"Thank you for that moment of silence," Heather Blossom said, she was standing behind a podium in the gym, in front of the entire student body of Riverdale high. Her long gorgeous black hair hung down to the small of her back, she wore a deep crimson fitted knee-length dress, sleek black heels and a spider pin on her breast. She was pale, and had dark eyes to match her hair. Her lips were the color of blood, and her cheek bones were so sharp she could cut glass with them.

"She's.. Gorgeous," Gwen whispered to Courtney. The small group had filed in with the rest of the students. Sitting in the back with the rest of the sophomore class. 

"Many of you were lucky enough to know my brother personally, each, and every one of you meant the world to him," Heather continued. She swallowed hard and looked over the huge crowd "I loved my brother, he was, and always will be my soulmate. So I speak with a confidence only a twin could have. Jason wouldn't want us to spend the whole year mourning him. Jason would want us to move on with our lives,"

Courtney felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up, and she turned in her seat to look over her shoulder to meet a pair of gorgeous teal eyes. Duncan was sitting about 3 rows behind her, but was looking right at her. He smirked a little when their eyes met, and Courtney swallowed hard. And quickly turned back around in her seat.

"Which is why, I've asked the school board not to cancel this years semi formal," Heather said. The crowd erupted in cheers of relief, and Heather smiled faintly  "But rather, to let us use it as a way to heal, and celebrate my brother's too short life, thank you all," she finished with a nod, and the crowd clapped loudly as she slowly stepped down from the podium and took her seat with the rest of the sophomores. 

Mr. Stone stood up, and began talking about the new school year and his plans, but Courtney was no longer listening. She looked over her shoulder to look at Duncan again, but blinked a little when she saw he was no longer there. 

"Who are you looking at?" Gwen asked, snapping Courtney out of it. She looked at her and shook her head

"No one," she mumbled.

Gwen sighed a little as the lunch lady spooned what looked like brown sludge onto her tray, she swallowed hard and moved down the line and grabbed an orange juice and a fruit cup. She paid for her lunch and slowly turned around, looking over the cafeteria and at all the tables filled with students laughing and talking. Gwen sighed and slowly moved to sit at an empty table, but something else caught her attention. 

Gwen picked her tray up with a smile and casually strolled past everyone and outside to the court yard. Where Courtney, Trent, and Cody were all sitting. 

"Hello," she said as she casually walked up

"Shh.." Cody said, and Gwen raised a brow and looked at Trent and Courtney who were leaning intently into his laptop, and a soft, male's voice was singing notes out of. 

Upon seeing her, Trent clicked pause on the video and smiled up at her "Hey Gwen," 

"Hey.. Was that you singing?" she asked, Courtney smiled and nodded

"He's awesome, right?" she gushed. Trent smiled at her and Courtney blushed a little

"You know, I thought I was gonna have to fake like it. But it's actually really good," Cody nodded in approval. 

"Can I sit?" Gwen asked, Courtney shrugged

"Sure," she said. Gwen set her tray down and slowly sat down across from Trent next to Cody. 

"You have an amazing voice," Gwen said. Courtney watched as Trent blushed a little and shrugged

"It's just something I've been working on," he said. 

"You should totally get vocal lessons from Mrs. Grundy!" Cody said. Trent seemed to stiffen a little and he quickly closed his laptop

"Uh, yeah. Sure," he mumbled, sliding the laptop into his bag "I gotta get going, some of the football guys and I were gonna head to gym early, catch you guys later!" he said, quickly getting up and leaving. Courtney breathed in his musky cologne with a sigh.

"That was weird," Gwen said, digging into her tossed salad.

"So how's your first day going?" Courtney asked, biting into her apple. Gwen sighed and looked around

"Not to be a complete narcissist, but I kinda thought-"  

"Everyone would be obsessed with you?" Cody asked. Gwen swallowed another bite of salad.

"Well, if this was any other school year you'd be the talk of the town. But not this year," Cody said, reaching over and stealing some of Courtney's fries. 

"Crap," Courtney groaned "Here comes Heather,"

Cody watched as Courtney almost tried hiding the food on her plate as she approached

"Gwendolyn Lodge," Heather said, stopping right at their table "I've heard a lot about you," 

Gwen stiffened "You have?"

"Care if I sit? Courtney... You mind?" Heather snidely said, moving Courtney down the bench to sit across from Gwen. "So.. What are you 3 talking about? Trent's spectacular emergence from puberty?"

Courtney nearly choked on her apple, causing Heather to give her a smug look.

"Extra circulars," Gwen said quickly, glancing at Courtney. "Stone wants me to sign up for a few,"

Heather gasped "Cheerleading!" 

Gwen laughed out loud at that "Um, hate to break it to you but I'm not the cheer type,"

Heather's face hardened, but she kept up her cool smirk "Well you should still try out, I'm captain of the River Vixens and we could totally use a few flyers," 

"Is cheerleading even still a thing?" Cody asked blandly, Heather shot him a glare

"Is being the gay best friend still a thing?" she snapped. Cody went pale and Courtney narrowed her eyes at Heather. 

"Sorry, but I'm sure Courtney and I both would rather steer clear of the River Vixens," Gwen said. Courtney made an embarrassed face

"Actually.. I've always wanted to be a cheerleader," she confessed. Heather looked over at Courtney and snorted

"Of course! Anyone is allowed to try out... It's just..." Heather looked at Courtney's plate "Courtney seems to have a lot on her.. Plate  right now. I need girls who are willing to give all their time to me,"

"Fine," Gwen said, getting a little angry with Heather "We will both try out."

Courtney's eyes widened, and Heather nodded "Great! See you... Both.. After school,"

Heather looked at the group one last time before getting up and walking away on her designer heels. Once she was out of ear shot, Gwen snorted

"Bitch," she mumbled. Courtney chuckled a little

"I can't believe you did that," she breathed, pushing her tray away from her with a face. Gwen looked confused

"Why? You said you've always wanted to be a cheerleader," she said. Courtney sighed a little

"Well... I tried out last year, but I didn't make the team because Heather said I was too fat," Courtney mumbled, reaching up and pulling her ponytail tighter. Gwen rolled her eyes

"Oh please," she mumbled. 

Courtney shrugged it off like it didn't bother her, and she picked up her tray to throw it away. She walked towards the outdoors compost bins and dumped her tray into one. Setting the empty tray on top, she turned to walk back but yelped when she hit a wall of flesh. Nearly knocking her over, she caught her balance, digging her converses into the pavement. 

"Oh shit," a deep voice cursed "Sorry," 

Courtney regained her composure and looked at who she ran into, and her throat tightened when she saw it was Duncan. 

"Oh, no. I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention," she blushed, and waved it off. 

"I'm surprised. Usually Princess Cooper is always on top of everything," Duncan mused, reaching up and fixing his beanie on his head. His black hair falling out of the hat slightly, hanging in his teal eyes. 

"Wh-what did you just call me?" she asked, feeling heat rising under her sweater. Duncan slowly looked past her and began walking that way. Towards the school's library

"Oh nothing," he called over his shoulder. Courtney watched him go, leaving a cloud of musky cologne and cigarette smoke in his wake.