Chapter Nine
"Surprise!" Emma stood as shocked as Jughead, seeing the usual group along with Ethel and who she assumed to be Joaquin.
Jughead looked at her, noting she gave Archie a look that didn't seem all too pleasant. "This is why we had to leave the double feature?"
"Happy birthday, bro." Archie hugged Jughead as Jughead seemed to squirm, "You really shouldn't have." Breaking the hug Jughead looked at his friend, "Ugh, you reek. Are you drunk?"
"No." He said in a way that proved Jughead's suspicion. Signaling to Jughead to give her moment, she pushed Archie to the side as Veronica approached him. "Do you wanna explain what all this is and why you are drunk?"
"Em, it's fine really. It's only us. Plus, you're not dad. Don't grill me." Before she could respond, she heard Betty sing happy birthday. Turning her head, she watched the blonde as she walked towards Jughead, candles illuminating her face. If Emma had to be honest, she felt the eerie singing and the candle lit face of Betty's crazy smile, slightly scared her. Even in that moment, she could sense how uncomfortable the raven haired boy was.
And then it hit her. He was still with Betty and she was lead on once more. This time by a kiss.
He grabbed the cake, still looking forward. "That was haunting, Betty." She kissed him on the cheek as they whispered.
"I wish it were just us two..." He pleaded to Betty, clearly uncomfortable, an earshot away from Emma. Archie followed Veronica as she left the group, making her way to his kitchen.
As she spoke to Kevin later on, her suspicions were confirmed that the mystery guy next to Kevin was Joaquin. He seemed quieter in comparison to Kevin. She smiled as Kevin and Ethel spoke with on another. Barely listening, her mind wondered to the kiss and what it meant. From the corner of her eye she could see Betty mindlessly talking as Jughead's head was down, listening. Lifting his head, his eyes met hers. She offered no smile, just an emotionless look. Excusing herself she walked towards the kitchen.
Upon entering, she saw Veronica and Archie hugging. "Oh sorry." She said absently. "You okay, V?
"Yeah, I'm okay now. How was the movie?" Archie nodded in agreement.
Emma scoffed as she pointed to the bottle, "It wasn't the movie that was eventful." Earning a curious look from Veronica, Archie handed her the bottle he had been drinking from. Veronica looked at the twins and then mentioned something about grabbing her phone from the living room.
Emma took a swig as Archie looked at her, "I'm waiting." He stated softly.
He leaned on the counter as she leaned adjacent to him on the island. "He kissed me."
"Wait- you two kissed?" Archie was shocked. "When?"
"Right before we walked in. One second we were talking and the next..."
Archie shook his head, "What does that mean? Cause he hasn't ended things with-"
"You don't think I know that?"
Emma took a swig from the bottle as she heard someone entered. "Oh." Turning around she saw Jughead and Betty in the doorway.
Betty was first to speak, "Sorry we were just getting ice cream, so..."
Veronica had walked in, resuming her old spot. Betty could see her slightly darkened make up from her tears, "Is everything okay?"
Emma looked at Veronica who answered, "Yeah, no, I'm just not in a party mood like usual." The strawberry blonde has stretched her hand out, handing the bottle to Veronica, who gladly took it.
"Makes two of us." Jughead commented.
"Whoa. Wait." Betty stated. "You're not actually upset that I threw you a party, are you?"
"It was nice, Betty. I appreciate it. I just would be happier if it was just the five of us in a booth at Pop's or still at the movies with Emma."
"Yeah but we always do that. I wanted to do something special."
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
"Why is everything so gloom and doom with you, Jug?" Betty had snapped. Causing the trio by the sink to exchange looks. Handing the bottle back to Emma, she drank as she watched the scene unfold before them. Betty continued, clearly upset. "Why can't it just be normal for once?"
"I'm not normal. I'm not wired to be normal." The doorbell rang causing the group to shift. "How many more people did you invite to this thing?" Archie began walking towards the door as did Veronica and soon Betty.
Jughead watched as Emma had taken another swig. She began to follow the group. "Thea..."
"Not now. Please, Jug." She begged as he followed her out.
Just as Emma and Jughead met up with the group the front door open wide. Cheryl, Chuck, and the rest of Riverdale High's party animals, were revealed.
"Did you really think you could have a party and not invite moi?" Cheryl spoke in her usual deadpanned voice.
"Or me." Chuck followed. Pushing her way to the front, Emma held the bottle tightly. "Well she-devil, if we wanted you, you would've been invited. That's how invitations work."
Cheryl analyzed Emma's outfit. "Shut it, Imp. Go and get dressed, we are partying."
Moose took a step forward looking at Archie, "Archie, where do you want the kegs?" Everyone's eyes peeled to Archie, who was already half drunk. Emma had already felt the buzz as took another swig, while everyone waited on Archie.
"Screw it. One in the kitchen, one in the back." Everyone cheered as Archie laughed. Jughead stepped back as Archie wrapped his arm around his sister, "We are gonna have a night to remember, you down, Em?"
"It's already pivotal. Seems like someone is living by 'good hard or go home.'"
30 Minutes In:
Archie was dancing with Emma, who still held the bottle in her clutches, while Cheryl and Moose danced too close for comfort. "What are you doing!" Emma screamed as Archie picked her up. "KEG STAND." Moose ran to grab the keg as Emma kept shaking her head violently.
She already could tell her brother was about as trashed as she was, but she was enjoying it. She knew Veronica, Kevin and Joaquin stared as Emma was lifted upside down and began chugging. "Emma! Emma! Emma!" The crowd chanted.
"Why are they doing this?" Kevin asked Veronica, who watched from afar.
"They're agents of chaos, Kevin. They don't need a reason. The Andrews twins? Their victims."
One Hour In:
"Dude Valerie just got here. You think she wants me back?" Arch had barged into the garage where Jughead was quietly petting Vegas. "Vegas!"
Emma had ran into the room, elated and carefree.
"Archie, as my blood brother, it was your sole responsibility to make sure something like this never happened on my birthday. And now... we're here. In the middle of a Seth Rogen movie."
"This was Betty's idea, okay? I just went along with it." Archie defended himself. Jughead looked at Emma who was petting her dog, "And you?" he asked.
"Well I never even knew about the party and definitely didn't agreed to this. The storm had brewed and I put on my raincoat and endured... with whiskey... and beer."
"It's so... not me." He stated. Jughead looked at Archie for answers.
"It doesn't matter, Jughead, you're her boyfriend now."
"Ouch." Emma muttered and stood up. The two looked at them. "I'm out. I was having a good time until I was harshly reminded as to why I'm drinking. Play nice boys."
She began to walk out as she heard Archie say, "You kissed her and you still are toying with her... She's my sister, dude, you know she told me."
One and Half Hour In:
Emma ran through the crowd, finding Jughead and Ethel. "Hey! Do you know where Archie is?"
"No why?" Jughead looked at her, knowing she was freaking out. "Well I think he called my dad because my dad has been texting me non-stop."
"Is that Emma Andrews? I didn't know you were back in town." She turned around to see FP by the sink of her kitchen. "Mr. Jones, hi! Yeah, I just moved back home." She smiled at him.
"Well it's good to see you, kid. You've grown so much." She saw as his eyes moved towards, Jughead as he tried to leave out the front door. Automatically he was stopped by Chuck and Cheryl, the two archangels it seemed.
2 Hours In:
Secrets and Sins.
A game of spilling the beans on everyone's business. A game the resident redheaded Blossom had invented herself. Cheryl's eyes flew open as she mocked her shock in a typical dramatic way. "Oh, my God. Colored me shocked. Is that why you became a mediocre musician overnight? Because you and Ms. Four-Eyes were pulling a Mary Kay Letourneau?"
Emma already knew this night had turned sour the moment Cheryl walked in and now the smell of rotting filled the air as her brother was hung up to dry at Dilton Doiley's confession of Grundy's car at Sweetwater River on July 4th.
"Don't say anything, Archie? Don't get in the gutter with them." Veronica seethed, already hating Cheryl more than she already did.
Chuck shook his head, with shock. "Wait what? Andrews was banging a teacher? Well, damn, I wish I would've known. I would've added you and Ms. Grundy to the book of conquests.
"Classy, Chuck, as always." Veronica chimed with disgust.
"Wait a second, that also explains why Archie can't seem to keep a girlfriend to save his life." Cheryl looked at Chuck as she acted like she learned the meaning of life. "He's got serious mommy issues."
Emma's eyes flew up, ready to come for blood. "So what is it Arch, victim or perpetrator?"
Emma stood up, "Why don't you shut the hell up, Cheryl. At least our mom likes us." By the look in Cheryl's eye, she knew she was the next target.
Cheryl smiled, "Oh yeah, Emmie doll? You think that hurt me? Why don't you tell everyone the real reasons why you wear gloves." Emma clenched her fist as Cheryl moved closer, "Those cigarette burns from your ex beau, really add character."
"Has she told you yet?" Cheryl eyes the surprise on Archie's face as she signaled towards Jughead. "Or did you only tell your hobo lover boy that you've pining after since the 8th grade." Betty looked at Jughead, who focused on solely Emma.
With that Emma leapt up, aiming for Cheryl but was held back by Veronica and Jughead. He looked at her as she attempted to escape like a rabid animal running from Animal Control. "Come here Cheryl, so I can tell everyone your little secrets too!"
Emma jumped up, punching the air as Jughead held her. "Let's start with why your mom doesn't let you have sleepovers anymore-"
"Okay, okay!" Kevin grabbed Emma from Jughead, spinning her around, he placed her down by the entrance hall. Knowing what she was about to spew, he directed her towards the stairs. "Emma, let's go up stairs. Now." Shoving her upstairs, she heard as the game continued. Cheryl had chuckled as if she was unbothered, while she had ruined everything for everyone else.
"Dilton Doiley plays with guns." Betty stated as if that helped any.
"Big whoop, Betty. So Doiley's a psychopath, everyone knows that."
Emma sat in her bed, as the party had ended. She could hear as people filed out of the house after FP had kicked them out. What happened after she was escorted out by Kevin, she was unsure but it didn't sound good as everyone yelled. She couldn't help but feel upset at Cheryl for betraying her trust due to a small fight about Cheryl's demeanor towards everyone, scared about what her brother would think and more so, mad at herself, for letting any of this happen. She brushed her hair and put it in a ponytail, hoping to wash her face. She wanted to wake up the next morning and not remember a thing, yet she knew she would.
Her head turned as she heard a knock at the door. Sighing she knew exactly who it would be. "Come in." She stated.
Archie filed in offering a smile and a bottle of water. "Hey, Peanut, how are you feeling?"
"Despite the horrors of the end, I actually had fun." He laughed lightly. "Yeah, so did I. I can't believe you did a keg stand and Val threw her drink at me."
"Um, speaking of crazy, did you call dad?"
He sighed, automatically signaling that he had. "I did. I, uh, told him to not get a divorce."
She shook her head and smiled, "Leave it up to you to be the bitch of the party. He kept calling me. So, we'll deal with that tomorrow."
He nodded. They stayed quiet, Archie and her stared into oblivion not knowing what else to say. "So, what Cheryl said..." She looked at him as he met her eyes, "About the gloves..." She nodded and remained quiet. Slipping off her right glove, she showed him the imprints of what used to be burns. He examined them, seeing four.
Before he could ask she began, "I was seeing this guy in Chicago. Mom didn't like him, thought he was, uh bad news. Anyways, one night we were out with our group and I ragged on him for smoking. He was older so he took my thoughts as those of a child." She shrugged and looked at her hand, as it laid in her lap. "He burned me, told me that he wasn't a fan of my outspoken nature and had to learn my place. That he was in charge. And so, I left him that week."
"I'm sorry, Em."
"It's fine, Arch, really." She looked at him, taking her hand in his. "I wouldn't be put down like that but he was a lot bigger than me. It's in the past. Don't worry about it now. Mom was right. Though I would never tell her so." She chuckled as he offered a sad smile. He was hurt that he didn't know, but then again he never questioned the gloves.
A knock came at the door as the twins looked at one another. "Thea, can we talk?" Jughead peered in to see Archie and Emma on her bed. Archie stood up, giving a kiss on his sister's head. "Figure it out." He whispered as he moved towards the door. Placing a hand on Jughead's shoulder, he left. Leaving the two alone.
She stared at the candle that she had lit, smelling like Evergreens and fresh Pine, she was comforted. He sat on te bed next to her, not saying anything. The quiet seemed relieving. After continuous noise throughout the night, her room was the mecca of solitude, with gray walls and accents of gold and dusk orange. It was clean, too clean, a skill she had acquired when nervous or stressed.
"I wanted to give you this." She reached for her nightstand and handing him a rolled up piece of paper bounded by twine and a small wrapped gift. "I know you don't like your birthday, but I wanted to give you a little something."
He smiled at her and then moved to unwrap the gift. A leather bound notebook. Similar to hers but lined. On the bottom he saw it was engraved, "F.J. Jones" in gold lettering. "I couldn't decide on Jughead or Forsythe, so I did both."
She watched as he undid the twine ribbon and unrolled the paper. His radiant smile had matched the one on the page, In his hand was the side profile she had begun drawing of him.
Using only pencil, she managed to capture the glint in his eyes, his beauty marks with precision and the character of his lips. She smiled as he looked at her. "I love it, Thea." He set them aside, happy that his birthday still ended nicely, despite all that happened.
"Thank you," He grabbed her hand as she looked at him, "for everything. For being you."
She nodded as he looked down, releasing her hands. "I can't help but feel like I am constantly letting you down and I'm sorry."
He inhaled deeply, "I kissed you because I needed to know, to feel something... And I did, with you." She bit her lip and looked at him intently.
"I ended things with Betty, to be frank we both kind of ended it. Maybe it was just a comfort thing with everything that was going on or a lapse in judgement. I like Betty and she likes me, but her and I weren't on the same page... This party, she meant well but she felt that she needed to prove something, but it wasn't what I wanted. She's amazing but she isn't for me. We both sort of saw it coming."
She was silent, unsure what to make of everything. For her there were no words, just silence. Her mind had remained blank as Jughead's words echoed in hers. Placing a finger under her chin, he smiled at her. To him she was beautiful, he admired her against the grain attitude and snark, she understood him in ways many didn't. He kissed her swiftly, unable to hold back his feelings anymore.
To him she wasn't one of the others in the group, she wasn't just Archie's sister or Fred's daughter, she wasn't just his close friend. She was Emma Theodora Andrews, the girl who was all he ever wanted.
Wearing large rubber yellow gloves, Emma entered the kitchen with bleach in one hand and paper towels in the other. She watched as Archie declined his father's phone call as he swept. "You know, dad's gonna kill you."
"Yeah. I just can't face the music right now."
"I understand," Jughead picked at the cake on the kitchen's island. Emma bent down to put the bleach away as she heard Jughead probe, "So you and Veronica..."
"Yeah.." Archie said. Emma chuckled as she stood back up, closing the cabinet door. "Knew it."
Looking at Jughead and his sister, they both nodded. "Don't worry." They agreed to keep their mouth's shut about Veronica's sleepover in Archie's room. Jughead smiled, "I'm literally never telling anyone anything like ever." He drank the milk out of the carton causing Emma to scrunch her nose in disgust.
"Okay, good." Archie said. He began sweeping the floors, hoping to erase last night. "Because don't think I didn't see you and my sister in bed together this morning when I was searching for my phone."
Emma's eyes flew open, "Honestly I hate you." She walked past kicking trash in the spot Archie had just swept. "Missed a spot, champ." Jughead laughed as she walked out the kitchen complaining about cleaning puke from the upstairs bathroom.
Emma and Archie sat on the couch together, tired from cleaning the house. The two worked in silence as Jughead contributed to nothing stating, "Not my party."
Archie looked at his sister, "So... did you-?"
She shook her head, "Relax. People can sleep in beds and not do anything. Did you and Veronica?"
"No." She smiled, "I still can't believe I called it."
"Archie, Emma." The both stood as Fred and Mary walked in, Mary beamed at her kids as they stood shocked and silent.
"We're home."
"Mom?" Archie said quietly.
Mary seemed nervous but happy, "Hi, Honey."
Emma scoffed at Archie, "Well what are you waiting for? Hug her." Emma moved towards her dad as Archie and his mom hugged, "Nice move." Fred shrugged and smiled, knowing his son was in a state of utter shock.
