Chapter Five
" SORRY TO INTERRUPT,
     SAD BREAKFAST CLUB! "

"What are your plans for after school? Hopes, dreams, what's your life goal?" Sydney and Cheryl were at Pop's, Sydney's camera propped up on a tripod on the table. They figured they could use a change of scenery and what better place than Pop's Chock-lit Shoppe? "Well, I would say to take over the family business but everyone knows that's a pipe dream now." Cheryl dipped a fry into her whipped cream before taking a bite. "But I guess I could try to get out of this town for a start."

"Circling back to the popularity topic, would you say that everyone hangs out together or are they in their own separate group?" Sydney asked before popping in a fry. "Imagine hanging out with the film club and then imagine getting together with the sad Breakfast Club, i.e. Archie, Veronica, Betty, and Jughead. Weird, right? That's what it would be like not being in your safe zone. Say you try asking out...Veronica or one of them, for instance. It'd be weird dating her because you're not a part of her inner circle.

"You two would have absolutely nothing in common and the 'romance' would die out faster than Archie's constant need to save everyone in this godforsaken town." Cheryl plucked the maraschino cherry off the top of her shake and bit it off. "Does that answer your question?"

"Perfectly."

"Next one."

"What does a normal weekend look like for you?"

"If I'm not at a party, I'm probably running for my life from the Black Hood." Cheryl shrugged and took a sip of her shake. "But isn't the Black Hood...dead?" asked Sydney. "Who knows? He's been leaving threats all over town and God forbid we have another crime scene on our hands," Cheryl said, before biting a french fry in half. Sydney nodded her head and didn't say another word.

Instead, she zoomed in on Cheryl's hand, where the uneaten french fry half still was and then panned her camera up when Cheryl started talking. "I just don't understand why this town is such a magnet for bad things and bad people. I don't want to admit it but do you think this all started with my brother Jason?"

Sydney shook her head. "I wouldn't think to say it did."

"But it did. It all happened because of him. Riverdale was such a nice place before his murder. Now? Now it's just a town where murder makes its bed and sleeps in it."

_____

"How's the movie coming along?" asked Reggie as he stood behind his sister. Sydney groaned and let her head fall onto the table. "I'll take that as a 'not-so-good.'" He chuckled. "The movie's coming along well enough, but so far it's just question and answer. I don't have footage of her doing anything. Maybe I can get a few clips of her at cheer practice?" Sydney lifted her head off of the table and looked at Reggie. He shrugged and she lay her head down again.

"Oh, come on, Syd. I know you'll think of something. You always do," Reggie assured her before leaving her to it. Once again, she lifted her head off of the table and resumed her work. After cutting, editing, and reviewing the footage she had, she saved the file before closing out the editing software. When walking into the kitchen, her phone rang in her back pocket. Pulling it out, she noticed that it was Cheryl calling.

"Cheryl?" she asked. "Riverdale's having a basketball game and I need you to get clips of me and my Vixens." Cheryl got right to the point, which was nice because it was getting late and Sydney didn't want any drawn-out explanations.

"And when did you suddenly become director of my movie?"

"I didn't. I'm just trying to see what the movie needs and the movie needs action shots."

"How would you know exactly?"

"I can see you editing sometimes and from afar, it looks kind of bland." Sydney hated to admit it but Cheryl was right. It sucked to have her worst fears be voiced but it needed to be done in order to finish the movie. "Okay, I'll be there. It's the championship, right?" said Sydney. "Yup. Toodles." And with that, Cheryl hung up. Sydney pulled her phone away from her ear in confusion and then put it to sleep.

_____

"So, Vixens, what do you have in store for us?" Sydney's camera was on them and Cheryl was standing front and center. "You'll just have to wait and see." Cheryl winked at the camera as she stood with her pom-poms in hand. Once the halftime show started, Sydney got close to the sidelines to see everything. She tried to get close-ups of Cheryl in her prime, moving and gliding across the floor like she owned it. And she did. This was her world, her safety net.

After the halftime show was over, the game resumed and Sydney tried to film as much as she could. The clock was running down, time was running out, and the Riverdale Bulldogs were down by three. "Pass it!" they were all shouting. The ball was passed to the one closest to the net and it made a nice "swoosh" sound when the buzzer rang. Everyone stood up and cheered and then flooded the court while Sydney tried not to get trampled.

The captain was raised into the air on the team's shoulders and was handed the championship trophy. Details of a party were being passed around and Sydney couldn't help but hear that it was taking place at the captain's house. And, since he was nice enough, the Serpents could join if they wanted to. "I am definitely going to that party," Reggie said as he stood next to Sydney. "You're driving, right?" asked Sydney and Reggie gave her a sad smile. "Sorry, Syd, but the car's all packed with my boys. Maybe Cheryl can take you. I heard that she was going."

"Maybe. I'll see you there?"

"Definitely." Reggie turned and headed for the gym exit and Sydney went to the locker room to find Cheryl. "Hey, Cher? You in here?"

"What do you want?" Cheryl came up to her in nothing but a rosy bra and matching high-cut underwear. Sydney's cheeks reddened and she lost her train of thought. "Well?" Cheryl asked, showing no patience for an answer as she pulled on a basic black crop top. "I was wondering if you were going to that championship party everyone was talking about." Sydney regained her composure and tried to keep eye contact to refrain from wandering.

"Of course. Everyone's gonna be there. Even the trash-ass Serpents are going. Why? You need a ride?" Cheryl shimmied into a plaid mini skirt, threw on her white fur coat, and pulling on a pair of red, pleather boots before slamming her locker shut. "Yeah. Reggie already left with his friends so there was no room for me in the car," Sydney explained sheepishly. "No offense, but why can't you drive?" Cheryl asked as she moved past Sydney.

"I can," Sydney retorted, "my parents just thought that since Reggie was older, he should be the one with the car."

Cheryl rolled her eyes. "Fine. I suppose you can hitch a ride. It's not like I was showing up with anyone, anyway."

"Awesomesauce."

"Do me a favor and never say that again."