"I swear to god Jason! If you tip this damn boat I'm taking you with me!" Elodie laughed
"Ugh children! I don't want to have to jump in and save you guys! Again!" Archie rolled his eyes playfully
"Um??? I'm pretty sure I dragged your ass to shore!" Jason countered. Archie narrowed his eyes at the Blossom twin and Jason stuck his tongue out in response. Elodie reached out and pinched it.
"Ow! Elodie!" Jason whined as Archie threw his head back and laughed. Elodie secretly winked at Jason before shoving Archie into the water.
"Oh no you don't!" Archie laughed from the water, taking Elodie down with him. She screeched and they both fell in with a splash.
"Archibald Andrews!" Elodie yelled when she came up for air
"Elodie Nova!" Archie mimicked her. She splashed him with water.
"Jason Blossom!" Jason added from the boat. The two teenagers in the water raised their eyebrows at the boy. "What?! I was feeling left out!" He argued
"Come on in! The water's fine Jason" Elodie smiled as she swam over to the boat, Archie behind her.
He jumped in and they swam to the Crystal Lake.
The Crystal Lake was a place the three best friends had found ages ago, where the water was crystal clear (hence its name), and the plants and stones were multicolored, like lost jewels in the sea. The small pond was surrounded by cherry blossom trees and dewy grass and candles that the three had left there for lighting purposes when they came at night.
They all waded from the river into the small stream that lead them to the lake. Once the arrived, they all relaxed and looked up at the sky.
"I love you guys" Jason mumbled, smiling.
"I love you too Jason. And you Archie" Elodie replied
"Always the after-thought I see" Archie teased. Elodie and Jason laughed and she kicked him underwater, making him chuckle as well, "But I love you guys too"
And then they just sat. Peaceful. Content. For what would probably be the last time ever.
It's was 4 pm on July 3rd. Tomorrow, their worlds would come crashing down around them.
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Elodie went early to the river that morning.
She always did on this day every year, to start new and fresh in the world and clear her head. Plus, last night she hadn't been able to fall asleep, an old but familiar anxiety keeping her up. It happened often, but usually she had Archie or Jason to talk to. This morning, however, they had both missed all her calls, so she went for the next best thing: the river and Crystal Lake.
The woods were in an interesting mix of brown and dead and green and alive as she walked through them. Her fingertips brushing the branches. She never noticed the little cuts she got on her fingertips anymore.
As she walked she heard a noise and faint voices, letting her know that she wasn't alone in the woods that morning. Carefully, slowly, and quietly, she made her way over to the clearing from which she heard the sound. In between the branches, she could see Ms Grundy, her music teacher. She frowned. What was she doing here so early?? Then Elodie noticed she wasn't alone, a boy, who looked to be much younger than her, leaned over to kiss her.
As he pulled away, smiling, Elodie that the boy was none other than one of her best friends: Archie Andrews.
She felt like screaming, and then like vomiting, as she stumbled backwards, crouching down when they turned towards the sound of her basically falling over. When they returned their gazes to each other, Elodie got up and ran.
She ran until she found the highest spot on the river bluff, where she could practically see the whole forest, the river running fiercely through it. There, she sighed and sat down, catching her breath and trying to collect her thoughts.
"What the fuck Archie?" She groaned as she quickly took out her phone.
To: Archie 💓 Andrews
What the hell is going on Archie????
She shoved her phone into her pocket and laid on her back, feet dangling off the edge of the rocky cliff, trying to listen to the sounds of the forest to calm her.
The sound of rushing water engulfed her, tree branches swaying in the misty breeze. The forest was her favorite place to come, it always seemed so calming. For the first time in awhile, Elodie closed her eyes and dreamt.
Elodie was sleeping on the rocky cliff above the river, when the noise of a car engine woke her. She stood up and rubbed her eyes, looking around for the source of the noise. And lo and behold, the bright red paint was enough for anyone to recognize the car as the Blossom twins'. She smiled slightly at the sight of one of her best friends. The two were wearing matching white outfits and held hands as they walked down to a small boat. Elodie frowned.
'Hey, that's the boat we were in yesterday' Elodie remembered.
The twins entered it and started rowing towards her side of the river, the cliff she resided upon soon obstructing her view of the two. She tried to lean over to see them but couldn't without fear of plummeting down.
Then suddenly, the sound of a gun shot rang out.
Elodie jumped and looked around, one hand clutching her chest, only to spot the Riverdale Cub Scouts, and their leader, Dilton, showing them how to fire a gun. She sighed and relaxed, running a hand through her hair.
She startled again when her phone rang. She grumbled and picked it up without checking who it was.
"Hello?"
"Elle, it's Archie. Can we please talk?" His voice was as sweet as ever, but it was laced with a tinge of desperation.
The anger and surprise she felt for one of her best friends suddenly came crashing back with the memories of him in Grundy in the woods and she snapped at him.
"About what? Your affair with the music teacher?! Come on Archie! You aren't really that stupid, are you?" Elodie huffed.
She found herself getting upset more easily than normal and took a deep breath in attempt to calm down.
"Please Elodie, can't we just-"
"Save it Arch. I'm not in the mood right now" Elodie cut him off and ended the call.
Her head felt foggy and she only seemed half awake. She decided to go home and set off down the cliff.
As she walked down, she ran into a sobbing and soaking wet Cheryl, surrounded by a few boy scouts and a million police.
"Cheryl?? Elodie froze and stared in confusion at the girl.
"Elle!" Her voice strained. She looked distraught and desperate in a way that scared Elodie.
"Cheryl! Jesus!" She cried out before running to the redhead. Cheryl's eyes welled with tears and she began sobbing and choking all over again once she was safe in Elodie's arms.
"What is it Cheryl? What's wrong?" Elodie asked her.
"It's Jason" The redhead cried.
"What about him?" Elodie's heart rate quickened.
She always thought in worst-case scenarios. He was probably fine. Cheryl was always being dramatic anyways, she'd been that way since they were kids.
Cheryl cried and shook her head, unable to speak.
"Wait a minute... Cher... No..." The lump in her stomach rose and wedged itself in her throat.
"He's... He's dead Elle. He's dead" She whispered, before breaking down once more.
Elodie startled and woke from her dream in a cold sweat. She was breathing heavily, her head swimming, feeling like she was gonna cry. Once she had reoriented herself and calmed down a little, she reached for her phone. No response.
"It was just a dream. Everything is okay" She told herself as she composed herself and stood up.
As she descended the cliff, home-bound, Elodie sighed heavily at the thought of having to return to her home. To her parents. To Riverdale. To a dying town. But nevertheless, her feet carried her ever further.
She got in without her parents noticing, and just as she closed her bedroom door behind her, her phone began to ring. She snatched it up and quickly answered it.
"Hello?" She answered
"Elle, it's Archie. Can we please talk?"