perfect family

fifteen

I left the house early in the morning without anyone seeing me. I made my way to Pop's where I wanted to meet Jughead. One of the waitresses put my food and what I ordered for Jughead on the table. I looked up when I heard the bell, Jug entered the pop. He greeted Pop's and then sat down with me. "Good Morning." I said with a grin. Jughead smiled and grabbed some fries. "Why did you want to meet me, Jug." I asked curious. "My dad has a new job." I looked at him in surprise. "Archie persuaded his father to give mine one more chance and then I persuaded him to take the chance." He explained. I was happy for Jughead, he had suffered so much from his father's behavior. "I'm happy, Jug. I hope FP comes back on the right track, he's a good person." Jughead shrugged, just wishing his father back. He picked up his burger and then started to eat. I also started to eat and drank my milkshake. After we finished we made our way to school. 

Jughead and I went in different directions. Jughead robably headed for Archie while I went to my locker. I packed my things in my locker and looked for the right school supplies for today. When I closed my locker door, it was Cheryl and an annoyed Betty. Cheryl pulled me by the arm into an empty classroom. Betty tossed her bag on the table and sighed. "What do you want, Cheryl?" Confused, I looked between the two of them to see what was going on. "What's up, guys?" Neither of them answered me. "What we all want. For the baby to be safe. How can I help?" Cheryl asked gently. "You can't. I don't trust you, Cheryl." "So don't trust me. Watch me like a hawk. Tell me the barest minimum. But let me help Polly." "You think Polly is crazy." Betty said. "I do. I think she's crazier than a serial killer on bath salts, but so what? She is carrying Jason's baby. That trumps everything. Do you know where she is?" Betty shook her head. "If I did, I wouldn't tell you." I choked on my drink, Betty is a bad liar. Cheryl and I said n at the same time. "Oh, my God, you do." "No." "Wow. You are the worst liar I've ever encountered. Spare me the details. Just tell me how can I be of assistance to my darling nephew or niece?" "Okay. Uh, Polly needs money. For a safe place to live. And for medical stuff." "Cash? Is that all? I can talk to my mom and dad." "What? No, Cheryl." said Betty and I at the same time. "Are you crazy?" I asked her. She rolled her eyes and turned back to Betty. "Jason's baby is a game changer. We're all on the same team now."

I'm not sure how I ended up here, but Betty had agreed with Cheryl and agreed to a meeting. I actually didn't want to go to this meeting, but she had forced me. That's why I was sitting with Betty and Cheryl across from Clifford and Penelope Blossom. "Clifford and I were so relieved when Cheryl told us that Polly and the Baby are safe and sound." Penelope calmly said. "And money won't be a problem, Betty. Not now, not ever. Not with us." added Clifford. "But of course, we don't want to just offer financial support. We want to give Polly all the emotional support that a young mother-to-be needs." Betty nodded a bit overwhelmed. "Where is Polly staying now?" Penelope asked couriosly. "We'd rather not say yet." I answered for Betty. "You understand." added Betty questioningly. "Of course. But you both and Polly are part of the Blossom family now. And we will protect you ferociously. All you have to do is trust. Will you?" said Penelope as she put a hand on Betty's hand.

***

The next day I got up late and was just about on time, when I saw Keller come out with Jughead behind him. Jughead was put in the car and they drove away. Archie and Betty came through the door. I looked at them both confused. "Can someone please explain to me why Jughead was just taken away." Betty pulled me with her. "They think I think he has something to do with Jason's death." Shocked, I looked at him as if Jughead could kill someone. "He said we should call his father, but I don't have the number." I held her and tried to calm her down. "I got his number from Jughead in case something should happen." We made our way to the station while I tried to call Jughead's dad several times. "Hey Mr. Jones. I'm a friend from Jughead. Sheriff Keller took him to the station. They questioned him. He said we should try to contact you." It rang every time, but no one answered it. I rubbed my eyes in despair. Betty was talking to one of the deputies. "Archie, try to reach your dad, FP won't answer." He just nodded and put his cell phone to his ear. We waited and waited. At some point, Sheriff Keller came out of the interrogation room, Betty was allowed to see Jug, while Archie and his dad talked to Keller. Somehow Fred managed to get Jughead free. I hugged him as he stood in the hallway. "I tried to reach your dad but he didn't answer." 

When we stepped out of the sheriff's station, his father came. I didn't listen to what they were talking about, I just noticed that his dad had a hangover again and was still slightly drunk I saw him glancing at me for a moment, probably remembering the time I got the car with Jason, before it all went wrong, I put my hands in my jacket pockets and went with the others. We made our way to Pops to meet the Blossoms. Betty was on Polly's left and I was on her right. Archie and Veronica were here too. I was holding Polly's hand, she was nervous. "The Blossoms should be here soon. Once we've talked things through with them, we'll call Mom and Dad." "I'm thankful. At the home, the sisters said each of us had a guardian angel. And you both are mine, Betty and Kat." The doorbell rang and Cheryl entered Pops without her parents. "Cheryl." Cheryl looked at Polly's stomach in shock, she wanted to touch him but then flinched back. "I'm so sorry about Jason. I know how much you loved him." She took Cheryl's hand. "He always talked about how much he loved you." Cheryl remained still. "Cheryl, where are you mom and dad?" Betty asked confused. "You have to leave. Now. My parents, I don't think they want to help you." She said concerned. "What are you talking about?" Betty asked. "They want you out of the picture, Polly. It's not safe for you with them. It's not safe for Jay-Jay's baby." "Where should I go? I can't go back to the attic." Polly asked us. "No, you don't have to Polly. And don't worry about my mom, Betty. She'll wanna help." Veronica's plan was for Polly to stay with her and her mum for the first time. 

"Of course you can stay. As long as you need. Anything for Alice Cooper's daughters."

Hope. A word so close to home, and as tricky. As much as we wanted Jason's killer caught and the town, our home, to feel safe again with every day that passed, our hopes dimmed more and more.