jock → reggie mantle [riverdale]

12

Kevin and Reggie had both been sitting in class when they found out that Jackie never showed up to school, Kevin had this horrible feeling that drove him to leave school the second the class ended. Reggie, naturally, of course, followed Kevin, knowing he would know more about what's going on than Reggie would on his own.

***

I stared at the wall in front of me, feeling my heart rate pick up as I heard someone downstairs, he's back, I thought. I wanted to move, but I couldn't, I was terrified to the point of not being able to do anything. Even the thought of looking at a different spot on the wall hurt me.

"Jackie!" I flinched at the shouting, not having the energy to figure out who's voice it was. "Jackie! Open the door." The door was locked from the inside, which was pointless, but it's like he knew I wouldn't be able to function after everything he put me through. The door shook as it sounded like someone was ramming into it from the other side. "Dad, you need to come home now." I heard faintly, still not processing that it was Kevin.

"Jackie." Reggie breathed out once the door busted in, I looked at him, and it felt like everything was in slow motion as he and Kevin stumbled into the room, instantly looking me over for anything more serious than the obvious bruises and cuts. I stayed silent, motionless, as Reggie instantly held me against himself, Kevin frantically running around, unsure on what to do. "What happened?" I finally tore my gaze from the wall and placed it on Reggie who was know kneeling next to my bed, looking at me worriedly, his hand lightly resting on my leg that was under the blanket I was clutching to myself. I felt my eyes start to burn with tears as I sobbed silently, everything hitting me at once, adding to the physical pain I was already feeling.

"Hey, hey, baby shhh." Reggie looked hesitant as he raised his hand to my cheek, he lightly ran his thumb under my eye, "he beat me." I whispered through my sobs, he nodded slowly, glancing back at Kevin who bolted out of the room when our dad started yelling from downstairs, "a-a-and he tried to-" Reggie cut me off, "don't say it." He mumbled, looking at my tear stained and partially bruising face. "Don't leave, please." I whispered right before my dad came into my room, looking at the broken door for a split second before looking at me.

I know what you're thinking, this is the part where the girl runs to her dad for comfort; but I didn't move and neither did he. "Jackie, honey." My dad stepped closer, and before I could stop myself I leaned further into Reggie's hold, seeing the pain flash across my dad's face. Kevin whispered something to my dad who just nodded and eyed Reggie and I for a moment, "who did this?" My dad asked, hesitantly inching closer, I stayed still aside from my occasional sniffles.

"Tom Newman." Kevin and Reggie said simultaneously, my dad looked between the two, and nodded. "How do you two know this?" His voice was authoritative, like usual but more so, if possible. "Daddy," I cried, catching his attention, I almost never call him that unless I want something, or if somethings wrong. "I need to tell you something." I nodded softly at Reggie, silently telling him he can go outside with Kevin. He lingered for a moment before standing up and leaving the room, listening as I told my dad everything.

***

I looked over the headline on the newspaper, frowning as I read the article.

IN THE MIDST OF JASON BLOSSOM MURDER INVESTIGATION, SHERIFF KELLER ANNOUNCES APB FOR THOMAS NEWMAN.

Sheriff Keller has announced an APB for the following suspect, claiming he held his daughter captive in their house for hours, abusing her repeatedly. Thomas Newman is new to Riverdale, but Jacqueline Keller says that he was here over the summer, in which she got involved with him and is now opening up about past physical abuse.