Blood of My Blood, Flesh of My Flesh (Bughead)

14. American Horror Story Theme

Song for this chapter is the American Horror Story Theme, because I've had it stuck in my head basically a week for no reason whatsoever.

Cheryl collected herself as she walked away from the group of bright and happy teens. For them, they could just move on from this exchange, or have times when they weren't thinking of Jason. It was not so of Cheryl. Jason, and her anxiety about how to fix this, was always on her mind.

She was going to go mad if she didn't figure this out.

"Cheryl, wait!" Veronica called out to her. Because Cheryl recalled how Veronica had comforted her the night of the pep rally, she gave pause, "You're in pain. This is a horrible week for you. I'm sure it's why you're being particularly obnoxious."

Cheryl narrowed her eyes, "Maybe. What's your point?" She tried to sound as collected as possible. Inside, she was screaming.

"Look, I don't want to be locked in a cat-fight-to-the-death with you. That only ends in one way."

"Mutual annihilation," Cheryl wasn't stupid. She'd grown up with Penelope Blossom for god's sake.

"Agreed. So can't we just...be friends? Or, at least, frenemies?" Veronica asked, shuffling her feet a bit.

At first, Cheryl wanted to say 'no bitch'. Then, she remembered something. A little factoid about the Lodges and their, well, unique diet and such.

Cheryl gave a cat-like grin, "If you really want to extend an olive branch, come to a sleepover I'm having."

"Fine." Veronica agreed, looking a little uneasy.

On the inside, Cheryl gave a sigh of relief. Jason would be back before they could even settle his coffin into the ground.

XXxxXX

"Can you believe that bitch? I'm still salty I didn't get an invitation..." Sweet Pea was still going on about it after school, after practice and magic lessons. Betty had eventually told him that if he didn't shut the hell up about it, she'd hex him. And, since she'd never hexed anyone before, she might accidentally give him a pair of antlers or something that couldn't be reversed. So, Sweet Pea promptly shut up about it, until he was back home. He'd tried to steal Jughead's invitation, with little success.

"You're upset you didn't get an invitation to a wake?" Vade was throwing a ball against the side of a trailer, and gave him a strange look, "Yeah, sounds like a real party."

"It's the principal of the matter!" Sweet Pea argued, catching his bouncy-ball mid air, "Plus, well, when would I ever get a chance again to go to Thornhill?"

"Sweet Pea, use that head of yours." Deni snapped finally. Sweet Pea swiveled his head.

"Huh?"

Deni and Toni shared exasperated looks.

"And they say sometimes you're intelligent," Toni said, smacking his arm, "No, Sweet Pea...this is great!"

"Uhh...?" He frowned.

"I'm dying to get on their property too and figure out what the hell is going on with that family. This will be the perfect time to sneak around! Everyone else will be preoccupied, so two extra people there won't even be noticed." She said.

Sweet Pea blinked, feeling really stupid for not realizing it sooner.

"By George," he said in an overly-ridiculous voice, causing Deni to roll her eyes, "You're a genius, Topaz. Get yer sexiest black ninja clothes, we're going a'snooping!"

XXxxXX

"Jason's memorial will be held in this room, before he's laid to rest in the cemetery on Thornhill's grounds," Penelope stated, turning to Sheriff Keller with a sad smile. Tom Keller couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling, the one that had seemed to clung to him since he stepped foot on the grounds. Not even the house, but the grounds specifically. It was a feeling his grandpa had taught him to always be aware of. Frankly, he couldn't recall many times he'd been out to this land, the Blossoms always came to the station if there was a need.