Chapter 2- Escape
Fp held Alice's in his arms as Sheffif Keller evacuated the buliding. Alice was still shaking, she never been so terrified in her life. Three minutes ago, she was just singing on stage and the next she was screaming. Jughead couldn't help notice how his dad was comforting Mrs C. He was confused. Didn't they hate each other? Betty also noticed how comforting Fp was to her mom. Betty wasn't blind. Her mom told her that her and Fp used to date in high school, apparently before she dated her father.
The next day was the funeral for Midge Klump. As everyone stared at the casket being lowered into the ground, sad frowns and disgust in their hearts. She was just a normal teenage girl, with hopes and dreams, kind and funny. Toni looked over to Cheryl who was standing up front giving a eulogy. She didn't really know Midge well. She just came to Riverdale High a few months ago. She couldn't actually remember exactly when she came. Cheryl stood in Black cover up, staring down at the ground, feeling the gulit. Did her mother actually save her? She didn't really think so. Her mother was an awful women, sending her to that ghoulish nunnry was heisnt. She drew a soft breath before reading what she wrote.
"Midge was a dear friend. We weren't that close. But she made the vixens enjoyable. I remember one time we all were getting ready for practice and she just started dancing like nobody was around. She had this bright smile, and her fashion was undeniable." She breathed a soft breath, placing a white flower on the casket."I'm so sorry, Midge. You didn't deserve this." She mutters as she walked away, wipe her tears silently, stood next to Toni and she felt Toni's embrace as tears of Gulit rolled down her pale cheeks.
Betty placed a white flower on next, saying a couple words. Alice had tears running down her cheeks. It hadn't even been that many hours since the play. Her mind still could picture the heart-wrenching scene. Fp didn't know the girl at all. He still felt sick to his stomach. How could someone be so cruel? His question he had was why? Why did the Black hood start anyway? He heard all about it in shankshaw. The whole time he was worried for his son and Alice. He looked over to next to him. He could see the tears in Alice's eyes. She saw the pure terror in her eyes last night. He couldn't believe in just two days, his life had gone from descant to what the fuck is going on. He honestly was scared for his life. The Black Hood was going after sinners. Technically, he was a huge sinner in the Black Hood's eyes. He knew what he had done wasn't good. Recently he helped clean up another murder. But this time he did it for Alice. Like he told her. He didn't want her and Betty to make the same mistakes he did. Two days ago, Alice had called him panicked about them finding the guy Chic brained's car. How was his son suppose to know that swamp was a dumping ground? When he saw Chic for the first time, he noticed something. He couldn't really put his mind to it. It was just something about him made him suspicious. Chic's got to be in his early 20's. That means that Alice had him in high school. He was either Hal's or someone else's. Maybe Alice got drunk one night.
After the service, everyone got in their cars and went home. Alice wanted to hold Fp's hand so badly. She didn't want to make Betty suspicious. She was sure that Betty was getting suspicious, last night when she stood frozen on the stage and he raced to get her. She was still frozen after she screamed. He pulled into his arms and held for what seemed like hours until she was stable enough to walk straight. The way he held her made her feel so much secure. In her car sat in the drivers seat still feeling sick to her stomach. She wondered why he chose to come back. Why now? She didn't understand.
The morning after, Fp was sitting in his chair wanting to drown his horrible day with liquor. He hated the feeling he was having. Why does Chic look so like him? No he can't be his son. He's mostly Hal's or one of Alice's flings from High school. He heard the front door open quietly. He looked up and saw Jughead. He could tell Jughead hadn't stop thinking about it either.
"Dad, can I ask you something?" His son asked softly, looking at him with curiousness in his eyes. He sighed, getting up from his slouching position from his chair. What was Jug going to ask him?
"Uh, okay shoot." He answered as he stood up and walked toward the kitchen. Jughead didn't know what was going on. He thought that his dad and Mrs C hated each other.
"Well, I noticed how comforting you were to Mrs C. What was that about? I mean, I get she was terrified but Mr Cooper was there. Why didn't he comfort her? You raced on stage. It seemed like you cared about her... I don't know it's just odd. I thought you hated each other." He questioned staring his dad in the eyes. Fp weren't look at his son directly. Shit, he's catching on?, he cursed under his breath. He took a deep breath with a hints of a sigh.
"Jug, you known me and Alice have a complicated history?" He asked his son. Jughead nodded his head in deep thought. Fp continued to explain talking short breaths in between each swig of his bottle. He felt his son's disappointment boring into him. "I saw she was terrified and Hal wasn't doing anything about. Everyone was running, trying to escape and he didn't do a thing. What kind of Husband, father just sits on his ass and does nothing?" He explains with trying to hide his pure anger in his voice. That didn't go passed his son. He could tell that his dad was angered by it. He was himself too. Why didn't he move, do anything?
"Okay.. I was just wondering. I have to get to school. It's weird having to go back after a day." He said with uneasiness in his voice. Truth be told he was terrified to go back. On the outside he was trying to protect Betty and help her get through what happened. But on the inside, he was a mess. He woke up screaming in terror. Fp heard the uneasiness in his son's voice. He knew Jughead wasn't okay.
He walked over to him, pulling him into a care filled hug. Jughead wrapped his arms around his dad. He felt safe in his dad's arms. He knew deep down that his dad was trying to be strong too. He wanted to stay strong. He was the Serpent king and showing fear makes them think less of a king. "Thanks, Dad." He mumbles softly as they released from their embrace. Fp brushes his hand through his son's hair and kissed his son's forehead.
"Your welcome, Jug. I know your scared and that's okay." He says calmly, ruffing his hair. Jughead sent a small smile through his lips.
" A Serpent never shows cowardice." He restated the law, he learned when he joined. Fp put his hands over his face absorbing the words his son just stated. He knew about the laws. But that didn't matter when it came to his son. Yes, laws are laws. But what was more important was his son's happiness.
"Jug, forget about the laws for a minute. You don't have to go along with every rule, Jug. It's okay to be scared." He reassured, holding Jug in his arms again. "Truth to be told. I'm scared too, Jug. Everyday, I am scared. I just don't show it. I know, I said I was okay with you being a Serpent. But... Jug, it terrifies me. I didn't want this for you." He explained honestly, holding back his tears in his eyes. He couldn't cry in front of his son. He had to be tough. Jughead listened to his dad's words. Maybe his dad was right. He didn't have to follow every rule.
"Okay, I won't turn into a stone like Hal." He chuckled. Fp couldn't help feeling more proud by that statement.
"Good one, Jug." He laughed as he watched his son leave the trailer.
In the stone house, Alice woke up in her bed all alone. she hated waking up all by herself. She missed Fp, his arms around her, the tenderness of his lips crashing into hers. She pulled herself out of bed, still feeling numb from the after effects of the play. She went downstairs, meeting her daughter's eyes. They were filled with fear and worry. Betty spotted her mom standing on the steps. She was wearing a white t-shirt with a few stains on the sides. Betty was suprised by her mother's choice of clothes. It was defentliy something way different then she was used to her wearing.
" Hey, Mom. How did you sleep?" She asked as she took a sip of her orange juice. Alice looked down at her breakfast that was displayed in front of her. She felt her stomach twist and turn. Just the thought caused her to feel sick. She raced to the nearest trash can, puking her guts out. Betty's face insantly changed, she felt gulity for making her mom sick. She ran over to her mother, rubbing her back as she threw up. " Mom, are you feeling okay?" She asked with concerned tone in her voice. Alice felt the nausa starting to disappear. She over to Betty, worried look on her face started to disappear.
"uh, yeah I think I am now." She said as she felt a shiver run through her body. Betty didn't look convinced. She knew her mom wasn't fine. She went to touch her mom's forehead. When she touched it, she felt the warmness and how calmy she looked.
"Mom, your burning up go lay down." She said with concern peeking out. Alice rolled her eyes in protest. She felt fine. She just got cold.
" Betty, I'm fine. I need you to get ready for school. I know its going to be hard to go back. But, Betty you have to go back eventually." She urged as she started picking up the dirty plates, bowls and placed them into the dishwasher. Betty rolled her eyes, sighing.
"Fine but I won't like it." She groaned, getting out of her chair, huffing as she brought her bowl to the dishwasher.
Then a loud knock interupted their peaceful silence. Betty moved toward rhe door, twisting the knob, revealing her boyfriend, Jughead.
"Hey, Betts." He welcomed, kissing her softly until her mother cleared her throat grabbing their attention. " Oh good morning, Mrs C." He greeted shyly with a loose smile. Alice smiled back. She really did like Jughead. He was kind and treated her daughter like she was his world.
"Oh, Hey Jughead. Its a nice morning we have here." She said gesturing to the pretty flowers blooming in the far bush behind him and the breathtaking cystal blue sky. He looked over behind him and returned the smile.
"Yes it is." He said before turning to Betty. "We should get going." He said grabbing her hand into his. She turned to him nodding her head.
"Yeah, we should." She answered with a short sigh before walking out the door holding Jug's hand.
Fp was sitting in his chair when his phone rings. He grumbles underneath his breath before getting out of his chair and answering his phone. A sweet sounding voice lit up the phone.
"Hello, Mr Jones." Betty's voice rang into his ears. He looked at the clock. It was 7:23. It only been 15 minutes since his son left the house. He wondered why she was calling this early.
"Oh hey Betty. What can I do for you?" He asked with a hint of hesitation in his voice. He heard a soft yawn escaping through her lips. As he sat back in the comfort of his chair, a weird feeling churned his stomach.
"Well my mom is under the weather, is refusing to rest or let me stay home to take care of her. And I was wonder if you could be so kind and check on her for me." The softness in her voice sent chills through his spine. Alice was sick. He tried to not make it obvious that he was worried for her health.
"Alice is sick? Oh no." He tried to keep his worries to a minimumal. He felt his insides tingling at the mention of her name. Damn she was making his mind go crazy. He was craving her. What was stopping him? The answer was their kids. They're dating and don't know about the past they have with one another.
"So can you do that for me?" Her voice interrupted his thoughts. He shook his head. How could he act normal? What was going on with him? All he knew that he was undeniably in love with her and had never stopped since he laid eyes on her.
"Of course, Betty. I wouldn't mind. I'm not working a shift at Pop's today anyway. So I'm free. I will check on her in a hour. Is that good?" He stated trying to control his jitteriness. There was something about that women that made his heart not function right and his mind blur everything he knew before his thoughts were clouded.
"Yeah that's good. Thanks again, Mr Jones." She thanked him with a small chuckle leaving his lips.
"Betty, you can call me, Fp." He suggested softly through his chuckles.
"Thanks, Fp. I should go. Class is about to start." She said before a sound of a click ended the call.
After the call ended his mind was running. What's going on? He didn't know how he was going to stop feeling this way for her. If 20 years didn't make any difference how will it stop now? He knew he was screwed. But what if he didn't mind being screwed? It was a risk he was willing to take.