Ronnie's screams filled the humid air that surrounded the resort. Jughead, Betty, and Archie's footsteps muffled under the loud sounds. When they reached the cabin, Archie rushed through the door. The sight of Ronnie took Betty back, she was clutching the sheets, screaming, cursing as she thrashed against the bed. Archie was already next to the bed holding Ronnie's hand. "Shh, it's okay. It will get better." He paused searching her face and brushing her hair back. "Relax." He said rubbing her head with a damp washcloth.
"Jughead, what do we do?" Betty whispered, horrified by the sight. Jughead shook his head, "Archie's got it."
"No Jug, Archie doesn't. He's not a doctor. She's sick, Jug." Betty said turning to him with tears in her eyes. Before Jughead could answer, Betty cut him off, "I'm going to get my dad." She said turning to leave, but Jughead swiftly grabbed her arm stopping her from leaving. "Betty, don't. Ronnie will get in trouble, she'll lose her job."
"Jug. She could die. Look at the pain she's in!" She exclaimed pointing at Ronnie's red, sweaty composure. "He won't tell. Patient- Doctor confidentiality." She told him simply walking out the door. Jughead didn't try to stop her, he watched her run towards the guest's side of the resort. He sighed looking back to Ronnie. He knew this was the right thing to do he just hoped things didn't crash afterwards.
Betty ran as fast as her feet took her, each tree flying by quicker and quicker as she got closer to her family's cabin. She threw herself against the door flying inside, her father sitting on the lazy chair a newspaper in his hand. He stood up at the sight of her, sweaty and disoriented, "Baby what is it? Are you hurt?"
Betty shook her head catching her breath. "It's Ronnie, she's one of the dancers, she's hurt bad. She's need a doctor." Her father didn't respond but instead grabbed his leather black bag and walked out the door. Betty quickly followed him out the door and led him to the cabin where Ronnie laid.
As soon as they walked inside, Jughead's demeanor changed. His figure stiff, afraid to move in anyway to offend Mr. Cooper. Hal, Betty's father, sat on a stool by Ronnie's side. "What happened to her?" He asked feeling her pause.
"She was pregnant sir, she isn't anymore." Jughead explained coldly. Betty walked to his side looking to his stern face. She sighed, she was worried about Ronnie, and Archie's heart, who looked like he was about to break.
Hal looked to Jughead his eyes dark, his jaw clenched. "I can only imagine this is your doing." He paused moving to Ronnies feet. "Surgery?" He asked looking to Jughead. Jughead nodded ignoring his claim, he wasn't going to waste his breath trying to defend his character. It wouldn't matter, with one look at him people like Mr. Cooper already decided he was trouble, a delinquent.
Betty was furious at her father for assuming Jughead's role. Betty stepped forward to defend Jughead when he slipped his hand into hers. "Don't." Jughead whispered pulling her into his side. "This is about Ronnie not me." Betty nodded wrapping her arm around his waist. He countered holding her waist in return.
Hal lifted the blanket off of Ronnie's legs and ducked his head under, trying to get her some dignity. "Good God." He muttered before lifting his head out of the darkness. "He butchered her." Hal sat the blanket down not covering her feet. A pool of blood sat on the mattress. Betty sighed gasped hiding her head in the crook of Jughead's neck. Jughead held her close, his shirt gathering her tears. He rubbed her back and tried calming her with his "shhs".
Hal looked over their way with a scowl. Jughead sent a stern look back to him, warning not to make a scene here. Ronnie was in pain and he needed to focus on her.
After an hour of Hal's tinkering and Betty, Jughead, and Archie's worried faces, Ronnie was asleep. Her pain had greatly disappeared, much due to the medicine. Hal stitched up the mess the doctor had made and gave Ronnie pain medicine. "She will improve day by day, but she'll need to rest. She should stay in bed for at least 48 hours, let activity after that." Hal explained in his best doctor voice, pushing away his dislike for the people in the cabin.
"Sir, she will lose her job. If she doesn't work, Keller will come looking for her and if he finds out what happened. Well that will be it! She will be out of here for sure!" Archie explained frantically. He couldn't lose Ronnie, not before he told her he loved her.
Hall shook his head, "Don't worry son. I'll talk to Mr. Keller. I'll tell her she's sick, I won't tell him why." Archie looked like he was about to cry out of pure happiness. "Thank you sir. Thank you so much." He said attacking Hal with a hug. Hal chuckled from the surprise of the embrace and patted the red head's back.
"Alright now," Hal gently pushed him away, "someone will need to stay with her. Give her her medicine, or god forbid she takes a turn for the south. I would stay but my wife will murder me in my sleep if I do." He looked around to the faces staring back at him. Archie immediately spoke, "I'll be here until she is well." He assured with a tight nod as if he was a soldier taking command from his chief. Hal nodded briefly and walked towards Betty, who sat on a nearby chair. "Betty let's go." Hal said abruptly, as he walked by Jughead his voice dropped low. "Keep your filthy hands off my daughter." He spat before walking out the door Betty in tow. Betty glanced back to her friends, a special look sent Jughead's way. Jughead wanted so much to kiss her before she left but he wouldn't at least not in front of her father.
Betty and Hal arrived at their cabin. Betty went to speak but Hal shook his head. "Go to bed, Betty. It's late." Betty nodded looking down at her feet, she looked up at his stern, tired face. "Thank you daddy." She reached up to kiss his cheek and went to her room.
Betty entered the room quietly knowing Polly was asleep. She closed the door behind her slowly until the click of the doorknob assured her that her parents were sealed out. She slipped into her bed not caring that she was wearing her clothes for the day. Polly laid beside her with her back to her, wake awake. She couldn't sleep after the night she had. Her skin was crawling with the ghost of Jason's fingers. His hurtful words echoed in her head. "I would never marry a stuck up princess like you." She cried into her pillow praying her sobs were quiet so Betty wouldn't hear.
The sun rose on the resort, Archie sat on the floor asleep next to Ronnie's bed. He had hardly slept on the hard floor, his head racing over Ronnie's health. Every move Ronnie made or noise that escaped her mouth woke Archie up. His eyes would rove over her like a hawk making sure his nest was secure. Now after pure exhaustion set in, he finally slipped into sleep and stayed there.
Ronnie's eyes flickered over to the rays of sun peeking through the window. Her body ached and any shift she made only hurt worse. "Archie", she croaked out. She didn't know what had happened, she remembered almost falling in the dining hall and coming back to the cabin but the rest was a blur.
Archie woke up to the sound of her voice, he was immediately awake and alert. "Yeah Ronnie. I'm here." He said standing on his knees and scooting closer to her bed. He slipped his hand into hers and rubbed his thumb against her skin. "I'm here. What is it?"
Ronnie smiled at their hands, "What happened after we came back here?" Archie noticed her wince and grabbed her medicine and the glass of water he had left there for her. "Here." He commanded gently helping her take the pill. "I went and got Jughead and Betty." Ronnie interrupted him, "Betty?" She asked wondering why he'd get them both. "Another story for later." Archie chuckled moving a stray hair from her face. "Betty got her father, he's a doctor you know. He came and took care of you." He paused. "That doctor did a number on you Ronnie." He sighed holding back tears. "We almost lost you."
Ronnie smile softly at him, "thank you for being here Archikins." Archie smiled back at her but then looked away. Ronnie frowned as he looked away, "hey what is it?"
Archie looked back at her, "I love you Ronnie. I think I have for a long time. And yesterday I almost lost you before I could tell you that." Ronnie smiled at him, she didn't know if she loved him. But he was there for her no matter what. He was handsome too she had always thought so. "Come here." She said pulling the blanket up inviting him inside. Archie slid inside and shifted to a comfortable position. Ronnie laid her head on his chest. "Archikins, don't leave me." Archie wrapped his arms around her. "Never." He assured her kissing the top of her head.
Betty woke up to chatter loud through the walls. Her mom and dad were discussing something and it sounds like they were mad about whatever it was. Betty got out of bed and the voices quieted. She threw on her outfit for the day and walked out to the living room. Her mother and father stood there arms crossed. "Sit Betty. We need to talk." Mrs. Cooper demanded. Betty nodded carefully and sat on the nearby stool. "What is it?"
Hal spoke as they agreed he would talk, so Alice wouldn't lose her cool. "Baby, last night, how did you know that Ronnie was sick?" Betty thought about lying, saying that she was walking by when she heard Ronnie's screams. But she knew better than to lie to her parents, they always knew if she was telling the truth or not. "She's my friend. Archie told me she was sick so I came and got you."
Hal sighed heavily in disbelief over his daughter's actions. "Girls like that are not your friends. And boys like Jughead are not your comforters. Those kids are no good. They will pull you down the drain with them."
"You won't be seeing them again Elizabeth. Do you understand?" Alice asked raising her voice.
Betty shook her head, "They are good people. Just because they don't have money or a good job doesn't mean they are bad news. Archie is the sweetest guy you'll ever know. Ronnie is a beautiful person who deserves the goddamn world."
"Betty language!"
Betty ignored her mother and continued, "and Jughead. I don't know much about him yet but I do know that he'd take a bullet for the people he loves. Jughead is a masterpiece of a person waiting to be unveiled and I know it. You can forbid me all you want, they're my friends and I won't stay away for long."
Betty exited the room not caring what her parents said in response and went back to Polly who sat still on her bed. She was curled up with her knees to her chest. She barely lifted her eyes as Betty entered the room. "Hey." Betty acknowledged her softly searching her face. There was something wrong, Betty could tell and it was something bigger than being told she couldn't see her friends. Betty climbed onto the bed and sat a hand on Polly's knee. "Polly…"
With a single word Polly broke. She threw herself into Betty sobbing against her skin. Betty held her tight and rubbed her back. "What's wrong Polly?"
"I can't stop feeling his fingers." Polly admitted between sobs. "Who Polly?" Polly sat up and sucked in her tears. "Jason. He… yesterday, we were by the lake and he touched me. I kept pushing him away, but he wouldn't listen."
Betty's heart broke at her words, "oh Polly. I'm so sorry." She hugged Polly again. "You have to tell someone. He can't get away with this." Polly shook her head. "Who am I going to tell? Mom and Dad will kill me for putting myself in that position." Betty shook her head. "They love you. You have to get help Polly." Polly sighed with a nod, she would deal with that later.
"Betty… yesterday, Jason said something. At first I didn't believe him but I have to ask." Betty was confused, what would Polly have to ask her? Polly continued. "Jason said that he saw you with Jughead Jones, the dance instructor. He said you two were sleeping together." Polly paused letting the question sink in. "Is that true?"
"No. We're not sleeping together." Polly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "But we are… seeing each other? I really don't know what to call it. I mean we've kissed and he was really there for me last night when I was upset about Ronnie." Polly squealed, "oh my god!... wait who is Ronnie?"
"My friend, she's one of the dancers. She was really sick last night but dad helped her." Betty explained not giving Polly the full run down.
Polly began to grill Betty about Jughead Jones and the kiss they shared. Every story making her giggle with excitement. "Okay but seriously! If he hurts you I swear to God I'm coming after him with a butcher knife." Polly warned causing Betty's eyes to pop out of her head. Betty nodded accepting the terms, "Want to go for a walk? Clear your head from everything?" Betty asked, Polly immediately agreed hopping off the bed to get dressed.
They walked together in silence, Polly hugged herself tightly wishing she had done a better job of scrubbing Jason's touch off of her. Betty own thoughts hung on Jughead and how she couldn't kiss him goodnight. And on Ronnie, she hoped she was doing better, that her strength was back.
As they neared closer to the main hall, Betty caught sight of Jughead. "Wanna meet him?" Betty suggested softly pointing to where Jughead stood, a cigarette hanging from his mouth. Polly didn't even respond she just began to work over to Jughead. Betty hurried to catch up with her.
"Hey Jughead!" Polly yelled grabbing his attention as she walked up to him. He threw a confused look to the approaching figure then turning his gaze to Betty he glared. Betty was trying her best to catch up to Polly as she mouthed "sorry" to Jughead. "Okay I'm not going to go batshit crazy on you like my parents. Or forbid Betty from seeing you. You make her happy. So keep making her happy because if not you'll have me to deal with!" She threatened with a huff. "Oh boy, I'm worn out now." Betty laughed at Polly. "I'm gonna go sit by the disc golf and watch the old men play." Polly said with a deep breath. "Don't forget my warning." She said motioning that she was watching with her hands.
Polly walked away and Jughead hadn't yet said a word. "Well she's something." Betty laughed and reached for him. "I'm sorry about that." Jughead shrugged and pulled her close to him, kissing her head. "How pissed is your dad?"
"Oh yeah I'm forbidden from seeing any of you." Betty said without a care in the world. Jughead looked at her, his eyebrows raised. "And yet here you are."
"I told you I don't want that life, and I don't care what my parents think of you, I know you."
Jughead shook his head, "No, Betty, you don't know me." He took another drag of his cigarette. "You don't know my fucked up life."
Betty looked up at him, "Then tell me." She said placing a kiss on his lips. He kissed back forgetting that she wasn't supposed to be there, that he was telling her no. He tasted of cigarette smoke, something that Betty never thought she would find attractive but here she was enamored by it.
Jughead pulled away slightly, "Come on." There was something unraveling in Jughead. The rope that curled around his stomach, seemed to loosen with every touch and smile Betty gave him. The walls he had done so well to build were slowly crumbling down.
He led her by her hand to his cabin, it mirrored Ronnie's cabin from the night before. A small cot sat in the corner and two bookshelves decorated the walls. Betty looked around at the small abode which was nothing like her family's homey cabin. It was clear the workers here weren't treated like they should. They brought the life to the resort and yet here they were sat in a small corner in small cardboard boxes.
Jughead let go of her hand and slipped his leather jacket off his shoulders. Betty took her time letting her eyes travel up and down his muscular arms. She knew he was strong, from the lifts in the studio to the way he threw her against the wall yet seeing his strength before her eyes was something new. Betty reached out to graze her fingers along his arms. Jughead shuddered under her touch. "Here." He croaked out handing her the jacket. She took it into her hands, examining it under her gentle touch. Betty traced the lettering, running from edge to edge. Jughead watched her fingers, sending a gulp down his throat. He wondered what else her hands could with their gentle touch.
"I told you it was a long story." Jughead started has he sat on his bed. Betty smiled at him softly and took a seat next to him. "I've got time." She cooed as she slipped on his jacket. Jughead watched her, a low groan escaping from his mouth. She looked damn good in his jacket. He was suddenly imagining what she would look like in just that jacket and nothing else. Betty peered up at him, a smiled crept onto her face. "It's warm." She paused leaning onto his shoulder. "Tell me a story."
"How about a long one?" He asked a slight tease in his voice. Betty nodded cuddling into his arm. "I was born in a small town named Riverdale. My mom and dad were high school sweethearts. They got married right off, barely even legal." He chuckled pulling out another cigarette, holding in his mouth to lit it. "Want one?" He offered handing it to her. Betty took it tentatively to her mouth, she glanced at Jughead for guidance. He chuckled, "Put it in your mouth, breath in." She nodded and took a breath in. "Then, take it away and breath o-" But before Jughead could finish, Betty was coughing, pushing the cigarette back to him. "God that's awful! How do you do that everyday?" She asked finishing out her cough.
He laughed softly at her and patted her back. "You alive?" Betty threw her head back up and turned to face him, her hair a strayed mess and her face red. God she's looks adorable. Jughead thought to himself as she smiled at him. "Alive!" She cheered throwing her arms up before curling back into his arms. He took another drag chuckling softly.
"Within two years of their marriage, my mom got pregnant with me." He paused, "things were good but we never had the money for anything but food, sometimes we didn't even need money for food." He sighed looking at her. "Then my baby sister was born, and suddenly another mouth was too much to feed. My dad turned to alcohol and my mom was fed up. She was the only one taking care of us. She'd yell at him because he wasn't bringing in any money to help us. So he joined a gang, the Southside serpents. They sold drugs and that's how my dad provided for us."
Betty listened rubbing the leather of the jacket between her fingers. "The serpents." She whispered knowing exactly what was stitched on the back of the jacket. "Were you…" she trailed off not knowing how to ask such a pointed question.
"No Baby. My dad was thrown in jail for dealing drugs. He gave me his jacket, to keep safe. To remember him by. I took his jacket and I left. I wasn't gonna go down that path. I wasn't going to become my father."
"Where is your sister? Is she okay?" They had talked about her the other night. She was alive and from what she could tell, doing well. Jughead nodded to her question, "She with my mom in Toledo. She calls me and makes sure I'm okay, she thinks I can't take care of myself." He said with a smile, something Betty had rarely seen on his face since she had met him.
A brief minute of silence settled over them. Jughead stared at the empty bookshelf hanging on his wall, remembering the books he would delve into in his bedroom trying to find solace in the pages. With a soft tremble of words, Jughead focus was stolen. "Thank you for telling me your long story."
Without a second more of waiting, Jughead leaned into kiss her, shedding the jacket onto the floor.