Chapter 13- Guilty Pleasures Unpleasant Sights

Oh all the questions the group would ask themselves. They never thought why did we cut school. They should of stay in school. It would be a lot less awkward and embarrassing on the both ends.

Veronica led them down the hall. She saw the coast was clear. She quickly signaled the others over. Kevin was still willing to go. Even if he would end up grounded or in detention. Something told Archie and Jughead that it wasn't Veronica's first time sneaking out of their school. She went down to the back exit knowing there was no cameras. In her opinion Riverdale High had the worst security out of all the schools had been to. Her parents were never aware of the time she skipped back in New York. Her and her friends would spend their time at the mall looking for the best clothes and then charge their parents credit cards. That was the old Veronica. But yet again she was being old Veronica right now as they sneak out the back doors. She placed a wooden block in between and slowly shuts the door.

Then they sneak around the back of the school to where the school parking lot is. She spotted her car a few rows away in the front just like she liked it. Cheryl was impressed that the escape worked. She didn't think they were going to get out. Toni was amazed for the Lodge. Damn, she would be a great Serpent, Toni thought to herself as she stepped into Veronica's Black Ferrari. It was shiny and smelt like a brand new car smell. Archie took the passenger seat. He wanted to be close to Ronnie. Cheryl sat next to Toni. Kevin sat on the other side of Toni. And Jughead he sighed while getting into the small section of the car. The seat was hot and it burned his legs.

Ronnie turned down the road and off they went. Wind blowing in their faces, smell of the flowers sneaking into their nostrils. Cheryl was looking in the mirror reapplying her red lipstick. The car jolted and the lipstick smeared on her face. She groaned in frustration as she took out a makeup wipe and wiping the streak of the red mark off her face. Toni was looking at the blue sky. Jughead was typing away on his laptop. Now that Hiram Lodge was dead he could finally finish his novel. Ronnie drove down the road singing her lungs out as she turned onto abandoned road. She felt a little spooked as her music boomed as her car stopped. They all looked around laughing as they walked down the road. Maybe they should of stayed in the car. Jughead and Archie kicked rocked on the dirt road. Cheryl rolls her eyes at the hooligans. Dirt wasn't her speciality. It was gross and didn't belong in her new clothes she paid a fortune for. Mommize wasn't controlling her anymore. She was suppose become a serpent today. But Fp pushed the date back. It wasn't the right time.

As they walked further down the dirt road pathway. They heard unusual sounds come from afar. Jughead whipped out his switchblade from his back pocket, flipping open the blade and holding his arms out to protect them. What if it was the Ghoulies? He wasn't going to let them get hurt. Archie's protective sense kicked in and he wrapped his arms around Veronica protecting her. Kevin who was all had no body to protect him. He felt left out once again. Toni pushed a hand in front of Cheryl and held her close to her. Hearts started beating faster as they stepped closer to the noise. Jughead threw his hands over his eyes. Veronica broke out of the embrace and shoved her way through. Her eyes widened as she gasped. Cheryl and Toni weren't surprised. Kevin was like shocked but still covered his eyes. "Dad?!" Jughead shouted with his eyes shielded.

Alice and Fp quickly jumped apart, stumbling to fix their garments. Hair was still messed up. Fp watched as more of the group appeared from behind his son. Veronica removed her hands from her eyes as she noticed that they were dressed. Fp was a little embarrassed and very displeased. His son was suppose to be in school. And why the hell wasn't he. Jughead saw his dad's eyes. They were angry and full of disappointment. "Mrs Smith?" Veronica said as she adjusted to the new scene. Alice's face was red. She wanted to know why the kids were there and how did they get there? Alice stood up and hopped down from the bed.

"Okay, first explain to me why you interrupted my time!" She shouted as she walked toward the frenzied teens. "And then explain to me on why you aren't at school!" Their eyes grew wide at the tone in her voice. It was scary. Veronica started approaching but Cheryl pushed her back.

"It was me." She lied as she saw Mrs Smiths eye roll. It didn't surprise her one bit. Cheryl wasn't all the perfect blossom everyone thought she was. "I was the one who said we should skip." She continued to lied through her teeth again.

"Doesn't surprise me. You always have been not so good goodie two-shoes." Alice mocked as she watched the group go angry. Toni had it. She didn't like the way she was talking about her girlfriend.

"Watch it, Smith!" She warmed as she stepped closer. Fp watched as Alice got closer to Toni. Toni was in her face. Oh this was going to get nasty quick. Veronica felt bad for how Mrs Smith was talking about Cheryl.

"Ok, ok it was me." That was a surprise to Alice. Her eyes widened a little.

"Veronica." Her voice was soft. "I'm very disappointed in you. I will be telling your parents. Each and everyone of them." Archie's eyes widened. Oh for sure he was getting grounded.

"Mr Jones pl-" Fp held his hand out to stop him. He wasn't going to lie to Fred. He started taking out his phone and dialed his number.

"I'm sorry, Red. But your dad's on his way." Archie sighed as he stood quiet. He turned to his son. Jughead could feel his eyes burning into him with disappointment. "And for you, Boy. I'm very disappointed. I sent you to school and you should of stayed in school." He said before turning to Kevin. "Keller skipping school that's pretty out of character. And I'm pretty sure Tom won't be happy." Kevin knew that Mr Jones was right. His dad would be so angry. And it wasn't going to be nice.

Fred's phone rang as he was going for a morning walk. Instead of going early in the morning he went at noon. He was staring up at the trees and the sky when he heard his son ditched school. He grumbled all the way back to his truck. He was so disappointed at his son. When he got there he slammed his truck door shut. His son's eyes lowered to the ground. He heard another car pull up. It was no other then Hermonie Rose. She was clicking her heels like angry Latina. She remembered all the times she cut. And she wondered if her daughter was following in her footsteps. "Veronica Cecilia Lodge!" She yelled as her daughter's eyes widened. She started yelling in Spanish. Everyone was clueless on what she meant. Veronica was quite aware of the words. She had never seen her mom so angry. "Get in the car!" Veronica sighed as she stopped to look at her mother's fiery eyes.

"Bu—" She was stopped by her mother's eyes.

"I said car now, Mija!" She scolded as she clicked her tongue. Fred looked over at his son who was staring at his feet.

"Truck now!" Archie didn't argue with him. He just lowered his shoulders and walked slowly to the truck. Then he turned to Fp. "I'm sorry, Fp. God I don't know what's up with him these days." Fp knew his best friend was very busy with the campaign.

"Don't sweat it, Fred. Jughead has been skipping school more often. And it's very annoying." Alice looked over to Moni. She could see the Latina's eyes. They were big and filled with anger.

"Moni?" She looked over at her and smiled slightly.

"Yeah Alice?" Hermonie could see the pain in her friends eyes. "I know you miss Betty. She will me alright, amiga. She's strong. She will pull through.

"But what if she's doesn't wake up?" The Latina pulled her friend close. She hated seeing her best friend in pain.

"Not think like that, Alice. She's strong. She needs to be strong for her. I need you to be strong. I don't like my best friend here doubting life." She smiled slightly as she saw a soft smile appear on Alice's face.

"God I feel like I failed. I married the wrong man. He turned out to be a serial killer. I let the right man get away. If I would of know. I wouldn't of left him. He's been so great to me lately. I failed to see my daughter was suffering and now she's laying in a hospital bed hooked up to the machines and wires attached to them." She cried into her friends arms.

Cheryl and Toni followed Jughead to the truck. Fp was so tired already. Alice had already worn him out and now he had to scold the kids. He wasn't in the mood. The kids showing up really killed his mood. And damn it was their only time together. He hoped that Betty would wake up soon. The guilt was still getting to him. He couldn't help it. No matter how much he tried to block it from getting in. It always managed to pass through. He got into his truck grumbling to himself. Alice was sitting in passenger seat. She wanted to bring the kids home. But then her phone dinged. Think it was the hospital she answered it. "Hello?" It was silent until she heard a deep exhale.

"Oh nice hearing from me again" she wanted to scream. She was so angry.

"What do you want?!" She dragged her voice into a low growl. Trying not to draw attention to her.

"Oh well I found out from a prison guard that Betty's in the hospital! I had to find out from my prison guard Alice." The way he growled her name sent chills down her spine.

"You really wanna play the victim." Fp looked over feeling the tension. "It's your fault she's in the hospital you bastard!" He knew instantly who she was talking to. He tried his best to snatch the phone from.

"It's my fault she tried to kill herself. She has a darkness and it's s gift."

"You are some sick motherfucker you I know, Hal. And don't dare call her your daughter! You lost that right when you started this!" She was appalled and couldn't keep herself from lashing out.

"She has mine Blood Alice. She's mine. And Chic or Charles I know something about him." Her blood felt cold.

"What about Charles?" She could hear his laugh. "What about Charles you bastard?!" Jughead and Cheryl broke out of their staring contest with the windows.

"What's going on?" Cheryl whispered to Toni and Jughead. They both shook their heads not knowing either.

"I paid Chic to pretend to be Charles. He didn't kill him. He owed me a favor. And when he started going after Betty. I killed him. With my gun. Fast and quick. I can still hear his screams." He laughed as Alice fought the urge not to throw up.

"You are sick. Torturing your own daughter. Making the other leave town. Keeping me away from my southside roots. Now tell me what you did to my son!" She was done playing games.

"Oh Alice I killed him. Don't bother on trying to track him down." She was so hurt and wanted to smash her phone.

"Fuck you! Fuck You! I hate you motherfucking bastard! Go die in hell! Never ever call me or Betty ever again. If you try? You will regret it!" She tried her best not to cry. But it was hitting her all over again. Her son was dead and it was Hal's fault. "You has no right! He was my boy! You murdered my baby boy! My other daughter tried taking her life cause of you! And if your wondered I'm fucking pregnant and it's not yours. Cause Hal he's a real man. Your just a pansy coward. And if you try to go near my family again. Or even dare touch Jughead. I will come to your cell and murdered myself!" She threatened before she slammed her finger over the screen. She caught off one word.

"Sinner—"

"No your the fucking sinner! You murdered people. And you did like it was a game. You were acting like the killer in scream! And if I find out you had some sort involvement with Hiram Lodge. I will make you regret you ever stepped foot in my house. And Fp here loves me like no other. Hands in the right places. And he can fuck me like no other. And I faked all of my orgasms with you!" She shouted before she hit end.

Fp was shocked by the words. Hal was bothering Alice. He wished he would of gotten a word out. But she pretty much ended him with her last statement. Jughead cringed after he heard the details. He didn't want to know. And he never wanted to know. Cheryl and Toni were taken back by those statements. Alice was wiping her eyes. "Allie, are you okay?" His voice was enough to make her fall apart.

She shakes her head." How are he yell at me about the prison guard giving him the news?! And he said that it was my fault she's in the hospital and didn't even care. Betty wouldn't even want him to speak with her. He tortured her for months, Fp. Made her break off all her friends. Including ruining mine and hers." She was sobbing again as she thought about Betty.

"Alice, don't listen to him and quite frankly you finished him with that last statement." He said as he fought the grin marking onto his lips. A short chuckle escaped her lips.

"I sure did." She giggled as she wiped her eyes.

Fp kept driving as he turned down the road. He decided that Alice needed sometime with Betty. Cheryl noticed where they were going and felt chills. She didn't want to see her cousin like that. She wanted to see her cousin laughing, smiling like any teenage girl. Hal and Clifford took away their innocents. Was it the Blossom family curse? She wanted to end that damn curse. There weren't going to be anymore madness. It ended with Hal. She wanted to murder the guy herself. He didn't deserve to live after what he had done.

They approach Betty's hospital room. She still looks the same. Wires hooked to machines, beeping and the smell antiseptic burning in their nostrils. Her eyes were still closed. Hearts swelled at the girl. She looked so peaceful. The doctors said it was going to take a day or two. But waiting was so long. They hated it. They just wanted to see her smile, hear her laugh. Her diligent way on putting her napkin in her lap to keep her from messing up her clothes. It drove them crazy most days. But now they missed it more then anything. Veronica missed her long gossip discussions with her. Jughead missed showing her how to eat pop's burgers right. Jughead haven't been really hungry. He was slowly not eating as much.

Fp noticed his son's decrease on eating. He first thought maybe his son hit a growth spurt. His other was the stress was getting to him. He saw Jughead pacing down the hall. He looked scared and panicked. Also sad. Many of them were will she ever wake up. It was too much for them. It hurt too much. "Jug, are you okay, bud?" He didn't get a response. He walks over by him turning his around to face him. He saw tiny redness surrounding his eyes. "Jug, have you been sleeping or eating?" He was concerned. Jughead never skips meals.

Jughead was stuck in his own thoughts. He didn't hear who was talking to him. He didn't care. He didn't want to be alive. He knew it sounded bad. But when he was kicked by the Ghoulies. He saw another light. He saw the life he was leaving and wanted nothing to deal with it. He felt like there was a war inside of him. He didn't want this life for Betty. He felt guilty. He should have been there for her. "I want to die." He mumbled to himself.

FP's eyes go wide. No this can't be. He sees Jughead head for the stairs. He was racing faster then his heart could go to get to his son. His heart's pounding in his chest. "Jug!" No answer. He tried again." Jughead! Please get away from the ledge!" He's shouting on top of his lungs. "Jughead, please get the hell away from the ledge!" His son didn't move.

He was standing on the ledge staring down at the parking lot. Cars were passing by. He heard people yelling kid don't jump. His mind was telling him to do it. His feet gripped the edge. He felt like nothing. His girlfriend wasn't going to wake up. So what's the point? He had been depressed for months and nobody seem to care or notice. "Jughead please!" He heard someone yelling through a sniffle.

Then heard another voice. "Jug don't do it." Betty? "Betty?" He swallows. "Juggie don't. It's not worth it. You have a dad that cares about you. Our new siblings. That sounds weird to say. You have Archie, Veronica, Cheryl and the all the other Serpents. Even Jellybean. I know she's not there. But you still have her. She will be devastated. Jug, Fp will start drinking and won't stop. Your the reason he stopped. If wasn't for you? He would be dead from alcohol poisoning." Her voice was cracky.

"Why did you do it, Betty?" He was sobbing.

Fp was crying. His son was talking out load. He heard him saying Betty why did you do it? It was confused and he wanted to grab his son and hold to his chest. He didn't want to lose him. The last time he almost did. His son literally stop breathing and died. He was in the middle of saying goodbye. And he luckily woke up. He can't go through that pain again. It almost killed him. It would kill him this time. He didn't want to witness his son's death. It won't even be on accident. He would die on purpose.

Jughead waited for her to answer his question. "Jug, I'm sorry. If I would of know you would have lost it. I wouldn't have done it." This wasn't fair.

"And you dying is going to help me with my depression. I have been depressed for months and nobody saw and gave a fuck!" He screamed.

"Jughead that's not true!" He heard his dad yell from behind him. While still standing he turned his head to face his dad. He had bloodshot eyes. He didn't know he was there. "Jug, please come back. She will wake up!"

"Then why isn't she?! How come she's speaking to me right now?! Yeah

, what's the point!" He snapped as he stepped closer to the edge.

"What's the point Jughead?! The point is I won't live without you! I can't bare my life without you! I failed to see Betty's signs and I won't make that mistake again! Jughead please, my boy. Don't." His voice was in pleads.