Chapter Seven; The Aftermath
Author's note: Scenes may include mature content.
I do not own the characters nor any of the familiar content to the 'Riverdale' television series.
Jughead lay under the covers, not moving, not wanting to breathe. He screwed everything up, he pushed her away, he lost the love of his life. Betty didn't talk to him for the rest of the day no matter how many times he tried to talk to her. The pillow next to his still smelled like her, her scent lingering from the previous night. God dammit why did he get so angry about what her mom said, her mother said it not her. And then he goes and makes it worse by trying to kiss her. God he was such an idiot.
His thoughts are interrupted by the banging on the door, he ignored it, not wanting to deal with the outside world.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Jughead got up annoyed, but he took his time walking to the door.
"What the hell do you want?" he growled.
"That's no way to talk to someone Juggikins! You look like shit, by the way," Veronica said as she examined his face
"Thanks V. At Least I know I'll always have someone to make me feel even better about myself," Jughead muttered, and went to close the door.
"Wait!" Veronica said and slammed her hand on the door to prevent him from closing it. "Wait," she said.
"What do you want V? Someone die?" he said replied grumpily. Not bothering to wait for a reply he left the door open but turned to crash on his couch.
Veronica's face softened. " I heard about Betty. Well to be honest, I heard her crying in the girls bathroom talking to Cheryl, but that's pretty much the same thing.
"Why should that matter to me?"
"She said you guys were on a break, thought I'd come and check how you're coping."
"Wait a break?" Jughead perked his head up.
Veronica nodded, and crossed her arms. "Think there is still something there. So what did you do that made her so mad?"
"What did she say exactly Veronica, what was the exact words she used?" Jughead asked as he sat up.
"Woah calm down, she said that she needed some space to think things through, and that she told you that she thinks you guys should spend some time apart, wait did that not happen?"
"Yeah no it did, I just thought when she said that she was breaking up with me for good."
"Well what did she say to you, exactly?"
"That she needed time to think. That we were on a break. Made it seem like she didn't love me anymore."
"Ouch that's rough."
"Not helping, V."
"Look Jughead, if you want her back, you have to fight for her!"
"Why would she take me back, I accused her of killing Archie!"
"Wait, what? I didn't hear that part." Veronica smacked him over the head. "Why would you do that, idiot? She wouldn't kill Archie!"
"Oh and you know that for sure, do you? Veronica, she was the last person to see him alive."
"No, she wasn't." Veronica whispered.
"And how could you possibly know that?"
"I picked up Archie from her place after their tutoring session. She obviously didn't see me. I dropped him off at sweetwater river then headed home"
"So she didn't do it," Jughead muttered to himself.
"No, Jughead she didn't. She couldn't possibly have done it. The time it would have taken to get to him would have been impossible."
"Oh no, what have I done?" Jughead stood to his feet, glancing around the room for help. "She will never take me back!" he exclaimed.
"Talk to her, fight for her!" Veronica said.
"She won't talk to me," Jughead muttered.
"Of course not! I wouldn't either!"
"Thanks V. That's real helpful."
Veronica sighed heavily. "Okay, fine. I'll try and talk to her, but it's you that has to do the work. I'd start by grovelling on your knees."
"Do you really think I could get her back?"
"Maybe, but she's pretty upset. From what I heard yesterday, she is in love with you, and love like that doesn't just go away Jug," Veronica said, with a sigh.
Jughead smiled, and nodded.
"Also if you don't get her back there is always me..."
"Haha, very funny Ronnie," Jughead muttered and passed by her to grab his jacket. He pushed out the door, "Lock up for me, will you?" he said. He was off to go get his girl back.
…
"Betty! Please just give me five minutes!" Jughead begged.
"Jughead, you need to leave! I have work to do and this newspaper doesn't write itself, besides we are on a break Jughead, that means staying away from each other!" she said and swiveled her chair back to her desk in the blue and gold.
"I don't know if I can do that Betts."
"Do what?" Betty said, not taking her eyes off of her computer.
"Stay away from you."
Betty turned to look at Jughead, anger wired on her face.
"You didn't have a problem doing that when you thought I killed Archie," she growled.
Jughead sighed, "Betts.."
"Don't, Jughead. Just leave"
"No," he said, and stood his ground.
Betty stood up frustrated. "Leave. Getting Veronica to try and soften me up isn't the way, so just leave, cause we ain't getting back together at this rate."
"Because you won't even let me apologise, I just want to-"
"Leave! Why won't you leave!"
"Because I'm in love with you, and your in love with me, and that love just doesn't disappear because of one stupid fight," he said.
"Stupid fight? I didn't think being upset about my boyfriend accusing me of murder was stupid, but hey-"
"I'm sorry! My friend died. I wasn't thinking straight."
"No, you weren't, and I'm not sure if I can stand to be around someone "who doesn't think straight", because my heart can't take that."
"Betty, baby just let me-"
"Don't call me baby, not now. Not after what you said. What you accused me of."
"I'm sorry Betty, please. Please just let me make it up to you."
"And how would you do that?" she growled.
"By showing you why you fell in love with me in the first place."
"Really?" she muttered.
"For example, I know you fell in love with my sense of humor," he said inching closer to her.
"Oh sure."
"Also you fell in love with the fact that I am always wrong and your always right."
"Keep talking."
"You fell in love with me the minute I said hello," Jughead said now only metres from her desk.
"Oh really, how are you so sure?" she whispered, a smile creeping onto her face.
"Because that is what happened with me, and you are my soulmate. I know that for sure." Jughead was now leaning over her, hands braced on each side of the chair, his face inches from hers.
"Jug," Betty whispered
"Betty please, let me love you. Love me. I fucked up I know, but you are it for me."
"Okay," she whispered.
"Betty please I - wait what?"
"I said okay," she whispered.
Jughead crushed his lips on hers before she could say anything else. His hands grabbed at her waist pulling her out of her chair flush against him. His hands slide down the back of her thighs. He picked her up and placed her on the desk. Let's just say, they were glad nobody was at school.
