ATHENA FROWNED AS Betty explained her problems. "They're acting like the last week and the last few months didn't even happen. Polly's back home, my dad's back home,my mom's back at The Register. They all just keep smiling and talking about the Jubilee."

"That's good, right?" Archie asked Betty who shook her head.

"No, it's horrible. It's exactly the way things were before, pretending to be normal and perfect when really, we're like.Like a Greek suburban tragedy."

Archie laughed but stopped as Betty continued. "My family imploded, Arch, and we barely survived. If we don't start dealing with our crap, it's all gonna happen again." She then walked away rolling her eyes.

"Arch you have to tell her. About you and V soon. You don't want her to find out through someone else" Athena muttered softly.

Archie sighed nodding "I know, its just...I don't want things to change you know."

Nodding Athena stopped when she spotted Jughead entering the school with his headphones on. She blinked her tears away and sighed deeply.

"Hey Thea, ever since that night I haven't seen you smile once. Please, I hate seeing in you this way."

"I know...things are just so hard right now. Besides I literally can't think right anymore. To many things happened this week that I can't even breathe." Athena explained as she continued to walk.

"First Jug and FP, then Jason, then my dad. I can't keep up. I feel like I'm drowning" Athena whispered the last part but Archie heard.

"Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, report to the Principal's office." The principal announced over the PA. "I'll see you later Thea. But we will finish this conversation."

Sighing Athena watched as Archie left. She thought about the night Jason's murderer was found.

Flashback

"I-i have to go" Athena muttered as tears fell down her face.
"Nia wait" Jughead tried to grab her again but she pushed him. "No you don't get to do that. You hate me remember? Don't give me hope"

"Please you're in a bad place right now let me he-" Jughead to speak but Athena interrupted him. "Do you still not believe me? Hate me?"

Jughead said nothing but look down. Shaking her head Athena walked backwards. "That's what I thought."

"I'll take her home" Kevin said patting Jughead's shoulder. "Come on Thea, let's go."

Back at home Athena opened her door. She stopped gasping. "D-dad?"

"Hey Thea."

"Honey what's wrong?" Athena moved her eyes to her mother who was walking to her with concern. Athena's eyes were red from crying.

"W-what is he doing here." Athena asked as tears formed in her eyes again. "We're talk about that later. What's wrong?" Athena moved her eyes back on her dad as he also looked concern.

"I-i. We found his murder mom. Jason's own father murdered him." Athena sobbed as her mom pulled her into a hug. She continued to cry as she thought about everything. She cried until she felt herself get sleepy.

"M-mom" Athena stuttered as she grabbed onto the wall. "Chris, grab her please." Feeling herself be lifted Athena allowed herself to fall asleep.

-

The next day Athena groaned holding her head. She had a horrible headache. Taking a quick shower she headed downstairs where she saw her whole family eating breakfast.

"Athena you're awake!" Her mother gleemed as she pulled out a chair. "Come sit. We're just eating."

"What is he doing here." Athena said looking at her mom. She meant her dad who was sitting in his old seat. "Honey.."

"No, I need an explanation. Why is Chris here." Athena asked raising her voice. "Athena!"

"Mom" she said. "Hailey its okay. Athena sit down so we can talk." Her dad said getting up.

"No."

Nathan looked at her. "Thea please."

Softening at him she nodded and sat down next to her dad and Anthony.

"So how's school guys?" Athena narrowed her eyes at her father for the question.

"Good! I actually made the varsity football team for next year." Anthony said smiling. "That's amazing! Following your father's footsteps huh" Her dad teased as her mother giggled.

"And you Nate?"

"Um great. I'm about to graduate from college. I already have a place hook up so I can start working as a lawyer." Smiling Chris gleemed. "Other son of mine is also following my footsteps." Hearing enough Athena stood up and started to walk away.

"Athena where are you going?" Her mother shrieked.

"Away from this joke."

"Athena stop acting like a child and sit down!"

"No." She yelled back then she heard the scrapping of a chair. "Athena Scott! Look at me." Turning to face her mom she glared.

"You need to respect your father."

"He's not my father. Don't you remember? He made damn sure that I knew." Tears formed in her eyes.

"Athena please that was in the pas-"

"No! You called me a bastard dad. You called me a mistake and an unwanted daughter. Every time you would see me, you would yell in my face to get out. You would force me to call you Chris and not dad. You would slap me if I ever called you dad."

Chris sighed letting her continue. "It wasn't my fault mom cheated on you. It wasn't my damn fault that I'm not your daughter by blood. I grew up seeing you as my real dad. I didn't have any fault!"

"Enough Athena, that was years ago!" Her mother yelled.

"Exactly! I was seven mom. Seven! I was just a child!" Tears ran down her face as she sobbed. "I was just a child"

"Thea, my daughter I made a mistake. I'm sorry. I want to start over." Looking at him with hatred Athena shook her head. "Its either him or me mom. Choose."

"Thats ridiculous Athena, I am not choosing between you two. Now come sit down."

"Athena you're not the only one with problems. Be grateful for what you have. Now sit down."

Clutching her stomach Athena looked at her brothers. Her heart broke seeing their face of annoyance at her. Shaking her head she ran out without looking back.

Flashback over

Ever since that day Athena has been staying with Betty. She couldn't go back to her house with her father living there. Well her mom's husband. She wasn't his daughter.

She made her way to her friends for lunch. She stopped when she saw Jughead sitting with them. She started to walk away but Veronica saw her. "Thea! Come sit down."

She looked over and made eye contact with Jughead. "um I actually have somewhere to be right now."

"Girl come on we all know that's not true. Come sit." Veronica pushed but Archie nudged her.

"No really I have to go."

"Thea just sit down, Jughead doesn't care. We talked about tthis already." Veronica said rolling her eyes. Athena glared at her shaking her head. "That's not why."

"Sure it isn't." Feeling all her anger fuel Athena crossed her arms. "You know nothing Veronica so stay out of it."

"There's no point in lying it Athena. You're not the only one with boy and daddy issues. News flash some of us do too. At least we don't push our friends away. Now sit down"

"Veronica!" Archie snapped at her as Athena clenched her hands. "You're just like my father. You don't understand. You haven't been there for me so you have no right to say anything. Keep your fucking mouth close." Saying enough Athena stomped off angrily.

- ♚ -

ATHENA OPENED BETTY'S room to see her and Veronica sitting on her bed. "Oh I didn't know you had company. I'll just go downstairs.."

"No Thea wait!" Veronica stopped her getting up. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything I said. I was just nervous and lashed out on you. Please forgive me. You're been nothing but a good friend and I haven't. I'm sorry."

Athena nodded softly looking at her. "Its okay V."

"Wait really? I mean I'm happy but I don't deserve your forgiveness."

She shrugged sighing. "These past week has been hell for me, it made me realize that my friends are too important to me." Veronica smiled hugging Athena. "And Thea? I'm always here for you."

A few hours later Veronica watched as Athena spelt on Betty's bed. Betty patted her shoulder. "I know, when I see her this way all I want to do is protect her."

"I'm going to help her. With Jughead. They are both in so much pain being away from each other. I have to do something"

- ♚ -

SMILING TO HERSELF Veronica spotted Jughead. She walked towards him with her tray. "Betty's babysitting Polly, mind if I join you?"

"Are you sure you want to sit at the social pariah table?" he replied back with sass in his voice.

Laughing Veronica sat down. "I've been sitting at it for months, why should today be any different? By the way, I've been thinking. You and I have a lot in common."

"Oh, because my dad's going to prison and your dad is getting out?"

Rolling her eyes Veronica turned to him. "No, its Athena."

"Athena?" Jughead was confused on his feelings for her. He wanted to forgive her but didn't know how.

"Jughead." Looking up he saw Cheryl standing there. "I'm sorry. I had no right to pummel you the way I did that day. As recompense, I'd like to give you this.My iconic spider brooch. It'll catch a pretty penny at the local pawn shop.Enough to keep you in burgers and "S" T-shirts for years, if not decades." She explained as Jughead took the spider.

"And...I need to tell you something." She muttered. "I understand if you hate me afterwards. Athena sure did."

"What does she have to do with this?"

"Jughead...what I told that day was a lie. Athena never helped me. Hell even I didn't have a plan against your dad. I just made that up to hurt you. Evey thing i said was a lie. I'm sorry" By the end Jughead got up.

"H-how could you. Athena was the one good thing in my life Cheryl. W-hy. Oh god the things I said" He gripped his hair tightly. Turning to Veronica he asked. "Where is she?"

"She's visiting Jason's grav-" Jughead started to run off trying to find Athena.

Outfits of the chapter