1 | There's a Ghost [JUGHEAD JONES]

NINE

trigger warning in 2nd half of chapter

↳ CHAPTER NINE:

SECRET REVEALED ↵

     JUGHEAD STARED AT THE SMALL FIGURINE TOWN in the mayor's office and Virginia nervously sat in the chair in front of the important woman. Jughead hadn't scheduled an appointment, rather threatened the secretary to let them in. Virginia had laughed at his insistence and the terrified look of the old woman who looked at the grungy teens with a look of disgust. Growing up on the Southside, you would get used to the looks.

"I'm sorry, but the Twilight Drive-In?" Mayor McCoy asked Jughead. "It's a blight that's become a cesspool, and a hangout for criminals... and transients, and the deal's done." She waved papers in the air as she spoke and Virginia felt that if she were gay, the mayor was definitely on her crush list. "Andrews Construction is scheduled to demolish the lot on Monday."

Jughead's mouth formed a tight line as he tried to think of something– anything to save the quaint drive-in. "Mayor McCoy, when I was a kid, my family and I would go to the drive-in all the time. We couldn't afford tickets for everyone, so my sister Jellybean and I would hide in the trunk until we parked. We'd sneak out."

"And I would watch with binoculars from the road," Virginia added with a blush as the powerful women's gaze turned to her.

"It's like our home."

The mayor smiled sadly at the stories, with a look empathy. "That's a very sweet sentiment, Mr. Jones and Ms. Hopkins. But the future of Riverdale is at stake."

"But where else would the transients and low-lives go?" Virginia asked, anger seeping into her voice as she stood up– she didn't understand. "You're trying to better this town but you don't know how! Instead of changing something that's been around that long maybe you should start building homeless shelters around town– have you ever been to the Southside Mrs. McCoy?"

"When I was younger, yes." She replied, impressed with the young girl who spoke with such vindication. "I used to live there."

"Then why can't you see why this is so important to us?" Virginia asked her brokenly, she felt as if everyone who didn't live there was against her.

"I do," the older woman sighed as she stared at the young teenagers before her. "I do but I'm not the one who wants it. I have no real reason to stop this transaction from occurring. I'm sorry."

Jughead and Virginia left the office annoyed more than ever. Jughead was silent as they walked out of the yellow building and Virginia eyed her silent best friend with concern.