Chapter 2: You and I must make a pact
Jason Blossom is dead.
Dante froze into place when he heard. He pierced the skin of his hand with his nails when he closed into a tight fist when he saw the police taking his body out of the river. Then he puked when he got home.
But the worse part of it all.
Someone killed his best friend.
That was all that Dante was thinking while he lay on his bed motionless with his eyes wide open. Sleeping wasn't going to happen, all that Dante could do was ask a lot of questions.
Who killed Jason and why?
Where is Polly?
How the hell is he supposed to go to school today?
Those were all questions in Dante's head.
Unfortunately for him, his alarm started to beep. He got up from his bed and just wore the first thing he saw. A black t-shirt, black punk zip-pants and black hiking boots. He went downstairs and drank a cup of coffee before leaving his house. Dante decided to walk to school today, so it would take longer to him to get there.
As Dante was passing through Polly's neighborhood like he always does, he tried to walk as fast as he could so he wouldn't go bashing into the Cooper's house and force someone to tell him where Polly was. He was sure that the 'group home' was a lie but he didn't know if it was a lie from Betty or her parents.
He was trying to think of how he could find out where exactly they sent Polly to. While thinking about Polly, Dante felt sad about the baby. A fatherless baby now, he or she deserved better. Jason deserved better.
"Hello Dante." Dante heard someone greet him. Dante moved his head to the side and notices that It's Fred Andrews.
"Good Morning Mr. A ." Dante greeted him back.
"Heading to school?"
"Yeah"
"Wanna ride, I'm going that way." He offered to him.
"Ummm. Sure."
Dante decided to accept the ride. Mostly because he was thinking too much on the matter at hand and it was better if he just got into the school quickly.
"I heard about what happened to your friend." Mr. Andrews decided to start a conversation.
"I, ummm" Dante didn't know what to say. "I just can't believe he's gone, and that someone murdered him."
"Yeah, I can't believe it myself to be honest." Mr. Andrews remarked.
"The worst part is that hi-" Dante stopped himself from mentioning the baby. "His sister Cheryl will probably freak out today."
"It will be hard for some time but things will get better." He's speaking as someone who knows what he's talking about, which is why he listens to him.
"I hope you're right." Dante could only hope.
Unfortunately for Dante, they arrived. He grabbed his back and stepped out of the car.
"Thank you Mr. Andrews."
"No problem."
He then drove off.
This was going to be harder than he expected. First thing that he hears in the morning is a school-wide message that Cheryl would not rest until Jason's death was avenged.
Dante only had one thing to say while she spoke.
"Get in line Barbie."
First class of the day was biology, Dante was thinking about ditching but he wasn't really in the mood to do anything else. He walked down the corridor before which unfortunately he bumped into Reggie Mantle.
"Watch where you're going Parker." Reggie told him.
Dante just stood there motionless for a few seconds, before moving past him. But while he moved Reggie put his hand on Dante's shoulder.
"Hey weirdo, I'm talking to you."
Dante lost his patience and threw a hammer fist to Reggie's crotch which made him fall onto his knees. Dante ignored his murmurs of pain and kept walking towards class.
The moment Dante entered class, he ignored everyone around him and went to sit on the first available table in the room.
The teacher quickly came in and told everyone to get a partner. But to Dante's surprise, Cheryl Blossom sat beside him.
"What exactly are you doing?" Dante spoke with a low voice so only she would hear.
"Where did you go after you left the party?" She asked.
"That's none of your business." He could tell her, but he doesn't want to.
"Why the secrecy? Got something to hide?" Cheryl was now talking with a very accusing tone.
"Oh I don't know, what exactly happened in the river?" Dante was just joking but he didn't want to give her any leverage.
"Jason and I fell into the water. I made it to the shore, he didn't." She spoke in defence.
Dante on the other hand was confused. Jason didn't tell his sister about Dante being a part of the plan? Or she was just joking with him?
"Is that really all?" Dante asked in complete confusion.
"Yes." Dante know that she was lying but she looked completely dedicated in keeping the lie.
However their talk was interrupted by the teacher starting the lesson.
The exact moment that class ended.
Dante left without talking to Cheryl.
He just wondered around the corridor trying to understand something. Why didn't Jason tell his sister that he was helping him or did he even told her about Polly? After a short walk, he went outside for lunch.
He sat at an empty table eating the usual food served there.
But only a minute after he started to eat, he was approached by Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge and Kevin Keller.
"Can we sit here?" Veronica asked.
Dante only nodded his head.
They sat down and kept talking about Kevin's case of liking a guy who didn't like him, he's in the closet. Dante was not interested in this topic. But he couldn't help but stare at Veronica a bit. The only thing that is on his head besides Jason's death, is the kiss that the two shared before that tragedy. Veronica notices that he's staring at her and smiles a bit.
Dante smiles back.
Unfortunately, they're interrupted. Reggie shows up out of nowhere and grabbed Dante by his shirt and tossed him into the floor.
"Think you're tough weirdo, think again!" Reggie says as he kicks Dante three times on the stomach while he's on the floor.
Kevin, Betty and Veronica quickly stood up to help him. But the moment Reggie tries to kick him again, Dante grabbed his foot and kicked him in the knee, making him fall on the ground. The two of them quickly stood up, Kevin stood in front of Reggie while Veronica and Betty stood in front of Dante.
"He's not worth it." Veronica tells him.
Dante stops but Kevin had to keep pushing Reggie back.
"You're dead, Parker!" Reggie threatened.
Dante just stood there staring at him with his green eyes while Kevin kept pushing him back. He noticed that several people were watching them. Reggie kept pushing until someone appeared behind him.
"Mantle! What do you think you're doing." It was Coach Clayton.
Reggie quickly stopped and turned around. "Coach I..."
Coach Clayton grabbed him by the jacket and pulled him "Come on." He pulled him to follow him. "You too Parker."
"Wait… Reggie started it." Betty quickly spoke.
"I don't care who started it."
Betty was about to argue, but Dante just put his hand on her shoulder and shakes his head. It's no use to argue and he knows it.
He grabbed his bag and followed the Coach.
Coach Clayton took the two to his office. Which was weird to Dante since he wasn't a member of the Bulldogs. He did go to their games but it was because Jason was co-captain. He was now sitting there beside Reggie wondering what was going to happen. Coach Clayton just sits down on the other side of the table and starts to lecture the two of them in a very cliché way, he didn't warn the principal but Dante still doesn't understand why he dragged Dante there.
"Parker, you can go now." He says to Reggie. "Mantle, you stay a little more."
Dante just stood up and left the room, passing through the empty locker room and walking to the corridor. While he walked he noticed the cheerleader practice where he noticed Betty and Veronica. Dante would at time watch the cheerleader practice when Polly was a member. It was really awkward without her, but he was paying more attention to Veronica's performance but Betty was doing a good job as well. The practice ended unfortunately with Cheryl bitching about something but Dante couldn't hear from where he was. After she finished however, Betty noticed him. She taps Veronica's shoulder and points at him. The two waved at him and came closer.
"Hey, was everything alright with the Coach?" Veronica asked.
"Yeah, just a cliché lecture." Dante responded. "It was a nice performance."
"Thanks." Betty spoke.
"Could you wait up a bit, we're just gonna change clothes." Veronica said.
"Ok."
Dante waited a bit until Betty and Veronica came back wearing their normal clothes. The three then walked home together, Dante's home is the same way as Betty's so it made sense. The three walked without speaking much. Dante usually was the third wheel in conversations, so he never really started them.
"I saw that Mr. Andrews drove you to school today." Betty finally broke the silence which Dante didn't know if it was good or bad.
"Yeah, I worked part time there in the summer." Dante answered. He needed extra cash to buy stuff. "Did you know his son?" Dante decided to ask.
"Umm..." Betty paused a bit. "Yeah, we were friends."
Dante felt a urge to slap his forehead, he shouldn't have asked that. He knows that she had a crush on him, Polly told him about it.
"Just friends?" Veronica decided to ask.
"Yeah." Betty said with an almost dead tone.
"What happened to him?" Veronica asked.
"He went to live with his mom in Chicago after his parents split up." Betty spoke with a sad face.
Veronica noticed Betty's sadness and decided to lighten her up a bit.
"Hey, let's not talk about it anymore okay." Veronica comforted her. "Let's talk about something else."
"Like what?" Betty curiously asks.
"Like... Why Dante only wears black?"
The girls looked at him in wonder.
"I actually wanna know too." Betty said.
"Umm..." Dante was trying to find something to say. "We're here."
They look and notice that they arrived at Betty's home.
"See you girls tomorrow."
"You aren't going to the Pep Rally?" Betty asked.
"Ummm..." Dante tried to find the right words.
"Come on, you have to go." Veronica spoke. "You won't be able to see our performance if you don't."
"Ummm..." He was trying to come up with a good excuse but he couldn't find any. "I'll... be there."
"Great, see you tonight then." Veronica said with a smile.
Betty and Veronica went inside the Cooper's home and Dante kept walking home.
Dante was now laying on his bed listening to music while waiting for the time to leave for the Pep Rally.
He was bored. All he could do was focus on the song, Miss Jackson by Panic! At the Disco.
He really didn't want to go, but he does wanna see Veronica's performance. He really wanted to know if there was something going on between them after that kiss in the party.
"Alright, that's enough." Dante said to himself.
He stood up from the bed and went to his closet to change his clothes. Generic black jeans, a button up black shirt, a black rain jacket and black low tops. Not his best outfit but this was not exactly a special occasion.
The moment he finished getting dressed. His phone started to beep, meaning that it was time to go. He grabs his skateboard and leaves the house soon after.
He arrived sooner than he should and stood there in a secluded area of the audience. When everyone was getting ready, Betty noticed him and approached him to talk.
"You came." Betty said.
"I told you I'll be here." Dante spoke in return. "Umm... Thank you for earlier, with Reggie."
"It was nothing, he was being a jerk."
"He's always a jerk." Dante always heard things about him from Jason. "Hey, umm... Do you... Know where Polly is?"
Dante really needed to know if she was okay. But he really needed to confirm something first.
"My parents didn't tell me where she went, all I know is that she was is group-home."
"But is this place adequate for her condition?"
"What condition?"
She doesn't know, that's what Dante wanted to confirm.
Dante didn't answer Betty.
"Dante?"
Dante just turned around and tried to leave but she quickly cornered him.
"Dante!? What condition?" Betty screamed.
"Betty. It's time." One of the cheerleaders called Betty.
"We'll talk later." Betty made it clear.
A few minutes later, their performance started.
Josie and the Pussycats started to sing a song called Sugar, Sugar. Dante actually liked the song. But his attention was mostly on Veronica. She was doing great, but Dante also noticed Betty was staring at him the whole time. Dante didn't know how the hell he was going to tell anything to Betty or if he could trust her.
After the performance was over, much to Dante's displeasure, Coach Clayton announced the bulldogs.
The moment they enter, Dante had a urge to scream. He saw Jason in the front like he did last year, out of nowhere the memories of him pass through Dante's mind. Part of him was still hoping that all of this was a nightmare but he knows that it isn't, his friend is gone and there's nothing he can do to bring him back.
But then he notices Cheryl racing off the stage crying. She probably felt the same way as him.
"Can you watch over my sister, while I'm gone?" Jason's voice echoed through Dante's mind.
He decided to follow Cheryl.
He followed her into the Locker room where he found her crying.
He slowly approaches her. But she notices him and turns around.
"What do you want Parker?" She said between sobs.
"Just seeing how you were doing."
"You don't care." Cheryl now spoke with a hostile tone.
"If I didn't care, I wouldn't have come here."
She bursts into tears without caring anymore.
"I know how you feel." Dante tried to speak. "The moment they entered, it was like Jason was in the front like he was supposed to be."
She turns her face around to look at him.
"Part of me was still hoping that this is all a nightmare." Dante was speaking and Cheryl was paying full attention. "But I know it isn't, my best friend is gone and there's nothing I can do to bring him back."
Cheryl cries a bit more and between sobs she said. "He was supposed to come back."
"But he didn't." Dante complete.
He approached and kneeled down in front of her. He put his hands on her cheeks and wiped the tears with his thumbs. "I was part of plan." Dante told her. She was now completely focused on him. They were staring at each other's eyes. "I left a car for him, in the other side of the river." He explained to her. "But yesterday, I went to check the car and it was still on the same place I left." Cheryl's eyes widened at the revelation. "He never made it to the car, someone must have taken him after you two separated."
The moment was done with the explanation. He heard someone on the door. It was Veronica.
"Hi..." Veronica was confused at the situation.
"Hi..." Dante spoke in return. "I was just... telling her that..."
"That my brother wouldn't want me crying." Cheryl finished as she wiped the rest of the tears from her eyes. "Thank you Dante." She quickly returned to that fake smile of hers. "I need to go back." She said as she stood up and leaves the locker room.
Dante and Veronica were now alone.
"It was really nice of you." Veronica spoke. "Going after her."
"Yeah, Jason wouldn't want her crying." Jason really loved his sister.
"You know, Jason was lucky." Veronica approached him. "To have someone like you as his friend."
Dante smiled at her, but he really wanted to know something.
"We... Never talked about..."
"The kiss?"
"Yeah. Is there something going on between you and me or..."
"I don't know yet." She says with the same smile. "Do you want something to happen?"
"Well... well... I Ummm..." Veronica puts a finger in Dante's lips.
"Let's just go back before someone comes looking for us."
The two went back to the Football field for the rest of the Pep Rally. After it was finished, Veronica asked Dante if he wanted to go to Pop's with her. Dante quickly accepted. But when the two were about to leave, Betty showed up. Probably looking for answers from Dante. Veronica ended up inviting Betty too much to Dante's frustration.
The three quickly got there and sat at a table. But it was really uncomfortable for Dante because Betty kept staring at him, no doubt waiting for an opportunity to get some answers. Luckily for him, Veronica didn't leave to go to the bathroom or anything which delayed Betty's search for answers. This was not going the way Dante wanted but it wasn't bad either.
Veronica told him a bit about herself which Dante was glad to hear it. Even Betty talked a bit, which Dante didn't mind at all. Dante was a bit lonely because he hardly speaks to anyone since Jason left... died.
Unfortunately it was getting late and they had to go home. But before they left. Dante pulled Betty close and said. "I'll come by your house tomorrow."
Betty stared at him a bit and responded. "Okay."