The next morning Callie woke up to the smell of waffles and bacon. She opened her eyes to see Reggie walking into his room with two plates.

" Good morning my strawberry," Reggie greeted.

" Morning," Callie greeted as Reggie pecked her lips. " Why didn't you wake me up? I would have made breakfast."

" You seemed like you had an eventful night last night, I wanted to treat you," Reggie answered he handed her a plate. " Is that wrong?" He then left the room and came back to some water. 

" No," Callie smiled. A night later, Callie was on the way to the bathroom when she passed by Archie's room. The door was wide open, she saw him giving multiple hits to his punching bag.

"Hey Rocky," her dad said from behind her.

"Hey," Archie greeted as the two of them walked into the room.

"You know, I never thought I'd say that I miss you playing guitar, but..." their dad trailed.

"Ah, sorry dad,' Archie apologized as he swung more. " Just trying to get back in fighting shape for the field."

"This is all for the Bulldogs?" Callie asked.

"Coach Clayton's about to set the starting line-up, name a new captain," Archie explained. " It's like dad said. Football gets me a scholarship, which gets me to college, where I can study music. Captains get scholarships." Their dad put his hand on Callie and gently led her out of the room and closed Archie's door.

"Will you look out for him at school?" their dad asked.

"Of course," Callie answered.

*****

At school, Josie and her Pussycats walked up to her.

"Hey," Josie greeted.

"Hey," Callie greeted back. 

" I don't know if Archie told you this," Valerie began. " But the song he helped with, turned out to be a hit,"

"That's fantastic," Callie congratulated.

"Thanks," Josie smiled before they went separate ways. " Tell him that I hope he keeps it up." Later that Callie was walking to the stands with a group of people when Reggie pulled her to the side.

"Coach offered me a spot to be captain," Reggie announced.

"That's amazing!" Callie exclaimed hugging him.

"If I get the captain, we would a power couple," Reggie pointed out. " I would be captain, dating the hottest vixen, and you would be the hottest vixen dating the football captain".

"Are we not already a power couple?" Callie asked.

" We will be more powerful," Reggie smiled he kissed her hand

"Callie!" someone shouted, they turned to see Veronica waving her over. 

"I will see you later," Callie flirted, she kissed Reggie before strutting over to Veronica. She looked back to see Reggie blowing her a kiss. She blew one back.

"Let's go, we have news," Veronica said, she hooked arms with Callie. They got on the bleachers and started over to her brother. " Betty, you're positively radiating Nicholas Sparks. Tell me about this Trev."

"Oh, there's nothing to tell," Kevin said. " Just one of Betty's sources, there's nothing romantic in the offing."

"Why is everything weird here?" Veronica asked as they sat down by Archie. " Why can't a date just be a date? How about you, Archie? How's life in a PG world?" Everyone looked at her. " PG. Post-Grundy. What, too soon?"

"Coach Clayton says I have a shot at being varsity captain,"  Archie answered. " So I'm not thinking about anything else right now."

"And you're back to being boring," Veronica admitted.

"Wait, Reggie practically told me that he has a shot too," Callie mentioned.

"I know," Archie told her.

"Are you, maybe throwing yourself into football as a way to avoid your feelings," Betty suggested. 

"I'm not avoiding anything," Archie assured her. " I'm trying get my life back on track."

" I can help with that," Valerie offered as she came over to them. She took a seat on the other side of Archie. " I know Miss Grundy was tutoring you."

" Understatement of the year," Veronica spoke.

"But there's this amazing songwriter from New York, who's an adjunct at Carson College?" Valerie suggested. " Incredible mentor. He does some coaching on the side. You wanna meet him?"

"Yeah, yeah I'd love to, but football," Archie admitted.

"No, Archie," Callie began.

"He can and he will," Betty added. Valerie handed Archie a business card.

" Call him if you want, but do it soon," Valerie advised. She put it in the pocket of his coat. " His spots fill up fast."

"Thank you, Val," Archie thanked her. She then gets up, leaving the group.

"Hey, now you have zero excuse for avoiding music," Betty mentioned.

"Sorry to interrupt sad breakfast club, besides Callie," Cheryl announced walking up to them. " But I'm here to formally invite you to Jason's memorial at Thornhill this weekend." She handed black envelopes to everyone. She handed one to Veronica. " To my surprise and chagrin, my mother added you to the guest-list. In case you're tempted to steal our silver candlesticks, don't. We'll be searching bags."

"I was just over yesterday," Callie said.

"Well, besides yours," Cheryl assured her. " Mother trusts you the most". With that, Cheryl walked away from the group. Callie looked back at the group. " Hey, try to remember, she is burying her brother."

********

Callie was walking with Cheryl to her car.

"I and Veronica are having a sleepover," Cheryl informed her.

"I thought you did not like her?" Callie questioned her.

" Veronica says we should not be enemies," Cheryl answered. " And besides I do want to be spending the night before I bury Jason alone".

" Fair enough, " Callie admitted.

******

Callie when coming from practice with the other girls when she saw Archie on a bench wrapping his hand.

" I will talk to him," Veronica offered, before walking over to her. Callie nodded and caught up with the other girls before meeting Reggie in the parking lot.

"You brother got hurt," Reggie told her.

"I saw, he was on bench wrapping his hand," Callie informed him. " How did he hurt it?"

" It was my fault, it was during practice. I tackled him during a play we were practicing, and I think I might have hurt it," Reggie explained himself. " Please do not be mad."

"Why would I be mad?" Callie asked.

"Because I hurt him," Reggie answered. " I advised him to sit one out, but he wouldn't listen."

"Reggie, it's football, he is going to get hurt," Callie reminded him. " And if he is not going to listen to you, then that's on him, not you." He pulled her into a tight hug and dug his face into her hair.

******

Late that night Callie was at home working on homework with Jughead. They were working on it in the kitchen when her dad came into the room.

"I am going to Pop's," her dad said as he grabbed his coat. " Oh hey, Jughead." He looked surprised to Jughead in his house.

"Hello, Mr. Andrews," Jughead greeted.

"Isn't Pop's closed this late?" Callie asked.

"Hermione Lodge had someone put a snake in a box in the restaurant," her dad explained. " Besides Pop's is never closed." He then left. Callie looked at Jughead. 

"Why would someone put snakes?" Callie questioned.

"Probably a message from the serpents,"Jughead answered. " For what reason they had is the answer".

"I think my dad is more shocked to see you here, rather than receive a phone call from Hermione Lodge," Callie suggested.

"When was the last time, me and you actually hung out?" Jughead asked.

"Fair point," Callie nodded her head.

******

The next day, Callie was getting ready for the funeral. She was putting on her mascara when she got a call from Betty.

"What is it Betts?" Callie asked answering the phone.

"You haven't called me that since like 7th grade," Betty pointed.

"Betty," Callie said.

" Oh, right," Betty breathed. " I need you to be eyes and ears for the funeral."

"For a funeral?" Callie asked.

"It's about Polly and Jason, his bedroom and can tell more about why he wanted to run away," she heard Jughead said.

"Ok," Callie breathed. " I'll do it". Before anyone could say anyone could say anything else, she hung up the phone. At the funeral, Callie sat by Archie, and the gang, and right next to Reggie. She watched her brother get up and hand Mrs. Blossom, Jason's number from football. 

"That was the right thing to do" Reggie stated.

"Yeah," Callie agreed. " Archie always does try to do the right thing."

"He's really gone, isn't he?" Reggie asked Callie looked over to see him holding back tears.

"He may be gone, but he will forever live in our hearts," Callie said as she rubbed his back. Reggie engulfed her in a hug. They heard a bunch of murmurs. Callie looked over to see what was happening.

"Oh my god," Callie gasped, coming down the center aisle was Cheryl dressed in all white. It was an identical outfit she wore on fourth of July. She walked till she stood behind the podium.

"Welcome to Thornhill," Cheryl greeted the guests. " Thak you all for coming. If you'll kindly take your seats." Everyone sat down, exchanging glances with each other. " I'd like to start the memorial with a few words about Jason". Callie saw Clifford grab hold of Penelope from moving. " The last time I saw Jason, I was wearing this dress. I know it's impossible. But I swear, when I put it on, it feels like he's in the room with me. Even though we were twins, I used to demand I have my own birthday party. Until one year, out of the blue, Jason convinced me we had to combine them into one. It wasn't until years later, I found out why. It was because no one wanted to come to mine. And Jason didn't want me to know. He protected me". Cheryl's voice started to crack, tears were forming in her eyes. "Every single day. I wish, that day at the river, I had protected him". She let out a sob before turning to the closed casket. She put her hands on it. "I'm so sorry, Jay-Jay." Veronica got up and walked over to her. " We failed you. All of us". Veronica pulled a sobbing Cheryl into a hug as some of the guests stood up. Penelope got up and took the podium.

"I think we'll adjourn now to the Winter Salon for a light supper," she announced. Callie glanced through the crowd of people and saw Jughead and Betty making a break for Jason's room. Callie stood by the entrance talking to people with Reggie when Jughead came up to her.

"Polly and Jason were engaged," Jughead whispered to her.

"What?" Callie asked with wide eyes. She saw Betty drag her dad out of the house.

****

The next day Callie ended up at Pop's with Reggie.

"So how did it go?" Callie asked as they shared a milkshake."

"Well coach gave your brother the captainship, but he turned it down," Reggie explained. " He said the captain should be someone who's love is only football, someone like me."

"So you are captain?" Callie asked. Reggie nodded, Callie leaned over and kissed him. "Congratulations Bulldog."

"By the way, you are my love too," Reggie pointed out.

"Reggie," Callie smiled. " My brother meant a love for things you like to do. For example, but my brother loves football, but he also loves his music."