I appreciate the reviews so much guys, Thank you for the suggestions and words of encouragement! On to chapter 2!
There was a warmth in the soft linen covers, an aroma of cinnamon and roses that could only be the fragrant perfume worn by his beautiful girlfriend. For the second time today he opened his eyes, dulled lights making it easier to adjust to the nights natural bright. Swirling his tongue over the ridged tube from the breathing apparatus, Jug gripped Betty's hand firmly in his own. If there was a single thing in his complicated life to be grateful for it was her and, in that moment, he wished nothing more than to stand from his hospital bed and wrap his arms around her.
A pained groan escaped his lips catching Betty off-guard as she shot up from her resting state in a panic. Grabbing his dressing gown she examined him with her gaze from head to toe for the fifth time that evening, before slumping forward, the dark circles under her eyes taking away from the light and cheery nature, making up the innocent schoolgirl persona that was Betty Cooper. Re-adjusting his thin gown, he pinched her hand playfully, a smirk forming dimples in her cheeks. Meeting her blue eyes, he bobbled his eyebrows jokingly, facial expressions would have to make up for his temporary loss of voice.
As if it was all on que she lent forward and placed a kiss between the stitches on his forehead, a light sting was all made bearable by the soft texture of her lips against his skin, he couldn't wait to kiss her again. Flinching as she pulled away Betty could see the pain crawling back in his face.
"I'm going to see if one of the nurses can get you some more painkillers Juggy, I'm not going anywhere, try and rest your eyes… oh, and don't wake Archie."
Pushing her hand against his chest she slowly and gently crawled off the elevated bed, tip-toeing her way from the dark room out into the bright corridor. In the silence he searched the room for Archie, and just as Jughead had expected he was there, curled up in the furthest corner, long legs pulled against his chest. Auburn locks sat messy, his best friends red eyes and blank sleepy expression a visual representation of the emotional trauma that Archie had been put through in the near loss of his best friend.
Truly touching, was the loyalty and love he was surrounded by, and there were still so many questions left unanswered about how he was found, that he was still unable to ask. Last remembrances he could make from that night that nearly cost him his life only a week ago, seemed to plague his dreams when he did sleep, but were the memories real? Or just some kind of enhanced neurosis brought on by the endless stream of morphine and chemicals, feeding constantly through his blood to keep the pain at bay?
Thoughts drifted to a cold night. Hands below the weight of his own body as he tries with no avail to lift himself out of the dirt, clumps of mud clinging to crimson liquid covering his hands and dripping down off a raven hairline. The tiniest push sends his mind spiralling again, and chest back to the ground, jarring the broken ribs and fractured collarbone. A sense of death washes over his shivering frame now… there's no coming back from this.
Branches rustle, and in the delusional confusion, whether its from the loss of blood or the piercing cold, he swears someone is calling his name… or is it just the winter breeze?
Thoughts race as the blood pools, minutes turn to hours as his icy skin becomes one with the soil below. Its then, in a time of pure desperation he feels the warmth brush his neck, and then his cheek. A faint familiar voice calls out, repeatedly, almost sounding crazed as the night closes in and takes his sight. The hands grip firmly his shoulders and shake him momentarily from sleep as he begins to fade away. Through the dark blur of the sky above and towering trees Jughead sees him, for what feels like the last time. Red hair standing spiked against the gloomy surroundings, inaudible screams escaping his pale face… Archie.
Struggling to take it all in, for what he believes to be his final moments, Jug studies the red-heads expressions of confusion and terror.
"Stay awake…Jughead!"
Slipping away, suddenly, like a tonne of bricks, the darkness moves in, he feels gone. Archie's screams echoing like a bell through the woods, a flash of blue and red, sirens. Flatline.
He throws himself forward, sweat now dripping down his neck from his stress dampened hair. Writhing he pushes his head back down into the pillow trying to catch his breath, knowing well that if he was able to scream, the hospital halls would be filled with shattered cries. Broken bones constricted by the tensing muscles, and sharp pained groans follow. A firm hand grabs him now, as Jug opens his bloodshot eyes, looking down the length of his broken body to see Archie at the foot of his bed, a tight hold of his leg through the bedding.
"Jug… it's ok, you're safe."
Swelling relief overcomes his racing thoughts as he reaches out a purple mottled hand, and Archie takes it in his own, his friends nails and cuticles still lined with Jugheads own dried gore.
Trying to communicate with a stare is a lot harder than they make it seem in the movies… he thought to himself with a smirk, that was only returned with a look of burden.
Imagining what Archie had been through was easy, his hunched body compared to his normally flawless posture, defeated stare and that constant furrowed brow, only present when he was struggling and lost in emotion.
Worried about the fragile state that the last week had left his friend in, played on his mind momentarily, before the stabbing pain in his chest made him gasp for air. Shuffling closer Archie lent in.
"You're in pain? Does it hurt to breathe again? They say those broken ribs are going to give you trouble for a while Jug. I'll call the nurse alright."
Nodding his head slightly he pushed his back out flat, focusing on the ceiling, as his awareness descended into sleep once more. Archie stood above Jug and for a moment felt washed with worry, and yet relived that he was putting up a fight, and slowly healing his way home.
Thankyou to everyone who has read this far. I can't wait to write another chapter for you all!
