𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖

8: Jason Blossom?

Chapter 8: Jason Blossom?

Silence hit the diner with waves deafening sounds from FP's eardrums. Everything that was said before was basically wiped away by the black hole in FP's heart. It was bringing him back one of the worst times in the man's life. The fall of himself had that year, Jughead moving out of their trailer because of his drinking. It was also the time when Clifford Blossom threatened Jughead's life and to kill him like he did to his own son, Jason Blossom.

"Who's Jason Blossom and, why was I writing about his death?"

Once the words left his lips Jughead saw something in FP's eyes that scared him. What did he say to make such darkness overtake the man? How did this man make Jughead have this feeling he's known him all his life?

"Jason Blossom?" He nodded,"Well that's uh.. erm.. he was a teenager whose death was very tragic."

"How did he die?"

FP answered with a simple response. "Gunshot to the forehead." He visibly flinched from the reminder.

The bullet sounded with a ricochet in his memory. The stench of blood made his stomach roll at the reminder. He pushed away his fries, losing an appetite. He remembered finding Jason there, head lying limp on the chair and at that point he didn't know who or what had happened. On impulse he did what had to be done. He covered it up, and weeks later - - Labor Day, the first day of school dumped Jason's rotting corpse into the Sweetwater River.

"That's horrible," Jughead gasped. Just you wait, kiddo, FP wanted to say out loud. "Did they ever find his killer?" The question made his stomach hurt.

What was he supposed to say? 'Jughead, I was the one who covered up and his real father shot him point-blank in the forehead without a second thought?' He couldn't tell the boy that. It would probably scare him off. Well it would scare anybody off.

"Listen, Jughead... why do you wanna know so much?" Great, now he sounded heartless.

That question struck Jughead. Why'd he want to know so much? It wasn't like he was connected or something. Except he was, somehow. Why else would he be having dreams or - - flashbacks?

Eventually the two Jones men head for FP's and Alice's house. Jughead never told FP why he cared so much. He still didn't know why he did. He quickly dashed for upstairs to do his project before Alice made sure it was complete. FP walked across the house, pacing a hole into the hardwood floor with all the questions from Jughead re-playing in his mind. Alice heard something coming from upstairs and came up from doing laundry in the basement washing room.

"Babe, are you okay?"

He shook his head no, sighing quietly." No. Jug and I were at Pop's for lunch after his appointment."

"What happened?" Alice asked as she guided him to the island stool and made him take a seat.

"Everything was going well until he mentioned he was having dreams and flashbacks from his past."

Alice's eyebrows knitted with confusion." But baby, isn't that a good thing? He's getting his memory in flashbacks. I've read all about it. So why are you wearing a hole in your floor about this?"

"He asked who Jason Blossom was and why he was writing about his death. That's why I'm like this."

Alice took his hand into hers and said,"Oh, baby... I'm sorry. I know that's not an easy reminder."

"And then he asked me how he died.. oh, god, Alice. His face when I told Jug made me want to pull him into a hug and hold him. He looked so horrified. It broke my heart to not be able to say much." He removed his hand from Alice's and rubbed his hands over his face with defeat.