Little Red - Jughead

10

Ch.10

Charlotte follow behind Veronica into the Blue and Gold getting overwhelmed by how many people were sat around Betty.

"This story is bigger than we thought. I started asking around, to see if what happened to you happened to anyone else and if anyone would go on record."

Betty tells us as Charlotte standing next to Veronica.

"I will. 100%" Ethel tells her.
"Okay. It's five guys on the football team. Chuck and his posse. Ethel was just about to tell us."

"One day last year, Chuck and I talked in the library for ten minutes. I helped him with a pre-cal problem, and nothing happened.

But the next day, he... he started telling people that I let him do stuff to me. Like, sex stuff. And then he... or one of his goons wrote sloppy seconds on my locker."Charlotte look at Ethel seeing how painful this was for her to talk about.

"Yes, yes, we've all heard your tragic origin story." Charlotte turn and see Cheryl leaning against the door.

"I'm so, so sorry, Ethel. That horrible." Betty says ignoring Cheryl.

"Not as horrible as being a suspect in your own brother's torture-murder case, but we all have our crosses. In the meantime, River Vixen practice starts in five minutes, sluts, so..."

"They're ruining our lives, and to them, it's just a game. They keep score and..." Ethel starts.
"Wait, what do you mean, keep score?" Veronica frowns.

"Each conquest earns them points. They keep track in some secret playbook."

"Okay, we have to talk to Weatherbee," Betty says trying to do the right thing but it was past that.

"I already tried. Weatherbee said that he didn't find anything."

"Okay, we need undeniable proof," Betty says.

"Proof of what, Nancy Drew? That boys will be boys? And that playbook reeks of suburban legend." Cheryl speaks up still not leaving.

"How would you know Cheryl?" Veronica asked turning to her.

"Because, Frida Shallow, before he died, my brother was co-captain of the football team with Chuck, and Jason never mentioned it, and he never would've allowed it."

"Okay, well, I never met you brother, but I'm not lying about what happened to me. And Ethel's not lying. And proof or no proof, book or no book, I am going scorched earth on these privileged, despicable miscreants. You want to get caught in that back draft, Cheryl? Call me or any of these beautiful, young, strong, intelligent women sluts. One more time." Veronica threatened and Cheryl said nothing.

—-

Once everyone had left She stayed behind and made a start on bits for the Blue and Gold. Eventually, Her  eyes grew heavy and I rest her head on the table closing her eyes for a second.

Charlotte She feel someone poke her, my head shoots up seeing Ethel and Trev Brown in front of her.

"Hey," She said sleepily.

"You know Trev Brown, right? Valerie's brother?"

"Yeah, didn't I invite you to my birthday party one year and you tried to kiss me?"She said

"Um, yeah that's right and Jughead punched me." He nods his cheeks turning red and She giggled at the memory.

"Anyway, he used to be on the football team," Ethel tells me and I perk up slightly.

"But I quite when I saw Chuck's playbook and I may know where it is." She slowly nod a smirk coming onto her face as Trev tells her where he last saw the playbook.

——-

After Trev stopped talking Charlotte jumped up and kissed his cheek and quickly ran off and told Betty and Veronica her new information. There made plans to sneak back into school with Kevin and Ethel once everyone had gone and start our hunt.

"Hey, guys, get in here," Ethel calls and we walk over to her as she opened up a door and pulled out the playbook. "Trev was right. They didn't even bother to hide it." Charlotte look over Ethel's shoulder and read the names as she turned the pages.

"New girl? Is that what I'm reduced to? Nine points?" Veronica asked reading her name next to Chuck's.

"Better than big girl. Seven point five." Ethel scoffs ashamed.
"Polly's in this book..." Betty points out.

"Next to Jason's name." Cheryl said , Betty walked away

"I'm so sorry, Betty." Charlotte apologises.

"This isn't ... Jason would never..." Cheryl starts but Betty snaps around to her.

"It's right there, Cheryl! God, your brother hurt my sister. This is what guys like Jason and Chuck think about women. We're objects for them to abuse. And when they're done with us, they shame us into silence. They have zero remorse for the lives they destroy."

"Maybe I don't know Jason." Cheryl realises and steps away.

Veronica was taking a photo of the book."I'll take a picture. We'll show it to Weatherbee. It'll be the perfect cover for your expose, Betty and Charlotte."

"Yeah, but... no. These girls deserve justice, don't you think, Cheryl?" Betty asks but Cheryl doesn't speak. "You want vengeance? You wanna go full dark no stars, Veronica? I'm with you. And I have a plan."

Charlotte has a very bad feeling about this