❝ SEASON ONE, EPISODE TWO ❞
💀A Touch of Evil💀

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I think many of us, maybe the entire town, had been hoping that somehow Jason Blossom hadn't drowned on July Fourth. That we'd come to school Monday morning, and there Jason would be. Or that we'd see him and Cheryl in a booth at Pops.

But that was before the undeniable, irrevocable fact of his bloated, water-logged body, a corpse with a bullet hole in its forehead, and terrible secrets that could only be revealed by the cold, steel blade of a coroner's autopsy scalpel, or the telltale beat of a guilty heart.

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Isabella felt uneasy since the reveal of Jason's death, she hadn't come to terms with the boy's death without the presence of a body but now there was undeniable proof that Jason Blossom had been murdered and his killer was out there, was he planning his next hit or living like nothing happened? That was unknown. The entire town was suddenly on edge with the unknown and the Larkin family became one of the many suspects in this town.

"I just don't understand how quickly it all changed," Isabella expressed as she laid back on her phone. "I guess the saying "One summer can change everything" is true, huh?" Betty replied as she too, fell back on her bed. "I just can't believe that Jason was murdered... I mean... It makes no sense to me," Isabella told Betty with a sigh. "And knowing the killer is still somewhere out there walking amongst us," Betty added with an uncomfortable shiver.

"We gotta look further into this, Betts. We need to do something," Isabella said with determination laced through her tone. "You're right. There has to be something we can do about this," Betty answered back with the same determined tone. "This town is our home, I'm not gonna let some killer tear it away from us and nor will I let Jason's death be in vain," Isabella expressed as her father knocked on the door.

"I gotta go, Betts. See you at school," Isabella told Betty before the girl hung up and sat up straight looking towards her father. "Look, I don't want to be one of those dads that forces their child to obey every order..." Christian trailed off as Isabella smiled. "But?" Isabella dragged out with a smirk. "I don't want you wandering around after dark until this killer is caught," Christian told her with a serious tone.

"I know dad... I was thinking, I might take some money out of my savings for a car and save the trouble of walking the dangerous streets," Isabella suggested while Christian had a mental debate, he knew she had a good point but the savings were so she wouldn't have to fight for a scholarship allowing her more time to be a teenager despite her good grades. "Y-Yeah, it might be smarter but leave me to replace─" Christian began but was silenced by Isabella.

"I can recover it, dad. You got other things to worry about. Besides, I got like two more years till I have to worry about college. This sixteen-year-old has it all covered," Isabella encouraged her father with a grin on her face. "Okay... God, when did you grow up?" Christian asked with watery eyes before running his hand down his face. "Get some sleep, Belle. Good night," Christian kissed the top of her head before walking out of the room and closing the door behind her.

Isabella let out a slow breath as she lifted herself from the bed and changed into an oversized shirt that probably belonged to her father or Archie before curling under her blankets. She laid there staring at the ceiling with a mental battle for her mind to shut off and let her sleep leaving her annoyed with herself. She turned on some quiet music to soothe her to sleep and finally after around two hours, the brunette had dozed off into a restless sleep.

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Isabella smiled as she stood up from the public park bench where she would meet Betty and Archie every morning to walk to school, her smile widened when she saw the two walking together despite what had happened between them. Isabella was worried about things being awkward between the best friends but seeing them walking with their usual smiles made Isabella feel better. "Good morning!" Isabella stated cheerfully before clearing her throat.

"Sorry, that was too cheerful considering what's happened," Isabella corrected as she walked between the two best friends, she noticed the way Betty's shoulder relaxed once she took the place. Isabella quickly caught on to what Betty was trying to do, she just wanted to take the most peaceful path through this sudden chaos and while Isabella understood that, she wished Betty would just let herself snap a little.

"Love the outfit choice," Betty told Isabella as she looked at her. "Is that my flannel?" Archie asked his cousin who grin mischievously. "Yeah, it is," Isabella replied before linking her arms with her two friends. She was wearing a white Pulp Fiction t-shirt with Archie's red and black flannel over it, matched with some black jeans and her Chuck Taylor Converses and because she felt like it, she had a black beanie upon her head ─ Inspired by Jughead Jones, of course.

When they reached the school, Betty split off from the cousins who approached Archies locker which now sported a memorial for Jason Blossom next to it. "So he drowns, no one cares... But they find out he's been murdered and suddenly the whole school was his friend?" Isabella asked rhetorically as she watched students place flowers and small gifts by the locker. "Bella..." Archie spoke in a warning tone causing Isabella to roll her eyes.

"Hi," Jughead's voice pulled the two cousins' attention from the memorial and towards the Jones teen. "Do you think I can use Jason Blossom's death as an excuse to get out of PE? Sorry, Coach, I'm just too depressed and freaked out right now to do pull-ups," Jughead joked bringing a smile to Isabella's face, she looked down letting her hair cover her face as she hid her laugh ─ But Jughead noticed which made him smile.

"Don't joke about Jason Blossom," Archie snapped as he slammed his locker closed causing Isabella to jump suddenly before glaring at the redhead. "What? Sardonic humour is just my way of relating to the world," Jughead defended. "I feel that one," Isabella voiced ignoring the look on Archie's face as she looked up at Jughead. Jughead turned his head to see Reggie and his crew walking toward them making him scoff, "Look, it's the rich kids from The Goonies." Isabella laughed openly.

"All right, I'm out," Jughead spoke before moving to walk away until Isabella spoke, "I'll join you." He smiled at her before the two made their down the hall toward the jocks, Reggie noticing the two straight away. "Watch it, Wednesday Addams," Reggie snarked at Jughead as he shoulder checked him causing Isabella to glare. "Reggie," Isabella began in a sweet voice gaining the hormonal teens' full attention, along with the others in the hall ─ Jughead watched intently.

"Yeah, Isabella?" Reggie asked in a flirty tone as she stepped toward him. "It's better to let someone think you're an idiot than open your mouth and prove it," Isabella told him with a faux sweet smile that made Reggie scowl while the hall of students began to snicker and whisper. "What was that?" Reggie asked giving her a chance to take back her words. "Did I stutter, Mantle the Maniac?" Isabella asked with a smirk.

Reggie was silent and it was clear he was trying so hard to think of a good response to push Isabella off of her pedestal but the brunette was already bored. "Ugh, seriously?! You know what, forget it. I don't engage in mental combat with those who are unarmed," Isabella snapped before she turned to Jughead and motioned for him to follow her out while the rest of the students laughed about Reggie's failed attempt at fighting back.

"You know you didn't have to do that, right?" Jughead told Isabella once they had made it a distance away from the encounter. "It's what you do for friends," Isabella told Jughead with a smile on her face. "Speaking of which, give me your phone," Isabella told Jughead, the Jones boy handed his phone over to her and watched as she typed in her number under her name. "Now, we can text whenever," Isabella told him with a new light in her eyes.

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"Good morning, students. This is your principal speaking. There have been many inquiries about the upcoming pep rally. So let me state clearly, it is happening, as scheduled," Principal Weatherbee spoke through the intercom, the news made Isabella groan before faceplanting her desk making Jughead laugh quietly from his place next to her. "Now, on a less felicitous note, if you could give your attention to Sheriff Keller," Weatherbee announced as Isabella lifted her head, placing it in her palm and looking to Jughead.

"Most of you already know the details, but your classmate Jason Blossom's body was found late Saturday night. So as of the weekend, Jason's death is now being treated as a homicide. It is an open and ongoing investigation," Sheriff Keller expressed while Isabella let out a breath, she moved her head to rest on Jughead's shoulder ─ The boy tensed for a moment before relaxing and lying his own head on top of hers, both oblivious to the glaring jock.

"And may I interject, neither I nor my parents will rest 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," Cheryl spoke up with a determined tone while Isabella let out a sigh. "Wouldn't surprise me if old man Blossom is behind it," Isabella whispered to Jughead who lifted his head and looked at her, "That's your guess?" Isabella nodded, "That man is creepy as hell."

"If you know anything that could help us find and apprehend Jason's killer or anything about what happened to him on July fourth, I strongly urge you to come forward immediately. You can speak with me or Principal Weatherbee. A death like this wounds us all. Let's not let Jason down," Sheriff Keller finished off before class proceeded. "Jug, Archie was missing for both of our plans on that day..." Isabella whispered to him with worried eyes.

After class, Jughead grabbed Isabella's wrist and pulled her along with him in search of Archie Andrews. "Archie," Jughead spoke as he spotted the mentioned teen splashing water onto his face from a water fountain, the redhead looked up at him and noticed Isabella standing next to Jughead. "Weirdest thing. This summer, we were supposed to go on a road trip over July fourth weekend..." Jughead began causing Archie to look at Isabella with wide eyes.

"Which you bailed on last minute, including the lunch with my parents," Isabella voice with clear anger and hurt in her tone. "Is there something you wanna tell us, pal?" Jughead asked Archie who stood silent before practically rushing off from the two. "What the hell is going on?" Isabella muttered as she adjusted the beanie on her head. "Are you trying to steal my style?" Jughead teased as they made their way to Biology. "Oh please, can't consider it stealing if it looks better on me," Isabella teased him and he couldn't help but agree.

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Jughead and Isabella sat in the front as everyone stood around or prepared for the class, Jughead was focused on his own thing while Isabella was listening in to the conversation happening behind her. "We were wondering, Cheryl. Back in July, you told the po-po that Jason drowned," Ginger Lopez ─ One of Cheryl's minions ─ says as she leaned on the desk. "Yet, we come to find out that Jason didn't drown. He was shot. That's slightly suspicious, no?" Tina Patel ─ her second minion ─ asked Cheryl.

Jughead glanced at Isabella who had tucked her hair behind her ear to ensure she could hear the girls talking behind her, he smiled slightly at her determined look that sat upon her face ─ almost as though every detail mattered. "Are you living mannequins suggesting I had something to do with my brother's death?" Cheryl snapped back at them as she pulled on her glove. "We're just curious. What do the police think happened?" Ginger asked Cheryl.

"I'll tell you what I told them, which is that Jason did fall into the water. We both did. I made it to the shore. He didn't," Cheryl answered before her tone began to become more aggressive, "Maybe he made it to the other side of the river and someone shot him there. Who knows?" Isabella let out a breath before turning her attention to Jughead, her cheeks flushed red as she noticed he was already watching her with a smile she hadn't noticed before.

"What?" Isabella asked as the teacher instructed everyone on what to do. "Nothing..." Jughead breathed out before looking at the dead frog on the desk. "Can I be with Cheryl?" Archie asked the teacher causing Jughead and Isabella to share a look. "And I wanna be with Betty," Veronica spoke causing Isabella to sigh. "So much drama..." Isabella whispered loud enough for Jughead to hear her. "Oh, uh, I was thinking I'd partner with Kevin," Betty stated.

"Actually, uh, Keller's with me. We, like, talked," Moose told Betty as he tapped Kevin's shoulder, Isabella watched the chaos before smirking. "I'm working with Jones!" Isabella announced as she noticed Reggie smirking at her, his smirk dropped into a scowl before Isabella looked forward and laughed. "He is really unimpressed," Jughead told Isabella as they pulled on the gloves for the assignment.

"Reggie Mantle has been trying to get a date with me for months but I rejected him each time. I thought he'd give up by now but he hasn't," Isabella told Jughead before pulling out the scalpel and shrugging. "You sure you're okay to do that?" Jughead asked Isabella who shrugged. "It's a frog... I can detach my mind and do it," Isabella answered with a slight grimace. "Don't worry, I'm fine. In fact, I'm amazing," Cheryl expressed as she cut the frog open causing Isabella to grimace. "I hate biology," Isabella muttered.

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Rosemary Speaks

Does anyone else love the teamwork between Jughead and Isabella? Is it too soon?

They have technically known each other since they were kids, they did hang out when they were younger which will be mentioned in future. I personally adore them.

See you in the next chapter!