❝ SEASON ONE, EPISODE FOUR ❞
📽The Last Picture Show📽

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It's been a week since the discovery of Jason Blossom's body. But his death is not the first, nor would it be the last causality that the town of Riverdale would suffer.

The Twilight Drive-In where I work, my home away from home, a piece of town history, is closing for good, just when we needed a place to escape to the most.

With Sheriff Keller knocking on every door and neighbours suspecting neighbours, Riverdale, every day that passes, is becoming more like Salem during the witch trials.

And meanwhile, the girl next door, our friendly neighbourhood Hitchcock blonde, Betty Cooper, was wrestling with the knowledge that her best friend, Archie Andrews, was caught up in a forbidden romance.

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"The Drive-In closing is just one more nail in the coffin that is Riverdale... No, forget Riverdale, in the coffin of the American dream," Jughead explained to the other occupants sitting with him in the booth at Pops. Kevin Keller sat next to Veronica across from Jughead, Isabella and Betty as the beanie-clad boy spoke about the closing of the Drive-In. "As the godfather of indie cinema, Quentin Tarantino likes to say--" Jughead was cut off by Kevin, "Please, God, no more Quentin Tarantino references."

"What? I'm pissed," Jughead tells Kevin as Isabella nods in agreement, she wasn't happy about the closing of the Drive-In. "And not just about losing my job. The Twilight Drive-In should mean something to us. People should be trying to save it," Jughead expressed openly, Isabella sympathised with the boy but she doubted they'd be able to save the Drive-In. "In this age of Netflix and VOD, do people really want to watch a movie in a car?" Veronica asked.

"Uh, yeah! I mean, it's the nostalgia and connection to the past," Isabella defended as she grabbed Jughead's milkshake, having a sip before placing it back between them. "I mean, who even goes there?" Veronica questioned the two. "People who want to buy crack," Kevin voiced making Jughead scoff. "And cinephiles, and car enthusiasts. Right, Bets?" Jughead asked the blonde who had been zoned out.

"Totally," She stammered out while Isabella let out a sigh, Jughead placed his arm behind Isabella. "Anyway, it's closing because the town owns it, but didn't invest in it. So when an anonymous buyer made Mayor McCoy an offer, she couldn't refuse--" Jughead explained gaining Veronica's attention from Betty, "Anonymous buyer? What do they have to hide? No one cares." Isabella scoffed before she and Jughead said in unison, "I do!"

Jughead smiled down at Isabella before motioning for her to have the milkshake prompting a small grin from her, both of them unaware of the smirks on Kevin and Veronica's faces. "Also, you guys should all come to closing night. I'm thinking American Graffiti... Or is that too obvious?" Jughead asked. "I vote for anything starring Audrey Hepburn. Or Cate Blanchett," Veronica answered with a smile. "Or The Talented Mr Ripley," Kevin suggested.

"Betty, your choices?" Veronica asked the blonde who sighed, "Maybe Pretty Woman?" They all turned their heads to Isabella who was focused on the milkshake in her hands. "Belle? What do you suggest?" Kevin asked gaining the brunette's attention. "Uh... Maybe Rebel Without A Cause?" Isabella suggested as she looked up at Jughead, the two chuckled quietly as Hermione placed the food down in front of Veronica and Betty.

"Thanks, Mom," Veronica told her as Isabella moved her head to rest on Jughead's shoulder, the boy smiled softly as he ran his fingers through her hair. Veronica had overheard Cheryl disrespecting her mother and made a move to get up and handle it. "So, you'll be at the Drive-In for the closing night?" Jughead asked Isabella. "Of course, I will, JJ. Think I can watch from the screening room?" Isabella asked as she turned her head to look at him.

Jughead's breath hitched at the close vicinity between them, he could feel her warm breath on his jaw. "Yeah, sure," Jughead answered before she moved her head to look at Kevin as Veronica sat back down at the booth. "Now, that's an odd combo of people," Kevin voiced after the bell chimed above the door, Isabella lifted her head causing an involuntary pout to form on Jughead's face and looked over the booth to see Archie, Fred and Ms Grundy making their way to a booth.

"Oh, shit..." Isabella muttered before looking at Betty. "I'll be right back," Betty told them ignoring Jughead and Isabella's protests. "Wait, what's happening?" Veronica asked as Isabella and Jughead looked out the window, Archie sending them a disapproving look. "What's happening out there? Do we know? Is it about me?" Veronica asked causing Isabella to roll her eyes with a quiet scoff.

"I have a strong inkling, and no," Jughead answered her before Isabella sighed. "Also, I'd let it go," Isabella warned her. "Yes, but you're you, and I'm me. You do you, girl, I'll be back," Veronica told them before making her way outside. "What was it like before she got here? I honestly cannot remember," Kevin expressed before pulling out his phone. "This isn't gonna go well, is it?" Isabella asked Jughead who shook his head immediately.

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Isabella approached Jughead at the same time Archie did, the best friends shared a look before Isabella grabbed some of the flyers from Jughead's hands, handing them out to people. "How hard would it have been, if you had given me a heads up?" Archie asked the two as they walked through the corridor. "Look, I am, by nature, a conscientious objector. Not saying anything to either you or Betty, was the most moral, apathetic choice I could make," Jughead replied.

"He has a point, Archer. I mean, we couldn't betray either so we just let things play out. You were bound to be caught, Arch... That happens," Isabella expressed with a sigh before taping up a flyer on someone's locker. "But, guys... She's not going to write about me and Grundy in the paper, is she? Like she did with Chuck?" Archie asked them, both best friends scoffed. "Dude, seriously?" Jughead asked in disbelief but Archie was completely serious.

"Okay. Come on," Jughead pulled the cousins to the side away from everyone. "Think about what you're asking. If there was even an iota of a chance that something could hurt you in any way, Betty wouldn't do it," Jughead explained to Archie, Isabella agreed wholeheartedly but decided it would be a great opportunity to mess with her cousin. "Probably," Isabella muttered loud enough for them to hear causing Archie's face to pale.

"Oh, my God..." Archie breathed out making Isabella chuckle softly. "I'm kidding. But maybe she has a point," Isabella told him. "What do you see happening with Grundy, long-term? What do you want?" Jughead questioned Archie. "I want to be with her. I don't know how, but I wanna hang on to what we have for as long as possible," Archie answered ignoring the way Isabella faked a gag with an eye roll. "Yup, I feel that. Trying to hold on to something a lot older than me, too," Jughead replied as he taped up a flyer.

"Just... If Betty's gonna do anything crazy, can either of you please let me know so I can do something to stop it?" Archie asked the best friends, the two looked at each other before agreeing. "Alright, I gotta ask... Is this some teenage boy fantasy? Do you have a secret fling happening with one of the teachers?" Isabella asked Jughead as they continued handing out the flyers for the Drive-In. "Oh yeah, I've got a date with Mrs Clink tonight," Jughead answered.

"Out of all of our teachers, you say the eighty-something-year-old economics teacher?" Isabella questioned with a chuckle. "It's unlikely... Besides, my eyes are set on another prize," Jughead told her causing her eyes to light up. "Wait! The Jughead Jones, the Third... has a crush?!" Isabella exclaimed with a wide grin on her face. "Maybe, maybe not," Jughead replied before handing his last flyer out. "That's not an answer!" Isabella said as Jughead walked off, the brunette trailing behind him.

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Isabella and Jughead sat down across from Mayor McCoy in an attempt to save the Drive-In however they could. "I'm sorry, but the Twilight Drive-In? It's a blight that's become a cesspool and hangout for criminals... and transients, and the deal's done," Mayor McCoy told them while Isabella rolled her eyes knowing that the Mayor was referring to Serpents. "Andrews Construction is scheduled to demolish the lot on Monday," She added causing Isabella to perk up.

"Wait, my uncle got the contract?" Isabella asked with furrowed brows. "Yes, he did," Mayor McCoy answered while Isabella shrunk into her seat. The Twilight Drive-In was one of the many places in Riverdale that meant something to her mother, she had grown up going there to see movies and now, Fred Andrews was a part of its destruction. "Mayor McCoy, when I was a kid, my family and I would go to the drive-in all the time," Jughead began with a fond smile.

"We couldn't afford tickets for everyone, so my sister Jellybean and I would hide in the trunk until we parked. We'd sneak out," Jughead explained with a soft chuckle, a kind smile appearing on the Mayor's face. "It's like my home," Jughead finished off. "And the drive-in is one of my parent's favourite places... I mean, it was their second date and it means so much to my mother," Isabella expressed with a desperate look.

"They are very sweet sentiments, Mr Jones, Miss Larkin. But the future of Riverdale is at stake," Mayor McCoy told them with a sympathetic expression on her face. "Thanks for your time, Mayor," Isabella said before she and Jughead stood up to leave. "Miss Larkin," Mayor McCoy called, Isabella turned to the older woman. "Not a lot in this town gets past me, so I know about your mother's condition. I understand that things are tough at the moment--" Mayor McCoy was cut off, "--Goodbye Mayor."

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"Are you alright?" Jughead asked her as they walked down the street, they had decided to pay Fred Andrews a visit as a last-minute attempt. "Yeah, I just... This sucks, the person who bought the drive-in has no idea the damage they are causing for Riverdale. They─ Why would they want those grounds?" Isabella asked with a sigh. "I don't know but let's hope your uncle is willing to be on our side," Jughead answered before grabbing her hand in his.

They reached the site shed where Fred Andrews was currently working on paperwork, the best friends heading in. "Mayor McCoy says you won the contract to tear down the drive-in," Jughead said to the older man as he hugged his niece, kissing the top of her head. "I did. Look, I'm sorry, Jughead, princess... I know how much you both love the Twilight, and so do I..." Fred expressed with an empathetic look on his face.

"Mr Andrews, just give me one week to track down the person who bought the land, and convince them not to demolish a holy house of cinema," Jughead pleaded with the man, but Isabella could see the look in Fred's eyes. "It's a big contract for me, Jug, and for my guys. Whatever they build in the place of the drive-in could mean more jobs..." Fred explained to the teenagers.

"Yeah, in what? Some hypothetical future? You put one Jones out of work, why don't you put out another, huh?" Jughead snapped at the older man causing him to falter while Isabella swallowed carefully, she stepped back from the conversation. "Jug, your dad was taking materials from one of our job sites. I had to let him go," Fred explained to Jughead. "Right. You did what you to had to do like you're doing here now," Jughead replied with a scoff, "Later."

Jughead made his way out of the site shed leaving Fred and Isabella alone, the young girl let out a slow breath. "Your sister loves that place... it's where she and dad got engaged... You gonna take that away from her?" Isabella asked softly. "Princess, your mother knows about this. I already spoke with my sister about this, and she understands. But those memories..." Fred was cut off by Isabella, "Are fading... That tumour in her brain is gonna wipe them."

Isabella wiped the stray tear from her cheek, "And just like the drive-in, it'll disappear into nothing." Fred pulled the girl into his arms, rubbing her back as she let out the tears. Fred Andrews hated seeing his niece like this, the girl was always the light in the darkness but now he was worried that the slow death of his younger sister would be the one thing that truly destroyed the light that is Isabella Larkin, he could only hope that someone else would be her guiding light when that time came.

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Rosemary Speaks

When do we want Isabella to realise her feelings for Jughead? We need a little drama, any suggestions?

See you in the next chapter!