When Jason Blossom is presumed dead, Riverdale shifts on its axis. Letting in the horror, and darkness that had been held at bay.
Archie, Veronica, Clary, Jughead, and Betty grapple with desires, love, drama, and murderers all while coping with the...
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Clarissa Cooper
"THIS STORY IS BIGGER THAN WE THOUGHT,"
I said to Veronica as I led her into a room full of girls.
"I started asking around to see if what happened to you happened to anyone else, and if anyone would go on record."
"I will. 100%," Ethel Muggs spoke up eagerly.
"Okay. It's five guys on the football team. Chuck and his posse. Ethel was about to tell us..." I explained, leading up to Ethel sharing her story. "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 that I let him do stuff to me. Like, sex stuff. And then he... Or one of his goons wrote, 'Sloppy seconds' on my locker."
Just then, Cheryl walked in. "Yes, yes, we've all heard your tragic origin story," she remarked dismissively. Veronica shot her a look, and Betty stepped in to comfort Ethel. "I'm so, so sorry, Ethel. That's horrible."
"Not as horrible as being a suspect in your own brother's torture-murder case, but we all have our crosses. In the meantime, River Vixen practice starts in five minutes, sluts, so..."
"They're ruining our lives, and to them it's just a game. They keep score and..." Ethel said, clearly distraught.
"Wait, what do you mean, keep score?" I asked, stepping forward. Ethel explained, "Each conquest earns them points. They keep track in some secret playbook."
"Okay, we have to talk to Weatherbee," Betty insisted.
"I already tried. Weatherbee said that he didn't find anything."
"Okay, we need undeniable proof," Betty pressed on.
"Proof of what, Nancy Drew? That boys will be boys? And that playbook reeks of suburban legend," Cheryl scoffed. Veronica stepped forward, confronting Cheryl. "How would you know, Cheryl?"
"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."
"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," Veronica declared firmly.
"You wanna get caught in that backdraft, Cheryl?" I challenged, stepping forward. "Call me, or any of these beautiful, young, strong, intelligent women... 'slut' one more time."
I was sitting in the Blue and Gold room, engrossed in a text from Jug, when there was a knock on the door.
"Ethel," I smiled when I saw who it was.
"Betty, you know Trev Brown, right? Valerie's brother?" Ethel asked, and I nodded.
"Hey, what's up?" I motioned for them to come in and sit.
"Hey," Trev greeted, taking a chair next to Ethel, who was seated beside me.
"He used to be on the football team," Ethel explained, and Trev added, "But I quit. When I saw Chuck's playbook. And I may know where it is."
I nodded, intrigued.
"Football players behaving badly, what else is new? Steubenville, Glen Ridge. The coach's son being the ringleader. I mean, just how depraved is this town?" Veronica remarked as myself, Ethel, Betty, Veronica, and Kevin walked through the dark school with flashlights.
"Color me impressed," Cheryl's voice suddenly came from behind us, causing us all to gasp. "A B and E with B and V. What would your holy roller mother say about this, Betty?" she teased, and I sighed "What are you doing here, Cheryl?" and Kevin chimed in. "And where did you get those thigh-high boots? They're amazing."
"Trev told Valerie, who told Josie, who told Ginger, who told Tina, who told me. And I thought I would help out," Cheryl explained, and I nodded in understanding. That checked out.
"Help? Or derail our investigation?" Betty questioned skeptically.
"Get over yourself, Betty," Cheryl retorted.
"Hey guys, get in here. Trev was right," Ethel called out, and we all crowded around the locker she was pointing at. "They didn't even bother to hide it," I remarked, shining my flashlight on the evidence.
"New girl? Is that what I'm reduced to? Nine points?" Veronica read aloud mockingly.
"Better than Archie's Girl—ten points," I admitted, not surprised that Reggie had entered me into this degrading book.
"Better than 'Big girl.' Seven point five," Ethel added, and I rubbed her back in sympathy.
"Polly's in this book..." Betty began, her voice cracking with emotion, and Cheryl noted grimly,
"Next to Jason's name."
"I'm so sorry, Betty," Kevin murmured, offering comfort to my sister.
"This isn't... Jason would never..." Cheryl protested.
"It's right there, Cheryl!" I interjected angrily. "God. Your brother hurt my sister. This is what guys like Jason and Chuck think about women. We're objects for them to abuse. And when they're done with us, they shame us into silence. They have zero remorse for the lives they destroy," I snapped, my frustration boiling over.
"Maybe I don't know Jason," Cheryl responded defensively.
"I'll take a picture. We'll show it to Weatherbee. It'll be the perfect cover for your expose, Clary," Ethel suggested, snapping a photo.
"Yeah, but... No. These girls deserve justice, don't you think, Cheryl?" Betty urged, stepping closer. "You want vengeance? You wanna go full dark, no stars, Veronica? I'm with you. And I have a plan" she declared.
I shook my head, feeling conflicted. "Sorry guys, I'm all for justice, but going full dark, Betty? Count me out. Text me when I can actually be useful."
