CHAPTER FOUR
SUPPRESSED EMOTIONS
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As Chris took his spot beside his brother away from the crowd of kids. He had a smoke between his fingers as he stared at the photo of Jason Blossom. A stabbing pain in his chest from now finding out that one of his friends was dead. Still, something he was having trouble processing at times, but fully realizing his friend was gone and would never see him again.

From most people's opinions, Jason seemed to be like Cheryl. A self-centred asshole, but Chris saw a different side of the redhead. He was a caring guy and did care for people's opinions. Sure, sometimes he could just throw the rich guy facade in your face, but he was a good guy. Well, from Chris's experience at least.

The only reason Chris and Jason actually met was from a party. A guy at the time was trying to get with Olivia even when she said no. Chris took the problem into his own hands and five minutes later, a chair was used as a weapon, a window was shattered, and the guy who couldn't take no for an answer had a broken nose and jaw. From there, Jason found Chris suitable for Olivia and announced him the bulldog of Riverdale.

In a way, Chris felt honoured to have been given such a status from the richest family in town. And to be given the title from Jason himself where the crowd cheered and drank harder the rest of the night. It was a moment that the oldest Jones would never forget and would be forever grateful to his recently lost friend. After that night, Chris and Jason became good friends and often times hanging out. But now all of that was gone and Chris didn't know how to feel.

"Thank you for that moment of silence." Cheryl started as her voice came through the speakers on the gym floor. Chris knew he would need a cigarette for this assembly and it was the only thing able to keep him composed most times. Everyone knew that they would soon smell the cigarette smoke since most people knew how Chris operated at school. Mainly his friends closest to him.

Fishing into his pockets, Chris listened to Cheryl continue as he lit his cigarette. "Many of you were lucky to have known my brother personally," Cheryl spoke as her eyes scanned the bleachers full of kids. Her eyes stopping at Chris who had an unreadable expression on his face. Watching him blow out a cloud of smoke as the cigarette dangle between his index and middle finger. Keeping eye contact as he brought the cigarette back up to his lips and took another puff.

"Each and every one of you meant the world to Jason." She stated, but Chris seemed to feel like it was directed towards him by the unbreakable eye contact between the Jones and Blossom. Only breaking eye contact when Riley quietly made his way to Chris, taking a seat beside the boy. "I loved my brother. He was, and always will be, my soul mate."

Chris felt his free hand clench in anger as his eyes found Olivia. A sombre look on her face that seemed more fake than half the girl's asses in Riverdale. "So I speak with confidence only a twin could have," Cheryl said as she placed a hand over her chest. "Jason wouldn't want us to spend the year mourning. Jason would want us to move on with our lives." She stated and Chris leaned back into the wall behind him as he inhaled the smoke.

Riley glancing at him with worry about how the boy would react to the sorrowful words. Not just Jason dying would be on Chris's mind after the assembly. There was more that Riley had to tell the boy and it wasn't going to be pretty on how he reacted to. Riley knew that the most about Chris and was mentally preparing himself to try and calm the hothead that was Chris Jones.

"Which is why I've asked the school board not to cancel the back-to-school semi-formal," Cheryl announced earning cheers and claps from the teens. "But rather, to let us use it as a way to heal, collectively...and celebrate my brother's too, too short life on this mortal coil. Thank you, all."

With that, the assembly was over and Chris scanned the teens who were grinning in happiness with hearing the semi-formal still happening. "Look at them," Chris said motioning to the kids leaving the bleachers. "Bunch of heartless assholes who don't deserve any good. Someone could get into a car crash and they wouldn't feel anything" He grumbled as he rose to his feet with Riley doing the same.

"I know, I know, man. But I need to talk to you about Kaitlyn." The new topic had gotten Chris's attention instantly as his jaw clenched as he watched Cheryl talk to Olivia. "What is it?" Chris questioned as the older Mantle sibling ran a hand through his brown locks. "You remember that Tommy kid?" Chris responded with a nod. "Yeah, he's back in town." He muttered hesitantly.

That made Chris look around quickly to see if he could spot the disgusting and creep of a blonde. Not seeing him and guessing that he hadn't registered into school yet. "When do we do it?" Chris asked, already knowing Riley was going to want to do something. "Semi-formal," Riley replied. "Easy to do it since it'll be at night. I found a spot at an abandoned house." Riley explained briefly and Chris nodded as he dropped the cigarette to the ground and crushed it.

"Then I'll see you tonight." Chris acknowledged as he patted the Mantle's back before making his way down the steps. "Bring Harold," Riley called out and Chris instantly smirked at the mention of his named crowbar he had used on unfortunate victims. "Will do." He called back before going down to the gym floor.

Striding towards the two Blossoms with a plan to give them his condolences. Besides him and Olivia currently hating each other, Chris didn't hate Cheryl and she didn't hate him. Well, he didn't think so. Cheryl was just like Chris, they hid their emotions differently from what normal people did.

Upon noticing him, Cheryl smiled faintly as she turned her attention to the Jones. "Hey, CJ." She greeted quietly and Chirs smiled lightly. "Hey, Cherry." The nickname made the redhead smile wider. It was a nickname he had given her at a party where he had been told by Jason to take care of her. When Cheryl had too many drinks, her face would turn as red as her hair which he got the idea to call her Cherry. Not to mention that she loved the colour red like Jason.

Chris crossed his arms as his eyes softened at the beautiful girl in front of him. "I'm sorry for what happened. Maybe if I was around I could've comforted you or even gone with Jason. Maybe things would've been different." He scolded himself and surprisingly, the redhead placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. A gentle smile on her face as she cupped his face and took in his features.

Up close, she could see the brokenness in his eyes that seemed to be covered by piles upon piles of concrete. Never to be shown or released, but at this moment. Where he's talking about one of his friends that died, some of that brokenness was appearing.

"It wasn't your fault." She reassured before a scowl appeared on her face. "Could've definitely shown up and gave me some company." Chris chuckled as the girl had a scolding half-joking look in her eyes. "JJ, loved you CJ. It wasn't your fault and nothing could've changed what happened." She assured him. "All we can do is try and do better and find the person who took him from us."

In response gave a tight nod as he said, "Yeah, and it ain't gonna be pretty." He muttered before placing his hand on her bicep and giving it a tiny squeeze for a goodbye. Turning away, Chris lowered his head and making his way out of the gymnasium. At the moment, he had a lot more to worry about than just Jason. The question was when would he have time to accept the fact his best friend was gone?