Emily Keller-A Jughead love story (Book two) *Discontinued*

Fourteen

Josie's POV
I was in the music room after school playing the piano and singing my new song. I heard a noise that startled me and turned around to see Mr Svenson, the janitor.
" Mr. Svenson, you scared me." I said with a smilie and a hand on my heart.
" I was about to lock up. Are you gonna be okay?" He asked
" Yeah, yeah, I'll just, uh, slip out the side door, like usual." I said
" As long as you don't tell Principal Weatherbee. He'd have my head." He said before leaving. I continued to play and then left not to much later. I walked into my hotel room that my mother insisted on getting.
" Josephine McCoy." I heard my mother say sternly. I sighed and turned to look at her.
" Why do you think I moved us into the Five Seasons?" She asked
" Because, you don't feel safe at the house." I answered
" Baby, I don't want you walking the streets alone, not with the Black Hood out there.
I am this close to assigning a deputy to you for security." She said
" Mom! I don't need a bodyguard. I'm not Whitney. Not yet, anyway." I said upset
" I want you in this hotel before dark from now on." She said
" Mom." I complained
" Understood?" She asked sternly
" Yes, ma'am." I said before sulking off to my room.
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I was walking to my locker with Cheryl the next day at school.
" The Black Hood has my mom on edge and she has me on edge, and when I get stressed, the polyps on my vocal chords swell and I lose my voice. On top of which, going behind the Pussycats' back, working on songs without them." I complained
" You feel like you're sinning, and the Black Hood is going after sinners. I get it. And you're allowed to feel guilty. Up to a point, but I slipped that vid of you singing "Milkshake" to that producer at Shabbey Road Studios, and he was adamant about giving you and you alone, studio time." Cheryl said trying to comfort me. We got to my locker and I opened it to find yet another note and stuffed animal. I've been getting these lately and they are starting to creep me out.
" Another gift from your secret admirer?" Cheryl asked
" Gotta get a new lock. That's the third gift this week." I said shutting my locker
" Who could this mystery bae be? Ooh, maybe it's the Black Hood. You know he loves writing notes." Cheryl joked as we walked to our first class.
" That is not funny, Cheryl." I said and the bell rang. We walked our separate ways to our next classes.
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It my free period at school and I was practicing my song again.
" I get confused I never know where you stand And then you smile" I sang but was interrupted by a knock at the door. I turned around to see Chuck Clayton standing there.
" Chuck Clayton? Can I help you?" I asked rudely
" Well, I heard that voice and I could not resist." He said with a smirk " So, uh, I know this may seem a little out of the blue. But I was wondering if maybe you and I..." he started but I was quick to cut him off
" No." I said
" Not even some cheese fries at Pop's?" He asked
" Wait, hold up." I said thinking " Are you the one putting things in my locker?" I asked
" Well, I can be." He said
" Ew. Sorry, Chuck. I don't date. Especially not chauvinistic, misogynistic harassers of women, like you." I said and the bell rang " I've got bio." I finished and walked to my class. I sat down in my usual spot next to Cheryl.
" You will not believe this. Chuck Clayton just asked me out on a date." I said
" That's vile, assuming you said no." She said making a disgusted face
" Yeah, I'm not insane." I said
" Good. Because we have a date with the recording studio Maybe after school today?" Cheryl asked
" No way. I'm heading straight to the girls' locker room for a eucalyptus steam. My throat's been acting up" I said
" Josie, we have to practice..." Cheryl started
" Good Lord, Cheryl. I don't know who's more controlling, you or my mom." I said upset
" Josie, what you did, saving me from that Nick St. Creature. It's a debt I'll never be able to repay. What I can do is offer my humble skills to make your career blossom. But I'm happy to take a step back if you're feeling overwhelmed." Cheryl said hurt
" No, no. It's all good." I said
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I was getting out of the shower and singing my new song. I heard a noise behind me and turned to see Melody and Valerie.
" Oh, my God Hey, what's up." I said with a smile
" Is it true you're ditching us?" Valerie asked
" Who told you that?" I asked
" Someone put a note in my locker." She said upset
" What?" I asked confused
" Josie. Women are supposed to treat each other better than this. We're your sisters, and you clawed us in the back." Melody said
" It's not as black-and-white as that. Okay, this This opportunity just fell in my lap." I said
" Then why didn't you talk to us? Why be all shady and hide it?" Valerie asked
" Because she wants to try it as a solo diva." Melody said
" Well, go ahead, Josie. Try it, girl. 'Cause you're on your own now." Valerie said before they started to walked away
" What? No, wait! No, Val!" I called
" Pride cometh before the fall, Josie." Melody said as she walked by me. I got dressed and started to head to the doors of the school to leave when I heard footsteps behind me.
" Who's there?" I asked. I kept walking faster until I ran into someone and screamed only to look up and see Chuck " God! Chuck! Chuck!Oh, my God."
" Josie, are you okay?" He asked concerned
" Yeah. I'm fine." I said " Hey, you wanna You wanna give me a ride home?" I asked hopefully not wanting to walk home
" Yeah, yeah, of course. Is it cool if we make one stop first?" He asked and I nodded. We pulled up to Pops and went in. We sat across from each other in a booth a with milkshakes and Chuck gave me a look.
" Don't. Don't give me that look. That "we are on a date" look. We are not on a date." I said
" Okay, I admit, I don't have a great track record." He started
" Hmm." I agreed
" But I am changing. I started going to church with my dad, and I'm taking these art classes." He said
" Why? To objectify models?" I asked
" No, I wanna draw comics or kids books." He said with a smile
" Chuck, be realistic. You expect me to just believe that you've changed?" I asked and Pop came over
" Hey, kids. Really nice seeing you at church on Sunday, Chuck. Maybe you can get this one to come." He said pointing to me before walking away
" What? Did you plan that?" I asked
" No, I'm good. But I'm not that good." He said with a light laugh " And, Josie, I really am trying to be better." A song came on and he looked at me with a smile " Come on, let's dance." He said
" In Pop's?" I asked
" Why not?" He asked and we got up and started dancing around Pops. I was having a lot of fun until I heard my name called
" Josie! You are a damned fool." My mother called angrily
" Mom, what are you doing here?" I asked
" Check your phone, young lady. I've been texting you for hours. And you're in here doing the twist." She said upset
" Mom, relax." I said
" Mayor McCoy, I was just about to give Josie a ride home" Chuck said
" You? I don't want you within ten feet of my daughter!" She said dragging me out to the car. When we got back to the house she had me sit at the table with her. Sheriff Keller came over as well and stood next to my mother.
" I cannot have you acting out, Josie, not with everything that's going on." My mother said
" I'm not acting out, Mom, I'm living my life." I said
" There are people in this town with hate in their hearts. You've read the letters I used to get. The words they used. And now, since the Black Hood started, it's gotten so much worse.
It's like It's like they're emboldened by him.
I've started getting death threats." My mother said
" Oh, my God." I said worried
" The things they're saying, Josie, they're going to "slit my throat." Or "cut out my heart." They're monsters. And The last letter I got, mentioned you." She said
" I have to ask you, Josie, you received any letters? Or packages? Anything suspicious or threatening?" Emily's dad asked
" No. No, nothing like that." I lied
" I've worked so hard to get us here. To shield us from this kind of hatred." My mother said upset. Soon after that I headed to my room.
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" That someone would do that, write those things to your mom? This town is seriously ill." Cheryl said as we stood at my locker
" Tell me about it. My mom's the mayor. She's the strongest woman I know, and for these cowards to be terrorizing her" I said
" Do you want to bail on practice?" Cheryl asked
" No, I need to sing. It'll keep my mind off last night." I said
" Speaking of, I cannot believe you went on a date with Chuck last night. Taking a few art classes is not a saint maker." She said
" He really is trying to be a better person." I said opening my locker
" Is that why you didn't tell Sheriff Keller he was low-key stalking you?" Cheryl asked me
" I'm giving Chuck the benefit of the doubt." I said
" Fine. It's your funeral." Cheryl said and I pulled a box and note out of my locker
" Here we go again. I'll give Chuck that. He knows how to commit." She said. I opened the note and it read " if I can't have you, no one can" with a picture of me drawn on the bottom.
" Oh, my God. That is so not okay. It's a threat, Josie." Cheryl said " What's in the box?" I opened the box to see a heart
" Oh, my God!" I said shocked and freaked out. Cheryl grabbed my hand and threw the heart away.
" Out of the way, Bert and Ernie." Cheryl said as we walked through Archie and Jughead. We walked into the student lounge to see Chuck talking to his friends.
" We got your note, Cretin. This sick game you're playing with my girl ends now. Some people may be buying the snake oil you're peddling, but not me. You're still the same Chuck that thinks women are playthings to possess and torture." Cheryl said to him
" Cheryl, what are you even talking about right now?" Chuck asked confused
" Stuffed animals are one thing, but a pig's heart?" Cheryl accused
" Josie, I..." Chuck started but Cheryl cut him off
" If the Black Hood weren't clearly an old white dude, I'd say you'd be a prime suspect." She said with venom lacing her tone
" Hey, what's going on here?" Mr Svenson asked walking in
" Oh, good. Mr. Svenson's here to clean up the trash. Chuck's been threatening Josie, sending her disturbing messages. The creep probably wants to cut her open and feel her organs." Cheryl exaggerated
" Josie, is this true?" He asked me
" For all we know, he's the one sending your mom those letters, too." Cheryl said. I looked over to Chuck and he had a pleading look in his eyes
" Come on, Josie." He said
" It is. He's the one." I said unsure
" What?" Chuck asked shocked
" It's true." I said again
" It is not true, and you know it." He said as Mr Svenson grabbed him
" You're going to Weatherbee's office." Mr Svenson said
" You are lying! You're lying! You're lying!" Chuck yelled as he was pushed past me
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Later that night I was with my mother and the Sheriff
" We spoke with Chuck and he'll be steering clear of you from here on out." The sheriff said
" I'm glad they found the miscreant that was doing this to you, baby." My Mom said
" Actually, we may not have. We spoke with Chuck and questioned him and checked his locker, but we never found any evidence." Mr Keller said
" Well, keep looking, Tom. If my daughter says it's him, it's him." My mom said hugging me.
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I was singing  song at the school when the Black hood came up behind me and slit my throat. I woke up screaming from my terrible dream and my mother ran in.
" Josie, baby, what's wrong?" She asked hugging me. I just kept crying and holding my throat " Baby, what's wrong? Say something! Say something, Josie." She said worried

Third Person POV
Cheryl was laying on her couch listening to Josie's song and singing along " You call me up and ask me Would I like to go with you and see a movie? Mmm First I say no, I've got some plans for tonight And then I stop" she sang as she drew a picture of her and Josie looking just like the one Josie received from " Chuck"

- Hey guys! I hope you liked this chapter!!! Love you all thanks for reading