Herp de herp. Here I am again! *Jazz hands*
Thank you all so much for your patience. Your comments really do mean so much to me. I've got like, six different jobs right now. And as great as some of them are - I just graduated this past spring and have already been hired to direct productions at a children's theatre, a high school, and my alma mater. This theatre been is crazy blessed, but also crazy stressed ;) – there's a lot going on!
I actually had something else planned for this chapter, but once I really sat down with it, this dialogue mostly wrote itself. I think it's really important that Betty and Jughead talk these things through, so my plan will be put into next chapter.
Oh, and happy birthday to mwagner3, who requested that I post a new chapter for their special day :)
Chapter Fourteen - Jughead
"Betty," I repeat, unsure how many times I've said her name since the men left us alone. Quickly crossing the room so I'm as close to Betty as possible, I reach out for her. I want to help her catch her breath, to hold her close, to make sure she's all right. Selfishly, I want her to provide me with comfort, too. It's felt like an eternity since I saw her last, and now I just want her to be far, far away from here.
"I'm so sorry." Any control I had upheld while Venom and Cruncher were watching is now gone, tears trickling down my face. "Betty, this is all my fault…"
She holds up her hand to silence me, and the rest of my apologies get lost somewhere in my throat. I watch her with wide, terrified eyes, so desperate to take in the sight and yet wishing it away for her own safety.
"Jug," Betty whispers, wincing as the action must have hurt her throat. "None of this is your fault, okay? They would have taken me even if you hadn't given us information about the Scorpions." She interlaces her fingers with mine, wide eyes watering as they flicker over my appearance with a pained expression.
"I probably look like shit, huh?"
"Kind of." She offers me a small smile.
"Ouch," I chuckle. "Way to kick a man when he's down."
"Jug." The mood becomes heavy again. "What are we going to do?"
"I don't know," I reply truthfully. "These people are ruthless." Betty nods, biting her lip as her face begins to crumble before my eyes. "Hey," I whisper, gently pulling her closer. Thankfully the chains just allow us to meet in the middle of the room. "I'll get you out of here, Betts. I swear I'll get you out."
"It's not me I'm worried about, Jug," she breathes, body shuddering as her arms wrap around my middle. "I saw what they did to you the other day. I'm just so afraid –"
"Betts –"
"I thought I'd never see you again –"
"Betts –"
"I thought I could save you –"
"Betty!"
She finally falls silent, looking up at me with tear filled eyes. "Listen to me," I say softly, waiting for her quiet nod before continuing. "I'm here, alright? I'm alive. I'm fine –"
"You're not," Betty protests, pulling away so she is kneeling in front of me, our faces level with one another. "Don't lie to me, Jug. I know you're not fine. We are both so far from fine, so don't pretend."
"What else do you expect me to say?" I shake my head, running a hand through unkempt hair that probably looks even worse than it feels. "That I'm terrified? That I'm constantly expecting Penelope Blossom to come in here and shoot me in the head?"
"Penelope Blossom?" Betty injects, eyes growing wide at the new information. "I knew it!"
"What? You did?"
"Yes, I figured it out right before they drugged me. It all makes sense – Penelope wants to protect her husband –"
"She doesn't give a damn about her husband," I correct. "It's the 'Name of the Blossoms' she's looking to protect. Apparently filicide doesn't reflect well on the rest of the family tree."
"So she's trying to frame it all on FP." Betty nods, but then stops again. "How does she expect to do that? There's video proof!"
I shrug, unable to find a logical answer. "I don't know. Accuse my dad of altering the tape?"
"Sheriff Keller would never believe that though, would he?"
"Who knows? Penelope is insane. And insanely rich. I don't doubt her ability to cover this up somehow." I reach over to tuck a loose hair behind Betty's ear. Her usual ponytail is disheveled, dirt streaks decorating her pastel pink sweater. "I love you."
"I love you, too," she whispers with a sad smile.
"I'm sorry for shouting at you," I shake my head, overcome with guilt from how we left off the other day. "I never wanted to hurt you."
"I know, Juggie," she sighs, cupping my cheek. "I know."
Something in me shifts, uninvited tears spilling down my cheeks. "I've been so scared…" Betty is instantly pulling me closer, and my arms wrap around her tightly. There's this fear in my chest that if I let her go, she'll be lost forever. Burying my face into the crook of her neck, I finally allow myself to break down. "I'm so scared, Betty."
"Me too," Betty replies softly, holding onto me as if her life depends on it. "But we'll get out of here, Jug. Together."
"I don't care about myself. But I swear to God, Betty, I won't let them hurt you again," I insist, pulling away to look her in the eyes.
"Stop it, Jug. You can't talk like that."
"Talk like what?"
"Like you've already given up on yourself!" Betty replies accusingly. "Like you don't believe you'll ever make it out of here."
"Betts…" I sigh, rubbing at my face. "I'm just being realistic, okay? It's clear that Venom has no intention of letting me go, even if my dad does follow along with the plan." The thought makes me pause. "How is my dad taking all of this?"
"Not well," Betty answers, unsurprisingly. "He threatened them after the first message, even though I warned him not to."
"Sounds about right," I groan.
"He's beyond pissed," Betty nods. "We were yelling –"
"He yelled at you?" I interject, concern rising. "Why?"
"We got in a fight. I may have said some things…"
"Like what?" I ask apprehensively. Betty is clearly uncomfortable with the topic, but I need to know.
"He was angry that we got involved in the murder case to begin with," she starts, brow furrowing. "He said that he tried to keep you safe from things like this, but that I pulled you in, and I just…snapped."
Sensing that she doesn't want to continue talking about the fight, I try to shift the topic. "What did he say about taking the blame for Jason's murder?"
"He's going to do it," Betty replies softly. My heart sinks, and evidentially she can tell, because she continues quickly, "But the police might not believe him. Like you said, there's video evidence. With Kevin's help we might be able to shift this in our favor."
"No," I reply instantly. "Don't get Kevin involved. We can't bring anyone else into this. He'll just end up getting hurt."
"He's already involved," Betty confesses. "He caught me watching the first video that Venom sent. I don't think any of the Scorpions know that, though."
"Where is Kevin now?"
"At the station. We thought that would be a good place for him to stay while I went to meet with Penny."
"Penny?" I shake my head. "Who's Penny?"
"Penny Peabody," Betty clarifies. "Tall Boy told me to talk to her. He thought she'd be able to help somehow."
"Wait, you talked to Tall Boy?" The idea is a strange one, and not very comforting. Something about Tall Boy interacting with Betty puts me on edge.
"Yes, Jug," Betty sighs, seeming a bit exasperated. "You can't have expected me to just sit around and just let all of this happen to you?"
The thought of Betty Cooper resisting the urge to investigate – especially on a case that hits close to home – is so ridiculous that I can't help but chuckle. "No, of course not. That's not the Cooper way."
A silence falls between us, and I absentmindedly brush my thumb back and forth across the palm of Betty's hand, as if trying to wipe away the crescent shaped scars that are far too fresh for my liking. Being here with her…It's like I'm finally able to breathe again. And yet, at the same time, my chest feels like it's about to burst with paralyzing fear and guilt.
"I had hoped that my dad might be released soon," I admit quietly.
"I know," Betty nods somberly. "But Jug, it can still happen –"
"No," I cut in, wiping at my eyes irritably as I refuse to look at her. "It won't. Not now."
"We can do more investigating," Betty insists, tilting my chin up until our eyes meet. Her characteristic spark of determination is somehow filtering through, tugging at my heartstrings. In most situations, I would be right there with her, but there's been very little evidence from the past few days that point towards any ways of escape. "We won't give up on him."
"What if I want to give up?"
"Juggie –"
"Betts, I'm serious," I look to her imploringly, willing her to understand. "I don't think I'm going to make it out of this one. Believe me, I've tried. It's no use – they've caught me every time and put me through hell for it. I don't even know how well I'd be able to run right now. I'm just so tired, Betty…"
"Jughead, listen to me," she murmurs, bright eyes shimmering. "I know you're tired, but you can't give up, okay? You've made it through so much; don't stop now. You have survived all the shit your parents have put you through – Bullies at school, sleeping at the Drive In and camping in janitor's closets. You solved a murder case that Riverdale's best detectives couldn't. Don't let these people break you down, now."
"No offense, Betty, but the Scorpions are a whole lot worse than anything Reggie Mantle has put me through," I scoff, looking away.
"If you won't be strong for yourself, then be strong for me. Please." Betty's voice is steady – steadier than it should be after everything she's been through today. My guilty eyes lock once again with her fierce ones, and I know I don't stand a chance against her.
"Okay."
As always, please leave reviews to let me know what you think of the chapter and if you have suggestions for the future of this story. I take your voices into account while I'm writing, and it really helps!