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Eleanor enters the house already knowing what's expecting her on the other side, and she's not wrong. Alice is waiting with arms crossed and angry eyes, and the worse is definitely yet to come. She sends Betty upstairs right away, leaving the two alone.

"I knew." It's the first thing Alice says, and that's not what Ellie thought would come out of her mouth, for sure. 

"What?" Ellie frowns, in confusion.

"That you met Jason that morning." Alice explains. "The autopsy. They found blonde hair in his clothes, your blonde hair. At first I thought... blonde hair? Is it Polly's? But then... Then I remembered. Your little bracelet, I never saw it on your wrist before the fourth Of July."

Ellie takes a deep breath, before speaking up. "I couldn't tell you. You would..."

"What? I always told you to tell me everything, Eleanor Cooper!" Her Mom steps foward, and tries to make it clear. "Now do you understand I'm just protecting our family?"

"You and Dad have secrets too." Ellie replies.

"That's none of your business!" Alice yells, she's angry. "You don't have the right to have secrets! Not like this one, not about something like murder."

"Please, don't worry, Mom." Ellie rolls her eyes, and turns to walk up the stairs. "I didn't kill Jason."

"This is not just about you, Eleanor!"

. . .

Revenge is sweet they say, this one has everything but that. It's pure cold.  And it's true, sometimes people need to have a taste of their own medicine. But it's also true that, sometimes, the best revenge is to just move on. Because no one gets fixed by breaking someone else. 

They set it up at Ethel's house, with a pool and hot tub. It's Veronica who opens the door to Chuck, and Ellie's the one who turns up the music.

He's surprised when he sees her. "You too?"

"I couldn't resist it." Ellie shrugs.

"Where is Betty?" Chuck looks around, in expectation. 

In that moment, Betty walks in, in a lace bra, tight skirt and a dark wig. Both Veronica and Ellie are shocked, to say the least. "Betty couldn't make it, so she sent me instead." 

The three girls stand by the bar while Chuck relaxes in the pool. And Eleanor declines another call from Archie, but when it rings again, she really has no choice. So she steps away from the noise for a moment, to answer the call. 

"Please tell me you're coming. I'm really sorry about earlier." Archie sounds really nervous. "This is important."

"I'll do my best, don't worry." Ellie looks behind, over her shoulder when she tries to explain why she might be late. "It's just that... something came up."

"Something? Is everything ok?" 

Ellie sighs loudly, and she doesn't have to lie. "Betty needs me."

"I understand."

"If I can't make it... it's not because I'm mad." Ellie makes sure he knows, and comforts him one last time. "I'll try, I promise. Ok?" 

"It's just that..." Archie hesitates for one second, but eventually gives in. "I need you too, El."

Ellie closes her eyes, not really sure of what to say. So she says goodbye and ends the call. She takes a deep breath, before turning around, and it's a good thing she did because it's just in time to see Betty putting something in Chuck's drink.

Ellie approaches the table in a hurry, and accuses. "Betty, what is that?"

"Muscle relaxer. Mix it with booze, it lowers your inhibitions." Betty shrugs, a smirk opening on her face. "Hello, truth serum. But you already know that, so why the question?"

"Yes, I do." Ellie tries to call her sister to reason. "But it's wrong." 

"It's fine." Betty turns around to face the boy. "Right, Chuck?"

Chuck bites down on his lip. "Oh, right, baby." 

"Good boy, Chuck."

Chuck drinks it, and it's not like someone tried to stop him, so he passes out in the hot tub pretty fast, which gets both Veronica and Betty a chance to hand cuff him to it. And now all they have to do is wait for him to wake up, and tell the truth.

It doesn't take long, hopefully Betty's mix isn't that strong.

"What the hell?" Chuck panicks, right away.

"Recording." Veronica warns.

"It's really hot in here!"

"And getting hotter." Betty speaks up, and it's definitely a threath. "Time to squeal, pig. Tell the truth about what happened between you and Veronica."

"We had a good time." Chuck tells them. "She had a good time."

"The truth, Chuck, or so help me, I'll boil you alive." Betty's voice is full of hatred, and that calls Ellie's attention, she looks over to her sister with concern.

"What?" Chuck frowns. "We made out." 

"And then?" 

"And then I took her home." He replies, finally giving them what they came here for. "And I didn't give her a Sticky Maple."

"That was all you had to say." Veronica spits the words, and adds. "And now everyone will know." 

Eleanor is already smiling, the taste of a good well deserved revenge weirdly calming her. But she doesn't feel bad, Chuck deserves this. He and, actually, every boy whose name is on that book. But for now, this is enough.

Ellie thinks it's over, and she can still make it to Archie, but suddenly, Betty's foot is on Chuck's head causing Ellie to step forward in fear.

"You like shaming people? You like dehumanising them?" Betty pushes him down, her voice different from the usual. "Prissy prude by day, freaking in the sheets by night?"

"No!"

"Apologize." Betty orders.

"Betty," Ellie warns. "Stop it!"

"Say you're sorry!"

"Ok, I'm sorry." Chuck exclaims. "For all of them." 

"Good job, pig." Betty reaches for the maple syrup now, so this is far from over. "Now time for your reward. A Sticky Maple of your own."

Veronica looks at Eleanor, clearly wanting her to stop her sister. So, Ellie steps closer to Betty, and places a hand on her shoulder. "Betty, come one! It's enough!" 

Before she can say anything else, Betty pushs her away roughly, causing Ellie to bump into the bar. It doesn't hurt at first, but then the red mark shows up on her arm along with the pain, still she turns to her sister, with wide eyes. "Betty, stop this!"

Veronica rushes to her friend, with concern. "Are you ok, Ellie?"

"Apologize for ruining Polly."

"I'm good but Betty..." Ellie shakes her head, her hand holding into her injured arm. "She's out of control. I've never seen her like this,"

"Wh - What?" Chuck's confused.

"Do it, Jason!" Betty doesn't back down, she insists. "Say you are sorry for destroying me."

"I'm not Jason!"

"That is enough!" Eleanor rushes to her sisters, and grabs her arm, pulling her back. "It's over. This ends now!"

Finally, Betty steps back, snapping out of it. Chuck's shouts are clear at her ears now, he calls her crazy, clearly panicking about what just happened. And the truth is no one can really blame him.

"Betty," Ellie looks at her.

"I'm fine." Betty sighs, and faces Veronica then. "We're done here." And she walks out, like nothing ever happened, like it was all a big group dream.

"How is your arm?" Veronica's worried.

"It's perfect," Ellie shrugs it off, and checks her phone for the time. Maybe she can still make it to Archie. "can you take Betty home, please?"

"Where are you going?"

"I made a promise and I'm about to break it." Ellie reaches for her purse on the ground, and gives her dark-haired girl one last look. "I have to run. Look after my sister, please."

"Sure!"

Ellie runs all the way. Ethel's house isn't very far but far enough for her to miss the song, which was all that mattered. When she walks in, her green eyes search for Archie but she can't find him, only Alice Cooper somewhere in the crowd.

"Ellie?" Fred Andrews approaches her, with a smile. "You're here? I saw your Mom but -."

She lies, which is becoming a bad habit. "Ah, Betty and I had some homeworks to finish."

"You seem very tired." He notices, and is actually confused.

"Yeah, I ran here." Ellie chuckles with the few air she has left in her lungs, and takes the chance to ask. "Where is Archie?"

"He didn't tell you? He's grounded."

"Oh."

"You came to hear his song?" Fred realizes now.

"Yeah." Ellie sighs loudly. "But got here too late." 

"That's really nice of you." Fred smiles down at her. "I'm sure Archie would appreciate it."

"Thanks, Mr. Andrews." She looks around, for some reason, and proceeds with a statement. "If only I had gotten here on time,"

"He'll understand." He tells her, and excuses himself. 

Ellie looks around when last time before exiting the building as well. She could ask Alice for a ride, but after their arguing, she doesn't really feel like it. 

"Ellie?"

Ellie turns around, there's a disappointed Archie behind her. "Hey there, rebel."

They both make their way into the side walk, neither saying anything for some long five minutes. They enjoy each other's company, which is something rare nowadays, with some kind of arguing knocking on their front door, every morning.

"Is Betty ok?" Archie asks, worried and a little curious.

"I think so." Ellie nods, and proceeds to apologize. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to hear it, I tried. But I'm sure it was amazing, Arch. It had nothing to do with our arguing, I wouldn't miss it for it."

"Don't worry. Maybe next time." He smiles at the thought of it happening. "And maybe you can get one private concert..."

Ellie looks up at him, and smiles. "That sounds nice." 

"Yeah." Archie notices the tiredness in her green eyes, and becomes worried. "Are you ok?"

"It was a long night."

Archie Andrews can't help but admire Ellie all the way home. She's his many firsts, his first shared milkshake for example. But Ellie has no idea and will stay as clueless as she's right now, Archie's feelings will take a long way before finding it's way out of his mouth and into her heart.

They're about to part ways, when Archie notices the now purple mark on Eleanor's arm, so he stops her with a gentle hand on her wrist. "What happened to your arm? What happened tonight?"

"Nothing." Ellie pulls away, and tries to fake a chuckle. "I just... I bumped into my closet this morning."

Archie reaches for her chin, and locks their eyes. He knows her for a long time now, he got to know even better this summer, so he can notice more things now. "You're lying."

"Go home, Arch." And just like that Ellie leaves him behind worried sick for the girl he cares so much about, but it's better this way.

When Ellie enters her house, she makes herself a cup of tea and sits in the chair by Betty's bed. She stays there all night, watching over her sister, just to make sure she really is ok. Not even once does Ellie close her eyes. If maybe she had done this same thing with Polly, maybe they would still be together. She won't let the same thing happen to Elizabeth.

Next morning, Blue and Gold has a beautiful cover.

"When did you find time to write it?" Veronica asks, her eyes on the ponytail girl. 

"Actually, Ellie wrote it." Betty looks over to her sister, that's happily talking with Kevin a couple of feets away. "When I woke up it was on my desk. I... I don't think she slept at all..."

Veronica sighs. "That makes two of us."

Of course, this little revenge of them brings consequences. So, the three girls are hold responsible for taking matters into their own hands, and it's not like they aren't expecting it, but somehow it's still worth it, because Chuck's off the football team, and everyone knows why.

Later that day, Betty and Ellie walk hand on hand to one of Riverdale's hiding spots. Betty throws the book into the garbage can, and then alchool. Cheryl joins them a couple of seconds later, throwing a lighter, which set it on fire. And it's a beautiful view, letting go.

"Whoever killed Jason hurt him. Well, maybe Jason hurt people too." Cheryl speaks up, and turns to face the two sisters. "If he hurt Polly, I'm sorry."

Betty turns her back, and walks away from the fire. But Eleanor doesn't, she stays. She enjoys the warm, and the feeling. 

Cheryl's hand grabs Ellie's wrist, the same one with the bracelet. "Thank you for coming clean with Weatherbee."

"It was the right thing to do." Ellie repeats the same words, because if she convinces herself of that then maybe she'll forget commiting perjury for Archie. "I should have come to you sooner."

"I'm so sorry. If I had known, I would've told you we made it across the river." Cheryl says, and there are some tears in her eyes. "He almost made it, Ellie."

"Well, it doesn't matter now. He's gone."

. . .

Ellie sits down at Pop's all alone, that's of course until Veronica enters the diner and sits right in front of her with a small smile on her lips. Neither say anything while they finish their ordered milkshakes.

"I never thanked you." Veronica sighs. "So thank you, E. You stood up for me and punched Chuck and that was the nicest thing anyone ever did for me."

"Thank you." She replies, and clarifies why. "Thank you for not saying anything about Betty."

Veronica places her hand on top of Ellie's. "We're all family now, right?" 

"Yeah,"

"And I must tell you, never thought you brainy in a cute skirt had it in you to throw that punch." The dark-haired girl jokes, and both chuckle. "You were amazing."

"I always wanted to wear dresses and still be taken seriously. Because whoever said you can't be a badass wearing a cute skirt is wrong." Ellie remarks, and she's absolutely right. 

"Damn right."

Their conversation is interrupted by a beep coming from the phone on the table, and Ellie reaches for it, curious about who's texting her at that hour.

Jughead: The kid from the Scouts knows about Grundy.

Ellie: What about her?

Jughead: That she was at Sweetwater river.

Ellie's green eyes read the text over and over again, cause maybe she read it wrong the first time, but no it's always the same words. The realization coming to her in waves, she tried to help Archie, she sacrificed herself, but now, the truth is, there's nothing she can do to save him.

"E, is everything ok?" Veronica asks, in concern.

"I'm not sure."

. . .

When Ellie walks into her room, after walking back home from Pop's, Betty's already there, sitting in her large bed, waiting patiently. She has her arms crossed over her chest, and an angry expression. 

Ellie's confused for a second, and places her purse on top of the chair as she speaks up. "Betty?" 

Betty stands up, and accuses. "Were you really with Archie in the 4th of July?" 

"Why... Why are you asking that?" She wonders. 

"Answer me!" Betty exclaims, pressing an answer out of her. "Were you with him?!"

"Betty,"

"Ellie," Betty replies, and she's determined. "just tell me!"

"You better talk to Archie." Ellie advises her, because that secret it's not hers to tell. 

"I'm asking you! Right now!" Her sister snaps, and Ellie's not even sure why. Why does this matter so much to her. "Did you lie to the Sheriff to help him?"

Ellie swallows, and she doesn't lie. "Look, talk to Archie. There is nothing I can tell you."

"I'm you sister, Ellie!" Betty reminds her, and it sounds a lot like a warning. "Isn't that more important?"

"This is between you and Archie, Betty." Ellie shakes her head, before adding. "I don't have your answer."

. . .

Everyone meets at Pop's, almost everyone anyways. Jughead's really mad about the Drive-In closing and, honestly, so is Eleanor. That place is not Riverdale's heart, cause that would be Pops', but it's pretty close.

"You guys should come to the closing night." 

"That sounds good to me." Ellie smiles.

They find themselves nominating the movies they'd like to see, but when they ask Betty for hers, the girl is thinking about everything but the closing of the Drive-In. And, truth be told, Ellie has a pretty good guess of what going on in her head.

"Are you ok, B?" Veronica worries.

"Yeah, I'm just thinking. Uh... Maybe Rebel Without a Cause?" She shrugs.

Hermione approaches to deliver the orders, and her daughter's friends thank her with a smile. The woman is nice, but of course, Cheryl has something against it. As she has about a lot of people, depending on her mood. Of course, Veronica feels the need to stand up for her mother, and makes her way to the table a couple of feets away, but Hermione does it just fine on her own, which makes Veronica turn around, and come back to her place.

"Now that's an odd combo of people." Kevin comments right away, not giving them a chance to talk about what just happened.

They all turn around, following Kevin's eyes, and see who just arrived at the diner. Ellie can't help it but roll her eyes at the sigh of Fred Andrews, Archie and the music teacher, and Ellie's definitely not surprised, unlike her friends. 

Betty stands up, she's still in the answer her sister didn't give her. "I'll be right back." 

"No, Betty." Jughead tries to stop her.

Ellie stands up as well, and calls out for her too. "Betty, stop!" 

It's already too late, she's already half across the diner. 

"Wait, what's happening?" Kevin's confused, and it's not the only one.

"I've to stop her, before things get worse." She mumbles, with a sigh.

Eleanor ignores Jughead calling out for her, doesn't matter what he do he just can't stop any of them, he can only watch Ellie walk up to the table, and he sees her holding her sister's arm immediately, a sweet smile on her lips though.

"Ellie, hi." Fred greets.

"Hi," She looks over to the teacher, and fakes a smile. "Ms. Grundy." Ellie faces her sister then, with a warning look on her face. "Betty, let's go. Our friends are waiting for us."

"No, I need to talk to Archie." Betty keeps her eyes on him, and gestures with her head. "Outside?"

Archie sighs, whitout complaining, and stands up, following Betty, who is already on her way out of Pops'. Eleanor looks over to her friends' table on her way to the door, and wonders, for one second, if maybe she should just let the two of them figure it out and stay out of it, but that's just not her, so not even a minute later and she's out the door.

"Ms. Grundy was at Sweetwater river. Were you with her?"

"Ah no, I was with Ellie." Archie insists. "You know that,"

"Stop!" Betty exclaims. "Stop dragging my sister into this! I know." 

"Was it Jughead who told you?" The red-haired's voice changes, and now there's this hint of disappointment in his tone. "Or was it Ellie?"

"Jug knows?" Betty frowns for a moment, but she quickly recovers. "Look, I'm not stupid! I tried to get Ellie to tell me but she's too loyal, too nice! Always afraid someone's gonna get upset."

"It's not what you're thinking."

"So it's platonic?" Betty crosses her arms.

Ellie, finally, approaches the two, but still stays a few feet away with a regretful look on her face.

Veronica joins her right after, and whispers. "What is it about?"

"You wouldn't believe it." Ellie sighs, because deep down she still doesn't believe it.

"Are you

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