Valentina

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 casualty that the town of Riverdale would suffer.

Jughead and I sit side by side at the office, both staring at out own laptops, writing our souls away and pouring our feelings in the stories we're creating.

"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." Jughead says out loud after a long period of silence, only the soft sound of our fingers hitting the keyboards heard. "How does that sound?"

"Sounds exciting." I nod my head and hold my coffee cup in between my cold hands. "What are you writing about?"

"Riverdale and the caos this town has become in the past few months."

"Hashtag relatable." I mumble, bringing the cup to my lips.

"Do you know what else sounds exciting?" He asks and I shake my head, not really understating where this is going or what he wants me to say. He stares deeply into my eyes and a small shiver runs down my spine. "The truth, Valentina. The truth sounds very exciting right now."

"The truth?" I ask, not remembering anything we talked about that could lead to this conversation.

"Yes, Valentina." He doesn't move from his spot, but his eye roam my face in search for the right answer. "Is there anything you'd like to tell me?"

My heart is beating like crazy, and I'm afraid he can hear it too from his chair by my left. I shake my head, not trusting my own voice right now. It's better this way, not speaking and ruining my chances of getting out of this mess alive.

I bet he knows, that's why he's asking. I bet he knows I was there too on the Fourth of July. And there's only one person who knew. Archie. But Archie wouldn't tell Jughead without consulting me first. It has to be someone else.

That's when it hits me and I let my wife eyes stare into Jughead's troubled ones.

Doiley. He told Jughead.

"Jughead-"

"Don't." He interrupts me, his hands finding their way to my shoulders. "I just want to hear it from you. Were you there?"

I understand what he means. I understand it like the palm of my hand. That's why I nod my head and close my eyes, fighting the urge to yell and tell him the truth about my being there.

It's not what he thinks. I didn't go there to kill my best friend- god, no. I was there so I could feel better and closer to him. That's right. I was sad that Viktor wasn't with me.

So I went to the last place he was seen breathing and smiling like the old Viktor. My Viktor.

"So you were there." He slowly nods his head and his eyes show disappointment. I feel a deep pain in my chest, like there's someone punching a hole inside my heart.

"Yes."

"Why?"

I shake my head and take a deep breath. It's not like I can tell him everything and contradict the story my own parents decided to tell the rest of the town. Viktor- my poor Viktor- was never found after our hike around the river, and everyone believes he died. My parents made sure of that. There's no open for Viktor Adams, no hope of finding his body. But I still believe. My brother wouldn't leave me and never come back. He will find a way of finding me again.

And that's what I was doing that day. Hoping. Waiting for a sign. Instead, I lost the only person I considered as a brother, the only boy I loved with all my heart- not in a romantic way- and my heart broke for both of them on he Fourth of July. The tears I cry for Justin are he same tears I cry for Viktor, both ripped from me too soon.

"Please don't ask me that." I close my eyes, feeling the warm tears behind my eyes. "Ask me for anything else in this world and I'll give it to you, but not this."

"Why not? Don't you trust me?" He asks, shaking my body and pleading with his eyes.

"That's exactly why I'm not telling you a thing. Because I trust you too much." I take his hands from my shoulders and pack my laptop inside my back. "You'd hate me forever."

"I wouldn't hate you." Jughead stands at the same time I walk to the door. "If you leave, I will never look at you again."

"Why are you doing this to me?" I whisper, my hand gripping the knob. "Why do you hate me so much?"

"I don't hate you." He comes to my side in long strides, stopping right behind me, his chest hitting my back. I have to control myself not to lay my head on his soft chest. "But this is killing me, the doubts and the lies."

"It's for your own good, Jughead." I keep my eyes closed and back to him. "Believe me when I say you'd hate me if you knew."

"Why?" He asks once again.

"I can't."

"Are you going to leave?" He asks, his hot breath sending shivers down my spine. "Are you going to leave me? Again?"

"No." I whisper back, shaking my head. "I would never leave you."

"Then let go of that knob." He commands and I slowly release the door, letting it close with a soft thud. "Good girl."

"Why are you doing this, Jughead?" I ask, not turning around.

"Because I want to know every secret those beautiful eyes hide." His hot breath now hits my neck, and I take a step forward to hold myself against the door. I can't trust my one legs right now. "I want to be the one to read you like a book and still find you the most interesting girl in the world."

"What if I don't want to be read?"

"Too late." Jughead's hand grabs my arm and spins me around, his nose touching mine as my breath hitches in my throat. "I'm already captivated."

"No, you're not."

"Yes, Valentina." He whispers my name and caresses my cheek with the back of his hand. "I can't get enough of your beautiful eyes, the way you speak and everyone's eyes fall on you. Whenever that Reggie boy touches you, it makes me feel so angry I want to punch the living hell out of that boy."

"Reggie?"

"Are you two a thing?" He asks and I question him with my eyes. "Because if you are, this is going to be very wrong."

His lips grace mine in a light movement, like he wants to do it but is still afraid or undecided. When he looks down at me with his eyes semi-closed, I know what's about to happen.

And I don't stop him.

The feeling of his hands on my waist, combined with his lips falling on mine, take me to a place I've never been to before. My entire body is floating, my head swimming with pleasant thoughts.

He is kissing me. Jughead is kissing me.

The kiss ends too soon. He takes a step back and his warmth is ripped from my body, leaving me aching for more.

"I shouldn't have done this." He says, looking down at his hands and quietly leaving the room, forgetting the confused Valentina he decided to leave behind.

I slide down the wall trying to catch my breath. This boy is going to be the death of me.

ΨΨΨ

I sit there Cheryl's side on a booth, the soft sounds of Pop's milkshakes being prepared bringing a smile to my face.

"Here you go, kids." Hermione Lodge- also known as Veronica's mom- stops by her daughter's table and places their orders down in front of them.

Jughead catches my small glance and quickly turns away from my, facing Betty instead. A feeling of pure hatred fills my body, and it's like my veins are on fire with jealousy.

"Thanks, mom." Veronica grabs her own cup and smiles at her mom, who smiles back at her daughter in an act of pure love.

There are two things I'm envious of right now: the love Veronica is receiving from her mother and the fact Jughead is staring at Betty like she's the most important person in the world.

Maybe she is. Maybe she's the reason he wakes up every morning to face another day filled with horrible thoughts and stupid people. Maybe she's the one he likes.

"Why are you staring at emo guy with a sad loom on your face, honey?" Cheryl asks, patting my back and hugging me. "Don't give him another glance, his friends noticed it and are probably talking about it right now."

I nod my head, letting my hair cover the blush on my cheeks, due to the embarrassment I'm feeling right now. That boy is so bipolar sometimes. First he kisses me out of nowhere and now decides to ignore me?

Can't he see it hurts?

"Let's talk about something else." I lower my tone so Cheryl's minions don't hear me, the two of them busy staring at their phones from the other side of the table. "And I was not staring at him."

"Yes you were, Val." Cheryl smiles, this time her cold facade down. This is my best friend we're talking about, I know she can be a bitch sometimes but I love her. "Don't lie to me, I can see it in your eyes."

"There's nothing in my eyes."

"That's where you're wrong." She pouts and cold Cheryl is back. "If I would have known Mama Lodge was working as a waitress at Pop's, I never would have given Veronica a spot on the Vixens. It's off-brand, and sends a false message about acceptance."

"Cheryl, don't be so mean." I whisper, looking back at their table, where Jughead has his arm around Betty's shoulders.

"After her TMZ-style take-down of Chuck, all the Vixens kind of like Veronica now."

"Do they?" Cheryl asks at the same time I almost choke with my own spit and manage to let out a small squeak.

"TMZ-style take-down of Chuck?"

"He exposed the boys and the book where they kept the score of each girl they-" Ginger coughs lightly and continues. "Conquered."

"They did that?"

"Yes, but your name was the only one missing from the book. Every other girl- except Cheryl, of course- was there." Ginger irks forward and stares at me. "How is that possible?"

"Maybe I'm not an attention-seeking whore who opens her legs at the first sight of affection." I smile sweetly as Veronica's mom arrives to our table and gives us each our orders. "Thank you."

She smiles down at me and stares at my face, as if searching for something.

"Are you-"

"Yes, M'am. I'm Valentina Adams." I stick my hand out to shake hers. "Nice to meet you."

Before she can smile or even shake my hand, Cheryl lets out a bitchy giggle and looks up at Veronica's mom, her hand slapping the money I placed on the table to pay for our drinks.

"Be sure to put all that cash in the register. You are a Lodge, after all, and Lodges are known to have sticky fingers."

"Cheryl-" I begin, feeling another figure behind me. I look up to find Veronica and her pissed off face looking at us.

"Honey, I got this." Her mother sends her away and looks down at my best friend. "Cheryl, I went to school with your mother. She didn't know the difference between having money and having class, either."

She struts away as I look at the redhead next to me with a mean look on my face and shake my head. She doesn't pay me any attention so I stand, grab my bag and coat from the booth and say goodbye to the three cheerleaders who I consider my best friends.

"Where do you think you're going, Valentina?" Cheryl stands as well in an intimidating stance. "Are you going to leave us hugs because I said the truth about that woman? Don't you dare walk away from me."

Something inside me snaps and I quickly turn back around to face the three girls, all of them staring at me with their cold eyes.

"Excuse me?" I look at her and notice how only Jughead, Betty and Veronica are looking at us, despite the other people around us. "I may have been raised by maids and housekeepers and not by my parents, but they taught me to be kind and respect others. What you did right there with Veronica's mother is something that goes against my beliefs. So I'm sorry if I'm a decent human being, Cheryl."

"Are you sure you want to do this? If you walk out this restaurant, I'll have no other choice but to find someone else to occupy your spot on the Vixens and as my best friend." Cheryl crosses her arms in front of her chest and glares at me.

There's no hint of the nice, cool best friend I used to know. In front of me stands the queen of the school, the girl who makes other people suffer because of her own twisted desires.

"I'm really disappointed in you, Cheryl." I shake my head and fight the tears that find their way to my eyes. "I thought you were better than that. Guess I was wrong."

Her mean demeanor stays in position but her eyes tell another story, frantically moving around my face as if pleading for me to stay.

"Guess what, Cheryl?" I say before walking away from the only friend I thought would never abandon me. "I'm going to leave. And don't you dare sell my spot to a desperate girl, I deserve that spot."

I could have said a lot of things, explain what I meant and persuade her to calm down and understand my own point of view. But I'm also stubborn and I don't like being insulted or threatened.

I've got enough of that at home.

With Bring Me The Horizon blaring from my car speakers, I drive down the road towards my empty driveway, staring at the immense trees as I drive past them.

The door to my house is open, and I don't bother closing it or finding out the reason why it's not closed. Someone will do it, that's why my parents pay a fortune to all the maids and people who work at our house.

As soon as my feet hit the soft carpet of my room, my phone rings. Betty.

"Hello?"

"I need a favor. I need you to interview Ms. Grundy tomorrow."

"Yeah, I can do it." I massage my temples as I lay down on my bed. "But why now? Shouldn't we be focusing on finding Jason's killer?"

Betty sighs from her side of the phone, letting me know she's as stressed as I am, maybe for different reasons but stressed nonetheless.

"I need this, Valentina."

"Fine, I'll do it." I sigh and let my free hand cover my accent. "I'll talk to you soon, I'm not feeling great."

I don't let her finish or even say goodbye. I just end the call and lay on my bed for hours, staring at the closed door, hoping for a miracle.

"I wish you were here." I close my eyes and grab the locket Viktor gave me on my birthday almost a decade ago. "I love you."

ΨΨΨ

In the distance, as if by a miracle, a blonde haired boy stares at the two mansions in front of him, holding a small note and a necklace in his hands. The necklace bears a message.

The best siblings in the world.

"I'll come back, soon, Giggles."

ΨΨΨ

"Thank you for taking the time, Ms. Grundy." I pretend to write something on my notebook and smile up at her. "Like I said, the Blue and Gold is doing a series of articles spotlighting teachers, and you're our first."

She gives me a nervous smile and I can't help but feel a tug on my heart, guilt clearly showing on my eyes.

"Let's begin. Uh, you joined the faculty last year. Where did you move to Riverdale from?"

"Um, here and there. I was just mostly on the road." Her evasive answers are a giveaway that she's hiding something. Who am I to judge, really, when I'm also filled with secrets myself.

"But you've taught at other schools, I'm assuming?"

"Oh, yeah. Of course." She answers, laughing.

"Yeah." I cough nervously and look at the door. If Archie decides to visit his girl while I'm here, he'll know something is happening, not just q regular interview. "Right. Um Can I get their names?"

"Seaside High, Centreville High." I've never heard the names of these schools but I choose to believe her anyway.

"What made you leave?"

Her body makes a small turn to the left and I bite my lip not to raise my eyebrows at her and ask what happened. People tend to move around a lot when asked uncomfortable questions.

I hit a nerve.

"They were temporary placements. Just filling in for maternity, sabbatical, things like that. This is my first permanent position."

"Getting back to music, you're working with Archie Andrews on an independent study." Her eyes light up at the mention of his name and I internally swoon. "Have you ever done this sort of thing before?"

"Yes. Last year."

"Oh."

"With Tomoko Yoshido and Jason Blossom."

"Jason?" I ask; I don't remember him mentioning these classes to me. He has always been so connected to football and his friends that I always thought that was his passion. I guess I didn't know my best friend as well as I thought. 

"Before-"

"Such a tragedy. He was an inspiration."

"I didn't know that." I admit, playing with my pen. "He never talked about it."

"He was brilliant, I can assure you of that." Ms. Grundy smiles at me and places her hand on top of my shaky one. "I bet he didn't want to hurt you; it was just his secret."

"Thank you, Ms. Grundy." I stand from the chair I've been sitting on since the beginning of this conversation and close my notebook. "The interview will be published along with several other ones on next week's the Blue and Gold."

"Thank you for giving me the honor of being one of the chosen travers, Miss Adams." She smiles at me and we walk to the door. "And I'm sorry, I really should prepare for my next class. I saw you eyeing the piano. Do you know how to play?"

My heart stops beating for a second. I didn't realize I was that obvious. Yes, I was probably looking at the instrument with a distant look on my face but she could have never guessed it.

"I noticed how sad you looked. Does it bring you bad memories?" She asks, sounding seriously concerned.

"No." I whisper, grasping the door handle. "It brings me amazing memories I'll never get back."

Leaving as fast as I can and closing the door behind me, one name flashes behind my eyes over and over again as I run towards the exit.

Viktor. Viktor. Viktor. 

"Valentina!" Someone yells behind me and I stop running.

I feel like the entire world just fell on my shoulders and I can't breathe. I have to get out of here, I have to go home and sleep. Sleep always helps when I can't think straight.

"Valentina!" Another voice follows the first but I still don't turn around to face whoever decided to call my name.

I cover my eyes with my hands and wipe the tears away before anyone can see them. I look to the side in time to see Jughead's hand waving at me.

When I look forward, I see Betty, waving at something behind me. Or- this this case- someone. Jughead.

I don't know why but something inside me breaks at the sight of Jughead's wave towards her. Not me.

Betty, not Valentina.

ΨΨΨ

I stay near the door, looking at the two people in front of me: a boy- lost by the overwhelming fear of losing the only place he can call home-, and a woman- ruthless and only interested in money and making profit in every way possible.

"I'm sorry, but the Twilight Drive-In? It's a blight that's become a cesspool, and a hangout for criminals and transients, and the deal's done." Mayor McCoy stutters at the mention of criminals. I know for a fact Jughead's father is one of the Serpents. "Andrews Construction is scheduled to demolish the lot on Monday."

"Mayor McCoy, when I was a kid, my family and I would go to the drive-in all the time." Jughead stars, trying to make her feel his pain. By the look on her face, he's not going anywhere with this. "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." He chuckles. "It's like my home."

"That's a very sweet sentiment, Mr. Jones. But the future of Riverdale is at stake."

Jughead slaps his hands on he desk before leaving, the door closing behind his back. I don't leave. Walking back and forth in front of her desk, I hum and tap my fingers against my arm, deep in thought.

"What are you doing here, Adams?" She says her name like it's a disease. "Aren't you going to follow lover boy and help him?"

"I didn't come here with him, we met outside by chance." Which is true, I didn't even know he was coming. I decided to do this for him. I have something Mayor McCoy wants. And she won't say no to me. "I'm here to offer you something you can't refuse." I pull the chair in front of her desk and take a seat, eyeing her as deeply in the eyes as I can. I have to ask a question first."

Mayor McCoy nods her head and rests her head on her hands, her eyes never leaving me, as mine never leave hers. Two women fighting for their causes, silently throwing knives at each other.

"Who got the Twilight Drive-In?"

"That's confidential information, Adams." Her eye twitches and I smile at the sight. She's affected by me in a way most people aren't.

Mayor McCoy never liked my family, mainly due to the fact we never supported her campaign. This fact is about to change.

"As I said before, I'm about to offer you something you can't refuse." She opens her mouth to interrupt me but I put my hand up to stop her. "With all due respect, please let me finish. I know you're in need of funds for your campaign."

"Oh, no. Don't even think about it." She stands from her chair and looks at me with a deathly look on her face. "I don't need anything from you, Adams. I don't trust you or your family."

"You should." Trying to calm down and show her she's not irritating me is harder than I thought. "Alongside the Blossoms, we are the only ones who can control this town, we have every spot, every detail planned as to benefit us all. You can bet I'll find whoever bought the land and use their deepest secrets against them. Don't doubt me, McCoy."

At the tender age of seventeen, I know how to persuade someone to do whatever I want them to do. I've been learning quite a few things with my parents, along with the Blossoms. My family is not known for their kindness.

"You're a bit late on that, dear." She raises her eyebrows and smiles mischievously as the door opens and closes behind me. "You're late too, Hermione."

"I had to make a pit stop." I look back to face Veronica's mother. "And as we discussed, Madam Mayor, a donation to your re-election campaign."

She drops a huge black bag on her desk, ignoring my presence as I stare at them with my mouth hanging open. Why is she doing this?

"And Lodge Industries gets the Twilight Drive-In."

"No." I speak for the first time since Hermione Lodge entered this room. "You can't do this."

"I'm sorry, Valentina." Hermione places her hands on my shoulders.

"How much is in that bag? I'm sure I can cover the value and give you a lot more, Mayor McCoy, just don't destroy the drive-in."

"Valentina-"

"No, Hermione Lodge." I stand and protect my chest with my arms, crossing them and feeling like a little girl among sharks. "A boy- Jughead- lives at the drive-in. If you take down he drive-in, he won't have a place to live in, he'll be homeless."

"He has a father-"

"An alcoholic, and god knows what he could do to Jughead."

"You don't have kids, Valentina. He may be an alcoholic but he would never hurt his son." Hermione says and I shake my head in her direction.

"Please don't do this."

"Why do you care so much?" Mayor McCoy asks and I blink, thinking.

Yeah, why do I care so much? Has Jughead ever shown signs that he likes me? Yes, quite a few actually. But then I find him snuggled up with Betty and waving at her and smiling at her as his eyes shine with joy.

He doesn't care. Why do I care?

"You're right." I whisper, taking my bag from the floor and grabbing my car keys. "Why should I care? Good afternoon, ladies. Sorry for the trouble I caused."

Without a glance behind, I can tell their eyes are on me as I walk away, silently closing the door behind my back, hoping this little incident can be kept a secret.

As I approach my car, the sound of my ringtone reaches my ears and I sigh. I'll ignore whoever calling me as I'm not in the mood to chat. I want to be left alone.

Before I can control my hands and feet, I abandon my car and walk towards the dense trees surrounding Riverdale. Before I can register what my eyes are trying to show me, a pair of arms stick out of the bushes and pull me down towards said bush. I fight as hard as I can but this person is clearly stronger than me.

The person's hand flies to my mouth as I try to scream for help. I move around, kicking and biting the hand on my mouth.

"Don't fight me, Giggles."

I gasp. The arms quickly disappear and I stand as fast as I can, looking around for the Lorain who said those words. Unfortunately, I'm alone.

"Viktor?" I yell, spinning around to look at every corner of the forest. "Viktor, is that you?"

Silence meets my voice, as not even a bird is heard. What if this was all in my head? What if I imagined all of this?

"No..." I whisper, falling on my knees. "Come back, please. Viktor, don't leave me again."

My world once again spins out of control. I manage to find my way back to my car. How I survived the trip home, I don't know.

I just know I need him. And I need sleep. Maybe mom's pills can help me tonight.

ΨΨΨ

Dear Diary, love makes you do crazy things, and maybe some of what I did was wrong, but maybe Maybe I was right about some things, too. Maybe Viktor is alive. He has to be alive somehow. Tomorrow morning, when we wake up, the world will, yet again, be changed.

ΨΨΨ

Here's another chapter, a bit better than the last one right? I really didn't like it but I like this one! :)
Don't forget to vote and comment, it means a lot to me knowing what you think. If you find any mistakes, don't worry, I'll edit this soon. I kinda wrote this is in 3 hours and I wanted to update as soon as possible.
This chapter is dedicated to loveanime1899
Love you guys!

Rita