When Mariah walked into her Biology class, she did not expect to see Veronica sitting in her seat. Mariah walked over to the girl. "So you can ignore me for days but have the audacity to sit in my seat?" She questioned, only mildly joking. Veronica jumped at the sound of her voice.

The brunette looked up at the blonde who had an eyebrow raised. "About that, look, I'm sorry. It's just, things with my dad have been rough and all over the place. I've just been, trying to work things out," she explained. "You could've just told me that," Mariah pointed out. "You're right. But if I told you, you would've gotten involved and I don't want you in the mess that is my family," Veronica replied.

Mariah looked her over for a moment. "Is there a reason you're in my seat?" She asked. Veronica stood, "Just wanted to get your attention." She looked over at the door before looking back at the blonde. "And now that I have, I'm gonna move to my seat," she concluded. Mariah nodded slightly, "Are we good, Ronnie?"

"Yeah, yeah. We're good," Veronica replied, a little too quickly in Mariah's opinion. She eyed the girl suspiciously as she moved to her table. Mariah placed her backpack on the ground and sat down in her seat. Archie came and sat down next to her and she looked over at him. "Hey," she greeted. "Hi," he replied. "Is everything okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, fine. Why?" He replied. "Because, Archibald, you haven't been picking up the phone when I call and I've been worried," she said. He sighed softly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. I've just been figuring stuff out with the Red Circle, is all." Mariah almost rolled her eyes at the mention of his group.

"You're figuring things out with your crazy group; Veronica's figuring things out with her dad; Betty and Jughead are figuring out how to crack the Black Hood's code. I think maybe you guys need a break," Mariah said. "I'll take a break right after this guy is caught," Archie replied. "Who knows how long that's gonna take?" Mariah muttered before pulling out her supplies for the class.

"Hey, do want to hang out later? Maybe talk some more?" She asked him. "I'm, uh, busy later. Maybe tomorrow," Archie replied. "Right, of course," she muttered. "It's just, the Red-" She cut him off, "The Red Circle. Got it."

"I'm trying to do something about this, Mariah. Why can't you get that?" He asked. "I get it, Archie. I just don't think that you should be trying to do something at all. I already told you it's dangerous," Mariah said. "And I already told you that I don't care," Archie retorted and she scoffed. "You're ridiculous." The bell rang and Mariah turned her attention to the front.

Right now, she wished that she could trade seats with Veronica. Dr. Phylum began class. Mariah began writing notes into her open notebook. She would occasionally feel Archie's eyes on her from the left side but she made a point of avoiding his gaze.

The classroom door opened and principal Weatherbee and Sheriff Keller walked into the room. Mariah looked at the two men with curiosity. "Sorry to interrupt, Dr.
Phylum, but Sheriff Keller and I need to see Archie Andrews in the hallway," principal Weatherbee announced. Archie stood up and Veronica quickly stood as well.

"I'm sorry Principal Weatherbee but the T-shirts were my idea, not Archie's," Veronica said. Mariah looked over at her, confused. "This isn't about T-shirts, Miss Lodge, please sit down," Weatherbee replied. "It's okay, Ronnie. There's nothing to worry about," Archie assured the girl before looking at Mariah. "Don't worry," he whispered to her before walking to the door.

Mariah looked after the three, thoroughly confused about what was going on. "All right, class. Let's get back to work," Dr. Phylum said. Mariah pursed her lips before picking up her pen again and beginning to write her notes again.

····

Mariah rang the doorbell of the Andrews residence before crossing her arms over her chest and waiting. Archie had to leave school early because he had, allegedly, showed up in the Southside with a gun and was vandalizing a bodega. Mariah couldn't understand what was going on.

The door opened and Fred Andrews was walking out. "Hey, Mariah," he greeted. "Hi, Mr. Andrews. You heading to the Town Hall meeting?" She asked. "Yeah, I am. Archie's inside," he answered. "Thanks," Mariah said before walking around him and into the house. She walked through the living room and into the kitchen where she found the redhead.

"Did you really show up to the Southside with a gun? Be honest," she said. Archie looked up at her for a moment before looking back down, which was all the confirmation she needed. "A gun, Archie? Really? What the hell were you thinking? Where the hell did you even get a gun?" She asked. "I got it for protection, Mariah. I needed it," he said and she scoffed.

"You needed it? Seriously? A gun isn't a need, Archie. Needs are food, water, clothes, shelter. A gun does not fall into that category," she said and he sighed. "What's going on with you? I mean, first, there's this whole Red Circle crap. And then, it's like, you've been avoiding me ever since our disagreement. And don't give me that shit about figuring stuff out about your group," she said.

"Nothing's going on. My dad was shot and I've been trying to figure out how to keep him safe. I've been busy, Mariah," Archie defended. She scoffed, "Yeah, I bet you've been so busy. I mean, you're hanging out with Veronica all the time but I bet you're still busy, right?"

"What does Veronica have to do with this?" He questioned. "I don't know, Archie. You tell me," she answered. "Veronica has been helping me with the Red Circle. Making T-shirts, getting people involved. She's been supportive unlike you," he said, his tone growing slightly angry. "Forgive me for not supporting a freaking militia of high school boys who are practically begging the Black Hood to come after them. What they hell were you thinking?" She snapped.

"I was thinking about the people in this town. My friends, the people I care about. And I was thinking about keeping them safe. At least I'm doing something other than sitting on my ass and telling people off for trying to protect the people he loves," he retorted. "Oh, is that a diss? What a burn," she said sarcastically.

"It's not my job nor is it my business to do something. That's what the police are for. And it's not your job either," she continued. "Well I can't just sit around and let people die!" He exclaimed. "You can't protect everyone Archie! You need to worry about protecting yourself," she said. Archie scoffed, "You know, I'll keep that in mind."

The two stared at each other for a while. "What's going on with us, Archie?" She asked quietly. Archie sighed, "I don't know. But I think you should go." Mariah nodded her head. "Finally, something we can agree on," she tried to joke. She bit her lip, "I'll, uh, talk to you later, I guess."

Archie nodded his head, "Yeah." Mariah made her way over to the door with Archie following behind her. She opened the door and walked out of the house. The redhead closed and locked the door behind her. Archie ran his hands down his face and groaned. He messed up and he kept pushing her away because he thought it was for the best. He wasn't sure if he would be able to fix what he had broken.

····

"Have you seen your dad at all since the encounter at Pop's?" Cheryl asked as the two walked into Pop's. It was later on that night and the two had decided to grab a bite at Pop's before going back to Cheryl's to hang out. "No, thank God," Mariah replied. The two walked over to the counter and waited for someone to come take their order. "I think my mom is the one who told your dad about where you lived," Cheryl said.

Mariah rolled her eyes, "I wouldn't put it past her. So what, they've been keeping in touch?" Cheryl shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe. But I don't get why." Mariah bit the inside of her cheek. "She probably didn't do it. I'm sure Patrick has his ways of finding someone. He certainly has his ways of disappearing without a trace," the blonde said.

"Are you ever gonna talk to him?" Cheryl asked. Mariah gave her an incredulous look. "Why would I do that?" She asked. "Because he just showed up here with his new wife and what looked to be his kid. You've got to be curious," the redhead said. "Nope, not curious. I have all the answers I need. That jackass cheated on my mom and then ran off with his mistress. Somewhere along the line, he knocked her up. Boom, end of story," Mariah said.

"Come on, Mar. You could have a sister, which could be fun. Even though she's like, thirteen years younger than you," Cheryl said. "I've already got a sister. And she's standing right next to me," Mariah said, bumping the redhead's arm. Cheryl smiled, "Sweet. But I'm serious, Mar."

"So am I. Look, I don't want to talk about him or them anymore," the blonde said. "Fine. But, I still think you should confront him. Tell him off, I'd love to see that," Cheryl said and Mariah smiled. "No, I'd pay to see that. You would go in on him," she continued. Mariah laughed, nudging Cheryl who was laughing as well.

Someone had finally come to take their order and the two sat at the counter to wait. "So, I've noticed you've still been having relationship troubles," Cheryl began. "You noticed that? How did you just notice that?" Mariah asked. "I'm not blind, Mariah. Nor am I completely oblivious to situations. Unlike some people," she muttered the last sentence. "I'm not deaf, Cheryl," Mariah mockingly said.

"What happened between you and Archie? Did you finally dump him like I suggested?" Cheryl asked. "No I didn't dump him. We've been getting into a lot of fights lately. I know couples fight and it's healthy or whatever but, it just seems like we're on opposite sides of the battlefield nowadays, you know?" The blonde explained.

"Why do you think that is?" Cheryl asked. "I don't know. We haven't been seeing eye to eye on some things. Like the situation with the Black Hood and the Red Circle," Mariah responded. "What about the Red Circle have you not been agreeing on?" Cheryl asked. "All of it. I think it's stupid and dangerous. And, I think he's upset because I'm not being supportive of him," the blonde was saying.

"Why haven't you been supportive?" Cheryl asked next. "Because the whole thing is stupid. I can't support his group. I mean, did you see that video? Archie was so, different. He was like, darker and the vibe that I got from it was negative. Like, he says that the point of the Red Circle is to protect Riverdale's inhabitants but it just didn't seem that way to me," the blonde said.

"I get why you don't support the group and you don't have to. But why didn't you just support him?" Cheryl said. Mariah opened her mouth before closing it. She thought over the question for a moment before sighing. "Because I'm an asshole," she muttered before standing up. "I gotta go. I need to apologize to my boyfriend," she said. Cheryl smiled, "I guess my work here is done."

"Thanks, Cher," Mariah said before walking toward the door. She stopped and turned back to the redhead, "You should be a therapist or something. You're really good at this." Cheryl flipped a piece of her hair over her shoulder. "Why thank you. Now go," she said. Mariah nodded before leaving the diner.

"Order up," the waiter said, placing their food to go in front of Cheryl. "Damn, I forgot about the food," Cheryl muttered.

····

The extra key to the Andrews house was hidden it's same spot. Mariah made a note to give the key to Archie and not have him hide it outside anymore. She unlocked the door with the key, careful not to make too much noise and potentially wake Mr. Andrews, whom she figured was home and asleep seeing as it was so late.

She realized now that coming to their house so late at night wasn't the smartest thing to do. One, the Black Hood could be lurking anywhere. Two, either of the Andrews men could have thought that she was an intruder and come at her with a baseball bat, or in Archie's case, a gun. And three, it was late and this definitely could have waited until morning. But Mariah would get impatient and she wanted to talk to the boy.

It was eerily quiet in the Andrews household as Mariah tiptoed up the stairs. The door to his room is closed and she figured he was asleep. She silently cursed herself before turning back to the stairs. When she heard shuffling in his room she paused and turned back to the door. "Okay, Mariah. It's now or never." She opened the door to Archie's room.

Now, Mariah didn't know what she expected to see when she opened the door. Maybe it was the redhead reading a book. Or maybe he was silently strumming his guitar. Maybe she expected to see him just lying in bed and staring up at the ceiling.

What she didn't expect to see was a shirtless Archie making out with a shirtless Veronica. Mariah froze in her spot, her heart plummeting to her stomach. She took in a sharp, surprised, breath and let it out. Her heart began beating erratically and she didn't sense it slowing down anytime soon.

"So, I guess this is what has been keeping you so busy," Mariah stated. Veronica and Archie jumped apart in surprise. "What? You didn't hear me open the door? No, I guess you were too distracted to hear," she went on. Veronica grabbed her shirt and used it to cover up her bra. Archie stood from the bed. "Mariah, it's not what it looks like," he said and she scoffed.

"Really, Archie? You're gonna pull that bullshit with me when I literally saw you, and who is supposed to be my best friend, making out on your bed?" She asked. "I can explain," he tried. "Explain what? Are you gonna tell me that she kissed you? Did you get caught in the moment? Because you're shirtless and she's shirtless and it looks to me like you two were about to have sex," she said. Neither of the two said anything.

"See, there's nothing to explain," she said, turning around and waking out the door. The two followed her as she bounded down the stairs. "Mar, please wait! I-" Mariah whipped around. "Don't you dare call me that, you stupid bitch. You know, I'm not even surprised that you came after Archie. I mean, you've always wanted what wasn't yours. You just couldn't stand that I was happy, could you? Little Veronica Lodge, always has to get what she wants. Well congratulations. You've finally done what I'm sure you've wanted since the day we met. You've finally beat me at something." Mariah was livid.

She looked to Archie before scoffing. "You can have him. I don't have anymore time to waste on trash," she said. Veronica was crying now, "I'm so sorry." Mariah held up a hand, "Don't. You don't get to cry." She turned back to Archie. "So much for you loving me, right? I can't believe I fell for that bullshit."

"Mariah—"

"Fuck off Archie." She shook her head, running a hand through her hair. "You're a fucking asshole and I hoe you burn in hell." She then turned to the door before turning back to him. "And if it wasn't clear, our relationship," she turned to Veronica, "and our friendship, is over." And with that, she exited the Andrews home. Her breathing was heavy and at this point, she was practically gasping for air. She couldn't breathe. Her lungs felt like they were constricting and the cool, fresh air did little to help her.

Mariah stumbled to her car and unlocked the door. She ran her hands down her face, anger coursing through her. She let out a scream, her hands repeatedly slamming against the steering wheel. When she was done, she took a deep breath and released it slowly. She was desperately trying to calm herself down so that she wouldn't drive angrily.

But she couldn't. All she could feel at the moment was anger. She shoved the key into the ignition and turned on the car's engine. She put on some classical music to help her calm down and relax. She pulled on her seatbelt and put the car in reverse, peeling out of the Andrews' driveway and driving down the road.

She had no idea where she was headed and in that moment, she didn't care.

°°°°

I bet y'all weren't expecting that. Thank you for reading, hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please vote and comment but do NOT comment for me to update. If I don't update, it either means that I'm busy or have no inspiration and you guys commenting for me to update is just inconsiderate so please don't do it. Have a nice day.