Chapter 10: Two-faced Bastard
TWO DAYS LATER…
The news is still brewing in his mind. He didn't know what to do with the new information. He thought about asking FP. Why did he lie about who he was? There's a small part of him that was angered by FP. How could he leave this out? He told everything else out.. b-but left the most important part of the issue. He didn't want to be mad at FP but he was. How could he not? You don't hide something this big from someone. He didn't care if he thought it was in his best interest. The next time FP and Jughead were in the same room happened to be the day Jug's cast was coming off. On the other hand Jughead's excited about his new ability to move freely. Being unable to do what he wanted without the bulky cast getting his way was going to be such a relief.
"Ready to get this off?" Dr. Denise asked as she started grabbing a blade to saw through the plaster.
"Never been wanting to move my arm so much." He earned a chuckle from FP and his doctor.
"I wouldn't blame you for feeling this way!" Dr. Denise said as she sawed right through the case and placed a new roll on his hand and leg. "This new cast is temporary." She heard her patient groan," I know it's going to be another six weeks until we can take this casting off. You still have to minor fractures that Dr. Spencer and I spoke about it on the phone." She saw confusion spark in his eyes," Do you remember Dr. Spencer, he was your doctor before you came here?"
"Yeah. I do. He always cracked jokes while I was in the hospital."
"Oh, really? We're they funny?" Jughead shook his head, stifling a snort.
"No, but he knew how to make me think of something else besides food." FP snorted. Then he got a hard glare from Jughead which caused FP to notice that the man was having an attitude towards him. He didn't know what changed between him and Jug. He thought everything was going fine, so what went wrong?
Dr. Denise laughed." I used to work with him before transferring here. And yeah, his jokes aren't funny. He tries, but he's not funny."
She cut the plaster with some heavy impact scissors and put Jughead in an arm sling. "Are there any restrictions? I got a job at our diner with Pop. He said that he could use help, Veronica even said since I wasn't writing a book or in school."
"Since you only have a leg brace that goes over I don't see a problem. But if you get tired I would like you to use the crutches."
"Okay, that sounds doable."
FP's eyes widened as he asked." Pop gave a job?"
Jughead shrugged." Yeah. He figured until I'm able to return to New Hampshire." The slow-rolling pain shot FP in the heart. The thought of Jughead moving away from them again and this time probably never again. He felt as if the rug had pulled from underneath his feet. Jughead never mentioned moving back. He guessed the thought never crossed his mind. "Congrats on the job, Jug." Jughead gritted his teeth into a fake happy smile.
"Thanks."
JB found Jughead sitting in the Rec room that is in the basement. He was on his old laptop, going through old writings. She smiled as she sat down on the Futon couch. She noticed that her brother seemed almost annoyed about something.
"What's bugging you?" Jughead shifted.
"Nothing." He tried lying but Jellybean saw right through. "Bullshit, Jug. I know something is bothering you. Did something happen at the doctor's?" He shook his head, hoping she would just let it be," then what happened?" Again he didn't answer her. She sighed loudly," Fine don't tell me anything." She grumbled, getting off the couch and went upstairs.
She stomped upstairs, leaving her older brother to stew in his own oblivion and anger. She came across the floor in the kitchen, seeing Alice paying medical bills. JB knew as soon as she laid eyes on them. Jughead's hospital bill racked up in the thousands, being on a respirator isn't cheap. She knew that her dad still was working on paying on old bills. Alice looked up from the paper and smiled stressfully.
"Hey, JB." The eighteen-year-old smiled back. "Was Jug downstairs?" Alice questioned, trying to keep the conversation casual instead of worrying. JB groaned as she threw open the fridge door and popped a can of sprite open. It made the sound of an aluminum can cracking with a splash. Alice furrowed her eyebrows." That bad?" She watched as JB plopped onto the bar stool next to her. "What happened?"
"He's just being moody." Replied JB before she took a gulp from the can and swallows." He won't tell me why he's angry. I know something is bothering him. "Did something happen between dad and him?" Concern creased in her face.
Alice sighed softly, looking at Jelly's worried eyes." I don't know; at least not from what FP told me. Everything seemed fine after they came back from Pop's." She noticed the girl's wince." Did he say anything to you?"
"No. Nothing, Mom." JB started calling her mom a few years earlier. After her birth mother's betrayal JB saw Alice as more of a motherly figure than Gladys. As time went on Alice and JB got closer. While Jughead moved out JB made sure that Alice and her dad didn't feel abandoned. She knew that her brother didn't mean to seem like he was abandoning them but it came off that way. "Dad or Jug never said anything. You know how Jones men are, always having to prove that nothing is bothering them." Alice giggled sadly.
"Yeah… the Jones men aren't good with emotions or letting people help."
Jellybean shifted the conversation a little bit. "When are we doing Christmas?"
Alice's mood suddenly became happier and lighthearted. Christmas was always her favorite time of the year. She loved the joy the season brought, spending time with loved ones and baking, but mostly family. JB seemed to be excited about the holiday season. She missed Polly, the twins and she heard whispers from Betty that Polly was seeing someone. Also that he may or may not be coming to the Jones-Smith family Christmas. Who was this special man who made Polly so happy. She really was eager to find out. At one point she wanted to snoop and find out what Pollyanna was hiding but she decided not to invade her privacy.
"Soon." She caught the pout on the youngest Jones." Christmas isn't too much longer, Jelly. You can wait a little longer." She heard JB sigh. "The twins are way more patient than you." She chuckled as JB rolled her eyes and snuck two cookies from the cookie jar. It was a freshly made batch from Alice's bake off. "You and Jug are both sweet-tooths!"
JB's smirks." You know it, us Jones' always have." Alice laughed with the thought. She knew that JB was right.
"I've seen your father eat." She snuck herself a cookie from the jar. "He ate the whole family sized Oreos package!"
—xxx—
As the sunlight milked through the clouds as Jughead made his way out the door for work. It was his first official at POP'S DINER. He still didn't know what to do with the fact of what he learnt. He's been avoiding FP and he knows that FP is starting to catch on. Everybody was busy so he had to find a way to work. He went toward the garage and underneath the gray-white tarp sheet happened to be a black motorcycle. The feeling of knowing he had seen it before - - at least in his past. His mind started floating with memories as Jughead turned the key into the ignition. He could see himself riding it, a blonde woman; Betty was holding onto his waist. The next memory showered the previous with two serpent jacket men speeding down the background. Soon Jughead's helmet came off his head and the person next to him revealed himself to be FP. He couldn't believe it. His dad was telling him to stay out of the serpents but he wanted to stay for them! How could he not remember?
Once the memory faded white, Jughead's motor roared to life and Jughead was off down the street. He unmounted his bike twenty minutes later and the bells ding when he strolled inside. Pop Tate welcomed him in with open arms, offering him a coffee for the start of his day. He kindly declined Pop's offer and began to work. Veronica's trainers showed Jones around until they made it over to the coffee machine. After instructions were explained the young man sighed quietly to himself. He walked over the first table and took their order. In a small notebook he writes down the couple's order. He reported back to the kitchen and grabbed the dish rag he was handed. He wiped away the dirt on the booth top and returned back the register where he was trained on checking people out.
"Nighthawk?" His eyes shot up and looked around. Approaching the register Pop smiled at the nervous look in his eyes. "Don't worry, you're not in trouble, Jones. I just wanted to compliment you on your hard work."
"Thank you, sir." Jughead said as his cheeks flushed slightly pink.
Pop's smile marked his lips as a hearty chuckle elapsed. "You don't need to call me sir, Pop or Mr. Tate is just fine."
The cash drawer swung open with loud cha-Ching." Thanks, Pop."
"No problem, Nighthawk." The older jolly man walked away, leaving Jughead to count the cash and change in the drawer.
The bells chimed again, Jughead looked up from counting money and his eyes followed the person who walked in with red hair. The redhead's eyes widened and slowly came closer to Jughead. The essential fear was clear in the man's features. To Jug he looked like Archie but he couldn't really tell if it was him. He still didn't know what happened behind them.
"Jughead…" feeling compelled, Jughead came closer but still far enough. "You're alive!" He still didn't speak, let the old friend absorb that he was there. He could see a wetness in the man's eyes. Is he crying? Then suddenly memories hit him like a truck about two little kids playing around at the school playground. He had on his crown beanie, Betty was carrying a Nancy Drew library book under her armpit. Once the memory faded away his vision returned to normal and the redhead man still stood three feet away from him.
His jaw began to open and words came flying out." Archie… what are you doing here?"
Archie Andrews' face flushed with color. He was nervous and worried about what would happen next. They haven't spoken in years and he's also unaware that Jughead only remembers them as kids, not what happened when he found out Betty and Archie locked lips.
"I-I heard about your accident and wanted to make sure you were alright. I-I actually have known for awhile… I just wanted to give you time to readjust since we've stopped talking…"
Unable to breathe, Jughead simply nodded his head. "Uh-uh, well thank you…"
"Always, Jug. Even if we stop being friends doesn't mean I don't care about you. I'll always will, no matter if you hate me or not. I'll still be there for you."
He didn't know what to say or think. So something happened between him and Andrews but what was it?
"Uh, Archie when I was in that car crash I lost my memories." Sheer look of horror fell upon the man's face.
"I-I didn't know- know, I-I thought--" Jughead cut off his frantic ramble.
"It's okay, Archie. I'm slowly getting back my memory and decoding what the memories mean at least to me."
A sense of relief washes over Archie's body. And Jughead noticed the way he started to relax again. He wasn't so jittery. He looked at the clock and sighed. "I should get back to work." Archie's eyes widened with surprise.
"You work for Pop?" He nods.
"Yeah… since I can't live in New Hampshire, FP is letting me stay with him and Alice." The bolded choice of his father's name made Archie curious but he didn't ask. It wasn't his place or the time even. He caught Pop Tate standing by the kitchen door and gave a small way before the man came over.
"Archie Andrews, what brings you in here?" Pop asked with a happy greeting in his tone.
"Mom wants some food for her book club and well, I was the person they sent out." He chuckled, keeping an eye on Jughead and smiling at Pop Tate.
"I'll get it already for you." Turning to Jughead he added," Can you take table seven's order?" He quickly nodded, waving goodbye to Archie and headed on his way.
—xxx—
While at work he and Tom were chatting about their sons. FP and Tom Keller became reacquainted with one-another while their boys were off at college. It started with simple guys' nights, usually staying away from bars and pubs with FP's addiction; it wasn't a good idea.
"I have a question for you." He waited for Tom's go ahead signal.
"Lay it out for me."
He exhaled his sigh." When Kevin found out about your affair with Sierra did you notice him trying to avoid you?" Tom's eyes fluttered and he gave a small chuckle.
"At times he would. He was angry at me for sure. But after he had time to cool down, he spoke to me and told me it was okay as long as I was happy. He just wished that I would've told him not that he had to hear it from Josie." He stopped, examining his friend carefully." Is Jughead mad about you and Alice?"
He shook his head." No. That's the thing he doesn't know, I took care of him as a kid, let alone that he's like my son, even if it's not by blood. He enjoys Alice's company and remembered JB…" Tom heard clear pain in the father's voice.
"I was going to ask how you were doing with all that you-know man-to-man."
"I'm not handling it well, Tommy." Tom could tell by the old nickname that FP could use his best friend." I went to see Fred…" oh, Fred Andrews, the town of happiness. There was things about Fred that made everyone feel his love and connection. After his passing, FP took it hard. Tom knew it,"... I just wanted to hear his advice again… just one more time. You're the only one I've told. Every night I go for walks since Thanksgiving and just pour my heart like a girl to him, letting him hear my venting. Besides Alice, You and him are the only ones that really understand me, I know when you were sheriff the first time, you hated me."
"I never hated you. I was just blinded by who I saw and not who you really were. You're not that troublemaker I used to arrest when you were in your twenties after you joined. Now I see a well-grounded man who is in a lot of pain and is looking for help or even someone to let you cry on their shoulders." FP's scoffed in defense and Tom chuckled. "I'm not saying you're for crying wolf or anything, I'll-I'm saying is if you could use someone to vent to and I'm willing to be that someone if you needed."
FP cleared the lump from his throat and coughed out." T-Thanks, man. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome, Jones."
He straightened his back on the chair back. "Two days ago, Jughead and I were at his appointment to get the cast off and place another… and then I made a joke and the kid practically glared at me. I'm not talking about the typical "stop it" glare more like "leave me alone or else" look. At dinners he avoids starting conversations with him. I don't know what happened… we were fine and now it's like he's mad at me for something."
"That's odd." Tom said, confused. "That doesn't seem like Jughead to me. Have you two been fighting?" FP shook his head, shutting down. "No. We haven't been arguing. He never even mentioned that he got a job from Pop."
"Really?"
Shaking his head with a frown on his face." Yeah, the first I heard about it is when he asked Dr. Denise if he had any restrictions at work. I even ask Alice if he said anything to her or JB and she said he didn't."
"Is it possible he had another flashback?" Confusion was clear in his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
Tom worded his next words carefully, looking FP, straight in the eye." What I mean is maybe he had a flashback about you and him and it made him mad."
"Like us fighting?" FP questioned as he felt the lump his his throat getting bigger and the ability to breathe becoming smaller. Immediately he thought about when Jughead moved out. The pure fury boiling hot in his son's eyes as he shot deadly glares. He can still remember vividly the angry tears spilling down Jughead's cheeks. He wished Jughead would've talked to him about it instead of keeping in like he is.
"I suppose, I don't…know, FP. Maybe you should talk to him about it. It might help the boy understand his rage and give you some sense of the situation."
—xxx—
That night Jughead dreamt more about FP and then about what happened between Betty and Archie. His heart hurt finding out someone so kind, sweet like Betty Smith could ever, ever cheat on him with one of his best friends. He had a flashback to his Senior prom, from what he heard Junior Prom wasn't any better.
After a while Archie and Betty were able to get away from their group and sneak to a corner of the hallway. They looked suspicious to a naked eye, Almost as if they were hiding something. And indeed they had been keeping something from their lovers. Unknown by them somebody was listening in.
Betty catches Archie staring at her during Prom so she decided to confront him about what was going on between them."What are we doing, Archie?" He sighed with the knowing thought that him and Betty were hurting and lying to their loved ones.
His first thought was… wow Betty looks amazing in the long pale pink prom dress and then his next had been what is going on here? As he watched his dream or memory with eyes on them.
"You said we would stick with Jughead and Veronica and I understand. But please, one night together. One last kiss…. one last touch of your body." He caught the sad look on Archie's face.
Betty cheated on him? His heart snapped at the thought. It made him look at Betty differently. And anger filled his body and bloodstream. He watched as Betty started leaning into Archie's direction with pain blooming in his chest.
Betty sighed before beginning again."Okay. I'll think of something so we can have a night together."
But they were unaware that Jughead heard the whole thing. As soon as they kissed Jughead ran over causing them to jump apart. He couldn't handle seeing them continue their affair. Jughead yelled, his eyes shooting glares at the two cheaters." H-How could you?!! How could you two do this to me?!!"
For the first time In his life Jughead Jones started hyperventilating and having a panic attack. This was all too much for him! Two people he loved and thought would be part of his future betrayed him! Archie and Betty tried to help him as Jughead fell to his knees gasping, but he refused their help! Jughead held up his hands, gasping."N-No! D-Don't t-touch m-me!" He rasped out with a broken gasp for air, refusing to get back into his lungs. Betty pulled Archie away from him. "Just go get his dad. I'm going back into the gym and pretending like nothing happened."
This made Jughead very angry watching this scenario. He didn't recall them lying the first time this happened. Again he also lost all his memory. But he still couldn't believe it. He remembered first meeting Betty as a child and then when they started dating. He couldn't believe what he was re-watching. It might've been just as heart aching as back then.
Archie booked It back to the gym and over to where FP and Alice were slow dancing. FP thought he heard someone yelling for him. He turned his head around and saw Archie coming towards him.
"Liar." Grumbled Jughead. As he saw Archie, the one he just spoke with at Pop's a few days earlier. FP turned and immediately looked worried. He was still really upset that FP kept lying to him. And the more he appeared in his dreams the more that his anger blossomed.
"Mr. Jones! Jughead Is having a panic attack!" Alice looked at FP, confused as he was and didn't have enough time to ask before FP took off, leaving on the dance floor by herself.
Without hesitation FP followed Archie until he saw his boy on his hands and knees gasping for air. FP slowly kneeled by him; constantly rubbing his back, trying to ease his son's rapid breathing.
"Jug, what happened boy?"
Jughead shakily said."G-Get him the hell away f-from m-me!"Jughead rasped out, catching his dad's eyes float over to Archie.
He shot a look towards red, seeing something in the boy's eyes that made a knot tangle up in his stomach."What happened, Archie?!" The quiet redhead didn't have an answer. Jughead was too busy trying to keep his heart from pounding too fast.
Archie said," I'm sorry Mr. Jones." He ran off back to the gym like a coward and not the nice Wizard Of Oz, Cowardly Lion.
"Jug, I need you to breathe boy. Can you do that for me?" FP tried coaxing. Jughead tried, but all that came out were gasps and whimpers. FP slowly pulled him onto his lap and started gently rocking him as he ran his fingers through his boy's hair. FP calmly coaxed by softly whispering shushes into Juggie's ears." Shh, I've got you. Come on Juggie, deep breaths."
Jughead clung to his dad as he tried to focus on his dad's arms holding him, not what he overheard from Archie and Betty. He just wanted to go home, he didn't want to be here anymore.
"Do you need me to take you home son?" He heard FP suggest and as he watched himself interacting with the older man he agreed. Jughead slowly nodded yes as he snuggled his head Into his dad's chest."Okay, I'll get Betty and Al--" Jughead tersely started moving his head side-to-side. Suddenly Jughead quickly blurted out through a strong gasp."N-No! J-Just us! Pl-Please!!" FP blinked his eyes confusedly.
FP knew there was something definitely wrong. He knew whatever It was his son did not want to be around Archie or Betty. He agreed some father and son time right now Is what his boy needed. He decided Jughead would sleep with him tonight on the couch.
"Okay Jug, It's okay. I'm going to pick you up and take you home. Okay?" He watched Jughead slowly, calm himself just enough to a quiet shaky breath.
Jughead nodded yes as his dad gently picked him up Into his arms as he stood up. Jughead finally felt better when he was finally laying on his dad's chest and tight In his arms as they laid on the couch. His dad was running his fingers gently through Jughead's thick black hair as the other hand rubbed his back comfortably.
We were always like this? He began to wonder in other flashbacks he was fighting with his dad when the man drank. This was completely different from the other dreams or he guessed you could say nightmares.
"Everything's going to be okay baby. I've got you, daddies right here." He gently kissed his boy's cheek before they dozed off together.
His eyes jolted open as he broke from his after-work nap. He worked three days in a row and he was exhausted physically and mentally. He needed a day off and he didn't work tomorrow. The front door swung open and closed behind the man who was just in his dreams. FP kicked off his work boots in the corner before hanging up his coat on a coat rack. Abruptly he sees Jughead quickly get up with wide eyes.
"Jug? Are you okay?" Jughead glared at him and started to get off the couch. FP blinked his eyes in shock, holding in the slow-anger building up. He stood in front of him and asked." What is your deal lately? You are always cutting me off, glaring at me. Did I do something I don't know about?"
Jughead huffed." Like you don't know." FP's eyes blinked again."I don't know what are so mad at me for?"
He shot up from the couch, clenching his jaw." Why did you lie?"
FP stared at the boy in front of him, squinting his eyebrows in confusion. "Lie about what, Jughead?" The boy's anger filled eyes flicker."I know what you had everyone lie to me about! The fact you thought about trying to decive me by keeping something so huge like this from me! How could you lie to me? You practically forced me to live with you and your family! I had no say!" His heart is pounding against his chest as his boy spewed his anger at him.
"I-I-I was doing it for your own good." Jughead's head shook angrily.
"That's a bunch of bullshit, FP! How could you sit here and lie to him about who you really are. Some kind of father you are! Everybody! I MEAN EVERYBODY lied to my face about who you were! Alice, Betty, Polly and you most of all! How could you keep this from me? I trusted you… I-I thought I could I guess I was wrong!"
He held up his hands, trying to calm the furious man." I never meant for you find out this way. All of the doctors told me and Alice that finding out on your own was the best for you and your recovery. You do know how hard it is to keep this from you, Jughead!" He shouted.
Jughead scoffed sarcastically." I wouldn't know, I'm not like you. I don't giving a flying fuck if the doctors guided you with that thought. You knew that I-me your Jughead - - whoever the fuck I am would want the truth. I swear I had dreams of finding out who was my father but I guess it was falsified hope!" FP could see frustrated tears rolling down the sides of Jug's face and felt another crack from in his heart.
As Jughead continued to make FP want to fall apart he had to keep his resolve a little longer. "Boy!"
"Boy?! I thought that sounded familiar! How would you feel to have this person in your life that has lied to you and made you feel accepted to only keep the biggest thing about your recovery? No? I do! First my girlfriend cheated on me and then apparently sometime after I got into a car crash, lost my memory!"
FP whispered under his breath." Five years." Jughead's firey eyes darted at him. "What did you say?"He exhaled as tension arose between them." Five years, it's been five years since you left after she cheated." Hot pain drained into his body. He could feel the tears stinging at his eyes. "And fives years later I get the call from Betty explaining to me that you-you were hurt in the crash! I spent weeks by your side and I get your mad but I did what I thought was the best."
Jughead clenched his jaw tightly." I trusted you and you lied… lied to me! How could you lie to me? I kept giving signs, asked you about why you were in my memories and you straight up lied to my fucking face! You could've come clean at Pop's when I asked you about riot night! But no! Instead you lied to me, made me so clueless and I don't think you even cared!"
"I cared so much, Jughead! You have no idea how hard it is on me! I-I almost lost you!"
"Then you should've told me when I woke up from a coma. I would've been more understanding. Instead you lied to me for weeks and shut me out when I asked if you were okay. I stopped asking you about my memories because I felt you didn't care!"
They didn't even notice the door open from other side of them. Alice walked in the door with JB and Charles carrying tonight's dinner when she heard Jughead and FP in a screaming match. A pit of worry formed in her gut and before her were FP and Jug. JB's eyes widened in horror. "I so cared that's why I kept it from you!" Kept what from him? And then it dawned her, Jughead Jones figured it all out. "I'm sorry I hurt you-I thought I was doing what was best!" FP's voice came out all choked up.
Jughead's eyes watered with tears. "You are such a two-faced bastard!" He turned his head and blushed redder than the shade on his face before when he came to notice they weren't alone. He didn't know when they arrived or cared at the moment. "Jug…"
JB's voice made him break." JB.."
"Stop getting mad at dad. It's not his fault." That made Jughead's anger return. "Not his fault?! You-you aren't innocent in all of this! You also lied to me!"
"Jughead… I never wanted to." Her voice breaks.
Charles gasped." Jughead. Don't be rude to her." Jughead scoffed again.
"Rude? And you, Charles, you treated me like a little brother and now the fact we are brothers, I helped you with your job!"
"Y-you remember?" Charles' voice stammers with widened eyes.
"Yes, I remember that. You all lied to me." He turned to look at Alice." And you…you helped all of them lie and deceive me!" Alice's tears began to break through the dam in her waterline.
"Jughead, I didn't want to lie to you. I was trying to help you remember--"
"By lying to me?!" He took a second to look at the people who lied to him for weeks and felt betrayed. "I-I just can't believe you were all in on this cruel charade!" After taking another breath he started walking passed them and was stopped by the door by these words." Where are you going?"
"I need time… to think and cool off."
FP softly questioned." Where are you going to stay?"
And Jughead retorted with something he heard himself say once before." I'll figure it out, Dad. I always do." He spat the last word like acid on the tip of his tongue and then slammed the door by him after those words crushed his heart like a pressurizer machine breaks down aluminum cans at factories.
Alice tried to reach for FP's hand but FP pulled his hand back and hastily stormed out of the room away from her. Once he was alone - - he screamed as the last of his composure fell from him. He broke down on his knees and sobs erupted from his throat.
—-xxx—
And there we have it! Jughead knows about FP's secret, at least one of them. I'm sorry for leaving on such a heartbreaking cliffhanger. Please don't hate me… it will get better but you know me, I have to stir up the drama a little. I'm working on the next one right now.