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iii.   jason is missing.
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NEWS TRAVELS FAST in small towns —especially Riverdale. So when Jason Blossom had been reported missing, it didn't take long for every resident to slowly find out.

Axel was at home when he was informed about Jason's disappearance. He was sitting on his bed with his summer homework sprawled before him on the mattress. The sound of an incoming Skype call from his computer brought him out of his intense thought of algebraic equations. Scanning over the caller ID, he answered once seeing 'Archibald Andrews' light up across the screen.

"Hey, Archie!" Axel said cheerfully. Though the other teenager was feeling the exact opposite. Axel's attitude slowly changed as he noticed his friend's gloomy look. "What's wrong?"

In that moment, both Astrid and Beatriz made their ways onto the call. The girls also carried looks of confusion when looking at the ginger boy's grim expression. "What's up, Arch?" Astrid asked as she furrowed her eyebrows.

"Jason is missing."

Axel furrowed his eyebrows. "Missing? Like ran away missing?" Beatriz asked.

"No-one knows. He was just here, and then he was gone." Archie explained while shaking his head.

Axel was stunned. Everyone one the call was stunned. How could this happen? Was he kidnapped? Did he run away? Was he chased away? Did he finally leave this horrid town? Is he safe? Where could he have gone? What happened to Jason Blossom?

✧∘ଂ ࿐ ཾ

STANDING BEHIND THE counter of Pop's diner, Axel was scrubbing the marble surface clean with a washcloth. Pop Tate was sitting in the kitchen of the restaurant with his feet propped up, and a newspaper between his hands. The soft retro music was calmly playing throughout the building, and it helped soothe the raven-haired teenager.

The hour of dusk was normally a very quiet time for the diner. Axel would use these moments to relax before the mad rush comes barreling through.

After finishing the scrubbing down of the countertops, Axel went to a chair in the corner and laid back. He let his thoughts wander, but they mostly stayed on the topic of the missing teenager. It wasn't a common phenomenon for someone to go missing in a small town, especially a young boy that Axel considered himself to be friends with.

Jason Blossom was missing. So many questions spiraled through the Axel's head. Like, for instance, "What if it was me instead? How would my family react? How are the Blossom reacting?"

"Hellooooo, Axel." A voice called out, breaking the Richards boy from his daze. It was Astrid Andrews, with Archie at her side. "Earth to Axel."

The raven-haired boy let out a laugh as he jumped to his feet, and over to the duo. "Sorry, sorry. How can I help you?"

"Two tables." Astrid replied. "Not close to each other."

Axel nodded his head before grabbing two menus from the front, and leading them to their tables. Astrid was placed closer to the front, while Archie was farther back in the diner. As soon as the Richards boy handed the menu to Archie, the bell above the door went off. He glanced up to see Betty Cooper standing on the welcome mat with her eyes scanning the entirety of the restaurant. Once she caught sight of Archie, a smile crept onto her face, and she began to walk towards him.

"Hi, welcome to Pop-" Axel started while holding a menu out for the blonde girl, but she simply pushed passed him while snatching the item from his hands. With furrowed eyebrows, he walked away from the couple and to Astrid. Taking a seat across from the red-headed female, he let out a huff. "I think Betty hates me."

Astrid glanced up from her phone screen. "You do have that effect on people."

Axel rolled his eyes while laughing at his best friend. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Just a chocolate shake."

The boy nodded his head before heading behind the counter. He stood before the window that lead to the kitchen, and shouted, "One chocolate shake, Pop!"

Then he turned on his heels, and walked up to the couple in the back of the diner. Completely ignored the daggers Betty was throwing at him with her eyes, he asked, "What can I get you guys tonight?"

"Two vanilla shakes." Archie answered confidently, before throwing a smile at the girl sitting across from him. Axel nodded his head before grabbing the menus from them, and taking them back to the front. He then went back to the window, and shouted the new orders to his boss.

The ringing of the bell behind Axel was what made him turn around quickly. Beatriz Ruiz stood on the doormat with a very depressing look on her face. "Beatriz?" Axel called out as he rushed to her side. "What's wrong?"

"Where's Astrid?"

Axel led her to the red-headed girl's table, and Astrid immediately put her phone away when she saw how distressed Beatriz was. "What's wrong, Beatriz?"

"The date went awful." The brunette girl sighed.

Axel furrowed his brows as he slid into the booth beside the fiery red-head. "Wait wait, what date?"

"With Chuck, catch up." Astrid said quickly while flicking her wrist, almost dismissing his question physically.

Beatriz looked down at her lap. "He took me to this pretty fancy restaurant, and he was super sweet. Like pulling my chair out for me, complimenting me, you know? Then his flirting started to escalate. He just really tried to get me to come home with him literally as the waitress brought out our meals. Complete waste of time." She huffed.

"Chuck Clayton is a sad excuse for a male in this society. No one should try to rush into sex like seriously."

Axel nodded his head before giving the brunette a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry about your date, Beatriz. That's how they get you. They act all nice in the beginning, but that's all those guys on the football team look for."

"How are you any different? You play football." Astrid pointed out.

The raven-haired boy sighed. "I've known these guys for most of my life. They've always been like that. You know I'm not like them. Your brother too. But back to Beatriz, would you like me to beat Chuck up for you?"

"There is no way your scrawny ass could beat him up." She laughed.

At that very moment, the bell above the door chimed, which drew attention to the customers standing on the doormat. "Speak of the devil." Astrid muttered before she lowered her gaze. Axel stood from the booth, and greeted the new guests. Chuck Clayton, Moose Mason, and Reggie Mantle looked around the small diner, almost seeming to be looking for someone.

"Welcome to Pop's. You can sit anywhere you like. I'll be with you in a moment." Axel recited the opening lines with the best cheery voice he could mutter as he approached the trio. Chuck nodded before leading his posse to the bar to their right.

Axel then turned to collect the milkshake orders that he was given just minutes prior. After handing them back out to those who ordered them, and giving Pop their desired food, he returned to Beatriz and Astrid. "Are you okay, Bea?" Astrid asked once he joined them.

"Yeah. Just poison his burger or something." She sighed. Axel let out a chuckle before standing, and heading to greet his new customers.

Reggie was the first to notice the teen approaching. "Axel! Yo man what are you doing working here?"

"I've been working since freshman year here, Reg." He paused to grab the note pad from his waist band. "Do you guys know what you want."

Chuck slapped the menu down on the counter top, and let out an exasperated sigh. "You know, Richards, I just had one of the worst dates of my teenage life. Can you just give me like the best thing you got?"

Axel faltered for a second. Did he just hear that correctly? He turned and looked over to the table with the two girls, and he watched Beatriz's shoulders fall when she heard his words. Astrid looked furious, and he could almost see the rage in her eyes.

"I'm gonna let you retry that sentence one more time." Axel sneered as he leaned on the counter, and leaned towards the other boy. It was an act of intimidation, and Axel clearly didn't look the part.

Chuck laughed. "What? The part about it being the worst date of my teenage life? Actually, make that my whole life."

Axel glared at the boy as Astrid stormed over. By now, Reggie and Moose were stepped back towards the door because they knew Chuck crossed the line. Astrid leaned in from beside Axel. "He gave you another chance, Clayton. You blew it."

Chuck leaned in towards the red-head. "What are you gonna do, princess?"

"Oh please, Chuck. You know that Astrid could kick your ass any day. Even your little posse knows." The raven-haired boy motioned to the guys trying to flee from the scene.

Chuck Clayton glared at the two boys behind him before pondering his next move. Slowly, he stood from his chair. As he began to exit, Astrid yelled out, "Her name is Beatriz, and if you're ever rude to her again, you know what's coming!"

As soon as the door closed, Axel turned to his best friend with a smile. "We make a pretty good team." He said with a smile, and his hand outstretched for a fist bump.

"Yes we do." Astrid replies while returning his fist bump.

     As the red-head retreated back to her seat, and Axel fulfilled the orders of his customers, the bell chimed from above the front entrance. A girl, around their age, waltzed in with a long coat, and a hood casting a shadow over her face. Everyone in the diner seemed to be mesmerized by her presence.

     "I'm here to pick up an order for Lodge," she told Axel, but it flew over his head. It took him a few seconds to finally understand that she was speaking to him.

     Axel shook his head to clear his thoughts before asking, "Is it two burgers?" When she nodded, he continued, "Yeah it's almost done, but you're going to have to wait."

     The mystery girl nodded before moving around the diner with curiosity. Axel went to behind the counter to grab a rag and continue to scrub down tabletops. He watched as Beatriz left Astrid to sit alone at their booth.

     The red-head's voice called out, "You look like you come here often."

     "Is it that obvious?" The girl in the black hood replied.

     Astrid tilted her head, "Not totally. Where are you from, mystery girl?"

     "New York."

     Astrid raised her eyebrows, "That's pretty far. What are you doing in a dull town like Riverdale?"

     "My mom and I just moved here. . . Do you go to Riverdale high?"

     Astrid smiled and nodded, "Yes, actually. Will I be seeing you there?"

     The girl looked down at her shoes, a small blush settling over her cheeks. Suddenly, she was happy it was so dark in the diner. "Yeah, you will be."

     It was quiet for a moment, just the girls smiling at each other in silence. "Oh, where are my manners? Would you like to join me and my friend?"

     "Your friend? I thought she--" the girl trailed off. "Nevermind," she quickly said, confusing Astrid. "Thank you, I would love to, but I actually have my mom waiting for me." she regained her confidence and politely told Astrid.

     As Axel was eavesdropping on their conversation, Pop called out to him from behind him. The raven-haired boy turned and hurried to his boss. "Here's the order for Lodge."

     "Thanks, Pop." Axel smiled as he grabbed the brown bag, and turned to place it on the counter. "Order for Lodge." He said to her.

     However, the girl only muttered a thank you to Axel, for she was too invested in her conversation with the red-headed girl in table four.

     Astrid called out as the other girl went to leave, "If you find me, don't be afraid to say hi." Astrid giggled. "Oh, I uh, didn't catch your name."

     A real smile made its way onto the girl's purple lipstick covered lips. "Veronica Lodge." she stepped forward and outstretched her hand. Astrid shook it, looking up at the girl.

     "Astrid Andrews. Welcome to Riverdale, Veronica." she let go of her hand and let Veronica walk out the door, still carrying a smile as the bell rung again. Astrid sighed, going back to her milkshake.

     She was so in her own world she didn't realize Axel was wiping tables nearby, chuckling. Astrid turned her head with a confused look on her face. "You're in deep," he laughed.

     "Shut up," Astrid mumbled in reply.

authors note.
really love the axel and
astrid brotp lmaooo

also, um i totally snatched
like that whole last part
from luna lololol