Riverdale's Finest

Melody's mum pulled up out the front of Riverdale high, the nausea that had been stirring in the brunette's stomach was becoming almost too much to bare. She turned to her mother wanting to beg her not to make her go but the look she received in return was one that said she had to.

"Alright love have a good day," her mothers tone was light and she leant over and kissed her daughter on the head, Melody smiled.

"Thanks mum... I'll try." with that she stepped out of the car pushing her glasses over her head and heading straight for the front desk where she was hoping someone would be able to help her find her way around this new place.

Melody and her family had moved to Riverdale because her father decided on a sea change, and by sea change he meant flying halfway across the world to live in a place where at the moment it was dark and dreary. She missed Australia, her actual home. She missed the summer sun, the laid back style and most importantly the ocean. As she walked toward the office her eyes skimmed the sea of students. It was vastly different from home. You could tell where everyone stood in the school hierarchy chain. The populars where, she was assuming, the butch guys wearing blue and yellow jackets with Riverdale something on them, she wasn't really paying attention. Then there were the girls in their cheerleading dresses and the rest were low on the food chain which is exactly where she was, and planned on staying.

---

Archie had just arrived at school, he had been standing in the car park for what seemed like ages until he spotted her, Ms Grundy. He had to talk to her. He had to tell her what had been going on with him since July fourth, the nightmares, the constant weight on his shoulders. He weaved through the cars until he met her.

"Ms Grundy," he spoke the woman spun and the shock on her face was apparent.

"Archie," she instantly became flustered, "How can I help you?"

"Can we talk?" he paused briefly, "In privet?"

"Archie I don't have time for this it is first day back and I have so much to do. I'm sorry," with that she hurried off. The fiery haired male watched after her before sighing and walking back toward the entrance of the school. This was going to be one hell of a year.

Jughead had surprising been asked to give a new student the grand tour of Riverdale High, why Principal Weatherbee asked him was strange. He had been expecting someone like Betty Cooper, to give the new student the tour as she was the perfect student.

Jughead’s grades weren’t horrible, he wasn’t failing any of his classes, but he just didn’t really put himself out there like Betty did. But he still agreed to give the tour, which is why he was standing by the front desk waiting for Melody to show up, he was pretty sure that was her name.

Turning around his light eyes scanned the students, until his eyes landed on someone who he didn’t recognise and looked rather out of place. “Hi Melody, right?” He asked her as he wanted to make sure he knew her name before he showed her around, once he saw her nod, he sent her a smile.

“I’m Jughead, I’ll be giving you the tour today. I have your class schedule and your locker number, so are you ready? It’s not as bad as it looks here,” He tried to reassure her, he hadn’t ever transferred schools before. He didn’t know what it was like to come to a new school, to not know anyone and to not know your way around.

---

Mia stood at her locker, taking the books from her backpack and placing them inside her locker. The summer hadn’t been great for her, Archie had cancelled the camping trip that he was going on with herself and Jughead. He cancelled right at the last second, and didn’t give either twin an explanation. Which resulted in her brother avoiding their best friend at all costs, then Jughead moved out of the family trailer when their dad started drinking more.

Mia stayed at home because she felt like someone had to take care of him, he had only gotten worse since her mom moved back in with her parents and took Jellybean with her. Mia started working at Pop’s diner, so they would have money for food and bills, it was a tough summer and what made it worse was not seeing Archie. Jug didn’t want Mia to see him, not until he told them the reason why the red head ditched them.

Closing her locker door, Mia looked around the hallway until her eyes landed on Archie. They had been best friends since they were kids, but just recently Mia felt differently towards Archie. Her feelings for him changed, grew stronger and she realised that she didn’t want to be friends with him anymore. She wanted more, but she had kept that to herself. She wouldn’t dare tell anyone, especially not Archie.

Archie was walking toward his locker when his eyes landed on a raven haired girl, Mia Jones, he shot her a smile even though he felt like he was being kicked in the stomach. The way she looked at him, the hurt and confusion in her eyes, it was almost too much for him to bare.

Mia was Jughead's twin sister and like Jug Mia and him had been friends since they were small. But ever since he backed out of their road trip neither one had talked to him. He didn't want it to be like this but every time he went to talk to Jug the male would re-route and avoid him.

Clearing his throat the red head advanced toward the girl, he wanted to talk to her, god did he want to talk to her. To apologise for not coming on the road trip, to ask what he could do to make Jughead stop avoiding him. He wanted to know if she was okay? How her job at Pop's was going? How her family life was going, there was so much he wanted to ask her but he had never had the chance, so now he was going to do it. He was going to bite the bullet and try to talk to her.

---

Melody had entered the office when she saw a dark haired male with a crown-like beanie on. Lifting her glasses she smiled at the male.

"Yeah Hi, nice to meet you." she reached out her hand to greet the male, "Thank god I thought I was going to have to find my own way around here... I'm ready when you are Jughead... nice name by the way," she smiled at him before the two began to walk off. As she two walked her eyes scanned over the male, he was tall, lanky, but that could also be the fact that his clothes were extremely loose and baggy on him. However he had a nice face, defined nose, and hypnotic blue eyes.

"So is there anything I need to know? Any teachers, students to look out for?" she hoped she wasn't talking to fast for him and that he could understand her thick Australian accent.

“Thank you,” Jughead looked at her and smiled when she complimented on his nickname, most people thought it was stupid and often told him so. Not that he cared in the slightest. Walking through the hallways of the school, he pointed out the different classrooms that she would have throughout the day. “The teachers are surprisingly amazing here, so you don’t have to worry about them. Probably stay away from Cheryl Blossom, cheerleader with long red hair. A lot of family stuff going on there,” He warned Melody as he still couldn’t believe that her twin brother, Jason Blossom, had gone missing. That he had drowned in Sweetwater River, yet there still wasn’t a body.

“Also, I’d reckon staying away from the football team, unless you actually want to kill off all your brain cells.” Jughead grinned as he glanced over to her, she was Australian, and he found himself wanting to hear her voice again. She was beautiful, long dark hair and striking eyes to match. “You’ve come a long way, what made you move to Riverdale?” He asked as he was curious, it was probably the worst time to move to Riverdale. With Jason’s death, which Jug didn’t understand. Jason had been on the water polo team, he was a strong swimmer and, yet he drowned. It didn’t make sense to Jughead.

---

Mia watched as Archie headed towards her, she didn’t leave or try to avoid him because she was tired of not talking to her friend. “You suck, you know that. Jug and I had looked forward to that road trip so for long, you knew that.” She blurted out before Archie could even open his mouth to say hi to her, she was still hurt over him cancelling because that trip was going to be an escape for her and Jughead. An escape from their dad’s drinking, from the crime he now committed with the Southside Serpents. None of which Archie knew about, Mia didn’t have the courage to tell him and she thought if she ignored what her dad was doing, he’d stop.

Sighing, Mia did feel a little better now that she had gotten that off her chest. “How was the rest of your summer?” She asked him as she wasn’t as upset as what her brother was, she wanted Archie back in her life. She had missed him so much, especially when she’d seen him around town and yet couldn’t talk to him. She hated not talking to him, she also couldn’t hold grudges for very long. She knew Archie would tell her the reason he cancelled the road trip when he was ready, she just hoped it wasn’t because he had gotten himself a girlfriend. Although, she would understand if he had. He was the perfect guy, in her eyes at least.

Archie didn't even have a chance to say anything before Mia was down his throat about the road trip, it made him feel worse than he already did. Sighing he looked down at the ground kicking the ground with his shoe.

"And I am really sorry but something came up," it wasn't a lie but it wasn't the full truth either, he hate lying to Mia and Jug but what he was doing he had to keep to himself, especially considering what happened. He didn't want to but he was certain that if he told anyone there would be serve consequences. Lifting his eyes he looked at Mia she had dark hair just like her brother and those bright blue eyes that could suck you in.

He shrugged his shoulders, "It was alright... I mean I worked with my dad so how good can that be?" he didn't mind working with his dad but as of late he had come to the realisation that he didn't actually want to end up like his dad, he didn't want to be a construction working. He wanted to be a musician. Something he hadn't told many people and he especially hadn't told his father. "What about you? Don't tell me you worked all of it." he hoped she hadn't she had been busting her guts everyday she deserved some kind or break. He had hoped her and Jug had gone on the road trip without him just so the two of them could get away even if it was only for a while.

---

"Oh..." Melody looked over at the cheerleader, she was standing against her locker with two other girls dressed in the same cheer dress, the red haired girl looked up her eyes locking with Melody's and she could see the pain and sadness in them. Instantly she wanted to know what happened but she had a feeling that she would know soon enough. The brunette laughed at his comment about the jocks. "Believe me Jughead I plan on staying as far away as possible from those bozos."

Melody turned her full attention to the dark haired male who walked beside her, "Dad wanted a sea change, I thought we would just move to Melbourne or something but apparently he wanted a sea change halfway across the world so here we are." Naturally Melody hadn't been looking where she was going so she bumped into someone.

"Oh shit sorry mate!" she apologised looking up and saw that it was a fiery haired male that she had bumped into.

"It's okay," he shot her a smile, she cleared her throat and turned her head to see that there was girl who looked exactly like Jughead.

"Sister?" she asked turning her head to her escort. There was no denying they weren't related, the same hair, eyes and facial structure. They were twins.

Mia wanted to know what had come up that was more important than spending the 4th of July weekend with her and Jug, but she didn’t ask him as she knew Archie would tell her when he was ready. She didn’t like not knowing what was going on in his life, he usually told her everything. “I know that, you’ll have to tell Jughead that and give him some time.” She told Archie as her brother was still upset over what happened, simply because Archie hadn’t explained why he had to cancel.

He told them something came up, but that was all they knew. Jughead wanted to know what came up, before he forgave their best friend.

“That would have been great, your dad is amazing after all.” She smiled as she had always liked Archie’s parents, she looked at Archie as she nodded her head. She had worked for the whole summer, “Yeah. Pop Tate needed the help,” She wasn’t going to turn down shifts at the diner if Pop Tate was offering them to her, she needed the money and she liked working at the diner.

Suddenly a girl had bumped into Archie, Mia looked at her brother as he had mentioned that he was meant to show a new student around that day. Mia smiled at the girl, “Twins.” She told her as it was obvious that she was related to Jughead.

---

“I’m sure there are better towns to move to if he wanted a sea change so badly,” Jughead didn’t understand why someone would move their family half way across the world, to live in a small town like Riverdale. Just for a sea change… unless Melody’s dad thought Riverdale was a quiet town.

Which is was, until recently really after Jason’s death. “But welcome to Riverdale, anyway.” He smiled as he looked at her, he watched as she bumped into Archie and he sighed softly.

He knew his sister wouldn’t avoid Archie like he was doing, he wouldn’t have been so annoyed if Archie just told him the reason he cancelled. That was all Jughead wanted to know. “But I am older by 10 minutes,” He smiled at Mia who rolled her eyes as he never let her forget who the older twin was, “This is Mia and Archie. Guys, this is Melody. She just moved her,” He introduced them to each other, “She’s from Australia.” He told his friends though he didn’t need to, it was obvious from her accent where she was from.

Melody held out her hand to Archie and then to Mia, "Nice to meet the two of you," even as she was greeting them she could feel a tension, almost a hostility in the air between the two men. However she knew it wasn't her place to say anything so instead she turned to Mia.

"So since you and your brother are twins do you have like a telepathic power where you both know what the other is thinking because that would be pretty cool," she knew that what she asked was ridiculous and impossible but she wanted to someone to laugh because the tension was suffocating. "I have a brother three years older than me back home and he has the ability to drive me to the brink of insanity... Does Jughead over here do that to you?"

She kept quiet for a little while longer but still neither of the boys spoke to one and other, "Okay I know it isn't really my place to say anything but honestly the tension between the two of you is suffocating... so I am going to take Mia and you two boys can sort that shit out." with that she linked her arms with the dark haired female. "Now while those two sort out whatever needs to be sorted out wanna show me around? All the good places to have lunch and hide?"

---

Archie didn't even have a chance to object, this new girl was something different, she knew what she wanted it seemed. The red haired male turned his attention to his friend. He wanted to tell him everything he really did but he couldn't. Not yet.

"Listen Jug I am sorry about the 4th of July road trip I know we had been planning it for weeks... but something came up, it was important." god he really wanted to tell the male the truth but he knew that would get him in trouble.

"Archie, Jughead..." the male turned and saw Betty Cooper walking toward the two of them and behind her was a dark haired girl, a new girl.

"Hey Betty," he greeted the blonde.

"I am just showing the new girl around and thought I should introduce her to the two of you... Guys this is Veronica Lodge."

"Hey there," she greeted with a smile. Archie returned the greeting with a smile before out the corner of his eye he spied Geraldine. The urge to try and talk to her again was strong but he knew he had to sort everything out with Jug to make sure he was okay and this hostility between the two could vanish.

Jughead watched as Melody pulled his sister away, he did want to mend things with Archie. He didn’t want things to be this tense between them, they had been friends for so long now. But if Archie wasn’t going to be completely honest with him, then why should Jughead forgive him.

“So important that you can’t even tell me?” He looked at his red headed friend as a frown pulled his brows together, something was more important than him and Mia? That hurt, knowing whatever came up in Archie’s life was more important to him then his closest friends.

Turning his head, he watched as Betty walked over with another new girl behind her. What was it with all the new people moving to Riverdale? The small town had never been this popular before, and probably never will be.

“Hey, at least you don’t have to be the only new girl. We have another one, Melody. Who is somewhere around here with Mia,” He told the girls, he never really had much to do with Betty Cooper, she came across as the typical perfect girl next door type, but she had always been nice to Jughead and Mia. That much couldn’t be said about her mom though.

“I should probably get to my locker, see you guys later.” He spoke before he left the small group and moved over to his locker, so he could grab the books he needed for class which would be starting shortly.

---

“No, thank goodness. I never want to know what goes through his mind,” Mia smiled as she looked at Melody, she glanced over at her brother as they didn’t really have any twin power. They often said the same thing at the same time, but then they did spend most of their time together and had since they were born. They could share a look and know have the same thoughts, but that was pretty much it.

“And I’m constantly on the brink of insanity,” She laughed softly before she walked away with Melody, she hoped that them leaving would make the boys talk. But she knew her brother better than anyone, she wasn’t sure what it’d take for him to get over this.

“Why would you hide? Actually, I’m surprised that Cheryl hasn’t gotten her claws into you yet.” Mia smiled as Melody was someone who Cheryl would normally be interested in, she was gorgeous, super friendly and would probably make a good Vixen or side kick. But Mia had a feeling Melody wouldn’t listen or take orders from someone like Cheryl.

“I think the best place to sit and eat lunch is outside, there are heaps of tables out there and trees, so you can sit in the shade. I even go out there when I need to study,” She told Melody as she really only sat in the cafeteria when the weather was bad, or when it was a cold winter day.

Melody listened to Mia speak, it was uncanny how similar her and her brother were, she had only known Jughead for maybe half an hour and Mia much less but she could see the resemblance.

"Uh yeah, this little Aussie has no intentions of becoming a River Vixen... who came up with River Vixen by the way... no offence... but uh... anyway moving on." Melody spoke. She smiled, Melody had always loved to hide away and get away from people especially at her last school. "I also have limited hand-eye coordination and no rhythm whatsoever I am blessed with parents that are bad at sports." she paused as she thought over the name Cheryl. "Oh is she the one with family troubles... I think that was how Jughead put it? The one with fiery red hair and really bold red lips?"

Melody's head turned so she could look through some of the windows, the further she got along the corridor the less she could see so she decided to take Mia's word. "So Archie seems nice? Are you two dating?" she was curious from the way the two had been standing so close she assumed they were dating. If she was being honest they would have been a rather adorable couple.

---

"Jughead," he called out after his friend as he walked away. Sighing he turned his attention back around to Betty and the new girl. "It's nice to meet you Veronica... I'm sorry can you excuse me?" with that he moved passed the two girls and headed straight for where he had seen Geraldine disappear to. He had to get her alone and talk he hoped he could. That was until he felt two hands clap down on his shoulders.

"Archie!" Reggie's voice boomed in his ear, "Damn man looking good. See you on the field yeah?"

"Uh... yeah sure," he wanted to say no but he knew that it wasn't an option, until he could talk to his father about everything football was the way to go. He allowed Reggie to pull him away from the direction he was heading talking to him. However the male didn't retain any of it too lost in his thoughts.

Jughead reached his locker and grabbed whatever he needed for the first class, he wanted to go find Mia and Melody but wasn’t sure where they had gotten to. He had wanted to talk to Archie more, to try and convince him that he could tell Jughead anything. But he didn’t want to have that conversation when people were around, it was a chat that they needed to have in private.

Hearing loud voices in the hallway, he turned his head and saw it was coming from Reggie and Moose. Archie was with them, but he wasn’t listening to his friends or joining in on whatever they were talking about. Clearly something was on Archie’s mind, and Jughead wanted to know what it was. They used to be able to tell each other everything, they never really kept anything from each other growing up.

Maybe that was it, maybe they were just growing up and growing apart. It can happen to anyone really, and now it was the most obvious that Jughead and Archie didn’t share much of the same interests anymore.

---

Mia shrugged her shoulders, “I honestly have no idea. I think they’ve always been called the River Vixens,” She never once had any interest in joining the cheerleading squad, she didn’t think she was the best when it came to dancing, and she certainly didn’t like having that much attention on her, attention had always made Mia super nervous.

“That’s Cheryl… yeah, there was an accident on the 4th of July weekend. Her twin brother, Jason, fell into Sweetwater River and apparently drowned. No one’s found his body yet, though.” Mia told Melody as she would find out soon enough anyways, Mia honestly had no idea how Cheryl was at school. If anything happened to Jughead, her entire world would come crashing down and school would be the last thing on her mind.

But then people grieve in different ways, this could be how Cheryl copes. “Archie is great,” She smiled before she quickly looked at Melody beside her, “Oh no… we’re just friends.” She could feel her face become warm, was she that obvious? God, she hoped no one else noticed her crush on Archie. She hoped that he didn’t know, she hoped Jug didn’t know.

Shortly the bell was ringing loudly through the high school, Mia took a quick look of Melody’s class schedule. “Come on, we’ve got first period together.” She smiled taking Melody in the direction of the classroom, they also shared this class with Jughead and Archie.

"Oh shit! that is horrible," Melody gasped. She couldn't imagine what Cheryl was going through yet she was still at school. She was stronger than she could have been. She instantly wanted to go over and give her her condolences but she thought better of it, she barely knew the girl but regardless to have her brother die it would be horrendous for her and her family.

Melody didn't miss the flush in Mia's cheeks as she spoke of Archie. It was blatantly obvious that the girl was in love with him. She wondered if her brother knew. There was a loud raucous ahead of them, lifting her head she saw Archie and two other football players that she had yet to meet. The boys were dribbling words but it seemed that Archie was lost in his thoughts. Melody watched the male as she followed Mia to first period.

"Sooo what's up with Archie he seems distant?" she asked her eyes moved around the corridor until she spied Jughead, she went to move toward him however out of no where one of the Neanderthals shoved into Jughead.

"HEY!" the words we out her lips before she knew what was happening which in turn caused several people to turn their heads to look at her," gripping her bag she hurried over to Jughead. "Are you alright?" there was snickering behind her.

"The fuck is your deal mate?" he asked eyeing them both, she had no idea who they were except for Archie. "Arch bud you wanna tell your mates to lay off."

"Mia Jones..."

"Reggie..." It was Archie who spoke up his eyes hard and narrow as he glared at his mate.

"Look good as always."

"Reggie? Is that your name?" Melody was impulsive which was exactly what got her into trouble but these boys needed to be knocked down a few feet. Who did they think they were especially Reggie who was eyeing Mia with a smirk spread across his face.

"Yeah and who are you? Jug's knight and shining armour?" the other guy laughed. "You know he is weird right?"

"Weird people have more personality then loud mouthed knob heads like yourself," she spat.

"Who are you?" the other guy asked.

"Your worst nightmare if I ever see you do that again, to anyone."

"Come on guys let's go..." this time it was Archie's turn to speak he grabbed the two footballers not before shooting both of them an apologetic look.

---

Archie hated the fact that Reggie and his crones took it upon themselves to automatically make Jughead's life a living hell... and he absolutely loathed the fact that Reggie would always eye Mia like she was a piece of meat and he was one starving beast. It took every ounce of his being not to pummel the guy.

However the new girl, Melody, she had no fear. He was kinda happy and relieved that she had stood up for Jug, sure he could do it himself but he was never taken to seriously. Even though the new girl may have just ostracised herself she didn't seem to care.

"What the hell was that man?" he asked spinning on Reggie. "Just leave Jughead alone and his sister!"

"Ooohhh is that a sore spot for you Archie?"

"Fuck off Reggie!" he snarled, it was true. Mia was a soft spot Jughead was his best friend but Mia, Mia was something else entirely and with Reggie's eyes roaming over her a searing bolt of anger and disgust surged through his body. Archie watched as Reggie chuckled before walking off. Turning he looked back at the three he really wanted to go back and talk to them but somehow he thought that may not have been a good idea instead he continued to first period where Kevin was already talking about the scene in the corridor to everyone.

(I may have got carried away )

Mia glanced at Melody when she mentioned how distant Archie seemed to be, she was glad that she wasn’t the only person who had noticed that. “I’m not sure, I’ll have to ask him later.” She was a little surprised that she didn’t know, Archie had never kept anything from her before. Not that she could talk, she hadn’t told anyone about her now broken family and that her dad was a Southside Serpent.

A heavy sign left Mia’s lips when her eyes fell on her brother, a second before he was shoved by Reggie. It was common for that to happen to Jughead and she was really the only person who ever stood up for him, sometimes Archie would but his friends never listened or took him seriously. At least he still tried though, Mia was just about to tell Reggie off when Melody beat her to it.

Mia couldn’t help but be shocked as she walked over to her brother, the shock in his eyes matched hers as neither of them were used to someone else standing up for them.

Rolling her light eyes, Mia was used to the way Reggie looked at her. At first, she had been flattered, she thought if Reggie could notice her then maybe one-day Archie could as well. Now she pretty much just ignored Reggie, as much as she could. She stole a glance of Archie before her eyes landed back on the football player, “It’s never going to happen Reggie. Just give it up already,” She told him, she could have considered dating him if he wasn’t suck a dick towards her brother.

She was impressed with how Melody handled the situation, it was something she hadn’t been expecting at all but was glad that it happened. She watched as Archie pulled Reggie and Moose down the corridor, before she turned back to Jughead and Melody. “Thank you,” She smiled at Melody and she knew she would fit right into their small group.

---

Jughead had stayed silent the entire time that Melody defended him, he didn’t know what to say and she held her own against Reggie. “Yeah thanks, but you didn’t need to do that. It happens nearly every day, I’m used to it.” Jughead closed his locker door and looked at Melody, she had been so quick to jump to his defence.

That was something only Mia and Archie did, he knew why it was harder for Archie. No matter what he said to his friends, they never listened to him. “Someone had to, Jug. They don’t listen now when I tell them off, or when Archie does. Maybe now they’ll think twice about bullying you,” Mia spoke up and he knew she was right, maybe because Melody stood up to them and she was the new girl, it might just make Reggie back off slightly.

“Let’s just go to class,” Jughead didn’t want the attention on him, he could feel eyes staring at them as students had witnessed the scene unfold. Grabbing his backpack, he headed off towards first period with Mia and Melody beside him.

Reaching the class room, he followed the girls inside, his eyes scanning the room for an empty desk. He found two empty desks and usually he would take them as he normally sat beside his sister, but today he frowned slightly as he watched Mia take the seat beside Archie.

“Looks like she’s ditched us,” He mumbled to Melody as he pointed to the desks before anyone else to claim them, he was still upset with Archie about how he cancelled their road trip. He was concerned that Mia seemed to have forgiven him already, not that it was a surprise to Jughead. He knew his sister sucked at holding grudges against anyone, especially if that someone was Archie.

@ sugarplum.
Melody nodded her head, "No problem guys. Someone had to it didn't seem like Archie was going to... then again I had a feeling that if he did he would simply get laughed at," Melody nodded her head when Jug said they should go to class, she followed the two of them closely her eyes still scanning around the building. When they entered the classroom she noticed that Archie to was in there. She watched as Jug headed toward two spare tables and Mia walked over to the spare table next to Archie.

"It seems she has," Melody laughed as the two of them sat down. The brunette wanted to ask if the male knew that his sister had a thing for Archie but decided against it especially considering the way Jughead spoke. Something must have happened between the two of them.

"This is going to be very bold and blunt but what happened between the two of you? Sorry... I mean I can sense a lot of tension between all of you." and it was true she could sense the tension however it was whether or not Jughead wanted to tell her. "I mean you don't have to tell me if you don't want to... sorry... I can be quite nosey a fault of mine..." she quickly apologised. She turned her eyes to the front of the glass just in time to see Reggie and one of his friends walk in with him. "Look here comes Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum." she said so that only Jughead could here her.

---

Archie was sitting in class when Jug and Mia walked in with the new girl, he looked at Mia briefly before turning his gaze away from her. He felt guilty just looking at her. There was a part of him that felt bad for bailing on the two of them with their road trip considering all three of them had been planning it for months and then he went and cancelled.

He was surprised when Mia walked over and sat at the table in front of him.

"Uh... hi.." he stammered, "Hey listen about before. I'm sorry about Reggie he was being a dick." Archie thought he should apologise for his team mate even though it did't excuse what he did or stop the burning rage that had spread through his body at the way Reggie had been eyeing Mia.

Jughead wasn’t surprised when Melody asked about what had happened between him and Archie, he was certain anyone who stood remotely near them could feel the tension that clung to the air around them. “It’s a long story, but he ditched us. We have a trip planned for months, and he ditched us the night before without any explanation.” He told Melody, normally he didn’t speak much to people.

But he liked Melody, she was different which was obvious by the way she stood up for him and his sister. “After that, we just stopped talking.” He shrugged his shoulders lightly, before he glanced over at her. “Being nosy can get you into trouble in this town, we should work together.” He grinned at her as he really did like her already, she wasn’t stuck up or thought she was a princess.

He couldn’t stand people like that, who thought they were better than him just because they have a house and money.

His eyes moved back to Reggie and Moose, he loathed the way Reggie would look and speak to Mia. It brought out the protective brother in him, and if he could get away with it, he would have punched the smug look from Reggie’s face long ago. “You aren’t going to make many friends, if you hang out with me.” He warned her, after he showed her around then she could go make friends with whoever.

But she wouldn’t get many, if she stood up for him again or was seen with him after that day.

---

Mia looked at Archie and smiled softly, “You don’t have to apologise for him. Besides he doesn’t it every day, I’ve kind of gotten used to it.” She told him as she didn’t want him to feel bad with how Reggie treated her, he couldn’t do anything to stop his friend or shut him up. “I mostly just ignore him, until he gets bored and leaves me alone.” She told him honestly as she pulled out her books for that class.

“So… how’s your music doing? You should make an appointment and go see Ms Grundy, she could tutor you.” Mia suggested as she did know how important music was to Archie, more important than taking over his dad’s business.

She was proud of him, although he hadn’t told many about his passion for music. But she admired him for still continuing on with it over the summer, she only wanted to encourage him to do more with his music which is why she thought if he got tutored by the music teacher, it would only help him.

@ sugarplum.
Even though Mia said she was used to Reggie being Reggie Archie couldn't help but want to continuously apologise for the guys douche-ness. The red head was startled when she asked him about his music. He was surprised that she still remembered he played, she was the only one who knew. Well her and Geraldine.

He chuckled when she mentioned talking to Grundy, it was what he had been trying to do all morning. "Yeah I had considered it but to be honest I am not sure how my whole music side is going to go down with my dad. I mean my music is still going good I am still writing and playing it when I can but I try to keep it to myself."

The male felt his stomach turn as he continued to look at Mia, he was keeping a huge secret from her and normally she was the one he told everything to, her and Jughead but since everything that went down with the road trip he wasn't sure if he could tell them everything. Especially since 1. he had slept with a teacher and 2. Been at Sweetwater River when Jason drowned.

Quickly he changed the subject.

"So it seems the new girl is getting along nicely with Jug," he indicated as he looked over at the two.

---

Melody listend as jughead spoke about what had happened between him and Archie, her eyes darted over to the male briefly who was talking to Mia. She couldn't help but smile they were a cute couple there was no denying... well they would be a good couple if and when they got together.

"I'll remember that," she nodded her head when Jughead told her that being nosy can get her into trouble. "If that is the case I might be in a lot of trouble, being the curious person that I am," she laughed. "Of course I would love that," and it was true she would love that. Jughead was nice, he was attractive and he was really the only one around her she knew.

Mia shrugged her shoulders, "Oh well, their loss," and it was. She didn't care if she didn't make friends, she had Jug and Mia... she assumed which for now would be enough.

Melody didn’t take Jughead’s warning in the way he had wanted her to, she seemed perfectly fine to be around him even if that meant it caused her to be a loner as well. He did like her, which was rare for him to like someone so quickly. But how could he not? She was beautiful, sweet and knew how to stand up for herself and the people around her.

“That isn’t what I meant, Melody. Don’t you want to give everyone else a chance first? You might surprise yourself and actually want to be friends with them,” He glanced over to her, he wasn’t sure how else to say it. He was giving her the chance to go minge and find some friends, so she wouldn’t regret it later on when no one noticed her because she spent all her time with him.

He could just push her away, he was good at that. But he didn’t want to actually hurt her, she didn’t truly know just how weird he was. How boring he was, how messed up his life was right now. He didn’t want to drag her into all of that.

---

Mia looked at Archie as she listened to him, she knew exactly how his Dad would react. He would be just as proud as what Mia was, she knew Fred wouldn’t care if his son wanted to take on a different career path. All he would care about was that his son was truly happy, and Mia knew that music is what made him happy.

She didn’t push the subject of music any further, instead she glanced over her shoulder and smiled when she saw her brother sitting with Melody. “I know, I’m honestly a little surprised. I was expecting him to leave her with me, it’s good for him though.” She was glad that it seemed Jughead was making another friend, she hoped Melody would last and wouldn’t run off if she ever found out about their dad.

Which they hadn’t told anyone about, no one could know that FP Jones was now the leader of the Southside Serpents. It wasn’t that Mia was ashamed, she just knew how people in Riverdale would react if they knew. Mostly she was worried about how Archie would react, would he be fine with it or would he back away from her?

She didn’t keep much a secret from Archie, she did about how she felt for him and what happened to her family over the summer. And now this, that her dad ran a gang. She didn’t think she’d be the best girlfriend material now.

@ sugarplum.
Archie nodded his head, Melody was right it was good for him to have another friend, she seemed like the type that would stick around and from the scene earlier she didn't seem like one that would take anyone's shit. Which to be honest was refreshing.

"Yeah," he nodded his head, he wasn't entirely sure what to talk to her about, he wanted to ask if Jug and her ended up going on the camping trip, if they did how it went. How her home life was going. However it all seemed too awkward now. If he couldn't talk to Jughead he was going to have to try talking to Melody.

"So did you and Jug end up going camping?" he knew he was on dangerous ground but he wanted to know. He also wanted to break the tension he could feel between the two, he knew he had to address the elephant in the room and now he was.

---

Melody shrugged her shoulders. "If people want to get to know me they can and if they can't deal with the fact that I am also friends with you then that's their problem." she stated fluidly. She knew what Jughead was trying to do but it wasn't going to work. She liked Jughead, she hadn't known him long but he was nice, a little on the weird side but everyone had their quirks.

The room that had been swallowed by mumbling noise fell silent, Melody lifted her head and saw Cheryl Blossom walk into the room. There was no denying the girl was gorgeous, she had a siren like look to her, long red hair, dark never ending eyes, yet they were full of sadness, a deep and painful sadness. Cheryl took her seat and gradually the voices began up again.

"Must be hard," she said to Jughead, "walking into a room and everyone going silent... harsh."

Jughead did admire Melody for wanting to stick around him and be friends with him, it was her decision to make after all. Yet he still felt the need to warn her that she might not make other friends, once she started to hang out with him. He never used to push people away from him, it really only started when his mom and younger sister left Riverdale. Why she didn’t take him and Mia, he had no idea and he hadn’t asked in fear of what her answer would be.

Suddenly the classroom fell silent, causing Jug to glance over to the person who had walked through the door. Cheryl had arrived for class, normally she could stop people from talking but never for the reason it was happening right now. “I can’t imagine what she’s going through, I don’t get why everyone isn’t trying to keep acting normal for her sake.” For the student body to fall silent at the sight of her, was just drawing more attention to what had happened to her twin brother.

If he ever lost Mia, he honestly wouldn’t know what to do with himself. Mia was half of who he was, if he didn’t have her than he wouldn’t be himself. Then the teacher stepped into the room, shutting the door behind them. His eyes moved over to where his sister and Archie sat together, before he turned his attention onto what the teacher was saying.

---

Mia looked at Archie when he brought up the camping trip, she wanted to be honest with him yet she didn’t want her answer to make him feel any worse than what he already did about ditching them. “We decided not to, it wouldn’t have been the same. Besides I picked up more shifts at Pop’s, he needed the extra set of hands.” It was the truth, a camping trip without Archie wouldn’t have been right. They had planned the trip together, so it should have been shared among the three of them.

And because she didn’t go, she worked a few more shifts at the diner which meant that she earned more. She knew some bills were coming in, her dad never bothered to pay any of the bills nor did he put any money towards paying the bills off. So, the more money she had the better right now.

Glancing over to Cheryl, Mia only looked at the pretty redhead for a second as she could only imagine how hard things where for the Blossom family now. “Maybe we could reschedule the camping trip.” Mia suggested as she looked to Archie, she could get lost in his warm dark eyes though she never allowed herself to. He could pick any girl at school to date, he wasn’t about to ever chose her.

@ sugarplum.
As soon as Cheryl walked into the room an uneasy feeling came over the red head. He quickly moved his attention away from the female as she took a seat, he had been about to reply to Mia when Cheryl had walked in. He liked the idea of another camping trip with the two of them, his eyes darted over to the new girl, and instantly he wondered if she would be invited along to.

"That sounds like a great idea Mia, but... would Jug want to?" Archie scanned the female when he asked the question and he noticed that she looked a little more worn down, surely it couldn't be just from all the hours she had taken at Pop's. He wanted to ask her what was going on Archie had a feeling that it was something more serious. However his attention was pulled away from her when the teacher called for his attention at the front of the class.

---

"I don't know," Melody shrugged, "It would be easier on her if they all went back to what they were doing before but hey... people don't do that," Melody looked to the front of the class until the teacher began to jot notes across the board.

"So... what's the deal with Mia and Wonderboy over there?" she asked nodding her head in their general direction. She could see there was chemistry between the two, a lot of tension too. The more she looked at them the more she saw them as a cute couple. "I mean I could see the two of them together, what do you think?" she turned back to look at the dark haired male.