." Toni explained to me, it was making me feel bad.
"Did you really buy those new books?" She finally asked. It was true, two years ago I had refused any present from my father until he had agreed to update the school. We had donated new school supplies, backpacks and even some cash for clothes for the Southside students. And of course replaced the 18 year old textbooks.
I didn't want to admit to it, "I'm not special, Toni. I don't have a halo over my head or anything."
Toni gaped at me, "Are you crazy?"
"That's why I fell in love with her." The voice made everything in her lock up.
"You're my crazy girl, huh?" The boy had taunted, two friends at his side I was very familiar with. I felt like I couldn't breathe as I stared at them, their eyes stalking me greedily the same way they had that night when they had me on the ground.
I hated them. I hated that they were alive and I was left here- crumbling to pieces as they relished in it.
Toni let out a long whistle.
"Hey, Baby." His teeth gleamed as Malachi stepped close to me, even daring to twist a piece of my hair around his finger.
"Get out, Malachi." Toni had gave him a small shove away from me. Before he could get any closer Serpents seemed to come from basically any direction.
Tears were rising in my eyes quickly, I could barely look at him. It hurt to look at him. Every time my eyes made contact with his a physical pain passed through me- as if he was raping me all over again.
"Any girl who could kill her own mother I'd have to fall in love with, huh?" He laughed, it was as if my whole body froze.
No, he couldn't have said that.
The shine of cruelty in his eyes showed me that it wasn't my mind playing tricks on me.
Malachi was playing a cruel game of spilling my biggest secret and regret to the whole school.
AUTHORS NOTE:
Chapter thank you: Big hugs and kisses to @lilorain23 for my first stars and comments on this fanfiction! I appreciate the feedback and love so much, I have a lot more Sweet Pea I'm working and looking forward to posting!
Thanks to anyone and everyone reading, interacting or even adding this story to their reading lists! Writing is a major outlet for me, it helps me relieve my daily stress so it's so amazing to see the views on something I love grow!
Thank you again, @lilorain23 for the encouragement and positivity! So much love for you!🖤
-JAW