Her parents are fighting again, so it doesn't take long for her to leave for Archie's. She shows up with a smile and a handle, and is happily greeted at the door.

"Max! Early bird." He lets her in, giving her a greeting hug. She sighs.

"I know. Let's get drunk."

Archie grins.

It isn't long before Veronica shows up, and Max's secret night plan is revealed.

"No. Way." Veronica gasps, causing Max to blush. "Have you even kissed someone from Riverdale yet?"

"Well, no."

"Eek!" Veronica squeals. "Okay you have to tell me when and who. I have to know."

Max can feel the tips of her ears burning bright red. Maybe this wasn't the best idea she has had. But it's definitely too late to back out, now that Veronica knows.

"I have no idea yet. Honestly, gonna be a game time decision." Max comments bashfully, staring at the cup in her hands.

"Well we" She points excitedly to her and Archie. "are here for it. Go off queen."

Max laughs, nudging Veronica jokingly.

"Okay, mom."

More people come, and the game of Pandemonium begins to expand. Instead of three trusted friends, it becomes ten people who know significantly less about her. But she feels warm and happy, and is laughing as Archie tries to explain the rules of the game (he's quite shit at explaining).

"So, basically, the person on your…right, no –left. Right?" He looks over at Max, who points to her left, playfully rolling her eyes.

"Yes, left. That person whispers a question. Like a 'who is most likely to' question. Only you can hear it. So, you get the question, and then announce the answer to the whole room. Oh, it has to be someone in the room, who you pick as your answer. So everyone knows the answer, but not the question, and then a coin is flipped–heads is say the question out loud?" He looks to Max again for reassurance. She nods. "Yeah, so heads is they have to say the question out loud, tails is you have to keep it in. Does that make sense?"

Just a glance around the room shows that everyone understands, but not one hundred percent.

"Eh, they will get it once we start playing." Veronica shrugs, before calling out her turn and whispering a question to Archie. He grins and declares "Betty," before tossing up the coin. It lands on heads. A chorus of oohs circle the room.

'The question was: who is the most likely to have a kinky side." Veronica is smirking, and everyone exclaims in chatter and laughter. The game continues around the circle, but Max is hardly paying attention, instead in a hearty debate with Josie over why she doesn't like popcorn. She is in a deep explanation of her alternative, popcorn free movie snack alternatives when –

"Max." Her name is said, and her head shoots up to find the owner of the voice.

Oh of course. Jughead.

But he isn't just calling her name to ask her to pass something, or tell her a passing remark. He said her name for the game. Like, she was his answer to the unknown question.

Everyone is looking either at her or around, waiting for that fateful coin flip. She doesn't feel anything. She just stares at the coin.

It lands on heads.

The room explodes in nervous chatter, and Max is just sitting there. Staring at the coin. She doesn't want to think what the question could be, she just wants to hear it.

Cheryl grins, "The question was –"

"Who would be the most likely to create a masterpiece of work while blackout," Jughead interrupts her, and everyone laughs. Max smiles in amusement. How nice of him.

Maybe things really will be okay.

The game continues, until the time of the party is almost there and they all begin to finish their last drinks. Max catches a glance at Jughead, and gives him a smile. He returns it. She feels relieved. She feels like she can really close the door.