Chapter 4
Betty and Jughead find the rest of the group, they discover they still have about an hour before they have to reload the van back to the center. They enter a theater, about fifteen minutes into the educational film based on World War II, Jughead nudges Betty with his shoulder.
"Let's go." He mutters.
Betty nods, standing slowly, careful not to trip over the stairs in the dark room.
"Want to step outside for a quick second?" Jughead asks, as the exit the theater doors.
"Can I do that?" Betty asks.
"I am your chaperone, aren't I?" Jughead teases.
Betty laughs and tucks her hair behind her ear, she follows Jughead to the front of the museum.
As they step outside, the chill hitches Betty's breath. It was mid-March and still a bit chilly. Luckily the winter hadn't been too harsh, so the small amounts of snow that had fallen had already melted. Betty watches as Jughead digs into his pocket and pulls out a box of cigarettes, he removes one of the small rods and places it to his bottom lip; before removing a liter and igniting a flame on the end of the stick. He takes a long drag before exhaling a breath of smoke.
"I didn't realize that you smoked." Betty crosses her arms, trying to ease the bitter wind hitting her body.
Jughead nods as he places the cigarette to his lips again taking another drag.
Betty lets out a small laugh.
"What's so funny?" he gasps before exhaling another breath of smoke.
"Nothing," she teases.
He gives her a look, raising his eyebrows.
"I just think it's ironic that you work as an addiction counselor when you have an addiction yourself. That's all." She shrugs.
"How do you think I manage to deal with you?" He gives her a wink.
"Ouch," She scoffs, grabbing her chest in mimicked pain.
Jughead lets out a small laugh, "No, I picked up the habit in the military. Everyone was doing it and there really isn't much to do over there."
"I bet not," Betty starts. "I'm sorry if that came off as judgmental, I was just simply making an observation."
Jughead shakes his head, "It's no problem. I want to kick the habit, trust me I do."
Jughead throws the half-smoked cigarette to the ground, squashing it out with his boot as he exhales the final puff. He walks over to a bench in front of one of the outdoor exhibits. Betty joins him, flinching as the cold bench comes in contact with the back of her legs. Jughead throws his arm around the back of the bench, "It's just, when I got back from overseas and I reconnected with my sister. That unfortunately meant that I had to reopen a lot of doors that I had tried to lock with a dead bolt and throw away the key."
Betty sighs, sucking in her breath, leaning into him to try and gain some extra warmth.
Jughead watches her as she wraps her arms harder around herself, "Come here." He mutters, nudging his head, signaling for her to move closer. Betty scoots closer, leaning into his side. Jughead takes his back arm and wraps it around her shoulder, pulling her into him. Betty sighs, smiling into his side.
"Jughead, we don't have to talk about this. We don't need to bring up your past again, it's fine." Betty mutters.
Jughead shakes his head, "No Betty, I want to talk about it. I need to talk about it."
Betty looks up at him through her lashes and nods.
"As much as I want to quit, smoking helped to ease the stress of my anxiety when I got back home. I had to revisit my demons, I had to come back home and rebuild a life that I didn't have before. It was hard, and as horrible as it is, smoking got me through it... Do you understand what I'm saying?" he looks down at Betty.
Betty nods against his side, "I do, because I've been there."
"With your drinking." Jughead cuts her off.
Betty nods.
"Tell me about Cheryl." Jughead whispers.
Betty tenses- it was time.
"Betty, please. I've told you so much about me-" Jughead starts.
Betty pushes up against him, "I know." She cuts him off.
"Talk to me, I'm not going to judge you, I want to listen- let me listen." He pleads.
Betty nods and Jughead breathes a sigh of relief. Jughead pulls her closer to him, squeezing her side.
"I don't even know where to start," Betty mutters.
"Start from the beginning." Jughead tells her.
She nods, exhaling sharply. "Me and Cheryl had been friends ever since I can remember. Our moms grew up together and when they each had a daughter just three months apart, it seemed like we were just meant to be best friends."
Jughead smiles at her, "What was she like?"
"She was beautiful. She had long red hair and the biggest brown eyes." Betty sighs. "She had the worst attitude, she was constantly in trouble with her parents, but that's one of the things I loved about her. She was never afraid to stand up for herself."
Jughead squeezed her side, letting her know that he was there.
"When her brother died," Betty starts. "Jason was the shining star of the Blossom family. He was captain and quarterback of the football team. He was homecoming king and student body president. His murder shocked the town and sent everyone into a panic. My whole life I had lived the perfect life, we didn't have to worry about walking to school in the morning or riding our bikes at night. Jason's murder changed all of that." Betty chokes.
"Keep going." Jughead mutters.
"When he died, I think a part of Cheryl did too. I never understood why he meant so much to her. The two were close, like disturbingly close. Mr. and Mrs. Blossom were harsh and I think Jason got Cheryl through all of their micromanaging. After his death, Cheryl began skipping school and ignoring my phone calls and texts. She changed. I tried to help her, her parents tried sending her to therapy. About a year after Jason's death we thought everything was fine. The police had caught his killer and Cheryl never showed any signs of anything being wrong." Betty begins to shake.
"Until what? What happened Betty?" Jughead whispers.
"I found her Jug." Betty cries. "I found her in her bathtub with her wrists slit open, the water was full of her blood and overflowing onto the floor. I tried to save her, I remember pulling her out of the tub, crying over her body as I tried to hold the cuts on her wrists together. But it was too late. I called 911, but she was already dead. She was gone before I had even shown up."
"Oh, Betty." Jughead exhales, pulling Betty so close, he thought he was going to crush her.
Betty sobbed, "No one had any idea Jughead, I didn't know that she was hurting and I was her best friend. I should've known."
"Betty this isn't your fault. You can't blame yourself for her selfishness."
Betty pulls away, stunned by his words.
"Betty, she was selfish. Cheryl didn't fight, she gave up. She didn't think about anyone else but herself when she made the decision to take that blade to her arm. It's not your fault." Jughead hammers.
"I lost it Jug, when I found her I lost it. I ran away, I snuck out and I got into some bad stuff. I barely graduated high school. I could've help her, I should've seen the signs." Betty's hysterical.
Jughead grabs her shoulders, pushing her away from him. "It's not your fault! There was nothing you could've done to stop her. She made the choice and expected everyone else to live with it. Betty it's not your fault."
"But Jughead-"
"No." He cuts her off. "You have to stop blaming yourself. If you want to get better, you have to stop telling yourself that it's your fault. You didn't do anything wrong Betty."
"After Cheryl, I didn't even recognize who I was anymore. I put on this façade for everyone around me, but I was spiraling." She hesitates.
Yes, this is what he wanted. She was finally giving him what he wanted.
"Talk to me, Betty." He soothes.
"I don't really remember much. It started with just a few drinks, before bed to try and numb my insides. But then it got worse. I was sneaking out, crashing parties. I would go to bars and wake up the next morning not knowing where I was." She shakes.
Jughead rubs a hand up and down her back.
"I can't believe I'm telling you this. I've never told anyone this." Betty mutters. "How did you do it? How did you move on after your father? Cheryl's death ruined me. I blamed myself, until I got sober."
"You don't blame yourself anymore?" Jughead questions.
"I think on a certain level I'll always feel like there was something I could've done for her, some sign that I missed that could've saved her. But no, I don't think I blame myself anymore. These last three weeks have left me with a clear head, I've rediscovered parts of myself that I thought I'd lost forever." She mumbles.
"What changed?" Jughead mutters.
Betty looks up at him through her lashes, "You."
Jughead looks down at her as the single word escapes her lips, "Oh, baby."
Jughead dips his mouth onto hers and she meets his lean pushing him back up with her arms. He takes her face in his hands and deepens the kiss. Betty places her hand on his thigh, balancing herself. His use of the word "baby," drove her mad. Betty can feel his tongue flick at her lips and she lets out a whimper, smiling against his mouth. She tilts her head and gasps, allowing his tongue to ravish her mouth. Their tongues tangle and for a split-second, regret takes over Betty's emotions, she pushes off of him in an instant, standing and backing away from the bench.
"What the hell?" He mutters breathlessly.
"This is a bad idea." Her breathing is harsh. "I'm your patient, we can't do this." She shakes her head, turning to walk back into the museum.
"Betty!" Jughead yells, jumping up from the bench to chase after her.
Betty's heart was in her throat, she wanted to cry and scream all at the same time. Jughead tugs on her shoulder, causing her to turn around just as she reaches for the door handle.
"I promise you," Jughead's voice is breathy and uneven, no doubt from the kiss they'd just shared. "You are more than just my patient."
Betty can feel her eye's filling with tears, he reaches for her, pulling her into him. She buries herself into his jacket- not sure of where else to go. He was right, she needed to let her emotions in, she needed to stop blaming herself for Cheryl. She cried into Jughead's chest as he ran his hand down her back, placing a kiss to the top of her head. She knew it was a mistake, once Jughead learned the full truth he'd want nothing to do with her. But, he made her feel safe and comfortable. She hated giving in, but right now he was allowing her to soak his t-shirt with her tears and that made her forget where they were and who was around. For all she knew, they were the only two people in the world. And that was ok- for now.
Just as Betty calms down, they meet up with the rest of the group and reload the van. Jughead holds Betty's hand the entire ride back to the center as she rests her head on his shoulder. Echoed whispers and ooh's and aah's come from the other members of the group, causing Betty to blush. Could she blame them though? He was hot. Betty dozed, the day of resurfacing hard memories had warn her out. Jughead placed a kiss to the side of her forehead causing her to let out a groan.
"Hey sleepy head." He giggles. "We're back at the center."
Betty rubbed her eyes, yawning as she sat up. "Back to the real world?" she mutters.
"I'm afraid so." Jughead says, giving her hand one last squeeze before climbing out of the van. He holds out a hand to Betty who smiles and takes it, jumping out after him.
"Such a gentleman." She flirts.
"I try to be." He smiles.
Betty sat down for dinner, and for the first time since she'd been at the center she finished all of her meal. Maybe it had been her busy day of being out and about or her subconscious letting go of a lot of its burden, but she'd been famished. Jughead had taken notice as well, asking if she was feeling okay. Betty gave him a teasing "ha ha," before returning to her room for a shower.
"I wish you could stay." Betty mutters as her and Jughead sit on the bed in her room.
"Me too." He starts. "But while I can only assume patient-counselor relationships are looked down on, I know that me sleeping here definitely would be against the rules."
"Rules? There's rules?" Betty asks.
"More like standards between the counselors, but I can assure you that you have nothing to worry about." Jughead mutters.
"What kind of standards exactly?" Betty repositions herself.
"Standards like ranking all of the patients every time a new one comes into treatment." Ethel cuts in.
Jughead scoffs, "Wow, thanks Ethel."
Ethel shrugs, "Be here for two years and you catch onto things."
"Is she being serious Jug? You guys rank us? Based on what?" Betty asks.
"It's really nothing Betty."
"No, I want to know." Betty presses.
"It's nothing." Jughead leans in and places a peck to her lips. "I promise."
Betty rolls her eyes.
"I have to go," Jughead stands from the bed. "I'll see you Friday?"
Betty nods, smiling.
"Goodnight." He leans down and swiftly presses his lips to hers.
"Goodnight." She smiles.
Betty watches as he leaves the room, with Ethel jumping her bones the second the door latches.
"Girl, what have you done?"
"What?" Betty mumbles, standing from her bed to pull her sheets down.
Ethel shakes her head in disapproval, "You've dug yourself a hole with that one."
"What are you talking about? Jughead's great."
"Oh, I didn't say he wasn't great, but he's your counselor." Ethel mutters.
"Yeah and?" Betty retorts.
"I'm not going to lie I'm shocked."
"Why?" Betty questions.
"I myself thought he was gay." Ethel mutters.
Betty laughs, "Jughead?"
Ethel nods, "I have never seen him with a girl and he's never talked about one the whole two years I've been here."
"Huh?" Betty shrugs.
"Just be careful ok?" Ethel warns.
"I'll be fine." Betty assures her.
"I'm serious Betty, I've seen girls come in here with relationships and it never ends well."
"Ethel, Jughead and I aren't in a relationship. I don't know what we are, but I'll be okay."
Ethel rolls her eyes and rolls over, there was no getting through to Betty.
Betty scoffs, "Goodnight, Ethel."
"Night."
Betty and Jughead spend the next two weeks sneaking around, word of their little "relationship" had gotten around and everywhere they went there were whispers. Some of the other counselors had begun teasing Jughead. Giving him crap about getting involved with a patient. Asking him how he was okay with taking on all of that baggage. Jughead had sneered, calling them hypocrites before walking away. Jughead hoped Betty hadn't been getting the same negative attention to their little "arrangement." They hadn't talked much about feelings, even when he wanted to. As her counselor, he'd push Betty. Breaking their make out sessions just long enough to get her to share about her day. Although, he knew that what he was getting himself into was reckless and stupid. One wrong move and she'd spiral, he could cause her to relapse. He hated the fact, but he'd seen it happen- many times. He didn't want to trigger her but he also didn't want to walk on eggshells around her. Sharing his feelings could cause her to take a step back, and he couldn't risk that. But, he needed to know what they were- and soon. Because she didn't know it yet, but she wouldn't be so close to his reach for too much longer.
"I have news," Betty mutters against Jughead's mouth, breaking their kiss.
She was straddled across his lap, the two of them on her bed. Jughead groans at her, not wanting their make out session to end, he pulls her head back to his mouth.
Betty laughs, "Hey," she pushes back on his shoulders. "I said I have news."
"Can't it wait? I'm leaving tonight and it's going to be hard being away from you for a whole week." Jughead mutters.
"I know, but I want you to be the first one to know." Betty blushes.
"Know what?" Jughead questions.
"I'm getting moved to 1A at the end of next week."
Jughead gives her a teasing smile.
"You already knew, didn't you?"
He gives her a nod, "Who do you think took part in the approval for the request?"
"Why didn't you tell me?" She laughs, playfully hitting his chest.
"Because I wanted you to tell me. Betty it's great."
Jughead goes in to kiss her, but Betty pushes him back again. "Is it though?"
"Why do you say that?" he grunts.
"Because I won't get to see you." She sighs.
"Betty I'm only going to be gone for a week, it's a mandatory training session that…-"
"No," She cuts him off. "You only work on 2A, so I won't be able to see you as much."
"What if I said I had news for you." Jughead mutters.
"Oh yeah?"
"I requested a transfer over to 1A, I'll finish out with the patients I have now and then start up with my ones that are going to be transferred." He shrugs.
"Really Jug?" Betty almost yells. "That's amazing, but I can't ask you to do that."
"Seriously Betty it's no big deal. I've actually been thinking about doing it for a few months now."
"But I thought you said that you loved 2A and how it was different every day and always interesting." She mocks.
Jughead lets out a light laugh, "I did, but surprisingly enough, it gets old. Being with the same patients, at least for a while, is going to give me a more solid routine. I won't have to be here as often or as long because my patients won't require so much counseling."
Betty scoffs, "Is that all I am to you? Work."
"And if you were?" Jughead teases, leaning into her, inching his hands up her sides.
"I guess it wouldn't be all bad." She laughs, leaning in to briskly kiss his lips. She pulls back again, pushing on his shoulders with her hands. "Seriously though, you promise you aren't doing this just for me?"
Jughead groans, "Why? Would it be a problem if I said I was?"
"I'm serious Jughead." Betty warns. "I'm not going to be here forever, I don't want you to get stuck somewhere that you don't want to be just because you are worried about me."
"Ok 1, I can be as worried about you as I want to be. In fact, it's kind of my job."
Betty lets out a light laugh.
"And 2, I know you aren't going to be here forever, and I want you to know just how proud of you that I am. You really are making strides Betty and you're working your program faster than anyone I've seen do in quite a while."
Betty blushes.
"If I don't like what I'm doing, I'll just put in another transfer request in six months and I'll switch back to 2A- problem solved." He clapped as his words, raising his tone.
Betty rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. "Well, I am glad that I won't have to get a new counselor, because something tells me that I wouldn't have gotten rid of my old one too easily."
Jughead scoffs, "Yeah something tells me that he might've gotten a tad bit…"
"Jealous." She cuts him off.
He laughs, "Not what I was going to say."
"Ya right," She giggles.
Betty leans down to wrap her arms around his waist, she lays her head against his chest. Breathing in his scent of cologne and faint tobacco.
"I don't want you to go." She mutters.
"I know," Jughead runs a hand down her back. "I wish I didn't have to go, but it's…-"
"Mandatory." Betty cuts him off. "I know."
"I'm sorry." He hushes.
"It's just been so nice with you here, like this." She cuddles into his body, not wanting to let go off the vice-grip she had around his waist.
"Are you going to miss me Betty Cooper?" He teases.
"A little." She whispers.
"I'll miss you too. Trust me, spending a week away from you doesn't sound too great to me either, but when I get back you should be about ready to be moved over to 1A and that'll be super exciting."
Betty nods against him.
"I really am proud of you Betts," he mutters.
She smiles and looks up at him, "I like when you call me that."
Jughead lets out a light laugh, "Good. Now get up here and kiss me, I still have to leave in an hour."
Betty scoffs, "Don't remind me."