After 3 days with her friends Betty was getting in the limousine saying their last good bye to the beautiful cabin and sighing knowing that she had to go back to the real world and face the inevitable.
As they sat in the limousine, Veronica fumbled in her purse, "here you go," she said handing back Betty's phone. "I charged it last night although it was switched off, just in case" Betty smiled at her thoughtfulness. She was hesitant to switch it on. She did get the chance to speak to her mother and sister in the past days using Veronica's phone, but she knew that by switching it on reality will hit earlier then expected. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she switched it on.
As soon as the signal came on dozen messages started beeping, both Josie and Veronica looked at her and giggled, "someone was eager to get a hold of you," Veronica commented. "I bet someone did miss you, who could it be?" Josie asked raising an eyebrow.
Betty looked at them both pulling a smile but not a sincere one. She opened her messages and started to look through her texts. Not to her surprise there were a lot from Archie, mostly all the same.
Betty we need to talk.
Betty please pick up the phone.
Why is it switched off?
Betty are you ok?
Betty where are you?
I miss you Betty. We really need to talk.
She sighed reading through all of them. She found one from Jughead and opened it immediately her heart skipping a beat when she saw his name on the screen.
I am quitting the Blue and Gold. Thanks for the opportunity.
She felt tears prick her eyes, sadness enveloping her once again. The Blue and Gold was their time together doing what they loved the most. There were another two text messages from Kevin that were not so important, and lastly two other messages from Archie ones again.
Betty, pick up the damn phone. There was an accident, Jughead is in hospital!!!!
He's in bad shape, you need to call me ASAP!
As soon as she read the messages she felt her whole world crashing, "oh my God!" She exclaimed covering her mouth with her hands as she gasped.
"What's wrong?" Asked Veronica concerned at her friends reaction. They immediately comprehended that something was wrong, as they saw Betty with tears in her eyes in shock.
"Jughead," she tried to say, "accident.. hospital" was all she could croak as she started sobbing. Both her friends moved to her and tried to calm her down, Veronica pressed a button on the limousine console, "Jimmy, take us directly to Riverdale Medical Centre." She ordered.
"Yes, Ms Lodge." The chauffeur replied. They still had around 20 minutes to arrive.
Betty needed to calm down before calling Archie to get the details. Veronica offered to call instead and she agreed not having enough courage to speak to him just yet.
"Hey Arch," she answered, "yes she's with me... no not right now she's in shock," she continued looking at her friend, "we're heading there just now... how is he?... that doesn't sound good... what room is he?... ok, we'll be there in a few... bye Archie." She hang up and Betty looked up at her, Veronica couldn't say anything, Archie didn't give her any good news. Jughead was in really bad shape.
She pressed the console again, "Jimmy, I would never say this but step your foot on the gas paddle, we need to get there fast!" She ordered and they felt the limousine gaining up speed.
In less time than expected they reached the hospital, Betty stepped out of the limo while it was still slowing down, "damn it Betty, be careful. We don't want you to hurt yourself too!" Veronica called after her.
Her best friend didn't even look back, she just ran towards the reception and confirmed the room number Archie gave them. With a confirmation nod from the receptionist she headed for the elevator and pressed the second floor. Jughead was being administered in the intensive care department and his room number was 217. As the elevator stopped she ran out not giving a care that she bumped into some nurses on the way out and searched for room 217. Taking a turn she saw Archie in the waiting area in front of the room Jughead was checked in. As she approached him he took two long strides and enveloped his friend as she sobbed uncontrollably in his arms. Veronica and Josie arrived soon after as they watched Betty crying in Archie's embrace as he rubbed circles on her back trying to soothe her.
"I can't loose him." She managed to croak.
"We won't!" Archie tried to convince both of them.
"I haven't talked to him since that night, I was such an idiot!" She said as she tried to dry her tears with her sleeve.
"We both were Betty! I shouldn't have advanced on you like that knowing how deeply he cared about you." He said knowing what a screw up he was.
"Yes, you're an asshole! You took advantage of me, of my feelings for you, you stupid idiot! He doesn't deserve this," she said angrily as she pushed her pointed finger into his chest.
"I know," he said looking down taking all the blame, "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?? Now it's too late, sorry is not enough" she screamed at him as she started to pound fists at his chest angrily while yelling at him and calling him all sorts of names. Tears streamed down her face as she punched Archie in the chest with all the strength she had, he didn't flinch or stop her, he just let her let it all out, the anger, the hurt and all that she bottled up during the last week. Veronica and Josie tried to intervene to stop their friend, she slumped down on the chair opposite the room Jughead was in and put her head in her hands shaking and feeling drained.
"What happened exactly?" Veronica asked.
Archie then looked at his friends still dazed after the ordeal he had with Betty, "it seems he was heading to Betty's house for some reason or another, Mr Jones said that he was angry and the last few days he barely ate or slept. He was a mess." He said knowing pretty well why. He sighed sadly, "he was speeding, like really fast! The bike skidded hitting a metal barrier, Jughead was thrown several feet away. He was not wearing his helmet, he took a pretty hard hit."
"They had to get him in to surgery, Mr Jones said he had broken ribs, a broken leg, several cuts and bruises all over his body and the doctors are afraid of a concussion since he hit his head hard on the concrete. He was lucky that he wasn't dead they said." He looked down at his hands his eyes felt burning. He had to keep it together, he couldn't cry in front of Betty, he would make it even worse.
They heard the door to Jugheads room open, everyone looked up seeing FP Jones coming out. His face pale and eyes red, showing that he was just crying.
"Hey kids," he greeted, he looked at Betty. She stood up, "he said your name sweetie."
Betty looked shocked at what he said. FP smiled a bit, "he started to gain conciseness and your name is what he first said. I think you should go in and talk to him. He was a mess these past few days." He said knowing that something was going on between them that made his son such a mess for the last days and maybe it was what caused the accident as well.
Betty nodded, "thank you Mr Jones," she said, she grabbed the door handle, before she went In she turned again to FP, "if you need anything from my end, please let me know." She said.
"All I need right now, is for you to be there for Jug. He has feelings for you Betty. I don't know how deep, but I never saw my son acting this way towards someone." He said and with that Betty closed her eyes trying her best not to cry again and took a deep breath opening the door to where Jughead was being treated.
As soon as she got in and closed the door behind her, she saw a figure on a bed surrounded with tubes, wires and all sorts of monitors. His leg was in a cast and hanged upwards, his chest was covered in bandages and also his head. His face was barely recognizable with all the cuts and bruises. She couldn't hold back her tears at the horrific sight in front of her. This was all her doing! What had she done?
She approached him slowly, all that could be heard was the beeping sound that was coming from a monitor next to the bed. His eyes were closed and he seemed asleep. She was uncertain if she should grab his hand but giving it a second thought she walked closer and placed her hand on his fragile ones. With her touch she felt his fingers move slightly. She looked at him eyes brimming with tears as he painfully opened his beautiful blue eyes looking at her.
"Betty," was all he could master to say in a croaked voice.
She couldn't handle it, she bent her face to his hand and cried her heart out, sobbing hysterically. She heard him whisper and looked up at him.
"I'm sorry" he said. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. He was sorry, sorry for what? She straightened up looking at him.
"Why would you be sorry? I am the one who is sorry. This is all my fault." She said still sobbing slightly.
He lifted his hand slowly to her face, she grabbed it willingly through her hands and pressed it to her face closing her eyes at his touch.
"You're crying because of me." He said sadly. "I never wanted to make you cry princess."
She smiled at his nickname, kissing his hand, she placed it back on the bed slowly not to hurt him but still keeping her hand in his.
"You didn't make me cry Jug, I am crying because I was stupid to fall to temptation, when I had all I ever wanted right in front of me," she told him, he looked intently at her.
"I thought you wanted Archie." He said confused.
"No Jug, all I ever wanted was someone to notice me, to give me his time and respect me. All I wanted was someone to know me better than anyone else, to know all my flaws and my strengths. To know my deepest and darkest secrets and not judge me but helping me to overcome it all." She told him, bending down to kiss his hand, "I want you Jughead Jones, you make me feel like Archie never did."
At that point all Jughead wanted to do was get up and kiss her like there's no tomorrow but he couldn't and cursed internally for being foolish and causing this accident.
"Betty, I forgive you." He said, trying his best to smile at her. She leaned forward and placed a kiss on his forehead trying not to touch anywhere else so that she won't hurt him.
"Is that all I get?" He told her. She chuckled at his humor, even though he was in all this pain he still managed to make her laugh.
"There it is," he remarked as he heard her chuckle.
"You get better," she told him, "I will take care of you, I promise."
He lifted it his hand to her face again, "I can't wait, at least something good will be coming out of this."
She kissed his hand once again smiling at him for being such a dork in this situation.
"You have other visitors," she remarked, "there's Veronica and Josie as they gave me lift here, and there's Archie as well." She told him. He sighed letting her know that he still didn't know how to face Archie.
"He's a mess too Jug, he is blaming himself for this." She said not to defend Archie but they were best friends after all they needed to talk this through. He nodded as best he could and told her to let them in.
Betty let go of his arm lingering for his touch as she stepped back toward the door to let her other friends in. Both Veronica and Josie were in shock at how bad Jughead looked.
They were not really friends more like acquaintances but they were really worried about him knowing that their friend had such strong feelings for him.
"Hope you'll get better pretty soon Jughead." Veronica said smiling, "so you can enjoy this pretty girl once you'll be back to normal." She winked.
Jughead smiled and looked at Betty with his eyes full of longing, "I can't wait." He said his voice full of want letting them know that if only he could, she would now be entangled in his embrace and not letting her go that easily. Betty blushed at the way he looked at her, Josie chuckled at her friends reaction and Archie looked down sadly. He knew at that point that Betty chose Jughead over him and that this time he was not going to fight for her and interfere once again in their relationship. He lost her for good.
Suddenly they realized the awkward silence that fell in the room as everyone notice the shift in air at Archie's reaction. Betty looked at Veronica and Josie, they nodded knowing fully well what she meant with her look.
"We got to go, we still need to unpack our luggage's and stuff. You coming Betty?" Veronica asked knowing that they had to give some space for Archie and Jughead.
Betty nodded and looked at Jughead, "you have to tell me about this trip you took while I was being suicidal." He said smiling at her. She rolled her eyes at his bad joke and kissed his cheek goodbye.
"I'll be back soon. Promise me you'll get better soon." She ordered him.
"I don't know, I kinda like it here." He remarked getting her to roll her eyes yet again at his sarcastic attitude.
"I promise princess" he said and touched her face one last time. She kissed his hand and placed it back on the bed gingerly. They made their way out of his room and left Archie with him knowing that they had a lot to talk about. She just wished that they won't lose their friendship over this ordeal. She was already in disbelief how easy he had forgiven her. She just hoped Archie had the same luck she had.