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Stacey Donovan was born on the fourth of January, 2001 to Melissa and Steven Donovan. She remains an only child due to complications during her birth that lead to her mother being told she could no longer bare a child. But the Donovan's had their princess and that was all that mattered to both of them.

Melissa Donovan had grown up in the Southside of Riverdale. Her parents, Deanne and Alan Hanson were hard working parents however, the love they once carried had died out as they lived day by day in the side of town filled with crime, drugs and death. It didn't bother Melissa, she believed that nothing is accomplished without a little hard work.

Steven Donovan had grown up in the Northside of Riverdale. His parents, Frank and Gloria Donovan were a wealthy family with the blessings of generational wealth. He had an older brother named Sam Donovan who was more of a player than a one woman kind of man. But Steven Donovan had his eyes set on the girl from the Southside.

Steven and Melissa got married young. They had barely graduated high school when Steven got down on one knee and proposed to Melissa who had immediately accepted. They were married within a year of their engagement and found out they were going to be blessed with a child. Steven's parents had shunned their son for his choice of bride but he didn't care for their opinion.

And so, the two had moved to the Southside where they lived in a trailer in Sunnyside Trailer Park. They lived next door to Melissa's best friend, FP Jones who had a son of his own, Jughead Jones. Along with that, Steven's best friend, Fred Andrews would also come over and spend time with them, bringing along his own son, Archie Andrews. And prior to changing opinions, Alice Cooper would bring her daughter, Betty Cooper.

Stacey Donovan, Jughead Jones, Archie Andrews and Betty Cooper were the best of friends from the moment they could walk or crawl to the moment they were in their first year of Middle School. Stacey was closest with Jughead, the two were similar in a way that made their friendship work best; both were silent friends. They functioned without sharing words, they could read and write in each other's company without a word.

Archie and Betty were closer as the two held the jock and preppy stereotypes perfectly as they grew up. Or perhaps it was the subconscious understanding that Archie and Betty were Northsiders while Stacey and Jughead were Southsiders. When Alice's opinion of the Southside changed, she cut her friendship with Melissa and that resulted in Betty and Stacey seeing less of one another; soon enough, they were just friends in school when they passed in the halls.

Fred never cared about the Southside, Northside bullshit so this resulted in a strong trio of friends, Stacey, Jughead and Archie. Stacey adored her best friends, Archie and Jughead. Archie was like a little brother to the older girl, she always did her best to look out for him and protected him against bullies like Chuck Clayton and Reggie Mantle; she had even beaten Reggie up once which changed the boys views on life.

But Jughead Jones was different, to be expected. He was her best good friend. The two were practically attached at the hip, where one was, the other wasn't too far behind. Stacey liked that she could sit and read a book or just lay in the silence under the stars with him by her side. No words were needed, the two understood each other better in the silence than when words were ever spoken.

However, what Stacey never managed to notice in the silence was the longing glances that Jughead Jones would send her. She never questioned why Jughead liked to hold her hand when they walked to the park or why he gave her a hug everytime they wished each other a good night. She never asked why Jughead would always ask for her to sleepover, claiming he had nightmares when really, he wanted her by his side. She never noticed that Jughead Jones the Third ─ at barely ten years old ─ decided he would marry that girl one day.

But that "one day" seemed so far away when the Donovan's were given terrible news that lead to them packing up their things and saying goodbye to everyone and everything they knew. Stacey could remember clearly the party that FP and Gladys Jones hosted at The Whyte Wyrm for them. She could remember playing with the other kids in the bar before spotting Jughead sneaking out, she had followed the boy after punching one of her friends in the shoulder, that taller boy glaring at her plafully before chasing their other friend.

Twelve year old Stacey Donovan snuck out of the bar and looked around for Jughead only to spot the boy in the distance. She brushed her hands down her denim shorts before walking over to him, she smiled softly as she reached him. "Why'd you leave? It's my last night here and I want to spend it with my best good friend," Stacey expressed once she stood in front of him. Jughead didn't turn his head from the clear sky above them, the New Moon in show along the stars creating a beautiful glow over the two preteens.

"Juggy?" Stacey cooed as she stepped closer to the boy, she noticed the look on his face and lightly reached for his hand. "Hey, I know this sucks but I'm never gonna forget you and once I'm older, I'll come back," Stacey promised as she stepped forward again bringing Jughead's eyes to her own. "You aren't losing me, Juggy. We'll be together again one day," Stacey assured him. Jughead's eyes were focused on memorising her face, the way her dimples showed when she smiled along with the laughter lines in her face.

Eleven-year-old Jughead cupped her face in his hands and leaned forward, placing his lips on her own in a moment of unexpected confidence. Stacey had been shocked, her heart hammering in her chest as her best good friend kissed her. In a matter of seconds, Jughead realised what he had done and pulled away, "Uh, I... sorry, I shouldn't have... but I wanted to.. but I should have asked... I just--" Jughead's rambling was cut off by Stacey leaning forward and kissing him. He melted into it and enjoyed the taste of cherry on her lips, their first kisses shared under the stars.

And when Stacey grabbed her final bag the next day, she threw it into her father's car before looking over at Jughead. The two had misty eyes but not a tear fell as they swore to find each other again one day, when they were older. Ignoring her mother's words, Stacey ran towards Jughead and the two wrapped their arms around each other. Their parents shared a look before stepping aside to let them say their goodbyes. "I'll miss you, Juggy," Stacey whispered as the tears finally fell. "I'll miss you too, Star," Jughead whispered back.

Stacey reluctantly pulled out of Jughead's arms, though he was tempted to pull her back and never let go. Jughead stood still, he didn't trust himself not to chase after her if he moved. Stacey walked away, holding his hand until they were out of reach. The brunette girl climbed into her parents car with a sniffle, she looked out the window at Jughead Jones and drew a cross against her heart; sealing the promise that they would see one another again. And though she didn't see it, Jughead crossed his own heart locking it in the cage for only one girl to access.

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Fifteen year old Stacey Donovan sniffled as she wrapped her arms around her body, she sat on her bed with her knees to her chest. She wore a black dress with stockings underneath and her hair tied back in a tight bun. Tears fell silently down her face as she looked around the room she was in, many memories of new friendships, sleepovers and conversations seemed to bounce of the walls as the girl stared blankly at the wall. The door opened to reveal her cousin, Mike Dononvan, son of Sam Donovan.

"Hey cousin, it's time," Mike told her, his eyes bloodshot to show he had been crying as well but clearly, he had tried to make himself presentable for the day. "I don't think I can do it," Stacey told him in a broken voice, she seemed almost breathless. "I'll be right by your side... you know you'll regret it otherwise," Mike warned her, she knew he was right. And so, with one last sniffle, she got up off of her bed and straightened out her dress. Wiping her eyes before nodding at her older cousin, he held out his hand for her and the two Donovan's headed downstairs.

People were everywhere, all dressed in black with sadness or tears in their eyes. The day was cloudy with little sun but no rain in sight which seemed to be a welcome blessing. Stacey walked by her cousin's side, people watching her every step as they walked along the gravel path ignoring the slight winter chill in the air. Soon enough, everyone came to a stop on a small patch of familiar grass, the small dew drops were a reminder of how early in the day it truly was.

"Today we are gathered to celebrate and say goodbye to a well loved man, Steven James Donovan," The Preacher spoke as Stacey stood between her mother and cousin, her Uncle Sam standing next to his son. "Steven's life was filled with love, joy and comfort from the moment he was born, right up until he had taken his last breath in the company of his family. . ." Stacey zoned out of the Preacher's words, her eyes focused on the mahogany coffin resting above a six foot deep hole next to another grave that read "Gloria Donovan, gone but not forgotten".

Steven James Donovan was buried next to his mother on the twelfth of January, 2015 on a neutral day of the year in Greendale Cemetery. He had fallen sick with cancer and that was why the Donovan's left Riverdale in hopes of getting him the best treatment they could. And for a while it had worked, he was in remission for a year before he suddenly collapsed and was rushed into hospital with his daughter by his side. It turned out that the cancer had spread quickly and his last few months on Earth were spent with his wife and daughter.

The first year without Steven Donovan was the hardest that Stacey had ever lived. Her mother had become a shell of her former self, focusing on her job while drinking her pain away one bottle at a time. While Stacey had pulled away from her friends, pushed them far beyond her reach and became a loner always dressed in black with her notebook in hand. Her uncle had taken the mantle of the man of the house and did what he could to keep both of them going while Mike did his best to not let Stacey fall apart completely; he let her mourn and grieve but never let her destroy herself in the process.

Though she was never alone thanks to her animal companion, a German Shepherd named Buddy. He had been the last gift Steven Donovan had given his daughter, a support dog who was trained to assist with panic attacks. Stacey's anxiety had improved having Buddy around, the dog named after her favourite character in Elf.

By June of 2017, Sam Donovan had it with the moping and self destruction of both Melissa and Stacey. He finally snapped at them and decided that living in the house filled with dying memories was only hurting them rather than healing them. With that in mind, Sam purchased a large home in Riverdale deciding that their old life is what they needed to start fresh; distant memories were better than recent ones. Plus, Stacey being kicked out of school meant it was the best time to move back home.

And so, by early August of 2017, the Donovan family had finished settling their affairs in their town and packed all of their things into a U-Haul truck. Stacey sat on her motorbike, helmet on her head as she followed behind her mother's car and the U-Haul truck back into the familiar small town of Riverdale. A flash of memories hitting Stacey and she wondered one simple thing; Did Jughead Jones remember her and will he keep his promise? Only time would tell for the seventeen year old. But this new start should be a very eventful time for the journalist.

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Rosemary Speaks. . .

Okay, how is that for an introduction to a story! Was it good?

I kind of love this... do you?

What do you think of Stacey so far?

Thoughts, Suggestions or Questions?

See you in the first chapter!