Y/N arrives at Archie's house for their practice sessions. The latter of course uses the sound room Archie's dad made for him. They haven't caught up with Veronica yet to figure out what's going on with her, but some people need personal space, and she probably needs to keep practicing with the Pussycats. 

"So, you and Betty have gotten along?" Y/N asks atfter noticing how they were at lunch. Archie nods, a little sheepishly.

"Yeah, I realized how much of an idiot I was acting after seeing Betty so scared at Thornhill." Archie explains and Y/N nods, listening. "So, I apologized like a heartbroken boy trying to get back with his ex."

"Oh, I would've loved to see that." Y/N humorously comments and Archie laughs at him before a question of his own comes to mind.

"Hey, if you don't mind me asking, how did you learn to sing so well?" Archie asks Y/N curiously. The Y/H slightly pauses, thinking about how he's going to answer that question.

"Uh, well, I back when I was extremely little, my parents weren't always home to put my sister to sleep." He tells Archie with a fabricated story. "And, she was one of the little kids that was scared of the dark, so I sorta resorted to using my voice to help put her to sleep." 

"Oh." Archie nods understandingly. "So, just a natural talent you picked up?" 

"If that's what you wanna call it, sure." Y/N remarks and they both chuckle. "Seriously though, it was just one song I came up with while listening to those cheesy love songs, it wasn't like I had a whole playlist for Psuedo Echo to cry to."

Archie smirks at this, before getting an idea. "Well... if you don't mind it, how about we play that song instead." He offers and Y/N gives him a perplexed look. "I mean, you're the one that's gonna be singing, I would only want to sing 'I'll Try' in my voice only." 

"Fair point." Y/N comments before shrugging. "Well, if you're insistent about it, but it's not like I have a music karaoke for you to copy or anything."

"Then we'll just come up with it ourselves." Archie states, not discouraged at all. "I'll write a couple beats down and we'll see which one fits." He suggests, and Y/N doesn't have any other ideas, so he nods.

"And hey, it might help you win Cheryl over." Archie then adds with a teasing smile as he lightly punches Y/N's shoulder, and the latter gives him an unamused look.

"It was just seven minutes in a closet." 

(Quick note, the song that's gonna be used was released a year after this episode, so before you comment, I know.)

________________________________________

The Pembroke: Lodges' Apartment

Y/N doesn't feel as nervous as he expected to be here as he sits next in between Archie and the Mayor McCoy, the only person who doesn't have a blood connection at this table. The only small thing that makes Y/N uncomfortable is the fact he feels like she shouldn't talk, though he plans to attempt to record the presentation for a small documentary for the sake of his possible YouTube channel/website. 

"So, Myles, you being a professional Jazz man, I mean, you must be livin' your dream, right?" Fred sparks up a conversation with the important man in the room.

"Well, yes and no." Myles answers with mixed feelings. "The real struggle is always art versus commerce."

Fred respectfully nods. "You know, I've never really been about the big paycheck." He mentions, as if he's trying to humble himself. 

"But if we're talking about the future and long-term security, it can't always be about following your bliss." Sierra comments, glancing at her husband.

"Personally, I'm just excited to see my daughter perform with the Pussycats at the Variety Show." Hermione says, though Y/N notices that there's a lack of the mentioned girl today. That's... odd. 

"I beg your pardon?" Myles chimes in, apparently only now learning about this. He turns to his daughter. "When were you gonna tell me about this?" 

"It just happened, Dad, and she's.... she's really, really good." Josie tells him, defending her new member. Y/N can notice the uneasy expression Archie has, and he can't blame him. Myles seems a bit.... overbearing, and even they can feel it. "And Val quit, or should I say we were Yoko Ono'd?" 

"Really? That's unfortunate, she was the real deal." Myles comments with a disappointed tone. "Gave your act some much needed integrity."

"Well, I figure as long as the kids are havin' fun, that's the point, right?" Fred tries to let it down easy, but it doesn't work out too well.

"Except that it's more than just about being fun for us." Myles remarks before turning to his daughter again. "Isn't that right, Josephine?" 

"Josephine?" Archie repeats the name curiously, Y/N can tell he's trying to help her avoid the question. "I didn't know that was your real name."

"After Josephine Baker." Myles adds, then he sees the unknowing look on Archie's face. "You have no idea who that is, do you?"

Y/N can practically see Josie's eyes roll. Wasn't she an actress/singer in the 1940s? How is Archie supposed to know who that is? 

"Fred? You wanna get started on that presentation?" Hermione then asks the man, who nods agreeingly as he stands up. Y/N's eyes then start to secretly glare daggers at Mr. McCoy. 

However, no one notices it.

__________________________________

"And with the labor force coming from Riverdale, Andrews Construction would be stimulating the local economy. It's a win for the entire town." Fred wraps up his presentation as he lets his arms drop, Y/N secretly records the whole thing through a much tinier cam. "That's it in a nutshell." 

"Well.... after all that salt-of-the-earth talk, I didn't expect you to be another dollar-chasing gentrifier." Myles comments, causing everyone to look at him as if he's just declared Nazi's supreme. 

"Myles, Fred Andrews is a working man who lives in the real world." Sierra tells him with a more respectful tone, giving Fred an approving smile. "I think Fred's bid was refreshing. In fact, I'd like to award him the contract." She then slowly drops the smile. "I'd like to Fred, but the buyer's already in progress of accepting another bid. It would take two shareholder signatures to stop the process."

She gives him an apologetic look as Fred sighs in defeat. Archie glances at Y/N to see him, slowly reaching into his pocket and turn the recorder off. "That is one way to make a man feel defeated." Y/N whispers to Archie, the first set of words he's used all night.

In other words, Fred failed before he began.

____________________________________

Andrews House: Archie's room.

"Here ya go." Y/N hands Fred his cup of coffee as the latter gives a thankful nod. Seeing Archie's expression, Y/N takes the hint to give them some space. "Alright, Imma go.... pet your dog, before heading home." He awkwardly tells them as he closes the door.

Archie shifts as he looks at Fred. "Dad, if I tank me and Y/N's performance at the Variety Show, would you..."

"Would I be mad?" Fred finishes the nervous boy's sentence for him, giving him a fatherly look. "Son, whatever happens at that show, or any show, whether you go up there and kill it, or you bomb like electric Dylan at a folk concert..."

"I'm not sure who that is..." Archie mentions with a shake of his head, still not getting all these 1960 references. 

"I would still love you, okay? Support you." Fred assures him, getting back to the point. "I'd be proud of the fact that you were brave enough to go after somethin' that you care about." 

Archie smiles, realizing how lucky he is to have such an amazing dad.

________________________________________

Riverdale High:

"Hello, Riverdale High, and welcome to the 75th annual Variety show!" Kevin addresses the crowd while on stage, and everyone shares a round of applause. Fred and Hermione sit next together, excited for their respective children to be on stage while Sierra McCoy notices Myles a lack of a smile on Myles's face, keeping his usual emotionless expression. "Now, to start up today let's give it up for the one and only Pussycats!" He calls out to the stage and everyone cheers as Veronica, Josie, Moody, and even Veronica show up in their respective cat suits, despite the latter supposedly rumored to have left the cats earlier. 

Eventually, the music plays and everyone can feel the disco vibe radiation from it. 

https://youtu.be/mVunmXFx0Qg

As the other cats mix with Josie's voice, Valerie glances at Archie who gives her a admiring smile. Though she also quickly notices that Y/N isn't with him. Hermione is also excited to see her daughter on stage, and Fred feels her hand grip his arm tight upon hearing how Veronica's voice mixes decently well with Josie's. 

Sadly though, Myles's face has not changed throughout the 2-minute mark of the song and eventually, he stands up to leave.  Josie's struggles to keep a straight face as she watches him go out the doors. As the song ends, and everyone does the finishing pose, Josie is longer facing the cheering crowd, allowing her expression to completely reflect how she feels, failure. 

However, it's gonna get worse.

_______________________________

Myles heads to the bathroom real quick before he leaves, still disappointed in Josie's performance. He bypasses a security guard patrolling around the area, who's here thanks to the confirmed serial killer in town. 

As he enters the bathroom, he sees that it's relatively empty, except for one stall which has someone in a pair of boots in it. But, it's none of Myles's business. He enters the stall next it, only because the urinals are blocked for some reason.

"But, but... I didn't mean it, I didn't mean it, I swear..." A teenage voice whimpers from the other stall. "I-I.... please, please mommy, no. It was Billy, Billy did it." 

Despite usually keeping a professional distance from others, Myles can't help but listen in on the teenager's begging voice. "Please, mommy, I'll be good, I will." The voice begs to whoever they must be on the phone with. "Please don't mommy, I'll tell you, really. I'll tell you mommy, really." 

Tell what? Myles puts his ear against the stall wall, eavesdropping as the voice gets quieter. "I'll tell you why I did it, mommy." The voice whispers. "Listen, mommy, listen....."

Then suddenly, Ghostface from the other stall penetrates the stall wall with his knife, stabbing Myles through his left ear. He spits out blood which pours down all over his chin beard. Ghostface twists the knife around a little bit before abruptly pulling it out. 

As the killer then examines the blood all over his blade, Myles slowly slides down as he bleeds out, eventually laying all over the ground in a small puddle of blood. Ghostface steps out of the stall to check out the damage. 

He should better clean it up before getting back to the show.

_____________________________

"That was Josie and the Pussycats!" Kevin acknowledges as they leave the stage, some in more of a hurry than others. "Long tails and ears for hats."

"You guys killed it." Archie compliments Valerie as she walks up and gives him a small hug. 

"Thanks, so will you. I know you will Archie." Valerie gives him her confidence before glancing around. "Speaking of, where's Y/N?" 

"Right here!" Y/N jogs over to them, a little embarrassed at cutting it close. "Sorry about that, got another scam call who was a real pain in the ear." 

"You should probably put that thing on silent, forever." Archie humorously suggests since it sounds like he keeps getting them. Y/N shrugs, looking like he's considering it. 

"You know, call me selfish, but I really hope this could help get me some recognition around here." Y/N says as shifts around, slightly nervous. "I mean, I've always been considered the horror-film-freak who might've lost his reality button."

"And I'm considered the redhead who has a fear of werewolves which declares me the bottom of the bulldog barrel." Archie nods, knowing the feeling. "Man, this can mean total humiliation."

"Yeah, for me. We're using my song here which gives you plenty of rights for putting the blame all on me." Y/N adds. "Which might've been your plan all along."

"You got me..." Archie remarks with a grin as he scans the crowd. "You think Cheryl might be here?" 

"I doubt it, after what happened to Rose, she has to deal with two family members' deaths. I wouldn't be able to show up to school at all if I was her." Y/N mentions but Archie smiles at him.

"You sure? Because she's right there." Archie points over inside the crowd and Y/N sees to his shock, a similar looking redhead with red lipstick. 

"But I thought....." Y/N is about to murmur confused by just shakes the thought away. Gotta keep himself focused. 

Then, Kevin calls their names onto the stage. Archie and Y/N quickly, but anxiously walk in the center of the stage, and Fred claps even more than before. They sit in their respective seats next to each other as Y/N grabs a microphone while Archie prepares his guitar, the light literally shining on them.

Archie takes a brief moment to get his head clear. "Stick to football!" Reggie once again shouts from the crowd and half of the jocks laugh with him. The werewolves mask flash again in his head for a couple seconds before Archie blinks again. He glances at Y/N who nods, waiting for him. 

Archie scans for his dad in the crowd who nods supportively at him, helping his stage freight go away. He takes a big breath and puts his hands on the strings. 

https://youtu.be/AwMiuOjdELo

As Y/N sings the first half of the first verse, Archie eventually joins him. As they get to the chorus, everyone is pulled in by both Archie and Y/N's voice. As they dive past the second verse, the silent build up is followed only by Y/N and a couple small flick of guitar strings before they round it back to finish the song together. 

As Y/N sings the last few words to end it, Archie lets out a breath he knew he was holding while Y/N is still as a rock statue. The room is painfully silent before it roars with thunderous applause. Y/N's eyes connects with Cheryl's who seems to be genuinely smiling. 

Y/N and Archie then both grin as they feel lifted up by the positive reaction they're getting. They take a bow before leaving the stage, proud of themselves.

____________________________________________

They were the last performance of the night, so they walk down the hall where the students cheeer and some shout their praise towards the group. "Archie! Y/N! You the man!" A boy yells. Even a couple jocks give them pats on the back as they walk past. 

Y/N has never felt this kind attention forever, and it feels so damn good. "Archie." They hear Valerie call out to the redhead. Y/N gives his bro a solid pat on the back as he walks past, also spotting someone he needs to talk to. 

Archie walks over and him and Valerie hug, before finding themselves kissing one another, not caring that there's still students watching them.

Y/N walks up to the one of all Blossom herself. "I thought you weren't able to come here anymore?" He asks Cheryl who quickly turns to him with a shrug,

"You should remember this Blossom knows how to sneak in where she's not invited." Cheryl remarks with a smirk, and Y/N chuckles at her.

Here's the thing about fear, it's always there. Fear of the unkown, fear of facing it alone... 

As Jughead writes this down, we see a emotional Jose in the bathroom as her mother approaches her. Upon feeling Sierra's hug, Josie's tears fall like a waterfall.

Fear that the closest to you are the monsters. Fear as soon as you slay one, there's another monster waiting to take its place. Fear that there's one more boogeyman waiting at the end of the dark hall.

Jughead and Betty get one of these, though it's slightly different. It's exactly the boogyman, but what someone they know has done. 

Polly has escaped.

______________________________________________