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Sweet Pea and Fangs had been texting Mariah to hang out these past few days. And like with Toni, she was ignoring them. She didn't want to go to the Southside on the off chance that the three would run into her if they hung out. Who was she kidding, if Sweet Pea and Fangs were anywhere, Toni would definitely be close by and Mariah still wasn't ready to face her yet.

After the secret Santa fiasco, Mariah had continued on with the school day as if nothing ever happened. Cheryl had called her conniving and said that she might have taken things a little too far. Mariah said nothing as she continued to class but she knew that Cheryl was right. She had definitely taken it too far.

"Seriously, Mar. What has gotten into you lately? I thought you were over the whole Archie and Veronica thing," she said. Mariah sighed, "Honestly, so did I. But when I picked Veronica's name, I just felt like I should do something to get back at her. Now I just feel bad."

"You shouldn't feel bad bad. Just a little bad. I mean, she kinda deserved it. But I think you should've just left it at the coal," Cheryl said. Mariah groaned and ran a hand through her hair. The two walked into their class and sat at desks. "Maybe I should apologize," Mariah said.

"Absolutely not. Seriously, Mariah do not apologize to that homewrecking bitch. I mean, what you did doesn't amount to what she did," Cheryl said. "I shouldn't have called her a whore though. This isn't me, Cher. Like yeah, I have a right to be upset but I think I took it too far. I mean, you said it yourself, I should've just left it at the coal," Mariah continued.

"So you'll apologize and then what, forgive her?" Cheryl asked. "I didn't say that. I'll just apologize, doesn't mean I have to forgive her," Mariah replied. The school bell rang and the last bit of students hurried into the class. The teacher entered the classroom, put his things down, and immediately began class.

Mariah did her best to pay attention but with each passing moment, the guilt only increased.

••••

Mariah had waited until the end of the school day to go and find Veronica. She had contemplated on even apologizing to the girl before deciding that she should. She had to.

The raven haired girl was at her locker, putting her things away and ready to leave the school. Mariah approached her slowly, thinking about what she would say. "Hey," she muttered awkwardly. Veronica turned her head, eyes slightly widening when she saw the silver haired girl. "Oh, uh, hi," Veronica greeted, closing her locker.

"Look, I'm sorry about the whole coal thing. And the mug. Mostly the mug. I took things too far and I shouldn't have done it. I was being petty and wanted to hurt you like you did me but, I realize that stooping to that level isn't the right thing to do. And, it isn't me. So, I'm sorry," Mariah said, releasing a breath. "You don't have to be sorry, Mariah. I'm the one who's sorry. What I said about your dad wasn't cool. Besides, I think I deserved it," Veronica said and Mariah shook her head.

"Nobody really deserves that," she said. "And nobody deserves to be cheated on by their significant other and to have one of their best friends be the person that their significant other cheated on them with. I did a shitty, fucked up thing and I deserved he coal and the mug. Call me a whore all you want because I honestly feel like one," Veronica replied.

"I don't think you're a whore. Homewrecker for sure but, maybe not a whore. I shouldn't have slut shamed you, Veronica. That was fucked up," Mariah responded. "Not if it's true," Veronica said. "Even if it is, I still shouldn't have said it," Mariah said. The two looked at each other for a moment. "Well I accept your apology. And I hope that one day, you can accept mine. I'm so sorry for everything, Mar. You were my best friend and I never wanted to hurt you. I don't even know why I did what I did," Veronica said.

"Because you liked him," Mariah stated. "W-what?" Veronica asked. "You liked him, the whole time we were together. I mean, that's the only reasonable explanation I could think of, and I've thought about this quite a bit. If you hadn't had some sort of feelings for him already, Veronica, I don't think you ever would've done that. But you wanted it because you liked him." Veronica said nothing, staring at the linoleum floor beneath their feet.

"I don't blame you for that. You can't help who you have feelings for. But you chose to do what you did and you chose to continue doing it. And he chose to do it too, probably because he felt the same way as you. I mean, I heard it's possible to like two people at once. Just wish I wasn't apart of that triangle," Mariah said, taking a breath before continuing. "I don't know when or if I'll ever forgive you both. It'll take time, I guess. And I'm gonna need space."

"Of course. I understand," Veronica said with a nod. It was silent again. "Oh, I got you something." Veronica reached into her purse and pulled out a small box. Mariah knew what it was. An 'M' necklace. "I got it a few months back, before... anyway, I still want you to have it. It's tradition." Mariah took the box from Veronica's hand and nodded. "Thanks."

She looked down at the box she was now holding. "Mine is better," she informed. Veronica scoffed, shaking her head. "Nope, mine is. I stepped it up this year," she retorted. "Oh because I beat you the other three years," Mariah said. "You mean when I let you win," Veronica replied. "Oh you wish." The two girls laughed quietly. Mariah met Veronica's eye and her smile began to fade. She cleared her throat and took a step back.

"I should go," she said. "Yeah, right, of course," Veronica said, looking down. Mariah nodded and walked away, releasing a sad and tired breath as she made her way to the school's exit.

••••

"Festive." Was the first thing Jughead said a week later once he entered Mariah's house, looking around at all the Christmas decorations that her mother put up. "What're you doing here, Jones?" She questioned, closing the door behind him. "Making sure you're not dead," he replied, making his way to the kitchen and immediately rummaging through the fridge for something to eat.

"You could've called," she pointed out. "I did, you didn't answer. Betty said she called too but you didn't pick up," Jughead said. "You're talking to Betty now?" Mariah asked. She was surprised seeing as they broke up. "She asked me if I had heard from you since the whole secret Santa thing and I said I hadn't and here I am," he replied.

"Speaking of secret Santa, what the hell was that with Veronica? I get it if you're still mad but that was cold and not like you," Jughead went on. "I know, I know. I was being petty and lashed out. I apologized to her though," Mariah replied. Jughead was pulling out ingredients to make a sandwich. "Why are you here though? I thought you were staying away to 'protect me' or some shit," she continued.

"I told you, I was checking for signs of life. And Fangs has been bugging me about you. Said he's been trying to get you to hang out but you've been ghosting him. And Sweet Pea. And Toni. Wanna explain to me why?" Jughead replied. "I don't know what you mean. I've just been busy," Mariah answered.

"Busy ghosting them?" Jughead questioned with a sly grin. "No. But I've got a lot going on right now," Mariah said. "And because of that, you've been ghosting them," Jughead responded. "Stop saying that! I'm not ghosting anyone," Mariah retorted. "If you were too busy to hang out, you could've just said that. But you didn't. You're ignoring them for whatever reason and thus, are ghosting them," Jughead said with a shrug.

Mariah rolled her eyes and sat down on a stool whilst Jughead continued making a sandwich. "So, what's going on? Why aren't you talking to them?" He asked, placing a piece of bread on top of the rest of the, now, completed sandwich. "I don't want to talk about it," Mariah said. "Not even with your best friend?" Jughead joked. "Cheryl. I haven't told Cheryl yet!" Mariah realized, rubbing a hand down her face.

"I was actually referring to me..." Mariah paid him no mind, thinking about how she would bring this up to the redhead. "So something did happen then?" He questioned. Mariah looked over at him. "She didn't tell you?" She asked. "She who?" He asked back. "Never mind," she muttered. "No. She who? Betty?" He asked. "No, not Betty. If you didn't tell Cheryl then there's no way you told Betty," Jughead realized.

"Just drop it, Jones," Mariah said. She was growing aggravated by his questioning. "Toni. Did something happen with Toni?" He said. Mariah glared at him. "What did she do? Did she say something? Did you? Let me guess, she made a comment about the Northside and you got annoyed. Or, you made a joke about the Southside and she got offended. Or, she talked shit about your clothes and said she was a better dresser. Or maybe-"

"Jughead! Please shut up," Mariah interrupted. Jughead closed his mouth. "Was I close?" He questioned. "I am not talking about this with you until I talk to Cheryl first. Now hurry up and finish your sandwich and leave," she said. "Jeez, is it that serious?" He asked. She gave him a look and he picked up his sandwich and began walking to the door. "Alright, but you better tell me what happened or I'll just ask Toni," he said. "Ask her, I don't care."

Lie.

Mariah closed the door behind him and made her way upstairs. She texted Cheryl that she was coming over to her place before putting on her shoes and exiting the house. When she got to Cheryl's house, Penelope Blossom was the one to open the door. She made a noise of disgust when she saw Mariah. "Why did you do that to your hair?" She questioned.

"Because I felt like it," Mariah retorted as she entered the home. She made her way up the stairs and to Cheryl's room. She knocked on the door and entered when Cheryl had told her to come in. Mariah took off her shoes and sat down on Cheryl's bed, folding her hands in her lap. "Uh, hi?" Cheryl said.

"I have to tell you something important," Mariah announced. "Okay..." Mariah took a breath and slowly released it. "Okay, so I may have kissed a girl and I may have liked it and yes I know I'm quoting a Katy Perry song but it's very fitting so I'm doing it," she said all at once. Cheryl blinked, processing her friend's words carefully. "You, you kissed a girl?" She asked. "Well, technically she kissed me but I kissed her back and then pulled away really fast but I still kissed her back even if it was brief," Mariah explained.

"And like, I knew she was leaning in to kiss me and I just let her and I don't know why and please say something," Mariah continued to ramble. Cheryl was merely staring at her in shock, unable to think of what to say. "So, are you bisexual now or?" She finally asked. Mariah sighed and shrugged. "Maybe. I think I could be. I don't know. This is weird," she answered.

"It's okay. I felt the same way when I started developing feelings for a girl," Cheryl stated. Mariah nodded along to her words before widening her eyes. "Wait, what?" She asked. Cheryl looked at her. "You like girls?" Mariah asked carefully. Cheryl pursed her lips and nodded. "Since, since when? What? When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me? What?" Now she was even more confused. Her best friend liked girls and she didn't even know it.

"Do you remember Heather?" Cheryl asked. Mariah blinked a few times. "Heather? Yeah, I remember Heather," she muttered. "Well, she was the first girl I ever had feelings for. She made me realized that I liked girls and not just boys. After you left, she and I got a little closer and, my mom found out and you know how she is. She ruined everything and I never saw Heather again," Cheryl explained. The redhead took a breath and looked over at her friend who was taking in her words.

"I'm sorry I never told you. I wanted to, I was just scared. I didn't know how you'd react and I was scared you'd react like my mom and just ditch me and our friendship," Cheryl went on, tears beginning to form in her eyes. Mariah looked up at her. "You thought I would stop being your friend because you like girls?" She asked. She was hurt that Cheryl would even think she was like that.

"I didn't think you would but I was just scared. I kept convincing myself that you'd hate me or be uncomfortable or something. I don't know. I just didn't wanna lose you," Cheryl said. Mariah rolled her eyes before pulling the redhead into a hug. Cheryl immediately hugged her back.

"I love you, Cher, and you're one of the smartest people I know but sometimes, you're really fucking stupid." Cheryl pulled away from the hug and looked at Mariah in surprise. "I mean seriously? You thought I'd hate you for this? You'd have to do something completely unimaginable and unforgivable for me to ever hate you. I love you, okay? You're my best friend and you liking girls isn't gonna change that. I can't think of anything that would change that. You don't have to be scared to tell me these things, okay? I'm here for you, always."

Cheryl pulled Mariah into another hug. "I love you. I'm sorry," she muttered. "It's okay," Mariah said with a smile. Cheryl pulled away and released a breath. It was as though a weight had been lifted from her chest. "Keeping that from you was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. From here on out, no more secrets. Promise me," Cheryl said, holding up her pinky finger. Mariah hooked her finger onto Cheryl's. "Promise."

They kissed their thumbs and pressed them to the other's. Cheryl sighed and smiled widely. "So this girl, who is she and what's she like?" She asked. Mariah chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of her neck with her hand. "Well, her name is Toni-"

"Wait! That girl from the street race? That Serpent girl?" Cheryl interrupted. Mariah sighed, she knew the redhead would react this way. "Yes," Mariah said slowly. "No. No, no, no. There is no way in hell I'm letting you date a Serpent," Cheryl said, shuddering at the thought. "It's not your decision, Cheryl," Mariah pointed out.

"I can't believe that grimy snake put her lips on your lips," the redhead went on. "She's not grimy or a snake. She's nice and she's cool and fun. I like spending time with her, okay? And I think I might like her. You know, like like her. And as my best friend, you're obligated to support me. It's law," Mariah said.

"But she's from the Southside. She's a Serpent, Mariah! And they're dangerous," she said. "Not really. They're pretty chill and cool. I think you'd like them if you gave them a chance," Mariah said. Cheryl scoffed, "Not likely." Mariah gave her a look. "But if you were to date that pink haired muppet, I will, attempt to be cordial," she continued. "That's all I ask," Mariah said with a nod.

"So, you like her then?" Cheryl asked. Mariah sighed, "I'm still trying to figure that out."

°°°°

I'm really trying to get through this season so that I can finish this book and be done with Riverdale but the episodes are so boring and bad that I'm struggling lol. But I'm determined to finish this book. And just so you all know, once this book is done I will no longer be writing for Riverdale. I WILL NOT be writing for season 3 and onwards. With that being said, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Please be sure to vote and, as always, DO NOT COMMENT FOR ME TO UPDATE!