This is my full filling the Drabble Tag challenge over at the Riverdale Fanficiton Challenge Forum.

I chose the pairing Jughead/Betty and the prompt: "Sometimes I just need someone."

Now the prompt didn't say that Jughead/Betty had to have a happy ending.

For Cheeky Slytherin Lass: I hope you enjoy.

7777

Jughead walked through the autumn leaves of the dirt trail. A trail that he had walked on ever since he was old enough to walk on his own. He softly smiled as he thought of walking this trail beside his very tall father. It was his father whom helped him discover the trail. Then his father told him that the trail was special because only those whom truly loved the quietness; would truly understand what God had freely given them.

He only told two people about the trail. Only one of them still uses it. He was on trail now; not for himself but for her. He knew that she would be at the end. Only she was the only person that he told about the private clearing that he had discovered when he was eight years old. He knew that she would need the privacy of the clearing so much more than he ever would.

Jughead had joined her in the clearing from time to time. Both in their own personal hell ... but sometimes he just knew that she needed him. So he sat next to her in silence allowing her to work through her hellish thoughts ... fully knowing that he was offering her his strength when she needed it.

He stopped dead in his steps before he brushed aside the branches blocking his view of her.

"Sometimes I just need someone." Her soft quite broken voice spoke.

"I'm never leaving." Veronica's voice spoke.

"I know." Jughead could hear the trust in Betty's voice. His heart broke. He had to see with his own eyes on what his ears were taking in. Taking a deep breath he moved the brush to the side. His eyes lowered from the sight of Betty and Veronica staring into each other's eyes. With such trust. Such openness. Such love.

Jughead hand lowered to his side. He bowed his head as the brush swiped his thin cheek. He turned around and started back up the trail.