Chapter 14- Angel Who Could No Longer Fly
Alice was in her daughters room. When she heard a panicked sounded. "Mom?!" She heard a voice. It was Betty looking right at her in panic.
"Betty? It's okay you're alive."
"Where's jughead?"
"He's outside." She watched as her daughter's eyes bulged. "What is it?" Betty started taking off her wires and standing up. "Betty lay back down." She ordered.
"Jughead, we need to go to the roof!" Betty snapped as she wobbled into the hall.
Cheryl was walking down the hall when she spotted Betty up and walking. She raced to her and hugged her tightly. "Betty, what are you doing out of bed? Gee girl you scared us to death." She watched as Betty broke out of her arms and started to head for the roof stairs.
"Jughead roof now!" It was all jumbled up. What was going on? She followed and pulled Toni along with her. She started fumbling Archie's and Veronica's numbers into her phone.
Archie was in his room when he got this alarm text. "Betty's awake. But there's somethings going on. She keeps yelling jughead roof now. Hurry sneak out or tell your father I don't care. This is not a drill. There's something very wrong." His heart was pounded so hard as he read the last line. His gut was hurting as he race downstairs.
His dad spotted him. "I thought I said go to your room!" He stopped when he saw his son's frantic face. "Archie what's wrong." He didn't open his mouth. He just handed him his phone. Fred read the text and quickly grabbed his keys and they went to the truck.
Veronica was in her room. Crying about Betty. Her phone buzzed she read the first three sentences and felt her heart drop. She pounced out of bed and raced downstairs. Hermonie saw the tears in her eyes. "Jug, Betty." That's all she got out before she and her mother ran to the car.
Betty reached the top of the roof panting. Her legs were sore from not being used. She didn't care. She had to save Jug. She wasn't going to let him get hurt like she had. She heard her mother's calls as she slammed the roof door open and eyes bulged in horror. Jughead was standing on the ledge looking down. Fp was sobbing and begging him to get down. Her eyes were getting wrecked with her tears. Alice was panting heavily from chasing her daughter upstairs. Once she made it to the top. Her heart didn't slow down it only sped up. Jughead was standing on the edge ready to take his life. Cheryl and Toni froze in horror.
Literally 18 second later, Archie, Veronica, Hermonie, Fred, Kevin and Tom arrived. Archie couldn't let him do this to himself. "Jughead, please step away from the Ledge." Betty's raw voice screamed as she watched him step even closer.
Jughead turned his head. He could hear her voice. He thought he was going crazy. That's when he saw her. She was alive, up and walking, eyes crying. B-" he felt himself slipping. Archie watched as his foot slipped.
"Jughead!" They all screeched on top of their lungs. Pain was in their voice as they watch Jughead hold onto the ledge with his hands. Jughead felt his grip getting slippery. He was going to fall.
"Hold on buddy!" Fp yelled as he raced to him, gripping onto his hand and pulled him up. "Oh god! Jug you scared me!" His voice was in cries. His son bawling in his arms.
"I'm sorry." It was soft but he could hear it. He was crying as he held his son close to his chest.
Betty was still panting after watching him nearly fall from the deaths hands. She was exhausted. Her eyes were heavy. Archie was breathing very hard as he collapsed into his dads arms. Alice was crying her eyes out as she squeezed her daughter in her arms. She almost lost her and Jughead. Cheryl was crying too. She felt sick to her stomach. Jughead has been there when she tried to kill herself. It wouldn't have been for Betty. Would he still be in their lives? She felt like they really needed a party. But she was going to wait for a few weeks. At least until things calmed down. She hadn't studied the Serpent laws yet. She was too busy dealing with the events that were occupying her time and mind.
Paramedics and Doctors swarm around them. Jughead was pried out of Fp's arms and taken to get x-rayed. Betty held in her tears. Everyone was hugging her. She didn't speak. There was no words to be said. Her mom hasn't let go of her since they embraced. Tears intertwined together as she laid her head on her mom's lap. She could hear her own sobs as her mom picked her up and walked out of the roof exit. Fp stood frozen staring at the death his son was about to take. He almost lost his son. It hasn't been that many days since his son was in hospital. How could he not known Jughead was suffering from depression. He felt so blinded by the news. He didn't have time to let it sink in. He was too focused on trying to get him off the Ledge. And now it was soaking in. His son was suicidal. And he missed all the signs. He just thought his son was the weirdo beanie wearing boy. He never thought his son was depressed. He buried his real feels. How long? Was it since his mom took off and left them? His son was alive. But how long? He was terrified to leave his son alone.
Couple days went by. Fp was told his son was doing better. He was responding to the meds. He had been home for a day. When he took Jughead home. He made sure that he didn't lock his door. He could hear his son mumbling underneath his breath. He rolled his eyes at the mumbles. He was doing this to protect him. He didn't sleep well. Alice would check up on him. The first night Jughead was in psych. He hated seeing his son laying bed doing nothing. It churned his stomach. It wasn't pleasant.
Alice was observing Betty a lot more closely. She also had the no lock door rule. She heard one day her daughter saying. Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending. She didn't know what that meant. She asked Fp. He had no idea either. She asked Archie. He told her it was like they were them. But instead of the tragic ending it would be happy. Alice went to her first appointment with Fp. The baby looked good. She was 6 weeks along. Her doctor suggested that the stress she was under caused her to miss her period and knocked her cycle. Which caused her to fall pregnant. She didn't mind. She was excited.
The first day back to school was nerve racking for Betty and Jughead. It wasn't only like that for them. It was hard on Fp and Alice. They weren't ready to let them go back into the world. With all the hate and bullies. It wasn't a parents day. It wasn't like there were little kids. They were in high school. "Jughead ready to go?" Fp called from the kitchen.
Pop had given him a few extra days off at he heard what happened at the hospital. If he knew? That meant everyone in town knew. He knew it wasn't going to be easy. Jughead already got hate for his name and his affliction with the Serpents. Serpents were still the most hated enemy. Even though there were much worse criminals. Hal, Hiram. Those were just a few. Alice recently told him that Charles wasn't murdered by Chic. Chic owed Hal a favor. So he was ordered by him to pretend to their son. At the time he didn't know he even had a son. Hal murdered their son. The pain was still there in his heart. He had one son. Jughead was still alive.
Jughead sat up in his bed, staring at his white walls, rubbing his eyes. He didn't want to go to school. He heard from Archie that people were talking about him and Betty. This wasn't the plan. He wasn't suppose to be alive. But he didn't want to leave Betty alone. It would tear her apart. "Yes I'm coming. And I'm not ready." He replied softly.
Fp looked over at his son and sighed. Jughead had to go back today. Exams were going up real soon. He knew that his so couldn't afford to miss anymore school. He didn't grounded Jughead about skipping. His son almost took his life. He knew very well that Betty was the one who stopped him. He wasn't sleeping well. Cause he would wake up constantly with the same nightmare. Instead of being able to pull him up. He loses his grip and jughead fell. After that usually he would wake up sweating and his eyes bloodshot. His son was aware the affect his attempt was on him.
He crouched down to his son's bed. He could see the fear in his eyes. "Jug, I need you not to listen what they are saying. You will be okay, okay?" His son nodded his head. "Here come here." He pulled him into his arms. "I love you, Jug. You know that." He said as he kissed his forehead.
"I love you too, Dad." Jughead stated as his dad kissed his forehead again. "Okay you can stop that. I'm fine. Let's just go. And get this day over with." He complained as he hopped off his bed.
"Okay let's go." Fp sighed as he walked out of the room with his son following behind him.
Alice woke up bright and early to make Betty's lunch. Even though Betty told her that she was fine with hot lunch. The step-ford mom in her still wanted her to have a good lunch and not that greasy school food. Betty was sitting at the kitchen table, staring at her phone. She sighed as she saw the comments again. "Go die.""The pill didn't work try a gun. Maybe the same gun your father used to kill all those people." She tried not to let it bother her. Her doctors told her not to look on Twitter. But she couldn't stop. It was like she had O.C.D. And was like she couldn't control it. Alice saw her daughter eyes and looked down at the screen. She snatched the phone from her grip. "Mom!" Betty whined as she fought for her phone back.
"What did I tell you and the doctors tell you about looking on Twitter?!" Her mother scolded.
"Don't go on it." She muttered softly. Alice didn't hear anything. So she looked her directly in her eyes.
"Say it louder." She ordered trying to get her to say the words.
"They told me not to! Happy!" Betty screamed throwing back her chair and standing on her feet. Alice's eyes widened.
"Elizabeth, I'm just looking out for you." Her voice was strained a little as she blinked back the tears. "Betty, I almost lost you. You left us a note. If a-rchie didn't come over. Yo—" She was sobbing hard. Too hard to finish. Betty's eyes softened. She had no idea she really affected them.
"Mom, I never meant for you to get hurt. Dad really hurt me. The commenters really pushed me over the edge." She stated feeling the burning in her eyes. She took a deep breath. "Fp came into my room when I was in the hospital." Alice's face changed. Fp never told her this.
"He did?" She nodded her head in response.
"It was after he talked to you. I was sleeping in my psych unit. He was telling me that I had to get better. And that Jughead was not doing well. He also said that you haven't been sleeping. I wasn't actually sleeping. He had in tears his eyes. He told me I was a daughter to him. He was going to retire. He's retiring from the Serpents. He said he didn't want his new baby growing up with a crappy father. That was a week ago." She finished explaining as her mother wiped her eyes.
"He's actually retiring for real?" She received a terse nod from her. "Wow, that's a surprise. I wanted to talk to about something." Betty watched as her mom took a breath.
Sitting in this kitchen gave Betty chills. "What do you want to talk about?" Her voice was quiet and then silence took over again.
"I was wondering if you wanted to move." She saw a little smile appear on her face. She couldn't help smiling along. "Your okay with this." Betty nodded her head. She couldn't wait to leave this hell hole she's living in. It was no longer home.
The times she and her (family) had Christmas and birthdays together were long washed away. The only thing remembered was the studs and the planks holding the house together with cement and drywall plastered on top to complete masterpiece of evil, horror and betrayal. She was ready for a fresh start. She hoped that a new house would wash away the painful remains left behind.
"Yeah, let's move. I can't stand this torture cell. I no longer think of this place as home. I haven't in weeks." She confessed wiping her eyes gently with a tissue her mother had handed her.
"Okay I will try selling it. It might not sell. And with the money I got from Hermonie. I got the register back it's in my name. That's all I really wanted. I know it sounds bitchy. But after the years of not being loved for who I was. It was toxic. He was different then he was around you and Polly. And now that I know he's evil. I don't want you getting contracted by him. Clear?" Betty thought for a second.
"What if I go see him?" Her mothers eyes darken and you could see the uneasiness in them. "I know, I know. I just want to tell him what is on my mind." She took a breath. "If it makes you feel any better I will have Fp right outside if he causes me trouble." Alice didn't feel convinced. He was a dangerous man.
"Betty, I don't know. It's not something I'm comfortable about." Her eyes shift back down. "But if that's something you can handle. And I don't want you to do what you did. Come talk to me. Or even Jug. Maybe you can help each other. And I mean talk missy." Her daughter's face cringed.
"Geez mom, that's not what I was going to do." Her face redden.
Alice looked up to the clock and realized it was almost time to go. "We should go. And doubt listen to those bitches." Betty stifled a laugh. It was weird to hear her mother swear.
"Mom, do you have to swear all the time now?" It was kind of a serious question and a silly one.
"Really you want to go there, Betty? Don't you remember swearing at me for sleeping with Fp in the first place." Betty cringed at that.
"God I will never get that image out of my head. I can still see it." Her mom just laughed. "Hey, it's not funny. How would you feel if you walked in on me and Jughead?" Alice stopped laughing, cringing and then her face turned serious.
They were walking to the car when Betty said that. She wasn't exactly pleased with the issue. She wasn't a fan of her daughter having sex. She pulled out of the parking a lot and faced her daughter who was blushing. "Okay you win. But that's still not funny either. And you better be safe. I'm still too young to be a grandmother again. I saw the twins once. Polly never comes to visit like she said she would. And she called to cancel her visit. I mean I don't blame her. She doesn't want to be in this town. Her father of her children was murdered here. And now her father was the one who threatened her life." Her voice was sounded sad it hurt Betty.
"That's strange. Now let's get me to this hellhole and then we can talk about the new house shopping." Alice glared at the language.
"What did I say about swearing Elizabeth?" Betty rolled her eyes.
"So your allowed but I'm not?" She asked rolling her eyes.
"Yes that's right." Alice grinned as she took a sip of her decaf coffee. It didn't taste sweet. God she missed coffee. Real coffee.
Dropping off Jughead was a lot harder then he would admit to himself. He tried to seem like it didn't affect him. But he was still extremely worried for his son. He knew he used to tell him not to let them bother him. But that was the advice that got him into the Penny ordeal. He told his son repeatedly not to mess with the snake charmer. Penny's a cobra. There was no lying about that. When he found about the deal he made with her. It broke his heart. The time him and Archie came to visit him in shakshaw. He told him not to reprimand him for joining. Yet again it shattered his heart. This wasn't the life he wanted for his son. He was going to get war on Penny. He had Cheryl Blossom ready to join. He was going to do it weeks ago. But then chaos took control and made everything rocky and unsteady. It wasn't safe for battle with their minds full of concern.
"Jug, are you going to be alright?" Fp asked as he pulled up to the front. Archie, Cheryl and Toni were already waiting for him. Jughead knew he had to make it through the day.
"Dad, I will make it. I always have." Those words remembered him of the words he asked his son after the drive in shut down. "Where are you going to live now?" It was mocking him.
"Okay." It was unsure okay. "I will see you tonight. Alice texted me wanting me to help her go house shopping today. She told me Betty wants to move. I don't blame the girl." Jughead knew it was the bullet he bit.
"Yeah.." the silence was getting uncomfortable again. "Me either. I better go. Cheryl's looks like her red hair might exploded." His Dad laughs and then he walked out of the truck over to the group.
Cheryl wasn't pleased with the wait. Her heels were killing her. She spent all night and early this morning studying the laws. She wanted to get them right. She took Toni's hand. She saw a text in her screen. She quickly glanced. The Serpent meeting was pushed tonight. Oh was she ready for this, she thought to herself. She hoped she was. She wanted it to great for Toni. Betty showed up. Trying to take in the looks. She hadn't been to school. She heard the nasty remarks when she was getting out her mother's car. Her mom gave her a look. It was going to be okay. She thought about the words." Ignore those Bitches." She giggled to the thought.
They all embraced, linking arms with each other. Looks of concern and disgust were shared between the group. Betty could feel all their eyes look at her. There were eyes on Jughead too. But mostly her. She knew this would happen. The felt sorry for her. She hated all the looks. They had no idea what is was like. They wouldn't tortured to extant she was. Yes what he did to this town was horrible. But she had no control on what did or has done. Veronica helped Betty with her bags. School was about to end. Exams were on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sophomore year was almost over. They hoped that junior year wasn't like this. So much has happened. Veronica wished she didn't have such a terrorizing Sophomore year. She smiled at the thought of junior prom. All the fancy dresses, parties and of course prom king and Queen. Archie had other hopes for his junior year. He would like to focus more on music and plans for collage. He hasn't had the best grades. In general his sophomore year has been distressed, nightmare.
It all started with July 4th, his secret relationship with his teacher, Miss Grundy. That was a destruction all together. He knew it was wrong and illegal and yet he still went through with it. It just got worse more there. A raven Beauty entered his life. It all turned out. The Black Hood has been Caught. Hiram Lodge was dead. His life was never at peace. He hoped it could be. Cheryl was looking forward to starting over. She lost her twin, her mother was abusive and everything to deal with finding out Betty was her cousin. And yet again she was related to a murder. It want her father. It was her other uncle. She didn't actually know until very late. He was never in her life. Hal Cooper would never be considered family in her eyes. She hoped things took off between her and Toni. Maybe she would even be considered for Serpent Queen. But she knew she didn't deserve to be one after all the bashing she had done. She never actually hated the Serpents. She just never had an open mind about them. It only took the only pink streak haired badass to make her whole idea and opinion change about them. She was no longer closed blossom. She was openly happy with herself. If you asked her months ago if she was happy with herself? She would have told you no.
"Welcome back, Betty." Ethel greeted as they walked through the doors. Betty felt a little nervous. Veronica was trying to remain calm. Ethel threw a milkshake in her hair and ruined her friendship with Betty all together.
"Hi." That's all Betty said as she let go of them and went to her locker. Ethel started approaching Veronica. Veronica stood next to Betty.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry for how I treated you, Veronica. I shouldn't have thrown that milkshake that was very petty of me." Ethel apologized with honesty in her eyes.
Veronica was unsure about the apology. It was very delayed and happened to be around the time Betty was back. Last week they didn't even speak. She was happy that Betty was back but it hurt she was alone. She missed her B. It wasn't easy. But now she had her back. That made all the difference in the world. "Ethel, I accept your apology. And my truly sorry for what my father caused. Now that he's dead. I hope we can sometime be friends again." She earned a smile from her.
"I would like that too." She smiled.
"I should go take on B." Veronica said as she took off down the hall.
Meetings became occasion now. It had been partaking for a couple weeks. The former bulldog, music lover became at forces between the southside Serpents. He hadn't joined them or anything like that. It was strictly just advances for his real training to begin. Neither did Jughead, Veronica or his dad have a clue what he was doing. He walked down the hall to meet with the others. "Andrews the war is starting tonight." Archie stops in his tracks as he turns to face Sweet Pea.
"To-night?"He stutters as his heart rate picks up a few paces. Sweet Pea is now standing in front of him.
"Yes, get ready." Sweet Pea orders as he pats his back and takes off.
Lunch was hectic, stares and hushed whispers surrounded both sides of the cafeteria. Betty felt like she was the target it. She hated her father. And she wanted everyone to know. She stood up and started to climb in the table. Archie, Jughead and the others at the table were confused. "Yes! My father is a cruel vindictive man! And yes I hate him! That's why I tried to kill myself! So I would like some fucking respect if you please!" She shouted on top of her lungs as she stepped down and the room fell silent.
The room stayed silent until Principle Weatherbee came in to the lunch room. Cheryl saw the way he looked at the Serpents and felt disgusted by his looks. She wasn't even one yet and she was being judge without notice. Betty started eating her lunch still feeling the eyes on her. Archie felt the guilt in him. He might not make it out of the war tonight. Jughead was worried for his girl. She had been through so much. He didn't know how to handle things either. Veronica was afraid this was going to be the outcome. All the group knew it was. It was going to be a long process before they could even think about normal. A normal life they craved so much as they needed it.
Alice wanted to visit Fp. Things finally calmed down. When she got there. She knocked on the door. To her surprise. She saw him clean shaven, a tie. Why a tie? "What's up with the tie?" She saw him smirk.
"Ah, Alice Smith. What a delight to see my girl."Fp said as he leaned in for a kiss. She returned to the favor and smiled back.
"Well a little birdy told me your plan." All a sudden he felt nervous. "The one about retiring for the Serpents." He fell silent. He was completely thrown off in surprise. How did she know?
"How did you find that out? I only told..." Then he knew. "Betty. She was awake? I thought she was asleep."
"No, she wasn't. She wants to move. And the money Moni gave us. I can find a better home for me, Betty and the baby. Or even you and Jug too." Fp was staring at her like he was puzzled.
"Me and Jug?" She nodded along. "You want me and Jug to move in with you." Another nod. "Wow that's some news." He responded with a smile.
"I know it's a lot to ask. But it would help. Maybe you can take us house shopping. I refuse to sleep in the same bed as he did. Betty hasn't slept in her bed. She's been staying Polly's old room. Polly won't come. She told me she wasn't going to be in the same house with her father. She won't have her twins get hurt." She collapsed into sobs into his strong arms.
"Trust me, it will be okay. I won't let him hurt you again. And for Polly she's just scared. She will come around eventually." His voice was soft and gently as they cuddled on the couch. She lifted her head.
"So will you move in with me?" Her voice was almost a plea. It broke his heart to see her so vulnerable.
"Of course. You don't have to ask twice." He responds by crashing his lips onto hers and diving into the deep adrenaline of the moment. She turns her head and breaks the kiss.
"One more thing." Her tone was soft and serious. He turns to his head to face her. Looking her in the eyes. "Betty told me she wants to see Hal." He immediately sits up and sighs.
"Oh hell no! I'm not letting her see that monster!" He snaps pushing his hair out of his face. He watched Alice's face soften. "Fine only if I'm with her." She nods her head softly.
"Hey, I'm not a fan of this arrangement either, Fp. She wants to tell him Her lasts words before she loses her courage. On whatever that means." She lightly scoffs.
"Last words. I want to give mine too." He earns a glare from her. "Fine. I won't. Even as much as I want to tell that basted off. I won't. For yours and Betty's sake." He groaned as he holds her close to his chest.
"Good, Now let's sleep. The baby is making me very tired lately." He grins at her. "Hey don't grin about that. I don't want to be lazy like your genes."
"My genes are lazy. Their actually quick." She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah just as fast as your sperm. Geez you get me pregnant like it was no task." He grins again.
"Yeah I guess your right." She swats his chest with her hand.
"Sleep, Jones. I need sleep. Now just moving and get comfy. We don't have to pick up the kids in a while." She replied moving her head.
"Fine, Smith. You win. Only cause your carrying my child." He grumbled as he flipped over to his side and shut his eyes.