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You walk into your room and take a deep breath, looking around the nearly empty bedroom that once belonged to you. Now you have a new room at a college that’s over five hundred miles away. Your life changed so quickly once you got the acceptance letter in the mail. It felt like a blur, a fast forward that led right to this moment. A jump cut to a new episode. Tomorrow you would be leaving everything – and everyone – behind, including your best friends and…Cheryl. God, you were going to miss her most of all. She had been your sweetheart since the first year of high school. You remembered the first time you had ever seen her in a booth at Pop’s, all alone.   You walked into the diner with your best friends Kevin Keller and Betty Cooper, your eyes drifting to a corner booth where the sound of something dropping onto the floor caught your attention. “Shit.” The girl who was sat at the booth mumbled, leaning over and trying to pick up the now shattered, empty milkshake glass. You made it over to her before Pop Tate could with the broom, crouching down on your knees to help the pretty girl clean up what was left of her mess. “Don’t worry about it, the first time I came here, I cracked a window.” It was clear the redhead had tried not to laugh but failed, giggling a little. “How in the hell did you do that?” You picked up one last piece of glass and put it in the trash can, “It’s a long story.” She bit her lip, almost instinctively, and smirked. “I’d love to hear it. I’ve got nothing but time.” You looked over to where Betty and Kevin had already found another seat, across the diner, and you gave them a questioning look. Being friends since kindergarten made it possible to communicate through intense eye contact with the two. Betty just winked at you and nodded. Suddenly, you felt very nervous. “Okay…do you mind if I sit then?” Cheryl just smiled a wide smile, shaking her head. “Sit wherever you’d like.” You tried to ignore the suggestive tone in her voice, even though it made your heart skip a beat. A ping sound came from your phone, jumping you back into present day. It lied atop a mountain of boxes in the far corner of your once-bedroom. You didn’t even need to pick it up, the lit up screen alerting you that you had a text message from ‘Cherie’. Even after all these years, seeing her name on your phone made your mood change instantly. You immediately swiped to see what she had said. Cherie: hey, beautiful. Are we still on to hang out today? You: of course! I’m looking forward to seeing you. Cherie: great because I’m outside You immediately shoved your phone into your back pocket and rushed outside. Sure enough, there she was, in all her beauty. She was leaning against her signature red car, her arms crossed and a smirk painted on her lips. Even now, she made your heart race like a maniac. You still acted like a total idiot around her sometimes just because of how blurry she made your mind. Out of all the girls and she chose you. You didn’t waste anytime in rushing to her side, throwing your arms around her neck in a tight hug. You wanted to tell her how much you were going to miss her, how much you loved her. All the words came rushing to your mind but you couldn’t find it in yourself to say any of them. Saying all of those things would make it too real, and you weren’t sure how real you wanted your goodbye to be just yet. Cheryl slowly pulled back just so she could kiss you on the forehead, leaving a slight red stain. “I wish I could still kiss you everyday, just to let everyone know that you’re mine.” She said, practically in a whisper. Her voice sounded so weak, like she could cry at any given second. It was a very rare sight to see Cheryl Blossom cry, but when you did; it was the most heartbreaking thing. You gave her a soft, reassuring look, begging her not to cry. She just smiled, pulling you in for a real kiss this time. As soon as she pulled back, she began to speak. “Okay, look, tomorrow you’re leaving me. We haven’t really figured out what leaving exactly means for us but we’re going to have to. We can’t avoid the conversation any longer. Now…you’re going to be gone. I’m leaving for college too, eight hours away from you and I know that some people say that long distance works but I think we both know it doesn’t…not forever, anyway.” She took a deep breath, brushed a thumb down your cheek. “I love you…so much, Y/N. I don’t know what I would have done without you. I don’t want to know how to live without you; I don’t want to have to learn how to live without you. You’re my everything but….we can’t make it work that far away from each other.” Her voice was cracking now, so close to tears yet so distant. “I think it might be better if, after tonight, we agree to see what happens.” You were stunned. So many words coming out of nowhere all at once, your head was spinning. “Do you want to see other people?” Cheryl shook her head. “All I ever want to see is you. But if I can’t see you, it’s going to hurt so much worse if we’re still something – everything.” It made no sense but somehow it did. “After tonight, though, right?” She hesitantly nodded, “Let’s just see how things go.” You were both crying now. She sighed after a moment, though, brushing a falling tear from your cheek. “I have made plans.” Your quirked a brow, “What kinda plans?” “Get in the car and you’ll see, chica.”

~~

She hands you a list without any explanation once you’re inside the car. She’s been driving for five minutes in a direction that you think is going towards Pop Tate’s. It is the first on the mysterious list, at least. “What is this?”

She just smirks and turns into Pop’s. “You see, Y/N, we’ve been a lot of place together over these past years.”

You nod, “Yes, we have.”

She shuts the car off and gets out, walking around to take your hand as you step out. Once you’re almost face-to-face with her again, she continues. “I want to revisit all of those places tonight. I want us to relive these past couple of years.”

You can’t help but laugh at the sound of it all. “You want to relive

everything

?”  

She walks up to the front door and opens it for you. Once you’re inside, you spin around to face her, walking backwards to keep eye contact. “Only the good things.” She elaborates.

You raise your brows suggestively, “We’ve definitely had our fair share of good things.”

She leads you to the booth she was sitting in the first time you two met; someone was already seated there, though. But she didn’t look too alarmed by this. “Hi!” She puts on her signature wide, breathtaking smile.

The people seated there is an older couple, sipping on coffee and minding their own business. You almost want to apologize to them when they slowly look up at her, seemingly a little annoyed at the interruption of their peace. They say nothing, so, Cheryl naturally takes this as her cue to continue. “I’m so sorry to interrupt your meal but, you see, my girlfriend and I are about to go off to college tomorrow. We won’t be seeing each other for a long time and we first met right here. I really hate to do this to you…but do you think we could have this particular seat? Just for old time’s sake.” Her smile never wavers and the people seem to find it comforting. The old lady pipes up at the sound of the story she’s just been told. “Well, of course, you can have this seat. How long have you two been together?”

Cheryl puts her hand on her heart, “Thank you so much, it means a lot.” She looks back at you and smiles, clearly letting you see through her overdramatic act before turning back around, putting her smile right back. “Four years. We’ve been together for four years.”

The lady takes a hold of Cheryl’s hand, looking rather emotional. “That’s so sweet. Remember when we were in high school, dear?”

The old man finally speaks, “Indeed, I do. Best times of my life. It always goes by so fast.”

You try not to giggle; the old lady still has Cheryl’s hand. This is taking a lot of communication.

Cheryl nods, “It really does.”

The lady gives Cheryl’s hand one last squeeze before slowly standing. “Well, let’s not keep them any longer. They only have one day left.”

The words hit you harder than they probably should and you feel yourself grab onto Cheryl’s other hand. It’s a comforting feeling, just like home. “Thank you both.” You finally decide to add.

The lady turns to look at you and motions for you to come closer. You debate listening, not wanting to go of Cheryl’s hand just yet. But you finally give in, inching a little closer so she can whisper in your ear. “Don’t let this one go. If it’s meant to be, you’ll find a way.”

You practically jerk back. You feel as if you’ve just been electrocuted. “I know.” You look back at Cheryl who is already seated in the booth, “It’s her who doesn’t.”

~~

You take a seat across from Cheryl in the booth and clear your throat. “I think that lady had a crush on you.”

Cheryl lets out a loud, happy laugh. “You actually think so? I wonder if I could get her number…” She peaks over your shoulder to act as if she’s trying to find her and you can’t help but laugh back.

After a moment, she acts like she’s disappointed to have lost her in the dinner rush and you decide to finally speak seriously again. “So, I’m guessing this is on the list for the first reason. We met here.”

Cheryl waves at Pop as he comes over to take the orders and she orders for the both of you as she always does; two chocolate milkshakes with cherries on top and a side of French fries. She turns to you as Pop disappears into the kitchen and shrugs, “For every reason.”

You can’t help but smile at the memories you have here with her. The time one of your favorite songs came on the jukebox and you both danced in the middle of the diner like no one else was there, just the two of you and the music. The time both of you were exhausted and ended up falling asleep together in one of the booths. That one time you couldn’t help but tell her you loved her – the time she said it back. The time in the bathroom when- “Yeah, okay. We do have a lot of reasons here.”

She laughed a little and took a bite of one of the French fries Pop lied out in front of the both of you. “Ow! Hot.”

You smirked, “I’d hope so.”

Dance to This

came on over the speakers, breaking the calm silence that filled the diner and you both looked up at each other, a smirk painting your lips. Cheryl didn’t take too much time waiting, getting up and walking over to your side of the table, offering her hand. “May I have this dance?”

You looked up at her, taking her hand in yours and standing up to meet her. “Always.”

Not too many people were in the diner now; the sun was just now setting and shone its way into the diner, like a spotlight. This wasn’t the first time the two of you danced like no one was watching here and you quietly hoped it wouldn’t be the last.

~~

The next stop was the football field at the high school. This was the place where you first made the relationship public.

Cheryl helped you climb over the closed fence and followed close behind, landing with a soft thud on her feet. The lights were always on here, even during the summer. This place had become a common spot for you, always coming just to watch Cheryl cheer.

The first time you kissed Cheryl in front of everyone had been here, after the team had won. All the girlfriends were running to kiss their boyfriends and you figured, why couldn’t you be a part of this celebration?

You ran right into her arms and kissed her, completely unaware of how many people had been watching that moment until everyone began gasping happily and clapping, cheering.

You watch as a happy, nostalgic smile spreads over Cheryl’s lips. This had been a second home for her. “I think I just realized how much I’m going to miss being a cheerleader here. How much I’m going to miss being in high school.”

You nod, completely understanding. “Yeah…tomorrow school is starting back up here, and I’m not going to be coming back.”

You walked as far into the middle of the field as you could and lied down, not really putting too much thought into the action. The dark, night sky stared back at you. It didn’t take long for Cheryl to join you, her hand finding yours. You could almost still here the crowds cheering for a team that was no longer there.

~~

The night went on just like this, walking down memory lane. It only made your heart ache more. You began to realize that not only were you going to miss the people, but you were also going to miss this town, as well.

You and Cheryl stayed at the field until rain began to pour and you decided to get back into the car. Rain hit the windshield at a heavy pace and it only added to the dramatic effect, you thought. “We could go back to my place.” You stated after a moment of silence, watching as the wind began to pick up and brush past the trees that were overhead.

Cheryl looked over at you and smiled, “It’s on the list.”

You nodded, unfolding the list that you still had in your pocket to examine. “It is.”

~~

The living room; where you sat your parents down and explained to them that you liked girls but at the moment you liked one particular girl and her name was Cheryl Blossom. Cheryl then proceeded to walk into the room and both of you were hoping so hard that they would take it well.

You never really had a conversation about sexuality with your parents, and they never talked about it.

When you told them, they were silent for a few minutes. Cheryl was holding your hand so tightly; you thought you had lost blood circulation. You couldn’t find it in yourself to care though. At least she was letting you know she was still here, and she wasn’t going anywhere.

They finally broke out of the silence when your mother smiled, “This isn’t that big of a surprise, honey. I’m glad you’ve found someone who makes you happy.”

Now you and Cheryl were standing in the same place you had been all those years ago, and her hand was gripping yours just as tight. “She said she was glad that I’d found someone who made me happy and it was only then that I realized how right she was. You made – make me so happy.”

Cheryl smiled but she wasn’t very good at hiding the tears in her eyes. The clock on the wall let you know it was midnight now, just another hour closer to when you’d have to leave. “I really don’t want us to end like this. We’ve been through so much…not this. This shouldn’t be the thing that finally breaks us.”

Cheryl was full on sobbing now. “I don’t want to leave you either.”

You just felt frozen, all of it hitting you all at once. You couldn’t cry but you couldn’t speak either. You just pulled her closer, wrapping your arms around her. “I really wish we could just stay here forever.”

She nodded into the crook of your neck. “Me too…me too.”

You sighed, trying to catch your breath. “Do you want to spend the night one last time?”

Cheryl finally smiled a little bit, nodding. “I’d like that.”

~~

You woke up the next morning the way you knew you should always wake up; wrapped around Cheryl, the morning light streaming in on her face so perfectly. She looked so happy and peaceful, beautiful. Nothing had changed there since the first time you laid your eyes on her.

The alarm clock went off five minutes after you had already woke up, and only then did you move. Cheryl groaned and held her arm above her face, blocking out what little light she could. “I’m sorry; I should have turned off the alarm clock.”

She shook her head, wrapping her arm around you and bringing you back to her. “It’s okay. We probably should get up here soon, anyway.”

It was 9:15. You probably needed to get up now if you expected to be out of there by 10:30.

~~

Five minutes later, the two of you were in the kitchen making breakfast. You watched as she flipped a pancake and successfully caught it back in the pan, clapping for her achievement. You poured milk into wine glasses and brought everything over to the kitchen table, taking a bite of a pancake and kissing Cheryl on the cheek. “It’s amazing, Cherie.”

She blushed a little, “Thank you. It’s just pancake, though.”

You immediately shook your head, “These are mega-fantastic pancakes.”

The two of you navigated through the morning without discussing the fact that in less than an hour, you both were going to be leaving everything – including each other – behind. And then, “I kinda need to stop by Betty’s. Apparently everyone is there waiting for me.”

Cheryl paused and then nodded. “Okay…can I come with you?”

You quirked a brow, “Why couldn’t you? I don’t want to leave you at all right now.”

She smiled a little, “Okay, good. Because I don’t want to leave you either.”

~~

As soon as you pulled into Betty’s driveway, everyone came pouring out of the house. Most of them didn’t have to leave for college until next week and you envied that. You’d kill just to have another week with everyone, with this town.

Betty wrapped you in a hug, Kevin not far behind. It turned into a huge group hug, everyone moving aside for just a second to allow Cheryl in next to you. You felt yourself breaking a little bit more with each passing second. These were the people you weren’t even sure if you’d see ever again, all your high school best friends, turning into college students across the entire country. Everything changes; you just wished this didn’t have to.

Once everyone got back inside, Betty announced that Jughead was going to the same college as you. In some weird way, you felt a brush of relief. At least you’d still be able to keep someone you felt comfortable around near. You and Jughead hadn’t been as close as you were with some of the others, but he was still considered your friend.

And then Veronica announced that she was going to the same college as Cheryl. You couldn’t help but wonder, if Cheryl did decide to call it quits for the sake of distance, would the two of them end up together? They’d always been close friends but…you pushed the thought aside. You couldn’t think that way right now. Cheryl’s was yours for the time being.