{ " do you think I'd crumble, did you think I'd lay down and die? " -- i will survive, gloria gaynor, 1978 }

Evie was not made to ride around in a wheelchair. She'd been in one for approximately 30 seconds, and she hated it --hated it -- already. She was aware that it was hospital protocol, and that she was not supposed to be up and moving around in case her stitches were to tear open, but she hated it. Hated the feeling of being confined, of knowing that she could not do something.

"You're almost ready to go, Miss Genevieve." The doctor said, giving her a smile. "I just wanted to do a final check before we release you."

"Dr. Carlson, if you call me 'Genevieve' one more time, I'm going to wheel myself out of that window right there." Evie muttered.

The doctor simply chuckled and wrote some things down on his clipboard. "I think you're good to go. Feel okay? I mean, as far as things are feeling?"

Evie nodded. "100%, for a person that was shot by the Black Hood." She said, giving the man a thumbs up.

"Great. Your brother and some friends are waiting for you out front." The doctor said.

"Friends?" She questioned. Of course she'd expected Sweet Pea to be there, but she wasn't sure who else would want to be there. Must be the Serpents.

"Yeah, a dark haired boy in a beanie --"

"Jughead." Evie nodded. That made sense.

"A blonde girl --"

"Betty." That too made sense. Where Jughead went, so did Betty, most times.

"And a redheaded boy."

"Red?" Evie's eyebrows went up, and a smile filled her face. She didn't know why, but she'd half expected him to dip out after she'd gotten shot. Of course, Archie Andrews was a genuinely nice, caring guy, so she shouldn't have expected that, but ... well, she'd gotten used to disappointment over the years.

Evie watched as her brother entered her room, a grin on his face. "Ready to go home, little sis?"

"You have no idea." She said, giving him a hug before he grabbed the back of her wheelchair and began guiding her out of the room.

"This thing must be a pain in the ass." Sweet Pea said.

Evie rolled her eyes. "It is, thank you for reminding me."

Sweet Pea sighed before saying, "I'm just glad you're okay."

Evie nodded, smiling softly. "Me too."

They'd already gone though the sappy stuff when Evie had finally woken up. Losing or almost losing her brother would completely wreck Evie, so she could only imagine what Sweet Pea had been going through.

Sweet Pea wheeled her out into the waiting room, and Evie glanced around the room, seeing that she was correct on guessing who was waiting for her.

Betty and Jughead clapped their hands as she was wheeled out, and Jughead handed her a cheesy pink balloon, wishing her to "Get well soon!"

"I hate this." She said, looking at the beanie-clad boy.

He simply smirked and wrapped an arm around his girlfriend. "I knew you would."

"We're glad you're okay, Honeybee." Betty said, giving the girl a genuine smile. As far as Northsiders went, Betty Cooper was a good one.

"Yeah, me too. Thanks for coming." Evie said. She turned in her seat, her eyes locking on the red headed boy to her left.

As their eyes met, Archie's face broke out into a grin. "Hey, Honeybee."

"Hi, Red." She smiled.

"I, uh ... these are from my dad and I." He stuttered, handing her a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers.

The card attached read, "Genevieve, I hope to see you back on your feet soon!" And was signed Fred Andrews. Evie could see where Archie got his decency from. Fred was such a kind man.

"Thanks, Andrews." Evie smiles at him and felt her face flush a bit. No one had ever gotten her flowers before. "Nice suit." She teased.

"I, uh ..." The boy blushed. "Wanted to dress up for the occasion.

"Ahh, yes. As you can see, I've done the same." Evie said, gesturing to the sweatpants and t shirt she was wearing. She just considered herself lucky that she didn't have to wear the wretched hospital gown any longer.

"Alright, let's get you home." Sweet Pea said as he rolled her out of the building and towards the Cooper family station wagon. It was the only vehicle that would fit all of them and the wheelchair.

She glanced over at Archie, who was getting into his own car. "Call me later, hey, Red?"

Archie smiled at her and nodded. "I can do that." He then disappeared into his own ride.

Sweet Pea helped Evie into the car, then placed the wretched wheelchair in the back of the station wagon.

She was feeling better, but she still felt like she'd been run over by a truck. She didn't know when she'd be able to head back to school. That was funny, though. She hated school when she was there, and now she wanted nothing more than to be able to go there.

"Thanks for giving us a ride, Betty." Evie said, resting her head on her brother's shoulder as they drove away from the hospital.

"It was no problem." Betty said, smiling at the girl from the rearview mirror.

"We figured it would be better than trying to ride back on your brother's motorcycle." Jughead added.

Evie nodded. "Definitely."

She wanted to ask about the Black Hood, to know if they'd made any progress at all on finding out who he was. He'd almost killed her, and she was the one that could lead them more potential clues. She didn't doubt he'd vacated the apartment already, but maybe there was something there, or someone, that could tell them some things they didn't know about the Hood.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face. In her dreams, she was there, at the bank of Sweetwater River, watching as the Black Hood fired his gun at her.

The only way she would ever truly be able to rest would be to take him down for good, and not let him claim another victim.

Evie sat in silence as Betty drove them back to Sunnyside, listening as the other three in the car attempted to have a cheery conversation. She knew what was truly on their minds, as it was on her mind as well. They just didn't want to bring it up because of her. Cheery conversations didn't often exist in Riverdale these days, so she knew that the conversations were just a cover to "protect" Evie from mentions of the Black Hood.

She didn't want to avoid him, though. She wanted to talk about the murderer, talk about what had happened to her, to the others ... what was happening to their town. She knew if she brought it up now, though, she wouldn't be able to really do anything, to go out and look for the man.

So, that conversation would have to wait until she got back on her feet and the doctors gave her the green light to go out and get back to the regularly scheduled programming that was her life.

"Okay, we're here." Betty announced as Sweet Pea got out of the car and helped his sister to their home and onto the sofa.

Evie sat on the couch, feeling uncomfortable and stiff, as most of her torso was wrapped in bandages. She sighed and flipped on the television, knowing that nothing was on but soap operas and daytime talk shows, since the twins did not have the money for cable or any fancy streaming service.

Sweet Pea re-entered the trailer with Evie's balloon and flowers and placed them in her bedroom, then walked out and stood in front of the TV. "Do you want me to ... uh ... make you some soup or something?"

Evie shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

"You have to eat, Little Sis." He said, taking a seat next to her.

"I did at the hospital." She replied.

"That's not what the nurses said." He retorted.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I doubt you know how to make soup in the first place."

"You're right, I don't, but I do know how to run to Pop's and pick up a milkshake and a double cheeseburger." He said with a grin as he stood up. "Are you going to be okay if I leave you here alone? Jones and his girlfriend are right next door."

"Yes, Sweet Pea, I'll be fine." She smiled, waving him off. "Thank you for everything."

"Of course." Sweet Pea nodded. "I just want to make sure you're safe."

"I'll be fine." She assured him with a smile.

"I know you will be." He responded. "I'll be back in a bit."