word count: 1,300

↳ CHAPTER SIX:

SLEUTHING ↵

BETTY HAD TEXTED JUGHEAD ASKING HIM AND VIRGINIA to come during lunch to meet up with her. Virginia wasn't so excited to see Betty but recently, Betty had been putting effort into befriending her.

"If print journalism is dead, what am I doing here?" Jughead asked Betty and Virginia sat on a chair, spinning around on it, bored.

"The Blue and Gold isn't dead, Juggy. It's just dormant." Betty patted the old computer beside her. "But waking up. You're writing a novel, right? About Jason Blossom's murder?"

"I am. Riverdale's very own In Cold Blood." Virginia smiled, knowing Jughead wasn't a sharer of his novel and she was happy that she's the only one who has read it.

"Which started out as a series of articles." Betty prodded. "I'm hoping you'll come write for the Blue and Gold." Betty stated before turning to Virginia, "and I was hoping you would want to be the photographer?"

"I just don't think the school paper's the right fit for my voice." Jughead replied as Virginia perked up. She had a hobby of photography and maybe putting her talents to use would be good. And good for a college application, especially since she was a film student.

Betty groaned in disappointment, "Juggy, Jason's death changed Riverdale. People don't want to admit that, but it's true. We all feel it. Nothing this bad was ever supposed to happen here, but it did. I want to know why."

"Doesn't mean that Jason didn't deserve it," Virginia muttered to herself. She cleared her throat looking at the duo in the room with her, glad they didn't hear that.

"Would I get complete freedom?" Jug asked, stepping closer as he took the bait. He was intrigued by the idea.

"I'll help, and edit and suggest. But it's your story, it's your voice." Betty told him and Virginia rolled her eyes at how much power Betty got, granted she was the person in charge.

"Doesn't sound like complete freedom, but I'm in." Virginia squealed, jumping out of the swirling chair in excitement.

"Okay, great!" Betty was surprised to see Virginia happy to be around her. "Um, in that case, I have your first assignment. There's one person who was at the river on July 4th that no one's talking about."

"Dilton Doiley and his Scouts." Virginia looked up at Jughead, watching his pale face contort into a knowing look. Her eyes followed the expanse on his face and he turned to her, his eyes flitting over hers before smiling down at her. Virginia blushed at the warmness behind his smile and Betty coughed, glancing down as she caught the interaction between them.

"Exactly." Betty smiled. "Here, Virginia, this camera is yours. I got Principal Weatherbee to use the school funds to buy an updated camera.

Virginia's mouth dropped as she cradled the camera between her hands. Being poor, Virginia never had anything fancy– especially a camera like this. She had only ever used the photography classes camera and disposable cameras.

"I-It's perfect," Virginia whispered, she'd never seen a camera with a freaking touchscreen.

º º º

VIRGINIA DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE Jughead so she tagged along with him to meet Doiley and ask him questions.

"And in that moment of hesitation, you're dead. All of you are dead."

"At ease, Doiley. I'm writing an article for the Blue and Gold. Hoping you can help." Virginia snorted as she stood to the side, camera in hand. She didn't really know why she was there, Doiley probably didn't want his photo taken but spending time with Jughead was what she wanted.

"Dismissed. But stay close." Doiley told his troops and he looked at the pair before him. His eyes moved to Virginia, glancing up and down her body, taking in her skirt, shirt, and boots. Virginia stiffened at the look, she wasn't a stranger to the glances of guys but it still made her uncomfortable. She knew her outfit wasn't that revealing so what the hell? Virginia shook herself out of her thoughts and focused on the misogynist man in front of her.

"Cheryl and Archie both say they heard a gunshot the morning of July 4th, but they don't know who fired." Jughead stated flatly, his eyes darting between Doiley and an uncomfortable Virginia.

Virginia moved away from the two, camera pushed to her eyes as she began to take pictures. She was delighted with the technology and quickly shot scenery and the scouts nearby.

"Well, did you see anything weird?" Virginia looked back at Jughead to see him, leaning in towards Doiley, as if hoping he knew something. More like if he would spill something.

"A white-winged crossbill. A long-eared owl. Oh, and Cheryl, sitting by the river, soaking wet."

Virginia rolled her eyes as she got closer to Jughead and noticed a scout in the distance staring at her and Jughead, biting his lip. She tilted her head, watching him stare at Jughead and Doiley.

Something was up with him.

º º º

AFTER INTERVIEWING DOILEY, THE DUO took the bus back to Virginia's home. It was normal for the pair to take the bus, both too poor for a car and the walk from the bus to her house was pleasantly quiet.

"I swear Doiley is hiding something," Virginia called out to Jughead as she changed her outfit in her bathroom. It was the end of the afternoon and she had to go to her work and help Hermione Lodge with Pop's catering.

Virginia stumbled out of the bathroom attached to her room, frowning at the high heels that didn't compliment her usual graceful nature. High heels were not her forte, rather sticking to Converse.

"Woah," Jughead breathed out as he stared at his best friend in amazement. He laid on her bed, propped up by a pillow with his laptop in hand. "You look beautiful."

Virginia looked down with a blush, tugging on the end of her dress. "Are you sure it's not too much? I'm just a caterer."

"It'll work." Jughead said, "you'll be the best looking one there."

A genuine smile graced Virginias face as she rushed over to the bed and flung herself on top of Jug. A loud puff of air escaped him as he help his laptop above his head, protecting it from the incoming girl.

"How did you like it?" Virginia asked, pointing to his laptop screen. As a film student, Virginia watched lots of movies and would force Jug to watch them with her. Granted, his job was at a movie theatre so he took this task in stride.

"Eh, I tend to stay away from modern films but Wes Anderson is the best."

"Yes!" She fist pumped the air as she laid on top of Jughead. "Would you compare him to Tarantino? I think his use of symmetry kind of parallels Reservoir Dogs."

"Eh," Jughead shrugged. "In my opinion Tarantino is a god next to Hitchcock." Virginia rolled her eyes and she closed the laptop, placing it on her side table.

Virginia was resting on top of Jug, chin laying on his chest.

"We should get going," Jughead muttered as he looked down at the rested girl on top of him.

Virginia sighed and pushed herself up on her hands so she was parallel to Jughead's face. Her heart fluttered as she stared into his stormy eyes.

"You suck," she whispered and she dared herself not to look down at his tempting lips.

He was her best friend.

Virginia cleared her throats and hopped off of him. She walked to her mirror and made sure her dress wasn't wrinkled.

"Okay," she noticed Jughead still resting on her bed, looking up at the ceiling, frown in place. "Let's get going."

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showing their platonic friendship and how it's changing  !!!