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Riverdale is such a cow town.
Coming from L.A., it’s like walking into another dimension.
First of all, the shopping options here? Abysmal. There was one mall and it only had one designer store. With only a few pieces of updated fashion, by the way. The rest were so last season. It was embarrassing, really.
Not only that, but there was really nothing to do in general. They had a decent movie theater, a beach, some soda shop.
And okay.
She’s not proud to admit she sort of threw a tantrum their first night here. She just got so overwhelmed and a breeze blowing in carrying the smell of cow manure just put her over the edge.
It took her dad buying her a new car (which she couldn’t legally drive yet, by the way), to coax her out of her room.
He needed this, he’d explained. He’d already conquered the business world, so now he wanted to try his hand at the political world.
Lodges were conquers. They didn’t let obstacles stop them from making the best out of everything. Stop them from being the very best.
She just needed a little reminder of that.
Sure, she’d loved California. But this place was a new adventure, a new high school for her to conquer. New people for her to win over and charm.
To be frank, she hadn’t had that many true friends back in LA anyways. At least here she would be revered like the star she knew she was.
And at first, she was.
While inspecting the place referred to as “Pop’s”, she overheard some kids talking about a party at the Blossom estate later that day.
And that name had definitely rung a bell. Her daddy had worked with Clifford Blossom before, until her daddy had bought them out of course. As he did all his employees who crossed him. He’d bought out Blossom’s maple syrup business and relocated them here, to manage Lodge Industries’ little subsidiary in nearby Midvale.
Not only that, but Veronica had heard of Cheryl Blossom as well, who’d had a brief stint in a few commercials in California as well. Not as many as herself of course, but it was enough for Veronica to see her as a bit of a competitor back then.
So of course, Veronica had to crash her party.
Getting in was easy. Jason Blossom was drunk off his ass and just saw a pretty girl, not yet recognizing that she was Veronica Lodge.
But once one kid recognized her from her many commercials, all the partygoers started recognizing her. Until she started to garner a little crowd of admirers and people questioning why she was here of all places.
Partly because she was Veronica Lodge, but also because she knew she looked utterly smashing and had all the boys drooling.
It was so very satisfying to see the look of jealousy and envy on Cheryl Blossom’s face at all the attention she was getting. Even moreso when Veronica openly flirted with Cheryl’s little pink haired side-kick. The pink haired girl wasn’t interested and dismissed her immediately, but Veronica still liked that she got under the redheaded snobs’ skin.
It was an assertion of power, of letting the Blossom heiress know that Veronica Lodge was not to be trifled with.
Let them know who you are and what you’re capable of
It was the one piece of advice her mother Hermione always gave her when they moved somewhere new. Growing up, moving around all of New York and then all of California, she had to have some kind of game plan to assert her position wherever she was.
Hermione was often not around or couldn’t be bothered to deal with Veronica. Which didn’t bother her much. She was always more of a daddy’s girl anyways.
Back to the party: it was kind of a blur now, once she got there and the drinks started flowing she doesn’t remember much of what happened. Boys fell at her feet, girls asked her questions about her skin regimen yadda yadda.
The one thing she recalls above everything else? Those two hot guys that were dotting on her all night. The sweet redhead and the bad boy brunette. Two stark opposites and yet she found herself deeply attracted to both.
The raven-haired boy was more ripped, with bigger muscles, but the redhead was no slump. They were equally hot.
Plus, she kinda liked the idea of two boys vying for her attention like that.
All this to say she thinks maybe Riverdale has its perks.
So, two days after she crashed the Blossom party, Veronica sets out to get herself a man.
She’s spent the last couple of days either lounging around in the sun or sorting through her clothes, because although she hates manual labor, she would never allow anyone else to touch her clothes or decide which of those clothes she gets to keep out and which go into their temperature controlled garage for safekeeping.
Therefore she hasn’t talked to many people other than her daddy and Smithers. The occasional comment to the chef or maid. She’s desperate for some interaction with kids her age, so she decides to go to Pop’s for lunch.
To her luck, there are several open barstools because most of the tables are taken up by groups of friends or families.
Envy creeps up on her, forcing butterflies in her gut but she forces them down. She can’t remember the last time she and her parents went out for a meal that didn’t also include one of Hiram’s business partners.
“Good afternoon, Miss!”
She nearly jumps out of her skin and tears her eyes away from the group of kids she’s watching when a deep voice speaks right next to her.
The man across the counter is heavyset, with a bushy mustache, but he holds a kindness in his eyes that is undeniable and unlike any other stranger she’s ever known.
“You must be Veronica Lodge.” He continues lightly, handing her a menu and smiling brightly.
She nods. I mean, obviously she’s the Veronica Lodge, but she’s curious to know how this man knows that and decides he’s safe enough to engage in a conversation. “How did you know?”
He shrugs, resting both of his palms on the counter as he faces her with his full attention. “A couple’a reasons. For one, I hear every rumor and piece of gossip that runs through this town. The news of your father buying up property here has been hot ticket news for weeks.” He then points to her outfit. “And secondly, the dress you’re wearing looks like it costs hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Very few in Riverdale could afford something like that and you aren’t them.”
Veronica blinks in surprise a little. Partly because an older man like him can clock her outfit like that and made an educated guess regarding her status in that short amount of time. But also because he’s so open about sharing how much gossip flows through here. He sounds almost proud of that, in fact.
“Wow. That’s quite observant of you.” She compliments. “So what’s the gossip surrounding me?”
He puts his hands in mock defeat and chuckles. “Oh no, I don’t partake in the gossip. I keep that all to myself, respect everyone’s privacy. I listen, but I don’t regurgitate information. Now why don’t you look over the menu and I’ll bring you a water? You look parched.”
He moves away without waiting for a response and she’s once again struck by how different people are here.
She looks down at the menu for a while before deciding on just some fries. She does have a perfect hourglass figure to maintain after all.
Pop’s brings out her food a few minutes later and she snacks on them while she watches other people, waiting for a good opportunity to insert herself somewhere.
Unfortunately, she doesn’t see either one of those cute boys from the party, but after about half an hour of sitting by herself, another cute boy sits next to her.
He has blonde hair that looks extremely well kept, and the prettiest blue eyes she’s ever seen. She likes a man that keeps his appearance a priority.
“Hi.” Veronica grins widely, stretching her burgundy colored lips.
He glances at her, white teeth on display as he smiles back. “Hey. Fancy seeing you here.”
Oh yeah, he’s cute.
“You were at the Blossom’s’ party the other day. Made quite the entrance.” The boy observes, thanking Pop when the older man brings him a burger and fries. It must be his usual order or something.
“I was. I don’t recall seeing you there though.” She bites her bottom lip subtly, trying to appear flirty but not overly so.
But he’s not paying her lip biting any mind, taking a huge (but still somehow cute) bite of his burger. “I was there. Just impossible to get past your crowd of admirers to welcome you to Riverdale.”
“Ah. So you also know who I am. Seems like everyone does before I can even tell people my name.” She’s trying to be humble, because this boy doesn’t seem show-boaty like a lot of other guys. So he’s probably not a fan of too much self superiority.
He chuckles softly, eating a few fries. “You’re big talk right now. We haven’t anyone with any notoriety move to Riverdale since the Blossom’s almost three years ago. Plus, it’s no secret your dad is buying off a bunch of businesses here.”
She feels a little disgruntled at that. Her father gives her everything and he loves her a lot, but sometimes she gets sick of always being associated with what he’s doing business-wise.
The blonde boy seems to sense her unhappiness at that statement, because he’s quick to add. “But also I’ve seen you in some commercials. My favorite is probably your Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse add. You looked extra fierce in that fur coat.”
For the second time tonight, Veronica is dumbfounded. This time by a cute boy that has actually seen her commercials and can even name the product.
“I’m impressed.” She nods her head, the smile on her lips this time especially genuine. “What’s your name?” She thrusts out her hand, already feeling better interacting with a teen her age.
The boy frantically wipes his greasy hands on his napkin and then reaches into his little backpack behind him to pull out sanitizer. “Can’t make a good first impression on Veronica Lodge with greasy fingers, can I?” He grins when he catches her watching him with a raised eyebrow. Another moment and he’s reaching for her hand, shaking it firmly. “I’m Kevin Keller.”
“Well, Kevin Keller. Would you do me the honor of showing me around Riverdale? I’ll pay for your meal here and you can show me all this town has to offer.”
He grins, taking a large gulp of what looks like a chocolate milkshake. “I’d say you’ve got yourself a deal!”
They each finish up and then Veronica slaps a one hundred dollar bill on the counter.
At Kevin’s strange look, she just shrugs. “I don’t carry anything less than one hundred dollar bills.”
If possible, he grins wider. And she decides she really likes this guy. His smile isn’t leering, he doesn’t seem like he’s the type to fuck and run. L.A. boys were always the one-night stand type. Either just as privileged and free wheeling as her, or too afraid of her daddy. Which, Kevin didn’t seem to be. Since he knew of him and was still willingly hanging out with her.
They hop into Kevin’s little car and drive off, windows rolled down and pop tunes playing on the radio. Its nice, simple.
Kevin shows her a lot of the places she’s already passed by in her town car with Smithers.
There’s The Bijou, Riverdale’s movie theater. Which looks pretty busy.
They drive past the beach, which is utterly packed in certain places that you can barely make out the sand.
As she originally suspected, the mall is the other super busy location here, confirming that this town isn’t exactly overflowing with different places to be.
Kevin also drives her by places like the Riverdale Public Library, the hospital, a couple of auto shops.
Riverdale High is much nicer than she pictured in her mind. It’s no fancy private school, but it’s normal. And maybe that could be okay.
The Riverdale Gazette, Kevin explains, is the towns’ main newspaper. And its owned by Ricky Mantle, whom Kevin describes as a total apathetic asshole.
Like father like son
He says as an afterthought, but it gets Veronica thinking.
Is that what people think about her?
Kevin seems to know of her, but hasn’t treated her any differently so far, so she takes that as a good sign.
They talk a lot of what LA was like, Kevin divulges a little information about his military general dad, but mostly talks about his friends and how she should meet them all soon.
He talks about the upcoming summer camp he’s a counselor for and she talks about the fashion line she wants to start working on.
The breeze turns cooler as the evening wears on, and soon they have the windows rolled up as they turn around begin the trek back into the main part of town.
It’s about 5 o’clock by the time Kevin drives her back home (she’d texted Smithers a couple of hours ago) and she feels like things might actually be okay.
Kevin is good looking, sweet, and well kept. She likes him and thinks that this relationship could be the first good thing about this place.
He’s awestruck by the size and length of the driveway, and his jaw drops further when he sees how big the mansion is.
“Puts the Blossom mansion to shame.” He chuckles incredulously.
She’s not ready to introduce him to her daddy, who will no doubt scare him off with his questions and stern eyes.
So she gives him her number and a flirty wink, before getting out of the car. “Call me soon, handsome.”
And then she walks into her house, making sure to swing her hips with a little extra flair.
Suffice it to say, she’s in a much better mood for the rest of the weekend.
—
She and Kevin text back and forth the next couple of days.
And she feels giddy when he asks her if she wants to come to the mall with him and his friends tonight. It means she’s already integrating herself into his friend group. A very good sign, if she does say so herself.
So she skips lunch and spends the next two hours picking the right outfit, finally settling on a green mini sundress and sandals.
Smithers drops her off at the mall and she confidently walks up the steps.
Inside, the group is waiting by the door, and Kevin spots her first.
“Veronica, hey!” He waves her down, drawing the groups attention to her.
Much to her chagrin, Cheryl Blossom is there, with her little pink sidekick.
Her stomach does a somersault when she sees the other cute boy from the party last week, the redhead with the freckles.
There’s also a blonde girl, a boy with a very silly crown hat, and a wavy haired boy with glasses.
Kevin grins at her. “I’m glad you made it, Veronica. I need some major advice on what to wear to summer camp in a few weeks. A fashionista like you is sure to have some good tips.”
She takes his arm, unable to prevent the smile from forming on her face at the action.
“Guys, you know Veronica. She was at Cheryl’s party the other day. Veronica, this is Jughead, Dilton, Betty, Cheryl, Toni, and Archie.”
He points to each of them in turn, all of them either waving or nodding their head in acknowledgment.
“Archie’s” eyes light up with a excitement and it takes everything in her to not smirk.
She has the full attention of three boys. Lovely.
“Alright, I figure we can just start at one end and make our way through the mall?” Archie claps his hands together.
“Stopping for a snack break in the food court, yeah?” The boy with the crown (Jarhead?”) pipes up.
Archie laughs and nods. “Yeah, Jughead. We’ll stop and let you fuel up.”
The dark haired boy nods happily.
Cheryl rolls her eyes and starts moving without anyone else saying a word.
It’s then that her eyes zero in on the redheads’ hands clasped with the pink haired girls’ own hand.
The group starts following the haughty redhead, Kevin and Veronica taking up the rear.
With their newfound privacy, Veronica leans over to whisper to Kevin. “Are they dating?” She nods towards the Blossom heiress.
Kevin chuckles and nods. “Oh yeah. Wait until you’re privy to their PDA. It’s something.”
Huh. She had no clue Cheryl was into women. Nor that she was the dating-someone type.
Secretly, she’s pleased at this development. If they’re disgustingly over the top with their PDA, that must mean Cheryl is happy. And that means she’s not competition.
“Explains the way she wanted to rip my head from my neck the other night when I flirted with Toni at her party.” Veronica snorted.
Kevin looks scandalized.
“Shut up!”
Veronica laughs. “Oh yeah. Toni shut me down quick but Cheryl looked outraged. It was quite funny.”
Kevin grins. “Oh, I think you’re going to be good fun to have around.”
Veronica’s heart speeds up. “So, Kevin.” She practically purrs. “Tell me more about this summer camp you’re going to.”
Despite the eyes she can feel on herself, she and Kevin remain in their own little world the next hour and a half as they peruse through the stores and buy a few items. Mostly shorts and tanks for Kevin, but she finds a cute blouse that’s isn’t too podunk looking for a place that doesn’t have much in the way of designer clothes.
She leans against his shoulder, keeps their hands or arms interlocked at all times, and makes goo-goo eyes at him. It’s blatant, but she wants to show him and his friends how much she likes him. She never was someone to beat around the bush.
Lodges go for what they want. Always.
She finds herself next to Toni as Kevin, Archie, and Dilton go to get them some snack foods.
Veronica had parted from Kevin with a long, maybe exaggerated kiss to the cheek. He’d blushed and looked totally baffled as Dilton dragged him away.
She’d completely missed the looks of shock and amusement on everyone else’s faces.
Jughead had claimed he felt lightheaded and needed a snack before he passed out, so he hadn’t been rallied to go wait in line.
The blonde girl, Betty, hadn’t said a word to her. She seemed very stuck in her own head about something.
Cheryl had immediately scooted Toni’s chair closer to her own with a surprising amount of force, and had her hand on the pinkette’s thigh, essentially marking her territory as she scrolled through her phone.
Veronica truly had no interest in Toni, so the jealous action almost made her laugh.
Still, Toni is the first to talk to Veronica, so she turns her attention to her.
“So Veronica, what do you think of Riverdale so far?” She asks cordially, when the silence between the remaining five of them has stretched on too long to be comfortable anymore.
It’s a fucking cow-town.
“It’s charming. If not much smaller with far less entertainment around than what I’m used to.” She answers instead, playing with the ends of her nails.
Ugh, one has a slight chip. She’ll need to have that fixed when she gets home.
Toni clears her throat. “Yeah, I suppose it is way more uneventful than somewhere like LA. But still, I think once you’ve been here long enough, people here are really like a family. They’ll rally around and support their own. Somewhere like LA can’t give you that. Not really.”
She feels like she might have offended the other girl, but Toni smiles politely nonetheless, a smile that widens when Cheryl kisses her cheek. “My girl has a such a way with words.” Cheryl sighs.
“Yeah, if Cheryl can be tamed and get used to this town, I’m sure you can.” Jughead teases, kicking at Cheryl playfully.
The redhead narrows her eyes. “Hardy-har, clown.”
“Maybe.” Veronica basically ignores them and sighs, looking to where the boys are still waiting in line at the burger bar.
“Have you explored much of the town yet?” Toni asks.
Veronica shakes her head. “Kevin kinda showed me the sights, but we just drove by them. Kevin has been really sweet, it’s made moving here a little easier. What’s his deal, by the way? Is he single?” She tacks on, secretly hoping they’re going to give her some real insight into the boy whose currently got all her attention.
Redheaded boy is cute, but she’s spent a lot more time getting to know Kevin and she really likes what she sees.
Jughead and Betty exchange amused looks, before Jughead asks, “Think he’s cute, do you?”
If Veronica was someone who blushed, she’d be blushing right now.
She expected some boy talk, but not from the only boy at the table and certainly not so overt. She was used to girls in LA, who basically spoke in code and would lean forward with unbridled excitement, ready to gossip about others’ love lives.
“Well, he is cute.” She shrugs. She won’t let this Jughead guy make her all embarrassed by her attraction to Kevin. “And he’s been more kind and respectful than anyone else here so far.”
“Oh, he’s single. But I don’t think you’re his type.” Jughead responds, pure amusement laced in his tone.
At that, Betty bursts out laughing, apparently unable to keep it in. She tries to stifle her giggles with her hand, but they keep coming anyways.
Jughead and Toni too, are smiling broadly.
“Is there something funny about that?” She asks testily, looking around at the four of them in turn. “What, you think Kevin is too good for me or something? His type isn’t pretty rich girl?”
Cheryl looks smug and that just pisses her off more.
“Should we just tell her?” Jughead asks conspiratorially.
“I say we let her find out on her own.” Betty giggles, head resting on her hand.
“We assumed you’d know…” Toni sounds a little disbelieving.
Veronica huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. She doesn’t appreciate being laughed at or having something kept from her. “Just tell me, already!”
“Kevin is gay.” Cheryl says, clearly thrilled by being the one that gets to burst Veronica’s little bubble.
Veronica freezes.
Huh?!
“Damn girl, your gaydar is kinda shit.” Toni laughs, further twisting the knife in Veronica’s gut.
And okay. Maybe her gaydar does suck. She hadn’t even clocked that Toni was dating Cheryl at the party, she had just assumed Cheryl was pissy that Veronica took the attention off her by wooing her minion.
Now she’d mistaken Kevin’s kindness and want to hang out with her for attraction.
She feels like a total idiot, and it’s made worse when Veronica sputters incoherently and the table roars with laughter.
“Kevin is like, the gayest person I know.” Betty says through her tears of laughter.
Jughead is holding his stomach as he laughs, Cheryl and Toni giggling to her right.
“Did you see his face when you kissed his cheek? It was like a deer caught in headlights.” Cheryl giggles, her laughs sounding infinitely more mean than amused.
She feels like the world is spinning a little, flashes of her 6th grade at her prep school in LA hitting her with its familiarity to this situation.
Senior students mocking her, hating her for her daddy, manipulating her into being their friend only to be humiliated and her own words being used against her. Deep, meaningful words she’d told someone she thought she could trust. Words that were used to try and destroy her reputation.
She’d cried herself to sleep several nights after that. Eventually picking herself up and remembering that she’s a fucking Lodge and she doesn’t have to take that shit from those that are completely beneath her.
So she got back at them, and then some.
Regardless of that, this moment, right here, it’s taking her back to that time. When she was a lonely twelve year old that didn’t yet understand how cruel people could be, just because they could be.
Before she’d hardened into the person she is, leveling the playing field and often taking it a step further. Now she can fight back.
But she feels like that twelve year old again. Out of her element, in a strange place with people who don’t get her lifestyle, with people who already seem to begrudge her for her money and power.
A new town, mean people, teasing her for simply not knowing something. She would never let them see her cry, but she’d certainly like to knock their heads together and call them out for being such jerks about something that someone new easily could’ve mistaken.
She shouldn’t have agreed to this.
She stands up abruptly, the uncomfortable chair screeching against the cheap tile of the food court.
“You all really know how to make the new girl feel welcome. You guys suck. People that rally around and support each other, huh?” She sneers at Toni, throwing her words back at her.
The group stops laughing, having apparently just noticed how upset it’s made her.
So with that, she storms away. Mostly, she embarrassed. But she’s also pissed at them for making her feel that way. Embarrassment isn’t something she feels often anymore. So when she feels it, she doesn’t really know what to do with it.
She walks through the mall with no real purpose, no intention of leaving yet. She won’t give them the satisfaction. She just needs to cool off first.
She’s just stepped out of radio shack, and is deciding that maybe it’s time to head back and face them, when a familiar blonde approaches.
Kevin has found her before she could pluck up the courage to head back. She’s both annoyed and relieved that it’s him that came to find her.
His blue eyes look sympathetic (though not pitying, thankfully) as he approaches her near the bench at the end of the mall they started at. “Hey.” He greets, waiting for her to sit before sitting next to her at a respectful distance.
“I take it they told you?” She has her arms crossed, not looking the blonde boy in the eyes.
Kevin nods.
“I feel like such an idiot. Here I was, so used to boys falling at my feet, I never once thought that maybe you were gay and just being nice to me.” Veronica sighs dramatically, rolling her head back and blowing out a large breath.
Kevin inhales audibly, then pauses. “I’m sorry, I totally thought you knew. I shouldn’t just assume though. It’s not the first time a girl has thought I was flirting with her. But Veronica, I really enjoy talking to you, hanging out with you. I hope this doesn’t ruin anything between us.”
“How can it not?” Veronica groans. “I’m so embarrassed. And they were being all smug about it and making fun of me… I bet they’re going to have a real laugh about it with other kids later too.”
Kevin smiles a little, nudging her shoulder with his. “They may have been a little insensitive and teasing, but Veronica, no one here is going start spreading rumors or treating you differently. And they really do feel bad. Well, maybe not Cheryl, but the other three didn’t think it was that big of a deal. So you thought I was straight, big whoop. I’m a freakin’ catch.”
Veronica finally cracks a smile.
“Do you wanna talk about it? Why you feel so embarrassed?” Kevin presses gently.
“My friends back in LA, if you can call them that,” she starts, feeling vulnerable enough right now to trust Kevin with this tidbit, “They were… terrible people. Rich kids who were so bored, who had so little ambition to actually work because they got everything through mommy and daddy, they thrived on gossip. On taking something, anything someone did, and using it as a weapon. I’d be laughed at for this for weeks if I still lived in LA.”
Kevin’s eyebrows furrow in confusion, or concern maybe.
“I guess I assumed the worst out of your friends. Out of you. Because honestly? Had the situation been reversed, I would’ve done the exact same thing. Probably been even worse about it too. I suppose when you behave a certain way, you just automatically think everyone else is the same way, you know?” She sighs deeply.
She isn’t ready to tell them about when she was younger. Essentially about she was bullied. That’s a story for another time, when she’s sure what he’s saying isn’t just bullshit and that she can really trust him.
Kevin nods, looking like he genuinely gets it. “I can see that. I grew up a military brat. Constantly moved around, never had any solid place to call home or people to call friends. So I can’t help but feel distant from people here sometimes, because I’m afraid I’m going to get torn away again. But honestly?” He reaches out and grips Veronica’s knee. “Contrary to what you just witnessed, these people are some of the best I’ve ever met. Sometimes they take a while to get used to someone, but once they do? You’ll have friends for life. Even if you move away one day.”
She takes in his words. It certainly doesn’t feel like it now. She appreciates what he’s revealed though, his honesty about his own situation and she can’t help but empathize.
She too, feels like an outsider. It’s only natural, of course, but this place just feels different. She can’t explain it, but it does.
“And you should know, Jughead is asexual and aromantic. Toni is bisexual. Cheryl is a lesbian. There isn’t a group of people you could’ve told that’s more queer and aware of that fact. And maybe they let their knowledge of who I am get to their heads. So on their behalf, I’m sorry.”
She nods again, smiling a little brighter. “I’m sorry too. For overreacting to it all and assuming the worst of everyone. Just promise me you won’t use this against me later down the line?”
He laughs. “I promise I won’t. That’s not the kind of person I am.” He assures her.
She nods and feels a little lighter.
This town is so small and eventful. And the people are nothing like the people back in LA. She’s not sure if she’ll ever not feel that difference.
But maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe her dad is right and a change of pace could do their whole family some good.
Besides, she’s already got one friend in her corner, even if she’d already made a fool of herself and been ignorant towards a situation, as she does.
“What do you say we ditch the rest of em and go to my house? We can watch trashy reality tv and drink my dads’ disgusting protein shakes.” Kevin entices, wiggling his eyebrows.
Veronica laughs heartily. “That sounds amazing actually. Let’s go.”
It’s the start of long, beautiful friendship. And she’s relieved to finally have someone like Kevin Keller in her corner.