*I wish would let me add pictures! I worked my butt off on some edits of Jug in my world(So I basically just added tattoos lol but still!). I also have failed miserably with the playlist thing, but I guess you get kinda caught up writing a 300 page book... Oops. I can add songs and pictures to chapters on Wattpad so if you feel intrigued keep an eye out for those, unless I figure out a way on here but until then I guess that will have to be enough... Love you guys! Thanks for reading!*
"No, I promised you I didn't kill him…" He sighed knowing he was winning on a technicality, her jaw dropped at his words. He reached up his hand pinching the bridge of his nose tightly. "Can we please just go somewhere and talk about this? I'll take you home… Just let me take you home," He tried releasing his hand and dropping his arms tiredly to his side.
"I think I'm gonna be sick" she mumbled, spinning to the side and doubling over. Jughead stepped forward quickly pulling her hair gently back with one hand the other one resting gently on her lower back. He stayed silent, just rubbing his hand in a small circle as she threw up any alcohol she had in her stomach. Jug wrinkled his nose, he didn't do super well with vomit. He could watch a man bleed, smell the iron in it, even watch limbs break, or sever, but vomit for some reason made him feel oddly sick himself. He swallowed the saliva in his mouth trying to focus.
"That's good I guess, It'll make you feel better," He mumbled quietly.
"I need to sit down," she coughed out, her body shaking slightly against his hand.
"Come on, I'll carry you to the car," He said softly, leaning down to scoop his arm under her legs but she swatted him away.
"I'm not going with you," She grumbled.
"Betty you don't have another option," He said trying to stay calm and gentle with her even though his patience was running thin.
"Neither do you," She glared up at him, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and breathing heavily through her nose, her nostrils flaring slightly, "You're gonna tell me the truth, the whole truth." He hesitated for a beat, feeling a spike of anger at her demanding tone but he clenched his jaw trying to keep himself in line. When he didn't respond she stood up straighter leveling her gaze strongly on him. "What happened to Jason?"
"Remember when you said you didn't want me to get arrested?" He said stepping closer and keeping his voice low. "I can't have that conversation here," He started at her pointedly, she took a deep breath losing her bravado slightly, her face changing and giving him an understanding look.
"Okay…" She nodded weakly "Okay, fine." was all she said before she walked past him back the way she came, stopping and doubling over again.
"Can I please carry you?" He asked keeping his tone gentle as he walked to her side. She just nodded silently and with that he scooped her up into his arms, her legs lazily draped over one arm, her arms reaching around his neck. He walked her silently back to the entrance gate where his car was still parked and groaned out loud when he noticed the group he had left still standing around in a small circle. He looked over at Betty searching her eyes, she sighed, leaning her head onto his shoulder and closing them.
"Just get me out of here," She whispered quietly to him, he nodded. He walked past them, ignoring all of their questioning gazes and fumbled slightly with her still in his arms as he pulled open the passenger door, setting her in car gently and watching her as she laid down on the seat and curling into a small ball, pulling her knees up to her chest. He shut the door gently, turning back to her friends.
"I got it from here," He said sternly.
"Are you taking her home?" Archie spoke up first and Jughead's lips twitched.
"I don't know," He growled "I'll figure out what's best." Joaquin just nodded, grabbing Kevin and listening to his leader. The boy seemed like he was going to protest but the Serpent gave him pointed look and pulled him away without another word.
"I live right next to her… I can take her…" The redhead started.
"Archie," Veronica cut him off "Let him handle it," She said resting her hand on his shoulder.
"Why? Why the fuck is he even here?" Archie glared directing the question at Veronica, but his eyes never left Jughead's. Jughead didn't break eye contact but kept trying to remind himself that he really shouldn't get in another fight, and Betty was waiting for him.
"Lets just go," Veronica sighed, pulling his arm. The boy wouldn't budge at first but she pulled harder, eventually getting him to turn towards her. "Come on," she commanded sternly and he finally listened starting to walk away, but stole another glance at Jughead his eyes shifting to the car before he angrily turned away stalking off. Jughead ran his hand through his hair, turning back to his car and walking tiredly to the drivers side.
"Coast is clear," He said quietly as he sunk into the car, closing the door behind him. He turned the car on as Betty pushed herself up, leaning against the door and staring out the window.
"Where are we going?" She asked weakly turning to look at him.
"Wherever you want," He watched her carefully, just wanting her to feel safe and comfortable "We can go to my place," He offered.
"I'm barefoot, and don't have any off my stuff," She sighed.
"I can go to Veronica's and get it," He tried, she just shook her head, staring back out the window.
"Can you just take me home?" Her voice cracked sadly and Jughead felt like he broke in half as he watched a silent tear roll down her cheek, his chest constricting tightly. The amount of guilt he felt was overwhelming, wanting to take away whatever pain she felt. He stayed silent, not knowing how to fix any of it as he put the car in drive and hit the gas, trying to just focus on getting her to her house. They drove in silence, the only sound was his wheels swallowing up the pavement as he sped down the streets. He pulled onto her street slowing a few houses away, pulling the car over to the curb and killing the engine. He waited patiently, turning in his seat to face her better, the heart he didn't know he had somehow breaking further as Betty stared out the window, tears quietly streaming down her face.
"Baby…" He whispered, swallowing hard. He reached out needing to touch her, to feel that she was okay, he wrapped his large hand around hers, squeezing gently. She looked up at him, her blue eyes shining through the tears in the darkness.
"Jug," She suddenly let out a sob, sucking in a strangled breath. He pulled her to him, wrapping his other arm around the back of her head and pulling her tightly to his chest, she cried heavily now, her chest rising and falling intensely as she tried to catch her breath. She buried her face into his shirt, her tears soaking through the material, hitting his skin and feeling like acid as they burned him. He gritted his teeth, wishing he had just dropped the damn kid from the bannister.
"It's okay, I've got you… You're safe. I got you," He soothed his hand on the top of her head, running his fingers through her soft hair. He pulled her back searching her face, wanting to kiss her but he knew that might be crossing a line, so he leaned forward placing a barely there kiss on her forehead, pulling back and holding her face in his hands. "I will tell you whatever you want to know, but first just tell me what happened…. Please," He said carefully, she looked down, taking short breaths through her nose.
"Nothing happened," she finally answered, hiccuping slightly " Joaquin got there... right when he threw me on the bed… he didn't get any further, I don't think he even tried to kiss me yet" She whispered, but her words hit him like a grenade. The mental image forced itself into his head and he ground his teeth together, letting go of her hand and balling his hand into a fist. "It was scary, but I'm okay…" she trailed off, looking up into his eyes.
"I'm… sorry, I should have been there" He forced out through his teeth.
"He threw me on Jason's bed," Betty cringed, realization washing over her. "That's so morbid," She sighed, reaching up her hand and wiping away some of her tears. Jughead couldn't help but selfishly want her to stop describing the event before he just turned the car around and finished what he started. "He said Jason was a drug dealer… for Castle…" She trailed off. Her eyebrows knitting together as she looked at him.
"So am I just going to walk you inside?" He asked, looking down the street to her house and back to her.
"Don't change the subject," She huffed, pulling away from him more.
"I'm not… But I want to get you inside. So what are we telling your mom?" he asked, she just blinked up at him. "I will answer all your questions and then I'll leave... I'll let you go, but I have to know that you are safe in your room.." He said more to himself, nodding as if saying it out loud would somehow force him to honor what he was saying.
"I don't want that," She whispered looking away.
"I thought you wanted to go home," He looked at her confused.
"I do… but I don't want to be let go," She clarified quietly, not meeting his gaze.
"But I lied to you…" He reminded her even though he wanted so badly to keep her, but he knew he couldn't be another reason she cried.
"You did, but I'm going to give you the chance to explain yourself," She nodded strongly, dragging her eyes up to his.
"You sure?" He asked trying not to let his hopefulness reflect in his voice, but the look in her eyes told him it was plastered all over his normally stoic face, she just nodded, "Okay," He let out a relieved laugh, "I can do that," He nodded.
"But I don't think you should meet my mom…. Like this,' she looked down at herself. "I feel like I got hit by a train, I can only imagine the question she would have, especially if I walk in with gang leader on my arm," Betty smiled for the first time all night, and Jug sighed audibly not realizing how much he had missed it.
"Hey, we aren't a gang, we are just a motorcycle club," He smirked, shrugging one shoulder.
"Someone should tell your basement full of guns that," She rolled her eyes, and he laughed out loud at her quick response, feeling relieved that she was finding herself again. He melted into a happy smile watching her face as she pulled her lips to side adorably in contemplation. "I'll just have to sneak you in," she finally decided. "I have a ladder down the driveway a bit, you can use that. My window is the first one," She instructed.
"I'm gonna sneak into your second story window?" He laughed, and she nodded smiling slightly.
"I'll go in, just wait like 5 minutes and I'll be up there," She nodded, grabbing her small black clutch and making her way out of the car. He watched as she ran barefoot across the street and over to her house. He waited like she told him to, getting out of the car and leaning against the closed door, pulling out a cigarette and a lighter and pulling it to his lips as lit it before taking a long drag. He felt a vibration in his pocket remembering he still had her phone, pulling it out of his pocket he looked down at the screen seeing a few texts from Kevin, Veronica, and Archie. He ground his teeth together, not wanting to be that kind of guy but he was dying to open them. Her phone vibrated again from Archie and he clutched the phone tighter glaring at the house next to hers and taking another drag. He started walking over slowly, not taking his eyes off the boys front door but stopped at the walkway reminding himself that being with her was more important than any vendetta he had against the redhead weasel. He took another drag, tossing the butt to the ground and stomping it with his boot. He shoved his hands into his pocket, walking slowly to her driveway, until he found the ladder she mentioned and pulled it from its hiding spot, walking it to her window and waiting until he saw the light turn on. He rested the ladder against the house and started pulling himself up it, feeling like he was in bad romance movie, he got to window, looking inside just as she unlocked it and opened it.
"Hey there Juliet," He smirked, and she blushed stepping away to let him through. He climbed through the window, folding his long body awkwardly. He finally straightened himself, looking back at the small square he managed to pull himself through. "I'm getting too old for this shit," He laughed running his hand through his hair.
"My mom is asleep already," She explained in a low voice "But we should still be quiet." He walked over to her, pulling her into his arms.
"So far we haven't been too good at quiet," he gave her a sideways smile, swaying her back and forth.
"I just want to talk…" She said shyly, looking down at the floor.
"I know, I understand," He nodded, knowing she probably was still processing the night and the last thing he should do was push her to have sex with him, but he would be lying if he said it wasn't still stuck in his head from the night before, and being alone with her always did things to him but he knew he had to stay in control for her sake.
"I'm gonna change, and maybe just take a quick shower. I feel… gross," She scrunched her nose, pulling away from his grasp.
"I'll be right here," He smiled at her, sitting on her bed and crossing his hands in his lap obediently. She turned quickly opening her dresser and pulling out clothes before making her way into the bathroom attached to her room. He pulled her phone from his pocket again, setting it gently onto the night stand and leaning back on his elbows observing her overly girly room, his eyes landing on her vanity with a large round mirror covered in pictures and floral stickers, he got up from the bed walking over to it. He looked over the photos seeing Betty standing with friends in a cheer uniform with a pompom reached above her head in one hand, the other on her hip and a large genuine smile plastered on her face, her nose slightly crunched. He pulled the photo off her mirror, running his finger over her before folding it until all you could see was her, and pulling his wallet from his back pocket, sliding it into one of the slots so you could see her though the clear plastic, making a mental note to cover it with scotch tape later as a poor-man's lamination. He looked at the other photos, one of a much younger Kevin and her going to what looked like a middle school dance, and next to it was her in her cheer uniform smiling happily next to Archie in a football uniform, his helmet lazily clutched in the hand around her shoulder. He glared at it, taking all his will power not to take it down and rip it to shreds. He heard the water shut off and walked slowly back to the bed, sitting down and waiting for her patiently. She finally stepped out, her hair wrapped up in messy bun on top of her head, her short pink pajama shorts showing her smooth legs, and a loose white V-neck dipping too low. How she could look so effortlessly sexy and cute at the same time seemed like it was never going to stop taking his breath away.
"You're so beautiful," He raked his eyes over her, enjoying the way she blushed looking away from him.
"You're not charming your way out of this conversation," She mumbled eyeing him carefully.
"I'm not trying to," He held his hands out in front of him, shaking his head "Trust me, I've thought of everything, even faking a heart attack. I know I'm not getting out of this."