//

"Every fairy tale comes with the same warning: Good children should never go into the woods alone. Stray from the path and who knows what you'll encounter. A hungry wolf. A handsome devil. Or maybe something worse."

At school, Ricky sat in the student's lounge with Betty, Jughead, McKenzie, Veronica, and Kevin who explained what he saw at Lover's Lane with Moose and Midge.

"It was full-on Carrie..." Kevin stated as Archie entered the lounge. "Midge covered in Moose's blood, screaming like a banshee. It was insane."

"Kev, what were you even doing there? You could've been shot too," Archie questioned.

"I was just night-jogging, you know, as one does, and suddenly, I hear gunshots," Kevin answered.

"Can we agree there's a killer on the loose?" Archie questioned.

"With terrible aim," Jughead remarked getting Ricky to chuckle although McKenzie gave him a look.

"Jughead, he murdered Ms. Grundy," Archie replied before looking to his brother. "He shot you, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember," Ricky snapped. "I remember every time I have to take to take off my shirt."

Betty placed a comforting hand on Ricky's knee. "We don't know these three crimes are related," Betty stated to Archie.

"Guys, can we focus on what matters here?" Veronica questioned. "Midge and Moose are alive. Ricky and Archie's dad survived. The Matchlerette starts tonight. You're coming over to watch."

"Uh, Ronnie," McKenzie began. "There's a shooter terrorizing the town..."

"You really want us to watch a gross dating show?" Jughead asked.

"What I want is for you guys to meet my dad officially," Veronica replied. "Back in New York, my dad was always in his study, doing bad things, as it turns out. I'm tired of closed doors. I need to know my dad's life and he needs to know mine."

"Well, we'll be there, V. Can't wait," Betty told her.

"Does this mean for me to go as well?" McKenzie asked Veronica.

"Of course, I consider you of the girls," Veronica replied. "It'd mean so much to me if you went."

Reggie came into the lounge. "Hey, Andrews, we're going to the hospital to see Moose. You coming?"

"Yeah, for sure," Archie answered before looking to Ricky. "You coming too?"

Ricky knew he should go because Moose was his friend but he knew Archie would try and press about the shooter and frankly, Ricky didn't want to deal with that.

"No, Ricky answered almost immediately as soon as the question was asked. "I, uh, gotta stay for music and...my other missed work. But shout out to Moose and Midge for me?"

"You got it, little Andrews," Reggie told him.

Archie kissed Veronica's cheek. "I'll see you tonight, Ronnie."

As he left, Jughead stood up. "I better go too. Was supposed to meet my peer mentor at Southside High half an hour ago."

Knowing it was Toni who volunteered to give Jughead the tour she said, "I'm sure your peer mentor doesn't mind. But...be careful."

Jughead gave her a smile. "I'll be fine."

He pecked McKenzie's lips and left.

"That's also my cue to leave. I got American History right now," Ricky spoke, standing up about to leave until he stopped. "Wait, I forgot something." He turned back to Betty before leaning down and kissing her longingly.

She giggled, pecking his lips one last time before pulling back. "Love you," she told him.

"I love you too," Ricky told her before walking out.

***

That night at Veronica's apartment, Ricky and McKenzie sat on the couches with Betty, Jughead, Veronica, and Archie across from them.

"Why don't you sit down next to me, loverboy?" Veronica spoke to Archie who looked like he had a lot on his mind. "Archie?"

"I'm sorry," Archie told her, finally snapping out of it. "This thing with Moose...Honestly, it's like nobody cares. My dad keeps saying, 'Leave it to Sheriff Keller.' I'm like, 'Yeah, Dad, 'cause he did a great job of catching Jason's murderer.' Oh. Wait, I'm sorry, that was us."

"Inside voices, please?" Veronica pleaded while Archie sighed at his brother.

"No, don't stop him," Jughead stated, grabbing the popcorn. "Archie going Travis Bickle is my favorite Archie yet."

"Archie, you gotta cut this out," Ricky told him.

"I can't, man," Archie stated. "Doesn't it feel like he's targeting us? I mean, specifically? I don't want anyone else getting hurt."

Ricky leaned back in the couch to which Betty placed a comforting hand on his thigh. "You know, back in our salad days, when we had a getaway on the Cape, all of us got together and hired private security to keep out the riffraff as an added layer of protection," Veronica told Archie.

"I loved that little house," someone spoke. Everyone stood up to see Hiram Lodge entering the living room with Hermione on his arm.

"Daddy," Veronica greeted.

"We're on our way to dinner at the club," Hermione told her.

"But I wanted to meet your friends first," Hiram added.

"Great. Thank you," Veronica said before motioning to the blond and Southside girl. "This is Betty Cooper and McKenzie Parker."

Betty shook his hand and shortly McKenzie did too. "Hi," she spoke, her eyes scanning over the handsome man.

"Hello," he greeted back. "Nice to meet you."

"And Jughead Jones," Veronica introduced.

"Hi," he greeted, shaking Hiram's hand. "You know my dad."

"I do," Hiram answered. "He's a good man. He values family. I hope his return comes sooner rather than later."

"Yeah, so do we."

"And Ricky Andrews," Veronica added.

Ricky forced a smile and outstretched his hand to shake Hiram's. "Hello, Mr. Lodge," he greeted quietly.

Hiram shook Ricky's hand. "Ricky," he greeted back. "I read what had happened in the newspaper and I am sorry." Ricky's face fell at that. "But I'm glad to see you made a full recovery."

"Me too," Ricky muttered, his eyes moving to the floor and backing away.

"And, Daddy, this is-" Veronica began.

"Archie Andrews," Hiram finished. "The boy who's captured my daughter's heart."

"Daddy," Veronica quietly scolded.

Archie smiled and stepped forward with an outstretched hand. "Uh, it's nice to meet you, sir. "

"Ah, please. Call me Hiram," Hiram said, shaking Archie's hand. "Listen, I couldn't help but overhear your discussion and I, um...I understand your frustration with Sheriff Keller.As for someone who's had his own share of run-ins with the law...I can say with confidence that the police aren't always the solution. Sometimes we need to take matters into our own hands. We need to be able to protect ourselves."

"We're gonna lose our table," Hermione told Hiram.

"Oh, yes, of course. Hey, it was nice to meet all of you." He turned to leave until he called, "Oh, and Archie."

"Yes," Archie spoke.

"Why don't you come over for dinner? I look forward to seeing what you come up with...to save Riverdale."

***

The next day at Southside High, Jughead sat in English class. And while he was listening to his teacher talk about the lesson plan, his eyes zoned in on the black and white checkered notebook that sat untouched in his bag. He hasn't even read what's inside since he really hasn't much time to but he had time in class.

He knew he really shouldn't read it because it was Ricky's property and not his but curiosity poked at him.

He grabbed the notebook, lightly dropping it on his desk, glancing up to make sure his teacher wasn't watching him before flipping open to a random page.

The first page was a poem written in 5th grade with a small cartoonish drawing of Jughead's crowned beanie.

Sitting next to you
is like taking a sip of eternity,
The sun, the stars, the sky
never tasted so good...

Flattering yet a complex poem for a 5th grader...this was Ricky Andrews, one of the smartest kids in Riverdale.

Jughead flipped to another page with a beanie drawing in corner. This one was from 7th grade.

You are many things to many people,
but you are just one thing to me...you.

For some reason, this almost made Jughead smile but he held back as he remembered he was still in Southside High.

"Fahrenheit 451," his teacher, Mr. Phillips spoke, earning Jughead's attention, getting him to look up. "By one of my favorite authors, Ray Bradbury. Let's start with the title. Can anyone tell me its significance?

"What?" a student exclaimed, looking at his phone. "Damn it!"

He stomped out of the class which Mr. Phillips allowed.

"People, there's a burning book on the cover," Mr. Phillips stated.

Jughead glanced at Toni while he closed the journal. Toni met his gaze and shook her head slowly.

"Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which paper burns," Jughead spoke, ignoring her. "'It was a pleasure to burn'," he quoted.

"Indeed. Thank you, Mr..." he glanced at the attendance paper. "Jones. And welcome to hell."

The bell rang to which all students grabbed their stuff in left except for Jughead who grabbed the notebook and his bag, walking up to the desk. "Uh, hi, Mr. Phillips?" he spoke.

"Mr. Jones," the man greeted back in a monotone, not looking up.

"Toni was telling me you used to advise the school paper. I was wondering what happened?"

He looked up. "Drugs and gangs came to Southside High. Trying to get students interested in the school paper was an exercise in futility."

"I'm interested. I have experience. At Riverdale High, I wrote for the Blue and Gold. I'll put in the work," Jughead stated.

"Your articles online?" At this, Jughead nodded. "I'll take a look, let you know."

"Thanks," he told Mr. Phillips before exiting.

***

The next day, Ricky sat in McKenzie's trailer, reading the new article from the Blue and Gold.

'This is the Black Hood. I am the man who shot the adulterer and his crime onlooking teenager at Pop's. I killed the child predator in Greendale. I shot the drug- and sex-addicted teenagers at Lovers' Lane. Riverdale is not innocent. It's a town of hypocrites, degenerates, criminals. My wrath is the price of your lies, your secrets, your sins. I will not stop. I cannot be stopped. I am the wolf. You are the flock. This is the blood-letting. You will hear from me again.'

Ricky finished reading the article, dropping the newspaper on the couch, a light-headed feeling washed over him and his breathing got heavy.

His anxiety began to take over as his stomach did twists and turns until finally-

He rushed over to a trashcan in the living room, hunching over and emptying the contents of his stomach with a gag.

McKenzie emerged from the bathroom, seeing Ricky. "Jesus, I was gone for like three minutes," she said before hurrying over, patting her friend's back as he continued to hurl. "Are you okay? What's wrong with you?"

Finally, Ricky looked up, his eyes watering over. "What you didn't know?" Ricky asked in a scratchy voice. "I'm three months along." McKenzie let out a small chuckle as he added, "It's yours."

"Ooh, Betty would hate my guts if that were true," McKenzie replied before noticing the newspaper on her couch. "It's the article, huh? It's making you nervous?"

"No, I'm okay," he lied. "I just ate some bad leftover pizza Archie forgot to throw away."

"You know you don't have to be okay-"

"I'm fine, Mack," Ricky emphasized in a snappy tone.

"Okay, sure," she mumbled as she helped him up before pushing him in the direction of her bathroom. "Go wash your stinky breath away. Mouthwash is under the sink, cups are in the medicine cabinet."

Ricky nodded, going into the bathroom. He grabbed what McKenzie told him to grab.

He poured mouthwash in a cup before dumping it in his mouth, swishing the mint liquid around before spitting it out.

It didn't help. He felt like he had a bad taste in his mouth, just as he had a bad feeling in his gut.

He lifted his shirt up. In the middle of his abdomen, scar tissue was already beginning to build up from his injury.

As McKenzie was throwing away the bag in the trashcan and replacing it with a new one, her trailer door opened.

"Mack, are we going or what?" Fangs Fogarty asked her.

"To where again?" she questioned.

"The quarry," he answered. "Sweet Pea and Toni are meeting us there."

"Right, sorry," McKenzie mumbled. "I was just...working on some music with-"

Ricky exited the bathroom, his eyes landing on Fangs. "Hi," Ricky greeted.

"Hey," Fangs greeted back awkwardly.

"Uh, Fangs, this is Ricky. He's the guy I've been working on music with," McKenzie introduced.

"Yeah, I know. We saw him at Southside High, remember?" Fangs replied.

"Oh," Ricky spoke, now remembering his face.

"Ricky, this is Fangs Fogarty," McKenzie introduced. "He's been my friend since we were little."

Ricky stuck a hand out. "It's good to meet you. Really, I've heard a lot about you," he stated.

Fangs's gaze flickered to Ricky's hand for a moment, silently debating if he should be kind to the Northsider as he scanned over the charming yet tired boy's appearance, especially since Fangs was wearing his Serpent jacket right in front of Ricky.

He made up his mind when he shook Ricky's hand with a firm grip. "Yeah, you too. Mack talks about you a lot and your guy's songs," Fangs told him with a small smile.

"All good things, I hope."

"Oh, yeah. For sure. She's been saying a lot of great things about your songs. Especially as of a few weeks ago..." Fangs quietly trailing off to which Ricky frowned at.

"Fangs," McKenzie scolded.

"Oh, crap, I'm sorry," Fangs told Ricky.

Ricky knew what he meant right away. As of a few weeks ago prior was when Ricky got shot in Pop's and nearly died.

He did feel the anger bubble in the pit of his stomach. Ever since that terrible moment, he's been treated like glass or been pitied upon by everyone.

But Fangs seemed like a new friend so he pushed it down and only forced a smile (as he's been doing since the moment he woke up). "It's...okay. I'm just pushing through," he answered.

Fangs cleared his throat, now feeling awful for making it awkward when they seemed like they were getting along. "Well, we were all just gonna go to the quarry. If you wanna join, you can."

Yeah, Sweet Pea and maybe some of the other Serpents would be pissed a Northsider would be joining them but Fangs could read Ricky. He saw a good kid who doesn't judge but has been through hell.

"I'd love to but...I just had threw up and I'm not really feeling going-" Ricky began.

"It's true, it was gross," McKenzie added.

"Oh," Fangs said, slightly disappointed.

"But tomorrow when I feel up to it, do you maybe wanna go to Pop's or...something," Ricky stated.

Fangs grinned. "Yeah, that'd be great. Does tomorrow at 4 work at Pop's work?"

"Totally, I'm free," Ricky told him before picking up his backpack. "I should go so you can leave." He grabbed his phone off the table. "Later, Mack. Bye, Fangs."

McKenzie gave him a wave as Ricky exited the trailer as Fangs turned to the girl who sighed, "Okay. Let's hear the judgment."

Fangs shrugged. "What do you want me to say?" he asked.

"Like say all the terrible things you saw about him, just as Pea does."

"I like him. He seems cool," Fangs answered. "More chill than most Northsiders around us at least."

"I told you so," McKenzie said. "He's good. Been a little off lately, but good."

"Give him a break, McKenzie. He could've died." Fangs's phone rang to which he looked at. "And that's Sweet Pea."

"Let's go before he freaks out over nothing," McKenzie stated as they both left.

***

The next day, Jughead had told Ricky he was settling in with the Red and Black as his new newspaper office at the Southside.

It was hours after school was over that Jughead was still at Red and Black. After getting halfway done with his article, he picked up the black and white checkered notebook, reading more.

As Ricky got older, his poems, haikus, thoughts, journal entries got deeper about Jughead. Each time, he finished a page, the beanie-wearing boy would grin like an idiot, feeling flattered because no one has ever talked about him in such a way. He just wishes he knew about Ricky's feelings before-

The door leading Red and Black's office, pulled open to which Jughead hurriedly pushed the notebook under his laptop but his heart quickened when he saw who entered through the door.

Luckily, Jughead was fast enough, especially since the writer himself, Ricky Andrews, was entering carrying a large box under his arm, his eyes scanning over the place. "Wow..." he mumbled.

"Ricky," Jughead called.

"So, this is the Red and Black," Ricky stated with a nod. "Nice setup, Juggy."

"You cannot be here at night unless you are armed," Jughead told Ricky strictly, especially since...

"Hey," Ricky spoke as he placed the box down and pulling out a silver kettle. "Who says I'm not?" Ricky asked in a serious tone and expression but his face broke out in a grin, lightly laughing-a genuine laugh especially since Jughead rolled his eyes at him. "I'll be more careful, all right," Ricky told him before placing the kettle on the desk. "So have you gotten anything for your first article?"

"Okay, honestly, Rick, I hit pay dirt," Jughead began, standing up. "Do you remember how no one could explain the local component of Clifford Blossom's drug pipeline? That jingle-jangle, the stuff Moose and Midge were on?" Ricky nodded in response. "It's coming from here. My dad said that Serpents never deal in hard drugs, but the Ghoulies do."

Ricky nodded. "So you learned a lot here," he stated, looking down at the table nearby. "That's cool but..." he trailed off. "Is it safe or smart to be writing about gangs and drugs while you're going here?"

"Are you worried about me, Ricky?" he asked, stepping closer to the boy.

Ricky's eyes lifted to meet Jughead's. "Does it show?" he asked in a sarcastic tone.

Jughead lightly smirked. "I thought you liked me reckless," he spoke in a low tone, his hand falling on Ricky's arm.

Ricky just gave him a small smile before shrugging. "Sometimes..." he replied.

Jughead didn't know what it was. It was like seeing Ricky through someone else's eyes but it felt like Ricky was a different person to him before and now he saw the Andrews boy in a whole new light-

The door pulling open, got both of the boy's heads to turn in that direction. "Oh, sorry, guys. I didn't see the sock on the door," the girl who had entered spoke, seeing as the boys had some kind of tension.

Ricky just chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "A sock wasn't really necessary."

"Hey, Toni," Jughead greeted before looking between to Ricky. "Ricky, this is Toni. She is the photographer for the newspaper." He looked at Toni. "This is Ricky. This is my...friend."

Ricky walked forward to shake hands with the girl. "Hi, Toni," he greeted.

"Huh," Toni spoke. "So you're the famous Ricky McKenzie talks about?"

Ricky smiled. "I guess, I am," he answered. "Am I what you pictured?"

Toni nodded. "Cute boy, nice voice, charming style..." she spoke. "Pretty much. Like a Disney Prince."

Ricky chuckled bashfully. "Thank you. You're absolutely beautiful too."

Toni chuckled. "You're sweet. I like you already."

Jughead raised the pitcher Ricky brought. "Hey, look what Ricky got us," he told Toni.

Toni pulled out her own green kettle from the box. "Great minds," she stated.

"Great minds, indeed," Ricky agreed before looking at Jughead. "Why didn't I know about her sooner?"

Jughead made a face at the fact that Ricky wasn't focused on him as Toni chuckled, "I'm asking myself the same question for not meeting you sooner," she said to Ricky.

Ricky gave her a smile before turning to Jughead. "I should go, it's getting pretty late..."

"Do you, uh, want me to walk you home or..." Jughead began.

"No, you're finishing up here. I'll just leave you to your work," Ricky told him.

"Are you sure, I can-"

"Jughead," he began in a snappy tone, his usual expression dropping from his face. "I'm fine to walk home by myself. I've done it a hundred times before so stop worrying." With an expressionless face, Ricky began to walk out but he said, "Nice to meet you, Toni."

Toni was confused at his sudden mood change but called to him, "You too, Ricky..." Once the boy was in the hall, Toni turned to Jughead. "Now, that kid is just-"

"A little freaked out," Jughead defended. "He has been since he left the hospital."

"Valid reason," Toni stated, also knowing he was the first kid to get shot but she didn't bring it up. "Just looking at him, it's like he was wearing a mask, trying to hide or push his real emotions down." She paused, "But he seemed pretty calm around you."

Jughead almost smiled before remarking, "Yeah, I just have this natural ability of where I can bore someone to death and they'll forget about their problems." He motioned his head towards the door. "If it helps him then it's a gift."

***

That night, Betty lied beside Ricky in bed, curled up into his side with her head resting over Ricky's clothed chest.

"I don't know what to do anymore," she told Ricky, running her finger up his arm. "I'm not getting through to Kevin about his...habit. And Polly's convinced she has to leave Riverdale to keep her and her babies safe."

"You talked to Kevin already?" Ricky asked, his fingers softly running through her hair.

Betty nodded. "He just doesn't want to listen. I mean, I understand why but what if he has a run-in with someone bad? I mean Midge and Moose got shot near the area where he was cruising..."

"If Kevin won't listen then maybe you need to talk to someone else," Ricky stated to which Betty looked up at him. "I'm not the one for snitching but if he won't listen to logic or reason from a friend then-"

"Talk to Sheriff Keller," Betty finished to which Ricky nodded. "I will if that's the only way he'll listen."

"As for Polly, there's not much I can say except, is she really wrong about being a sinner? I mean I got shot because I witnessed crimes happening and I did nothing."

"Like what?" Betty asked.

"I knew what Ms. Grundy was doing and I still allowed to go on even before your mom found out. I saw Serpents do occasional illegal stuff and I still didn't do anything..."

"Ricky," Betty spoke, sitting up. "You getting shot wasn't your fault. It was that sick psycho who just wanted a reason for hurting people. You're not a bad person."

"Then why do I feel like one?" Ricky asked.

Betty cupped his face. "Ricky, I can ask anyone in this town and I guarantee that you'll be counted as one of the nicest people ever."

"Yeah?" Ricky asked.

"Yes."

"I don't know how you do it, Betty Cooper. You just say one sentence and I feel better," Ricky told her. "Maybe it's the power of love."

"I think it is," she told him with a smile.

"Good because I love you, Elizabeth," Ricky told Betty, pecking her lips with a small kiss before giving her small kisses all over her face.

Ricky pulls away the tiniest bit, their noses still bumping slightly but Betty kisses him again. His hands find her waist so she cups his jaw as he deepens the kiss. Both of his hands lower to her hips as she pulls him closer, his weight shifting as she does so. His body's now towering over hers, making her back hit the mattress.

Betty smiles into the kiss as she runs her hands through Ricky's hair, his thumbs still draw slight patterns on her hips. Through her pajama shirt has hiked up the tiniest bit, the fabric only extending until her belly button now. While she would've pulled it down by now, the thought doesn't even cross her mind. Instead, she grips the front of his shirt, pulling him closer to her. One his hands drops, moving her legs so they're on either side of him without breaking the kiss.

The sound of a door closing across the hall, got them to break apart.

"Was that Archie?" Betty asked.

Ricky nodded. "No doubt coming back from his Red Circle duty." He sat up straight as did Betty. "I'm sorry. I don't know why we keep getting interrupted."

"It's okay," she told him, lying back down. "We nothing but time, day after day."

Ricky lied back down to which Betty took her spot, head rested on his chest, hands fidgeting with his and their legs tangled.

***

"Those kids in the fairy tales
who go into the woods...they don't come back the same. They're always changed in some fundamental way. Sometimes for the better. More often for the worse. That's the common misconception about fairy tales. They very rarely...have a happy ending."

"This is a message for the coward
calling himself the Black Hood," Archie spoke into a camera while guys surrounded him with a red mask on and not wearing shirts. "You think you can attack us from the shadows. But Riverdale is a lot stronger than you. And we're not afraid. See, there's only one of you. But we are legion. We're called the Red Circle." Archie walked up closer to the camera, looking down into the camera lenses. "And we're coming for you. We will find you. We will hunt you. And we will end you."

Ricky had shut off his phone, closing out the internet and videos as his stomach did continuous turns and flips until suddenly, fear broke him.

He ran over to the small trashcan in his room, emptying his stomach once more, his hands curling into fists so tight his knuckles were turning white.

He was already scared for every second of his life.

God, if he wasn't a target before, his own brother had pissed off this man off and now Ricky probably has eyes watching him now more than ever.

***