Beanie Boy

Labor Day

'its the calm before the storm. The summer before your junior year in high school. Working some brutal summer job that actually makes you look forward to going back to school. Or maybe you have an internship that doesn't pay much. That's okay because it's for a good cause. Or maybe you spent it at Sweetwater swimming hole. You and the best friends you'll ever have. Or maybe you spent most of June-July-August in a courtroom, supporting our pal Archie Andrews, who was on trial for a murder he didn't commit, despite the DA's closing arguments.'
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You sit in the courtroom next to Jughead, who you hadn't forgiven yet. There isn't really a reason your mad at him you just are. "Archie Andrews may be a valued football player and sensitive musician, but he is also a murderer" the attorney fighting against Archie says. "What a bitch" you say under your breathe as you fan yourself. It was hot in the courtroom so almost everyone was fanning themselves. Jughead laughs. You crack a half smile because you hadn't laughed with him in awhile but you immediately stop. He notices you smiled. Archie's mom, and attorney, stands up. "Ladies and gentlemen, we know for a fact that Archie Andrews constantly puts the needs of others ahead of his own. We know that he helped solve the murder of Jason Blossom. We know that he offered both friends and enemies shelter when they had no where else to stay. We that he helped save the life of a one, Cheryl Blossom, who wanted to die. Let me remind you that there were no actual witnesses to the actual killing. There was no motive weapon nor was there a motive. At the end of the day, all the prosecution has is cloudy testimony from unreliable people. Now, it is my solemn duty as a mother to protect my son. But as an attorney, it's my duty to adhere to the facts, to the evidence. There is nothing here that proves that Archie Andrews is anything less than an innocent boy. Thank you." Mary says taking a seat. You nod at everything she says. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the charge is first-degree murder. You may retire to begin your deliberations." The judge says banging his gavel on the desk. Everyone stands and walks out. When you get out jughead pulls you aside. "We need to talk about this." He says. "No we don't. Can I go get water now?" You ask. "No. Y/n, why are you mad at me?" He asks. You hesitate and swallow. "I- it's not that I'm mad at you, I'm more mad at Hiram. He is framing Archie for murder. I had the gun at the lake house. It was in my hands when we heard that gunshot after Archie ran out. He had, NO GUN! I'm starting to believe that the reason my friend is in there is because of me, my gun, and the security button. If I had stopped Archie from going outside trying to change that guy, he wouldn't have cuffs on him right now!" You yell. A few people look at you. You cover your mouth. "Sorry" you whisper. "Look at me, this isn't your fault. You can't blame yourself." Jughead says with his hand on your cheek. Your eyes water up. "I'm sorry. Instead of dealing with all this like a normal person I took my anger out on you. And- I, I didn't know what to do, or who to turn to. So instead I ran away and blocked you out and i'm sorry." You say. He hugs you and you bury you head in his neck. You sniffle as a tear rolls down your cheek. You get off him and wipe the tear away. "I love you y/n" he says. You smile. "Everyone loves me" you say. He laughs and hugs you again. You fan your eyes and go to the water fountain. You fill a cup with water, pop a pill in your mouth, and chug the water. "Doing drugs?" Toni asks. You laugh. "No, it's ibuprofen." You state. Jughead walks up to and puts his arm around you. "You guys are back together? Good." Toni says. You smile. "You did great in there Mary." Fred says. "Thank you Fred, it's only most important case I'm our lives." Mary states. You walk up to them. "You really were amazing Mrs. Andrews. Uh- how good of a chance do you think Archie has?" You ask. "I'd say 50-50" she replies. You nod. "Have you guys seen Archie?" Veronica asks. You guys look around for him and find him sitting on the stairs in the main hall. "Archie there you are" Veronica says walking up to him. "How you holding up man?" Jug ask. "Yeah good, jug" he replies. "What were you thinking about just now? How your gonna walk out of this courthouse a free man?" You ask. He scoffs. "No I.. there was this place. We've never been before, Ronnie. But, y/n Betty and jughead do you guys remember Sweetwater Swimming Hole? How we went there every summer and when   y/n came we still went. " Archie asks. "I was just thinking about that place earlier." Jughead says. "Yeah me too. What made us top going?" Betty asks. "Probably when we all got covered in leeches." You say. "Was that is or was that a movie?" Betty asks. "That was definitely us. I remember picking the leeches off my skin and having to pick them off Archie and Jugs back because they "couldn't reach."." You say. "I'd like to go. Hopefully you can take me, Archie?" Veronica asks. "Hopefully." Archie states. Kevin comes up behind you. "Guys, it's time. The judge just asked us back in the courtroom." He says.