Author's Note: I'm back, guys and thanks for your patience. And "We're here", folks! The second of the exciting chapters I've been looking forward to.
Before I proceed, I'd like to thank Sizmo's Reading List for adding Runaway Love to Community. Also, a shout out to Sweet Blonde Cherry Blossom, aubertsandy5 and ghofrangg123 for the follows. Glad you're all catching on.
And now for the reviewers:
Guest: Thank you so much, it absolutely warms my heart. Enjoy the rest of the story!
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks. You're right, now that I think about it.
GiJoefan985: Thanks, enjoy the new chapter.
Happy reading and enjoy yourselves!
Riverdale doesn't belong to me.
Chapter 31
Archie enters a classroom for Biology. He passes by Jughead's table, they meet each other's eyes and look away.
"We were wondering, Cheryl." Ginger said. "Back in July, you told the po-po that Jason drowned."
"Yet now we hear that a gun fired on the 4th of July," Tina added. "And it might have killed Jason."
"Slightly suspicious, no?" Tina asks.
"Are you living mannequins suggesting I had something to do with my brother's death?" Cheryl retorted, snapping on a pair of latex gloves.
"We're just curious." Ginger replied. "What do the police think happened?"
"I'll tell you what I told them," Cheryl answered sharply. "Which is that Jason did fall into the water. We both did. I made it to the shore, he didn't. Maybe he did drown or he made it to the other side of the river and someone shot him there. Who knows?"
"Seats, everyone. Pair off, gloves on, scalpels up." Dr. Phylum, the biology teacher declared.
"Can I be with Cheryl?" Archie asks.
"And I wanna be with Betty," Veronica piped up, looking over at the blonde.
"Oh, uh, I was thinking I'd partner with Kevin." Betty replied.
"Actually, Keller's with me." Moose pointed out.
"We like, talked." He puts his hand on Kevin's shoulder.
Kevin exchanges a look with Betty.
"Oh, God." He sighed and gets up.
Betty reluctantly allows Veronica to join her.
"Once again, fate throws us together." The new girl remarked, sitting next to Betty.
"So, Saturday night…" Moose began to say.
"Listen, Moose, you're great, yes and the type I'd want to hang out with…but you've got more demons than The Exorcist." Kevin interrupts. "We're all on the spectrum, but my bromance-o-meter says…you should stick with what you know best. Girls,"
Moose turns away.
"Cheryl, we haven't talked since the summer." Archie said. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry about your brother."
"Jason was the best," Cheryl responded softly.
"If I can do anything to help," Archie offered.
"That's sweet, Archie…but unless you were at Sweetwater River and know who may or may not shot Jason…plus, know what happened to Polly…not that I'd care." Cheryl said bluntly.
Images of Ms. Grundy, Cheryl, Polly, and Jason ran through his mind. Once again, Archie continues to keep quiet.
"Do, uh…?"
"Do you know if the police have any leads?"
"What?" Cheryl asked in disbelief. "No, you ghoul."
"But it's only a matter of time. And my twin tuition is telling me it's someone we all know."
"Right," said Archie. "Well, I'm not great at science, but I can take point on this…if it's too weird for you."
"Weird why?" Cheryl questioned.
Archie gestures to the dead frog.
"Oh," Cheryl puts on a fake smile. "You mean my brother is out there somewhere, presumed to be dead and gone?"
She pulls out the blade.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
The queen bee looked up at Ginger and Tina, who were at Jughead's table, watching their leader.
"In fact…"
She stabs the amphibian and Cheryl's minions gasped in horror. Even Jughead took notice.
"…I'm amazing." Cheryl cuts the frog's stomach down the middle; keeping her gaze on Tina and Ginger.
Flashback
Riverdale High School
July 3rd
Morning hours
Archie exits the music room. He dropped by the school's music room to retrieve sheet music from Ms. Grundy's desk. He needed them for tomorrow's camping trip with Ms. Grundy, in case inspiration struck.
As Archie stepped out in the hallway, he was so wrapped up in his own thoughts, Archie bumped into none other than Cheryl Blossom.
Startled, she dropped everything she was carrying; but eventually recovered as if nothing happened.
"Archie Andrews," said Cheryl. She tossed her wavy red locks over one shoulder. "Aren't you the stealthy one…what brings you to the hallowed halls of Riverdale High so early on this picturesque summer morning?"
"I, uh, left something in my locker." Archie replied. He felt that it was none of Cheryl's business why he was here.
"Hmm," Cheryl pursed her scarlet lips together. "A likely story. Except, you were coming from the music room. Your locker is down the south hall. So, I'm thinking, you must have ulterior motives."
She tapped a red painted fingernail against her chin, thinking.
"Cheryl, calm down." Archie assured her. "Not everyone is always scheming like you are."
He could feel his heart pounding. By far, no one knew about Archie's affair with Ms. Grundy, and they were going to keep it that way…no matter what.
"Touché," Cheryl commented, picking up what she'd been carrying. "Fair enough, even if thou doth protest just a wee bit too much. Aren't you the good boy, always giving the public the benefit of the proverbial doubt?"
Archie frowned a bit. That's what people thought of him. He didn't know what would Riverdale High's popular red head would think if she ever found out about the truth-if everyone knew about who Archie really is. Lying to Fred, second-guessing Coach Clayton…and of course, the thing with Geraldine.
Suddenly, something in Cheryl's arms caught Archie's eye.
"Wait, you've got…Jason's varsity jacket?" He inquired.
"So, observant," Cheryl remarked, her tone defiant. However, Archie could have sworn he saw guilt form on her face.
What did Cheryl have to feel guilty about?
Yet, Archie was unaware of the real reason she'd needed the jacket. Jason and Cheryl had a close bond, they were practically conjoined…but still.
"Just doing a favor for Jay-Jay," She said, like she was reading Archie's mind.
"He needs it now, God knows why, and he's busy with…well, let's just say my darling brother has quite a lot on his to-do list today. So, hashtag twinning to the rescue."
Archie suspected Cheryl was hiding something that involved her sibling. He had to give the queen bee credit, she was a master of spin. Yet, Archie wasn't going to press it. Especially when he had his own to-do list to deal with.
Cheryl looked deep into Archie's eyes with her own brown orbs.
"Family is everything, Archiekins."
"I agree," said Archie, rather put off by how intense she sounded. Cheryl's default mode is practically intense, but still.
"Speaking of family, I've gotta get to Pop's." The athlete added. "I was going to pick up some coffee and breakfast for Dad and some of the crew."
"Funny, I'm just coming from there. It was practically hopping, given the predawn hour." Cheryl commented. "You just missed your own surrogate brother-and his father too, for that matter. Though I don't think their paths crossed."
"Jughead was at Pop's?" Archie asked, rather surprised. Pop's is Jug's go-to place. He then felt guilty; he didn't know the full story, but Archie knew Jug's home life hasn't been great lately. Once upon a time, the resident All-American boy would have known all the details. Last time he checked, Archie and Jughead had planned a road trip for the Fourth of July. But he'd forgot about it when he and Geraldine made their plans. He'll have to text Jughead pretty soon. Another way for the "good guy" to sleep on the job recently
Cheryl's words then came back to Archie. "FP was at Pop's earlier?" Jughead's dad was no early bird. He was more of a night owl.
Cheryl simply shrugged.
"I heard a motorcycle; I saw a jacket. I didn't exactly stop to investigate. I was only there to touch base with Jay-Jay. I was preoccupied; it was quick. Anyway, doesn't he work for your dad?"
"Yeah," Archie replied. Both FP and Fred started Andrews Construction together as partners; back in the day. Nowadays, FP was part of the crew. Although, Fred never gave his son the full story about it.
Perhaps there was more to it than meets the eye.
Cheryl's phone rang, her ringtone, Blondie's "Rip Her to Shreds" blared. Archie personally thought the song itself fit Cheryl. He was about to laugh but stopped when Cheryl saw the caller ID. She tossed a wave over her shoulder and walked away, going somewhere private to talk.
End of flashback.
A/N: Once again, Cheryl is covering for Jason and Polly. And she'll keep at it.
It was my idea to include the scene with Archie and Cheryl from the Riverdale prequel novel, The Day Before, in the form of a flashback.
Anyways, I'm leaving out Alice paying Dr. Curdle money to get details on Jason's autopsy for The Register, since Jason's not dead in this AU. But she'll pay Dr. Curdle a visit down the line.
Up next, is lunchtime with Betty, Kevin, Veronica, and Archie. And Betty starts to feel sad about the ordeal with Archie.
Stay tuned!
