❝ SEASON ONE, EPISODE ONE ❞
🌊The Rivers Edge🌊

──────────❝ 🐍 ❞──────────

──────────❝ 🐍 ❞──────────

Isabella spent around ten minutes deciding between two different outfits before choosing the black long-sleeved shirt tucked into a green plaid skirt with some tights underneath and her precious Doc Martens rather than the baby doll dress hanging on the closet door.

With her bookbag hanging on her shoulder, she grabbed her coat and made her way downstairs with a smile on her face before looking up at her father who held out a to-go coffee and a blueberry muffin to her.

"Best behaviour today, Belle," Christian warned as he fought back the grin on his face, the younger girl scoffed before grabbing the coffee and leaving the house, she smiled up at Archie as the two made their way towards the school with Betty.

"So then he asked me if I wanted to stop by the site to learn the books rather than the heavy lifting," Archie explained to Isabella, the girl understood that Fred wanted Archie to take over one day but the boy had bigger dreams.

"Archer, you gotta explain to him that you wanna see where the music takes you while continuing football, you have a passion for both so work on both," Isabella expressed to Archie who sighed and nodded.

"And as for Uncle Fred's company, you can still own it and hire a manager to handle things," Isabella told Archie with a smile. "Actually, you have a good point there," Archie replied making Isabella's smile widen.

The moment the cousins stepped into school, they went their separate ways to their lockers to get everything ready for the day. Meanwhile, Betty Cooper was showing the Raven around the school.

"Hey Belle," Kevin Keller, another friend of Isabella's, spoke up as he approached her. "Hey, Kev! Shall we find Betts?" Isabella asked as she closed her locker, the two of them linked arms and made their way down the hall with Isabella smiling and waving at those she knew.

"So what's the social scene like here? Any nightclubs?" The Raven asked Betty as Kevin and Isabella approached them. "A strip club called the Ho Zone and a tragic gay bar called Innuendo," Kevin spoke up before Isabella continued, "Friday nights, football games and then tailgate parties at the Mallmart parking lot." Betty and the Raven looked at Isabella and Kevin who smiled toward the new girl.

"Saturday night is movie night, regardless of what's playing at the Bijou, and you better get there early, because we don't have reserved seating in Riverdale," Kevin warned her before Isabella shared a glance with Kevin as the two spoke in unison, "And Sunday nights... Thank God for HBO."

The two friends high-fived each other before focusing back on the two girls. "Veronica Lodge, meet Kevin Keller and Isabella Larkin," Betty introduced. "Veronica's new here. Kevin is..." Betty was cut off by Veronica, "...gay, thank God! Let's be best friends."

Isabella laughed slightly before looking at Betty and Kevin, "So, the new girl isn't homophobic which is a bonus, because I stand with gay rights. But the best friend part, Betty and Kevin are the best friends." Veronica looked from Kevin to Isabella with a smile. "Is it true what they say about your dad?" Kevin asked causing the group of four to grow silent.

"That he's the devil incarnate?" Veronica asked in a calm tone while Kevin nodded slightly ignoring the disapproving look on Betty's face while Isabella listened intently, her family weren't the biggest fans of Hiram Lodge.

"I stand by my father," Veronica stated in a dark yet stern tone before continuing, "Does everyone here know?" Isabella shrugged, "It's a small town. Gossip is gold in places like this." Veronica let out a slow breath as Kevin nodded in agreement with Isabella.

"Wonderful. Ten minutes in and I'm already the Blue Jasmine of Riverdale High," Veronica voiced as she turned to walk down the hallway, Betty sending Kevin a disappointed look before following after Veronica. "What?" Kevin asked with furrowed brows.

"Oh, Kev..." Isabella laughed as she linked their arms again and pulled him along with her after the two girls. "Oh, and of course, there's the Back-to-School semiformal dance this weekend," Betty told Veronica.

"Oh! There's the hottie we were with last night. The red-headed Ansel Elgort. Is he your boyfriend?" Veronica asked with her eyes locked on Archie Andrews. "No, he's straight," Kevin stated as Betty said, "No, we're just friends." Isabella chuckled as Veronica moved her eyes from Archie to the laughing girl.

"He's my cousin, Veronica," Isabella stated with a smirk, she often faced the whole "hot cousin" dilemma and now she finds it amusing. "In that case, mind putting in a word? I've tried every flavour of boy but orange," Veronica suggested.

"Actually, to clarify... Betty and Archie aren't dating, but they are endgame," Kevin corrected with Isabella nodding in agreement. "Yeah, they're the cliche next door, childhood best friends... they are serious endgame material," Isabella expressed with a wink at Betty.

"You should ask him to the semiformal then," Veronica told Betty. "She should, but I heard it might be getting cancelled. Because of what happened to Jason. They're gonna tell us at assembly," Kevin told them.

"Who's Jason and what happened to him?" Veronica asked causing the other three to share uneasy glances until Betty and Kevin focused on Isabella. "Seriously?" Isabella asked them with an eye roll as Kevin nodded ─ she should've expected them to leave it to her.

"Jason Blossom was the captain of the Riverdale Bulldogs and the most popular boy in school, he was one of my friends. He, uh, drowned in Sweetwater River on July Fourth," Isabella explained to Veronica with a sad expression ─ The two had been semi-friends.

⊱ ──── {⋆🐍 ☠ 📓⋆} ──── ⊰

"Thank you for that moment of silence," Cheryl Blossom spoke from behind the podium. "Many of you were lucky enough to have known my brother personally. Each and every one of you meant the world to Jason. I loved my brother. He was and always will be my soulmate," Cheryl expressed sadly through the microphone.

Isabella was seated next to Archie, she looked around to see Veronica sitting with Betty and Kevin which made her sigh, she still didn't know what to make of Veronica Lodge nor did she necessarily trust the new girl ─ the Raven had to prove herself.

"So I speak with the confidence only a twin could have... Jason wouldn't want us to spend the year mourning. Jason would want us to move on with our lives. Which is why I've asked the School Board not to cancel the Back-to-School semiformal," Cheryl announced causing the crowd to cheer happily. "Oh great... I was hoping it'd be cancelled," Isabella muttered to Archie who was focused on something else.

Isabella could feel someone's eyes on her, she turned her head to see Jughead Jones looking at her but their sudden gazes locking didn't deter his stare. She raised a brow making him smirk slightly, she crossed her eyes making him bite back a laugh. She smiled at him before turning back to look at Cheryl.

Jughead smiled softly and looked back at his laptop screen that sat in his lap while Reggie Mantle glared between the two. "But rather, to let us use it as a way to heal, collectively, and celebrate my brother's too, too short life on this mortal coil," Cheryl finished.

Once the assembly was over, the students rushed their way out of the gym while Isabella strayed behind. "Hey Larkin," Jughead's voice caught the brunette's attention, she turned her head to him with a small smile.

"Hey, Jones. Interesting assembly, huh?" Isabella asked him. "Barely focused on it," Jughead replied as they walked side by side. "I, uh... I noticed that you and Archer aren't on good terms, what happened?" Isabella asked him.

"Did he mention that we had plans for July Fourth?" Jughead asked her. "Yeah, you two went on that trip, right?" Isabella asked him. "No, he bailed," Jughead answered causing her to halt in her steps, she turned to him with furrowed brows.

"But he told me that you two were out of town that day which is why he bailed on lunch with my parents," Isabella told Jughead before she shook her head, Jughead watching her closely. "So if he bailed on both of us, what the hell was he doing?" Isabella asked.

⊱ ──── {⋆🐍 ☠ 📓⋆} ──── ⊰

Isabella sat in the art room during lunch, her eyes focused on the canvas in front of her as music played quietly from her phone next to her. The brush strokes were gentle on the white canvas, she hummed quietly with the music before dipping the brush into the blue with her eyes focused on the waterfall landscape.

Light footsteps caught her attention, she turned her gaze towards the door to see Jughead Jones leaning on the frame. "What can I help you with, Jones? Twice in one day," Isabella asked as she turned back to the canvas in front of her while Jughead walked further into the room.

"I was thinking about everything that's happened and realised that we haven't really spoken despite the casual greetings yet we've known about each other's existences since we were six," Jughead explained as he sat down next to her, his gaze focused on the canvas.

"That's a very valid point, Jones. How shall we resolve that?" Isabella asked with a teasing grin on her face. "Well, for one... We both got stood up by the same person─" Isabella cut him off with a nod, "Archie." Jughead nodded back before continuing, "So we should confront him together."

Isabella agreed to the idea before focusing back on the painting, the boy next to her pulled his laptop from his bag and began typing the moment the screen lit up. There was still some time till lunch would be over so the two sat in silence working on their respective passions.

⊱ ──── {⋆🐍 ☠ 📓⋆} ──── ⊰

Betty had dragged Isabella with her after learning the Cooper teen would be auditioning for the River Vixens with Veronica ─ Isabella threatened to punch Betty if the blonde dragged her into the audition, so the blonde didn't. So now Isabella sat watching the two do their rehearsed cheer in front of Cheryl and her minions.

"Ladies, where's the heat? Where's the sizzle?" Cheryl asked them once they were done, Isabella rolled her eyes. "Well, you haven't seen our big finish yet," Veronica replied before turning to Betty, the two whispering to each other before Veronica pulled Betty into a deep kiss.

"Holy Mother Mary..." Isabella whispered with a smirk on her face as the two pulled away. "Check your sell-by date, ladies, faux lesbian kissing hasn't been taboo since 1994," Cheryl snarked at the two while Betty came to terms with what just happened, Isabella sending the two a thumbs up.

"So, let's see if you do better with the interview portion of our audition," Cheryl announces while Isabella scoffed knowing that Queen Red was about to take the opportunity to torment Betty. "Betty, how's your sister doing?" Cheryl asked Betty with her hands linked and resting in front of her.

"Um, Polly's fine, thanks for asking," Betty answered uneasily. "Veronica, has Betty told you about her sister yet?" Cheryl asked Veronica causing Isabella to stand up. "Hold up! This has nothing to do with cheerleading," Isabella snapped at the Queen of Riverdale. "Hush, Larkin... it's not of your concern," Cheryl sneered back.

"Go ahead, Betty. Tell Veronica about your sister and my dear brother," Cheryl pushed causing Betty to let out a slow breath. "Polly and Jason dated," Betty told Veronica as Isabella took strides towards the blonde for comfort. "I wouldn't say dated," Cheryl scoffed. "It didn't end well," Betty added.

"In fact, Jason's probably why your sister had a nervous breakdown and now lives in a group home, isn't it?" Cheryl voiced causing Isabella to scoff and turn to her. "Really Cheryl? By saying that you are accusing your dead brother of hurting a girl and using it to trigger Betty, that's pathetic," Isabella sneered at the redhead.

"This doesn't involve you," Cheryl replied though her bitchy persona had faltered at the realisation that Isabella had been right in her words. "What do you have to say about that, Betty?" Cheryl asked hoping to move on from Isabella's comment and take back the power.

"Go ahead, the floor is yours. Whatever you've been dying to spew about Jason and how he treated Polly, unleash it. Destroy me. Tear me a new one. Rip me to shreds. Annihilate me," Cheryl taunted Betty who had her hands clenched into fists tightly, Isabella grabbed one of her hands and smirked.

Betty caught on, the two knew Cheryl wanted Betty to snap and they wouldn't give her that satisfaction. "I just..." Betty began before letting out a breath, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened to Jason. I can't even imagine what you and your family must be going through." Isabella smiled at Betty.

"Right," Cheryl replied with a disappointed look before continuing, "Veronica, welcome to the River Vixens. Betty, better luck next time." Isabella rolled her eyes while Betty looked down sadly. "Wait, what? Why? Because you couldn't bully Betty into being a bitch?" Veronica asked. "I need girls with fire on my squad," Cheryl responded.

"I know what you need, Cheryl, because I know who you are. You would rather people fear than like you, so you traffic in terror and intimidation," Veronica said as she walked toward Cheryl. "You're rich, so you've never been held accountable, but I'm living proof. That certainty, that entitlement you wear on your head like a crown?" Veronica asked mercilessly.

"It won't last. Eventually, there will be a reckoning. Or..." Veronica trailed off as Betty and Isabella shared an impressed smile. "Maybe that reckoning is now. And maybe, that reckoning... Is me. Betty and I come as a matching set," Veronica told the Red Queen while Isabella held a new respect for the Raven.

"You want one, you take us both. You wanted fire? Sorry, Cheryl bombshell, my specialty's ice," Veronica sneered in Cheryl's face, the Red Queen inhaled sharply before exhaling in defeat. "Welcome to the team, Betty. Now get out of my face," Cheryl demanded, the two new River Vixens and Isabella left.

──────────❝ 🐍 ❞──────────

──────────❝ 🐍 ❞──────────

Rosemary Speaks

How are we all feeling about this story?

Reupload May '24 ─ Genuinely adore Isabella so damn much, why did I stop writing her lmao

Thoughts, Suggestions or Questions?

See you in the next chapter!