Part 8
It was the next morning and Olivia was back to getting no sleep. Around 11 she finally gave up and went downstairs to find Toni with wet hair, having just showered, and Cheryl with her hair already in curlers.
She joined her Moms lounging in the living room with some coffee and tried to keep calm and casual.
“You know, maybe we skip this thing tonight,” she said before taking a sip of her own drink.
Cheryl and Toni both looked towards her, interest peaked.
“Why ever for?” Cheryl responded for them both with a tilt of the head.
“Oh, well, come on Aunt Ronnie does these all the time! I think it’d be fine if we sat one out. We could have a mother-daughter night instead?”
“Hmm…that’s awfully short notice.” Cheryl replied with furrowed brows, “But we can definitely plan a mother-daughter night next week. Maybe even make a weekend of it?” She finished looking to Toni to confirm.
“But it has to be tonight,” Olivia replied impatiently.
“Why? What’s going on?” Toni asked while eyeing her daughter questioningly.
She was running out of excuses to try but the situation was too severe to let go.
“I…I just think we should all stay home tonight. I have a…bad feeling” She said, murmuring out the last part looking down to avoid eye contact.
But her Moms catch it, like they catch everything.
“Bad feeling?…Baby is this about that nightmare? I though you were over this?”
“I’m telling you, I don’t think it’s safe. Remember all the strangers from out of town that they’re bringing in? We don’t know who they are or where they came from! I heard Aunt Ronnie talking about that business man who’s trying to shut her down,”
“Liv, those things don’t happen here anymore. What can we do to reassure you?”
“Don’t go tonight.”
“Olivia, now this is silly! You can’t live your life in fear. If you really want to stay home tonight, that’s ok, but Mama and I are gonna go.”
The choking feeling starts to return as she realizes even the truth won’t save them. Soon sobs break out for the first time since the night of her dream.
“Please…please don’t go! You don’t know…you don’t know what- what’s gonna happen! Don’t!…don’t!…please!…mom…mom,” her cries grew louder and louder while words became less clear.
Both Moms rise from their spots to meet Olivia as she tips off the edge of the couch and onto the floor trying to ground herself on anything.
Sense memory kicks in and she begins dry heaving. Her nose turns up at the smell of smoke.
“It’s okay…it’s okay….shhhhh, you’re okay,” Her Moms tried to soothe to no avail.
Time passed as the three sat together on the floor. Eventually sobs calmed to heavy breathing, the exhaustion becoming apparent.
“You can stay home. We will show you that everything is fine by coming home safe and sound.” Toni assured.
“No,” She sniffed out shaking her head back and fourth.
“You don’t have to worry,” Cheryl assured wiping at her daughters tears.
Olivia let out a deep, shaky breath when her mom started running fingers through her hair, head against her chest. Inside, her mind was racing trying to craft Plan B.
-
Her moms had mostly left her alone after that, she was overtired from the whole ordeal and was comfortably tucked into bed. They only came in to check up, soothe and support between readying themselves. Of course they were still concerned but agreed to save the conversation for another time.
Once her moms left for the party she jumped up and got ready herself. There was only one way to defuse this and it was from the inside.
Olivia arrived at La Bon Nuit and made rounds greeting everyone. When she approached her mothers she told them she’d gotten nervous after they left and wanted to be close to them. Although they were still worried it was a bit comforting to have Olivia there so they can keep an eye on her.
She finally made her way over to Annie and Chloe who were dressed just as lavishly and sipping on their mocktails by the bar.
“Hey…” they all greeted awkwardly, having not spoken since their argument the night before.
“I didn’t think we’d see you here,” Annie broke the tension softly.
“Yea, well, I wasn’t gonna let my Moms come here alone…just incase.”
“Right,” The other two nodded.
The three remained silent as they all avoided eye contact.
After what felt like forever, but was really just a few seconds, Archie came through and put his hands on Annie’s shoulders.
“Hey girls, why don’t you go up by the stage, Aunt Ronnie’s gonna sing soon.”
The three girls broke apart after that, going off on their own through the crowd.
They all migrated towards the stage as drinks and hors d’oeuvres continued to weave in and out.
Eventually Veronica stepped onto the stage to kick off the festivities.
“How are you doing Riverdale High!” She called out and they all cheered.
“Wow! Wow, thank you, for coming out tonight to celebrate yet another milestone - our class is celebrating its 20th reunion! It’s so great to see all of your smiling faces here tonight!”
Veronica’s continued to introduce the festivities followed by, of course, a song. Champagne flowed along with the bands serenade and took them all through a smooth night. Olivia mostly kept to herself, only really socializing out of obligation and to keep up appearances.
They’d finally made it to the end of the night and the crowd had dwindled down to just their close group of friends and family. The band and staff were packing and finishing up their duties but laughter and chatter still swirled through the room as everyone was finally able to relax now that all the spectacle was over.
“No! She did not say that!”
“She did! She did! I swear!”
“Bu-“
BANG
The room shook, lights flickered, and glasses broke as everyone did their best to take cover.
There was a long silence as everyone held their breath.
Eventually, Archie broke the silence cueing everyone into a panic.
“Veronica!?”
“I’m over here, Archie,” she said as she stood up from behind the bar.
“Shit” Toni said crouching down to Cheryl on the floor.
“I’m okay, just landed weird on my ankle,” she replied as Toni and Jughead helped her up and onto a chair.
“Where are the girls?” Betty called out.
“We’re here Mom!” Chloe responded
“But, Olivia’s not here,” she added nervously.
Toni and Cheryl’s heads snapped up.
“What do you mean she’s not here?! Where is she?!” Cheryl started in a panic.
“I don’t know…I haven’t really seen her all night. M-Maybe the bathroom?” Chloe’s guessed as she pointed off to the bathrooms which were down the hall where the bang came from.
“WHAT?!” Cheryl shouted out as she tried to stand up on her sprained ankle.
“Cheryl no-“
“I’m not going to just wait here Toni!”
“I’ll go, baby, I’ll go find her. You guys should evacuate. Can someone help Cheryl out? Get her to an ambulance?”
“I’ve got her,” Archie replied as he went over to pick Cheryl up.
“I’ll come with you, T,” Jughead added as everyone else got themselves together to head out.
“Toni-“ Cheryl cried.
“Don’t worry, okay? I’ll find her.” She kissed Cheryl in reassurance before heading towards the hall with Jughead in tow.