Bughead 💘 | Wattys2017

Chapter 5

It had been a few hours after the lawn scene before I finally returned Cheryl Blossom's phone calls. We decided it best to meet up at Pop's, alone. I sat at my usual booth, nervously tapping my fingers against the table. I really wish that Jughead could have come with me, but he needed to stay at home and watch Polly. Not in a babysitting kind of way, but more in a I-dont-want-anyone-to-harm-Polly kind of way. But I needed to face Cheryl by myself. Finally, Cheryl Blossom strode in, and as she did it was like a slow-motion movie scene where the popular queen came strutting through, her red curls slowly blowing in the wind, red lips pursed, a dead serious look on her face. She came and sat across from me, ordering one non-fat soy milkshake from Pop. She looked me up and down from across the table, one eyebrow arched.

"How did this happen, Betty?" Cheryl said coldly.

"Well, your brother and my sister were dating and then they slept together."

"Ew not the details, you weirdo." She scoffed. "I meant a Blossom and a Cooper getting together. We've always hated each other. It's a fact of life."

"I agree. But it happened and so did this baby," I shrugged.

"I know. I just can't believe that JJ would be so stupid as to not use protection!" She said, baffled, spreading her hands out. She then quickly folded them back. "But, nonetheless, my brother is going to be a father!" She moved her hands to hug her chest. "I'm going to be an aunt! You're going to be an aunt! Betty, we're practically related." She squealed in excitement. I just looked at her.

"We're not related," I pointed between myself and Cheryl. "But I suppose we're forever connected through the baby."

"I'm so excited! I just wish that JJ were here. He'd be the best dad ever." She wiped a tear from her cheek, then straightened up. "What can I do to help?"

"Are you serious?" I scoffed. "Since when do you like my sister?"

"Since she's carrying my brother's baby, Betty." Cheryl said matter-of-factly. "I know that you don't trust me, and I don't have to see Polly, but I'd very much like to help. That's my niece or nephew, too." Cheryl reached across the table and grabbed my hands. She looked like she really did care.

"Ok. Fine." I sighed. "Umm.. I would say with money, but we just inherited all my parents belongings...I actually honestly don't know how you can help right now. Wait! Don't take this the wrong way, but please keep your parents far away from Polly. I especially don't trust them." Cheryl withdrew her hands and surprisingly took the news well. Then she looked both ways, as if someone was watching, and leaned in towards me.

"I don't trust them either, to be quite honest," Cheryl whispered from across the table. "And even then, I'm not sure that they weren't somehow responsible for JJ's death. They knew about Polly's pregnancy. I honestly didn't know until today. When I mentioned to them today that Polly was pregnant they said that they already knew. Ohmigosh." She sat up, eyes enlarged, and froze.

"Cheryl?" I was getting really worried now.

"What if they hired a hitman to kill Polly and the baby, and the hitman killed Jason instead?" She whispered and then burst into tears. My mouth dropped open. Holy cow. She might actually be on to something. I sat there awkwardly across the table from a broken down crying Cheryl Blossom. One of the scariest people that I know and one of the scariest sights to see.

"Hey, Cheryl?" She looked up at me and stopped crying, her mascara had just barely begun to smear across her face. "Do you... do you want to visit Polly and the baby soon?" I cracked a smile.

"Ohmigosh could I?" She instantly cheered up.

"I mean, of course I'll have to talk to Polly, but.... I think I'm ok with it. Also.... if you could help Juggie and I with our case... that's cool too. We've been trying to figure out this mystery for months. And we could really use your knowledge about the situation and your theories. And don't feel too bad about your parents, I'm not entirely sure that my parents aren't suspects, too." I shrugged. Cheryl clapped her hands rapidly and then reached across the table and hugged me.