CHAPTER FORTY:

FP JONES? GUILTY?

     AFTER THE GROUP HAD MADE AMENDS to their mistakes, they went to the Sheriff's station to talk to Sheriff Keller.

"Excuse me, sir. We need to see Sheriff Keller." Archie breathed out.

"There's been a huge mistake." Betty added as Ginny and Jughead came up the stairs last.

The teens looked to their left to see the sheriff exiting a room and Veronica pushed her way through her friends to get closer to the officer. "Sheriff, we need to talk to you about FP Jones."

"What about him?" The older man questioned wearily, wondering why his sons friends were there.

"He's innocent. He's being framed."

"Then why did he just confess?" The older man asked the group of teenagers surrounding him. He looked at each one of them carefully, noticing their looks of surprise and hurt at the news.

"What?" Ginny gasped, stepping towards the Sheriff. She let go of Jughead's hand, momentarily forgetting that no one knew of her connection to FP.

At that exact moment, FP Jones was led past the teens, in handcuffs and Ginny felt her heart beating fast as his eyes slid past hers to Jughead.

Ginny Hopkins knew that FP Jones was capable of some evil deeds but killing?

She couldn't believe that.

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     IT WAS THE NEXT DAY AND GINNY FELT ANNOYED that Jughead made her go to school. She felt awful of what was happening to him and just wanted to support him like he did with her and her mom. Jughead, however, wanted to be at the station all day and didn't want Ginny to worry.

"It's surreal, isn't it? How's Jughead doing?" Kevin asked as he sat down, looking up from his lunch tray to see Ginny approaching. 

"Not good." Betty spoke up, not realizing that the question was aimed at Ginny who was sitting down beside them. Ginny's tray slammed on the table, making Betty look up at the girl with wide eyes.

"He's not coming in today. He's at the station." Ginny spoke up with narrowed eyes pointed towards the blonde girl in front of her.

"Being grilled by your dad." Veronica also added, turning to Kevin. Betty felt flustered under Ginny's glare but nonetheless continued to listen to the conversation.

"Who's just doing his job. I mean, of course he's gonna ask Jughead questions." Kevin defended his father, and although Kevin was right, Ginny believed something was off about the situation.

"Okay, well, he's wasting his time, Kev. Because FP didn't kill Jason." Betty said with a tone of finality, her hands forming fists on the table, hitting the table harshly.

"Betty, he confessed." Kevin said softly, as the news alone would make the blonde get angry.

"Or he was coerced." Betty said, trying to make light of the situation. "Or he's protecting someone, maybe a Serpent. My mom saw him and Joaquin together–"

"Don't! Do not drag my boyfriend into this." Kevin said sharply, interrupting her rant.

"And Ginny was there too–" Betty spat out, her eyes narrowed at the quiet brunette who sat across from her.

"W-What?" Ginny asked breathlessly, her attention now on the drama occurring at the table. Her phone lay forgotten by her side as she stared at Betty nervously. She had been trying to get a hold of Jug.

"My mom saw you talking with FP at Jughead's birthday party." Betty accused, thinking back to the party. "Why aren't you speaking up for FP, Ginny? Why aren't you defending Jughead's dad?"

"I-Is that a crime?" Ginny stuttered, glancing around the table to see all eyes on her. "I don't know FP that well."

"No, but since he's now being framed, maybe you had something to do with Jason's murder."

Ginny slammed her hands onto the table, standing up, looking down at the blonde girl with hatred. "Say that again." Ginny hissed out, a frown etched upon her face.

"What?" Archie asked loudly, speaking up for his best friend. "Are you crazy Betty?"

The topic, however, was shifted as the group looked up to see Jughead appear in the cafeteria.

"Oh my God," Ginny whispered, pushing away from the cafeteria table. She struggled to get out of the seat but managed, speed walking up to Jughead. She left the conversation behind, wondering why in the hell Jughead Jones decided to come to school.

"What're you–" Ginny muttered, rushing towards her boyfriend. She noticed that he wasn't going towards her but rather stopped in front of Cheryl Blossom.

"I'm sorry, Cheryl." Jughead told the grieving redheaded teen. Suddenly, Cheryl approached Jughead and slammed her fists against him, hitting him. Ginny ran up to the two, ready to stop her but she was surprised when Jughead let Cheryl hit him. Cheryl started to sob from her pent up emotions and Ginny felt slightly bad for the redhead.

"Enough!" Ginny turned with wide eyes to see Weatherbee enter the cafeteria and approach them. "Mr. Jones, you need to come with me. Right now."

"What?" Ginny asked in astonishment, wondering what the principal even saw. "Jughead didn't do shit."

"Language, Ms. Hopkins," Weatherbee threatened with narrowed eyes.

"He was apologizing. He didn't do anything wrong!" Cheryl continued to sob, her emotions bubbling out after the news from last night. She needed time to grieve.

Ginny didn't stay to watch, rather more interested in following Weatherbee and her boyfriend. Betty, however, had the same idea. And both sat outside of the principals office, glaring at one another as they waited. Jughead finally emerged and Ginny hopped up as her boyfriend stormed out of the room.

"What happened in there?" Betty asked, struggling to keep up with the couple's pace.

"My second interrogation of the day. Don't know who's more of a dick, Keller or Weatherbee." Jughead spat out, crossing his arms angrily.

"Don't listen to them. Everyone else is wrong. Your dad's innocent, and we just need to prove it, Jug." Betty soothed and Ginny silently sneered.

"Who killed him, then, Betty? Tell me. If it wasn't my dad, who killed Jason Blossom? He said he did it, and you know what? I've been waiting my whole life for that man to do the right thing, and I'm done. You should be, too."

"Jug," Ginny finally spoke up, placing herself between Betty and Jughead. "Let's go home."

She knew that Jughead was right, maybe FP Jones was just a lost cause.

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      GINNY AND JUGHEAD WERE AT THE ANDREW'S house when Ginny eavesdropped on a conversation. The young girl had been on her way downstairs to grab some waters for Jughead and herself when she heard Fred talking on the phone.

"Yes, I I appreciate it." Fred finished with the phone call with a sigh, turning to Archie with a grim look. "That was Weatherbee. He's concerned for Jug's personal safety. After what happened with Cheryl, he's worried about the other students' reaction to it. Thinks Jughead should finish the semester from home."

"Jughead's getting kicked out because Cheryl pummeled him. How is that fair?" Archie complained with anger in his voice.

Ginny felt frustrated, standing up from her position on the stairs. She was about to walk back up to join Jughead when she spotted him at the top of the stairs.

"Jug," Ginny breathed out, walking up a few steps to grab his hand. Jughead shook his head as Ginny tried to keep his attention off the conversation downstairs.

"Son, FP may spend decades in prison, potentially the rest of his life. We gotta think of a long-term solution." Fred said to his teenage son with a sigh.

"We are the long-term solution." Archie didn't seem to realise what his father was saying.  Ginny knew deep down Archie was a good friend to try to fight for Jughead.

"That's not how it works, okay? I'm not his legal guardian." Fred told Archie.

"Oh, good thing mom's a lawyer." Archie continued to throw punches, not willing to go down without a fight.

"Archie, my priority is keeping you safe."

"Keep me safe from who? Jughead? Are you kidding me, Dad?" Archie scoffed, as if Jughead was dangerous.

"No, from whatever trouble seems to follow the Jones' around, wherever they go, whatever they do. Hell, maybe you should go to Chicago and live with your mom." Fred explained and Ginny's hand found solace within Jug's, who tightened his grip.

"It's not even something I was considering, Dad. But you know what? Maybe I should." Archie spat out to his father and the duo on the stairs heard his footsteps before they could even move.

"Hey, if it'll keep you out of trouble, I'm all for it." Fred called out to Archie and it was like the final blow to Ginny and Jughead. They knew they weren't wanted there.

"Hey, Jug." Archie greeted, his eyes falling into Ginny last. "Gin."

"I'm gonna sleep in the garage tonight." Jughead muttered, pulling Ginny by her hand.

"Okay? Jug—" Archie called out to his best friend, wishing there was something he could do to help his best friend.

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     IT WAS THE NEXT MORNING AND GINNY was surprised to see Jughead, Archie, and Mary Andrews in one of her booths at Pop's.

"Archie asked me to look into your father's case." Mary stated as Ginny filled up their coffee cups. "I went down to the station, and passed myself off as his attorney to try to get as much information as I could."

"How's it looking, Mom?" Archie asked.

"Well, unfortunately, between FP's list of priors, the anonymous tip, and the possession of the murder weapon—"

"Don't forget that pesky confession." Jughead added, his eyes wandering up to his girlfriend who had a frown on her face.

"Things look pretty bad. I was with him all night, and he never once budged from his story." Mrs. Andrews told the trio.

Jughead sighed, giving up hope on his father. "Well, if nothing else, at least he's an honest murderer."

"Jug-"

"Right? Oh, also, who is Joaquin DeSantos?" Archie's mother asked, looking through her notes. Ginny felt her heart stop at the mention of Joaquin, just as it did when Betty accused her of knowing him.

"Joaquin? As in Kevin's boyfriend?" Archie asked, trying to clarify.

"He was FP's one phone call." She told the three teenagers, however, she looked directly at Jug, hoping he would take her advice. "Jughead, my advice to you is, go and see your father. Tell him everything you wanna say. Once he's arraigned, things tend to move pretty quickly, and there won't be anything left to do. So, this might be your last chance."

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ONE WEEK TILL SEASON TWO!