Mariah Coleman laid in her bed staring up at the ceiling. Today, she was leaving New York and going back to Riverdale and she wasn't exactly thrilled. She would rather go anywhere else. But it wasn't really her decision to make, especially after what happened.

The last time she was in that town was when she attended the funeral of Jason Blossom, one of her best friends. That wasn't a good time for her at all. She couldn't really grasp the idea that Jason, the boy who pushed her off the swings when they were four causing her to scrape her knee and leading him to kiss it better, was dead. She couldn't believe it, she didn't want to believe it.

Mariah, Cheryl, and Jason kept their promise to each other. They stayed in touch and talked about everything. The Blossom twins had each others backs, just like they said they would. It was hardest for Cheryl, losing her twin, her other half. It was like a part of her died too.

For Mariah, it was similar but different. She felt like a part of her died but she also felt numb. Jason Blossom was dead and there was nothing she could do about it. What made it worse was that they never found his body.

She remembered the day that her mother told her the news as if it were yesterday. Mariah had just come home from cheer practice when her mother told her what happened. Amara Coleman sat her daughter down and told her about the fate of her beloved best friend. As soon as Mariah heard the news, she ran up to her room and called Cheryl. Cheryl picked up immediately and Mariah could tell that she had been crying. That's when she knew that it was true.

After she had talked to Cheryl she called her friend, at the time, Veronica Lodge and told her the news. Veronica knew how much Jason meant to her friend and tried to console her the best that she could. And although her attempts were in vain, they were very much appreciated.

The last time Mariah had cried herself to sleep was the day her father left. But that night, that fateful Fourth of July night, she couldn't stop crying. She didn't think she would fall asleep but eventually she did.

Now Mariah and her mom are moving again in order to, once again flee from past events. Although this time, Mariah was grateful. She couldn't wait to get out of that city. But Riverdale was the last place she wanted to go. There were too many memories that she would rather forget.

A knock sounded at her door and her mother's voice could be heard on the other side. "Mar, honey you have to get up and get ready. We'll be leaving soon," her mother said. Mariah groaned from her position in bed and pulled her blanket up over her head.

The door slammed open and her mother walked in, yanking the blankets from her daughter's body. "Get up now!" She exclaimed loudly.

"Alright fine!" Mariah replied in a similar tone.

"Fix the attitude now," Amara Coleman told her daughter. "Sorry," Mariah mumbled.

"Yeah that's what I thought. Go take a shower and get dressed. Then come downstairs for breakfast so we can go. I want to get out of here as soon as possible," her mother said.

"Aye aye captain," Mariah saluted her mother as the woman walked out. "Hurry up!" She yelled on her way out of the room.

Mariah groaned softly before doing as she was told. After getting ready she walked down the stairs of her penthouse and into the kitchen. There were only a few boxes left in the penthouse, the rest were already shipped to their new house in Riverdale.

The two ate their breakfast in silence, none of them knowing what to say.

After a few more moments of silence her mother spoke up. "Have you talked to Veronica?" She questioned her daughter. "Not really. We haven't talked all that much since that night," Mariah replied. Amara took a good look at her daughter before speaking. "You should talk to her before we go. Say goodbye. Hermione thinks that it would be good for you both to start talking again and I agree," she said.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Mariah denied. "It's still too soon," she finished. Her mother gave her a sad smile. "At least say goodbye. Veronica wants to see you before we go," she said. Mariah rolled her eyes, "Fine." Amara smiled in victory and finished eating.

When they were finished, they loaded the remainder of the boxes into the trunk of the car and made their way to the Lodge residence.

As her mother drove, Mariah sat quietly in the passenger seat, staring out the window. She was deep in thought and only came out of it when her mom tapped her shoulder informing her that they've arrived.

Hermione Lodge answered the door upon hearing the doorbell. When she saw who was at the door she smiled and ushered them into the house. "Veronica is in her room," Hermione told Mariah, still smiling. Mariah nodded and walked to Veronica's room. She knocked once, before entering the room after hearing a thud. As she walked in, she saw Veronica sprawled across the floor.

"What are you doing? Why are you on the floor?" Mariah asked in confusion. Veronica quickly got off the floor before replying. "I fell off my bed after hearing the knock," she admitted, slightly embarrassed. Mariah let out a loud laugh upon hearing this and Veronica is quick to defend herself. "The knock scared me," she said, laughing a little herself.

After their laughter died down, they were met with silence. "What are you doing here, Mariah?" Veronica asked after a while of silence. "My mom told me that you wanted to see me before I left," she replied a little confused. "Did you not want me to come?" She asked.

"I didn't think you'd want to see me after, you know," Veronica replied. "I didn't," Mariah admitted. "My mom basically forced me to come," she continued.

"Ouch, Mar. I'm really feeling the love," Veronica said sarcastically. "Don't pretend that you wanted to see me," Mariah retorted. Veronica looked hurt but tried to cover it up, though Mariah had already seen the look on her face and sighed. "I'm sorry Ronnie. I shouldn't have said that. I just really want to get out of here. New York isn't good for me," Mariah said.

Veronica sighed as well. "It's okay. I understand. I feel the same," she said honestly.

"So I guess this is the last time we're going to see each other," Veronica said after a while. "Yeah. I guess so," Mariah answered. Veronica pulled her into a quick hug before letting go. "Bye Mar," she said. "Bye Ronnie," Mariah said back.

She then turned to the door and walked out to meet her mom. After hugging Hermione goodbye, the two left and started their drive to Riverdale.

The majority of the car ride was filled with loud music and the two Coleman's singing at the top of their lungs to every song that played on the radio. Well, more like Mariah singing at the top of her lungs and Ms. Coleman laughing like a maniac while trying to not crash the car. It was a good, and kind of dangerous, way for them to pass the time on the fairly long drive.

As they drove past the sign that said, 'Welcome to Riverdale', Mariah's mom turned down the volume of the radio. "I can't believe we're really back," her mom said in slight disbelief.

Mariah gaped at her mother in mild shock. "What do you mean? You're the one who wanted to come back," she said in confusion.

"I know that. I just never thought we'd actually come back here," she replied. "Believe me, neither did I," Mariah muttered. Her mother heard, but chose to ignore it.

As the two continued their drive, they both became immersed in their thoughts. They drove passed multiple buildings all of which were very familiar to the duo. Mariah suddenly felt a wave of different emotions.

Excitement, sadness, anger, anxiety, fear. Dread.

Being back in town already made her feel like running herself over with a truck. She was afraid of how everyone would react. The only people who knew of the Coleman's return were the Blossoms, who were excited, to say the least. At least Cheryl was.

But the person who she feared the reaction of the most was the boy she left behind without a goodbye. The guy who meant so much to her even if she didn't realize it.

Archie.

She hadn't spoken to him since a few days before she left. She didn't try to contact him and he didn't try to contact her. It broke her heart, to say the least, but she knew it was her fault.

Not saying goodbye to Archie Andrews was probably the biggest mistake Mariah Coleman had ever made in her life. Well, second biggest.

After driving a little while longer, the two women arrived to their new house.

It was a simple, two story house. Similar to the one they lived in years before, but different all in the same. Mariah sighed as her mother pulled into the driveway. Once the car came to a stop, she took a deep breath before opening the car door and stepping out of the vehicle.

"Home sweet home," her mother said, clearly trying to lighten the somewhat tense mood. More like home not so sweet home, Mariah thought.

The two walked around the car and to the trunk to unload the few boxes in it. Together, they took all of the boxes out of the car and into their new house.

After they were done bringing in the boxes, they sat on the couch, which had been delivered days prior, for a little while. "You should take some of your boxes into your new room," her mother said.

"All right," Mariah replied. She grabbed one of her boxes off of the floor and carried it upstairs to her room. Upon entering the room, she found her bed in the middle of it. She put the box on her bed, quickly texted Cheryl to inform her of their arrival and that she'll see her tomorrow, and then starts to unpack her things. When she was done, she goes down the stairs to retrieve more of her boxes. She repeated the process until all of them were unpacked.

By the time she had finished, the sun was setting and her mom was cooking dinner, having finished unpacking the majority of the boxes downstairs.

Mariah walked downstairs and to the kitchen where her mom was sitting on one of the stools at the counter. "What's for dinner?" Mariah asked as her stomach begins to growl.

"Oh, I'm fine and I totally didn't need any help unpacking those boxes."

"Dinner?" Mariah asked her mother again. Amara gave her daughter a displeased look before answering. "If you must know, I'm making my amazing lasagna. You know, the one with my world famous marinara sauce," she said, a proud smile adorning her lips.

"Well your 'amazing lasagna' is burning," Mariah said right as the smoke alarm went off. "Oh shit!" Her mom replied before frantically swatting the smoke away.

"Well don't just stand there. Help me!" Her mom said before continuing to swat away the smoke. With a sigh, Mariah stood from her sitting position and opened a few windows to try and get some of the smoke out. She then went to help her mom swat away the smoke. When the smoke alarm turned off, her mom released a breath before leaving the kitchen, only to return with money and her car keys.

"Do me a favor and go down to Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe and get us food." Mariah's mother told her. "Why do I---" Mariah started before getting cut off. "Because I said so," her mother replied, tilting her head in a way that made Mariah uncomfortable. Mariah rolled her eyes. "Alright I'm going," she said reaching for the keys.

Her mother pulled the keys far from reach. "Don't roll your eyes at me," she said, giving her daughter a serious look. "Yes mother," Mariah replied, reaching for the keys again.

Once again, her mother pulled them away. "I don't need sarcasm from you," she said. "Mom, do you want food or not?" Mariah asked in annoyance. Her mother rolled her eyes and handed her the keys and money. "Hurry back," she said as Mariah walked out of the door, locking it behind her. She got into the car and drove to where she thought the diner was.

After getting lost several times, she finally found the diner. She turned off the ignition, got out of the car, and locked it. She stood next to the car and looked at the diner, a small smile on her face. She remembered the diner and all of the memories she had in it.

All of the different times she went their with her family and friends. The smile was suddenly wiped from her face when she really thought of the past memories. Although they were good, they reminded her of how things were and would never be again. She shook her head before walking towards the entrance of the diner.

As she entered, the bell on the door rang, signalling everyone in the diner that someone had come in. She walked up to the counter, unaware of the multiple eyes that followed her figure as she walked. "What can I get you?" The waitress asked, with a faux smile on her face. "Can I have two orders of today's special?" She questioned looking at the waitress who's name tag read Jenn. "Today's special is cheese burgers and curly fries," Jenn said. "I'd like two orders of today's special," she replied, ignoring Jenn's comment. "Please," she deadpanned.

"Coming right up," Jenn said before placing the order and receiving the money that Mariah handed her, after being told the total. "For here or to go?" The waitress asked. "To go," she replied. Jenn nodded her head before walking away. Mariah sat at one of the stools around the counter as she waited for the food.

She looked around the familiar diner, eyes skimming the different faces. She then turned back to face the front, not recognizing anyone, which she was relieved about.

After a while of waiting, she felt like someone was watching her. When she looked around, she didn't see anyone looking in her direction. She then started to feel uncomfortable and hoped that the waitress would hurry up with her food. When Jenn finally did return with the food she was relieved.

She said a quick thank you before exiting the diner and heading to her mom's car. And with that, she drove home.

Archie watched her exit the diner, looking after her in confusion. He recognized her as soon as she walked in, but couldn't believe that it was her. He didn't want to believe it.

The girl that he had the biggest crush on since he was eleven was back. The girl that left without a simple heads up or a goodbye. He was not looking forward to the inevitable confrontation that would soon come.

°°°°

Man this chapter is pretty long and I'm very proud. But I doubt all of the chapters will be long oops. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter. What do you think Archie and Mariah's ship name should be? Because I have no idea. Don't forget to vote and comment, if you want. Have a great day :)