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THREE; STICKY MAPLES

     "CHERYL BLOSSOM KILLED her brother?"

     Kalani scoffed at Lucas' question. "Cheryl loved Jason more than anyone else in this sorry town. She'd never lay a finger on him."

     The cousins watched as Cheryl exited Weatherbee's office, both of her parents hauling her forward. They exited the school, whispering lowly in their daughter's ear. Kalani observed Archie as he watched them flee the building. She strode over to him, and Archie sighed, already expecting what she was going to say.

     "I'll go to Weatherbee tomorrow, Kal. I promise."

     "And Grundy?"

     Archie scanned the hallways, checking to see if anyone was listening. "I told you to trust me, Kalani. I can handle it."

     "Beautiful rose!" Reggie hummed, approaching the pair. He didn't like the close proximity between Kalani and Archie, and intended to stop it at all costs. "Tutoring session again today?"

     Archie exchanged another glance at Kalani before taking off. She exhaled, spinning around to speak to Reggie. "I think you know the answer to that question, Reggie. I told you no flirting while I was tutoring you."

     She tried her best to disappear among the crowd of students, but Reggie always found her. He was frowning, tainting his happy persona. "It won't happen again, beautiful rose. I just saw the chance, and I took it."

     She shook her head and jabbed her palm into his chest, pushing him backwards. "Reggie, I'm not some pawn in this game you're playing. I told you the rules, and you failed to follow them. I'm requesting for you to find a new tutor."

     Panic spread throughout Reggie's body. Kalani was walking at a faster pace now, and Reggie found it harder to shove people out of the way to speak to her. Through a mumble of sorry's and curses, he finally made it out of the gigantic crowd. However, his elation subsided when he realized his beautiful rose was already entering the classroom of her next period, wanting nothing to do with him.

     Regret seeped through his bones.

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     "Hey, what did you do to Reggie? He was practically furious at anyone who mentioned your name at practice yesterday," Archie questioned, falling in step besides his former girlfriend. Kalani rolled her eyes, gripping her textbooks tighter to her chest.

     "Broke off tutoring sessions with him. He was invading boundaries I set up for a particular reason," she waved off. "What about you? Are you going to Weatherbee today?"

     "On my way right now."

     Kalani gripped his arm in a comforting manner, and Archie smiled at her before he took off. She spotted Betty's figure at her locker and joined her side. "How are you? Since your mom released Jason's autopsy report, I mean."

     All Betty did was sigh. "I wish she didn't. I'm not the number one fan of the Blossom family either, but they're still grieving over their son."

     Veronica approached them, coffee in hand. "Kalani, is your cousin Lucas dating Cheryl? I just saw them kissing." Kalani started laughing, which only spurred on Veronica's confusion.

     Betty began to explain. "Lucas likes to kiss a lot of people around the school, and Cheryl and him are regular hookups."

     The three of them made their way towards the lounge room, where Kevin was sitting. Kalani squeezed in beside him and exhaled in exhaustion. It wasn't long before Archie walked through the doors, causing Kalani to sit straight. He gave her a subtle nod, indicating that the talk with Weatherbee was finished. Kevin dove straight into the topic of Jason's body, and Betty shifted uncomfortably at the mention of her mother's article in the newspaper. Archie confessed to telling Weatherbee.

     "So, are you a suspect now?" Veronica asked.

     "My dad says we all are, including me," Kevin answered for the redhead.

     Veronica smirked. "Not me, girl. I don't know these people."

     The group released humorous chuckles. "Guys, should we maybe re-binge Making a Murderer on Netflix tonight?" Kevin suggested. Kalani scoffed at his absurd and ironic idea.

     "Sorry, can't. Gotta stay late to work on the paper." Like her mother, Betty wrote for the school newspaper. Although, Betty's articles were more school centric instead of focusing on ruining the Blossom family's lives.

     "Count me out too. I've got a date tonight." Veronica smiled wickedly.

      Archie's interest grew. "You do?"

     "Which Riverdale hottie made the cut?"

     Kevin's question was answered by Chuck's voice. "Hey, V-Lo, I'll swing by the Pembrooke to pick you up at eight?"

     Kalani's eyes widened at Veronica's choice. Chuck was a good-looking guy, she had to admit, but his track record with girls was far from squeaky clean. Her distraction about Veronica and Chuck was pushed aside when she felt a hand laid upon her shoulder. Her eyes drifted upwards and she came face to face with Reggie. His solemn expression was beginning to haunt her.

     "Can we talk, beautiful rose?"

     Kalani sighed and stood from her seat, following Reggie outside. "What is it, Reggie? I thought we already said everything needed yesterday."

     "Christ, beautiful rose," Reggie huffed in exasperation, throwing his hands up in the air. "You make everything so difficult for me. The reason I tried to kiss you during our tutoring session is because I like you."

     Kalani's breath was caught in her throat. "You like me?"

     He was amused by her initial shock. "Yes, beautiful rose. I can't believe you didn't notice this whole time. I wasn't kissing you to act on a dare, I was kissing you because I genuinely wanted to."

     She gulped back her breakfast. There was something about Reggie acting so vulnerable and innocent that made her want to check all the facts. She was still unsure of his true intentions, but when he stepped forward to kiss her, she didn't stop him.

     And damn, Reggie Mantle definitely knew how to kiss.

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     "So, how'd it go with Chuck?"

     Veronica scoffed at Kevin's inquiry. "Chuck has muscles for days, but his conversation is not the stuff of Oscar Wilde, or even Diablo Cody."

     "Hey, Veronica, how was the Sticky Maple you had last night?" A sophomore girl said, a smug look painted upon her face as she passed by.

     Kalani's eyes widened at the words. She had heard the term 'Sticky Maple' before, and it was not a good thing to be associated to. "The what now?" Veronica asked.

     "The Sticky Maple Chuck gave you," another girl emphasized. "How was it?"

     "We had a brownie sundae if that's what you hyenas mean."

     Kalani's phone buzzed in her back pocket. It notified her of Chuck's new post, which was a picture of him and Veronica. All seemed normal unless you looked at Veronica, who was doused in maple syrup. Kalani was pretty sure that the term 'Sticky Maple' began with Jason, since his parents' maple syrup was used widely throughout the town.

     Veronica stole Kevin's phone to see what the chaos was about. "What the hell is a Sticky Maple?"

     "It's kind of what it sounds like. It's a Riverdale thing," Kevin attempted to explain.

     "No, Kevin. It's a slut-shaming thing. And I am neither a slut, nor am I going to be shamed by someone named, excuse me, Chuck Clayton." Veronica's eyes were filled with burning rage, and Kalani liked it. "Does he really think he can get away with this? Does he not know who I am? I will cut the brakes on his souped-up phallic symbol."

     "Or we can go to Principal Weatherbee," Betty intercepted Veronica's rant.

     "About the coach's son, who is the captain of the football team and Riverdale High's resident golden boy?" Veronica spat.

     "Or I can expose him in the pages of the Blue and Gold. Yeah, I can do that!" Betty said, trying to make up as much alternatives as possible for Veronica.

     "No. Spoken like a true good girl who always follows the rules." Veronica slammed Kevin's phone against his chest, causing him to stumble backwards into the lockers. She began striding down the hall, and Betty and Kalani followed her. Betty wanted to stop her, but Kalani wanted to see how far Veronica's anger would take her. "Well, I don't follow rules. I make them, and when necessary, I break them. You wanna help me get revenge on Chuck, buddy? Awesome. But you better be willing to go full dark, no stars. What do you say, in or out?"

     "Hell yes. Count me in, please," Kalani requested, eyes sparkling mischievously.

     The trio found themselves in the boys' locker room. Veronica was storming her way through the pile of shirtless boys, Betty was covering her face to avoid looking at them, and Kalani was hissing at anyone who catcalled at her. Veronica happened to bump into Archie, who struggled to cover his lower region with a towel.

     "Veronica! Betty, Kalani, what are you guys doing here?"

     "Don't worry about it," Veronica assured. When Archie tried to get a simple explanation, Veronica snapped. "I mean it, Andrews. Hit the showers and stay out of my way."

     Veronica and Betty moved on, but Kalani was stopped by another sweaty teenage boy. However, this teenage boy was someone she had kissed the day before, and continued to kiss during their tutoring session. "Beautiful rose! You know we're not allowed to kiss in the locker room, right? I mean, I don't like any of these assholes staring at you in the first place." Reggie was grinning, but he was disheartened to see the frown on Kalani's face.

     She pulled out her phone and showed him the picture of Veronica and Chuck. "Did you know about this? That Chuck would slut-shame Veronica just because they went on a date together? Is that how it's going to be for us?" Kalani shot question after question at him.

     Reggie glanced around. Either every guy in the locker room was staring at the situation between Veronica, Betty, and Chuck, or at the situation between Kalani and Reggie. He sighed softly and whispered lowly.

     "Beautiful rose, you know I'd never do that to you."

     "Yeah, and Veronica thought Chuck would never do that to her."

     Someone was pulling her arm and Kalani was gone again, right behind Betty and Veronica. Veronica stomped off once they exited the locker room, and Betty pulled Kalani aside. "You should've heard Chuck in there. What he's doing to Veronica — we need revenge."

     "I know some girls," Kalani informed. "They went on a few dates with Chuck before their reputation was ruined. I can find them and bring them to you."

     Betty nodded. "That's a start."

     Kalani gathered as many girls as she could round up for Betty. She found a couple of River Vixens and some juniors who were also wronged by members of the football team. They met up in an empty classroom, and Betty called Veronica so she could see the evidence herself. When she walked through the door, she was surprised at the amount of girls sitting there.

     "This story is bigger than we thought," Betty said. "I started asking around to see if what happened to you happened to anyone else, and if anyone would go on record."

     From beside her, Ethel Muggs chimed in. "I will. One hundred percent."

     Betty smiled down at her. "Okay. It's five guys on the football team — Chuck and his posse. Ethel was just about to tell us."

     Ethel proceeded with her story. "One day last year, Chuck and I talked in the library for ten minutes. I helped him with a Pre-Calc problem, and nothing happened, but the next day, he started telling people that I let him do stuff to me. Like, sex stuff. And then he, or one of his goons, wrote 'sloppy seconds' on my locker."

     "Yes, yes, we've all heard your tragic origin story," Cheryl said, leaning against the door frame.

     "I'm so so sorry, Ethel. That's horrible," Betty murmured, comforting her. Kalani rubbed her shoulders and smiled softly.

     "Not as horrible as being a suspect in your own brother's torture murder case, but we all have our crosses. In the meantime, River Vixen practice starts in five minutes, sluts, so-"

     Kalani sneered at Cheryl, despising her the most at the moment. Tears were building up in Ethel's eyes. "They're ruining our lives, and to them, it's just a game. They keep score and-"

     "Wait, what do you mean 'keep score?'" Veronica interrupted.

     "Each conquest earns them points. They keep track in some secret playbook," Ethel said, opening up brand new doors in the case against the football players.

     "Okay, we have to talk to Weatherbee," Betty mentioned logically.

     "I already tried. Weatherbee said that he didn't find anything," Ethel whispered.

     "Okay, we need undeniable proof."

     Cheryl voiced her opinion without anyone asking, once again. "Proof of what, Nancy Drew? That boys will be boys? And that playbook reeks of suburban legend."

     "How would you know, Cheryl?" Veronica retorted, tired of Cheryl's excuses.

     "Because, Frida Shallow, before he died, my brother was co-captain of the football team with Chuck. And Jason never mentioned it, and he never would have allowed it."

     "Okay, well, I never met your brother, but I'm not lying about what happened to me, and Ethel's not lying. And proof or no proof, book or no book, I'm going scorched earth on these privileged despicable miscreants. You wanna get caught in that backdrift, Cheryl?" Veronica hissed, stepping closer and closer to the Blossom girl. "Call me, or any of these beautiful, young, strong, intelligent women 'slut' one more time."

     Kalani smiled, standing up, defending all of the women in the room. "We'll be at practice, Cheryl, because the River Vixens actually need correct representation on that squad. We don't need girls who don't support girls anywhere in our proximity. You may be captain, Cheryl, and I may not even want to be on the team, but trust me, I'm coming after your title."

     Cheryl's lip curled before she spun around, exiting the room in a hurry.

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     "Football players behaving badly, what else is new? Steubenville, Glen Ridge. The coach's son being the ringleader. I mean, just how depraved is this town?" Veronica said, shining her flashlight throughout the deserted hallway of Riverdale High.

     After Ethel found Trev Brown, a former football player, and he revealed he knew where the playbook could be, Betty planned a secret search when everyone had left the school. Kalani was tired, especially after she had another fight with Reggie over the playbook. He insisted that if Kalani wanted him to, he would cut off all ties to the book. She was disgusted to discover that he had any association with the playbook in the first place.

     "Color me impressed." The whole group gasped in shock, jumping back. Kalani's eyes narrowed when she saw Cheryl standing in front of them, flashlight in hand. "A B and E with B and V. What would your holy roller mother say about this, Betty?"

     "What are you doing here, Cheryl?"

     "And where did you get those thigh-high boots? They're amazing," Kevin said, observing Cheryl's outfit.

     Cheryl made her way towards them. "Trev told Valerie, who told Josie, who told Ginger, who told Tina, who told me. And I thought I would help out."

     "Help? Or derail our investigation?"

     "Get over yourself, Betty."

     "Hey, guys," Ethel called from her spot in the locker room. "Get in here." Kalani made her way over to the girl, holding a flashlight so she could catch a glimpse of the playbook correctly. "Trev was right. They didn't even bother to hide it."

     Kalani couldn't believe what her eyes were seeing. She skimmed the pages of the book, running her finger down the list of names. Her breath hitched when she saw how many times Reggie's name was listed, along with the girls he claimed he had hooked up with. Her realization only worsened when his name came right after Chuck's. Since Chuck had already listed his girl for his turn, Reggie was next. Kalani remembered their kiss and the rose he had given her. Was she the next girl to be written down? Was Reggie just using her to earn more points in his sick game?

     While both Betty and Cheryl were having breakdowns over their siblings' name in the book, Kalani couldn't handle it anymore. She exited the locker room in tears, calling Lucas for help. He told her he would meet her at Pop's, and they scheduled a time.

     Kalani ignored the calls of her name, leaving the school. She met her cousin in a booth at Pop's, wiping stray tears away from her cheeks. Lucas frowned, extending his hand so Kalani could take it.

     "What happened? What did Reggie do?"

     Her bottom lip quivered, and she tried her best to gather her tears so nobody would see her crying. "He's in that stupid book. That book the football players made. I'm his next victim."

     Lucas' face grew stoic. "Kalani, I'll end him. I'll end all the football players, I swear. I'll ruin them for hurting my cousin."

     "It's not just me, Lucas. It's a bunch of other girls in the school. Betty's sister was in there, and Jason-"

     "Jason? Jason Blossom? Is Cheryl okay?" He asked.

     Her eyebrows furrowed. "Why would you care about Cheryl?"

     Lucas shrugged. "She's a regular hookup of mine. I care about all of my hookups."

     Kalani didn't believe him. She gazed at the look in his eyes. He wasn't telling all of his side of the story, and she knew it. She stood up from the booth, and Lucas tried to stop her.

     "Kal, what are you doing? Our milkshakes haven't even gotten here yet."

     "I'm tired of secrets, Lucas. Call me when you're ready to tell the truth."

     His distressed cousin left the diner, heart broken in two.

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     Kalani crossed her legs, lips pursed. She was wearing a red, low cut, two piece swimsuit as Veronica greeted Chuck at the door. Betty had come up with the perfect plan to get revenge on the football players the previous day, and Kalani volunteered to be a part of it. She had refused to speak to Reggie since the discovery of the playbook, and requested for Mrs. Kirkland to find him a new tutor. Reggie was asking almost every sophomore in the school to speak to Kalani for him, but she refused to succumb to his gestures.

     If Kalani was going to bite back, her first start would be attacking the captain of the football team.

     "Kalani Rose?"

     Kalani looked over her shoulder, smiling seductively. "Hi, Chuck."

     "Come on," Veronica encouraged, stepping into the water beside Kalani. "Let's get wet."

     "Should we wait for Betty to get here first?"

     The back door of Ethel's home swung wide open, and Betty stepped out. Kalani's eyes widened at how extreme Betty had dressed — a black wig, a lace black bra, and a black skirt that showed off her legs. The three of them were speechless at the confidence oozing out of the blonde.

     "Betty couldn't make it, so she sent me instead."

     "Get comfy, Chuck," Kalani spoke first. "Betty and Veronica will make us some drinks to share."

     Betty and Veronica immediately set the plan into motion. Chuck had stripped down until he was only in his boxers, stepping into the water with Kalani. Betty and Veronica talked quietly to one another while making Chuck's drink, and the boy smiled at Kalani.

     "I shouldn't be doing this, you know. Reggie will kill me if he found out I was with you."

     Her mind suddenly drifted from the task at hand. "Why would Reggie care if we were together?"

     Chuck scoffed, as if he didn't believe what Kalani was asking. "You serious, Kalani? You're all he talks about. He bought two dozen roses for you, and was planning to give them to you until you dumped him."

     "We were never together," Kalani corrected. She began having doubts about assuming she was the next one in the book. Nonetheless, she couldn't excuse Reggie's actions. He still ruined other girls' lives, living up to the reputation made for him. He was a selfish jock, and Kalani had to keep reminding herself of that.

     "Right, Chuck? You don't wanna slow down, do you?" Betty questioned, walking over to the hot tub.

     "Oh, I'm 2 Fast 2 Furious, baby."

     "Good," Betty said, holding a drink in her hands. "Good boy, Chuck."

     She held the drink out for him, and Chuck took a swig. Kalani was confused when he was beginning to grow sleepy, resting his head against the hot tub. Betty started turning up the heat feature of the hot tub, and Kalani got out to speak to Veronica.

     "What did Betty do?" Kalani knew Betty. When someone mentioned her sister or wronged her, she would turn into a different person. She would still protect Polly's reputation, even if the girl was far from gone now.

     "Spiked Chuck's drink with something."

     Veronica took her phone out as Betty chained up Chuck's wrists. Kalani could feel the plan was slipping away, and Betty was devising a new one in her head. "Start recording," she informed once Chuck started mumbling and waking up.

     "Hey, guys, it's really hot in here," Chuck muttered.

     "And getting hotter by the minute. Time to squeal, pig. Tell the truth about what happened between you and Veronica."

     "We had a good time. She had a good time," Chuck lied.

     "The truth, Chuck, or so help me, I will boil you alive," Betty demanded.

     "What?" Chuck said dazedly. He was beginning to realize that Betty wasn't joking. "We made out."

     "And then?"

     "And then I took her home, and I didn't give her a Sticky Maple."

     "That is all you had to say, you ass," Veronica spat, stopping the recording. She posted the video on her social media. "And now, everyone will know."

     The glint in Betty's eyes didn't disappear. She shoved Chuck down into the water with her heel. "You like shaming people, Chuck? You like dehumanizing them? Prissy prude by day, freak in the sheets by night?"

     Kalani took a step forward, noticing that the Betty that was talking is not the same Betty she knows. "No!" Chuck said, trying to fight her off.

     "Apologize! Say you're sorry."

     "Calm down," Veronica eased. Kalani spoke Betty's name warily. She was taking the plan into her own hands.

     "Okay! Okay, I'm sorry! I'm sorry for all of it!" Chuck apologized.

     "Good job, pig. Now time for your reward — a Sticky Maple of your own." Betty took out a jug of the Blossom's maple syrup.

     "What, what?" Chuck asked, completely disoriented. Kalani said Betty's name again in a louder tone, warning her that she was not thinking straight.

     "Apologize for ruining Polly." Betty began pouring the maple syrup down Chuck's head, and Kalani and Veronica exchanged a cautious glance. "Do it, Jason! Say you're sorry for destroying me! Apologize for what you did to me!"

      Betty was no longer talking about herself, but acting as if she was Polly, and Chuck was her revenge for Jason.

      "Look, I'm not Jason! I'm not Jason!" Chuck exclaimed, thrashing around.

     "Betty, that is enough, stop! It's over, we did it. You did it," Veronica said. Betty stopped, her facade dropping.

     "You are crazy!" Chuck yelled, trying to shake off the substance on his face. "Oh, my God! You're crazy as hell!"

     Veronica spoke Betty's name to ask if she was okay. "I'm fine," Betty insisted, brushing strands of her wig away.

     "We're done here."

     Although Betty lost herself along the way, their plan proved to be a success. Coach Clayton cut Chuck and his posse from the team. Unfortunately for Kalani, Reggie was still enrolled in the school and the football team. He didn't hesitate to remind her when he found her at her locker.

     "Beautiful rose."

     "Please, Reggie, I'm not in the mood today for your bullshit."

     "Beautiful rose, listen to me. I'm not like that anymore. Ask the girls in this school! I apologized to every single one of them that I messed up, and told the truth to the football team. I was never going to put your name in that stupid book, I promise," Reggie pleaded for her forgiveness, but Kalani wouldn't budge. She slammed her locker shut, swerving around to face him with a stern expression.

     "Listen to me, Reggie. Listen to my words loud and clear — I will never be with you. You might have changed your ways, but I can't dismiss what you did to me and those girls before. It's not going to happen, Reggie."

     She walked away from him, but Reggie hollered after her.

     "I'll prove you wrong, beautiful rose! That's a promise."

c'mon kalani reggie just wants to be with you