CARMEN, riverdale.

' gasoline '

🐍

   "MY MOM and dad don't want to get the police involved," Betty nodded from beside Archie. "They don't want anyone to know that she ran away, or her shameful condition."

"Please. What decade is this?" Veronica rolled her eyes.

"Also, since she knew where Jason's getaway car was, they're afraid people might think that she burned it and if she did—"

"She could be the murderer, trying to cover her tracks."

"Who did burn the car, then?"

"Could it be possible that someone was following us?" Carmen asked warily, speaking for the first time. Everyone's eyes zeroed in on her hand.

"I heard about what happened, is your hand alright?" Veronica asked, concerned.

Carmen waved it off with a 'fine' and stared at Kevin. "That's what my dad thinks too,"

"Honestly, guys, we should just move."

"Guys, what if Polly's really hurt? What if whoever killed Jason is coming after her next?" Betty pressed on, entirely worried of her sister, not to mention, pregnant sister.

"Betty, even if your parents don't want you to, maybe you should go to the police."

"Second it."

"I mean, we can talk to my dad together about how he has to be discreet," Kevin suggested.

"And maybe I can get my dad to post a security detail for your sister," Carmen added.

"Yeah, I agree with Carmen. They never fail," Veronica nodded too.

"No offense, Kev, but your dad answers to a higher authority than God, the Blossoms. And Carmen, your dad has a protection detail with the Blossoms, whose to say he won't tell them?"

Carmen retaliated back just as fast, "The contract says nothing of informing his clients of any confidential information unless crucial to their lives. Keep your facts straight."

"Back to the point, they're the first people he would tell," Jughead nodded, to emphasize his point further. "And if there's anyone to keep this a secret from, it's the Blossoms."

"They'd twist it around and go after Polly out of spite."

🐍

   "—PUT HIS arm around you?" Carmen overheard Veronica exclaim.

"Okay, so these past couple of days, I haven't been in a great place. Emotionally, and Jughead was really there for me," Betty admitted.

"Oh, my God. Swoon! Okay, in that case, if he helped my girl navigate some turbulent waters, well then, Veronica Lodge approves." Veronica smirked.

Carmen smirked, "I come bearing blessings," she raised the cup holder carrying two cups of coffee in her right hand, the one uninjured, and held her own in the other.

"Carmen!" Veronica moved to scold her as she took the two cups out of Carmen's right hand. "You really shouldn't have bothered. We could've got our own,"