Chapter 9: Voices Are Heard
Laughing all it off like it was innocent
Oh, but all I ever wanted was to get rid of it and let it out
Get it out
But if you could fight, if you could choose
If you could say all the things you wanted to
If you couldn't lie
If you would only move like you had something to lose
Split Stones by Maggie Rogers
Half-naked boys.
Rosie had no idea when she was walking into school that morning that she would be parading into a male locker room filled with half-naked boys.
Rosie was not wholly comfortable with all the boys sauntering around in towels that dipped suspiciously low in the front region. However, she knew that she was here because of sexist douchebag Chuck Clayton and his clown sidekicks that decided that their harassment of girls was any bit respectful or welcomed.
Veronica was, undoubtedly, in charge of this small train of females barging through the foul-smelling space. She shoved boys aside like they were off-brand Gucci.
"Move, move," she ordered.
Just behind her, being pulled along basically against her will (and very uncomfortably), was Betty. She shielded her eyes from the fully nude and half-dressed football players around them.
And, as the caboose, Rosie. She was unsure of how this scenario would end up playing out. She felt as if this was not exactly the best method of confrontation but was already in neck deep. She had been thrown the deep end and had to figure out how to swim. Thankfully, she seemed to be keeping afloat. That is, until Archie appeared.
Veronica walked right into the walking pile of muscle, stumbling back in shock as the redhead's towel began to cascade downwards.
Rosie's eyes flickered up to the ceiling, cheeks surely pink. To deny that Archie was visually appealing was a complete and utter lie, no matter who you were. It was particularly difficult to think of Archie in this way because of their shared moments from the night before when she admitted things to him that had never been admitted before about her family.
Betty covered her eyes and looked back at her friend in surprise.
Veronica's face became steel once more.
"Veronica, Betty, Rosie…what are you guys doing in here?" he questioned, voice unstable as he held the cloth up to protect himself.
"Don't worry about it," the Lodge girl told him firmly.
But Archie was worried. He stepped in front of the three girls.
"But, Veronica," he began, looking for an answer.
"I mean it, Andrews. Hit the showers and stay out of my way!"
Veronica pushed him aside like he was garbage, charging forward like a brave knight.
Betty's free hand remained near her eyes, guarding them from unseemly awkward sights.
Rosie attempted to go on, but a hand attached itself to her arm. It was a gentle gesture. She looked beside her. It was Archie again.
"What the hell is going on?" he wondered, obviously bewildered by their surprise visit to the boy's locker room.
Rosie focused her gaze on his face, not letting it wander further down than that.
"Chuck posted a picture of her on Instagram and photo shopped something on her face called a 'Sticky Maple…?' The symbolism isn't exactly being digested well – by any of us, really," she explained.
Archie groaned and shook his head. "That stupid maple syrup picture thing? Yeah, that's been going on ever since Chuck started on the football team."
Rosie shook her head. "And his father has done nothing? His teammates haven't called him out?"
"There's a group of them who do it," Archie told her quickly. "Some of us have tried to stop it, but there's nothing we can do. Talks to dad and the next thing you know, someone's gone. Kicked off the team."
"Has it happened to any other girls?" Rosie wondered.
Archie shrugged. "Definitely. I don't know about anyone specific, though."
Rosie sighed. Figured. Chuck probably had scared half the team into not telling anyone. His dad was the coach. He could tell his father endless lies about the other guys and his father would probably believe him.
She began to walk towards Veronica and Betty, but Archie stopped her once again.
"Are you doing okay?" he asked softly, scanning her face for an expression.
Rosie glanced at the heated discussion between Chuck and Veronica. "Can we talk about this later? You know, when we're not in the boy's locker room and you're wearing, uh, clothes?"
Archie nodded. "Yeah – sorry. Please be careful."
Rosie nodded back, then stormed over to Betty, Veronica, and the ever-disgusting Chuck Clayton and his goons.
"Whoa, whoa. Why are you so wound up?" he was saying casually. "It's a badge of honor."
"A badge of honor?" Rosie cut in angrily. "You think you can just slap that stupid image on some poor girl's face and let her suffer through the mockery and slut-shaming and call it a 'badge of honor?' You are clearly misinformed."
"Oh, and look who it is," Chuck laughed darkly. "Rosie Green. Yeah, I've heard all about you from your little bro. Classy guy."
Rosie's nose scrunched at the mention of Will.
"Besides," Chuck went on, "neither you or Veronica are exactly virgin territory, especially after her romps with random rich dudes in New York and your closet date with Andrews."
"Okay, that's beyond irrelevant, Chuck," Betty chimed in forcefully. "You're not allowed to go around humiliating girls for any reason, under any circumstances, you…jerk."
Rosie nodded fervently. Betty was right.
"Look, I get you're not a closet kind of girl, but hey, if you wanna ride the Chuck wagon, that can be arranged."
Chuck cast Betty a lustful glance.
Veronica and Rosie scoffed as Betty became even more severely uncomfortable.
"Who the hell gave you the right to talk to her that way, you moronic douchebag?" demanded Rosie. "How dare you assume and cast your horrid, filthy imaginations on my friend? On any girl, for the matter of fact? You are disgusting!"
Before Chuck or any of the other football players surrounding them could respond, Veronica intervened.
"You know what, let's keep this simple so that your preppy-murderer half-brain can grasp it. Take. This. The hell. Down."
Chuck looked extremely irritated. "Okay, that high-tone, bitch attitude may have worked on the betas you dated in New York, but you're in Bulldog Territory."
Moose, including several football players around the girls, barked liked dogs. Veronica and Betty flinched. Rosie merely rolled her eyes. It was entitled jerks that Chuck that made her hate the teenage male population.
"But please, fight back," finished Chuck, amused. He brushed past Veronica. "You'll only make it harder on yourself."
Veronica went quiet, but Rosie was far from done. "The fact that you think we won't is decidedly foolish of you, Chuck."
The boy approached her with a stupid smirk on his lips, but a glint of fear in his eyes.
"Let me make this clear to you, new girl," he sneered. "You have no idea who I am and the power I hold at this school. I dare you. That's right. I dare you."
Rosie didn't even blink. "Dare accepted. Now move so I can get out of this man-whore cave."
Chuck didn't back down but did walk forward closer to Rosie. "What the hell did you just call us?"
Now, she felt threatened. Her heart thumped louder than a drum as she was backed into a humid locker.
Suddenly, a hand clamped down on Chuck's bare shoulder and pulled him aside. It was Archie – fully clothed and fully pissed off. His damp red hair stuck out in all directions.
"Back off, Chuck," he ordered, voice low. "Leave her alone."
Before the Clayton boy could respond, Archie herded the girls towards the door.
Rosie's lungs constricted as they exited the locker room. She clung to her brown leather messenger bag and large coffee for dear life.
"Chuck is an asshole, Ronnie," Archie told her. "You shouldn't have gone after him like that."
Veronica scoffed yet again. "I'm not going to let him treat women like some personal object of his! He needed to hear what we had to say as empowered women who are fighting against sexism like this."
"Veronica is right, Archie," Rosie chimed in suddenly. The two stared at her while Betty's eyes went wide.
"Chuck should not be allowed to get away with this anymore. I understand that you are not able to under these circumstances, but we will rally and charge this castle. However," continued Rosie. "Ronnie, Archie is also right."
"He is?" she questioned, eyebrows low, puzzled.
"I am?" asked Archie, surprised.
"Yes," said Rosie. "The boy's locker room is Chuck's territory. We could have gotten our point across much better, and without as many idiotic interruptions, on neutral ground like the cafeteria. We could have had equal amounts of backup in the cafeteria. The football players would have been stuck fighting against basically the whole school."
Betty finally spoke up, voice more stable now that they were out of the locker room. "I think Rosie's right, guys."
Veronica and Archie begrudgingly nodded in agreement.
Betty checked her phone. "Hey, Ronnie, Kevin wants to meet us in the lounge."
Veronica sighed and nodded. "Great. We can tell him all about our adventurous escapade to a whole new world that doesn't involve a magic carpet ride."
And with that, B & V were off down the hallway, plotting revenge against Chuck.
Archie turned towards the glasses-wearing brunette next to him.
"Are you okay?" he asked for the second time that day.
Rosie adjusted her frames. "Honestly, not really. What Chuck just did was terrifying."
Her fingers shook slightly as her hand lowered back to her side.
Archie took her shoulders and pulled her in for a hug. Her arms wound around his middle and her head rested on his collarbone.
"Don't worry about Chuck," he told her decidedly. "I've got your back. Literally anything you need, I'll be there."
Rosie smiled genuinely for the first time that day. Archie was such a comfort to her, emotionally and physically. Just his presence made her feel more at ease.
"Thanks, Arch."
"Anytime, Ro."
The two let go of each other and began walking down the hall towards their first classes.
"Hey, I need to tell you something," the redhead said rapidly.
"What's up?"
"I ended things with Grundy today," he told her slowly.
Rosie's head snapped to the side, her braid whipping around her like a rope. Her eyebrows shot up. "You did?"
"Yeah," he told her slowly, thinking about it deeply. "I took your advice. That was dangerous and reckless and stupid. You were right. I don't think…I don't think Grundy ever – um, I don't think she ever actually loved me."
Rosie's breath hitched in her throat. To admit that took a lot of guts. A ton, actually.
She put a hand on his elbow, halting them in their tracks in the middle of the crowded school hallway. He frowned in confusion.
"That's hard for anyone to admit, especially with it being so fresh in your mind," she explained. "But here's the truth – she probably didn't. And I know I sound like a freaking jerk saying that, and I apologize if it hurts your feelings, but it is the honest truth. From one friend to another."
Archie merely nodded and whispered an, "I know." His eyes glazed over as he looked down at his shoes.
"But, hey," she continued softly, "if you need anything, you just call me, and I'll be over in a flash. Same thing you just said to me. I've got your back, remember? You're a spectacular guy. Don't waste your time getting hung up on some lame teacher. You'll find the right girl. She's out there somewhere. I just know it. You are going to make some lucky girl so happy someday, and I can't wait to be there to support you."
At this, Archie grinned. "Thanks, Rosie. I guess the truth hurts sometimes."
Rosie chuckled. "You are so right."
Rosie entered room 220, the headquarters of the Blue & Gold, bewildered as to why Betty had insisted on a sudden staff meeting. The new edition had just gone out and students were eating it up. They couldn't get enough of it. The next meeting wasn't scheduled for a few more days – so why the sudden text?
The brunette expected to see some new recruits for the paper, but instead was greeted by the sight of Betty sitting alone at the editor's desk.
"Hey, Rosie," she greeted kindly. "Take a seat, please."
Rosie frowned slightly, still puzzled. "Um, alright."
She did as she was told.
"What's going on?"
Betty sighed. "After this morning's interesting turn of events, I think we need to do an exposé."
"On Chuck?" Rosie asked quickly.
The blonde nodded. "On Chuck."
"We don't have any evidence of Veronica's innocence. There's nothing to report on that readers would find valid," said Rosie reasonably. "I think he needs to be put down in terms of this stupid, sexist practice, but we can't do anything until he confesses, or until other people step forward as victims or witnesses."
Betty smiled widely. "And that is why I wanted you on the paper, Rosie."
Rosie laughed. "Because I'm the voice of reason in this weird school?"
"Because you're intuitive," Betty confirmed. "You're willing to fight for the truth and you know what that looks like in journalism."
"I appreciate the compliment," grinned Rosie. "But what's your plan for this expose?"
"Let's ask around the school. See if anyone else has experienced this firsthand. There has to be more girls out there just like Veronica who were shamed into this horrible position."
"We should see if anyone will go on record to testify against Chuck. I can bring some audio equipment from somewhere if you'd like and we can all meet after school somewhere," Rosie told her.
"That would be perfect," Betty nodded. "Alright, we'll ask around this afternoon. I'll find an empty classroom and I'll text you the room number."
"Sounds great," the brunette agreed.
"Hey, Betty, hey, Rosie," chimed a male voice from the doorway.
"Hey, Arch," smiled Betty.
Rosie whipped around in her seat to see the redhead standing in the doorway.
"What's up?" asked Rosie cheerfully.
Archie walked in and leaned against the wall next to the editor's desk where Betty and Rosie were situated.
"I just wanted to check in on you guys. You know, after this morning…"
Betty's mouth open and closed like a fish. "I, uh…I'm fine."
Rosie raised her eyebrows at the blonde, unconvinced. She was feeling a little shaky still herself.
"I'm still a little on edge," she confessed quietly. "I felt really unsafe when Chuck – ,"
The room went silent for a beat.
"I'm just glad you stepped in, Archie," she finished.
"Me too," Betty nodded. "Thanks, Arch."
A small smile played around his mouth. "You don't need to thank me. Chuck was being an asshole. I'm done letting him treat girls like that."
"So are we," Rosie told him. "That's why we're doing something about it."
"We're going to interview girls in the school who may have had similar experiences to Veronica's, whether that be with Chuck or one of the members of his group. We can't let it keep happening. It's 2017. It's time for some gender equality," Betty announced proudly.
"If there's anything I can help with, just let me know," Archie said.
"We will for sure," Rosie grinned.
Then, the bell rang. It was time for their next class.
"I'll text you where we'll meet up," Betty told the other girl as they grabbed their bags. "See you later, Archie."
"Bye," he replied as she quickly exited the room. Just Archie and Rosie were left standing there.
They walked out together, knowing it was time for Biology class – which they had together.
"So, I have some news," he began cheerfully.
Rosie glanced up at him, a small smile on her face. "What kind of news?"
"Good news," he grinned. "Cheryl got me an in with our favorite local girl band."
The brunette's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Josie and the Pussycats? What kind of in are we talking about?"
"I told Josie that we're interested in helping them write some songs and she agreed to let us in on their practices."
"How the hell did you do that?"
"Cheryl said she owed me for defending her confession of hearing that gunshot. She was kind of weird about it, but she wanted to do me a favor."
"Wow," Rosie scoffed lightly, "maybe the Tinman does have a heart after all."
Archie chuckled. "Josie wants us to meet them here tonight in the music room at 7."
"Aren't you grounded?" she asked.
The redhead shrugged. "Well, yeah, but…this is important. I'll sneak out. It's not like I haven't done it before."
This time, Rosie chuckled. "That's true."
"So, you'll come?"
"Well, duh! I wouldn't miss it for the world."
The Andrews boy grinned again. "Awesome. I'll let Josie know that you're up for it."
During Rosie's last class of the day, and, ultimately, her least favorite one, a text from Betty finally came through.
Room 102 – found several girls that have been harassed by the football team.
Rosie replied quickly.
Cool. Talked to some girls, too. I'll bring them with.
Rosie rounded up several of the girls she had talked to throughout the afternoon – most of them being from all different social groups. A couple girls from the River Vixens, a girl from the Academic Decathlon team, and a girl who had been labeled as a "social outcast."
The Green girl led them to Room 102, where Betty was already sitting with several others. The blonde was deep in conversation with a taller girl that wore a small ribbon tied in a bow in her reddish-brown curls. The girl with the ribbon smiled as they entered.
"Nice work, Rosie," Betty complimented as Rosie pulled up a chair next to her.
Rosie jokingly did a small salute. "Thanks, Chief."
"Rosie, this is Ethel Muggs," introduced Betty. Ethel smiled once again.
"Hi," she greeted.
"Hi, I'm Rosie," the brunette replied warmly.
"Yeah, I know," said Ethel sheepishly. "I've seen you around a lot – mostly with Archie."
Rosie instantly tensed. She did her best not to make eye contact with the blonde next to her.
And just to Rosie's suspicion (although she didn't know because she purposely didn't make eye contact with her), Betty's smile had faltered, not fully reaching her eyes.
"Uh, yeah. We're, um…we've become pretty good friends. We work on music together a lot," Rosie told her, voice as normal level as possible.
"That's great," Ethel said kindly. "Rumor has it he's amazing and you're even better."
Rosie's eye twitched. "Well, that's very nice to hear, but I have to say that Archie really is spectacular. His instrumental skills are almost better than his vocals and writing."
"You're just as amazing, Ro," Betty chimed in cheerfully. "Don't sell yourself short."
Her cheeks went pink and warm from embarrassment. "Thanks, Betty. That's really nice of you to say."
Suddenly, a small ding sounded from beside Betty. It was her phone.
"That's Veronica," she announced. "She's almost here."
"Excellent," Rosie grinned. "I've got my laptop and microphone to record anyone willing to go on permanent audio record. We can show this to Principle Weatherbee along with the expose if we need to. Think of it as backup."
"That's perfect," nodded Betty. Rosie got out the equipment and quickly set it up. "Let's get started. Is anyone willing to give any information on this situation? Anybody else besides Chuck distressing innocent girls?"
"It was Reggie Mantle that harassed me," spoke up a darker-skinned girl on the left.
Rosie adjusted her headphones and microphone, checking the levels on her computer and leveling them out as needed.
"Thomas Kirk said he did stuff with me," said the blonde girl next to her timidly. "I was felt really uncomfortable."
Betty continued to write down the names as they all rattled them off. Reggie Mantle. Thomas Kirk. Moose Mason. Chuck Clayton. And one unnamed male that no one in the room had ever been troubled by, but all had heard of.
A pair of designer heels appeared in the doorway, followed by the face of a puzzled Veronica Lodge. All of the girls accused, and also Betty and Rosie, turned to face the raven-haired girl.
"This story is bigger than we thought," Betty proclaimed, disappointed. "Rosie and I started asking around to see if what happened to you happened to anyone else, and if anyone would go on record."
"And it's got to be more than just these girls here. I'm sure there are more females in this school who have been unfairly sexualized besides just the brave ones here that stepped forward and agreed to go on record," Rosie nodded.
"I will," Ethel piped up. "100%."
"Okay," Betty urged, getting her pencil ready. She turned to Veronica to give her some context. "It's five guys on the football team. Chuck and his posse."
"Surprise, surprise," Rosie murmured mindlessly as she raised the microphone.
Veronica resisted the urge to laugh at her friend's joke as Betty spoke to Ethel. "Ethel was about to tell us…"
The taller girl sighed, eyes trained on the floor. "One day last year, Chuck and I talked in the library for 10 minutes. I helped him with a Pre-Calc problem, and nothing happened. But the next day, he…He started telling people I had let him do stuff to me. Like, sex stuff. And then he…or one of his goons, wrote 'Sloppy Seconds' on my locker."
Rosie shook her head and rolled her eyes, disgusted that someone would ever do such a thing. First of all, Chuck had told an outright lie, and secondly, let his friends believe it? And not only vandalize school property, but absolutely humiliate someone for actually helping you? It was horrific and inhuman.
A cold, sharp, uninterested voice sounded from the doorframe. "Yes, yes. We've all heard your tragic origin story."
It was Riverdale High's very own, self-proclaimed Scarlett O'Hara. Her red hair glowed even under the fluorescent school lighting (which intrigued Rosie, yet made her slightly jealous).
All of them ignored her soulless comment.
"I'm so sorry, Ethel," Betty empathized. "That's horrible. I don't –"
"Not as horrible as being a suspect in your own brother's torture-murder case, but we all have our crosses," Cheryl butt in.
"Are you serious?" Rosie blurt out, frustrated. She shoved her headphones off her ears. Why the hell would you ever compare those two situations under any circumstances?
"As serious as ever, Zooey Deschanel," Cheryl spit back.
Rosie rolled her eyes for the second time that day. She must have picked that up from Rosie's favorite band in all of Riverdale – Josie and the Pussycats.
"In the meantime, River Vixens practice starts in five minutes, sluts, so…"
"They're ruining our lives and to them, it's just a game," Ethel finally choked out, offended by Cheryl's clear lack of compassion and the sheer frustration of what happened to her and the other girls. "They keep score, and…"
"Wait, what do you mean, keep score?" Veronica asked slowly.
"Each conquest earns them points," explained Ethel.
"They have the nerve to call us conquests?" demanded Rosie angrily. "How the hell do they know which ones have been, quote-on-quote, 'conquered,' then?"
"They keep track in some secret playbook," answered Ethel.
Veronica and Rosie scoffed.
The other girls either clapped a hand on their mouths in shock or their jaws dropped. No one could believe what they were hearing.
"Okay, we have to talk to Weatherbee," Betty decided.
Ethel shrugged, "I already tried. Weatherbee said that he didn't find anything."
"Then it's just like Rosie said earlier – we need undeniable proof," nodded the blonde.
"Proof of what Nancy Drew? That boys will be boys?" squawked Cheryl.
"Is that really your defense of this whole debacle? Is that what you believe, Cheryl? 'That boys will be boys?'" Rosie shot back. "That is the poorest excuse for unjust actions that I have ever heard in my entire life! So, what? Girls who get raped or sexually abused aren't in the right? They just let it go because boys will be boys?"
The group of girls around her rallied, agreeing with her on every word.
Veronica raised her eyebrows at the Blossom girl, waiting for whatever defense she had for herself to come flowing out.
Cheryl sent Rosie a death glare as she continued. "That playbook reeks of suburban legend."
"How would you know, Cheryl?" Veronica demanded.
"Because, Frida Shallow, before he died, my brother was co-captain of the football team with Chuck, and Jason never mentioned it, and he never would've allowed it," said Cheryl resolutely.
"Okay, well, I never met your brother, but I'm not lying about what happened to me. And Ethel's not lying. And proof or no proof, book or no book, I am going scorched earth on these privileged, despicable miscreants. You wanna get caught in that backdraft, Cheryl? Call me, or any of these beautiful, young, strong, intelligent women…slut…one more time," Veronica replied threateningly.
Cheryl's face went smug. "Fine. Whatever. Just hurry up with your Babysitter's Club meeting and get to practice on time. Chop chop!"
She strut away, doing her best to hide the petrified, unsure look in her eyes.
Veronica spun on her heel, shoulders held high in triumph.
"Listen," she told everyone gently, "I am so, so proud to be a part of this group of women. We will find a way for us all to feel safe at Riverdale High again, but right now, Betty and Rosie could really benefit from your stories. I, for one, am glad to go on record. And I hope that you will agree to do the same – to show other girls in this school that they are not alone. To show girls like Cheryl and boys like Chuck and his hoodlums that equality starts now. We will not tolerate this any longer. But it's up to you. Please be a part of our mission and our movement."
There was a moment of silence as the other girls contemplated the message.
Rosie smiled and gave the Lodge girl a thumbs up.
Veronica smiled back.
"I'll go on record," said the River Vixen next to Rosie.
"I will, too," said the other.
"I'm done letting my voice be pushed down," said the blonde in the front. "I'm all in."
And soon enough, every single girl in the room, including Veronica, willingly agreed to have their statements written and their stories recorded.
After a very successful meeting, Betty, Rosie, and Veronica hung around in the room.
"That was incredible," Betty said in awe. "All of those girls, including you, Ronnie, are so brave."
"They're shedding their chrysalis and growing into monarchs," Veronica said proudly.
"Very elegant way of putting things," chuckled Rosie, carefully placing her microphone and laptop back in her messenger sling bag.
"You know," Betty said thoughtfully, "I was thinking…"
"That's dangerous," Rosie joked.
But Betty was so lost in thought, she didn't notice it. "We need to find that playbook."
Veronica nodded fiercely. "We do. We need to find it tonight. We should come after hours and search their lockers. I'll bet you my entire Louis Vuitton handbag collection that Weatherbee only looked at the covers of all the books in their lockers, not the content. If we find the book, we can get Chuck and the other football players involved in some kind of disciplinary trouble."
Rosie sighed. "I've got Pussycats rehearsal with Archie."
The blonde's eyebrows shot up. "You have to go to Josie's band rehearsal? With Archie?"
"Cheryl got us an in with Josie," the brunette explained. "She said she owed Archie some kind of favor for testifying on her behalf to Weatherbee and Sheriff Keller."
"Why Pussycats rehearsal?" Veronica questioned, confused.
"Archie thought it would be good for us to write for other bands. We both need to expand our horizons when it comes to genre and style. The Pussycats are different than we are in terms of both of those, but they could also benefit for some branching out," relayed Rosie.
"Then we'll definitely keep you updated on what we find," Betty told her.
"Thanks," smiled Rosie. She checked her phone. "Ugh, I've got to get some homework finished before rehearsal tonight. I told Jughead I'd meet him at Pop's to go over some Biology stuff. I'll see you to tomorrow."
The Cooper girl and the Lodge girl waved goodbye as Rosie quickly grabbed all of her belongings and started on her way to Pop's.
When she reached the diner, she spotted the crown-shaped, gray beanie through the red and blue haze of the neon sign reflected off the window.
She approached the counter, ordered her usual from Pop, and slumped into the seat across from Jughead.
"Rosie," Jughead nodded, not taking his eyes off his laptop screen.
"Hey, Jug," she greeted, pulling her Biology notebook out of her bag. "How's your book coming?"
"Steadily," he replied, distracted. "Cheryl getting interrogated by her own parents, the sheriff, the principal…it's literary gold."
"That's good. And how is your part of the project coming along?"
"Fine. Not as interesting as Jason's murder, but it's getting there. You know, I've never been a fan of silver metallic sharpies when drawing mitochondria, but this is high school."
Rosie chuckled. "I'm not a fan of high school in general."
Jughead's eyes met hers over his computer, amused. "Same. It's a crowd of hormonal teenagers who have nothing better to do than bury their noses in useless textbooks and pointless social drama that doesn't help us learn anything except that people are stupid."
"And speaking of stupid people," Rosie continued on. "I don't know if Archie told you, but –,"
"He and Grundy are over," he finished. "Yeah, I was relieved to say the least."
The Green girl nodded. "You can say that again."
"I also did some digging on Dilton Doiley," he told her. "It turns out that he fired the gun on July fourth."
"Are you serious?" Rosie said quickly, eyebrows rising up past her bangs.
"Completely. He was teaching his scouts how to use a rifle for survival purposes," he replied solemnly. "I got one of his scouts to confess just before you got here."
"Have you told Betty yet?"
He shook his head. "Not yet. I thought it might be better to tomorrow, after this whole Chuck Clayton and his band of merry men had been thrown into the open air."
"Well, from what I know, Betty and Veronica are searching the school tonight for the sexist 'playbook' where they keep track of all their 'encounters' with girls. We should have that crap airing out by morning," said Rosie.
"Are you not joining them?"
"No, I'm actually going to Josie's band rehearsal with Archie."
Jughead scoffed. "Of course, you are."
Pop appeared with Rosie's usual order – a grilled cheese with curly fries, honey mustard, and a mint milkshake – which put a halt on their conversation.
Rosie squirmed uncomfortably as Jughead's previous comment echoed through her mind.
When Pop was thanked, he went back to counter. As soon as he was out of earshot, Rosie's nose scrunched in puzzlement.
"What does that mean?"
"Exactly what I said it does."
Rosie shook her head. "I honestly don't understand."
"It means that I would expect nothing less, Rosie," he explained patiently. "You're Archie's new best friend. And he possibly is interested in you."
Rosie couldn't help but laugh. "Jug, you're still Archie's best friend. Nothing is going to change that. Also…he's not interested in me. Not at all."
"Not that you know of."
"I know he isn't."
"How can you be sure?"
Rosie became slightly exasperated. "Jughead, Archie is not interested in me. We're music partners and good friends. That's it."
Jughead raised his eyebrows at her, almost entertained. "Okay, okay. You're friends. But just as a warning – it will turn into something more. I know Archie. You're not going to stay 'just good friends' for long; not with that friend being someone like you."
Rosie shook her head, trying not to let Jughead's words get to her. "Whatever, Jug. Let's just focus on the project."
For the rest of her time spent with Jughead at Pop's, his words kept floating through her mind. She mentally sneered at the mention of Jughead's prediction of becoming more than friends with Archie. That would be absolutely, positively, spectacularly ridiculous…right?
Wow, it's been awhile. Sorry, guys! I feel like I say that after every single update lol…
I hope you all liked this chapter. I got terrible writer's block in the middle, but I managed to pull through and finish it in about a week. Let me know what you think in a review! I'll be answering some right now:
GirlyGamer1986: Thanks! We'll have to see, huh? 😉
flazzy cullen: Dude, same.
10868letsgo: I can promise you that Rosie's family will in fact get what is coming to them at some point – whether or not that be anytime soon. Rosie will definitely continue to become better friends with the core four and, of course, my fave, Kevin! Thanks for reading!
clemhood1437: Haha, thanks! 😊
Please remember to favorite, follow, and review if you're enjoying this story! It would mean so much. I'll be able to continue writing more in a couple weeks. I'll hopefully have at least 1-3 chapters written and published in December, so keep an eye out for them!