Chapter 9: Confrontation

Archie looked at the driver's license, feeling unsure of what to do for a few minutes.

"I can't believe it", Cheryl said.

"I knew she couldn't be trusted", Archie said. "I can't say I'm surprised. If she was lying about this, then who knows what else she was lying about."

Cheryl's face then started to show some anger. "If she killed Jason, I swear I'll…"

Archie pulled Cheryl close to himself. "We don't know that for sure. Even if she is responsible, I don't want to see you get into trouble. Cheryl, I care about you. Riverdale is already looking like a dangerous place."

Archie looked at the identification card.

"I'm taking a picture of this with my cell phone", he said. "With photographic evidence, there's no way that Reggie can possibly accuse us of slander."

Archie and Cheryl then walked back to the Blossom estate.

"How often do you think of Jason?", Archie asked.

"Almost every day", Cheryl said.

"I bet you miss him", Archie said.

"Badly", Cheryl said. "I often think about what he would be doing if he was still here. He would have tried to lead the Riverdale football team to another championship. I think he would be glad that you're watching over me."

Archie smiled. "It's not really a big deal, Cheryl."

"It is. Until you and I spent more time together, no one else seemed to care about my problems or what I was going through. I lashed out at students in my elementary school and middle school in anger, which I shouldn't have done."

"Cheryl, you are not to blame. I know why you were angry."

When the pair reached the Blossom estate, Cheryl embraced Archie.

"Take care of yourself", Archie said.

"I could say the same about you."

The next day at school, Coach Clayton called Archie and Reggie into his office.

"I've decided to make Archie captain of the Bulldogs", Coach Clayton said. "He made the right choice in choosing to retire Jason's number. Exemplary leadership right there."

Archie felt guilty about accepting the role as captain of the Bulldogs. But he also knew that Cheryl would have wanted him to replace Jason. Accepting the new responsibilities on his shoulders would be a lot on his plate.

But it was necessary. Archie believed that the tasks of watching over Cheryl and looking out for his teammates fell to him. Archie did not consider himself a leader, but he would do the best he could to help his team and the love of his life.

Coach Clayton then said, "I'll be seeing the two of you at practice today."

Archie and Reggie then left the office.

"Well, you're the lucky one", Reggie said, slapping his hand on Archie's shoulder.

"I thought it would have been you", Archie said.

"It was clear that you seemed more committed to filling Jason's shoes than I did", Reggie said. "I mean, you are in love with his sister."

"I hope Cheryl won't mind."

"Are you kidding? She would be proud of you. If anyone deserves to be captain other than Jason, it should be you."

Archie smiled as he and Reggie headed to class.

"What do you think Cheryl will be tutoring us about today?", Reggie asked.

"Maybe she'll tutor us in English", Archie said. "Or maybe biology. Some of that stuff does seem pretty difficult."

Archie saw Jughead standing by the lockers. He nodded at him briefly before going on his way.

Meanwhile…

Kevin Keller was still feeling terrified.

He was happy for Archie and Cheryl. Their new romance was clearly beneficial for both of them in a lot of ways. Cheryl was a loner, and Archie needed someone intelligent to guide him in the right direction. Kevin only wished someone could be there to guide him.

If Kevin had a boyfriend, perhaps he would not have stumbled upon Jason's body. What had he done to deserve this? Kevin and Jason were not really that close. They talked a few times, but they were not really friends. Acquaintances would be a better term to describe their interaction.

Kevin's dreams the past few nights had haunted him. He kept seeing Jason's corpse hovering over him. He was disgusted by what he was seeing.

He just wished his father would catch Jason's killer and get it over with. With the murderer still on the loose, Kevin would not really have any peace. What if he was the next person to be murdered? As far as Kevin knew, he was on good terms with everyone. He hadn't done anything to piss anyone off or offend anyone. There was no reason why anyone would want him dead. Of course, Kevin thought the same thing about Jason. Yet here they were.

He needed to have consolation. He needed to have closure. There were many individuals that were devastated after discovering a dead body. Kevin knew from history class in ninth grade that Japan had one of the highest suicide rates out of all the nations in the world. The horror of finding someone that had recently passed away was certainly not something Kevin would wish upon anyone, not even his worst enemy.

He might need to speak to a counselor about his problems. He figured he needed to tell someone about what he was going through.

Meanwhile…

Archie saw Betty and Veronica talking with each other in the lounge during fourth period. He knew that he would have to make amends for their argument.

Archie approached, not really sure what to say. His communication skills weren't that great.

Betty and Veronica glanced at him but didn't say anything.

"Hello Betty", Archie said. "I just wanted to apologize for losing my temper in the library."

"I messed up as well", Betty said. "I shouldn't have said those things about Cheryl."

"Cheryl's an incredible person", Archie said. "You just have to give her a chance."

Betty nodded.

Archie smiled at her. "Well, I have to get going. See you around."

Archie was then heading to the library to study with Reggie and Cheryl. As he headed in that direction, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

It was Jughead.

"Hey, pal", Jughead said. "Haven't seen you that often lately. How have you been?"

"Everything is fine", Archie said. "Just busy studying and focused on extracurriculars."

"We should hang out sometime", Jughead said.

"We'll see", Archie said. "I don't have a fixed schedule, so I'll have to see. But we'll definitely hang out."

Archie continued on his way to the library. He smiled at Reggie and Cheryl when he sat down in the library with them.

Cheryl said, "We'll start by going over geology. Can either of you tell me the attributes of bauxite?"

Archie thought, I remember reading something about that in my textbook.

"Bauxite is an amorphous rock that is believed to be the chief commercial ore of aluminum. It is consisted of multiple iron oxides."

"That's correct, Archie", Cheryl said.

Cheryl then turned to Reggie. "What are the three types of rocks?"

"Sediment, metamorphic, and igneous."

"What type of rock is schist?"

Reggie hesitated, apparently trying to think.

"Sediment?"

"No, it's metamorphic."

Reggie looked at the floor in disgust.

"Don't worry, Reggie", Archie said. "Making mistakes helps you to get better from them."

Reggie nodded.

Twenty minutes later, Archie and Cheryl decided to show Reggie all the research they had dug up on Grundy.

"Reggie, we looked up Grundy's social media profiles online", Archie said. "There's no evidence that suggests that she is even a real person."

"Let's not go through this again", Reggie said, clearly not wanting to hear this.

"That's not even the worst of it", Archie said. He then showed Reggie the picture that was taken of Grundy's driver's license.

Reggie whistled. "Seems like the love of my life has been keeping quite a few secrets."

"The love of your life?", Archie asked. "You might want to correct that statement. Anyway, it should have been obvious from the start that Grundy was keeping quite a few secrets."

"I have to talk to her", Reggie said. "But no more intimacy. I'll just have to tell her that our romantical relationship is over."

"As it should be", Archie said. "It won't be easy for you to break the news to her, but it has to be done. It's for your own good."

After school, Archie, Reggie, and Cheryl all headed to Grundy's house.

"Cheryl and I will be here to support you just in case", Archie said. "You can do this."

"Thanks, Archie."

Reggie knocked on the door to Grundy's house as Archie and Cheryl watched from across the street.

Grundy opened the door. She kissed Reggie on the cheek.

"Miss Grundy, we need to talk", Reggie said. "I know your real name is Jennifer Gibson."

Grundy seemed shocked from Archie's position across the street.

"We have to stop seeing each other", Reggie said. "This relationship of ours isn't right. But if you don't mind me asking, why have you been lying?"

Grundy looked at the ground. It seemed like she might cry.

"My ex-husband, he would get drunk and hit me almost every day. Once, he got so angry that he threw me against the floor and punched me in the face at least six times. I was in the hospital with serious injuries. I had to not only get a divorce, but go somewhere that he couldn't find me."

"Miss Grundy, I didn't know", Reggie said. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Even though we are no longer intimate with each other, you can always come talk to me about anything."

Grundy nodded, smiling slightly.

Reggie and Grundy hugged briefly before the black-haired teenager walked away. Grundy headed back inside her house.

"Glad that's taken care of", Archie said. "We better get back to studying."

That night…

Clifford and Penelope looked at Cheryl curiously as she ate dinner, trying to avoid speaking to either one of her parents.

"Cheryl, we need to talk", Clifford said. "It's about your friendship with Archie Andrews."

"What about it?", Cheryl asked, her heart pounding wildly.

"Archie might be a good influence on you", Clifford said. "It's probably good that he is studying with you. That way it is harder for you to embarrass yourself."

Then he showed a slight smile.

"He could also be quite useful in a few ways…"