I felt a soft hand slowly stroke the top of my head, leading to my hair, which I could feel was a ridiculous mess. I knew for a fact I had just collapsed from exhaustion a few minutes ago, so whoever picked me up must've been a serpent. I hoped it was Jughead. That would be the best bet.
Not that I didn't trust the Serpents, I mean they were Jughead's replacement family, but I definitely had my doubts. They did smuggle drugs and beat up innocent bystanders who walked into their bar like they did with Archie, but they took care of Jughead so I didn't have any right to judge them. Their environments were a little scary but that never stopped me from visiting there once and awhile.
"I'm going to go out for a little while okay? Just.. please wake up soon." I heard a voice say, who I instantly put together as Jughead. He zipped up what I could only piece together as his Southside Serpent jacket and headed out the door. My vision was a little clouded when I tried to open my eyes so I couldn't see clearly where I was exactly, but I stood up anyway, grasping at anything that I could get ahold of. The first thing I grabbed seemed to be an old mattress of sorts that were ripped at the seams and seemed to be worn out. I sat back down gently and rubbed my eyes against the palms of my hands to clear my vision from the blinding lights that greeted my pupils when I woke up a moment ago.
When my vision finally cleared I took in the surroundings. Most of the furniture was exactly like the mattress couch I was sitting on; worn out. The wallpaper was peeling down the walls and the aroma around the miniature kitchen was anything but tolerable, but it seemed homely. Nothing like the usual Riverdale houses which would definitely at least pass safety health codes, but it didn't have the ranting of your parents or the constant nagging of the neighborhood. In here all of your worries could just disappear into that one gigantic puddle forming around the edge of the wall.
I remembered Jughead saying he was going out and that I needed to stay here. If he really knew me, he would know that I wouldn't put off my natural instincts and stay. I needed to investigate the town.
I headed out the door and rounded a corner, following the trails of footprints leading to a dark alleyway. It definitely had a classic murder casing wrapped in it, but I could hear the faintest of voices, so I crouched down and waddled my way there. When I finally reached the pinnacle point of no return, I listened to the conversation.
"Come to Southside High Jughead, you'll fit in well. You remember the last time you went there, you were the life of the party, especially because of the reputation your dad set for you. Everyone there is a social outcast, just like you and everyone else in this town, so why not stay a little longer?" The man said, patting Jughead on the shoulder and grinning mischievously. He obviously meant no harm towards Jughead, but he swatted his hand away and answered to a maybe.
"Look, Riverdale High is full of a bunch of high school jocks who think they're better than you, and empty-headed blond cheerleaders that could care less if you left or not. Southside is where you belong." Another man said, prompting his arm across the other man. I definitely didn't like these two guys, and not because they blindly insulted me.
Jughead glared at them and moved his hair which was falling in front of his face. "For your information, I don't even need to be here. I could leave anytime I wanted and live with someone else. For example, my girlfriend who you obviously insulted with your excuses, or maybe my best friend who..." Jughead clouded for a moment but returned to normal a few seconds later. "... anyways my girlfriend, who by the way is probably still unconscious so I should go check on her. By the way don't tell anyone she's here!"
Jughead turned around and started to come in my direction. I screamed quietly inside and started back quickly before he could see me. As I was running for my life, I heard one final statement from the Serpents.
"She doesn't love you Jughead. Just put her back home. She doesn't belong here!"
As soon as I got back to his house, I plopped myself back onto his mattress and greeted him with open arms. "J-Jughead you're back! I was wondering where you went..."
Jughead's face lit up and quickly took off his jacket inconspicuously so that he could privately not let me see, which he failed at. "Betty, are you alright? You took quite a fall. Let me get you something to drink!" He made his way over to the kitchen and looked in the refrigerator. He seemed to be searching for something that wouldn't make me look disappointed at him, which could never be.
When he found something he could show me, some regular water, he gave me a glass and sat down beside me. It was an awkward few moments before I decided to speak up.
"Hey Juggie.. are you thinking of leaving Riverdale High?"
He didn't respond.
"If you did a lot of people would miss you. Me for one, but also Archie, Polly, and heck, maybe even Veronica!" I giggled a little and glanced at Jughead, who was looking down.
"Juggie...are you alright? You seem down.." I asked. Jughead looked at me with a pained smile and moved his hand to my cheek. He gazed at me and said, "Nothing's wrong. Come on, let's get you home."
He grabbed my hand and escorted me to the door. From there we both walked out of Southside and entered our quaint neighborhood, where Archie's room was clearly visible from the window. Thank goodness it was closed.
Jughead looked up slightly to Archie's window and then looked at me. I smiled and he squeezed my hand and hugged me tightly into an embrace.
"Juggie what's wrong? We're going to see each other tomorrow because of school." I said but he let go of my hand and started to walk back.
He made me feel anxious to see him again, but at the same time worried about what happened back in Southside. His reassuring hug didn't dispel the thoughts I had about what they said about me or Jughead. He's definitely not transferring, I'll see to it that he doesn't.