Unveil • Cheryl Blossom

Chapter 4

I rushed through the hallways, searching for Kevin after hearing what had happened last night. When I finally foudn him in the student lounge I hugged him tightly.

He seemed confused at first so I pulled away to explain, "I heard what happened last night. And I'm so sorry that you had to be the one to find Jason like that, Kev." I looked into his eyes with concern.

"I'm fine, Trinity." He sighed and looked down, "It was more traumatizing having to explain to my dad what I was doing with Moose down by the river. Yet another perk of being the Sherriff's son." He said sarcastically.

"Well, I'm here for you, Kev. Whatever you need." I smiled at him but was distracted when Cheryl walked into the room.

I couldn't help but stare at her. She looked beautiful, the way her long hair hung over the side of her shoulder, and her classic red lipstick on her face.

"Hello, Trinity?" Kevin waved a hand in my face bringing my attention back towards him. 

"Yea, what's up?"

"Um, the bell rang?" He rose his eyebrow, "How did you not hear it?" He questioned before standing up and leaving the room.

I shook my head and glanced at Cheryl one more time before going to class.

...

"I can't believe you kissed him." I scoffed at my sister as we sat next to each other in science, watiting for the teacher to come in and give instructions.

"Says the one!" She joked and flipped her raven black hair, "You're the one who made out with Reggie freakng Mantle."

"Whatever." I laughed at looked over and saw two girls intimidating Cheryl.

"We were wondering, Cheryl." The first one began to speak, "Back in July, you told the po-po that Jason drowned-"

"-Yet, we come to find out that Jason didn't drown. He was shot. That's slightly suspiscious, no?" The second one finished.

"I'll be right back." I whispered to Ronnie before walking over to the two and crossing my arms, "Don't you living mannequins have anything better to do with your pathetic lives than interrogate Cheryl who just found out that her brother's been shot. Inconsiderate much? Why don't you do something useful like go shopping and buy yourself a better attitude. Hit the road, Chip and Dale."

The girls rolled their eyes but obliged and left Cheryl alone. Cheryl looked up at me through her long eyelashes and gave a small smile, "Thanks, Trinity."

"Anytime." 

"Seats, everyone. Pair off, gloves on, scalpels up." The teacher rushed in, clearly unprepared.

"Can I work with Jughead?" Archie announced.

"And I wanna be wtih Betty." Veronica added and I glared at her. She mouthed the word 'sorry' before getting up and sitting next to Betty.

I turned to Cheryl, "Guess we're partners." I took the seat next to her and picked up the scalpel on the table.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" She spoke softly and looked over at me.

"Because, Cheryl, you may not see it now, but we're really not all that different. And besides, that's what friends do, right?" I flashed a smile and she did the same. "Do you wanna come over later?"

She smiled before nodding.

...

"So," I nudged Kevin as I walked with him and Betty to lunch, "what did Moose want?" I teased before taking a sip of my coffee.

He chuckled, "Oh, my god, I don't even think he knows." Kevin shook his head as we walked. "I mean, I am devistatingly handsome in that classic, pre-accident Montgomery Clift kind of way, and sexuality is fluid, but can someone named Moose actually be that fluid?"

I laughed at the words that came out of his mouth, "Okay, well, I ship it."

"Well, of course you would, you're a big city girl with loose morals." Kevin said and I tilted my head not knowing if that was supposed to be an insult or not. "I just mean that Moose has an official girlfriend, Midge. Anyway, it's terrible to say, but part of me wished he would just stay in the darn closet." 

Kevin finished but his choosing of words weren't very great when we approached Archie and Veronica sitting at the table. "Obvously, I didn't mean literal closet."

"Kevin, stop talking." I told him as Betty sat down awkwardly across from Veronica and Archie. "Anyways, I'll catch up with you guys later. I have to let my mom know Cheryl's coming over later." I said casually but everyone looked at me like I had two heads making me confused.

"What?" I asked innocently.

"Cheryl?" Kevin question with a raised eyebrow.

"As in Cheryl Blossom?" Betty continued.

I nodded slowly and Veronica scoffed, "Since when are you two bestfriends?"

"Wow, guys, could you show a little sympathy? Her brother died. I'm just trying to be a friend." I rolled my eyes. "Talk to you later." I left the table.

...

"Stand down, vixens. And listen up." Cheryl stood with her hand up as she paced the gym in front of us after we practiced our routine. "The weather's predicting a downpour the night of the rally, but already, you're raining on my parade." 

I sighed and looked over at Betty who only shrugged. 

"With Jason so present in our collective consciousness, all eyes will be on me. Will this beautiful, exotic, hothouse flower drown under the town's scrutiny, or be swamped by her emotions? The answer, ladies, is 'no' and 'no'. That said, I need starpower. I need the pussycats. Stay loose and limber, ladies, while I make a call." She finished her speech.

...

"I, um, I ordered us a pizza if that's okay with you." I told Cheryl as we walked into my house. I gave her a ride after practice. "My mom is working her shift at Pop's and Veronica's with her for support." I informed her.

She nodded as she looked around my house, "Your house is beautiful." She commented as her hand glided over the glass table.

"Thanks." I smiled and admired her as she walked around, "Do you wanna go upstairs in my room? We can give each other makeovers." I suggested and she smiled at the idea.

"Ok, come on." I walked upstairs and through the hallways, leading her to my room. I put my bag down on the floor and sat on the bed, watching as her eyes wandered across my room.

She looked at the picture of me and Ronnie that I had attached to my mirror. It was us sitting at Pop's sharing a milkshake, the first day we arrived in Riverdale. "Me and Jason took a picture just like this once." She whispered before she gave a short half-hearted laugh.

She grabbed some makeup she found on my desk and turned around before sitting on my lap making my heartbeat pick up. "I like your room, it's sweet. It's almost like mine. You should come over and see it sometime." She spoke quietly before picking up a makeup brush and gliding it across my cheek. "But, just you, not Veronica."

I nodded and placed my hand on her thigh as she uncapped my lipstick and began to apply it to my lips. She placed her finger on my lips, fixing whatever errors she had done with the lipstick.

"Cheryl, I-"

I was interrupted when the doorbell rang. 

"That must be the pizza." She spoke softly and I nodded, staring into her eyes. The doorbell rang again but it was like we were stuck in a trance. "I should probably go get that."

I nodded, not able to speak. She slid off of my lap, my hand falling off her thigh as she did so. I watched at she left my room to go get the pizza.

"What the hell just happened?" I whispered to myself.