New Beginnings

The Attack of the PTA Moms

Despite only being in the beginning stages of seeing someone, Alice was really starting to enjoy her time with Hal and his company. Money aside, which was admittedly a big pro, he seemed interesting enough. She was steadying herself though, she still had her girls to think about.

She was currently sat by the kitchen island, applying her lipstick in her compact mirror. She had her first PTA meeting at the school this morning and she wanted to make a good impression, not just her but for the girls. She had only been living in Riverdale for roughly a month and the family was already met with so much judgment from townsfolk.

She could only think how they'd react if they knew about her past profession.

Betty and Polly come down the stairs ready to leave.

"You're finally ready then? Where's Cheryl?" Alice asks as she continued applying her lipliner.

"She said something about cheerleading practice so she had to leave early." Polly informs her.

"Oh. Well I can drop you guys off, I've got a PTA meeting at the school." She informs them as she gets up out of the chair and places her replica purse on her shoulder.

She notices the girls furrowing their brows at her. It had to be her outfit that had them so stunned, she thought to herself. She wore a beige sweater, not too tight or revealing but still enough to accentuate her figure and show off her cleavage in a tasteful way and denim jeans with a pair of faux leather boots that went just above her knee.

"What are you two gawking at?"

"Since when do you wear lame ass sweaters?" Betty questions.

"Since I wanted to give those stuck up PTA bitches less reasons to judge us. I'm sick of people in this town looking down on us." She explained to the two of them before going towards the door.

"Come on now, let's go, I'm already late. I'll drop Tyler off at daycare on the way."

She managed to drop Tyler off at daycare on time and get the girls to school before the first bell.

Polly immediately goes off down the hall, not wanting to be seen with her mother or to concoct mischief with her friends, Alice knew it was one of the two.

"Betty, where's the gymnasium?" She asked her youngest as they walked down the halls.

"It's down there, first left." Betty directed.

She kissed her daughter goodbye and made her way down the hall towards the gymnasium, ready to join the elite of women she'd often find herself making fun of pretty easily.

She could hear Penelope speaking as she approached the door and the meeting seemed to have already started.

"Shit!" She mumbled to herself as she glared down at her clock on her phone, she was late.

Well better late than never, she thought to herself before opening the gymnasium doors wide open with pride, Penelope stopping her discussion as soon as she did.

All eyes were on her as she strutted through towards the first empty seat she saw.

"Alice. You made it." Penelope spoke as her eyes landed on the dark haired woman trying hard to hide her embarrassment that Penelope could see right through.

"Said I would wouldn't I? And sorry for being tardy and all, you know how it is." Alice said casually as she pulled up her chair towards the circle the women sat in as if they were in a coven.

"Everybody, this is Alice Smith, she's new to town." Penelope explains to everyone as she comes forward

Alice awkwardly waves as she's met with a few stares of judgement and curiosity.

"I invited her here to join the PTA in hopes of getting, a new perspective." Penelope explained.

"Oh wow, now I feel special." Alice jokes. She noticed a table of refreshments across from her.

"No wine?" Alice questioned upon seeing nothing but coffee and cookies.

"It's a PTA meeting, not a dive bar that you're probably used to frequenting." One of the women answered, causing all the others to giggle under their breaths.

Alice narrowed her eyes at the mousy haired woman opposite her. "Something you wanna get off your chest bitch?" Alice blurted out.

"Now Lydia. There's no need for playground antics." Penelope told her sternly.

"Yeah, I'd hate to see blood on these floors." Alice snapped back with her eyes still on Lydia. "So you just probably get back to whatever it is you were talking about."

"Well Alice, before you came in I was just discussing the taste of Riverdale event that's being held right here, in the gymnasium next Saturday evening." Penelope explained

After the meeting is adjourned, the women gather together throughout the room on their separate little cliques. All Alice could think of was that this was like high school all over again and she couldn't believe how pathetic they were.

What was even more pathetic was when she went over to the coffee table and heard her name being whispered by the trio of women opposite her with their backs turned.

"The girl is only 15 with a child and not even his father is present. Clearly there's a bastard cycle." Lydia speaks

"I've heard her eldest has been to Juvenile Hall twice for violent behaviour." The other one reveals

"Now I know she's borderline white trash and clearly didn't have good parenting role models, but be nice." Penelope said to them, under the impression that Alice was on the other side of the room

She strutted over to the red headed woman, shoulders back, back straight and her her hands in her pocket, ready to give her a piece of her mind.

"Penelope?" She called out.

The red head turned around and was taken by surprise a little, hoping Alice hadn't heard her conversation. She ushered for the two other women to move along.

Penelope gave her a fake smile and Alice returned it before stepping closer.

"Look, you and your posse can talk about me till the cows come home, you won't be the first and you won't be the last, but my kids? I suggest you and the rest of these hags keep their names out of your mouths." Alice demanded. When it came to her family there were absolute no limits and she'd happily kill for them.

Penelope's eyes opened wide and she folded her arms before looking Alice up and down. "Are you threatening me?"

Alice laughed and stepped closer to her. "I don't make threats honey. I'm more about action. Oh, and may I remind you you're in no position to be judging anybody's parenting skills considering I've currently got your daughter sleeping in my guest room, shall we share with group why that is?"

Penelope furrowed her brows at the woman and tightened her lip. She refused to say another word to Alice and just glared at her, knowing that she had lost this round.

"So the bake sale tomorrow afternoon? I'll see you there. Lovely meeting by the way!" Alice said with faux enthusiasm as she gathered her purse. "Bye Penelope, everyone. I look forward to future meetings!" Alice said to the them all before blowing a kiss and walking out of the gym with her head held high and a new feel of confidence and smugness about her.

Alice Smith - 1
PTA bitches - 0