♡ 

Since the beginning of time, a big argument has been the debate about which kid is the favourite. Is it the oldest, the baby, or maybe the middle? Some argue that the firstborn is always the favourite, but if you asked Mr and Mrs Peach about their daughters, it would be obvious their older daughter wasn't.

They said they didn't have a favourite, but if you took a walk in their daughter Caroline's shoes, you'd see that her younger sister was favoured by their parents. It was disgusting, really. 

Caroline's younger sister, Jessie, was spoiled rotten. Jessie had the worst trash mouth when talking to their parents and she certainly didn't even try in school. They babied her while Caroline did everything she could to grab her parents attention. She had a 4.0 GPA, was on the River Vixen team with her friends and she was involved in a lot of extracurriculars geared towards helping out the town of Riverdale. Caroline was the poster child for perfect kids of America, and not like Betty Cooper perfect where things were wack-ass behind closed doors, everything behind the doors to the Peach family's house was down to the last corner perfect.

That included everything Caroline wore. Her cheerleading uniform was perfectly ironed, and the red ribbon in her hair jumped up and down when she did. Caroline was a professional at masking her real feelings, instead of sitting around with a scowl (like some beanie-wearers of this town did) she continued on with her activities and her academics, putting on an award-winning smile for her peers. After every game, there was the celebratory meal at the local diner, Pops. Her ponytail swung less than normal as she walked inside, her cherry red painted lips sitting without direction on her face.

"You're not stealing my signature colours, are you, Lime?" Cheryl Blossom turned to face her friend and fellow vixen, the redhead sitting with her legs crossed at the bar.

Caroline's lips formed a tight smile as she made her way over, dropping her pom-poms and duffle bag on the counter in front of it. "I wouldn't dream of it, bombshell. Where's Toni?"

"She couldn't make it, she's got some business to run with the rest of the buskers," Cheryl smiled as Caroline sat down beside it. "But I'm meeting her here for breakfast tomorrow."

Caroline's smile was genuine whenever she was around Cheryl and Veronica, no matter how bad things were for Caroline. Both girls were an inspiration to the shorter girl. "That's cool, Cher."

"Caroline, the usual?" Veronica greeted Caroline from behind the bar.

"Yes please, Ronnie, I'm starving," Caroline sighed, pulling out her phone from her bag to see about a million notifications, just none from her parents. They probably didn't even remember she was cheering at the game tonight. Her parents never came and Jessie only would when her friends would.

"Something wrong, Lime?" Veronica poured a fresh cup of hot coffee for the girl sitting in front of her. Caroline shook her head, sitting her phone on the counter screen down.

"No, everything's just peachy," Caroline said, putting extra pressure on the 'p'.

Cheryl snickered. "Classic peachy pun for the classic peachy girl," Veronica glared at Cheryl as she set the coffee cup down in front of Caroline. "What? It was cute."

"I'm really tired of being the cute girl," Caroline let herself slip as she rested her head in the palm of her hand, her eyes trained on the pearly white mug in front of her. "When do I get to be the bad girl?"

"You know you can tell us anything, Care Bear," Cheryl put a hand on the slightly sidetracked Caroline's left shoulder as Veronica watched intently. "This is a safe space." Veronica nodded in agreement.

Caroline sighed. "All I'm known as is classic little Caroline. Don't you ever feel like that?" Cheryl and Veronica shook their heads. "You guys get to have fun. You have the amazing opportunity to ride off into the sunset with your lover on a motorcycle, and I'm not saying you don't deserve that, you do, but I want it too. I'm tired of doing everything right to please people who don't even care about me," Caroline ran her fingers over the top of the mug.

Veronica nodded. "I'm not sure I completely follow, though. What are you saying?"

Caroline looked up at the raven-haired girl across the counter. "I wanna have some fun!" she smiled, her eyebrows raised. "I wanna go cause some trouble and maybe find my prince charming while I'm at it."

"How far are you willing to go?" Cheryl asked. "Like vandalize the school or lose your virginity far?"

Caroline paused for a second before her smile grew. "That's actually not a bad idea," Caroline giggled.

"Uh, Lime, I love you, but I'm not going to let you vandalize the school," Veronica placed her elbows on the counter as she leaned closer to the other girls.

Caroline shook her head. "No, I would never. But losing my virginity sounds like a good place to start."

Veronica's eyebrows turned up. "I thought you wanted your first time to be special."

"Done!" Cheryl smiled at her phone screen, placing the phone down on the counter once Caroline and Veronica looked at her. "Toni knows a guy, and he's down for tonight if you are."

"Did you just set up our sweet baby Lime with a dick appointment?" Veronica asked the redhead who nodded proudly. "Are you sure about this, Caroline?"

Caroline giggled, placing her hand over Veronica's. "You don't need to worry about me, Ron. If you think about it, it's technically still special," she looked into Veronica's dark eyes, who smiled once she was reassured by her best friend.

"What's still special?" a fourth voice joined the conversation. It was the groups' other favourite redhead, Veronica's own knight in shining armour. "Am I interrupting something?"

Caroline shook her head upon seeing Veronica's loss of words. "Not at all, I was just about to get going. Veronica's all yours, but I need to borrow Cheryl real quick," Caroline quickly drank whatever was left in her cup and stood up, Cheryl following her movements as Caroline picked up her duffel bag and walked to the bathroom only bowing their heads as they passed the golden couple of Riverdale, not bothering to stare as they shared a kiss. "Phew, okay, Cheryl," the brunette turned to the redhead. "I need help."

"That's an understatement," Caroline smiled at Cheryl's harsh words. "But sure, I'll help."

"Thanks so much, Cher. I've got some clothes in my bag, too," Caroline unzipped it as she set it on the sink. Cheryl ran her hands through it, instantly picking out a pair of tight skinny jeans for Caroline to change into, but she decided none of the shirts in there would do the brunette justice unless they changed shirts, so they did. Cheryl helped her take down her ponytail and gave her a crash course about what Caroline would probably go through, along with the do's and don'ts of handling serpents. They decided to hide Caroline's bag along with the pom poms in the room for the workers. Caroline was nervous but more excited than anything.

When Caroline walked out of the bathroom, she felt as if everyone in the diner was staring. She did, after all, look different, her hair was never down and natural, the shirt she wore had no sleeves and her cleavage was definitely showing. "Head high," Cheryl reminded her friend, dusting her hands off after stashing away Caroline's bag. "Give me a call when you're done and I'll come to get you, or just ask Toni."

Caroline smiled. "Thank you so much, Cheryl. I can't even express what I'm feeling."

Cheryl smiled, feeling bittersweet about the moment, but she wouldn't ruin a moment for her best friend by saying anything. She remembers how innocent she once was, and how one loose string kept unravelling, causing her to become the woman she is today. "Don't mention it, Lime."

"Looking hot," Veronica shocked Caroline slightly. The brunette turned to face her other friend. Archie was in tow, unseated since he was busy talking to Veronica about whatever the two had to catch up on. "Doesn't she look good, Archiekins?"

"I feel like that question is a setup, but sure, she looks good," Archie smiled at Caroline, who only giggled and smiled back.

"Okay!" Cheryl clapped. "Let's get her out the door," Archie furrowed his brows slightly but didn't say anything. He knew better by now than to question the doings of the three girls (though it was almost always Veronica and Cheryl doing the planning then dragging Caroline into it).

Caroline walked through the counter, ignoring stares or points or even weird smirks from the football players filling the diner. Everyone's used to sweet Caroline, just not the Caroline who shows skin or switches clothes with her friends in the bathroom.

Archie and Veronica sandwich Caroline as they hug her, then Caroline hugs Cheryl one last time before placing her hand on the cool handle of the door. With one last look at Pops, she doesn't spend time soaking it in, only focusing on her three closest friends. Archie waves with a smile as Cheryl finds her way back to her seat at the counter and Veronica gives Caroline two thumbs up. Caroline chuckles and bows her head, pushing the door open and leaving the place. 

That was the last time any of her friends and classmates would see Caroline Peach.

She succeeded in losing her virginity, and the guy was rather kind. He was handsome, probably the kind of guy Caroline would fall for anyway. As she grabbed her shoes and headed for the door, he only yelled 'call me!' from his messy bed. 

Instead of calling Cheryl, she took a late night ride with Toni on her infamous motorcycle to her house back on the North Side. When she arrived, she noticed the lights on in her house, letting her know her parents were still awake. "Call me if you need anything else," Toni said, her eyes on the house as Caroline hopped off her bike. 

Caroline nodded. "Thanks for everything, Toni. I owe you," she checked the time on her phone. 2:56 am. 

"Don't mention it," Toni smiled before driving off, leaving Caroline to face her parents alone. She forgot her house keys, but for some reason, the front door was unlocked, so she just slipped inside. She was a little more than surprised to see her neighbour Alice Cooper chatting it up with her parents. Alice was going on and on about rebellious kids, and she charmed Carolines' parents so much that they didn't even hear her until she cleared her throat.

"Mom, dad, what's going on?" Caroline slipped her phone into her back pocket and walked into the room awkwardly. Betty Cooper was sitting on the piano bench in the corner of the room with her head down, looking tired. 

"Caroline Malena Peach, what on earth are you wearing?" her mom looked up.

"A shirt," Caroline said unamused. 

"You see, this is exactly what I was talking about Christy," Alice cut in. "Remember what I said about atmospheres? She's hanging out with the wrong crowd."

"I'm sorry, I missed the part where that was any of your business," Caroline addressed the blonde adult in the room.

"Caroline!" her father yelled.

"What? Do you think I'm hanging out with the wrong set of friends? Like Archie Andrews, the River Vixens, and even your daughter," Caroline turned to Alice, "are bad people? They're not."

"What has gotten into you?" her mom asked, but continued talking instead of giving her daughter a chance to answer. "Coming home in the middle of the night, wearing god knows what—"

"It's Cheryl's," Caroline cut in. "Can you relax? We were just playing dress up at her house and we got carried away. I'm here now," she said, walking over to the kitchen area and grabbing an Oreo out of the little bag on the counter. She didn't expect her parents to care that much about where she'd been. They never cared before so why act like it now?

"Cut the bullshit, Caroline. You're always home before nine."

"Okay, so I made one mistake. But I'm not drunk, I wasn't at a party or catching an STD—"

"Then what's that on your neck?" Alice joined the parents at the kitchen counter as Caroline's dad pointed out the odd bruise on Caroline's neck. Her eyes widened in the slightest, forgetting temporarily who's lips had touched her skin. Her hand went up to cover it. "And where's your gym bag?"

"I probably forgot it at Cheryl's," Caroline shrugged, keeping up with her lie.

"What's his name, Caroline?" her mother was obviously done and annoyed.

Caroline smiled sweetly, though she didn't feel peachy at all. "Sweet Pea."

Alice let out an inhumane gasp. "Those serpents got you too."

"Nosey much? Why aren't you at your own house? It's three in the morning and your daughter is fast asleep in the corner of my living room!" Caroline pointed to the corner of the wall where Betty was sitting, though now her head was leaned against the wall and her eyes were shut. Of course, at the time, nobody knew the things the blonde kept to herself, but she was about as tired as sweet little Caroline was. "Don't you have that weirdo son you should be taking care of anyway?"

"Caroline stop it!" her dad ordered.

"What? You guys don't get along. And Chic actually scares me, but you never listen to me whenever I tell you how he looks at me when I walk to school because—" she was cut off by her mother's hand slapping against her face.

Caroline felt a lot of different feelings that night. She went out of her comfort zone in the slightest, but it was big for her since she had never stepped out of line before. It's crazy just how fast things change, you know. That morning, Caroline left the Peach household with the title of 'perfect child' and she came home with a new title branded on her. She was now a troublemaker and outsider to her own family. It didn't help that she felt super embarrassed. 

Alice stayed the whole time to see Mr and Mrs Peach pack Caroline's bags and call her uncle Johnny. Betty eventually woke from all the yelling and joined Caroline in the backyard where the brunette spent over an hour crying, her cheeks stained and her eyes swollen. Caroline had never seen such a friend in little blonde Betty that night, and it was a shame she had to leave the same night they finally landed on the same page.

Next thing anyone knew, Caroline Peach was gone from Riverdale as if she had never been there in the first place, and her explanation for it was printed in the local newspaper. Caroline would never get to read what was written about her that night. She barely had enough time to catch a glimpse of Jessie sleeping in her room at the opposite side of the hall before leaving the house, and eventually, the town.

Veronica, Cheryl and Archie were shocked the most, especially after hearing what Betty told them. All they wanted to do was see the poor girl, but Caroline wouldn't answer any of their calls or texts. No one expected Mr and Mrs Peach to act that harshly with their oldest daughter. Everyone had to live with the disappearance of Caroline. She was such a big deal in Riverdale, after all.

Some contributed to the rumours, others stayed quiet, some thanked their parents that they weren't the Peaches. Caroline Peach became a mystery, and Riverdale only had the reminder of how she smiled that last night at Pops before walking out the door to remember her by.

♡ 

SWEET CAROLINE ;
but like, how sad that
the finest men in riverdale
are the ones part of a gang