Chapter Five: Heart of Darkness

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Audrey feeds Austin when she hears thumping from Archie's room "Hey, Rocky

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Audrey feeds Austin when she hears thumping from Archie's room "Hey, Rocky." Fred says as he and Audrey go to see Archie punching his punchbag. "Hey." Archie responds. "You know, I never thought I'd say that I miss you playing guitar, but..." Fred trails off. "Ah. Sorry, Dad. Just trying to get back in fighting shape for the field." Archie explains. "So, this is all for football?" Audrey asks. "Coach Clayton's about to set the starting line-up, name a new captain. It's like you said. Football gets me a scholarship, which gets me to college, where I can study music. Captains get scholarships." Archie tells them. Fred gives Audrey a look before walking off "You need to have a shower before school Arch. Don't want to be even more smelly than usual." Audrey teases. "If anything, you're the one who smells." Archie jokes. Audrey rolls her eyes playfully "Just, take a shower." she tells him before walking off.

At school Audrey sits with Archie, Jughead, Veronica, Betty and Kevin at lunch, Audrey next to Jughead and leaning on him slightly "Betty, you're positively radiating Nicholas Sparks. Tell me everything about this Trev." Veronica smiles. "Oh, there's nothing to tell. Just one of Betty's sources, there's nothing romantic in the offing." Jughead tells her. "Why is everything weird here? Why can't a date just be a date? What about you, Archie? How's life in a PG world?" Veronica asks making everyone look at her confused "PG. Post-Grundy. What, too soon?" she questions. "Coach Clayton says I have a shot at being varsity captain. So I'm not thinking about anything else right now." Archie explains. "And you're back to being boring." Veronica sighs. Audrey smiles slightly, popping a grape in her mouth "Are you, maybe, throwing yourself into football as a way to avoid your feelings." Betty suggests. "I'm not avoiding anything, Betty, I'm trying to get my life back on track." Archie explains as Valerie walks over, sitting next to Archie. "I can help with that. I know Ms. Grundy was tutoring you." she starts. "Understatement of the year." Veronica comments quietly making Audrey hide a smiles. "But there's this amazing songwriter from New York, who's an adjunct at Carson College? Incredible mentor. He does some coaching on the side and I told him about you. You wanna meet him?" Valerie asks. "Yeah, yeah I'd love to, but football..." Archie trails off. "No, Archie can. And he will." Audrey cuts in, sending her cousin a look. "Call him if you want, but do it soon. His spots fill up fast." Valerie smiles, giving Archie the number. "Thank you, Val." Archie smiles as Valerie leaves. "Hey, now you have zero excuse for avoiding music." Veronica tells him.

"Sorry to interrupt Sad Breakfast Club, but I'm here to formally invite you to Jason's memorial at Thornhill this weekend. To my surprise and chagrin, mother added you to the guest-list. In case you're tempted to steal our silver candlesticks, don't. We'll be searching bags." Cheryl says, walking over and handing each of them an invite. "Hey, try to remember, she is burying her brother." Audrey tells Veronica as Cheryl leaves. Veronica nods and goes to catch up with Cheryl "Cheryl, wait." she says. Audrey lies her head on Jughead's shoulder, closing her eyes "You alright Auds?" Kevin asks. "Yeah, just a bit tired." Audrey responds with a small smile. "Why you so tired? Your conscience keeping you awake at night?" Betty asks. Audrey feels tears gather in her eyes, jumping up she grabs her bag "Audrey-" Archie starts. "Let her Archie. If she can't deal with the fact that she's a slut then that's on her." Betty cuts him off. "Betty!" Archie and Jughead exclaim as Audrey runs off. Glaring at Betty, Jughead grabs his own bag and runs after Audrey "Audrey, wait up!" he calls after her.

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