Chapter 16: Insufferable Causes

He faced the desk at twelve P.M while he worked. It was his third officially day as a partner. He still couldn't believe that Him and Fred were back in business. He still felt like it was all a dream. But instead it was a reality. He was actually sitting at the desk going over company statements.

"F, Cheryl and Toni called telling you they like to speak to at the Wyrm around Five." Fred said as he entered from outside.

FP listened to Fred and said." Okay. I guess it will be an early day after all then."

"I guess so." Sighed Fred. He wondered why they were calling FP at work. When he answered it sounded important. Fred has his suspicions about Alice but it seemed like Cheryl and Toni have knowledge. "Do you think you know what it's about?"

FP shook his head." No clue. Can you give me a hint?"

"It sounded important." That's all he got from his old friend before he turned for the door. "Good luck, F!" He shouted.

"Thanks I guess!" FP yelled back with suspicion in his voice.

He just had a feeling about the phone call. He wasn't sure what it was about but if they said it's important. It must be important.

—-x

"Smith open your door!" She was in her living room when the pounding on her door. "Alice you better before I kick y—"

The voice was caught off by the door, a gasp made it through the person's lips. Alice stood shocked when she realized she wasn't wearing a cover up. She never usually made that mistake but she had this time.

"H-Hermione." She stammers, quickly trying to cover her bump. She's now three month pregnant. It was getting harder to hide her pregnancy.

"Alice…" Hermione looked at her with hurt and rage in her eyes. She couldn't believe her. "You're pregnant…" Her realization kicked in. "And FP's the father, am I right?"

Alice knew that she couldn't keep hiding. "Yes." She sighed deeply as tears began forming in her blue eyes. She hated herself for lying.

"Alice… wow… you disappeared for weeks and you couldn't tell us your secret…" Hermione says as she clenched her jaw.

"Hermione I'm s—"

"She cut Alice off." Sorry? Really? Alice I kept your first one a secret. You trusted me then. Why is this time different?" She was clearly hurt.

"I swear I was going to tell you. It was Edgar… he was going to kill me."

"That still doesn't make up for the weeks you lied since you got back, Alice!"

Alice had tears in her eyes. "Please just let me tell him. I was going to tell him and Gladys came." Her voice began cracking.

"She's been gone for weeks, Alice. I don't know why you have to hide. You know He wants you and you still break his heart! You didn't see what damage you caused!"

"I said I'm sorry! What else you I gotta do for you to believe me!" She snapped.

Hermione looked at her for a second. "You have to tell him and also I can't wrap my head around the lies, Al." For the first time since she was Hermione. Her friend's voice was softer than before.

"Mione… I never met to lie ever. It was never my intention. I've been planning for weeks to tell him and a few days ago, Cheryl found out."

Hermione's eyebrow raised." Find out how?"

"I was at the store getting Oreos. I've been craving them my whole pregnancy and then she saw me. At first she didn't know it was me until I turned around." She took a pause and looked at the floor. She didn't want to see the disappointment in her friend's eyes.

"Al… so Cheryl knows!" Hermione yelled. She shakes her head in shame. "Yes. She knows and has been blackmailing me."

"All I'm going to say is you better tell him. If she knows means she's going to tell." Hermione sighed again before lifting Alice's chin. Alice was forced to look at her. "Cheryl isn't doing it to hurt you. She and FP made a deal when he started drinking. She told him that she'd help him sober up and in return he would pay her back by letting her join the Serpents with Toni."

Alice was blown away. She'd never seen a nice bone in that girl's body. It was nice to know that she actually cared for anyone beside herself.

"I had no idea…"

"Of course you didn't, Alice. You left us!" Hermione's voice cracked and she felt tears in her eyes.

Now She realized she just didn't hurt Betty or FP. She hurt her best friend. She never meant this. She wished she could go back to the day she found out and tell him. But she can't turn back time. There was no back button. She had to tell the truth.

"Mione… I'm so sorry for hurting you guys." Hermione looked up at her and her eyes were red and puffy. Alice could tell she was crying.

"I can't forgive you…" That broke Alice's heart. "But I'm not saying I won't ever forgive you. It's just going to take time, Al. Do you understand?"

She swallows the lump down her throat and wipes her eyes. "I understand." She had to make up for her mistakes and she would start by telling the truth.

—xx—

Betty and Jughead sat at Pop's discussing about their after school investigation. "My Mom is hiding something, Jug. I know it. She's been acting weird for two weeks now."

Betty didn't trust her mom lately and she was rightfully so had her intentions. Her mom has been sneaking out at odd hours since Betty moved back. And her sister started covering for her.

Earlier, she walked in the house and found her mom eating like a mad woman with her cookies. Her mom had been buying them a lot. Which confused her.

"Why do you suspect that, Betts?"

"She's been buying Oreos."

Jughead raised his eyebrow." So? Maybe she just loves Oreos." He didn't seem to be connecting the dots yet.

"Over the two weeks she's been back. She has bought more cookies than ever, Jug. Don't you see my concern here?" She questioned her boyfriend.

"I-I guess." He sounded unsure. It was like he didn't believe her. "All I'm saying is that cookies are good." Betty groaned.

"That's not my point, Jughead!" She snapped. "My point is that she keeps eating them more often than she used." Her voice was calmer now.

"Alright fine... we'll go undercover tonight."

—xxx—

At Five, FP walked through the doors. His eyes searched the room for the girls. He spotted them back by the bar. He's been sober for three months. Cheryl's eyes were filled with sorrow. Something that didn't kept register in his brain… until it was too late.

"So, what am I doing here?" He questioned them with a sly grin. He figured it was about the Serpents. "Ah.. let me guess. Cheryl wants to be crowned for her archery."

Cheryl stepped forward." Although I'm flattered about the archery. That's not why we invited you here." Her tone didn't really sound funny. She seemed to be very tense and angry.

"So why then?"

Toni didn't want to him this way. She never wanted to. She just hoped that Alice would work up the effort. FP looked over at them and suddenly tensed up. He could tell something was bothering them. Toni hardly looked at him the entire time he's been there. She usually greeted him with a hug. There was no hug this time.

"Mr. Jones…"Cheryl glanced over to Toni, who nodded her head as the go ahead. "We got news for you."

FP stayed silent as Toni told him what she learned. He felt his heart shattered at the thought. No she wouldn't keep this from him. They had to be lying. There's no way she would lie to him. He fought the heavy urge to cry. He didn't want to fall apart in front of them.

"Yeah right." He scoffed." I doubt she would do that."

Cheryl figured he would be in denial. She had gotten to know him over the months and she knows he locks up when he doesn't want to believe in something.

"Mr. Jones we're telling the truth." She argued as she clicked her tongue.

FP still didn't believe them." Yeah and I wasn't born yesterday, Ladies!"

"FP, Cheryl and I aren't lying!" Toni exclaimed. She was sick of him blaming them and not listening.

"Fine I'll ask her myself!" He stormed off, slamming the door to the speakeasy angrily.

—xxx—

Alice was about to leave the house when she opened door. Who she saw caused her to drop her purse and her eyes widened. He can't be in front her. She must be dreaming. She looks up and sees the confusion written on his face.

"Al, where you going?" He questioned.

Alice swallows harshly and then cleared her throat." I-i was about to go to the gym." She stammered, trying to sound convincing.

She can't believe she was lying to his face. She hadn't seen him since she moved back into her rental house. She tried avoiding the most she could. She knew it was so wrong and she hated herself for lying to him.

FP didn't seemed fooled. He noticed the guilt etched in her face and only started thinking about what she was hiding from him.

"Really? You seem a little overdressed for the gym, don't you think?" He asks suspiciously as his eyes her up and down. For a split second he could've sworn her breasts looked a lot fuller.

He watched as she bit her lip." Oh this." She said almost too easily. "I was cold." He felt like something was really off.

"Really it's 60 degrees outside today."

Alice almost slipped but she bit her tongue. "Oh really." She faked confusion. He nodded his head. "Oh silly me."

"Al, are you alright? You look really pale." FP asked as a worried expression crossed his face.

"Oh yeah." She lied. To be honest she felt nauseous. She normally didn't get sick this late in the day. It must be her nerves.

She was about to open her mouth when the words slid off his lips. "No. You look like you're about to puke."

"I-I—" She couldn't hold it in anymore. She quickly raced to the bathroom. "Alice!" She heard him calling after her. She never felt so guilty.

She locked the door behind her, lifting the toilet seat lid up and heaved everything she had for lunch. Her lungs burned from the acid building in her throat. After she finished heaving. She grabbed some toilet paper off the roll and wiped the corners of her mouth. She feared what was coming next. She was aware that FP wasn't clueless. He had figured out she was sick before she could even understand what he was talking about.

"Alice… I think we need to talk."

She sighed heavily before she washed her hands and made her way to the door. Her hand shook as she turned the lock and her eyes laid on FP. His face looked furious. "I—"

"Save it!" He shoved the picture into her hands. FP noticed the way her eyes widened but didn't care. He was very hurt by her. She lied to him for weeks. " I found this in your purse when I was looking for upset stomach reliever."

Her eyes glued to the ultrasound picture in her hands. She didn't want him to find out this way. "FP.. I was going to—"

"Tell me? You had three months, Alice! Three fucking months to tell me! Instead you kept it from. I forgave you the first time… but this time." He cut himself off. His voice was cracking so bad.

"I didn't mean to not tell you." Alice's voice breaks off.

"But you did, Alice. You stayed with me for two days. You should've told me then. Instead I had to find out from Cheryl and Toni. I didn't believe them. I told them there was no way you would do this. I guess I was wrong." His heart broke when the tears fell from her eyes.

He was so angry at her. He couldn't even look at her. It just hurt too much. She had caused him such pain that it was hard to see her in a different way.

"No no, I was going to tell at Pop's the day after I got released from hospital but then I saw Gladys and I-i lost my nerve. I couldn't live myself , if I ruined your marriage."

He scoffed." My marriage was ruined a long time ago. Don't even try to use that for your pathetic excuse, Alice! You knew that I would want you and this baby and you're selfish!"

That word penetrated her skin and stabbed repeatedly in the chest. Selfish. Selfish. Selfish. She was selfish and also terrified. Her heart shattered at the sound. That word broke her into pieces.

"FP…" She gasped, staring at him wide-eyed and her lips pressed like a fish gulping.

He didn't stop he kept barreling on." I'm not done. You went to the doctor's with Polly. That was supposed to something we should've done together. But no you took that away. You've known all this time!" Angry tears vacated from his eyes.

"Please… don't leave!" She cried.

He fought back and turned on his heel. He eyed the door with his blood shot eyes. All he wanted was to cry in peace. Hell maybe even a drink. At this point he didn't give a fuck.

"I— I can't do this right now." He muttered before slamming the door behind him.

He could hear Alice's cries for him to come back but he didn't bother turning around. Maybe he was being stubborn but he also knew that he couldn't stand looking at her. She lied to him, to his face and probably everyone he knows. Now he's on his bike, tears burned profusely as he kicked the stand and scurried away.

He arrives at the trailer. He snatched the keys from the ignition and huffed toward the door. He tossed the keys across the room. With all this strength ripped from him. He falls to his knees. He screams at the empty walls and more tears had fallen from his eyes.

At his low. He was alone. He needed her and she never was there. He wished he had her right at that point. She could be holding him, shushing his cries and kissing his forehead to make the pain go away. She can't. Why? Because she was the reason for the pain. She caused it.

He looked around the room with his broken eyes and stood up. He wanted to smash everything in his sight. Anything that reminded him of her would be smashed. He understood the first time. She was a teenager and had no support. Back then he was ladies man. He broke hearts and had hookups. Now was a different story. She's in her forties and he gets that she was scared. Even after she was brainwashed. She could've told him the truth. He wouldn't have been angry. He would've helped her, went to the appointments and hell fucking married her if he had to.

"Dad— whoa what happened here?" His son's voice accounted his presence.

Jughead stood in the doorway, eyes blown wide at the sight. Their plates were scattered across the room in millions of pieces. Broken bottles lied littered by the kitchen and his dad was on his knees. He slowly approached his dad, trying to avoid the sharp glass shard littering the entire trailer. He caught a glimpse at his dad's eyes and frowned.

It looked like he had been crying. What happened? Jughead had so many questions running through his head. It had to been something bad to set his dad off this much.

There was a knock and then the door opened." Jug you forgot your jacket in m— what the heck?!" His eyes shifted away from his pained father and over to the door.

"Cheryl, Betty, What are you doing here?" He acknowledged Cheryl and his baby.

Cheryl's eyes wander the trashed trailer. No literally it was damaged in someway. This was no lottery moment. Betty's eyes filled at the horror. Her mind started buzzing with questions.

"We were about to leave when we noticed your jacket in my car." Cheryl explains, still surveying the wreckage.

Betty spotted FP on his knees, bloodshot eyes and heard quiet sobs sneaking through his throat. She instantly rushes to his side and finds his chin. She has no clue what has happened. All she knew that trailer is trashed.

"Oh my god!" She exclaimed and then shot an alarmed action to her cousin. "Cheryl grab my bag and in the first pocket should be a first aid kit."

Cheryl scans the room for Betty's bag and quickly realizes that Betty forgot her bag in her car. She speeded out the door and returned with the kit fastened under her left armpit. Jughead still stood in horror and barely smiles when Betty takes charge. He's confused on what's happening. This wasn't like his father to act like this.

"Does that hurt?" Betty softly asks as she applied pressure and wrapped a turnock kit around the exposed cut.

FP winces slightly before nodding his head. Betty figured out the cause to his cut when she found tiny specs of glass embedded into his arm. She grabbed the tweezers and one by one she picked away all the glass that was in his cut.

"Dad, what happened?" Jughead questioned, gently placing his hand on his dad's shoulder.

Instead of answering he rolled his eyes. "You were right." He sneered and more tears formed in his already reddened eyes.

Cheryl frowned at that and felt awful. She didn't want to be right. She actually cared for Jones. No she didn't get over the fact he dumped her brother in Sweetwater but that was also in the past.

"I'm sorry. I really am, Mr. Jones." Her time was soft. Betty and Jughead's eyes widened with shock. Cheryl rolled her eyes and narrowed her eyes at Jughead and Betty. "I know that I can be a bitch but I would never hurt your dad, Jug."

"What's going?" Asked Betty as she looked over at FP. His eyes looked painfully swollen and she could tell that he was crying or still is crying.

FP took a deep breath preparing his body for the answer he was about to release. He was aware once he left the words out there was no taking them back.

"Betty." She looked directly at him. "Your mom has been lying to all of us for a long time."

Her blood boiled. She was right. She had a feeling her mother had been lying under her nose. Jughead observed the shakiness in his voice and feared what he was about to say.

"It's okay, they will help, FP. I promise." Again Jughead seemed to be taken back by Cheryl's abnormal kindness.

"She's been hiding the fact…" He paused again. He felt his airways becoming shallow. He cleared his throat to sound more clear.

Jughead could tell his dad was about to break down. This worried him to his core. "What it is?"

"She's three months pregnant and she knew all this time." FP's voice finally broke and he buried his head into his hands and sobbed his heart out.

Cheryl instantly grabbed her purse and discreetly handed FP a packet of tissues. He didn't move. He just kept his head down and Cheryl felt helpless. Betty and Jughead's jaws dropped in utter shock. They were too stunned to move. Also really impressed by Cheryl's immediate reaction to the situation. Betty had suspicions and she was correct. Only she thought her mother was drinking again.

It never crossed her mind that her mother was pregnant. Betty didn't care that her mother was expecting. She actually felt a smile on her lips. What she cared about was the fact she lied to them all, to their faces and most of all broke FP's

heart by doing so.

Jughead's anger resurfaced. He broke his state of shock and comforted his dad. He's never seen his dad so upset before. It was true Alice had done a number on him for sure. Then the thought dawned on him. His dad said three months and if he was going his math right. He's pretty sure he did. That meant his dad and Alice were hooking up when Alice lost her memory. He shivered and scrunched up his face at that thought. He didn't want to think about his dad's sex life. Just much as he was sure his dad didn't want to think about his.

After awhile FP finally settled down. Jughead had helped his dad into the bedroom and tucked him in before uttering," I'm sorry, Dad." He looks at his dad who laid asleep.

He shut the door behind him and sighed. Betty and Cheryl eyed him with worried eyes. Betty thought about staying the night but Jughead said he would handle it. Betty backed off and kissed his cheek before heading out. Cheryl sent him a soft smile before waving and left the trailer. Jughead inhaled deeply before he laid on the couch. He didn't mind. His dad was going to have a rough morning and he knew it was going to be.

—xx—

Alice heard the door slam from her bedroom. She quickly shoved the covers off and went downstairs to check what the commotion was about. She was on the staircase when she heard extreme curses.

"Oh Mom wanna hear some news!" Instantly she knows who's voice that was.

"Betty, what's with the shouting?"

Betty looked enraged and she stepped closer to the staircase. Alice couldn't tell what was the problem.

"You're pregnant and you've been lying for three months!" Betty snapped.

Alice's face dropped drastically." Betty, I-I was going to tell him and then Cheryl told him." Betty ignored her. She was too mad.

"Oh wow great job!" She hollers sarcastically. "I found FP sobbing on his knee and the trailer looked like a torpedo rampaged through!"

Alice's heart dropped to her stomach. She broke him. She never felt so sick with herself. Betty didn't seem to stop glaring at her mom.

"Betty—"

"Don't! You lied to me for weeks. No months, Mom! I trusted you. I could've helped you but instead you ran off to that fucking psycho farm!" She shouted angrily making fists with her hands.

"I'm sorry! Betty, I'm so sorry! I know that you're still furious with me and I would be too. I didn't mean to leave—"

"Leave me behind? Well you did!"

"Betty, Mom!" Polly rubbed at her eyes. "If you keep screaming, you're going to wake Juni!"

Betty couldn't believe now she was trying to be the parent. "Oh look who's talking?! The mother of the year wow congratulations!" She exclaimed mockingly.

"I was broken, Betty!"

"And you dragged Mom through the mud?!"

Polly bites the insides of her cheek in shame. She knows Betty was right. She was right about everything. She hurt her and Mom.

"Betty, I'm so sorry… I hate myself for this. I really do Betty."

"And that doesn't fix what mess you made!"

"I know, I know!" Polly cries as her baby sister yells back. She hated that she hurt Betty. She never wanted to upset her at all.

"I can't even forgive you for this! You're the worst sister ever! I'm glad Jason died before he met the mother you've became!"Betty screamed and then gasped with her mouth covered.

Polly's eyes bursted with tears. She couldn't believe Betty said that. Alice looked at both of her children and fought the moment to scold. That was so uncalled for.

Betty's eyes widened in horror. She never meant to say that. She watched as her sister's eyes flooded with unshed tears. Her heart plummeted into her throat. She tried to reach out but Polly backed away from her.

"Just don't." Her sister warned coldly as her eyes sent her chills.

"Polly… I-I didn't mean to hurt you…" Her voice frayed as her eyes burned with tears as well.

"I said don't, Betty!" Polly voices sharply as her eyes started to grow murderous.

Betty slowly stepped back, tears falling off her eyes as her vision blurred. She nodded her head before grabbing a suitcase and ran into her room, she lifted the suitcase onto her bed and unzipped the flap. Betty hastily starts packing all her belonging she could get her hands on. Once she all done packing, she zipped her suitcase up and went downstairs.

As she was about to leave, her mother places a hand on her shoulder. This forces Betty to look away from the door and over at her mother's tearful eyes. Alice looks at her daughter with broken eyes. She didn't want Betty to leave.

"Betty… you don't have to go."

Betty only forced a smile." But I do, Mom. Polly hates him. I shouldn't have said that. I hurt her in unimaginable ways, Mom." Betty quivered as she looks directly at her mom.

"Betty… please." Alice pleaded for Betty to stay.

Betty just kept shaking her head." I have to go, Mom. I need to cool down. I will be at Veronica's if you or Polly need to get a hold of me." She said as her voice vibrated uncontrollably.

Betty walked right passed her mom and over to her car. She inserted the keys into ignition. Her hands trembled as she pulled out of the driveway. As she drove to the Pembrook she cried. She regretted every she said. She was just so angry that she couldn't control what she was saying.

She knocked on the door, waiting patiently as tears streamed her freezing cheeks. She's standing out in the freezing cold and it was winter for god sakes. She wanted to be held and be told everything was going to be alright.

The door opened, revealing sleepy Mrs. Lodge and Veronica. Hermione was generally confused why Betty Smith was standing outside her home in the cold at almost dawn. Veronica noticed the angry redness around her best friend's puffy eyes. Her heart shattered at the sight of Betty.

"Mrs. Lodge, Vee, can I stay here tonight?" Betty asked as her voice cracked tremendously.

Veronica side-eyed her mother and Hermione agreed that Betty should stay. She was no condition to go home. "Yes, of course, Betty."

"Come on in, B." Veronica said as she closed the door behind them.

Betty was guided into Veronica's lobby and her doorman took Betty's suitcase upstairs. Betty followed Veronica and her mother into the house. Veronica disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a cup of tea. Betty sipped the tea and wipes her eyes.

"Thank you, Mrs. Lodge." Hermione smiled before making Betty a place to sleep.

"You can call me Ms. Gomez, Betty."

Betty smiled brightly at the Latina." Okay.. Ms. Gomez thanks for letting me stay the night."

Hermione squeezed Betty's shoulder lightly and sat next to her on the couch while facing her with her legs crossed over one another. Betty relaxed, rolling her shoulders and neck. They felt tense.

"It's our pleasure. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like, Betty." Betty felt the smile warm her heart. Hermione looked up at her. " I may want to keep you."

"Aw that's very sweet, Ms. Gomez."

Hermione smirks at her and then feels Veronica's glare. "Oh, sweetie, you may be better than my dear Veronica." She teased with a smug wink.

"Hey!" Veronica exclaimed a little offended.

Hermione wrapped her arm around Veronica's waist and kissed her cheek lightly." I was just teasing, Mjia."