-

''HAZEL!''

The brunette paused in her tracks down the hallway after slamming her locker shut. She was aiming her way towards the cafeteria, hoping to get her hands on a cup of french fries when Veronica Lodge had called her with Kevin Keller, Elizabeth Cooper and Jughead Jones standing by her side.

She turns with wide eyes, alarmed by the sudden attention but relaxed only slightly when she had seen it was only another one of Veronica's friendly gestures. Though, the pit of fire bubbling in her stomach caused by her nerves flared, given this time, there was more than one person. It was a whole group.

She waves her over smiling brightly while walking over to her, leaving her friends standing at the corner. ''Where did you think you were going?''

''Uh,'' She blurts out, crossing her arms across her chest. ''I was gonna grab lunch.''

She snickers. ''What? No, come have lunch with my friends and I.''

She jerks her head back as the corners of her lips extend far on her cheeks. ''I don't know,-''

''I insist,'' She pleads.

Betty furrows her brows at the two conversing from further down the corridor and questions to the remainder of friends that stood with her, ''Who's she?''

''That's Hazel Michael,'' Kevin plops another one of Veronica's french fries into his mouth. ''We hanged out at the drive-in, she's pretty nice. Her brother, extremely hot.'' He turns to her, almost bewildered. ''How do you not know about her? I heard she's moved in across the street from you and Archibald?''

She shrugs her shoulders. ''I haven't been paying attention, much less even towards the neighbors.''

''Okay,'' Jughead breathes out. ''They're coming over. Can we act like we weren't just talking about her?''

Veronica has an arm linked with Hazel's and a triumphant smile conquering her features while the new girl, on the other hand, pursed her lips for the expected unbearable confinement.

''Hazel,'' Veronica drawls so cheerfully, it sounded as if it were a song. ''I want you to meet some more of my friends. This is Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones.''

She forced a small tight lip smile and mumbles, ''Hi.''

Veronica's features blanked as she scolds, ''Kevin.''

He stopped midway of eating another fry. Jughead and Betty turned to him, furrowing their brows as he bites off what was already in his mouth and placing the rest of it back in the cup.

''Why don't we head for the bleachers?'' Betty suggests, but it was more of an awkward stance she wanted to avoid.

Hazel couldn't understand the concept at hand, it was so much easier to talk to either Veronica or Kevin. Hell, even Cheryl Blossom, and that girl gave her the heebie jeebies.

Why was the aroma with two additional people much more difficult?

''Yup,'' Jughead bops his head, agreeing with the blonde before making their way towards the football field.

Hazel Michael was in her own little world as she walked beside the edge of the wooden bleachers while the group of friends already acquainted with each other, engaged in their own conversation.

''Betty,'' Veronica smirks. ''You are positively radiating Nicholas Sparks. Tell me everything about this Trev.''

''Oh, there's nothing to tell,'' Kevin sarcastically remarks, mocking the blonde who was practically gushing under her bowed head. ''Just one of Betty's sources, there's nothing romantic in the offing.''

''Why is everything so weird here?'' Veronica wonders aloud as the group found their place around Archie Andrews, taking their seat. ''Why can't a date just be a date?''

Kevin made himself comfortable next to Jughead while Veronica set her purse aside, her cup of fries occupying her free hand while Betty was already eyeing the red head with interest.

Hazel, however, was still walking on the lingering edge of the bleachers. Her head was faced down, watching her feet until she nearly tripped over Betty's shoes.

She peers up to find confusing features staring back at her. Yet, she seemed to have gotten herself lost in another daze when she met those honey brown eyes that belong to Archie Andrews.

She blinks away, rushing up the bleachers to reach the level Verronica sat on and joined her. She pursed her lips, her nimble fingers fiddling in her lap hoping for the embarrassing moment to subside quickly.

But, Archie Andrews never laid his eyes off of her.

Who wouldn't? A new face from a new town? She must have stories to tell. There must be something about her.

''Hi,'' The red head stammers out. ''I'm Archie.''

Her stern features peer over to look at him and breathes out, arching a define brow, ''Hazel.''

''But your eyes are green?''

While pursing her lips, she jerks her head back. Was that suppose to be some sort of pick up line?

''Uh, nevermind,'' His features twisted into a cringe for a split second before flattening his scrutiny. ''You must be Francis' sister right? The new kids?''

''Yup,'' She plops her lips. ''That's me. You're on the football team too?''

''Yeah,'' He smiles. ''Man, your brother is no joke.''

She holds her head high, smirking. ''He probably thinks back to all those subjugating significances where I am entirely better than him.''

He chuckles softly. ''I'm guessing being competitive runs deep between you two?''

She giggles. ''Oh, you don't know the half of it.''

Those around the two watch the scene unravel incredulously. What was happening?

Veronica shakes her head vigorously, ignoring the moment blossoming between the two and asking, ''How's life in a pg world, Archie?''

He turns to her with furrowed brows, the lighthearted mood drifting before she clarifies, ''Pg; Post-Grundy. What, too soon?''

He looks away and back down at the the circular ring hand book he had in his hands. ''Coach Clayton says I have a shot at being varsity captain. So I'm not thinking about anything else right now.''

Veronica rolls her eyes. ''And you're back to being boring.''

''What was that?'' Hazel asks. She raised a brow. ''What's a Post-Grundy?''

''Ever watched an episode of Pretty Little Liars?'' Kevin tilts his head to the side. Hazel turns to him, her eyes narrowed under the sun that barely shined over the grey clouds.

She nods her head. ''Yeah?''

''Literally an Aria and Ezra relationship with our music teacher, only, they didn't get to live a happily ever after.''

''Oh,'' She frowns just as she turns back to face him. At this point, he had refused to face her. Anyone for that matter, he just kept looking down at the note cards filled with play off positions.

It was their first encounter and here they were, engaged over details from a failed relationship of what could of been.

''I'm sorry,'' She flattens her lips into a straight line and shrugs her shoulders. ''But a scandalous rendezvous, sounds hot.''

''Yeah, well, it was more than that,'' He mumbles under his breath.

So, maybe she striked a nerve and her commentary probably wasn't necessary nor appropriate at the moment.

''Are you, maybe, throwing yourself into football as a way to avoid your feelings?'' Betty interrogates.

In a subtle motion, he shakes his head. ''I'm not avoiding anything, Betty. I'm trying to get my life back on track.''

An incredibly attractive brownskin female approached Archie and Betty's level on the bleachers. Her natural curls parted in the middle, her smile crinkling the corner of her wide green eyes as she hints, ''I can help with that. I know Ms. Grundy was tutoring you.-''

''Understatement of the year,'' Veronica boldly remarks.

Betty turns to Veronica with a playful smirk as Hazel gaped, lightly swatting her knee before reaching over for a french fry.

''But there's this amazing songwriter from New York, who's an adjunct at Carson College,'' Archie nods his head, following on to her point. ''Incredible mentor. He does some coaching on the side and I told him about you. You wanna meet him?''

''Yeah,'' He nods. ''Yeah, I'd love to. But, football-''

''No,'' Betty chimes in, backslapping his arm as she encourages. ''Archie can. And he will.''

''Call him if you want,'' She stuffs a small piece of paper in a pocket sewn on his jacket and advises, ''But do it soon. His spots fill up fast.''

''Thank you, Val.''

Her smile never wavered as she got up from her seat and walking off.

''Hey, now you have zero excuse for avoiding music.''

She narrows her eyes, ''What specifically do you do? You know, with music?''

As she chews on another french fry, he turns to her and rubs a hand against the fabric of his jeans. ''I sing and play the guitar.''

''Oh,'' She smirks. ''Triple threat?''

It would have been quadruple considering his undeniable good looks, but that was saved as a mental note.

''I'd like to hear you play some time,'' She retracts her steps and questions for confirmation, ''If you don't mind?''

''No, yeah,'' He fidgets. ''I won't mind.''

She breathes out a smile. ''Great.''

''Sorry to interrupt, Sad Breakfast Club,'' The voice of Cheryl Blossom bloomed as she stood in front of them. In her hands, she held demeaning black envelopes and a royal red stamp to seal it shut. ''But I'm here to formally invite you to Jason's memorial at Thornhill this weekend.''

Cheryl reaches out, the first one being handed to Hazel Michael.

Furrowing her brows, she accept the invitation. Did she somehow connect with the red head on a level not a lot of people could relate to?

''Don't feel too honored,'' She insults as she continues to hand out the invitations. ''My parents felt it'd be best since nearly the whole town is coming, yours should as well to pay your respects.''

She waves the black envelope. ''Got it.''

It seemed to pain Cheryl to the core as Veronica was the last to receive an invite.

''To my surprise and chargin, mother added you to the guest-list,'' She informs Veronica, popping whatever ideas the raven hair girl developed in her head. ''In case you're tempted to steal our silver candlesticks, don't. We'll be searching bags.''

A corner on Hazel's lips twitched in a mere sneer as she walks off. Did she have a mental and emotional disorder like bipolar? She's never heard nor seen a mean girl switch so fast during each encounter.

Betty turns towards the girls and prompts softly, ''Hey, try to remember, she is burying her brother.''

A sigh fell from Veronica's lips before she got up and walked off, heading for Cheryl's direction.

''What was the analogy, Cheryl was making about her?'' Hazel questions.

Betty gaped while looking around at her friends. She wasn't sure if she should say since it was more of Veronica's tale to tell.

But if Veronica, herself, was planning on bringing Hazel around as a usual, she should know the people she's dealing with.

''Back when Veronica lived in New York, her father went to jail for fraud and embezzlement,'' Betty informs her. ''It's a real sticky situation for her and her mom.''

''Wow,'' Her eyes went wide. It went dark for a second, maybe she shouldn't have asked. ''There is a lot I don't know about, huh?''

-

Francis Michael shakes his head, his gaze focused out from the passenger window. ''This is a waste of time.''

''What else would you be doing at this hour?'' Serena fires back while turning off the engine to her car.

He turns back to her incredibly. ''Anything but offering my condolences for a dead kid, I don't even know.''

''We'll stay for the eulogy, five more minutes after it's over, make up an excuse and then get the hell out of here,'' Hazel devised a plan from the back seat of the car. ''I don't know about you guys, but there is seriously something off about their other child.''

Francis waves her off. ''Cheryl's hot.''

Her eyes enlarged. ''Have you learned nothing from any movie or tv show that you watched? The hot ones are always crazy.''

''I didn't think I'd have to tell you this,'' Serena rolls her eyes before facing her niece and nephew. ''But I want you two on your best. Someone son is dead, we need to assure the peaceful environment they're intending today.''

Francis was unbuckling his seatbelt as he breathes out, ''Let's just get this over with.''

Thornhill was dearly entailed with encrypted details involving the Blossoms initials.

It was beautiful, shiny you may say. Looked too unrealistic to even touch.

As they approached the doorstep of the Blossom household, they were greeted by an elder version of Cheryl Blossom. Her mother; Penelope Blossom.

Hazel didn't know which made her stomach churn more, Cheryl's presence or the wicked stare of her mothers.

''You must be the new neighbors in town,'' She grew into a smile. ''I'm Penelope Blossom, I am so pleased to see you come.''

''Thank you for inviting us into your lovely home,'' Serena responds, holding up the intellectual level Penelope had risen. ''We're so sorry for your lost. It must be devastating to lose him so young.''

She barely nods her head. ''We're managing. Though, it's good to know that he's in a better place.'' She points towards the two teens accompanying her. ''I gather that these are your children?''

''Oh,'' She jerks back before shaking her head. ''No, actually, I'm their aunt.''

She furrows her brows. ''Oh?''

''We should be heading inside,'' Francis recommends. He looks up and forced a sympathetic smile. ''It was a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Blossom. And I'm sorry for your loss.''

Hazel was fast to follow after Francis. She was glad he recovered the situation from their aunt's grasp before it could endulge any further.

''Okay,'' Francis sighs. ''So maybe this family has impeccable vibes.''

She opened her mouth to gloat when Kevin Keller calls her over. ''Hazel!''

Her gaze flickers, finding Kevin, Archie and Valerie sitting in one row, with Betty and Jughead sitting a row behind him in that order.

''Over here,'' He waves.

There were two seats available. One at the end of the row Betty and Jughead sat and one behind the empty seat.

Gripping on to her brother's arm, she gives it a squeeze. ''Come on.''

As they approached, Hazel formed a smile on display. Meanwhile, Francis grew inquisitive about where this could lead.

''Hi, guys,'' She spoke softly to the group. ''Uh, this is my brother, Francis. Francis, this is Jughead, Betty, Kevin, Archie and Valerie.''

''Oh, I know Archie,'' He picks at his chin. ''Hey, man, no hard feelings?''

He cocked his head to the side. ''No pain, no game.''

''Alright,'' He chuckles softly. The Michael siblings took their seats before Hazel asks, ''Where's Veronica?''

''She should be here any moment,'' Betty informs, smiling softly.

Archie turns vigorously, as if he was looking for someone. He turned all the way around, finding Cheryl's mother walking into the den.

He gets up, carrying a neatly folded jersey and walks up to her.

''I'm so sorry for your lost, Mrs. Blossom,'' He apologized. ''I thought you might want to have this.''

She seemed to lost in her own little world when her gaze trailed down to the number nine printed on the jersey before looking back up at him.

She reached out for him, her fingers gently caressing his face.

''You're so much like him,'' She whispers.

''Oh hell no,'' Francis mumbles from behind Hazel. The group was watching and it'd be a disregarding understatement to say it was uncomfortable to watch, much less being the one to get caressed.

She continued to touch his face, eventually reaching up to touch his hair.

''Oh, I'm sorry,'' She pulls back. She retrieves the jersey from his grasp. ''Thank you, Archibald.''

Kevin leans over to his side and questions out of disbelief, ''Did she just touch your hair?''

Betty reaches out for his arm and praises, ''That was really sweet what you did.''

''She deserves it,'' He leans back into his seat. ''More than I do.''

Hazel perks up at the sight of Veronica's arrival. ''Day's like today really put things in perspective, huh?''

''I mean,'' She takes a seat in front of Valerie, her body sitting haphazardly on the chair to face her friends. ''At least we're here. At least we're alive.''

Just as she turns in her seat to face the frint, Hazel turns to Francis who was already looking at his little sister, smiling softly.

After everything they've been through, they should be more appreciative of each other.

Maybe this was the day they realized that.

Hazel furrows her brows, her older brother sharing the same features as people around the twisted in their chairs.

They turn to find Cheryl Blossom strolling through in a white dress, hints of red details like droplets of blood.

''Yes,'' Kevin silently cheered on as she passed by. She approached the front were her parent's eyed her, their features stern as they shoot her a pointed look.

She turns to face everyone from behind the podium and introduces, ''Welcome to Thornhill. Thank you all for coming. If you'll kindly take your seats. I'd like to start the memorial with a few words about Jason.''

Hazel Michael, Francis Michael and Serena Michael have never felt the need to leave an event faster than anything they've experienced.

''The last time I saw Jason, I was wearing this dress.''

Of course, leave it to Cheryl Blossom to make the scene even more unbearable to sit through.

The red shakes her head. ''I know it's impossible. But I swear, when I put it on, it..'' She turns towards the fairly large portrait of Jason Blossom. ''It feels like he's in the room with me.'' She faces the front of the room again. ''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 didnt want me to know.''

She became more fragile as her voice cracks. There were tears creating a glossy substance against her eyes. ''He protected me. Every single day. I wish, that day at the river, I had protected him.''

A choked sob erupts from her chest before she turns around, slamming her hands against her twin brothers casket.

''I'm so sorry, Jay-jay,'' Veronica gets up from her seat to gather her. ''We failed you. All of us.''

She placed a gentle touch on her back, letting her know of her presence. Cheryl turns and dives into Veronica's open arms.

Her mother then took over by walking up to the podium, her faux smile deceiving many as she suggests, ''I think we'll adjourn now to the Winter Salon for a light supper.''