-

''I KNOW THAT SMILE FROM ANYWHERE.''

Hazel Michael rolls her eyes and lags her head to the side as Francis Michael jogged his way down the crowded hallway that next morning at school, walking by her side. She tried her best to suppress her quirky smile into a smirk.

But she might as well look constipated. ''What are you going on about now?''

''Don't try to lie now,'' He chuckles. ''You're caught red handed, Haz. From your rosy cheeks to your annoying humming in the shower this morning.'' His voice lowers to a whisper as if he was a child telling a devilish secret. ''You got dick.''

She turns to him sharply, gaping. Her eyes were wide as she giggles, ''What?''

''Oh, my god,'' He snorts. They stopped in the middle of the hallway as Francis turned to face her, laughing obnoxiously loud and pointing a finger at Hazel, who had her arms folded across her chest. Her smile never wavered. ''You totally did. Hey, I'll keep it between us if you tell me the lucky guy and if he was good.''

She shakes her head vigorously, giggling before she lets one arm drop to her side while the other linked with his arm. They proceeded their way down the hall again as she tells him honestly. ''I didn't have sex. But, something did happen.''

''Oh,'' He perks. ''See, I was in the right ball park.''

She looks at him with a wide grin. It took all strength from within and God's power to not burst into a shower of glitter as she whispers, ''I kissed Archie Andrews.''

''You should've banged him.''

''What? No,'' She frowns. Back in California, the fellas weren't afraid to approach Hazel and try some slick moves. But, Hazel knew well enough that there was no point in hoping for a long term relationship. With the rumors that cursed the Michael's name, she wasn't the idealistic girl you'd want to take home to meet mom. ''I want to know what this could be- if it could be anything.''

''Ew,'' He cringed. ''I forgot that you girls over analyze everything with your-'' He continued to cringe as he lifts an arm to jab a finger into the side of her head. She swats his hand away, giggling softly as he finishes, ''Thoughts.''

Hazel opened her mouth to retaliate, preferably with a feminist comeback until she felt her phone vibrate in her back pocket. Pulling it out, her screen was already lit, displaying the text she had received from Elizabeth Cooper.

Hey, are you still coming?

Hazel barely peers away from her phone as departs from her brother. ''Listen, I gotta go. But I'll catch up with you later?''

Francis Michael didn't think much of the situation. They both felt as if they were at such a good place. Their friends accepted the for who they are, and now that they know who they're really dealing with, the group was closer to the Michael's more than ever before.

They felt safe. Like, no matter what, there was someone there to have their back. 

Hazel Michael had bumped into Veronica Lodge that morning as they approached the office door for the Blue and Gold. Apparently, Betty's mother, Alice Cooper was going to be working there as some sort of administrator.

They were going to get down to the truth of Jason Blossoms death once and for all.

''Hey,'' The girls exclaimed once they saw each other. Despite the investigation for a dead kid's case, there was positivism roaming. Hazel and Francis weren't going anywhere, and whatever that was going to be thrown at the group, they were going to get through. There was nothing that was going to stop them from finding the truth.

''You slept good last night?'' Veronica asks as she opens the door.

She snickers. ''Oh, yeah.''

''Oh, finally,'' Alice perks up as she turns to face the two teenagers that entered the room. Betty and her were going through files. ''Close that door.''

Given that Hazel was the last person to walk in, she closes the door behind her before following Veronica into the middle of the room.

''Ladies,'' Alice folds her arms. ''I need you to look around the room. Whoever is not in this room is on the table as a possible murder suspect, including those Pussycats.''

''Oh, my god,'' Betty shakes her head in disbelief. ''Mom..''

''Not to sidetrack the point,'' Hazel tilts her head to the side, smirking. ''But I thought you said that you didn't trust me?''

''Oh, I did,'' She nods with no form of shame nor regret. ''That is until Betty reasoned with me why I should trust after insisting that you should be in this meeting.''

''I am so sorry,'' Betty whispers to her.

Hazel waves her off. ''It's fine. As long as we're talking about trust, than you should know that my brother is off the table.''

''Yes,'' She agrees. ''But not your father. That man has a vile motive that we need to reveal before the public eye could attain.''

''What?'' She furrows her brows and shakes her head. ''No, I know my dad has nothing to do with Jason's death.''

''He worked with the Blossoms at one point,'' Mrs. Cooper raised a define brow. ''Did he not?''

''Yeah, but he looked scared,'' She prompts. ''He wants us out of town because he's so scared of them. I doubt if he killed the kid, because if he did, my dad would actuality be six feet under as we speak.''

''Fine,'' She swifts her head to the side to move her bangs as she turned to face Veronica. ''Let's talk about your father.''

''He has an epic grudge against the Blossoms, so,'' She bops her head. ''Yes. It's totally within the realm of possibility that he hired someone from jail to kill Jason.'' Veronica turns to Betty, her eye twitching when wincing. ''Maybe, Jughead's dad.''

The blonde turned to her with furrowed brows. ''You really believe that?''

''My dad paid Jughead's dad to trash the drive-in,'' She prompts. ''Maybe he paid him to-''

''Commit murder,'' Alice intervenes by concluding for her. ''And for all we know, that gay Greaser Serpent is an accomplice.''

''And what are you basing that off of?'' Betty questions her incredulously. ''That you saw FP and Joaquin talking?''

Alice cranes her neck forward. ''It didn't look like they were talking. It looked like they were conspiring.''

''Conspiring about what?''

Her mother points at her. ''That's what I need you to find out. Either through Jughead or FP directly, without raising suspicion, of course.'' She walks around the desk and lifts up a piece of paper listed with words all over. ''Which is why I have prepared a seemingly innocuous list of questions.''

''I already asked Jughead, point blank,'' Betty charges closer to the desk, replacing where her mother stood just a few moments before as she continues, ''If he thought his father had anything to do with Jason's death and he said no. And I believed him,'' She turns to Veronica and assures, ''and I still believe him.''

''Betty, you're too close to this.''

Hazel pursed her lips. ''If FP was involved in some sketchy business before, we shouldn't be so closed minded if he were to be involved with Jasons death. I wouldn't be quick to make assumptions but let's consider some possibilities.''

''I'm not going to insult Jughead or betray him by entertaining this,'' Betty takes cautious steps back towards where her belongings were piled. ''Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Homecoming Dance to plan.''

Hazel gnaws on her bottom lip while Betty slings her bag around her shoulders. ''Come on, V, Haz. Let's go.''

-

''Sorry to interrupt,'' Cheryl alarmed the attention of Archie Andrews, Kevin Keller, Veronica Lodge, Francis Michael, Elizabeth Cooper, Jughead Jones and Hazel Michael, where they had enjoyed their lunch in the outer seating area. Even if there was snow and it was too cold to prosper.

Hazel pursed her lips as she turns in her seat beside Jughead to find the red head standing before them.

A corner of Cheryl's lip twitch as her dark brown eyes scanned her up and down with bitter distaste. ''Relax, Hulk Hogan, I'm only here for a public service announcement. One that tangentially involves you, Betty. I'll also have you know that if you lay a hand on me again, the police will be knocking on your door.''

Her pursed lips that were soft against the frigid air, quirked into a vague smirk. ''No worries. I have other ways to shed a single hair off of your pretty head.''

Of course, Hazel was only playing mind tricks. Her intimidation held power and if it meant she would have less encounters with Cheryl Blossom, she'd be sure to take advantage of it.

Her breath was visible in the air as she puffs out a sigh. ''Whatever. I'm bringing Polly to the dance as my date, and we're campaigning as co-queens of Homecoming Court.''

With furrowed brows, Betty barely shakes her head as she asks, ''Because, why?''

''Because,'' Her luscious strawberry curls shift ever so slightly as she jerks her head back. ''Nightmare Smurfette, by all rights, it should've been Polly and Jason on that stage being crowned. This is the next best thing.'' She claps her hands together, perking up into a more energetic point, ''So, don't forget to vote, and I'll see everyone at my coronation!''

Once Cheryl walked off, Archie eyes Betty with hopeful eyes. ''Betty, about the Homecoming Dance, can I play a couple of songs? I kind of told my mom that..''

Hazel nor Francis would have never supposed Betty to accommodate a mean bone in her body by the stern look her features shifted into as she narrows her eyes, her jaw clenching from deep thought.

''Woah,'' He leans back. ''You don't want me to?''

''No,'' She heaves out a smile. ''No, it's not that, Archie, it's just, um.. This dance needs to be fun. And your songs, as amazing as they are-''

''They make you wanna slit your wrists,'' Jughead intervenes. Hazel sucked in her bottom lip and kept her gaze entertained on the wooden table as the others visibly tensed by Jughead's choice of words. He looks around and notice he should save Archie's self esteem and quick. ''In a good way.''

''In an amazing way,'' Veronica insist, her tone scolding Jughead as she corrects the term.

Hazel scrunched her lip to the side. ''Because that's not at all contradicting.''

''No need to fret, Betty,'' Veronica assures. ''Cause Archie asked me to sing with him and we're thinking about doing some upbeat covers.''

Archie leans over the table and furrows his brows at the raven hair girl. ''We are?''

She looks down to him and arches her brows. ''Aren't we?''

-

With narrowed eyes and a cocked brow, Hazel's green eyes traveled Francis physique around the living room as he practically bounced from wall to wall.

He came running from the kitchen with a plate of cinnamon rolls he heated up in the oven and slides them on to the coffee table, along with a glass of milk.

He straightens his posture and heaves out a sigh. ''Are you cold? Do you want me to get you a blanket? It feels a little drafty in here, yeah?'' He pursed his lips and nods his head. ''I'm gonna get you a blanket.''

As Francis fleets away and up the stairs to retrieve a snugly throw from the upstairs closet, Hazel turned to Serena, who sat in one of the solo chairs in the living room that was set in front of the window. Her gaze was left towards the stairs as her jaw dropped in a gape.

''Well, what the hell?'' Serena shrugs her shoulders. ''Why don't I get the special treatment?''

She juts her chin. ''He knows or did something bad and he feels bad about it. He's trying to butter me up before he delivers the news.''

''He's coming,'' Serena mumbles, judging by the rushed footsteps tumbling down the staircase.

The girls were quiet as he stood behind the couch and throws the other end of the blanket over Hazel's elevated legs that rested on the coffee table. He tugs the end he held onto and into her sides, mumbling, ''There you go.''

''Francis,-''

Like a dog listening for his owners next command, he was practically jumping in his place. ''Yeah?''

''Sit.''

In a blink of an eye, Francis jumped over the couch and seated himself next to Hazel. Her eyes were wide while her brows were furrowed, noticing his leg bouncing even while sitting.

Why was he so anxious?

''Francis,'' He turns to look at her. ''You okay?'' Her gaze flickers from his leg to his eyes.

''Mhm,'' He nods his head before turning away.

Hazel's awestruck features diminished as she tilts her head to the side, pursing her lips. ''Since when do you want to be so nice?''

He shrugs his shoulders as if matters were obvious. ''Since I'm such a good kid.''

Serena cocks a brow. ''Oh really?'' Serena lifts a foot on the coffee table and leans back into her chair. ''Then can you do me a favor and rub my feet? I think I have some lotion sitting at the corner-''

''Use those crusty heels to get the lotion to rub your feet, yourself,'' He pushes himself into the couch, snarling.

Hazel jumps to the far end of the couch and transfers her legs onto Francis' lap. She pulls the blanket up her legs, exposing her toes that grew sweaty under the warmth.

Wiggling her toes, she giggles, ''Can you rub mine?''

He breathes out a pout. ''I really don't want to.''

''Penny for your thoughts or you rub my feet,'' She bites her lip. ''Think fast, these little piggy's are sweating up a storm.''

''Hazel,'' His voice dropped several octaves. He was remotely serious. He didn't consider the wager because with what he knew, Hazel wouldn't take on the situation as lighthearted as she was doing now. ''I don't think you wanna know.''

''Tell me,'' She whines. ''I miss the cruel boy who would've put egg yolk in that glass of milk if I were to ask you to fetch a glass.''

His head falls to the side. ''Hazel,-''

''Now that I'm thinking of it,'' She sits up on the couch, fixating herself to get more comfortable. ''You've been acting weird since lunch. One minute you're quiet, then you're avoiding me, now your making me Pillsbury cinnamon rolls? What's wrong?''

''Archie kissed Veronica,'' He swallows deeply while he witness her whole aurora deflate. If anything, he could hear her heart sinking as it shatters into pieces. ''After you left, they had a moment.''

''Did-'' She stammers, her eye twitching by impulse. ''Did he mention me? Like, at all?''

He shakes his head.

''Archie?'' Serena points a thumb back and out the window. ''Fred Andrews kid from across the street?''

In a subtle motion, she shakes her head. ''I don't understand?''

''He doesn't know that I know, but Hazel,'' He gives her calve muscle a small squeeze. ''Step away from him. Maybe it's for the best.''

''Why is it for the best?'' She hissed, ripping her legs away from his touch. She turns her body so her feet pressed against the wooden surface of the floor. ''What are you trying to say?''

''Archie was pretty wasted and after hearing everything about us.. We shouldn't expect them to be so on board on the Michael express so soon.''

''You're wrong.'' She stands from the couch, tossing the blanket aside and storming for the staircase, neither caring if the blanket landed on the couch or the ground before stomping upstairs.

-

Weaving her way through those in Riverdale High's gymnasium with Francis Michael following closely behind her, Hazel Michael approached the small group that is of Elizabeth Cooper and Jughead Jones as Veronica Lodge and Archie Andrews held one anothers hands, walking off.

All the while wearing a soft blue skin tight dress. The v-neck designed was held together by the spaghetti straps and had an open slit going down her left thigh, while on her right only dragged down.

Her scolding emerald green eyes matched with Archie, as the red head eyed her, appalled. There was a glint in her eye voided of great ire.

He was left to examine her attire before he was pulled completely away from her sight.

''What's going on?'' Hazel asks, her gaze left wandering to where Archie and Veronica disappeared.

''Archie and Veronica are going to perform,'' Jughead smiles softly. ''Hey, you guys look great tonight.''

Hazel turns back to face him and forced a tight lip smile. ''Thanks, Juggster. You really dressed to the occasion.'' She points a finger towards his hat that he still wore for the event. ''Points for keeping it simple.''

Licking his lips, he nods his head. ''Hazel, we should really talk.''

''Well,'' She pursed her lips. ''How about right now, over the punch bowl?'' She shimmies her way next to his side to link arms with his. She leans back to look at Betty. ''Do you mind if I steal your boyfriend for a second?''

The blonde seemed to be lost in a daze. She barely had process the words before nodding her head. She was so caught up in protecting Jughead from her mothers devised plan that involved Veronica and Archie,she didn't pay attention towards the small inconvenience.

''Great,'' She breathes. She tugs him forward when walking away. ''I could really use a distraction right about now.''

Hazel breathes out a frustrated sigh as she pulls away from Jughead's grasp, reaching out for a cup and ladle that sat in the bowl of bunch.

''Everything alright?'' He asks, noticing how distressed the brunette appeared.

''Peachy,'' She hands him the cup full of juice and grabs another cup for herself. ''I'm sorry, Jughead, I'm just a little flustered is all.''

Her jaw clenched once she's heard the Mayor announce the performers of the night. It wasn't that she was envious of Veronica and all of a sudden grew this passion of hate for her overnight.

That was her dearest friend.

It's the lullaby red head who knows how to tug heartstrings. Francis claimed he was the only one from the team with an ounce of integrity. How is it so that Archie never mentions the moment they had?

Was she a bad kisser? Did she make a mistake by kissing him in the first place? What if it really was a mistake, a one sided drunken mistake? Maybe he didn't want to ruin their friendship? Or maybe it was her insidious past that vultures any chance of what could have been?

Hazel sets the ladle back in the bowl and breathes out a small smile. ''What is it you wanted to talk about, Juggster?''

''I wanted to apologize,'' He pursed his lips while breathing out his nostrils. ''I alienated you for the smallest information I heard about you, much less eavesdropping in on a private conversation and assumed the worst without giving you a chance. It wasn't right and hearing everything that you've been through, I realized that we're not so different.''

Her small grin grew. This was very levelheaded for Jughead to commit, but she was glad to see him come front. She hoped this would be her chance to develop a wonderful friendship with Jughead Jones.

''Apology accepted, Jughead,'' She shrugs her shoulders. ''You didn't trust me and it's fine. In a way, you were trying to defend the people you love from the monsters. I would do the same.''

Jughead nods his head appreciatively. She was much more understanding than what she let off. He would've thought she were to shoot him the finger and wander off.

But all in all, she liked Jughead. He was closed off and she wanted to be one of those people who he wouldn't be afraid to open up to.

He began to look around for his blonde girlfriend, but she wasn't in sight.

''Why don't we dance?'' Hazel suggests.

He turns to her sharply and shakes his head vigorously. ''Oh no,'' He snickers. ''I don't dance.''

''I say you can,'' She sings. She gapes at his furrowed brows. ''High School Musical Two? The baseball scene?''

''I'm from the Southside,'' He prompts. ''Do you really think I'm going to know what that is?''

''One dance, Juggster?'' She holds her hand out for him as an offer. ''And look, it's a slow dance. Think of it as zombies approximated to a small circular motion.''

He sighs. ''You drive a hard bargain.''

She giggles as he slaps a hand against hers. ''It's because I'm small.''

A chuckle was heaved from his chest as she pulls him to the dance floor.

Believe it or not, Jughead caught on to the simple one-two-three step rotation and had a pleasant time. Whatever it was that Veronica saw in the petite frame brunette was coherent as to why she always brought her around.

Hazel was good company, never a dull moment in fact.

Which made it all the more reason why he feels guilty for pining against her this whole time.

But she was glad she had finally came through to him.

As the song came to it's end and another slow song came on, Jughead gotten antsy. Where was Betty? It's been almost half an hour since he spent his time with Hazel.

Though she wasn't bad company, he would like to spend the glorious night with his girlfriend.

''Hey, guys, sorry to interrupt,'' Jughead apologized as he approached Kevin and Joaquin in a middle of their dance. Hazel had followed behind him, anxious as well.

She hasn't seen Francis in a hot minute.

''Have you seen Betty or Francis anywhere?''

''You all need tracking devices,'' Kevin remarks. This was seriously killing his mood. A dance where he brought a smoking hot boyfriend, he was living. He was thriving, not to mention this boyfriend was a South side Serpent with a kind heart. ''I think they headed out to the hall with Veronica and maybe Archie.''

Jughead jerks his head back as Hazel was quick to on her feet and out of the gym in the direction Kevin informed. He mumbles a small, ''Thanks,'' Before following after her.

As Jughead and Hazel exited out of the gymnasium, Betty was heard scowling viciously, ''What did you guys do?''

''Guys,'' Jughead calls. Hazel and him grew closer and closer to the scene. And quite frankly, neither Hazel nor Jughead like the looks of it.

''What's going on?'' Jughead continues to question as the group stared back at him. It was as if Hazel was invisible. What is it they know that Jughead and Hazel don't? ''Why do I feel like I'm suddenly left out?''

Betty turns back to face Veronica, Archie and Francis in that order. ''Do you want to tell him or should I?''

''Tell me what?''

Archie walked around Betty, his gaze constantly flickering from Jughead to Hazel and back to Jughead. Veronica and Francis shortly followed after.

''We went to your dad's trailer to..'' He trails off. He couldn't finish. He was too scared. Archie knew he had overstepped boundaries, but it was for a good cause.

''To search it, Jughead,'' Veronica finishes.

''Why would you guys do that?''

''My mom put them up to it,'' Betty chimes in. She was now turned and standing by Francis' side. ''She was convinced he was hiding something about Jason.''

''We were wrong. All of us,'' Veronica immediately alarms.

Francis shakes his head. ''Jughead, we didn't find anything.''

''And Jug, we were only doing it to prove that-''

''That my dad wasn't a murderer?'' Jughead finished for him. He was angry and so was Hazel. How could Francis be apart of this? What was his excuse? ''You went behind my back, Archie?''

He shakes his head vigorously, ''Jug..''

''How did you-'' He began to question but he cuts himself short, realizing the answer himself and thinking of a better one. ''When did you guys know to go to my dad's trailer?''

''We knew he'd be at dinner with..'' Veronica trails off. She knew the truth was slowly suffocating him. He's never felt so stupid, so betrayed by his own people. What he would have considered as his own people.

His gaze flickers to Betty until he rolls his eyes. He turns with a sigh falling from his lips and walks off.

''No,'' She breathes out. She pushed her way past the trio and walks up to him.

He was wiping down his face. He was so distraught, he couldn't believe he didn't suspect nothing. He figured something was wrong once Hazel kept popping around, why couldn't he get this?

''That's why your mom invited my dad and I to dinner? So these two could break into his trailer while she interrogated him?''

''No,'' Her eyes went wide. ''I didn't know what they were doing. But yes, that is why she invited you guys.''

''I don't get it,'' Hazel throws her head back and slaps her arms against her sides. ''I don't get why you would do this, Francis? What could you have been getting out of this?''

''Maybe this could of been tied to dad, Haze!'' He exasperated. ''If he worked with someone in this town, how many other partners does he have out here?''

''To think I was gonna pass on moving to Toledo with my family for you,'' He whispers those harsh words to Betty as Hazel paced around.

''What?'' 

Betty was breathless. What was happening?

''When we went to my dad's trailer,'' He prompts, stepping closer to the blonde. ''You asked me if I believed him. I said I did. Wasn't that good enough for you?''

''It was,'' She insisted. ''It was good enough.'' She tried to reach out for him but Jughead removed himself. ''I didn't..- I tried to stop her.''

''You could've told me, you could've warned me about this.''

''You were so excited, Jug,'' She cries out, cupping his neck to pull him closer. He was pulling away and she didn't like that. He was so exposed to her, it be tragic for him to cover up to her. Not when they were so close. ''I didn't want to disappoint you.''

He furrows his brows. ''So instead you lied? You all lied to me?''

Francis was going to speak up until Kevin was heard followed by ominous footsteps. ''There they are.''

Hazel turned to find Kevin Keller leading Hemione Lodge, Mary Andrews, Fred Andrews, and Alice Cooper.

''Betty, thank god-''

''Mom, don't'' Betty vastly cuts her off. Now was most definitely not the time to be around her.

''No, you have to listen,'' Alice advises. ''All of you.''

''My dad just told Mayor McCoy about your dad, Jughead,'' Kevin hesitated to tell him.

''What about my dad?''

Kevin pursed his lips. Was there really a better way to say this?

''He was just arrested,'' Archie's dad spoke out. ''For the murder of Jason Blossom.''

Hazel and Francis furrow their brows. This doesn't make any sense. Joseph Michael never once mention a Serpent apart of his troubles. How could this be?