"Come a little closer, then you'll see.
Come on, come on, come on
Things aren't always what they seem to be"

After their steamy shower, Athena decided to unpack Fred's items from the white hospital bag, thinking that Archie would appreciate this action. She laid the items out, even bothering to fold a few things. Most covered with his own blood, but Athena decided not to think about the fact. Archie came bounding the stairs whilst pulling a grey shirt over his head, most of his hair remained damp as did Athena's.

"What's going on?" He stopped at the head of the table, analyzing the contents of his father's trip to Pop's. "I just took your dad's things out of the bag. I thought it might be easier to just lay it all out. I was waiting for you to decide what to do with it. I hope that's okay with you." Athena turned to Archie to see him grab his dad's bloody jacket that he never seemed to take off. He dipped his hands into each pocket, becoming slightly frantic each time he didn't find what he wanted.

"Where's, uh--? Where's his wallet?" He moved all the items around, hoping that his father's precious wallet was just under the fabric but he came up empty. "I didn't see it in the bag. This was all that was there." Athena furrowed her brows before looking into the bag to check she didn't miss it. "Well, it would've been in his coat. Are you sure you didn't see it?" He checked the pockets again, his franticness reaching new levels.

"I'm pretty sure. Maybe it's at the hospital, in the truck or even at Pop's?" Athena attempted to give Archie an answer that he craved but to no avail. "No, this is everything they had. You heard the nurse." Archie stopped checking the pockets, placing his palms flat on the table. Athena paused for a second, trying to think up solutions to ease her boyfriend. "Well, we can check again and at least it's just a wallet. Nothing major." Athena shrugged before slowly checking the table again.

"Everything that is important to my dad is in that wallet. He doesn't go anywhere without it." Archie spoke fast and distraught as he stared at Athena. "Well, we can go check at Pop's or the hospital again. It should be okay." Athena walked a step closer to him. He shook his head before taking a slight step back causing her to feel a little bit hurt. "Why did you even open the bag?" He spoke to her with an accusatory tone that Athena definitely did not like.

"I thought that maybe--" She stammered out, pointing to the clothes. "No, seriously. Why are we even here? Athena, I didn't ask you to come. I didn't want to come here and--" He sighed before collapsing down onto the chair. Every word that he had yelled caused her heart to break. On the verge of tears, she looked up at him instead of the ground, wondering if he was finished.

"Just forget it. Just go. I'll take care of this. I'll see you at the hospital or I'll call you." He wiped a hand over his face as Athena stood still, her body in shock. "You really want me to leave?" Her voice shook as she walked closer towards him. "Yeah. I do." The certainty in his voice caused her two nod her head slowly before taking a slow stroll to the front door. She placed her hand on the knob before freezing. No, she couldn't leave him. No matter how much his words had put a dent in her armor, she knew that he was completely ruined. He was just trying to push her away.

"I'm not leaving." She whispered out causing tears to well up in Archie's eyes. "What?" He asked, not turning to face her as she took slow steps back to him. "I'm sorry, but I am not leaving you. This whole town has turned into a complete shitshow but I'm certain about one thing and that's you, please. You can push me away, ignore for the rest of time, but I will not leave. I'm sure you're terrified right now, I am. So I'm just going to stay here. with you. All day." Athena slowly sat in the chair next to him as he stared forward, not even looking at her with tears in his eyes.

"Okay?" He shook his head before his body was racked with sobs. It killed her to see him this way. She slowly hugged him as his head slipped into her lap and he held onto her sweater tightly. She simply kissed the top of his head and stroked his hair until his sobs decreased to soft sniffles. His phone began to buzz on the kitchen countertop causing the two to rush there.

"Is it the hospital?" Athena questioned from the opposite side of the counter. "It's Sheriff Keller. Hi, Sheriff? What, right now? I'll bring her." He hung up the phone before looking at Athena with wide eyes. "He says they have a lineup ready for us. If we're up for it."

"Are you?" Athena went up to him and held his hand, supportively. He gulped before nodding and walking her over to the door. The two then made their way to the police station, Athena texting Veronica and Betty about Pop's and trying to get another wallet for Fred as a way to make it up to Archie. "Come on in, guys. So, this is who we've picked up so far. All of them have a history of armed robbery or some other violent crime. So, you two feeling up for this?" The men who potentially shot Fred walked into the lineup room, all holding a black mask in their hand. As they walked in, Archie's hand quickly went around Athena's before he nodded to Sheriff Keller.

"All right. Put them on." The two went up to the glass, watching as each of the accused placed black hoods over their faces. The sheriff began to count down the people, Archie and Athena saying no to each of the men, none of them having the piercing green eyes. Archie became visibly distraught as each one stepped forward. They didn't find the guy which meant he was still out there. Waiting. The two decided to head back to the hospital, only to find most of the school there to support Archie and his father.

"Bulldogs are here for you." Reggie pulled away from Archie with a solemn look on his face, he gave Athena a little smile before looking at her cheek. "I always knew you were a badass. Now, you'll have the scar to prove it." Athena smiled slightly before enveloping him into a hug. Athena always thought that Reggie was a jackass and he was, but he could always bring a smile to her face.

"Archie." She heard doctors Masters causing her and Reggie to split apart. She quickly went beside Archie to listen to the conversation. "He's in room 12. You can see him." Athena smiled, turning to Archie who also had a slight smile. "Okay, great." He went to walk, before being stopped by the doctor again. "Listen, he hasn't woke up yet. But talk to him. Coax him back. Keep it positive. That can make all the difference." The doctor turned and walked away as did Archie, but he stopped once he noticed Athena, not beside him.

"I have to go check on my mom." He furrowed his eyebrows before walking back to her. "What, what happened?" Athena debated in her head whether or not to tell him that her mother and sister had been in a fire which had destroyed their home. "Thornhill burned down last night which caused my mother to get some pretty nasty third-degree burns." Archie's mouth dropped open before he walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She rested her head on his chest, knowing that half of the school was watching their embrace. "With all the stuff about your dad. I didn't want you to have another worry on your plate. You needed a supportive girlfriend. Now, go visit your dad." She split apart from him before walking away, not looking back. She quickly bought some flowers and headed up to her mother's room. She quickly peered in the small hospital window to see Cheryl holding her mothers breathing tube closed. Athena quickly reacted bursting into the room and moving Cheryl's hand.

"Cheryl, what are you doing. She can hardly breathe." Cheryl just smiled before glaring at her mother in the bed.

"Athena, what mommy has done has been abuse. To the both of us. She will obey by our rules and I'm not saying you have to be a part of it, but if you get in the way, I will swat you like a fly. But it has to be done. Everything that we've gone through has been out of our control. It's time we take it back." Athena stared at her wide-eyed mother as her moral compass spun wildly. She simply places the white roses in the vase next to the bed before returning back to the waiting room.

"Oh, Athena." Veronica ran up to her with a bag in hand. "I got you a wallet to give to Mr. Andrews." She held out the bag for Athena to take which caused Athena to shake her head. "No, you give it to him." Veronica then shrugged before the two girls took a stroll back. "V, do you think I'm a bad person?" Athena continued walking even as she was given an incredulous look from Veronica. "Not at all. You've stuck with Archie through this whole ordeal. I'm not sure I could even do that. You're one of the best people I know." As they arrived at the waiting room, Athena gave Veronica what felt like the 100th hug today before walking up to Archie.

"Athena got you this." Veronica then proceeded to give the gift to Athena before walking away. "She actually got this for you. But it's for your dad when he wakes up." As Archie opened up the gift to reveal a wallet that closely resembled his dad's missing one. "You have got to be the best girlfriend ever and I don't deserve you." Archie bent down to kiss her which Athena gladly accepted.

"If anything, I don't deserve you." The both became quiet before Archie broke the silence. "I don't deserve you be--because of what happened in Pop's." Athena's expression softened before she placed her right hand on the back of his neck. "Arch--" Athena was interrupted by a cheerful Jughead delivering food from Pop's. "Who's hungry. We've got burgers and fries and onion rings." The students cheered out whereas Archie moved away from Athena.

The group gathered next to the refreshments as the sun began to set, their food from Pop's in front of them. "Your dad would be so proud of you, Arch." Betty smiled causing Archie to turn quiet. "Yeah, you've really been just a rock-star god through all of this" Jughead chuckled before quieting down again. Everyone noticed how Archie's demeanor had changed. He was solemn and quiet. "Archie, what is it? Talk to us. Maybe we can help." Veronica always being upfront spoke to her friend softly. Archie turned his head and looked at Athena who gave him a nod and quickly intertwined their hands.

"Guys, there's something I haven't told you, 'cause I'm so--I'm so ashamed. After the guy fired, I should've rushed to my dad straight away. Or I should've tackled the guy, but I was I was paralyzed. I didn't move, not even when the guy walked up to me, and he held his gun to my head. I just stared at Athena on the floor and I just closed my eyes, I don't know how long. Long enough for the guy to have taken my dad's wallet, I guess. But I didn't open them until I heard the bell. Pop's bell. Which meant he was gone." The entire group sat in shock. Athena let a breath that she'd been holding out as she remembered the moment.

"There was nothing else you could've done." Betty had tears on her cheeks as she shook her head. "That's not true, Betty. I could've done anything to comfort my dad. To get the gun away from the guy. I was a coward. And now, me and my dad were witnesses, Athena, and Pop Tate too. This guy may have my dad's wallet, all his information. What if he comes back?" Archie spoke with fear in his voice which caused Athena to squeeze his hand tighter. If Athena knew one thing, it is that Archie Andrews was not the coward or the man with lesser morals. It was her.

Okay, I thought to myself today that I cannot split one episode into 5 chapter, so now I am going to put around 2000 words into each chapter starting now (I can't be stuffed going and changing the rest) because it is occurring to me now that 1000 probably isn't enough. Oh well, see you all next week!!!

Thanks, Queenielale.

(EDITED )