Smokestacks - Jughead Jones [1] ✔

Chapter Nine

SMOKESTACKS

CHAPTER | NINE

Savannah had heard from Jughead that everything kicked off that night. He finally revealed to her about Archie and Ms. Grundy's forbidden romance, something that had surprised Savannah considering how "sweet" Archie was - according to Betty. Yet she could relate.

Ms. Grundy had left town. Why? Savannah wasn't entirely sure, nor did she need to know.

The news had arisen that Jason's body had been released to the Blossom's and they were holding another funeral. It felt bizarre that they had buried an empty coffin, forever wondering where their son's body was.

Savannah had decided to turn up at Betty Cooper's house before school, intent on walking with her. The blonde had bounced down the stairs, expecting it to be Archie waiting for her on the other side.

"Hi." Savannah offered.

Betty leaned into the open door and smiled, "Hi."

"I don't have flowers or cupcakes, but I came to say I'm sorry." Savannah said to her friend, wringing her hands awkwardly.

"It's okay." Betty reached down for her backpack, pushing her arms through the loops until it settled neatly between her shoulder blades. "I can't force you to like Veronica."

Savannah moved back onto the porch as Betty stepped out of the house, closing the door behind her. "Is Archie walking with us?"

"I don't think so." Betty sighed, her mind wandering as she recalled how it was her fault that Ms. Grundy got sent away.

The two moved down the steps in silence and setoff toward the school. The blonde was thinking of the same thing as Savannah, except the latter was missing some of the details that Betty knew.

"Is this about Ms. Grundy?" Savannah finally asked, revealing that she knew what had happened.

Betty snapped back into reality and gaped at her friend in shock, "Who told you?"

"Jughead." She said, sheepishly. "I just can't believe that Archie and Ms. Grundy were together."

Betty whirled around, checking to see if anyone had heard them. "Shh!" She hissed, eyes wide and panicked. "I just - I don't know what to say to him."

"Obviously he's hurting because he liked her and she left, I don't know if there is a lot you can say to him."

"But it's my fault she left." Betty sighed, her hands grabbing onto her head, hair sleeked back into a ponytail. "My mom read my diary and she blackmailed her into leaving, how can I not say something?"

Savannah stopped in her tracks, her eyebrows furrowed into a frown. "You're telling me that Alice Cooper made Ms. Grundy leave?"

Betty froze next to her friend and slowly turned to face her. "You - you didn't know that?"

"Nope." Savannah popped, her head spinning. "I'm not going to lie. Good on her. Ms. Grundy should not have been in a relationship with a student, it's disgusting."

The two started moving again, when Betty finally opened her mouth once more. "Um, Savannah? I found out that she also tutored Jason in music."

Savannah wasn't surprised that Betty told her that, though the girl was more than aware. After all, it was how she and Jason had started their relationship in the first place.

"I know."

*

Savannah was sitting in a swivel chair in the Blue and Gold News room, listening to Kevin Keller tell their little group that consisted of her, Betty and Jughead, about how his dad's board had been trashed.