So don't lynch me or anything for this, I haven't written anything in a long time so I might be a little rusty. Basically, I'm open to constructive criticism so feel free to PM me with ideas on how to make this story better in the near future, being as this is just the first chapter, it's going to be very short, sorry.
"Jug, you don't know what you're getting yourself into." Archie Andrews said with a slight roll of his eyes. The midnight haired boy across from him shook his head and stood up, pacing the room.
"Do you have any idea how many possibilities I could face to write an article if I went to the Southside just for a day? I could get in touch with my Dad," he said loudly, more to himself than the others, "or at least try to..." the last part was whispered as he began to think about his Dad. When Jughead was little, probably around five or so, his Dad took off, leaving his mom to be with someone else, a woman who he effectively ended the marriage of. He had no idea if they were still together, but ever since then his Dad hasn't tried to contact him, or anyone else in his family.
"But you could get hurt J..." Veronica said quietly as she stood, taking her place next to him and touched him arm gently.
Jughead sighed and turned away from her, looking between Kevin, Archie, and Veronica, addressing them all at once, making sure to get his point across.
"I'm going no matter what. If I want to become a serious journalist, I need to learn how to take risks, get the side of the story others are too scared to face. Archie, weren't you the one to try to push me to talk to my dad?" He asked, looking at the red head who was staring at the floor out of guilt. "And Kevin, didn't you try to trick me into thinking he got hurt so I would go see him?"
"But that was different! I was expecting maybe an hour visit. No what you're talking about is a whole day! Maybe longer!" The exuberant boy screeched as he waved his hands, trying to get his point across.
Veronica was the first to speak up, "Maybe it is a good idea, you could see him, maybe reconnect. But you aren't allowed to leave us for good. We're family, right?" She asked, taking her place back on Archie's lap as she wrapped her delicate arms around his shoulders.
Jughead smiled widely as he looked at his friends. He hadn't actually expected them to come around and side with him, he was fully willing to pack a bag and just quietly leave while waiting for them to realize he was gone.
"Thank you V," he said quietly while looking at the raven haired girl gratefully, "I'm going to leave tomorrow. I don't actually know when I'll come back, maybe tomorrow if my Dad doesn't want me, but I'll make sure to let you all know the game plan." He said cheerfully, turning and exiting the room to head back to his own house, across the street from Archie's, where he lived with his foster family since his Mom decided she couldn't handle him.
Jughead rushed to his room, bounding up the stairs two at a time as he hummed cheerfully. No one ever dared to talk to the people on the Southside, always fearing the worst, but if you looked past the piercing's and tattoos, they were all just humans too. Susan, Jughead's foster mother, came into the room, seconds after he pulled out his duffle bag and started throwing random items inside. She laughed and shook her head at his usual quirkiness she had come to love.
"And where might you be going? Another sleepover with the boys?" She said in the motherly tone she had always possessed when addressing him. He sucked in a breath and gnawed his bottom lip as he turned to face her.
"Actually... I was going to visit my Dad... See if I could reconnect with him?" He said, more posed as a question, his mouth suddenly becoming cotton dry. Susan made a soft 'oh' noise and came into the room, sitting on his bed. He quickly sat beside her and started rambling. "I don't want to move in with him, I mean I'd like to stay with him and visit him more often if he accepts me but I could never ever leave you Mom-" He rushed out, staring at his hands, stopping only after realizing what he had said.
"You called me Mom..." She said softly, while the corners of her mouth turned up in a slight smile, "you've never called me that before." Jug turned his head to look at her and wrapped his arms around her frail frame, leaning his head against hers.
"You've always been there for me. Never questioned me or doubted me, as far as I'm concerned, you're my Mom," he said proudly, "but only if you're okay with that." He added the second part timidly. Susan laughed quietly and nodded before standing up and walking to his dresser, wiping her eyes as she had started crying without his knowledge.
"Now what are you doing sitting there for? We've got a trip you need to pack for." Jughead smiled, tomorrow was going to be the start of a bright new future, or so he thought.