Prompt: A school shooting where the shooter is after Jughead.

**WARNING** This one made me cry to write. It's sad, angsty, kinda what you would expect from the idea of a school shooting. But with a really surprising twist. Enjoy!

I don't own anything.

Bang

The sound echoed off the walls, bouncing around the school like a phantom voice screaming for release.

"Was that?" Betty looked at Veronica, her friend visibly shaking. Betty looked at the door to the Blue&Gold office once more, outside it eerily quiet. She stood, heading for the door. A hand shot out, pulling her back.

"Don't go out there! Please!" Tears were streaming down the raven haired girls face, smudging her makeup.

Prying her hand away, Betty just sighed. "I'm just going to see whats up." She approached the door tentatively, one foot in front of the other slowly. As she neared it, a chilling scream shattered her resolve. Heart rate increasing tenfold, she still reaches for the handle, looking through the glass. Peeking out, she peers down the hall.

No one.

Looking down the other way.

Again, no one.

She turned back to Veronica, shaking her head.

"Get insi-"

"Holy shit!" Betty spun at the sound of a new voice from behind her, almost punching Jughead in the face. "Do not do that!"

Jughead was panting, pushing Betty inside and shutting the door instantly. Looking around frantically, he pulled the blinds down and ran to shove a desk in front of the door, a makeshift blockade against whatever evil was inhabiting the halls right now.

"Jug, what's going on?" He finally stopped to look at her, eyes wide.

"Jughead, was tha-" Veronica sniffled. "was that a gun shot?!" Her voice wasn't loud, but alarm seeped through Bettys core at the realization. Jughead just nodded, looking around again. He signals for them to sit, away from the door, and out of sight. Once on the ground, Jughead finally let out a sigh, not realizing he was holding his breath.

"Jughead what is going on?!" Betty grabbed his hand, shaking him gently.

"A gun. Someone has a gun Betts." His voice was shaky, so incredibly quiet.

Betty paled.

"A what? Is anyone hurt?" Her initial response always to seek out those in trouble.

Jughead shook his head, "I don't know. I heard the shot and came here to see if you were ok."

Bang

The blaring sound was from the hall outside the room, right beside them. Betty opened her mouth, but Jughead quickly covered hers. Veronica sobbed quietly, Betty grabbing her hand and squeezing. They were all shaking.

"Why are you hiding from me Jughead? We're best friends!"

The voice hit so close to home Jughead visibly fell back in horror. This wasn't a dream. This wasn't a nightmare. This was reality. This was happening.

And it couldn't be scarier.

Because on the other side of the makeshift blockade and flimsy wooden door was Archie Andrews; Resident Boy-Next-Door turned School Gunman in a mere 4 months.

Betty shook with sobs, small whimpers escaping her trembling lips. It hadn't been that long since his dad passed away. Shot and killed in a robbery, strictly ruled as wrong place wrong time scenario. He currently lived with a foster family till his mom came down to Riverdale to sign for full custody. But no one knew what was going on in that house.

For the past 3 months, Archie never smiled, never ate his lunch, he even quit Football and writing music. Everyone was worried, for fear of him going off the deep end. But the thoughts floated around of him taking his own life, not that of another.

But here we were.

Jughead took a deep breath, and stood.

"No, please. Don't go out there!" She didn't shout, but she wasn't whispering either. Fear crept down her spine as she witnessed the love of her life possibly risking his own life.

"He's looking for me Betty. I need to keep you safe. Ronnie," He turned to Veronica, she looked up at her name, lip trembling still. "I need to keep you both safe, so please keep Betty here, ok?"

"Why is Archie doing this Jughead?" The raven haired girl asked quietly, wrapping her arms around Betty.

"That's what I'm going to find out." He leaned down on one knee, placing a chaste kiss on Betty's lips, and turned to head for the door.

"NO! Juggie please." Veronica slapped a hand over her mouth, but not quick enough.

"How'd I know you'd be hiding in the newspaper room?" Archie's voice rang from behind the door, closer than before. Jughead grimaced, pulled the table from in front of the door and opening it slightly. Once open, he stood there with his hands in the air, approaching slowly.

"Archie. Hey. Can we talk?" His normally sardonic tone laced with fear, sweat trickling down his neck.

"Talk? You want to talk?! Sure!" Archie was swinging around the pistol in his hand, making Jughead flinch whenever he came close to pointing at him. "Let's talk about girls, or video games, or about me getting kicked off the football team! OH! Or we could about how you stole Betty from me!" Jughead stiffened at the sound of her name. "Where is she anyway? Obviously with Ronnie. BETTY!"

The girls flinched at his shouting, stifling sobs.

"Is she in there?" Archie points with the tip of the gun at the door.

Jughead shook his head, trying to keep his composure solid. Panic was rising high in chest, hurting him to breath. "This has nothing to do with Betty." His voice sounded calmer than he thought it would.

"Nothing? It has everything to do with Betty! She loved me! She was MY bestfriend first! And YOU stole her away from me!" Hot tears were streaming down Archie's pale face, making his freckles pop out.

Jughead stepped forward, hands on his chest. "I didn't steal her! YOU pushed her away. After she confessed her feelings for you, YOU pushed her away. Slept with Val, then with Ronnie." Tears were streaking down Jughead's face, anger surfacing. "I was there when her life was falling apart. I picked up the pieces – Not you."

Archie stepped forward, sniffling, pulling the gun upward till it pointed at Jugheads chest. His breath hitched, panic overcoming his anger.

"Archie stop! Please!"

Jughead snapped his head in the direction of the voice, Betty approaching the pair with her hands raised high.

"Betty I told you to stay put!" Fear was so prominent in Jughead's body, he was shaking everywhere.

"Archie." Betty stood in front of Jughead, staring her best friend down intently. "Arch. Jughead isn't to blame for this." She took a deep breath, looking over her shoulder at the boy behind her. His eyes were wide, tears flowing freely. He shook his head, reaching for her. "It's mine Archie. If anyone's gonna get hurt, it'll be me."

"NO! It's HIS fault. His stupid dad's thugs killed my dad! His stupid personality that you fell in love with." Archie's voice was wavering, hand shaking. Betty reached out, placing a hand gently on top of his, covering the pistol haphazardly.

"Shh Archie. It's ok." Betty soothed him, pushing the gun downward.

"I can't do this anymore Betty.. I'm so sorry." Archie rubbed the back of his hand under his nose, sniffling.

"What do you mean?" Confusion racked Betty's brain.

"Archie, what are you doing?" Jughead's voice startled Betty, but his hand crept up to her side.

Archie's grip tightened on the gun hilt, knuckles turning white. His face morphed to anger. He stepped back a bit, and raised the gun once more.

"I'm sorry Betty."

Bang Bang

Betty's back hit the wall, hard. Pain flared in the back of her skull, dots dancing in her vision. Regaining her composure, slowly, she looks around.

Archie lay on the floor, a larger than healthy pool of blood forming around his body. His pale skin looked translucent, eyes locked in a pained look forever. His hand still held the gun, but his fingers were slack.

Waves of sobs rode over Betty, painful, hot tears streaming quickly down her face. She moves to her knees, hand hitting something else. Turning her head, she flies back against the wall in horror.

Directly beside her lay Jughead, blood pooling around his body also, but not as much as Archie. He was clutching his side, breathing heavily. His face was strained, beads of sweat trickling down. She hurried over, screaming for help.

"Juggie… Oh god. What did you do!" She screamed, putting pressure on the wound spewing blood from his side. He opened his mouth to speak, but only blood came out. Betty barely registered Veronica calling her name. Everything around her turning to white noise. "Why did you do that." She whispered, leaning her head on his chest.

"I'll always protect you." His voice was hoarse, more blood spilling from his open mouth. He smiled weakly, gently closing his eyes.

"No… NO! Hey." She shook him, his eyes opening slightly. "Just stay awake, ok? Please."

Jughead just smiled again, closing his eyes once more.