Chapter 15: Sticky Maple, Part 2

Cheryl could not believe what she was seeing on Instagram. It was a photo of Veronica and Chuck. However, Veronica's face had been slightly blurred by a brown looking line. Cheryl looked at the caption, which read, "Sticky Maple".

This is sickening, Cheryl thought. Mortifying.

She looked at the numerous comments below the photo, none of which made her feel optimistic. Cheryl never really got along with Chuck all that well. Even though Jason and Chuck had been good friends, Cheryl thought that Chuck seemed arrogant and smug. Not that she had much room to complain, people thought the same way about her.

Well, except for Archie.

Cheryl then realized that the first person she should talk to about this was Archie. After all, the two of them were together now, and Archie would not have appreciated what Chuck was doing right now. Even though Archie wasn't completely perfect, and sometimes made bad decisions, Cheryl believed he was a good person at heart. That was one of the reasons she had fallen in love with him. Well, that and the fact that he had helped her when no one else wanted to, not even her parents. Especially her parents.

Cheryl called Archie's cell phone number. He needed to know about this.

"Cheryl?", Archie asked. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Archie", Cheryl said. "But Veronica…"

"I know, I'm seeing it on my Instagram feed. I can't believe that Chuck would do this. I mean, I should have expected him to be up to something, but I'm stunned that he would stoop this low."

"It's disgusting."

"I can concur", Archie said. "It's mind-blowing that he would have the audacity to do this."

"Poor Veronica."

"I'm heading to Thornhill right now", Archie said. "Just wait there."

One hour later…

Archie and Cheryl were in her bedroom. Neither of them was sure of what course of action to take now.

Archie was stunned and disgusted that Chuck would do this. He would have expected better from his own teammates. What he did was completely petty and inexcusable, and deserved to have its own consequences. Archie shook his head in disbelief. He thought about Cheryl and how angry he'd be if someone even thought about doing something like this to her.

What happened was very abhorrent and repugnant. Veronica did not deserve to be embarrassed and humiliated like this. Archie wanted to confront Chuck himself and call him out, but he was also worried that the entire football team would turn against him.

A disgrace and a shame. Archie checked the post again. He couldn't see any comments defending Veronica or telling Chuck to stop his petty behavior. This was totally malicious.

"We need to find Veronica and ask her how she's feeling", Archie said. "But we shouldn't ask her at the same time, or it will look suspicious. We can't be seen together."

"I understand why you're doing all of this, Archie", Cheryl said. "But we can't keep our relationship a secret forever."

"I know, Cheryl", Archie said. "But if we want to avoid getting blasted and ostracized like Veronica just did, we will have to be cautious. I don't like keeping this a secret any more than you do. But your parents may not approve of this relationship. Betty, Jughead, and Veronica probably won't understand why we're dating. I'm just being cautious."

"Understandable."

Archie looked at the ground. There was so much for him to think about.

"Look, we should head to school. We'll think of what to do when we get there."

At school…

Veronica Lodge was angry and incensed.

She had no problems with facing harsh criticism. Her father had committed multiple illicit acts and had caused people to look at her with suspicion. Being criticized and insulted was nothing new for her. She had been shunned in New York because of her father, and she wasn't really surprised when a handful of the citizens of Riverdale looked at her with suspicion. But this whole situation with Chuck…this was too much.

She sat in her room, sobbing. How could she face everyone at school with this debacle going on? What could she do?

It seemed hopeless.

Just then someone knocked on the door to her room.

"Go away Mom, I don't want to talk to anyone right now", Veronica said.

"It's me. Betty."

Veronica then walked towards the door and opened it. Betty walked in and hugged her tightly.

"I'm so sorry, Veronica. I'm so sorry."

"You can tell me I-told-you-so", Veronica said, sobbing onto Betty's shirt.

"No, Veronica. You don't deserve this. Chuck is an arrogant male chauvinist pig who thinks he's better than everyone else around him. He's a narcissist."

Veronica nodded her head in agreement. "But all of that doesn't change the fact that he still did this. Embarrassing and humiliating me publicly. All those comments on that post are haunting me."

"I agree, those comments are disgusting."

Veronica looked at the ground.

"I don't know what to do."

Betty had to admit, she seemed clueless about this situation as well. But then, something clicked in her head.

"I have an idea."

Later…

Archie and Cheryl secretly met in the music room. Neither of them was sure about what to do regarding the incident with Veronica and Cheryl. Archie didn't doubt for a second that Veronica was pissed. Archie himself was disgusted that Chuck would do this.

"I feel bad for Veronica", Archie said. "Maybe I should go and check how she's doing."

"Go ahead, Archie."

Archie walked out of the music room. He noticed most of the students in the hallways were looking at something on their phones and laughing. He didn't have to wonder what that was all about. This was completely unpleasant.

Just then someone grabbed Archie's shoulder. He turned around and saw that it was Reggie.

"Where's Clayton?", Reggie asked. "I'm going to kill him."

"Look, I know you're upset about Veronica. I agree, what Chuck did was horrendous and repulsive. But attacking him in public won't do you or her any good."

Archie could tell Reggie was really pissed. He was able to tell Cheryl's various moods, and he could easily assume that Reggie was feeling very angry at that moment. Archie knew at that moment he had to alleviate the tension, before Reggie attacked or punched Chuck publicly.

Reggie finally seemed to calm down. "What the hell are we going to do?"

"I don't know, Reggie. I wish I did."

"I feel so terrible for Veronica."

"Me too."

"We can't let Chuck get away with this. We have to do something."

Archie wasn't sure what to say at that moment. The two boys headed to their next class, both pondering their thoughts. As they turned the hallway, they both saw Veronica and Betty in a heated discussion with Chuck. Numerous other students were watching.

Archie and Reggie crept closer so they could overhear the conversation.

"Delete the post now, you arrogant asshat", Veronica said angrily.

Archie couldn't really blame Veronica for being incensed. But he knew that it would not stop Chuck or his demeanor.

"You city girls need to be taught a lesson", Clayton said, smirking. "I'm not deleting the post. This will be an example for anyone that tries to think they're better than us. You should consider it a badge of honor. You can't technically call yourself a virgin after your closet date with Mantle."

Archie could tell Reggie seemed really angry and could sense he was about to walk over and give Chuck a piece of his mind.

"Don't", Archie said. "Not here. Let it play out."

"Take this the hell down", Veronica said. "It might be hard for your miniscule brain to process, but you can't do crap like this."

"Yeah, Chuck", Betty said. "You can't go humiliating girls like this, for any reason. It's disgusting."

"You know, Betty, the Chuck wagon is open if you're interested. I'm not going to delete the post, end of discussion."

Chuck walked away guffawing. Archie wasn't sure what course of action to take now. He hadn't planned on any of this happening.

Archie then decided to text Betty.

Meet me after school. We need to talk.

"I wonder what Cheryl is going to tutor us about today?", Reggie asked.

After school…

Archie had arrived at Pop's, wondering what he and Betty would plan in response to Chuck's actions. He didn't expect what he would see.

Betty and Jughead were sitting with a boy that Archie had recognized from the football team. He didn't remember this boy's name right away, but his face looked so familiar and Archie knew they were in the same grade.

"Hey, Archie", Betty said. "This is Trev."

Archie glanced at Trev.

"Trev? Trev Brown?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Isn't your sister Valerie Brown? One of the Pussycats?"

"Yeah, that's also true."

"Archie, Trev has some information about Chuck that could help our investigation."

"That's great", Archie said. "Any information is helpful. Whatever we need to ameliorate this situation."

Archie briefly thought about Cheryl. He had to do this for her. Anything for Cheryl.

"As you may know, I used to play on the Riverdale football team. I quit last year."

Archie then realized that he hadn't seen Trev during the team meetings recently. He wondered why.

Well, he didn't have to wait long for Trev's explanation.

"I found out about something that most of the players on the team were involved in", Trev said. "One of the players involved with it showed it to me. It was a playbook with the points that each player had received. But it had nothing to do with football."

Archie glanced at Betty and Jughead. He had a feeling he knew what they were talking about.

"I looked at the playbook. It was basically scoresheets of points that each player scored for giving various girls sticky maples. Multiple points would be awarded to the players depending on which girls they targeted or how many sticky maples they distributed and allocated."

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

"I can", Jughead said. "I never really got along with anyone on the football team. Except Archie."

"I am ashamed by their behavior", Archie said. "As long as I'm in charge, none of that is happening. From this point forward, I'll try to keep the rest of the team in line."

Just then someone walked inside Pop's. Archie glanced upwards to see who it was. It was Cheryl.

Archie was delighted to see her, of course, but he knew their relationship still had to be kept a secret.

"Hello, you three", Cheryl said, still pretending that she felt neutral towards them.

Good acting, Cheryl, Archie thought.

"What do you want, Cheryl?", Betty asked, clearly feeling skeptical of Cheryl's presence.

"I just want to let you all know that my brother was nothing like Chuck", Cheryl said. "He would never have done any of this."

"Apparently numerous players on the football team handed out sticky maples", Betty said. "That would include Jason, regardless of whether you think he's innocent or not."

"Let's give Jason the benefit of the doubt", Archie said. "We'll need proof and evidence."

"What should we do?", Jughead asked.

Archie sat there thinking as Betty, Jughead, Trev, and Cheryl looked at him with anticipation. Then, an idea formed in his head.

"We'll have to break into the school", Archie said. "When no else is around, we can try going into the locker room and finding the evidence ourselves."

"I guess it's worth a try", Betty said. "I'll ask Veronica."

"Jughead and I will both come", Archie said.

"I'll come too", Cheryl said.

Betty glanced at Cheryl with suspicion.

"What? Why do you want to come?", Betty asked harshly.

"To prove Jason is innocent", Cheryl said.

"Don't be so hard on Betty, Cheryl", Archie said. "If she wants to come with us, let her come."

Meanwhile…

Betty wanted to carry out this investigation with only a number of close acquaintances. She didn't want anyone that she didn't trust to come. She sure as hell did not want Cheryl to get involved and get opportunities to make things worse.

Also, she was getting suspicious of Archie. Why was it that he was seemingly suddenly defending Cheryl and sticking up for her? As far as she knew, Archie and Cheryl were never friends. They attended the same schools since kindergarten, but they had barely spoken to each other in elementary school and middle school. So, why was it that Archie cared even though Cheryl was being criticized?

Betty tried not to think about it. Maybe Archie just wanted to be courteous and polite. If he wanted to be like that, that was his problem. Betty didn't have to like Cheryl or even care about her. Whatever happened to her was her own business. Betty wanted nothing to do with her.

Anyway, she tried not to dwell on those thoughts.

"So, we'll all meet tonight. At the school", Betty said.

"Agreed", Archie said. "Well, we'll be seeing all of you later. I've got to strategize with the other players on the Riverdale bowling teams."

"How is bowling, by the way?", Jughead asked.

"Fine", Archie said. He didn't want to disclose too much information. It would be up to everyone else to figure out what they didn't already know about. He wasn't obligated to give any personal information.

"Well, I've got to get going", Cheryl said. "Toodles."

After Cheryl left, Archie waited a few minutes. Then he said, "I've got to go as well. I got…things to do."

Afterwards…

Archie jogged away from Pop's for a few minutes. He met Cheryl a close distance from the chocklit shoppe. She was sitting on a bench on an isolated street in Riverdale. No one else seemed to be in sight.

"Hey, Cheryl", Archie said.

"Hello, Archie."

"Look, I apologize for Betty. I know that she shouldn't be saying any of those things about you", Archie said. "Jason was a good person. And even then, you're not responsible for his own actions."

"I really appreciate that, Archie, but Betty has a lot of reasons to be angry with me."

"Look, if we ever reveal the secret of our relationship to the public, I'll talk to her and try to convince her to give you a chance. She just needs to get to know you better."

"That sounds good."

Archie then decided to change the subject. "So, how are the bowling teams?"

"Everyone seems determined on the girls' side", Cheryl said. "I've been training them as hard as possible. I've been trying to keep updated with their personal and respectable skill levels and attributes."

Cheryl glanced at Archie for a few seconds. "How are the boys doing?"

"Pretty well, I would say", Archie said. "I've been calling the guys and talking to them. Everyone seems prepared."

"That's good."

Cheryl smirked at Archie. "Ready for tonight?"

"Absolutely", Archie said as he held Cheryl's hands with his. "I'd say it's about time we find out more about what Chuck is up to."

That night…

Archie waited for the others by the back door to Riverdale High School. Jughead arrived first, with Betty and Veronica arriving together a few minutes later. Cheryl arrived last.

"Let's do this", Jughead said.

"Agreed", Betty said.

"I can't wait to teach Chuck a lesson", Veronica said.

Cheryl said nothing, but it was clear to Archie that she was interested as well. Archie knew it was mostly because she wanted to believe Jason was innocent, but he knew that she disliked what Clayton had done to Veronica. It was time to find out the truth.

Archie pulled several keys from his front pocket. "Coach Clayton gave me these when I became captain of the football team. One of these keys should give us access to the boys' locker room."

After trying two keys that didn't work, Archie found the key that would lead them to find the playbook. He was already having a bad feeling about what he was about to see.

For ten minutes, the five of them rummaged through the lockers, not finding anything. But then, Cheryl said, "I think I've found it!"

Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead walked over.

It was a binder with the title on the cover: Sticky Maples. The title was written in orange.

Archie took the binder and flipped to the last page. Sure enough, Veronica's name was written on the last page. 3 points had been awarded to Chuck Clayton, according to the last page.

Archie was horrified when he saw the names of other players that he knew from the team, people whom he had trusted and thought they were brothers. Now he knew the truth.

Betty grabbed the binder and started doing her own investigating. Then she gasped.

She showed everyone what she was looking at on the twentieth page of the binder. Polly Cooper's name was on the top. On the right it said, "Jason Blossom, 9 points."

Betty glared at Cheryl. "Your brother hurt my sister."