Betty's POV
It has been a long stressful couple of weeks. Now it seems as though it is only going to get more stressful.
I raced as fast as I could to the next town over, Greendale. I couldnt risk anyone seeing me. Especially anyone who would tell my mom what I'm about to buy...
I finally find a parking spot in the semi-packed parking lot to the local Greendale Supermarket. I look at my phone, it reads 3:30p.m. on the lock screen. I know I have about 1 hour before Jughead will message wanting me to come over as his dad will leave to do seprent business, and 1 more hour before my mom will make it home from her days work at the local paper she owned. I rush into the store to search for one aisle, with one item on my mind. I get to the aisle I need and try to sort through which would be the best: blue dye or red, digital or lines, expensive or off brand. I decide to close my eyes and grab. Going to the self check out to avoid any awkward stares.
When I finally get out of the store I'm booking it to my car to get home as quickly as I can. I will need time to fully process what I already know is true. Jughead must know as well, I mean he was the one who noticed everything: when the condom broke, when I randomly get so emotional for no reason, and how overly tired I am all the time.
I pull up to my house, no one is here. Practically lightening speed I'm now in my bathroom with the door locked just in case. The little clock on the digital pregnancy test is now blinking. I'm staring so intently when my phone dings with a message I jump. The phone screen reads, "Jughead".
"Hey my love, do you want to come over in 15 minutes?"
I ignore it.
Its been 3 very daunting minutes, my palms are sweaty. Starring at the now upside down test I feel stuck, I cant move to look at it. But I already know what it is going to say. All of the sudden my phone dings again, saving me from my frozen stares. Its Jughead again.
"Baby? Are you ok? You havent answered back to the last 5 messages...please tell me something..."
I ignore it again. I quickly without thinking grab the test to flip it over. "PREGNANT". Tears fill my eyes. Thoughts flood my head: my mom is going to kick me out, I'll be homesless, Jug wont want it, he is finishing publishing his first book he wont be ready, we are 3 months out of highschool, we have only been together for a year and a half, what if he isn't ready for that kind of commitment to me or our baby.
I'm not getting an abortion. I also cant put it up for adoption I wouldnt be able to sleep at night wondering how my baby is doing.
Sliding the test into a plastic baggie then putting it into my purse. I pull my phone out of my pocket realizing I must have spaced out for more than 30 minutes thinking.
" 2 missed calls: Jughead, 1 message: Jughead: I'm on my way over. Betty you are scaring me. Call me please!"
Just than I hear a series of frantic knocks on the front door. It has to be Jug. Slowly I walk to the front door but he doesnt wait, he opens the door coming in. He looks at me with such concern in his eyes it breaks me. I collapse to the floor crying. He runs over as quickly as his feet can carry him. Pulling me into his gentle arms.
"Betty! What's wrong? What happened?"
Pushing away from his embrace to look into his eyes I try to find the words to say. I want to get this over with. But I dont want it to end badly.
"Let me grab my purse. I'll tell you at your place, we don't have much time alone here."
He nods getting up and walking to his motorcycle knowing she would follow in her car. She hasnt really wanted to ride his bike lately.
Jughead's POV
So many thoughts flowing in my mind. Why is she crying? Did I do something wrong? She hasn't been acting normal since...
One thought popped into my head and everything simultaneously clicked. She is pregnant. But how long has she known? Why hasn't she told me? I would give my life for her. So I need to let her explain before jumping to any conclusions.
Speeding down the road back to the South Side. I pull up to my dads trailer, turning my bike off. By the time I have walked up the steps to unlock the door Betty pulls up parking right next to my mounted bike. She turns off her car without noticing me watching her. She lets out a deep sigh, her eyes bloodshot red, looking like she is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Most definitely because of what we are about to talk about. Hopefully besides the pregnancy there are no other surprises she has for me.
As she gets out of the car I make the biggest decision of my life. The condom broke, it is half my child. Whatever she wants I will be by her side.
Betty's POV
Walking up the steps made me more nervous. So nervous that for the first time I felt like I was going to puke. Then there it was, rushing as quickly as my feet would let, I got to the toilet just in time. I had barely had anything to eat today besides a coke and saltine crackers. So after a minutes of purging it turned into just dry heaving.
Noticing Jug standing behind me to rub my back and soothe me with his soft words. His touch alone made everything melt away.
Washing my mouth out with some water I look in the mirror. Eyes bloodshot, purple bags underneath from lack of sleep, and something I never noticed before...my boobs just slightly making my shirt a little more tight. Rolling my eyes its time to get this over with walking to the front room.
"Betty, can we talk?"
Looking down to my shoes I nod ever so sightly. Jughead steps closer to me placing a hand on my chin so he can caress my cheek with his thumb.
"Whatever you have to say remember we are in this together. I wont let you go. If you arent ready I understand. I will stand by you no matter what you decide."
Looking deep into his eyes I know the truth. He knows what is going on and I can trust he will still love me.
"I'm...I'm pregnant Juggie. I cant get an abortion, and I cant give it up for adoption. So I'm keeping it. I wont blame you if you're not ready."
Jughead's POV
Finally I know the answer to what I've been questioning and looking for signs for since that day. I knew I would never be the one who even got the slightest pass. I mess up, I make a choice. They always come back around to change my life.
Finding any spot to sit down I find myself plopping down on the end of the coffee table. Putting my face into my hands to better comprehend what all is said and whats in store. Through my fingers I see Betty, tears welling up in her eyes all over again. No, I cant let her cry. So I jump to my feet wrapping my arms gently around her.
"Shh, Betty please dont cry. I'm so sorry. I wouldnt ask you to do anything you dont want to do. I love you. I'm almost finished with my book, we will use that money to get our own place. We will figure this out. I love you and our baby no matter what!"
They spend the rest of the day together. They decide she would make an appointment to check on the baby. After that than they would really set plans. Until then they would not tell anyone about their baby.
Betty's POV
I have somehow managed to keep my secret from my mom for 2 weeks. I'm not sure how since every morning like clock work the moment my eyes open I'm in a mad dash to shove my face in the toilet.
"Betty breakfast is ready. Hurry up before it gets cold." Alice snaps as she barges into the room to wake Betty.
"I'm up I'll be down soon."
It irritates me how she never knocks before she walks in. She never has. I just need to get through today. Tomorrow is my doctors appointment then Jugheads book release on "The Adventures of Romeo and Juliet". Obviously it was an adventure story about our lives. While some of it is of course left out. I walk to the kitchen to see my moms face frozen as she stares at her phone.
"Mom, are you ok?"
She snaps her face up to look at me with the glare of death.
"How could you be so stupid!" Alice snaps, "Do you really think that snake is father material? He will end up just like his father. Washing dishes by day, slithering by night!"
I'm watching her in horror. How did she find out? What am I going to do?
"I'm sorry mom, but it's not what you think. It wasn't planned. We protected. I accidentally missed one pill and the condom broke. He is taking good care of me. He makes sure I'm safe. You have always had a problem with Jughead. But guess what, this is happening whether you like it or not! We have plans, so do as you must. But if you treat him badly you will never see your grandchild ever. This baby is half his, so if you don't like him you don't like half of my child." I scream at her not realizing that she is now looking at me dumbfounded.
Alice looks at her phone again unable to speak. "Who told you!" I demand her to answer. She slides the phone across the island and the name sends my head spinning. I'm gonna throw up. But than everything goes black.
Jughead's POV
"Boy, get in your room now!" FP's shouts are coming from my bedroom.
Cautiously I make my way from eating my breakfast to my room. I see my dad standing by my bed, in hand one thing I had hidden under my bed in a box of old stuff I seemed to not be able to let go of.
"Do you care to fill me in on why there is a pregnancy test in your stuff?" FP uses a stern but soft tone. More like a concerned dad. He didnt know the answer that once was revealed on it. The battery had died which made the results disappear.
"I'm sorry dad, I'm not going to lie to you. Betty...Betty is pregnant...And we are keeping it."
I speak softly but loud enough he hears every word. He closes his eyes and lets out a sigh before he says anything.
"And how do you suppose you are going to support her and that baby? Who all knows? How come you didnt come to me for help? You know Alice is not going to let us off this time now that her daughter is having a serpents baby. Most importantly how is Betty, does she have everything she needs to keep herself and the baby healthy?" FP's voice has more concern and love in most of his questions.
I look at him in shock. I was expecting a fit of rage with harsh name calling and possibility homeless. I start stumbling for the right words.
"um...umm. Well no one but Betty and I, well and now you know. We were waiting until tomorrow after her first prenatal appointment to tell everyone. We think she is about 8 weeks now. We found out 2 weeks ago. Plus I know we arent in the most fantastic situation so I was sure both you and Alice would have our heads over this. Im planning on using all the money from my book to get us a small place to live. As well as items we will need for the baby. I have an interview with Pop Tate in a couple days so I can hopefully provide any sort of income. Betty has a job with her mom and a savings account as well. But who knows what will happen after she finds out. I'm going to make sure her and the baby are safe. Also Betty is ok as far as I know. Typical morning sickness but nothing out of the ordinary as far as I have been observing." Im choosing my words as carefully as I can. My father has a bad temper sometimes when he thinks I'm making horrible choices.
FP sets the test down on the night stand, slowly sitting down on the bed running his fingers through his hair. After what felt like an eternity he looks at me.
"If Betty needs anything she is more than welcome here. What's done is done. You seem to be in your right mind and better than me when I was your age. Stand by her and make sure my grandchild doesn't get hurt. I will be telling her mother about this. She deserves to know so she can properly help Betty."
Time seemed to go in slow motion after our conversation. There was no point in making matters worse. All I could do was hope that my dad was right. That Alice would understand and help Betty.
My phone buzzes with a call coming in. "Alice" was printes on the screen. Hesitantly I answer prepares to have daggers for words flying from the other end. The words she spoke were definitely daggers. But not at all what I had expected.
