Chapter 11- Collateral Broken Home
It was 2 in the morning when Archie got home. He got home late after Cheryl exploded at him. He knew she was worried. Was he being dumb? He might be. He slowly snuck into his house, shutting the front door quietly, almost as quiet as a mouse. He didn't want to disturb anybody. Mostly he didn't want his father noticing he was out way past curfew. He was now in the safety net, his room. He slept, played video games with Jug and other stuff he kept private between him and Ronnie.
Across his room, He noticed that Betty's light in her room was still on. Maybe she fell asleep while studying. She was known for the best grades. That could very well be the outcome. Knotting in his stomach told another thing. He grabbed his phone, that was sitting on his dresser near his tv. He started typing a quick text. "Betty, are you up? Your lights are still on." He looked over to the next window and saw the screen light up, no motion. His stomach twisted again. Something wasn't right. He moved closer to the window, he couldn't see anything. Maybe she fell asleep somewhere else. His stomach knotted again but this time more intense. He gripped his stomach tightly, wrapping his arms securely around his stomach. He reached the door knob, opening it quickly, racing to his dad's bedroom door, pounding in fear, panic.
Banging, banging that's all Fred heard as he looked over at his alarm clock. It was 2 am, who could possible want him? He grumbled as he shot up out his bed, angrily rubbing his eyes. He snatched open the door, getting ready to snap. That was until he saw his son's face. The panic, scared, agonizing horror marking across his boy's face, eyes dilated. "Arch, what's going on?" Before he could continue, he was being pulled in all sorts of directions. What was going on? He thought to himself as his son pulled him next door. Why in earth would Archie bring dragging him from bed to Alice's house? Archie started banging his knuckles on the red cherry wood door, desperate plea to make sure that door opened. It had to open. Something wasn't right. He could feel it in his bones.
Alice heard banging on her front door, she grumbled, groaning as she fought the urge not to throw up. Morning sickness was really kicking her ass. It couldn't be Fp. If he wanted to get some, he would just knock on her bedroom window. She climbed out bed, to see who the hell was banging angrily on her door at 2 in the fucking morning. She wasn't in no mood to deal with ding dong ditchers. But this didn't sound like a ditcher. More like a police knock. Had Betty snuck out? She stomped downstairs, throwing her door open. "Why the hell are you pounding on my door like a fucking gorilla at this hour?!" She snarled, rubbing her eyes from the intrusion. Her eyes softened as she saw the stress filled looks on the ginger haired boy she had known for years. "Fred, Archie, why are you—" She didn't even get to finish her sentence.
Archie raced passed her, breathing heavily as he paced the stairs, nearly ripping the door off its hinges to Betty's room. He hoped that Mrs Smith wouldn't be too mad about her door. Alice saw Archie run passed, something wasn't right. She had a feeling. Almost like a mother's intuition. Fred followed close behind. He was confused, also a little drowsy. He was so tired. Archie felt his heart shatter as he saw the worst sight. He raced over to her unconscious body, her mouth was foaming, his eyes burned from holding back his tears. He couldn't believe the condition she was in. He spotted a bottle, empty pill bottle of adderall laying loosely in Betty's hand. Alice felt like she was losing the battle. No,no! She wanted to scream. She dropped to the floor, lifting her daughter into her lap with Fred's help. "Betty, please wake up!" She cried as she buried her face into her daughter's not beating heart. There was no response, she shook her body. "Betty! Please don't do this!" She shouted as she shaky tried to grab her daughters phone, she noticed something staring at her.
A note, her suicide note, she handed Fred Betty. He took her to his truck, Alice gently reached for the letter, trying not to sob, failing not to wet the little pink penmanship. Her daughter's handwriting was smearing as she released the tears. Archie grabbed Alice's hand, helping her into the Fred's truck. She hadn't even called Fp or Jughead. Oh god she didn't even think of alerting them. She was too focused on her daughter to even bother. Once she got the courage to open the letter, she slowly took in the words. It was all too much.
"Mom, don't blame yourself it wasn't your fault. Protect Jug and The baby for me. I love you so much. The guilt was too much. The comment people were writing were too much. I know dying won't make them disappear. But maybe I will have some relief. I love you so much, Mom."
After she finished, she felt the numbness her daughter felt. How could she not known her daughter was suffering? She felt stupid for being so blind. She broke into sobs as she folded the page closed, it was all too much. She couldn't bare on losing her daughter. Betty was the only one she had left. Polly didn't really see her anymore. She also knew that this stress couldn't be good on the baby.
Cheryl was awoken by her phone ringing loudly, she groggily rubbed her eyes. She saw that her phone said it was 2:21 in the morning. Why would Archie being calling so fucking early? She swiped answer, not knowing how mentally prepared she going to have to be. She heard sniffles coming from the other line. Her heart started to pound. "C-heryl?" His voice sounded strained, almost like he had been crying for a long time.
"Archiekins, what's wrong?" Her voice ached at the tone. She knew something was wrong. He wouldn't of called if it hadn't been.
"Betty—" He started but quickly turned into all sobs. Panic, anxious was all she was feeling.
"Archie breathe" She could hear someone calming yell as the sobs lightened.
"Archie, what's wrong? What happened to Betty?" She felt her stomach start getting gnawed at as she started to quickly throw on anything she could get her hands on.
"She tried. She's in the hospital, hurry come quick." He said before hanging up.
No, no, Betty, she cried out. She quickly put on her comfy shoes, grabbing her keys. Sitting in the car was unbearable. Why would she do this? She thought that Betty was doing much better. She didn't want to think of her world without her cousin. Her and Betty had a bond. They never had one before. And now it was going to be taken away.
Jughead had only had fallen asleep a few hours ago. Veronica and Him spent all night talking about their future plans. Neither of them knew that maybe their dreams wouldn't come true. Veronica heard her phone blare loudly as she stood up reaching for it, swiping to see. It was Cheryl. Jughead's phone stared ringing at the same time. Jughead and Veronica shared a look. What was so important? As they both answered their calls, tear formed in their eyes. Hearts started pounding in panic. Betty, his Juliet had committed suicide. She tried killing herself. Pain from all over ranged out his sobs, he didn't hear Veronica pulling him into her arms, comforting him as he started swearing, throwing anything he could get his hands on. Veronica couldn't stop shaking as she held Jughead in her arms. Her best friend was hurt. She felt shame as she thought as she held tighter. Jughead wasn't a person to cry. It takes something very brutal to make him fall apart.
Fp heard screaming coming through the thin trailer walls. He didn't groan, he knew his son was still recovering his attack. He quickly threw off the blanket, opening his door, meeting the worry in hermonie's eyes. They shared same look of horror as they reached for the door knob, crushing impact knocking the wind out of their lungs as they watched Jughead having a complete anxiety attack. He knew that Jughead had anxiety attacks when he was younger, but this was much different then his usual panic attacks. He quickly dropped to his knees, Jughead released his grip on Veronica's waist. Immediately latching his weak noodle arms around his father's waist, gripping for dear life. Fp was concerned more then ever. His son never had been this upset, ever. It had to be something very terrible. Worse then terrible. Hermonie kneeled down next to her heartbroken daughter, blood shot eyes burning their images in her brain. All she knew was something devastating happened. Veronica saw her mother appear into the view, she collapsed her mother's arms, choking on the ongoing sobs getting lodged in her throat. "Mija?" She didn't move, frozen in the moment. Fear shot through the oldest Latina as her daughter started hyperventilating beyond her control. "Ronnie, Shh I'm here. Honey, Ronnie it's okay." Her voice was complete panic, trying to stay calm.
Veronica slowly started calming down by her mother's touches. It was like her mother had some power to make the pain less intense, more bearable. Fp started trying the best he could. He had to get his son calm enough to ask him what was wrong. He remembered rubbing their backs usually stopped hyperventilating from getting much worse. He moved his shaky hand on his son's back. "Jug? Jughead can you hear me? Your not there anymore." Jughead started to muffle down the sobs, he could hear his dad's calm words in his strained voice. His father that the panic attack was about his attack. He wasn't aware that Betty was in the hospital. For trying to commit. The words sent shudders now his spine, weak was all he was feeling. He couldn't possible know how Alice was feeling.
Slowly the panic started to lift, pain started coming back. He didn't want to feel it anymore, ripped out his father's strong grip, trying to throw his fist into the thin wall. His father quickly threw his arms around him, holding him back, almost in a suffocating grip as he thrusted his arms violently. "Leave me alone!" He screamed as he continued to wrestle out of his dad's arms.
Fp's level went from calm to terrified as soon as he saw his son nearly punch his bedroom wall. He threw his arms around him as his son thrusted his arms violently. He kept screaming to leave him alone. His son wasn't communicating with him. It was nearly impossible to understand what was going on. Confusion was racing through their Adrenaline filled veins. Veronica hadn't seen Jughead ever fight. He wasn't a fighter. Expect for the one time at his surprise birthday party, He punched Chuck Clayton after he was talking shit about Betty. She never had seen much rage in his face. "Jughead, just tell them." Her voice was nearly a cry as she watched her friend in a full-out fight with his inner demons.
It was heart wrenching as his arms stopped moving, collapsing into his father's arms, earth shattering cries rocking his throat. "Be-tty, she's in the hospital." His throat closed and sobs overtook his body as he shook in his father's arms. Fp felt like his world shutdown, frozen in the tundra on his thoughts. His first thought was no this has to be a nightmare. He started pinching his arm, nothing worked. He was still living in hell. Heromnie was shook to the core. This had to be some joke. Her daughter's eyes flooded with the unshelled tears rushing down her cheeks.
The cold shivers sent down their spines as they reached Hermonie's car. None of them paid attention to the fact that she had her own car. It wasn't on their minds at that moment. It wasn't important. Jughead sat in the back seat, eyes bloodshot, tears were no longer existent. He wanted to know why. Why did she do this? He knew that she was struggling. But he never thought she would go to this extent. Veronica sat next to Jughead, watching the rain rushed down the windows, she could feel her hands started to go cold. What did she do? Was this her fault? She wished she would of know her best friend was suffering. It was down pouring, as the quiet rain turned the loud racket of a thunderstorm. Just their luck, Muttered Veronica underneath her iced breath.
In the the E.R, Alice was welcomed in by the doctors as she watched her daughter being wheeled away, she collapsed into the nearest person's arms. She didn't care who it was. She only hoped it was someone she knew. Fred saw the distraught women he had known for years. The same one who got suspended almost her whole high school career, crumpled into nothing but a frail scarred women as she collapsed into his arms. He held her close to him as she sobbed. Archie tried not to break down. He decided he need some air, taking a left down the hall and out in the pouring rain, not caring if he got soaked. What if he never came into his room. She would be gone. He didn't want to think of the negatives, but that was all his mind was saying as he ran his fingers through his ginger hair frantically. He lifts his head when he heard soft laugh. He looks around, seeing a blonde girl. His mind is racing. What was he seeing? Betty? When he opened his mouth, the blonde stared at him like he was going crazy. Soon the blonde disappeared, his eyes met with his lookalike, they weren't related, but they both had red hair.
"Arch, what are you doing in the rain?" He didn't move just kept his focus on the raining pounding on the Black asphalt, of Riverdale General. Who knew he was going to be here yet again. Jughead just got out, nobody thought it would another trip to Riverdale General.
Cheryl noticed that Archie was shivering from icy cold rain, his eyes stayed glued on the cement. His face was almost like he was the cement as well. She had no idea what even happened. All she knew was Betty was hurt. She felt guilty, she should of gone after her. Made sure she was okay. She tried placing her coat over his shoulders, but he just handed it back. She wanted to growl, make a nasty remark. But she had no energy to do so. She instead took his hand, warming the best she could in the pouring rain. They stood in the pouring rain, holding on to what strength they had left.
Approaching the near by sign, Jughead shook out of his state and brought himself back to reality. He had to be strong. Approximately, a closed door away, he saw his two red head friends, standing in the pouring rain. He spotted the harrowed look on his best friend face. Suddenly, he felt a shoulder being gripped gently, he looked over to his dad's eyes. Fp saw that his son was barely ready for the reality. He reached for his son's shoulder, gesturing him it would okay. That he would be by his side the whole way. Each painful step he would be there for him, ready to catch him if he falls. Veronica literally jumped into her boyfriend's arms, nearly knocking him down. She soon realized the look on her boyfriend's face, cupping his face in her small tanned hands. "Archiekins, what happened?" Her voice was raw from the crying she had done the whole ride to the hospital.
Archie looked from the ground and up his girlfriends shattered frown on her face. He felt his heart pound with guilt. "When I got home from Pop's. Me and Cheryl got into a tid bit." He took a shaky breath, Veronica squeezed his hand for reassurance. Just by one squeeze gave him some power. "I noticed that her light was still on. So I- I texted her but there was no response. I felt this pain in my gut telling me something wasn't right." Jughead felt the pain within his friend's voice. Fp almost wanted to curse. He should of told Alice. He was going to tell her. Why hadn't he? This might of been avoided. "I banged on my dad's door, panicked, heart racing against my chest. Then..." he took another shaky breath, this time tears followed close behind.
"Then He came banging on my door." A weak voice stunned the crowd. Fp almost fell to his knees watching his girl break down into sobs. Alice was standing in front of them. She had heard them when she told Fred she needed some fresh air.
"Allie..." Fp was the first to speak, she ran into his arms, sobs exploded from her lungs. It took everything in her to make her mouth move. All she wanted do was cry.
"I asked him why he was there." Taking another deep breath, feeling the lack of oxygen reaching her lungs. Fp moved closer, touching her face with his free hand. Jughead was latched onto his father's other hip. He didn't want to seem weak. But this was way too much for him. All he wanted was to have her in his arms, telling her it was going to be okay. " He rushed up to the room, h-er room." She couldn't speak without her lungs filling with air, almost choking her.
Archie was finally able to open his mouth. He slowly released himself from his girlfriend's grip. His lung felt like he was walking through a burning building. And there was no sight of water. He was trapped, guilt was burning him inside. "I found her. She wasn't breathing, a empty bottle of adderall laying next to her unclenched hand. That's all I can remember." He broke down again. Jughead tightened his grip on his father's hip, Fp didn't want to move, he held Alice closer as her sobs enlarged into muffled cries as she pressed her face into his shoulder-blades.
Fred heard the sobbing from inside, he opened the handicapped door, he saw nothing but a group crying. More importantly it was Alice, Jug, His son, Veronica and Cheryl. His heart felt the intense pain from each and every one of them. He didn't know what to say to make them stop crying. There wasn't anything he could say. In the inside his heart was sobbing. He had know Betty since Alice had moved in next to them. He could remember all the times he caught her daughter staring at his son like he was her world. That was a long time ago. He couldn't imagine what Alice was going through. Hermonie she was another story. The wound was still fresh. But that was a problem for another time. All that mattered. That Betty pulled through. His mind couldn't stop shifting back to her body lying lifelessly on her bedroom floor. His eyes were a little sore from the crying he had done secretly in the men's bathroom. He wasn't ashamed. He wasn't the strong guy everyone thought he was.
A soft knock, light lighting up his room, broke his deep sleep as he saw his father enter his room, sitting on the edge of the bed. Kevin hadn't seen his father's face turn so serious. His father was known for being protective. But just something with his face made his stomach jolt, queasy feeling struck him. "Kev." His father's tone was almost chilling, something wasn't right. He instantaneously sat up in his bed, straightened back, tense shoulders.
"Dad, what is it?"
His father didn't say anything. The silence was killing his mind. Something was very wrong. Wrong was even the word anymore. There was a new word "improper" maybe that was the word. Kevin didn't honestly care. His mind was set on the silence escaping into his ears. "Kevin, this going be very hard for me to tell you." His voice was shaky. Chills, mind on overdrive.
His eyes locked with his dad. "Dad what's going on?" He spotted his father's eyes getting watery. He hadn't remembered a time he saw his dad cry.
"Kev, Betty she..." His father paused again, Kevin's eyes widened.
"What about Betty?" His heart was pounded in panic, almost like he was going to have a panic attack. His muscles started to get tense. If you asked him? He would say it felt like he was being ran over by 200 buses all at once.
"She in the hospital." His father finished, by the word hospital came out of his father's mouth, he was up out of his bed, tears burning away his brave. "She purposely took some pills and tried killing herself." He finally confessed, eyes pleaded as he stared at his son.
Kevin no longer heard the words coming out his father's mouth, it was all in drowned rambles. Betty his best friend was in the hospital. His heart was working overtime. He didn't even remember getting dressed and hopping in his dad's car. Numb that's all he felt as the trees they drove by and passed them by.
Sitting in the waiting room was excruciating, a mother shaking in fear as she waits in the waiting room for the news. Will her daughter make it? A boyfriend sitting next to his father staring at the clock as if it will make the time pass by quicker. Three Best friends tapping their feet together as dried on tears stained their cheeks.
Alice was looking in her purse for something to chew. She wanted to smoke but she was reminded by Fp that she was carrying his child, his blood and smoking or drinking was not the option. Nausea was making its early surprise visit. This was the worst part of being pregnant. She felt the burning in sensation in her throat as she sprinted out her chair and over to the trash can, hurling into it. Fp noticed she was feeling the morning sickness already. He checked the time, it was now 8 am. It had been hours since they had gotten the call. He looked into her purse that was sitting next to his feet.
While, he was digging in her purse looking for gum, maybe it would settled her stomach. He spotted a white piece of paper, A heaviness in his chest started forming as he held the white loose leaf page. Alice looked up after she was done hurling and noticed something in his hands. Heart shattering all over again as she slowly walked up to him. His eyes widened in realization as he unfolded the paper, smoothing out of the wrinkled edges.
Jughead heard ruffling of a piece of paper and his head shot up. He noticed right away who's beautifully written pink pen-shipment on the page. It was Betty's. His heart felt like it was stomped, crushed, broken beyond repair as he looked over at the page, eyes welling up, breathing increasing drastically. She wrote a letter. His hands started to shake as he gripped tightly to his father's hand. Fp looked over to see his son's watery eyes glancing up at him, for some hope. Sadly, he couldn't give him much hope. Veronica, Archie, Cheryl all moved closer to Fp. Their eyes all widened, hearts pounded and eyes throbbed as the existing tears replenished. Kevin who had arrived an hour ago, his eyes darted toward the page. Fp looked down at the paper, eyes burning.
His heart broke as he read the first one. He couldn't believe this was even happening. It all felt like a nightmare. He then passed down to Veronica. It seemed weird to pass it down like a bunch of high school teenage girls like it was a secret. His heart tore into two as he handed the note down. Veronica looked over at Fp, he was handing her the note. She didn't she was ready. She took a deep breath before accepting the pain note she was about to read.
Her eyes teared up beyond belief. She couldn't help but smile through her tightly furrowed eyebrows. Betty wanted her to be happy. How was she suppose feel happy about this? It strung like a bitch. It was like some game. It wasn't funny. It was painful. She handed it off to Cheryl. Cheryl was barely holding herself together.
She felt a small sad smile appear on her face. She won't tell Archie. But why she wanted to know why. Betty was doing so good. She wiped the tears again, handing to the next person. Ironically the next person on the note was Archie.
After watching he knew what was going on. He took in the words, smiles as she mentioned their childhood. It also strung like a hornet. He then handed all the way back to Fp. Fp was still emotional from just reading Alice's. He was no way prepared for what he was about to read.
He was full on crying, choking on his son's when she said he was like a father to him. He had no idea he meant so much to her. He was only trying to keep her safe and somehow he failed. He looked over to son and knew his son had been reading the whole time. Jughead had read everyone of them. He hadn't read his yet. He was scared, also he didn't want it to become real.
Reading her words hurt. He wished he knew. He would of got right on his bike. He would make sure he would stay the night. Keep her safe. "I will never stop loving you, Juggie." He kept repeating that in his head as he wiped his eyes, leaning into his father's embrace again. Not feeling strong. "A serpent never shows cowardice." Well at the moment was beyond going against his rules. He just wanted to be held. His father was protecting him. But that wasn't what he meant. He wanted her to hold him in her arms, wrap her arms around him.
Can you hold me?
Can you hold me?
Can you hold me in your arms.
Can you hold me?
Can you hold me?
Can you hold me in your arms.
Kevin bit his lips trying not to break out into dry chuckles. She always had a funny sense humor. Why was he saying was? She was still alive until the doctors say so. He won't believe it until the doctors say the words. "I'm sorry for your loss" He shook his head. That wasn't was going to happen. Betty was strong. She was stronger then she put herself at on the scale.
Doors to the emergency O.R. opened causing everyone's eyes and heads shift in direction, crossing their fingers tightly in any hope. "Mrs Cooper?" Alice felt chills as she heard the name. That name was haunting. She quickly propped up in the chair, hand resting in her lap.
"It's Smith." She corrected, sweat running down her forehead, she quickly swiped the sweat off her forehead.
"Sorry, Mrs Smith." The young doctor softly breathed out. Fp looked over at Alice. He could see the visible pain in her eyes. "We had to pump your daughter's stomach. She took pills called Adderall" Alice shivered. "I know it's must be very hard hearing this." She took s short breath. "We were able to successfully pump her stomach. She's in recovery. And she will be under an 48 hours psych recovery program." Tears of joy ran down their cheeks.
Alice got up from her chair, wobbling and threw her arms around the doctor. She could tell that the doctor didn't expect the hug. "Thank you, so much doctor." Her voice was nearly breaking again. This time it wasn't pain. It was hope and thankfulness.
"It's my pleasure, Mrs Smith." Tears rolled down Jughead's cheeks.
"When can we see her?" His voice stirred the group.
"She's hasn't woking yet." He felt gravity pushing down on him again. "But you are more than likely to go in there and wait." She elaborated, smiles of relief filled everyone's faces. And then the women added, "only family." Archie, Veronica and Kevin were outraged. They were her family.
This didn't set well with Alice. "Excuse me miss..." She stopped to read the name tag. " Dr Hopper. These people in this room are her family." She glared at her.
"I'm sorry rules are rules." Dr Hopper stated, earning a nasty glare from Alice.
"No, I'm sorry that's going to work." She sassed. "You will let them see her." She turned toward everyone. "Her boyfriend has been in a frantic state all these fucking hours. Me here, I'm tired as hell. And I'm having a baby. You don't want to mess with me." She defended, getting super angry and clicking her tongue. Fp wasn't surprised why he saw Serpent Alice breaking out of her shelled skin. He couldn't help but grin at the horror in the doctor's face.
Hermonie felt a proud smile tug at her lips. She hadn't seen her be this badass since she stole Penelope's liquor bottles when they were spending the night, getting ready to teepee her house. It was one of the best moments in Hermonie's life. Fred shared the same look toward Fp and Hermonie. Jughead knew that Alice was a badass but damn she was wiping this doctor out. Veronica and Cheryl lightly giggled at the women's face. Alice wasn't done. She had a lot more to spill. "If i were you and I doubt you want me to get my lawyer friend and sue for ignorance." Dr Hopper looked like she was able to call for help. "And this man over here." She pointed at Fp. "He is like the only father she has. Her biological father is in prison for murdering people for sins. She even said in her letter that he was not her father and that Fp is her father." That was it Alice Susanna Smith had snapped.
Fp found himself trying not to cry again. He was still taken back by the news. "Fine!" Dr Hopper said as she threw up her arms in resistance. "You can go see her." She grumbled as she walked away. Alice could actually see tears in her eyes. She felt satisfied.
"Damn, Mrs Smith." Veronica and Cheryl laughed in unison. Hermonie even joins in.
"Alice or should I say slalice." Alice turned toward her like she was on drugs.
"Are you on jingle jangle? What's salice?" She asks as she fixes her hair. It got a little messed up cause she didn't brush her hair, it was knotted in the back. She took out her travel sized hairbrush and brushed through her honey blonde curls.
"No, I'm not." Moni laughed. "Its a mixture between Slay and Alice. Slalice." She smiled softly feeling Alice's eyes widened.
"Okay slalice I like it." She then turned toward Fp, who was grinning. "Oh what has you so hot and bothered." She smirked as watched him blush up. Fp was a little stunned and slightly embarrassed by her openness on flirting.
"Allie." He whined, piecing his eyes. Veronica and the others were a little taken back. They had no clue Alice was so freely open about their relationship. Jughead on the other hand was horrified.
"Okay, save your flirting for the bedroom." He grumbled as he walked toward the vending machine to get a box of milk duds.
Fp saw the look of disgust on his son's face and felt a little bad for him. He didn't mean for Alice to go all out. He turned toward Alice, leaning in giving her a short kiss and then whispered in her ear. "Allie, Jug hasn't been honest. I was able to get him to confess. He's not really okay with the flirting in his face." He warned her, she nodded her head. She hadn't noticed that she was being a little too forward.
"Can we talk outside? I just need some fresh air and this hospital air. It's just too stuffy in here." She asked, he took her hand into his as they walked outside.