❝ The River's Edge ❞

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Mike Donovan had decided to attend the Back-to-School Dance after being invited to join the trio that was Archie Andrews, Veronica Lodge and Betty Cooper. However, Stacey stayed true to her words and joined Jughead Jones at Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe for milkshakes and fries. Stacey walked into Pop's, she had told Jughead that she would meet him there after heading home knowing her mom would ask about her day, but her mother had dragged the teenager into her home office to try on some new outfits that the woman had made which only made her run late to her plans with Jughead.

"Took your time," Jughead teased making Stacey huffed as she adjusted her shirt. "I was releasing my captives from the basement, perfect room for you," Stacey replied making him laugh quietly before pushing a milkshake forward. "Thank you," Stacey told him as she grabbed it and took a sip enjoying the Choc Banana milkshake. Stacey pulled her laptop from her bag, placed it on the table and opened it up to the photo editing software she had been working on earlier that day. "So what exactly are you working on?" Stacey asked Jughead. "It's a novel about the summer and Jason Blossom's death," Jughead answered her, "And you?"

"After being kicked out of school, I picked up a side hustle of photography. Working on some photos I took before moving back here for one of my clients," Stacey answered him with a smile before focusing back on her laptop. "So why the summer then?" Stacey questioned as she worked. "Didn't have much else to do," Jughead answered as he watched the brunette focus on the task she was working on. "So you didn't spend the summer playing video games with Archie then?" Stacey asked with a teasing voice. "Archie and I aren't... friends anymore. We had plans on the fourth of July for a road trip but he bailed on me, haven't talked since," Jughead explained to her.

"Oh, well, you've got nothing to worry about now because I'm here and I'm not going anywhere," Stacey assured him with a smirk. The two went silent as they focused on their respective projects, Pop Tate placing fresh hot fries down for the two Nighthawks to share as they worked. It was the most relaxed and happy that Jughead had been in a long time, he knew that there was a part of him missing from when Stacey Donovan left but her return seemed to have placed on piece of the puzzle that is his life back; maybe those pieces will come together again over time.

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Sitting in that booth with Stacey across from me was something I had wanted for five years. It had been a shock to learn that Steven Donovan had passed away, I couldn't wrap my head around it.

Steven Donovan was a teacher, he adored teaching young minds and always made sure everyone was comfortable and involved.

But it was nice to share with someone about my own troubles. My father, an alcoholic ─ turning any desires of underage drinking into something I despised ─ And my mother leaving with my little sister, I never understood why she left me behind.

Having Stacey to hold my head above water gave me hope that I may actually heal. That we could heal together.

It was midnight, when my old friend, Archie Andrews, arrived at the one place in town that's still open. He was looking for the girl next door. Instead, he found me and Stacey.

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Without them realising, almost three hours had passed by like nothing. The bell above the door rang followed by Archie Andrews walking inside, he looked around and locked eyes with Jughead before approaching Pop Tate with a pant in his words. "Hey, Pop. Betty hasn't come in tonight, has she?" Archie asked the older man who was like a grandfather to everyone. "No. Just the two Nighthawk's in tonight," Pop Tate replied as he nods his head towards Jughead and Stacey. "Thanks," Archie said to Pop Tate before he walked over to the table prompting the two seated teenagers to look his way.

"Oh, can I sit, Jughead?" Archie asked knowing that he was the one that he should ask due to their falling out. "If you want," Jughead replied with a shrug while Stacey turned back to her laptop leaving the two former friends to talk. "What are you working on?" Archie asked after he had slipped into the seat next to Stacey across from Jughead. "My novel. It's about this Summer -- and Jason Blossom," Jughead answered him. "Seventeen years old... and how will he be remembered? As the Captain of the Water Polo Team?" Archie questioned Jughead. "The Aquaholics? Considering how he died, probably not," Jughead replied to him.

"No, what I mean is, was he doing everything he was supposed to do? Everything he wanted -- I mean, did he even know what that was?" Archie clarified but neither teenager had an answer for the Andrews teen, it was obvious that those words struck a chord for all three of them. Changing the subject, Jughead spoke up, "Coach Clayton was in here talking to Pop Tate. Varsity? Does that make you, what, Mr Popular Football God now?" Archie scoffed at that, "No. In fact, I'm kind of terrified I lost my best friend tonight." Stacey turned her attention to him at those words, she raised a brow while Jughead sighed.

"If you mean Betty, whatever happened, just talk to her, man. That would go a long way," Jughead expressed to Archie before softly adding, "Would've gone a long way with me." The table fell silent at those words, Archie lowered his eyes while Jughead turned his gaze back to his laptop screen leaving Stacey looking between the two former friends, she knew that they'd be okay eventually but it clearly felt a little unbalanced without their bond. "Thanks," Archie whispered before getting up, he sent Stacey a smile before leaving the two Nighthawks. "You alright?" Stacey asked Jughead who nodded. "I will be," Jughead replied to her.

"I should probably head home before my uncle sends a search party," Stacey told Jughead, he immediately closed his laptop and stood up. "I'll walk you," Jughead replied making her smile, she saved her work and closed her laptop, putting it into her bag. "How kind of you," Stacey said as the two waved to Pop Tate, Jughead holding the door open for Stacey. The two were quiet as they walked through the streets of Riverdale, it was quiet due to most being asleep as it was almost two in the morning by this point. "Does your uncle still talk to Harry Vayne?" Jughead asked bringing a smile to Stacey's dazed off expression.

"Oh yeah, they're still the best of friends. Harry actually has a daughter, she's a year older than me," Stacey answered with a chuckle, "She showed up on his doorstep and as the typical lawyer he is, he immediately had a paternity test done. He was shocked to learn that he was the father but ultimately, he feels blessed to have a daughter. Even though he missed a lot of her life." Jughead nodded along with her words, he remembered all the times Harry and Sam would cover for the kids when they snuck out at night or the way the two spoiled them. "She's actually pregnant, he's doing his best to support her," Stacey added.

"Eighteen and pregnant?" Jughead asked. "Yeah, the dad's a deadbeat and Mom is trying to convince Harry to move here from New York," Stacey added with a small laugh, "I think Danielle will be able to convince him but she wants to make sure that it's the right choice for her baby." Jughead shoved his hands into his pockets, "Well, having a child would impact that for certain." Stacey hummed, "I kind of hope they move here because it'll be nice to have my Godfather here and be there for Dani when bubs is born." Jughead turned his head to look at Stacey, "I'm sure that if anyone could convince her, it'd be you." Stacey laughed before moving to walk backwards.

"Speaking on convincing people," Stacey stated making Jughead sighed with a fake annoyed look on his face. "The basement is very cosy. It has nice walls and a movie projector. Plus, an extra space for a bed," Stacey informed him. After learning that he wasn't living at home, she had been trying to deter his ideas of staying at the Drive-In by offering the Donovan basement that had been renovated into a space perfect for a teenage boy to make his own. "You know my mom would be okay with it and Sam would practically encourage it," Stacey told him with a slight glare in her eyes. "It's fine. The Drive-In works, Star," Jughead replied causing her to groan in annoyance.

"Fine!" Stacey dragged out, though she wasn't actually annoyed and Jughead knew that. "But just know that the offer is on the table, okay?" Stacey told him. "Okay. I appreciate it," Jughead assured her. Stacey moved to walk next to him again as they turned onto her street, she noticed Mike's car in the driveway next to her mother's and uncle's. "Why did you walk to Pop's?" Jughead asked the girl, he had seen her motorbike and not that he'd say it out loud, but something about Stacey sitting on her Dyna made Jughead fight off inappropriate thoughts about his best friend. "Mom allowed me to have the bike on the condition that I don't ride it all the time nor at night," Stacey answered with an eye roll.

The two stopped outside the Donovan home, Stacey turned to Jughead and stepped forward to wrap her arms around his torso. "Are you trying to kidnap me?" Jughead asked in a teasing voice that made her laugh. "No, I'm hugging my best friend goodnight," Stacey corrected with a smile as Jughead's arms weaved around her and held her close to him. "I'm really glad that you've come home," Jughead whispered to Stacey. "It's only home because of you," Stacey whispered back to him, the two remained silent as they held each other. The peace they had was welcomed by both of them as they were unaware of how crazy their lives were about to become.

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Stacey stood with Mike and her mother, Melissa by the crowd of onlookers watching as the police cordoned off a section of Sweetwater River where the body of Jason Blossom had been found resting on the shore, a singular bullet shot in the middle of his forehead. Uncle Sam walked towards his sister-in-law and the teenagers with a frown on his face, "It's definitely a murder. I don't want you two kids wondering around after dark nor alone until the killer is caught, is that understood?" Both Donovan teens nodded their heads at Sam's words, Melissa wrapped her arms around the two of them.

Stacey's eyes were focused on the body of Jason, her heart was racing as they zipped up the body bag that now held his corpse. The brunette turned her eyes to her right and locked gazes with Jughead Jones, he was watching her as she took in a deep breath. The return of the Donovan's surely altered the town but now a murder mystery that resulted in the death of a teenage boy that had so much ahead of him. Stood amongst the crowd is Betty with her parents, Veronica alongside her mother, Archie with his dad and a large majority of the town's socialites. They all appeared to be... transformed. Scared. Especially, Cheryl Blossom.

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Archie's apologetic words to Betty, his feelings not the same as her own for him, only made the girl-next-door Betty Cooper's night worse. And so, it wasn't one heart that broke that night. It was two. And the night was far from over.

By morning, everyone would be talking, texting, and posting about it... We'd all be feeling it. That the world around us had changed, maybe forever...

...That Riverdale wasn't the same town anymore. That it was a town of shadows and secrets now. On Monday, the autopsy would take place. And on Tuesday, halfway through fifth-period, the first arrest would be made.

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Rosemary Speaks. . .

And that concludes the first episode...

How are you liking Stacey Donovan so far?

Her friendship with Jughead?

How are you liking Mike Donovan?

His feelings for Betty?

Thoughts, Suggestions or Questions?
Headcanons? Theories?

See you in the next chapter!