Helpline ((Jughead Jones)) 2

8

It wasn't hard to find her. She'd be at school, in the changing rooms. So that's where I ran to first. Cheryl wasn't a nasty person, she just had issues and expectations. I had learnt that she liked to micromanage and be in control of every aspect of her life so that she was the centre of attention. They say that middle children are like that. First borns are always the most high achieving and reliable. That was Jason. Then the youngest child was the 'baby', the one to get away with everything and the one that is always favoured. Now I didn't get away with everything, but if I asked to do something, my parents would make it happen. Finally, the middle child. Most say they don't get enough attention and have the largest social circles. That was very true with Cheryl, only, it was parents that didn't give her enough attention. That explains why she felt the need to be the centre of the dances and look after me and make sure the spotlight was on her.

I found her in the changing rooms, fixing her hair, standing only in her bra, (the I had brought her for her birthday from Victoria Secret, our favourite shop.) The moment I closed the door, she jumped, gasping loudly and, of course, dramatically.

"Give a girl a warning, will you sis?" She smiled at, reaching in her locker for a skirt and putting it on before reaching for a black top to match.

"We want closure, Cheryl." I said to her, taking steps closer to her. She looked up from fiddling with her top to face me. It seemed that she was stalling putting her top on, which she very often did when we got changed together for school any time she picked my outfit. "I want to help my boyfriend's dad and save Pop's."

"I told you--" She was about to go off on one of her classic rants and I knew that it would be a repeat of what happened last night at Thistlehouse. So, the best way to shut up fire, is tip a bucket of water on it's head. All metaphorical of course.

"And I'm telling you to help FP or I wide-release the video of our father shooting Jay-Jay." I threatened, causing her to stand straight and step closer to me. Her face showed one of shock and outrage, but she knew not to test me. I may have been the quietest Blossom child, but I was the most daring.

"We're family, your life would be ruined as well." She bit back, trying to find a loophole in my threat, testing to see if it was empty or not.

"If I remember rightly, I am no longer part of the Blossom family. So, you try having closure with that out in the world."

"I thought you gave that damn flash drive to Sheriff Keller." That was true. We had given him the original copy, he had the flash drive they found in Jason's football jacket, however that wouldn't be the only copy.

"We did, but Betty saved a copy onto Jughead's laptop. One click, and the darkest chapter of our family's twisted psychodrama becomes a viral sensation." With Cheryl not in shoes and me in heels, I was nose to nose with her, making sure my eyes screamed how serious I was being. Her and mother refused to help Jug last night, so now, I wasn't giving her an option.

"Are you threatening me little sis?" She asked, her voice laced with patronising tones. I smiled in the way Cheryl often did to everyone she spoke to. The smile cried fake to whoever was on the receiving end of it.

"Yes. In true Blossom fashion, save a man's life, or I will ruin yours. It would be a nice ending to a very sad and dark story. You know Jay-Jay would have done it."

I had no idea where this new, confident Cynthia had come from. She was threatening people and hadn't had a panic attack in a while. The helpless little girl that I had been while solving the mystery of July 4th, was growing into a strong and independent woman, capable of threatening family to get justice.

"If I testify, you're giving me that video and a guarantee that all copies are erased."

"You have my word, as long as the River Vixen help out at Retro Night at Pop's." I threw back, making sure I got both of the things I came in here to get. A promise to testify and the Vixens for Retro night.