Chapter 5: Body Double
Even before Jason's death, Archie thought Cheryl seemed to have a tough life. Being rich in her case was a double-edged sword. She was isolated, her parents looked down on her, almost everyone was afraid to confront her. But Archie secretly knew that Cheryl was miserable, despite the limited interaction between them. He could read the warning signs and signals.
Did Cheryl deserve any of this? Of course not. But it wasn't like any of this was voluntary.
Hadn't the poor girl suffered enough? She already lost the one person she was closest to. She didn't need some sheriff who couldn't even track down the real culprit to interrogate her like she was some criminal.
No, this couldn't be actually happening.
Archie then stood up and said, "Sheriff Keller, surely you're making a mistake. There's no way Cheryl could have…"
"Archie, it would be best if you stayed out of this", Tom Keller said.
Archie watched with both horror and disbelief as Sheriff Keller and Mr. Weatherbee walked outside of the classroom with Cheryl.
When Cheryl reached the principal's office, Tom Keller got straight to the point.
"Cheryl, is there something you need to confess regarding your brother's murder? The autopsy says he died on July 11th."
"I didn't tell the truth about the events on July 4th. I lied."
Cheryl took a deep breath, knowing that she needed to confess.
"Jason wanted to run away and never return. He asked me to help him. We were going to fake his death. He was going to pretend that he fell in the river and drowned. We said goodbye once we reached Greendale. That was the last time I ever talked to him. He was going to contact me as soon as he was safely away from our parents. But he never did, even though he said it would take a month at the very maximum."
Mr. Keller seemed intrigued. Mr. Weatherbee was looking at the ground.
"We didn't tell anyone about the plan. I asked Jason to tell me why he wanted to do this. He refused to tell back then. He said he would tell me when he was away from Riverdale."
Tom Keller knew that Cheryl's parents weren't pleasant people. But how they treated Cheryl wasn't any of his business. Being verbally nasty to your child wasn't a punishable offense.
"On that morning, July 4th, we heard a gunshot. We didn't know what that meant."
"Why didn't you say anything about that sooner?", Tom asked. "I could have helped you."
"I just didn't think it was worth mentioning", Cheryl said. "It didn't seem like it was such a big deal. My brother was killed. Do you really think I would remember such a minor event?"
Just then, Clifford and Penelope walked inside the room.
Outside of the office, Archie watched as Cheryl walked outside with her parents. He already knew things would be unpleasant. He wished he could do something about it.
Archie ran down the hallway, hoping to find the person he was looking for. He noticed him taking a drink from the water fountain.
Archie grabbed him and pulled him into an empty classroom.
"What in the world, Archie?", Reggie asked.
"Look, Reggie, I need your help. Cheryl just got interrogated by Sheriff Keller. I need you to go the police about what you and Grundy saw."
"Archie, my dad will kill me if he finds out. Not to mention that Grundy would get into serious trouble."
"Then don't mention her", Archie said. "Just tell the truth about what you were doing at Sweetwater River and what you heard. Simply leave Grundy's name out of it."
"Sorry, Archie. Can't."
Archie looked at Reggie with pleading eyes.
"Please, Reggie, I'm begging you. At least do this for Cheryl's sake. She needs someone to help her."
Reggie looked at him, seemingly deep in thought. Then an idea seemed to form in his head.
"Okay then", Reggie said. "I'll see if I can get Grundy to confess. But it will cost you."
"How much?", Archie asked, thinking he was going to hear something unpleasant.
"100 Dollars."
Archie took a deep breath. "Fine, I'll give you the money tonight. All of it, if you confess."
"Deal", Reggie said. "My dad will spank me for this, so the money is a consolation prize."
At the Blossom household, Cheryl was being berated by her parents.
"WHY THE HELL DID YOU NOT SAY ANYTHING SOONER?", Clifford shouted. "IS IT IN YOUR NATURE TO ACT LIKE AN IMPOTENT AND INJUDICIOUS IMBECILE?"
Cheryl merely said nothing, simply looking at the ground.
"Do you know how embarrassing it was to have to walk into that school in front of all those people?", Clifford asked. "Do you know what people will be saying about you and our family in the newspaper and in gossip? You have embarrassed us and put us to shame."
Penelope looked at Cheryl with disgust.
"You never think. You always act rashly and we have to deal with your stupidity and ignorance. It's getting out of control."
Nana Rose looked at Cheryl with sympathy. At least not all of her surviving family members were heartless.
Meanwhile, at the Andrews household, Archie pulled out a box in which he had put his allowance. He had spent the summer mowing lawns for his neighbors, hoping to save up enough money to buy a car.
He didn't want to have to relinquish 100 dollars.
He looked at the money and hesitated.
Remember, you're doing this for Cheryl, Archie thought. Trust Reggie Mantle to get monetary gain for telling the truth.
Archie met Reggie at Pop's.
"You have the money?", Reggie asked.
Archie gave him the 100 dollars.
"I did my part. Now you have to fulfill your end of the deal."
Reggie nodded. "Fine. My dad is going to beat my ass when he hears about this."
But then he looked at Archie with curiosity.
"If I may ask, why are you doing this? And why for Cheryl?"
Archie sighed. He needed to tell someone his secret.
"Reggie, Cheryl and I spent a lot of time together this summer. We started dating recently. Dude, I'm in love with her. And nothing will ever change that, regardless of what anyone else thinks."
"Whoa", Reggie said. "Does anyone else know?"
"So far, you're the first person I've told. For now, I'm sincerely asking you to keep this a secret."
"That explains why you wanted to help her so badly", Reggie said. "Okay, I'll keep your secret. I'll go ask Grundy for her cooperation right now."
Reggie decided to visit Miss Grundy. Hopefully she would be compliant.
He knocked on her door.
Grundy opened the door, smiling when she saw him.
"Reggie, what a surprise", she said.
Reggie kissed her on her cheek.
Grundy kissed him on the lips.
"So, what can I do for you?"
"I think we should go to the police", Reggie said. "We both heard that gunshot at the river. The police might find out sooner or later anyway. They're too smart."
"It's took risky", Grundy said. "If anyone heard that we were both there, they would put two and two together, and we would both be in trouble. Both of our lives would be tarnished."
"Sorry, Mrs. Grundy, but I'm going to the police", Reggie said.
"It will be the end of our romantic fling", Mrs. Grundy said.
"Some things need to be sacrificed for the greater good", Reggie said. "I won't mention your name."
He went straight to Sheriff Keller's office, with Archie watching from a close distance.
Reggie knocked on the door.
"Come in", Sheriff Keller said.
Reggie walked inside.
"I think I have something that can help with the case regarding Jason's death. Cheryl Blossom said she heard a gunshot. I heard that gunshot as well. I was there at Sweetwater River that morning."
Tom Keller stood up straighter in his chair, clearly intrigued by this new information.
"Tell me more."
"Well, I thought Jason had drowned, so I kept my mouth shut. I didn't think it was important to say anything. But then, I found out later about the mode of his death later from that autopsy…"
"May I ask why you were even at Sweetwater River so early in the morning?", Mr. Keller interrupted.
"I was jogging", Reggie said. "Since football season is coming up, I wanted to get in quick shape."
"Did you see who was holding the gun? Who pulled the trigger?"
"That I didn't see. It must have occurred from a distance."
"Were you alone?", Mr. Keller asked.
"Yes."
Reggie walked out of the office. Archie hugged him hard.
"Thank you so much, dude!"
"Let go of me, Andrews. We are in public, in case you haven't noticed."
Archie let go of Reggie.
"I'll just text my dad that I'll be coming home late", Archie said. "Reggie, you want to spend some time with Cheryl?"
"Why would I do that?"
An idea was forming in Archie's head. He was thinking of a plan.
"People would figure things out too quickly if I was seen in public with Cheryl. However, if you were with us, nobody would even think romance is even in the picture."
"But why would I be with you and Cheryl?", Reggie asked.
"Because she can tutor us in English", Archie said. "She had a perfect GPA. A 4.0. Straight As. My English work is mediocre, at best. I barely passed the English final exam last year. And I know your work in English needs improvement."
"It does not!", Reggie exclaimed.
"Reggie, I know you got a C+ in English. Wasn't your dad really pissed about that? Think about this, bro. It's beneficial for both of us. I get to spend time with Cheryl in public, our English scores would improve, your dad wouldn't yell at you or hit you as often."
Reggie nodded. "Now you're speaking my language."
The two boys walked to the Blossom estate.
They found out that both Blossom parents were in town from Nana Rose, probably trying to improve their tarnished image. Not that their image was ever delightful to begin with.
Archie and Reggie walked into Cheryl's room.
"Cheryl", Archie said as he hugged her. "I wanted to help you so badly. I really did."
Cheryl relaxed in her boyfriend's embrace, seeing his love-filled eyes.
Then she noticed Reggie.
"Archie, did…"
"Yeah, Reggie knows. He's the first person I've told."
"Archie had to give me 100 dollars so I could tell the police what I knew", Reggie said. "This will help you slightly. Now Keller can't keep questioning you."
"Thank you so much, Archie!", Cheryl exclaimed as she kissed Archie's cheek.
"It was worth it, Cheryl. I have a plan. People are going to wonder why the three of us are hanging out in public. So, I'm going to tell them that you are tutoring us in English. It would be a reasonable excuse since you're the smartest student in our class, and Reggie and I both need to improve our skills in English."
"Sounds good", Cheryl said.
"We should go to Pop's. You could teach us there."
The three of them walked to Pop's, making sure to avoid getting recognized.
At Pop's, Archie ordered burgers and milkshakes for the three of them.
"Okay, Archie", Cheryl said. "During our sophomore year, we'll be reading a lot of Shakespeare and his writings. Can you name a quote from Romeo and Juliet, probably his most famous play?"
Archie thought for a couple of minutes.
Then he said, "To be or not to be, that is the question…"
"That was from Hamlet", Cheryl corrected him.
"This may be harder than I thought", Reggie said.
"Our work is cut out for us", Archie said. "Cheryl will tutor us as we try to remember events from the plays. By the time we gain enough insight, Cheryl and I will both be ready to tell people about our romance."
"Okay, Reggie", Cheryl said. "What were the names of the two families that were fighting each other in Romeo and Juliet?"
Reggie scrunched his forehead.
"Don't remember", he said.
"The Capulets and the Montagues", Cheryl said for clarification.
"Romeo was a member of the Montagues, and Juliet was a member of the Capulets."
Archie couldn't help but wonder if his romance with Cheryl was like the relationship with Romeo and Juliet. After all, Fred disliked the Blossoms. The Blossoms certainly looked down on the Andrews family for their middle-class appearance. Although to be fair, most of the people in town disliked the Blossoms.
After one hour of tutoring, Archie then said to Cheryl, "Maybe it's time we tell my dad about our relationship? He seems to be more understanding than most of the people in town."
"Sounds good", Cheryl said.
Archie, Reggie, and Cheryl then headed to the Andrews household.
"Hey buddy", Fred said when he saw Archie. He smiled politely at Cheryl and Reggie.
"Dad, there's something I need to tell you", Archie said.
"What is it? You can tell me."
"Cheryl and I are dating", Archie said. "We've been in love with each other, and I just wanted you to know about this. Do you approve?"
"Archie, of course I do", Fred said. "Whatever makes you happy."
Cheryl squealed and hugged Fred tightly.
"Thank you, thank you!", she exclaimed.
"Cheryl's also tutoring us in English", Archie said. "It's an excuse if anyone sees the three of us together."
"Sounds like a good plan", Fred said.
Archie only hoped that nothing would go wrong now.