Secrets • Jughead Jones [1]

|Not Chuck Clayton|

'Guilt, Innocence, good, evil, life, death. As the shadows around Riverdale deepened, the lines that separated these polar opposites blurred and distorted. "I'm guilty," Cheryl said in biology class. But of what?'

Cheryl sat down in Weatherbee's office and spoke,
"To clarify, I didn't mean I was guilty of killing Jason. I loved him more that I do myself. But I am guilty of of lying about what happened on July 4th."

"The autopsy put his death about July 11th. When was the last time you saw your brother?" The Sheriff questioned.

"It was July 4th. I don't know what happened the week after that-"

"Cheryl, in your own words, what happened at Sweetwater River?"

"The plan was bananas, even for me. Jason wanted to leave Riverdale and never come back. He asked for my help to stage a tragic accident so our parents and Aria wouldn't come after him. Our story would be we went for an early-morning boat ride, and the boat tipped and capsized and Jason drowned. In fact, we made it to the other side dry as bones. We said goodbye on the Greendale side of Sweetwater River. He promised he'd call as soon as he was in his place where he couldn't be pulled back by our parents. One month at most. He also made me promise not to tell Aria what happened. Every day I waited for him to call, for an e-mail." Cheryl explained.

"So, your sure that Aria doesn't know anything about this."

"I'm very sure, Jason and I wouldn't tell her. We didn't want her to try and stop us."

"You tell anyone else about the plan? Any way that you can corroborate it? You have no idea why your brother wanted to run away. Fake his own death. Doesn't that seem cruel?"

"No, he wasn't. Jason wasn't cruel." She sobbed.

"So maybe this is all just a web of lies your spinning to cover your own tracks."

"I didn't kill Jason!" Cheryl exclaimed.
"There was a gunshot that morning. We heard a gunshot on July 4th." Cheryl continued. "Maybe whoever killed Jason took a shot at him and missed, that morning."

"You heard a gunshot, and your telling us now?" The Sheriff enquired.

"I was upset, my brother was murdered."

"So upset that you sang and danced at a pep rally yesterday. It seems your sister is struggling more than you."

Just then, the Blossom parents came in to the office,
"What the hell is going on here?" Clifford questioned.

"Mummy!" Cheryl pandered.

"Don't say another word, Cheryl get up." Penelope ordered.

The Blossoms walked out of the office, they saw Aria and Penelope gave her a sad but loving look that said,
"Come on honey."

So she left with them leaving a crowded school hall.

~•~

"People are saying Cheryl heard a gunshot. - I heard it too." Archie confessed to Weatherbee and Sheriff Keller. Although, he didn't say he was with Mrs Grundy.

~•~

Betty, Archie, Veronica, Kevin and Aria were all sitting in the sofas talking to each other.

"Guys, should we maybe re-binge Making a Murderer on Netflix tonight?" Kevin stated.

"Sorry. Can't." Betty laughed," Gotta stay late to work on the paper."

"Count me out too. I've got a date tonight." Veronica replied.

"You do?" Archie questioned.

"Which Riverdale hottie made the cut?" Kevin asked.

"Hey, V-lo. I'll swing by Pembroke to pick you up at 8."  Chuck spoke.

"I'll be waiting."

"Cool." Chuck walked off with his gang.

"Chuck Clayton?" Betty said.

"Your going on a date with Chuck?" Kevin said unbelievably.

"He's kind of a player."

"Who cares? He's the hottest of hot!" Kevin spoke.

"I wouldn't go out on a date with him, Ronnie. Just please don't." Aria mumbled.

"Why not?" Veronica questioned.

"I can't say but, just don't. Ok, he's a pig."

"That's your opinion. He's the varsity football coach's son. In Riverdale that's like dating Kennedy." Kevin laughed.

Veronica sipped her coffee and smiled.

~•~