//

Ricky was at home, eating cereal in the kitchen and reading the Register's latest articles on the Lodge's, Fred right next to him.

As Archie walked in to grab some juice making Ricky sigh which the redhead noticed.

"Look," Archie spoke. "I know you think a prison is a bad idea for Riverdale, but Mr. and Mrs. Lodge really have thought this through."

"A prison would rip the soul of this town, especially the Southside, so I'm not gonna support that plan," Fred replied.

"Neither am I," Ricky added.

"Or Hiram and Hermione. I'm severing all ties with Lodge Industries and SoDale. All of it. I'm done."

"Thank God."

"What? Just like that?" Archie asked.

"Yeah," Fred answered.

"Will they even let you walk away?"

"I'm not asking his permission. They will, or they'll have a hell of a fight on their hands," Fred replied.

***

The group sat together at a table in Riverdale High during lunch.

"I just loved your spin piece in the paper, Olivia Pope," Jughead remarked to Veronica.

She rolled her eyes. "Can we not, Jughead?"

"Did you know about Southside High closing? Or the prison?"

"Of course not. That was all her parents' doing. Right, V?" Betty spoke for her.

Ricky looked up to see Veronica silently looking at Archie for help who said, "She didn't know, Jughead, okay? So, back off."

"Fine. I have to conserve my energy anyhow," Jughead replied.

"What are you doing now?" Ricky asked.

"I'm going on a hunger strike to protest Southside High closing and to get it reopened." At this, Archie laughed, making Jughead look at him. "What?"

"I'm sorry, man. It's just...You're, like, always eating. I mean, good luck with that, but..." Archie stated.

"Hey, it's Jughead's prerogative to protest peacefully, so we're gonna support that, aren't we?" Betty stated.

"I am. Definitely," Ricky replied.

"You should cuz I'm going to do this hunger strike too," McKenzie spoke up.

"I thought you didn't care for Southside High, you said that like months ago," Veronica said.

"Oh, I don't. But I got nothing better to do."

Ricky nodded. "I'd do it too but I don't think I'd matter since I'm not a Serpent nor did I ever go to Southside High."

Ethel walked over to the group. "Veronica," she spoke.

Veronica looked at her. "Oh, hey, Ethel."

"For your crimes against the town of Riverdale, for everything that you and your family have done and continue to do, we find you guilty. Your sentence is this."

She splashed a melted milkshake onto Veronica, making the table gasp as Ethel quickly walked away.

Betty grabbed Veronica, moving her to the bathroom as Ricky couldn't help but stifle his laughter to which Archie nudged him. "Dude."

"Jesus, it's just a milkshake. And to be fair, Veronica is my least favorite person currently...Well, next to you, of course," Ricky replied,

"And the way Ethel did it was so goddamn dramatic," McKenzie added. "But I'll go check on her cuz it's not her fault her family is evil." She got up with a sigh.

***

The next day, Ricky sat in the student lounge with the group again.

"Friends, I have an exciting announcement to make," Veronica spoke. "I'm running for Student Council President against Reggie 'The Misogynist' Mantle."

Jughead scoffed. "You've got to be kidding me."

"If yesterday's dramatic events taught me anything, it's that Veronica Lodge is not a victim. Nor will she ever allow herself to be one."

"Your parents are taking over Riverdale and now you want to take over our school? So what is this? Part of Mommy and Daddy's evil bidding?" Jughead remarked.

"Jug, I get that you're in a bad mood because you haven't eaten in-" Archie stated.

"Actually, Jughead, my parents think I should avoid the spotlight," Veronica cut in. "But I was born for elected office."

"V, if you want to be President, you've got our vote," Betty told her.

"Yeah, Team Ronnie all the way," Archie added.

"B? As the Thelma to my Louise, I can't imagine doing this with anyone else," Veronica told Betty.

"Ouch, that stung a little," McKenzie mumbled.

"Will you be my running mate?"

"Of course, V. I'd be honored," Betty replied.

"Amaze! B and V! Now, that's a team you can believe in."

"Good luck, guys," Ricky mumbled with a sigh.

***

Ricky was coming downstairs heard a knock on the door and pulled the door open, immediately grinning at the person. "Mom?"

Mary hugged Ricky. "Hi! How are you?"

"I'm, okay. I'm so glad to see you," he laughed, holding onto her.

She pulled back to gently fix her youngest son's hair. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. I'm really surprised to you."

She went in to hug Archie who was in the kitchen as Fred came through the door, carrying Mary's bags. "All this contract stuff with the Lodges, time to call in the big guns," Fred said.

Ricky moved to help with Mary's stuff. "Oh definitely. Mom's got the power."

Ten minutes later, the Andrews family stood in the kitchen while Mary discussed what they were dealing with. "I wish you'd called me in earlier, Fred, before you gave the Lodges 20% of Anderson Construction."

"Mr. Lodge said he'll work this out. He'll keep his word," Archie replied, making Ricky roll his eyes.

"Yeah, okay," he remarked dryly.

"Son," Fred began. "Your mother and I have known the Lodges a lot longer than you have."

"Meaning what, Dad?" Archie said back.

"Archie," Mary quickly scolded, not liking his tone.

Archie looked at her before grabbing his stuff. "It's okay. I better get to school anyway. I'm helping Veronica with her campaign. Are we still on for lunch, Mom?" Mary nodded before he left.

Ricky saw her expression. "Yeah, he's been like this for a while."

"That was not okay," Mary said, referring to Archie's behavior.

"I know, he's turned into a real asshole."

"Ricky," she scolded at the swearing.

He sighed. "Sorry, I've just been a little annoyed with him. I'll try and keep my cool." He got up, grabbing his backpack. "I'll let you guys work. We're still on for Pop's later?"

"Of course."

"All right." He pecked Mary's cheek. "Bye, mom!" He walked out.

***

Ricky sat next to Betty during another Veronica student council performance.

"So the Chic mess, how's that going?" Ricky asked.

"It's...going. I'm trying to show him I'm not gonna be intimidated by him acting like a psycho," Betty replied.

"That's my girl. So goddamn cool."

She giggled. "I don't know if I would say cool, more strong willed if anything."

He grinned. "Whatever it is, it looks good on you. It's hot."

She laughed, nuzzling into his side as he wrapped  his arms around her as Josie spoke into the microphone. "We live in uncertain times, but here's one thing I'm very certain of. My girl Ronnie here, along with her running mate, Betty Cooper, has my vote to be Riverdale High's next President and Vice President." Ricky grinned at Betty, kissing her hand. "And of course, we remind everyone, especially the women, to vote and be heard this election."

Josie and Veronica began to sing as Archie played guitar behind him when suddenly Ethel showed up, passing around flyers.

Ethel passed one to Ricky and Betty which was a picture of Veronica with devil horns and every insult and secret writing around her picture.

The couple shared a look as they read the top one 'She knew they were turning Southside High into a prison'.

"I fucking knew it," Ricky mumbled.

"Okay, what's going on?" Veronica spoke as the music was also cut while Veronica was handed a flyer. "Where did you get all this information?"

"Does it matter?" Ethel replied. "It's the truth, isn't it?"

"I don't understand. I told you that we were making amends, that your dad would get a job offer."

"You mean, your half-hearted bribe? Yeah. Too little, too late."

Betty got up, quickly rushing out.

"B, wait!" Veronica called out, walking after her.

Archie moved to collect and snatch the posters back until he got to Ricky who moved away from him. "Give it."

"No way," Ricky remarked. "I fucking knew Veronica was a snake and everyone doubted me including you. You acted like I was just losing my mind."

"You are."

Ricky scoffed. "You knew about this the whole time! You covered for Veronica constantly, you and her lied to all of us. You sided with your girlfriend over me and dad. You're a shitty friend and a shitty brother."

"Shut the hell up, Ricky. You can call me a bad brother and friend all you want but I'm not the one who's acted like a traumatized, bipolar asshole since he got shot. The only reason why I think you care about Southside High at all is because Jughead does but guess what, he doesn't want you anymore because at the end of the day, you're just an annoying, pain in the ass, little boy."

Ricky clenched his jaw as he shoved Archie in the chest roughly. "Fuck you! I actually give a shit about this town!  You can defend the Lodges all you want but people know the truth and when they go down, you will too with them, good luck digging your way out then..." He took a deep breath. "Now I'm gonna go because looking at you now makes me physically fucking ill." He walked out of the lounge.

***

Later that night, Ricky ate dinner with the family just without speaking a word to Archie or even glancing his way.

"I was hoping to see Jughead while I was in town," Mary said.

"He's still at Southside High," Ricky answered. "Peacefully protesting still."

"Yeah, chained up like a lunatic," Archie remarked.

Fred looked at him. "Arch, you might not believe in what he's fighting for..."

"I'm not sure he's fighting for anything, Dad. I think he's mostly fighting against Mr. Lodge. Like a lot of people in this town who are afraid."

"Archie," Mary said sharply.

"Afraid? Afraid of what?" Fred asked.

"Afraid of having a vision, of seeing what has to done and doing it," Archie replied.

Ricky sighed, putting his fork down to rub his head. "Dumb shit," he mumbled softly.

"I hope that you're not referring to your father, Archie," Mary replied. "This man who broke rocks when he was in high school, to support his family when his dad was sick. A man who saw what had to be done and did it. And built a business out of nothing. One that pays for this house and the food you eat every day. And for your information, your father had and has a vision for Riverdale. One that doesn't, thank God, end up with everyone working in a penal colony. Now, you don't have to side with your dad, okay? You can side with Hiram Lodge, even though he's a crook, and has no intention of letting your father out of that contract, by the way. You can do that. That is your right. But I'll be damned if I'm gonna sit here and listen to you disrespect him!" She dropped her napkin on her plate, getting up.

"Me too," Ricky mumbled, getting to put his and Mary's plate away, mumbling to Fred, "Sorry, dad."

***

Ricky sat at Jughead's trailer, eating Chinese take out as he pretty much caught Jughead up on what happened since his hunger strike as Jughead told him what Archie had done.

"You think it even made any difference? Us freezing our asses off?" Jughead asked.

Ricky nodded, setting a box aside. "I think so. Every revolution starts somewhere."

"Good. 'Cause I've been thinking, we lost Southside High. I don't want to lose Riverdale High too."

"Which means what?"

Jughead sighed. "You've not heard more unlikely words come from my mouth, Ricky, but I wanna run for Student Body President. And I want you to be my co-president."

"Seriously?" Ricky asked to which he nodded. "What about McKenzie?"

"She declined, said it's too much responsibility and I know you wanted something to keep you busy so-"

"All right," Ricky agreed.

Jughead raised his eyebrows. "Really? Just like that?"

"Just like that. I'm in, Jug. We've teamed up a lot and we do a lot more good together then on our own. So why the hell not, I got your back. Always."

He smiled. "Thanks."

Ricky grinned slightly.

***

Betty laid in Ricky's arms in his bed as he told her what Jughead and him were gonna do.

"I don't understand, why are you telling me this?" she asked.

"Because, I don't want you to think that just because it's Jughead, I agreed. No, I told Archie I care about this town and I'm gonna prove it, starting with school," Ricky answered. "I just didn't want you to think it was weird that him and I-"

"Ricky, it's fine. I'm okay with this," she told him softly.

"You are?"

"Yes, I'm not bothered by you and Jughead anymore. I love you and you love me, right?" He nodded immediately. "Then I have nothing to worry about."

He smiled, pecking her lips. "I love you a lot."

She grinned. "But I do have a favor to ask you." He nodded. "You have to let me stay here. I can't stay in the same house as Chic anymore."

"Don't know if staying with Archie is any better but yes, you're welcome to stay here."

She smiled, pulling him down and kissing him.

He grinned, his arms moving around her middle completely and pulling her closer.

"Ricky, please come downstairs," Mary called from downstairs.

Ricky sighed, pulling back from Betty. "Don't go anywhere, I'll be back."

Betty nodded with a grin, nuzzling into the pillow. "Okay."

He pecked her lips before getting up and walking into the dining room. "What's up?"

"Hiram Lodge just called. He's letting your dad out of his contract," Mary told them.

"Well, I never doubted your mom for a second. I knew she'd do it," Fred added.

Ricky grinned, pouring himself some juice. "Really? That's great."

He nodded.  "And son, your mother and I have been talking, and..."

"I'm gonna stick around for a while, help your dad with some more unfinished business. That contract was the last thing holding him back," Mary added.

Ricky's grin grew more. "Holding him back from...what I was hoping...?"

Fred nodded. "Yeah. I'm gonna run for Mayor. Against the Lodges, come what may."

Ricky nodded, raising his juice glass. "Hear, hear to that. To Mayor Fred Andrews."

Mary laughed, clinking her cup with his as did Fred.

Ricky sighed as Archie came in seeing them, finishing off his juice and going back upstairs.

***