Chapter 7
Soon Callie was back at the school with Betty. She was working in the blue and gold room with her when Ethel walked in with Valerie's brother Trev.
"Betty, Calli, you know Trev Brown, right? Valerie's brother?" Ethel questioned the two girls.
"Hey, what's up?" Trev greeted the two.
"Hey," Betty greeted, Callie waved.
"He used to be on the football team. But I quit, when I saw Chuck's playbook," Trev explained. Callie and Betty exchanged a glance. " And I may know where it is".
*******
Later that night Callie was walking down the hallway with a couple of others.
"Football players behaving badly, what else is new?" Veronica questioned. "Steubenville, Glen Ridge. The coach's son being the ringleader. I mean, just how depraved is this town?"
"Color me impressed," Cheryl spoke from behind them. They all gasped and looked her, with their flashlights pointed at her. " A B and E with B and V. What would your holy roller mother say about this, Betty?"
"What are you doing here, Cheryl?" Callie asked her best friend.
"And where did you get those thigh-high boots?" Kevin asked. "They're amazing."
"Trev told Valerie, who told Josie, who told Ginger, who told Tine, who told me," Cheryl explained as she walked forward. " And I thought I would help out".
"Help? Or derail our investigation?" Betty questioned. Cheryl shined her flashlight in Betty's eyes.
"Get over yourself, Betty," Cheryl advised.
"Hey guys, get in here," Ethel ordered as she opened the locker and pulled out the book. Everyone gathered around her and watched her open it. "Trev was right, they didn't even bother to hide it". Callie sees her name on there, right next to Reggie. After that, she never sees Reggie's name on the list.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Cheryl whispered into her ear.
"I tried, but you wouldn't listen," Callie whispered back. Ethel flipped the page and the saw Veronica labeled as the new girl.
"New girl?" Veronica questioned. " Is that what I'm reduced to? Nine points".
"Better then " Big girl" seven point five," Ethel spoke.
"Polly's in this book," Betty said in surprise.
"Next to Jason's name," Cheryl added. Betty walked out of the group as everyone looked at each other.
"I'm so sorry, Betty," Veronica apologized.
" This isn't...Jason would never," Cheryl said.
"It's right there, Cheryl!" Callie exclaimed.
"God," Cheryl breathed.
" Your brother hurt my sister," Betty stated. "This is what guys like Jason and Chuck think about women, Reggie used to think the same way".
"Nancy Drew," Callie said her warning voice.
"It's right here on the page Callie," Betty reminded her. " We're objects for them to abuse. And when they're done with us, they shame us into silence. They have zero remorse for the lives they destroy".
"Maybe I don't know Jason," Cheryl admitted before turning off her flashlight. Veronica pulled out her phone and held it over the book.
"I'll take a picture. We'll show it to Weatherbee," Veronica said. " It'll be the perfect cover up for your expose, Betty".
"Yeah, but....No," Betty started to explain. " These girls deserve justice, don't you think, Cheryl?"
"You want vengeance?" Callie asked Cheryl.
"You wanna go full dark, no stars, Veronica?" Betty asked. " I'm with you". Veronica started to smile. " And I have a plan". They started to leave, and Cheryl stood beside Callie.
"When did this happen?" Cheryl asked.
" Last year, when Reggie had me come over that one weekend in like February," Callie answered.
" Valentines weekend?" Cheryl asked Callie nodded her head. " Who all knows?"
" The entire football team, Betty and you," Callie answered.
" Why are you going out with that scumbag?" Cheryl asked.
" You told me to give him a second chance," Callie answered. " And it's worked out pretty well."
*******
Later that night Callie is sitting in a booth at Pop's with Reggie. They sat far enough from Chuck. Callie put a device in Betty's clothes so she would be able to hear the conversation.
"Should you really being doing this?" Reggie asked as he took a fry from her plate.
" I want all these girls to get justice," Callie answered. " So yes".
"Betty can handle this on her own," Reggie reminded her.
"I am just making sure she doesn't mess up," Callie said. " If she does, I might be the one that takes Clayton out for a night tomorrow".
"You are my girlfriend," Reggie reminded her.
"This is just part of the plan," Callie defended herself. " I am yours".
"Good," Reggie smirked. Callie then glanced back to see Betty leaving Chuck, she saw him starting to turn around. So Callie turned back around, leaned over the table and kissed Reggie, he happily kissed back.
"Do they know what happened between us?" Reggie asked pulling back, he was referring to her name in the book. " Besides the football team."
"Betty is the only person that knows the full truth," Callie answered. " Cheryl will probably have me tell her everything tomorrow."
"How much does she know about that night and afterward?" Reggie asked.
"Scared I am going to tell her how bad you are in bed?" Callie teased.
"Look who's talking," Reggie teased back with a smile.
*******
Later that night, Callie climbed through her bedroom window and into her room.
"Where were you?" her dad asked flipping on the lights.
"Out with Reggie," Callie told him. Their dad sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
"I'm going have to ground you too," her dad stated.
"Why?"Callie asked as she took off her coat.
"You were out past curfew," her dad reminded her.
"But dad, I had plans with Reggie tomorrow," Callie said. " You know that too."
"Looks like you will be canceling them," her dad said. " You are grounded for a week, I expect you home around 7 like Archie". He then walked out of the room slamming her door shut. Callie sat on her bed and screamed into her pillow.
******
The next night, Callie was in her room, when she saw Archie passed by.
"Where do you think you're going?" Callie asked.
"To that taste thing at Riverdale," Archie asked.
"I thought you were grounded," Callie reminded him.
"I helped, write that song, I am not missing it," Archie told as he ran down the stairs and out the door. Right after that Vegas came into her room, and sat next to her. Callie happily pets their dog. She then heard a rock hit her window, it caused Vegas to growl and bark.
"I will go see who it is Vegas," Callie said as she got up. She walked over to her window and carefully moved the curtains, she saw Reggie climbing up to her balcony. She opened the window. "What are you doing Mantle?"
"Sneaking in to see my girl," Reggie answered as he pulled himself over the ledge.
"I am the only one home," Callie pointed out.
"Archie left?"Reggie asked as Callie let him into the room.
"He wanted to see how the song he helped write turn out," Callie told them as she closed her door to the balcony.
" So it is just me and you here?" Reggie asked with a smile.
"And Vegas," Callie pointed out and pointed to her dog that was smelling Reggie and wagging his tail.
"Are the Coopers home?" Reggie asked as his hands landed on her hips.
"No," Callie answered as she closed her bedroom after Vegas left.
"Then no one will be able to hear us," Reggie growled before he started to kiss her neck.
"Ohhh Reggieee," Callie moaned.
*******
The next morning Callie was in the kitchen getting ready for school when Archie came down the steps.
"What's that sound?" Archie asked as Callie put on his back.
" Dad is out in back for some reason," Callie answered. "He has been working on something since he woke up." The two went outside following the sound of electric drill buzzing.
"Dad?" Archie asked.
"What are you doing dad?" Callie asked.
" Well, I am soundproofing the garage," their dad answered. " I figure, you know, while you're grounded Archie, you should at least be productive. Practicing your music".
"Dad, this is awesome," Archie told him. " Thank you".
"I met your music teacher last night," their dad stated. " Yeah, Ms. Grundy? Whoa. They did not look like that in my day, son."
"Ah, what were you guys talking about?" Archie asked.
"You, " he answered. " She believes in you, Archie, so do I."
"If it helps, I believe in you too Arch," Callie spoke up.
"Thanks, Cal," Archie smiled before walking to school without her.
"Oh Callie," her dad began.
"Yes, dad?" Callie asked.
"You should know, Penelope Blossom slapped Alice Cooper at the event yesterday," he informed her.
"Why are you telling me this?"Callie asked.
"Just some adult drama, I thought you would appreciate," he answered. " Since I made you cancel your date with Reggie".
"Thanks," Callie smiled at him before catching up with Archie.
*****
When they got to school, Callie immediately made her way into the Blue and Gold room, where she found Betty with a stack of newspapers.
"Betty?" Callie asked.
"I couldn't sleep last night," Betty answered, she then froze and looked at Callie in shock. " You didn't call me Nancy Drew".
"I know," Callie answered. " I am trying to become a better person, after what happened to Jason, I think everyone is changing."
"I'm glad you are making the effort," Betty said. " So are we-"
"For now we are surface friends," Callie said. " It will be a long while before we get back what we had". Callie picked up the newspaper. " These are good photos".
"They are the ones you took," Betty reminded her.
"I know," Callie smiled. " That's why they are good". Betty gave her look. " I am not going to change overnight".
"Go hand some of these out," Betty ordered handing her some newspapers. Callie left the room and puts a couple newspapers in spots students would see them. Later that day, Callie got to see Chuck Clayton and his goons be escorted out of the school with everyone else. She stood with all the girls, he and his posse have victimized, along with Betty and Cheryl.
"Thanks, Betty," Ethel said with a smile of relief. " Thanks, Veronica".
"Thank you, Ethel, for going on record," Betty said. " It made all of the difference with Weatherbee".
"You're at the bravest of them all, Ethel Muggs," Veronica added.
" Hashtag JusticeForEthel," Cheryl said.
" Hashtag JusticeForEthel," Callie repeated.
******
After school, Callie headed over to the newspaper room, when she saw Betty and Dilton Doily leave the room.
" What did scout boy tell you?" Callie asked when she walked in and saw Jughead.
"He saw Grundy's car on July 4th," Jughead answered. Callie's eyes went wide.
"How are we going to protect Archie?" Callie asked.
"We will do whatever to protect Archie," Jughead answered, " But this basically just opened Pandora's box". Callie looked back in the hallway, watching the people walking by.
"Whatever it takes?" Callie asked looking back at him.
"Whatever it takes," Jughead confirmed.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top