CHAPTER TWO:  touch of evil

[☾★ ]Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ[☾★ ]

PETER O'MALEY HADN'T KNOWN WHAT TO SAY OR DO SINCE THE DISCOVERY OF JASON BLOSSOM'S MURDERED BODY. He hadn't known Jason, other, than speaking to the other one time, asking for notes for a class he missed. So, of course, he had been shocked and sadden to hear that Jason was dead. But, not in a way he would if it has been one of his friends.
Just, in a 'he was young' kinda way.

"Good morning, students. This is your principal speaking. There have been many inquires about the upcoming pep rally. So, let me starts clearly, it is happening, as scheduled. Now, on a less felicitous note, if you could give your attention to Sheriff Keller." Principal WeatherBee spoke through the speakers.

There was a second of silence. Before Sheriff Tom Keller's voice is overheard on the speaker instead. "Most of you already know the details, but your classmate Jason Blossom's body was found mags Saturday night. So, as if the weekend, Jason's death is now being treated as a homicide. It is an open and ongoing investigation."

"Neither I nor my parents," Cheryl's voice sounds. "until Jason's death is avenged. And his cold-hearted killer is walking the green mile to sit in Old Sparky and fry. I for one, have my suspicions. Hashtag Riverdale strong."

Peter halted up at the speaker, he found the way Cheryl spoke odd and annoying. Mostly annoying.

"If you know anything," Tom's voice comes back. "that could help us find and apprehend Jason's killer or anything that happed  to him on July fourth. I strongly urge you to come forward immediately. You speak with me or principal Weatherbee. A death like this wounds us all.  Let's not let Jason down."
[☾★ ]Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ[☾★ ]

Peter had been upset when he discovered his class schedule and he hadn't been in the chemistry class with the rest of his friend group, which, apparently, Archie took that has a; leave his own class early to get to Peter's besides the bell rung.

So, Peter was already sitting at the table with Archie.

"Part of me wishes he would stay in the damn closet," Kevin says, making both Archie and Veronica tense up. Betty paused in her walk to the table. "Obviously I didn't mean literal closet."

"Archie,"  Veronica says, smiling as she sits down. "Any new material you wanna try  out on a very forgiving audience."

"I..." Archie stammered, shaking his head.

"Please?" Veronica pointedly asked.

"Would you?" Betty softly questioned, placing her tray on the table.  "I'd love to hear it."

Peter sat down, sighing lowly.

"I'm still working on the lyrics, so..." Archie spoke, warningly.

"Great. I can make fun of someone who isn't me," Peter spoke.

Archie laughed, before turning to his guitar. He began to strum. "Come on, turn the radio on," Archie sung. "And, honey, we'll dance, dance, dance for the rest of the night. I'm not ready to go."

Peter tried to to recall, that a few years ago, Archie took him to the dance. When Peter's date, turned out to be an asshole who only did it for a laugh.

Peter tilted his head, sighing as he tried not to recall it. It had been when he realized that he liked Archie. But, he had never mentioned it to the other, or any of his other friends. Betty liked Archie.

Peter was snapped from his thoughts at the sound of a soft clapping, which immediately makes him begin to clap. But, when he focused his gaze back on his friends, he has noticed that Betty's head was down, she was crying.

"Betty?" Archie softly asked. "You okay?"

Betty chuckled, tearfully. "I'm supposed to say 'yes' That's what the nice girl always says, but..." Betty stood up. "No, I'm not. I want to be. I thought I could be. But it's too much, too fast. Archie..." Betty walked away.

"Betty. Betty, wait." Archie followed after her.

Peter turned, not listening to the conversation.
[☾★ ]Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ[☾★ ]

Peter had thought about sighing up for an extra curricular. Betty and Veronica had cheerleading, Archie had both music and football. Kevin had disappeared, Peter didn't know where he had done.
[☾★ ]Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ[☾★ ]

Peter sighed, falling face first onto his bed. He yelled onto the pillow.

He was so stupid. To have fallen for Archie Andrews. Not only because the other was straight. But, it was clear, that, Archie only ever viewed him as a friend.
[☾★ ]Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ[☾★ ]

They sat in the student lounge, Reggie Mantle's voice filling the space as the other spoke loudly. "And Sheriff Keller's grilling me, Mantle the Magnificent. 'Cause I'd want Blossom dead. When he was, like, the only good quarterback we had." Reggie ranter. "And speaking of offensive tight-ends, I should've sent the cops to you, Moose. Because here's another unsolved mystery. What exactly were you and Kevin doing at the river, huh?"

Reggie speaks louder, Peter wasn't aware that was possible. "Or does being with the sheriff's son give you a free pass? Keller?"

"Reggie's just being a blowhard, Kev."  Betty whispered to him.

"I don't care what he says." Kevin quickly says.

"Good, he's an idiot," Peter spoke.

"I mean, let's think about it. If a kid at Riverdale killed Jason, it's not gonna be a jock, right? No let's be honest. Isn't it always some spooky, scrawny, pathetic Internet troll, too busy writing his manifestos to get laid?" Reggie ranted.

Peter wanted to staple his mouth shut.

"Some smug, moody, serial killer fanboy freak, like Jughead?" He laughs. "What was it like, su1c1de Squad? When you shot Jason? You didn't do stuff to the body, did you? Like... After?

"Reggie shut up, leave him alone," Peter sighed.

"It's called necrophilia, Reggie, can you spell it?" Jughead shot at him.

Reggie got up, jumping over the couch. "Come here, you little..."

Archie immediately stepped in front of Jughead. "Hey shut the hell up, Reggie." He shoved him.

Veronica stood up. "Boys."

"What do you care, Andrews?" Reggie asked.

"Nothing, just leave him alone." Archie dismissed.

A look of realization covers Reggie's face. "Holy crap. Did you and Donnie Darko kill him together? Was it some sort of pervy, blood brother thing?"

"Reggie, if you don't shut the fuck up," Peter began.

"Oh, don't even get me started on you, Peter-" Reggie was interrupted as Archie shoved him.

Immediately Reggie shoved Archie into the vending machine behind him.

"Hey!" Jughead tried to stop Reggie from tackling Archie.

Immediately, Peter ran up to them, only Reggie threw Archie to the floor. As Jughead tried to get Reggie off of Archie, another football player tried to get Jughead from removing Reggie. Peter grabbed the football player, flipping him over his shoulder and in front of the vending machine. Then pulled Reggie off of Archie, he shoved Reggie backwards. "Lay a hand on either of them again, and I'm putting your head through that vending machine."
[☾★ ]Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ[☾★ ]

"Do I have to be here?" Peter practically whined. He was aware that three of his friends would be in their field: Archie playing football, and Veronica and Betty cheerleading.

The crowd of students, and parents cheered. Peter, once again, had no clue where Kevin was. And unfortunately, had no clue where Jughead was.

Peter sat in the bleachers, unsure.

"Now to kickoff this pep rally, I'd like to hand it over to our very own Mayor McCoy." Principal Weatherbee spoke.

The audience clapped.

"Thank you, Principal Weatherbee." The woman smiled.  "It is heartening to see so many of you here, even in weather like this. But a lack of heart and school spirit has never been the Riverdale way."

People clapped.

"Tonight's pep rally isn't like any other we've had in the past. And we shouldn't pretend that it is. Which is why I would like to dedicate this evening to the memory of one of our brightest. Jason Blossom. We're with him tonight."

"Now please, join me in welcoming to the field our very own River Vixens, and their special guest stars, my daughter, Josie and her Pussycats!"

Josie began to sing. "Hey, shawty You're my candy girl The kind with the swirls. Oh, so good Baby out of this world. Looks so sweet Fell in love with your curves. Every time you speak Conversation like, sir S-U-G-A-R You ain't her
Oh, honey, honey Put money on that girl
Let's keep it in her circle You everything I deserve
Baby wants her sugar I'm ready to get served
Sugar Oh, honey, honey. You are my candy girl
And you got me wanting you
Ooh."

The cheerleaders gathered around,turning around. And shaking their butts. Veronica called down the middle of the two lines.

"I saw this girl I wanna know her name. She's got this body It's driving me insane.  'Cause I need a candy, girl. Her kisses rock my world  More legs, brown eyes Ain't nobody like a fancy girl. Sugar
Oh, honey, honey. You are my candy girl
And you got me wanting you."

At the end of the song, Joyce hugged Cheryl. A few seconds later, the football team burst out of the large paper poster they made.

Cheryl ran down the field. Veronica followed after her. A few seconds later, Betty followed.
[☾★ ]Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ[☾★ ]

"Okay. So," Peter awkwardly spoke. "You out I've on that eye, right?"

Archie wrapped an arm around him. "Yes. I did."
[☾★ ]Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ[☾★ ]

"Jughead," Peter greeted, smiling.

"I'm surprised to see you here, Pete," Jughead replied.

"I could say the same for you." His eyes shifted between the two. "Are you guys alright?"

Both smiled, nodding.

"We're headed to Pop's," Jughead informed.

"Want to join us?" Archie questioned.

"Yeah. I'd love to."
[☾★ ]Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ[☾★ ]

When the three boys walked in, they had noticed that Veronica and Betty sat in a booth.

"Do you guys want to join us?" Betty asked, after a second of silence.

Jughead glanced at Archie. Before he stepped forward. "Yes. Buy only if you're treating."

The girls laugh. Betty slides down.

"Veronica Lodge," Veronica goes to slide down, but, jughead jumped over the back of the both seat.

"Jughead Jones," Jughead introduced himself.

Archie slide down, as Betty had moved down. He reached for Peter's hand, who had been looking around for a chair to grab, there we plenty of chairs, but, some had people two or three out of the four chairs. And, Peter didn't want to talk to anyone and ask for the chair. Archie pulled Peter into the booth, sitting him next to him.

"You're gonna crush Betty," Peter huffed jokingly.
[☾★ ]Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ[☾★ ]

The next day in school, Jughead had texted Peter that Cheryl admitted to being 'Guilty'.

[☾★ ]Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ[☾★ ]

{1818}