Sorry To My (Almost Lover)

Chapter Eight

It was getting colder outside as the months passed before Christmas time arrived. Cheryl spent a majority of her time with Jughead. They kept their relationship quiet when they were with the others. But Cheryl was starting to feel lost without her family or Jason.

Sure her parents were murderers and abusive but they were always around. And Jason was her everything, he knew her more than anyone else.

As the holidays grew closer and closer, Cheryl pulled away more and more. Until one day Jughead received a message while with the others, including Toni.

Bombshell- I'm sorry Jug. Thank you for everything you've done for me. I'm going to be with Jason now.

Jughead- What? Wait, Cheryl? What are you talking about? Don't do anything. I'm coming.

"Jug, what's wrong?" Betty asks, seeing the look on his face.

"I have to go." Jughead said, getting up.

Betty frowns and gets up as well. "What's going on?"

Veronica frowns as she looks at her phone. "Where would Cheryl go to be with Jason?"

Archie frowns. "Sweetwater River. But it's frozen over." He says in confusion.

"We should go check on her." Betty said.

Jughead closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "She's been staying with me."

"What? Since when?" Betty asked.

The dark haired teen shakes his head. "Not the time."

"He's right. We have to go find her." Archie said.

Sweetwater River

"Cheryl!" Jughead calls out as they walk through the trees near the river.

It was still snowing and was slightly difficult to see.

"Cheryl!" Betty yelled.

Veronica was trying not to panic as she looked out onto the frozen river. "Cheryl!" she yelled, not seeing the redhead.

"Cheryl! Where are you!?" Archie cries out, his hand interlocked with Betty's.

Toni frowns as she looks into the distance on the frozen river. Her eyes widen upon seeing a figure out on the ice. "Over there!"

Jughead looks in the direction she was and his eyes widen. "Cheryl!" he yells, rushing forward with everyone behind him.

The redhead was banging a rock on the frozen river.

"Cheryl stop!" Jughead yells, rushing forward. There was snow covering the ice which made it easier for them to move forward.

Archie reaches out and grabs his arm. "Wait! The ice, it can't hold our weight."

Veronica swallows thickly. "Cheryl!"

Slowly, the redhead stands up and turns to face them. Her lips were turning blue from the cold and she was shivering.

"Come back to the shore! We can talk about this!" Jughead yells out, slowly moving forward.

Cheryl starts to step forward, only for the ice to crack beneath her. A soft scream escapes her as she falls through the ice into the freezing water.

"No!" Each of them yelled.

Jughead quickly runs forward, no longer carrying about his own safety. "Cheryl!"

Everyone was quick to follow.

By the time they reached the area she had fallen into, they realized the current had moved her.

"The current has her. Fan out and find her!" Jughead yells.

They all fan out and begin wiping the snow from the ice, trying to find her.

"Here! She's here!" Jughead yells, seeing the familiar red hair under the ice.

Everyone quickly moves over to him.

"How are we supposed to get her?" Betty asks in concern.

Jughead takes off his jacket before removing his plaid shirt, wrapping it around his hand he begins punching the ice. Quickly followed by Archie who used his bare fist.

Once the ice was broken, both teens pull Cheryl up.

The redhead's lips were so blue that Jughead was panicking. Leaning down he leans down to listen for her breathing.

"She's not breathing!" he cries out.

Archie nudges him to the side and quickly begins performing CPR until Cheryl spits out water. Picking her up, he begins walking toward the shore.

****

Cheryl's coughs softly as she curls into Jughead in her sleep. They had brought her back to the film room. Grabbing as many blankets as they could to cover her up.

Toni had even brought a heater from her trailer.

"Jug?" Cheryl mumbles softly as she begins to wake up. She groaned quietly, shivering.

"Shh, I'm right here." Jughead whispers softly, rubbing her back.

Cheryl curled into him, gripping onto his shirt. "You saved me." she mumbles weakly.

"We did." Jughead said.

Shivering slightly, the redhead releases a soft cough. "Why?"

"Because we love you." Jughead said, pulling her closer and pulling the blankets tighter around her.

Cheryl shook her head. "No."

"Yes." Shifting, Jughead lifts her head and looks into her eyes. "I love you." he says softly, leaning in to kiss her.

"I wanted to be with my brother." Cheryl snapped.

Sighing, Jughead shakes his head. "Cheryl, Jason is dead. You can't just end your life because of that."

"I miss him. I need him. I want to be with him." Cheryl said, pulling away.

Sitting up, Jughead shakes his head again. "Cheryl, Jason doesn't define you. I know you miss him but I'd miss you. We all would."

Cheryl looked away.

"It's true Cher," Veronica says softly, moving over to them.

Cheryl pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

"Talk to me, please?" Jughead begs softly, cupping her cheek.

Cheryl pulled her head from his hand.

"Baby please." Jughead breathes out, moving closer.

"Leave me alone." Cheryl snapped.

Swallowing thickly, Jughead moves back and looks down.

Cheryl buried her head into her knees.