July Fourth will always be remembered in the mind of Benjamin Johnson because of something a lot more sinister than independence day.

It started out like any other normal summer day. Ben got up, had breakfast, texted Kevin as he continued his inner struggle of wanting to get together with Moose, and didn't really do anything. He went on his laptop, played a bit of the new video game Archie had gotten him for his birthday and that was it. Nothing spectacular happened. It wasn't until his mom got home that he knew he was in for an eventful night. His mother opened the door, well, swung it open more like, and shouted into the hall in a panicked voice. "Ben! Ben, are you here?"

By the urgency of her voice, Ben rushed out into the hall. "What? What's wrong?"

A look of relief washed over her. "Oh, honey, you're okay!" she went in for a hug, crushing his bones in the process. "Thank god, you're okay."

He was perplexed, but that didn't stop him from wrapping his arms around her, to show her that he was really and truly okay. "Mom, what's going on? Did something happen?"

"Andy, he's okay!"

He became even more confused when his brother ran into the hall, his eyes red and puffy, the tears streaks visible on his cheeks. He didn't say anything, just looked at him like he had just saved his life. Ben stood back from his mom. "Seriously, what is going on?"

"Oh, sweetheart." she cupped his face in her hands. "Jason Blossom is dead."

The words didn't register at first, almost like he didn't hear them, but then he started to laugh. "No, this is a joke, thats-" his brother stepped forward, looking as broken as he probably felt.

"Ben," he interrupted. "it's true, the police are looking for him now."

It was then that Ben finally registered this. He stumbled a bit, landing against the wall for support. "Dead?"

"Drowned." his mother corrected. "This morning, the Blossom's called earlier to tell us."

He let out a breath. The Johnson's knew the Blossom's well. Before his father passed away, he and their father used to be good friends in high school. Their children, twins Jason and Cheryl Blossom, were two of the most popular people in school. He may not have enjoyed their company(try hated; to say they were stuck up and obnoxious was an understatement), but they were teenagers, neither of them should have to die so soon. He was only sixteen, his age. That could've been him. He now understood his mothers need to make sure he was okay.

"I'm so sorry, baby. Maybe you should call your friends, see how they are handling this." Ben swallowed, nodding in the process. He couldn't help but feel like this was a joke, a big, school wide prank. Jason would just walk into school in September and things would be as normal as they always were. Andy stood next to him, giving him a look of comfort. Andy was a junior, but very close to Jason, despite his dickish attitude. Maybe it was due to the fact that Andy and his sister were a thing for a few months, but they bonded more than anyone thought they would.

"I'm gonna call Cheryl." Andy said, his throat raspy. Ben's heart broke a little more at the sight of his brothers shattered form.

Ben had a similar idea, he pulled out his phone and dialled someone very close to him. As the phone rung he couldn't help but stop the seed of anxiety plant in his stomach that maybe something happened to her as well. "Hello?" the slightly subdued voice of Betty Cooper came through the receiver.

"Hey, Betty." he said softly, a small smile coming to his face. "Did you hear the news?"

There was a sigh on the other end, before she answered. "Yeah, I did. My mother wouldn't shut up about it, actually."

He made a face. Betty's mother hated the Blossoms, which meant she didn't exactly like his family either, or anyone who affiliated themselves with the Blossom family. Jason Blossom was the antichrist in her mothers eyes. He tore her daughter apart, but according to Betty, it was really her mother who broke her. This news must've been celebratory for the woman. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry, Benji?" she giggled, a noise that made his heart swell. "If anything, I should be saying sorry to you. I know your brother knew them pretty well."

"Yeah, he's not taking it well at all."

"That's good. It's best to let your emotions out."

Ben felt like he shouldn't be this happy, but when he talked to Betty, he felt like nothing could ever bring him down. "So, does that mean I'm a sociopath if I didn't cry?"

Another giggle. "Well, I suppose that makes two of us."

Ben walked up the stairs and into his room, opening the curtains and unlocking the window, lifting it open. He waited a moment before Betty appeared at hers, doing the same thing. He broke out into a grin when she waved at him, her own smile on her lips. He waved back, watching her laugh. "Hey," he said, still talking through the phone. "Wanna meet up at Pop's on Saturday? We can be sociopath's together."

She nodded. "Sure, that sounds great."

He tried to subdue his joy, clearing his throat and dropping his ecstatic look slightly. "Great, awesome!"

"See you there!"

She hung up, about to wave goodbye but she must've heard her mother call her because she looked to the side. Then she turned back to him, shrugged before closing the window, jogging out of her room. Ben closed his window. He stood there a few moments before fist pumping the air. "Yes, yes, yes!" he said, jumping up and down around his room. He didn't want to call this a date, but he had to admit, this was the first time they were gonna to be alone. Without Kevin, or more importantly Archie. He didn't have anything against him, but he was just the type of person who was there at the wrong time, nearly always. While it may have been a surprise to tell someone that Ben had a crush for Betty, but it was no surprise that Betty had a crush on Archie. Except for Archie himself. Archie was as clueless as one could get when it came to Betty's feelings for him. Whether he was just ignoring those feelings or whether he genuinely had no idea. It was partly the reason why Ben hadn't admitted his feelings for her. If she wasn't so head over heels for Archie then maybe he would've done something sooner. But for now, he was grateful for the time he got to spend with her, whether it was a date or otherwise.

He was in the middle of cherishing that fact, when his brother found himself at his door. "Ben." he said. When Ben did he frowned, Andy looked like he had just seen a ghost. He was pale, eyes wide, his hand clutching his phone.

"Andy, what's wrong?"

Andy handed him his phone, his hand shaking. Ben went to take it from him. Open were his texts, his conversations with Cheryl to be exact. At first, nothing seemed wrong, until he noticed the last few texts.

FROM: CHERYL

Hey, I know things haven't been the best between us lately, but I'm willing to talk if you are :) Meet me at the river at dawn if you want to patch things up.

FROM: CHERYL

Andy, please call me.

FROM: CHERYL

Andy, call me now!

Ben read the texts, then reread them. Andy still looked shocked. "She was looking for me. She wanted me there." Ben looked up, at a loss of what to say, so he just let his brother shake in front of him, some kind of guilt hitting him.

"Why did she want me there?"

-

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A/N: uh oh, why did Cheryl want Andy there? Since there's only been two episodes, and we don't  know much about Jason's death, I have a way I could make it work. But that may change, we never know. I hope you guys enjoyed this little tidbit, this was just a starting point. Btw, you can picture Andy as anyone you like but I see him like Thomas Sanders or Robert Sheehan(as Simon from TMI), pick who you want.

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