𝔸𝕕𝕖𝕝𝕒𝕚𝕕𝕖 | 𝐉𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 [Riverdale] ¹

[CHAPTER TWO]

././𝓐 𝓣𝓸𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓸𝓯 𝓔𝓿𝓲𝓵/./.

I think many of us, maybe the entire town had been hoping against hope that somehow Jason Blossom hadn't drowned on July 4th. That we'd come to school Monday morning, and there Jason would be, his sisters by his side with smiles on their faces. Or that we'd see the twins and Adelaide in a booth at Pop's. But that was before the undeniable, irrevocable fact of his bloated, waterlogged body, found with a scream that was heard throughout the entire town. A corpse with a bullet in its forehead and the terrible secrets that could only be revealed by the cold steel blade of a coroner's autopsy scalpel or the telltale beating of a guilty heart.

I walk to school in a loose white blouse and a flowy jean skirt. I put on my brightest smile and kindly wave at everyone who passes by. Listening to the clink of my white heels on the old linoleum to help me keep going.

All night, I heard the same words Kevin whispered to Moose, "He's dead."

When I heard those words, I was filled with dread. Images of Jason ran through my head as I tried to convince myself it wasn't real. It was like a song you couldn't get out of your head no matter how hard you tried.

Even mom who loathed the Blossoms, Jason the most, came into my room last night and comforted me. I knew she was ecstatic but, I appreciated the thought. Until, she began this strange speech on how I try to see the good in people, which is true, and should be careful.

Once I walked to my locker, I quickly grabbed my books for morning classes when Cheryl came up to me, "We have to go to Weatherbee's office."

"Why?" I ask her. Cheryl doesn't speak and pulls my hand to the office. I walk in and notice Sheriff Keller and Weatherbee standing in the office before Weatherbee began announcements. "Good morning, students. This is your principal speaking. There have been many inquiries about the upcoming pep rally. So let me state clearly, it is happening, as scheduled. Now, on a less felicitous note, if you could give your attention to Sheriff Keller."

I rubbed my lips together as Sheriff Keller grabbed the mic, tasting the sweet raspberry flavor.

"Most of you already know the details, but your classmate Jason Blossom's body was found late Saturday night. So as of the weekend, Jason's death is now being treated as a homicide. It is an open and ongoing investigation."