Truth [Riverdale Season 1]

The Truth

News traveled fast in the town of Riverdale that's for sure. By Monday morning the paper's front page was all about FP's confession. The article said he worked alone but by the tension my trailer was in when I woke up that morning told me otherwise. Julio told me I could stay home longer if I needed to but I was planning to just go in late. Then again I didn't get to see much of my brother since FP was arrested. Between his new job at Andrews' Construction and his new duties of taking over the Wyrm for FP my brother was really busy.

I had just arrived at the school when Jughead arrived. I linked my arm with his, he didn't really react, just stuffed his hands further into his blue jean jacket. Together we walked to the cafeteria where it seemed like everyone had congregated and were talking about the article. Jughead patted my arm and I slowly let go of his arm. He walked through the eerily quiet lunch room, while I acted as his shadow and followed being too worried to leave him alone. My heart nearly dropped when I realized that he was heading straight for Cheryl Blossom. "Jug," I whispered trying to stop him without drawing attention but he didn't listen.

I stood back a few feet as Jughead stopped right next to where Cheryl was sitting. My bottom lip was pulled in between my teeth as I could hear Jug sniffle. Everyone was watching them, it made me so anxious that I tightened the grip on my bag. "I'm sorry, Cheryl." Jughead's weak voice broke the silence, the bags under his eyes looked red under the fluorescent lights. Cheryl didn't say anything in response. For a moment the red head just sat there looking at the son of the man who confessed to killing her twin brother. The soft clicks of her heels was the only noise as she stood from the bench she was sitting on and took a step towards the taller male. Her arm pulled back and swung forward, the perfectly manicured hand made contact with the side of the Jones boy's face. The noise from the connection of skin was quickly followed by Cheryl pushing and pulling him by his jacket before pounding her small hands against his chest. My head shot over to the group hoping someone would do something as I stepped forward Archie got up and came to pull Cheryl back. The whole time Jughead just stood there and took it. "Enough!" Weatherbee called as Archie pulled Cheryl back. Cheryl left crying and Weatherbee took Jughead to his office. I nearly jumped when Betty and Kevin gently grabbed onto my hands.

I grabbed Betty's arm and pulled her with me towards the locker room. "We need to check on Cheryl." My voice shook as I spoke but Betty nodded in agreement. Betty was the one to push open the locker door. "Cherry?" I called out softly not sure of how she would react to the old nickname I used when I was still a Vixen. Cheryl sniffled from where she stood leaning over the sink, "I barely touched him." She briefly looked up at us through the mirror in front of her before looking back down. I set my bag down along with Betty before we moved towards the crying teen. "It's not his fault, Cheryl." Betty talked softly glancing over at me. "Even if his dad did do it, it's not.." I continued just as soft. "Everybody keeps coming up to me, and hugging me, and telling me that I must be so relieved that my brother's killer has finally been caught. This nightmare is over." Cheryl spoke looking at us through the mirror. Her voice sounded so broken and it reminded me of how Julio acted when we first found out about Jason. Cheryl turned towards us before she continued to talk, "Then why doesn't it feel that way?" Betty seemed frozen, not knowing how to reply but I stepped over. I moved slow enough that she could stop me if she wanted to but she didn't. So I pulled her into my arms and held her. "Because he's still gone." I whispered, my voice cracked and I felt the sting of tears welling in my eyes. Jason was still gone, just because FP confessed for a crime he may or may not have actually committed did not change that. Cheryl sniffled and wrapped her arms around me too, "I thought you and Jason really would have been cute together. Even if it was temporary." We stood there for a moment and just held each other. Betty had silently let herself out but I stayed with Cheryl.

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I didn't hang out with my cousin often but Joaquin was pretty cool. I mean if I knew something I wasn't supposed to, chances are Joaquin was the one who taught me about it or told me. Yet whatever happened with Jason's murder had made him stay away. So when he came over asking to hang out I jumped at the chance, especially with Julio not around to tell me not to. So I threw on a jacket and we hung out around the south side together.