Elite Hearts

A Touch of Evil

"I think many of us, maybe the entire town, had been hoping against hope that Jayson Blossom hadn't drown on July 4th. That we'd come to school Monday morning, and there Jayson would be. Or that we'd see him and Cheryl in a Booth at Pop's. But that was before the undeniable, irrevocable fact of his bloated, water clogged body, a corpse with a bullet in its forehead, and terrible secrets that could only be revealed by the cold, steel blade of coroner's autopsy scalpel, or the telltale beating of a guilty heart."

"I don't want you coming home late from now on," The dining room fell silent as George's stern declaration echoed, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

His words set a new tone for the household, a response to the heightened concerns in the aftermath of Jayson's tragedy. The air seemed charged with a mix of caution and unspoken emotions, as the family grappled with the impact of recent events.

"But what about football? I have practice," James voiced his concern, the clash of priorities evident in his tone.

"Is that more important than your safety?" George responded, his question underscoring the heightened concern for James's well-being in the wake of Jayson's tragic fate.

"It's better to have one rich kid dead in this town than to risk losing another one. This is probably some sick revenge, the people from the southside have been plotting to get back at the rich," George declared, his words carrying a mix of concern, urgency, and a touch of accusation toward the southside residents. The gravity of the situation intensified with the looming suspicion of revenge.

James, sat in complete silence his mind completely blank as to what was really happening in Riverdale, The clash of priorities and the weight of his father's words left him grappling with the reality of the situation unfolding in Riverdale.

James stopped in his tracks. Of course, he wasn't going to blindly follow his father's command.

"Your father's right; it's better that you're safe. Who knows what's next that's going to happen in this town?" Priscilla added, her words carrying a mix of concern and a mother's protective instinct. The unpredictability of recent events had heightened the sense of caution within the family, emphasizing the need for safety over other pursuits.

"You should listen, James. It's for your own good," George said, his words carrying a mix of paternal concern and a stern directive. As James stood up from the dining table to leave, he glanced back at his father, the weight of the morning's conversation lingering in the air.

James left without uttering a word, a lingering suspicion gnawing at him. The stoic reaction of his parents to Jayson's death raised questions in his mind. As he drove to school, the unsettling thought of their possible involvement loomed, adding a layer of complexity to the already tense atmosphere in Riverdale.

At school, Jayson's locker had become a small memorial adorned with his picture, flowers, stuffed animals, and candles. Archie stood there, staring at Jayson's locker, his eyes reflecting a mixture of sadness and guilt.

Jughead approached archie "Hi," he greeted.

"Do you think i can use Jayson Blossom's death as an excuse to get out of PE? 'Sorry, Coach, i'm just too depressed and freaked out right now to do pull-ups"

"Don't joke about Jayson Blossom" Archie said sternly

"What? Sardonic humor is my way of relating to the world." Jughead scoffed, looking down the hall to see Reggie and half the Football team.

"Look, it's the rich kids from The Goonies." Jughead says, while looking down the hall where Reggie is.

"Alright i'm out." He walked down the hall, to which Reggie noticed him, nudging him harsly, making Jughead rub his shoulder in pain.