On Wednesday morning Callie was pouring her dad coffee as the front door opened, a familiar dog ran inside.
" Vegas?" Dad greeted as the dog ran to him, Callie looked and Archie standing in the house, the sun shining on him. His hair wasn't his normal carrot top color.
"Archie..."Callie breathed happily, she ran to him, he dropped his bag and the two embraced each other in a hug. " Your home." The Andrew twins have finally be reunited, haven't seen each other since the night that Archie got rescued from the juvie.
" Hey Callie," Archie greeted, he then let out a hiss of pain.
" What? What's wrong, son?" Dad asked as Callie pulled back, she has happy tears in her eyes.
" It's a long story," Archie answered as he touched his chest.
" Would you like some orange juice with that story?" Callie asked.
" Yeah," Archie agreed with a small smile. For the first time in months, the three of them sat around the table eating breakfast as normal Dad and Callie gave Vegas food from their plate. Archie told him his story from being out in Canada and the bear attack. " I don't remember the rangers finding me. I woke up in the hospital knowing that...I couldn't keep running. It was time to come home, back to a normal life, if that's even possible."
" What Hiram?" Dad asked.
" I survived a bear attack, Dad," Archie reminded him. " I can't live my life in fear of when he might come after me anymore. To be honest I'm more worried about him gunning for you and Callie."
" I survived the Black Hood," Dad reminded him. " Twice. Hiram doesn't scare me."
" He doesn't scare me either Arch," Callie said. " I survived the Ghoulies."
" He's not the only one in towns with friends," Dad stated. " What about Veronica? You reach out to her?" Archie and Callie glanced at each other, but the both knew what he had to do. He left and Callie went played in Vegas, she loves her dog and missed him so much.
***
After Archie reunited with Veronica, Callie, Archie, Jughead, Veronica, and Betty all sat in a booth at pops. She sat next to Archie and across from Jughead. Pops came to them with their drinks.
" Two chocolates, one strawberry, one vanilla, and a rootbeer float for Archie," Pops said as he put the drinks down. " Welcome home, son."
" Thanks, Pop," Archie said.
" Since when do you drink root beer floats?" Betty asked as she gave her card to Pops.
" I'm guessing I'm just not in the mood for a strawberry milkshake," Archie answered.
" New drink, new hair," Jughead listed. " New haunted vacant look in the eyes--"
" Guys," Veronica cut him off. " Archie just lived through The Revenant. Let him order what he wants."
" So what'd I miss while I was gone?" Archie asked the other four all glanced at each other.
" Well, thanks to the town quarantine orchestrated by my father, Pop's was shut down and just reopened," Veronica explained. " And he's also been attacking shipments to the speakeasy. But thankfully, I've hired the Serpents as my full-time protection, and that service extends to you, Archie.
" You don't have to worry about Hiram's goons coming after you, your dad, or your sister," Jughead said. " You won't be able to see 'em but I have guys watching you 24/7. And I have a possible lead that could diffuse this threat permanently." Jughead and Callie nodded at each other.
" What, Jug?" Betty asked.
" You can't tell anyone," Jughead warned as he leaned forward as Callie made sure no one was listening or watching.
" Fangs is deep undercover in the Gargoyle Gang," Callie said a low voice. " He hasn't met the King yet, but he's still working on it and when we get access to him, we're gonna take him down."
" My bet is that it's Hiram underneath the mask," Jughead suspected. he then looked at Veronica. " Sorry, Veronica."
" Don't be," Veronica dismissed. " I wouldn't put it past him."
" Well, there goes studying for the SATS," Betty sighed.
" What?" Archie asked as he put his drink down. " SATS?"
" Yeah, they're this Saturday," Callie informed.
" Don't worry, Arch. Callie and I will help you study and get you caught up, okay?" Betty assured as she reached across the table. " We all will." Archie sighed and put his head back as Pops walked over to them.
" I'm sorry, Betty," Pops declined. " But your debit card was declined."
" I got you, Bee," Veronica said. " Just put it on my tab, Pop."
*******
Callie was currently looking at all her SAT material as she stood at her locker.
" When are you gonna stop with the SATS?" Sweet Pea asked as he walked up to her.
" As soon as I'm done taking them on Saturday and I'm satisfied with my score," Callie answered.
" This Saturday?" Sweet Pea gasped.
" Yeah," Callie answered as she looked at him.
" I didn't have time to study," Sweet Pea offered.
" I recall suggesting we study together," Callie recalled. " But you said no because it sounded boring."
" Doesn't sound so boring anymore," Sweet Pea said as he took down an SAT book. " Please, help me."
" Why should I?" Callie asked.
" No Serpent left behind," Sweet Pea reminded.
" I'm not a serpent anymore," Callie recalled."
" Think of it as I am asking you for a favor," Sweet Pea suggested. " Instead of you asking me to teach you how to fight, I'm the one asking you to help me study for the SATS."
" Fine," Callie gave. " Come to the Speakeasy and Pops all week."
" You come to my trailer," Sweet Pea said. " We can go to the library, your house."
" I'm helping Archie study too," Callie said.
" He's back?" Sweet Pea asked alarmed.
"He's talking to Weatherbee right now," Callie confirmed.
" How is he?" Sweet Pea asked.
" He seems different," Callie admitted.
*****
Later that day Callie was in Archie's room, helping him prep for the SATS with Jughead and Betty.
" Iconoclast," Jughead said as he held up a flash card.
" Iconoclast..."Archie repeated the word. " Okay, iconoclast...That is..." He had a blank face, Betty looked up.
" A person who attacks another's cherished beliefs," Callie answered.
" I'm in high school, how am I supposed to know that?" Archie asked.
" Why don't we start thinking about the SATs in terms of strategy?" Callie suggested
" When in doubt, why don't you just...fill in all the bubbles marked D?" Jughead suggested Callie smacked his arm.
" Betty, how did I do on the practice test?" Archie asked. " I tanked it, didn't I?"
"Um..." Betty trailed as she looked down. Archie grabbed it from her to take a look at it himself.
" I got a 600 on this!" Archie said happily.
" That's your combined score, Arch," Betty corrected. " It's in the bottom 10th percentile." Jughead's phone buzzed, he picked it up.
" All right, gotta go, guys," Jughead informed. " It's Fangs."
" Do you want me to come with you?" Archie as Jughead stood up.
" No," Jughead declined. " I'd stay and get a couple extra hours cramming in. Callie, would you come with me?"
" On it," Callie said as she stood up. " If anyone's gonna get you up to speed, it's gonna be Betty."
" Bye," Jughead said as he kissed her forehead.
" Bye," Betty said.
" I'll be back to help you," Callie said. " Good luck." The two then left the room. They met Fangs in the bunkers.
" Jughead, Callie, I'm in," Fangs informed as the two sat at the table and Callie sat on the bed going through flashcards and making them.
" Tell us everything," Callie requested. " What happened?"
" The Gargoyle King," Fangs answered. " The other guys told me that he's impressed by my Fizzle Rocks sales, so he wants to invite me into his inner circle. They're having a ceremony tomorrow night. He'll be there."
" Fangs, this is huge," Jughead exclaimed as he clapped his fingers. " Where's it happening?"
" A clearing in Fox Forest," Fangs answered. " Not too far from here. What do you want me to do?"
" I want you to go," Jughead requested. " Don't worry, you're gonna have back up." After getting that information, the three of them went to the Speakeasy to throw a surprise party for Archie's return and study. Callie entered the speakeasy and was greeted by friends.
" What took you so long?" Reggie asked.
" Fell asleep," Callie answered. The lights turned off. Soon Betty and Archie came down the steps and the lights turned back on.
" Surprise!" everyone yelled, he looked surprised by everything. From the decorations to the people to Veronica being dressed fancy.
" What is...What is all this?" Archie asked with a smile.
" Well, it was going to be study party," Callie answered. " But that was before you came home."
" So now it's a Study/Welcome Home party, Archie, " Veronica informed. " Complete with musical amuse bouche provided by moi. So take a seat lover, and let me entertain you." Everyone went and sat down as music started playing. Callie sat next to Sweet Pea who had an SAT textbook open. As Veronica started to sing, Callie helped Sweet Pea with the mathematical section.
"
Como una promesa, eres tú, eres tú
Como una mañana de verano
Como una sonrisa, eres tú, eres tú
Así, así, eres tú
Toda mi esperanza, eres tú, eres tú ( " Carry the four," Callie whispered to Sweet Pea.
Como lluvia fresca en mis manos
Como fuerte brisa, eres tú, eres tú
Así, así, eres tú
Eres tú como el agua de mi fuente ( How do I make the carrot sign on the calculator again?" Sweet Pea asked. " Boy," Callie breathed as she showed him once again."
Eres tú el fuego de mi hogar
Eres tú como el fuego de mi hoguera
Eres tú el trigo de mi pan
Como mi poema, eres tú, eres tú
Como una guitarra en la noche
Toda mi esperanza, eres tú, eres tú
Así, así, eres tú
Eres tú como el agua de mi fuente
Eres tú el fuego."
The music stopped, Callie looked up to see Archie walking out of the speakeasy. She stood up and went after him.
" Archie," Callie called out as she took his hand.
" I kept getting flashbacks," Archie said as he looked back at her. " I'm not going back down there."
" I won't force you," Callie assured. " Come on, let's go home, tell me what you saw." He nodded and the two set out on foot.
" I saw Hiram at the trial, I saw him in his office. Then I saw myself smashing myself with a bat," Archie explained.
" You're overwhelmed," Callie said. " You see Veronica, but behind you know is Hiram."
" He didn't ruin my life, I did," Archie said.
" The boy that couldn't choose between music and football ruined your life?" Callie asked.
" I guess that sounds silly," Archie admitted. " But he was weak."
" He was strong," Callie said.
" I put people in danger," Archie said. " I put you in danger."
" I'm fine," Callie said. " Archie it doesn't matter what you did in the past, you have so many people who love you and will stand behind you and you would do the same for them, that is what makes you strong. The size of your heart for others is so big and strong."
" Walking out of there was a douchy thing to do," Archie said.
" You have been back for less than two days," Callie said. " You still need time to readjust to the changed town of Riverdale."
" People are going to be bad," Archie said.
" Let them be mad," Callie said. " They aren't in your shoes at the moment, if they were then they might understand why you walked out."
" You really are amazing Callie," Archie told her. "Aside from my troubles, you digging your own grave, you stood up to Hiram from what've been told. That's a dangerous thing."
" I learned it from you," Callie said.
" From anything I could teach you, that's the one thing you picked up?" Archie asked.
" It was that or leave town," Callie said. " Hiram hasn't chased me out yet."
" Have you made up with Sweet Pea yet?" Archie asked Callie looked forward. " I'm taking that as a no."
" I don't really go back on relationships or anything," Callie said. " Remember?"
" I remember," Archie nodded. " All started with Dilton Doiley."
" And now he's dead," Callie stated sadly. " After our fling ended in 7th grade, we avoided each other constantly, only was in the same room if necessary, I regret it now."
" You didn't know he would take his life because of some stupid game," Archie said.
" I could have prevented it," Callie said. " He seemed terrified at Cheryl's beginning of the year pool party, I could have done something."
" You didn't know," Archie said. " Don't kick yourself over it."
" You don't kick yourself over the old you and everything that's happened," Callie said. " You have definitely changed."
"As you said, I just need some time," Archie said. The two smiled at each other and did more catching up on the way home.