Valentina

Everyone wants us to believe they're flawless human beings, always moved by a greater force -some call it faith, others greed- and keeping in mind that others' wellbeing is more important that theirs.
It's not exactly wrong, but it isn't completely right either. Take the Adams family as an example. Broken from the bones, they tu to maneuver their differences and stay glued together. Well, that cannot happen when there's a heartbreaking secret lingering inside a lost soul's mind.
Unfortunately for the children of the household, this secret is going to shatter them.

ΨΨΨ

Guess what? Since coming back from Jughead's troubled birthday party, my mother has been glued to my back at every second of the day. She even drives me to school, saying that Riverdale isn't a safe place anymore.

Even my "alone time" in my bedroom is constantly under strict surveillance, either by my mother herself or one of our maids.

The only time I managed to be completely alone is when Veronica calls me a few days after the disastrous party. I wave my hand to shoo mother away, and speak in a low tone.

"Hello?"

"Why are you whispering? Are you under house arrest? Is that why you're not at school today?" Veronica bombs me with questions, and a small smile makes it's way to my lips.

"I have a bunch of guards keeping me safe." I sigh, rolling around in the bed so I can face the door. "My mother thinks I'm in eminent danger after Jughead's birthday party."

"Your family is nuts." Veronica giggles from the other side of the phone. "I called you to share some amazing news with you!"

"What's up?"

"Archie asked me to sing with him, and we're thinking about doing some upbeat covers."

"Archie said yes to that?"

She explains her plan, how she wants to search FP's trailer in hopes to figure out if her at her is -or not- involved in many crimes that have happened in Riverdale since the Lodges arrived.

Also, the two men may or may not be connected to Jason Blossom's murder.

"It's a big leap to go from vandalism to murder, Veronica."

"I know Valentina, but I talked it over with Mrs. Cooper. And-"

"She's a part of this? Are you nuts?" I almost yell. "What if Betty finds out?"

"Calm down, she's just gonna keep FP busy while we search his trailer to find anything that links FP to Jason. Or, more importantly, FP to my dad."

"We should just talk to Jughead." My stomach feels like it's going to explode, because I know Jughead is going to be very sad and hurt if he ever finds out.

And I truly believe he's going to find out. There is no such thing as "secrets" when it comes to the town of Riverdale.

"No, what if he's protecting FP or tries to warn him?"

"He's our friend, do you really think he would to that? He would rather expose the truth than hide it from everybody else and lie."

"My dad is so close to being released, and my mom's in denial and she's ready to welcome him back with open arms. Me, I'd like to know exactly who we're inviting back into our lives." She sounds enraged, but so am I after knowing she doesn't plan on telling Jughead. That's his father we are talking about.

"Look, Veronica, I really wanna help you, I do, but I definitely don't want Jughead to get hurt."

"I promise he won't. Mrs. Cooper is going to help us, we have to trust her."

"But, Veronica... Jughead can never find out." I sigh, slightly afraid of what I just agreed to.

"And neither can Betty." Veronica whispers as well, and we both agree on a plan.

Now, all we have to do is meet with Archie later tonight to fix this mess. I really hope Jughead doesn't find out, or else he'll be very mad at us.

ΨΨΨ

I park my car behind the trailer, waiting inside for Archie and Veronica. Fear starts building in the pit of my stomach, and as the sound of high heels meets my ears, I know it's time.

We nod at each other in a form of greeting, too scared of what's coming to use words. I advert my eyes as Archie breaks in, and a heavy sigh leaves my parted lips.

"You start in the bedroom, Valentina and I will start in here." Veronica says, and the boy leaves us behind as he enters the bedroom.

We open cabinets, search under the couch, almost break at least two cups, but the only threatening thing we find is the dangerous mold crawling in the fridge.

After half an hour of intense searching and frustrating moments, Veronica and I give up. Archie follows a few seconds later.

"Look, I checked everywhere. Twice. But there's nothing weird or dangerous-looking."

"Same out here, just tumbleweeds and dust bunnies, that's it." I reply, but Veronica keeps playing with her fingers, extremely nervous about something.

"We need to keep looking." She insists.

"Veronica." Both Archie and I say, exhausted to the bone.

"Somewhere, there's something that proves it."

"What?" I yell at her, this time not restraining my increasing anger. "What are we even looking for, Veronica? A signed contract between Jughead's dad and yours? I doubt they're that stupid."

"We'll switch, we'll take the bedroom this time." Veronica walks towards the bedroom and I grab her hand, stopping her from moving forward.

"You wanted to see if we would find anything incriminating, and we didn't." Archie says from behind me, looking at us with apprehensive eyes.

"Then we'll look somewhere else. Outside or under the trailer."

"Veronica, what do you want? Do you want your dad to be guilty?" She is annoying me, and all I want to do right now is leave and make sure no one finds out we've been here.

"I want to know. One way or the other, I need to be sure." Her voice breaks, but a strong facade comes right after, masking her uncertainty and fears.

"We can keep looking forever, Ronnie, and never find anything." Archie puts his arm around her shoulders and she trembles slightly.

They whisper a few words to each other and I decide to wait for them outside. There's clearly no place for me here, at least not right now.

When they come outside, Veronica is ready to assault the outside of the trailer to keep looking for evidences. Her phone buzzes before she can move from the porch.

"It's Mrs. Cooper." She says. "We need to go, right now. FP could be on his way home, let's go."

We run to our separate cars, saying short goodbyes and wishing each other a good night.

"Aren't you coming to the dance?" Veronica asks, her hair flowing behind her shoulders.

"I don't think so."

Waving, I drive my car away from FP's trailer, erasing any memories of tonight's events.

ΨΨΨ

I skipped homecoming. After inspecting FP's trailer and finding no connection to Jason and Hiram, I decided to just say goodbye to my friends and go home. No one asked me to turn back or be their date to homecoming. Either way, I am not in the mood for dancing.

"May I?" Mother knocks on my door once my face hits the pillow. It has been a long day and all I want to do it sleep.

But remembering that she doesn't talk to me unless it's strictly necessary, I'm curious to find out the reason behind her sudden visit. She sports a frown on her wrinkle-free face, eyeing my pillow with a strained look on her face.

"I think we need to talk." My own mother gathers my hands in between hers and stares at my eyes for the first time in a long time. "First things first, I always knew Viktor was alive."

I gasp and release my hands from her tight hold. She look angry at herself, but mostly sad. I do not understand.

"I'm so sorry, Valentina." The woman stares at her fingers, caressing her dress' smooth surface. "I hope you understand why I did it."

"Why?" I ask, standing from my bed and away from her as fast as possible.

How could she do that? I remember Viktor's words when he got here. Don't tell anyone I'm here. And she knows? Did he tell her he was leaving? I'm so confused.

When I open my mouth to argue, the door opens once again and Viktor enters, his face down and sad. I want to know what's happening here, and I want know now.

"What's happening?" I ask, moving my eyes from my brother to my mother. "Why are you telling me this? You are giving me weird looks since you got here, mother."

"It's complicated." She rubs her face and I chuckle humorlessly.

"Simplify it." I cross my arms in front of my chest and wait for their reply. When it doesn't come, I add. "Try explaining it, it will probably make it easier to understand."

"Valentina, this is serious." Viktor almost yells in my face as he steps forward and grabs my shoulders, staring down at me with anger. "The man you've been calling 'dad' your whole life isn't your father."

"What?" I laugh, not believe my own ears. "Stop joking, it's not funny."

Silence lingers in the air and I feel out of breath. No one laughs along with me, there's no camera hiding behind my books. Only me, my mother and brother, and my broke heart. Quickly walking backwards until my back hits the wall, I sit down against it, staring at the floor in shock.

"I'm sorry, honey." My own mother tries to grab my hands but I look at her with hatred. She sighs and steps back once again, eyeing the door in desperation.

I don't let my mother come near me again. How could she do this to me? Instead, Viktor kneels beside me and cuddles with within his warm embrace. I lay my head on his shoulder, my eyes still glued to the floor. I decide to forget the reason why I stopped talking to him, forgetting about the Blossom's dinner and the revelation my family decided to share with the world.

"Why is my life crumbling down under my feet, Viktor?" I whisper, feeling the tears burning my eyes. "Why does everyone hate me? And why is everyone keeping secrets from me?"

"No one hates you, Giggles." He uses my childhood nickname, and that's all it takes to set the tears free. "Don't cry, sis."

I let out my frustrations, my fears and doubts as I cry my eyes out, holding onto my brother's arms like my life depends on it. It does, in a way. I just learned that the man I saw as my father isn't my real father. That means Viktor isn't my brother, either. Maybe half-brother, as I believe the woman staring at the two of us is my mother.

"What now?" I rub my eyes and erase any trace of tears from my face before facing my mother. "Are you going to tell me who my real father is? Are you even my mother?"

"Don't you dare, Valentina." She starts riding her voice but calms down quickly after. "I carried you for nine months, you are my blood and my soul will always be with you. You are my daughter."

I nod, feeling numb.

"Michael Throne." She whispers under her breath. "He is a-a member of the Southside Serpents and-"

"What did you just say?" I stand, ignoring Viktor's disapproving glare. "He's a Southside Serpent? How could you? You had an affair behind your husband's back!"

"It's not something I'm proud of." She sighs, leaning forward to look at my face. "But that affair gave me one of the most important thing in my life. You."

I snort, shaking my head and sitting on my bed once again. She can't be serious right now.

"You ignored me for most of my life." I yell on top of my lungs, no longer worried if someone might hear me. "You didn't care, and now you're telling me I'm important to you? You lie, mother."

"Everything I've done was for a purpose, and all I wanted to do was keep you safe from my husband's wrath." I cover my eyes, tired of listening to her irritating voice.

"Leave me alone." I say emotionless, laying back on the bed. "I need some time to think."

Indeed, I do need time to process this information. The two comply and leave without another word. Not even Viktor, who has always been my safe haven even when he was gone.

All I want to know now is how my mother knew about Viktor being alive. And I also want to meet Michael, my real father.

My life is a mess. I don't know for how long I'll be able to handle this hell.

"I'm not leaving. And neither is Viktor. You should not be alone right now." Mother sits on my bed, away from me. "You need to let the bad energies go, you can talk to us. We can help."

"Why now?" I sniff, wiping the tears away as I face the woman who broke my heart.

Viktor shares a look with our mother. It's not a normal look, but one that speaks louder than words. I truly believe I won't like the answer to my questions.

"I got a phone call yesterday." Mother stops right next to my bed. I then notice the increasing wrinkles on her face. She aged badly in the past few years. "From your father. Michael. He knows your his daughter but kept his distance, I asked for it."

"Get straight to the point, please."

She takes a deep breath before replying, her straightforward attitude surprising me. Her words -on the other hand- leave me speechless and glued to the bed. 

"He was at a bar in Southside and he heard some men talking about a hired assassin -one of them was hired to kill someone."

"And?" I ask as she pauses, impatient and utterly terrified.

"That someone... That someone is you, Valentina."

ΨΨΨ

Third person

Veronica and Archie enter Pops, both looking frantic, their eyes searching the place in hopes of finding their friend.

After asking the owner if Jughead had stopped by recently, they find Betty sitting there, a hopeless look on her bright eyes.

"Betty. Thank goodness. We were gonna call you." They approach her, but her cold face stays in place.

"I'm not talking to you, either of you, ever again." She responds.

"It's about Jughead."

"Kevin called me. And he said his dad found a gun, the gun that killed Jason, in a lockbox in FP's closet."

"But Betty, we searched FP's trailer. We looked through that closet. And there was no lockbox."

"Someone put it there after we left."

The three friends look at each other with wide eyes and come to the one conclusion that has been plaguing their mind since they came in.

"He's being framed." Betty whispers, her hands flying to her mouth.

FP Jones is being framed.

ΨΨΨ

So... here it is!! Hope you liked it! There is only one chapter left before the end of this story! I'm so thankful for all the support I got and I really really hope you enjoyed this! I certainly did!
Don't forget to vote and comment, leave your suggestions if you want and BYE BYE!