Nobody Gets Me (Like You)

Chapter 8

Jughead walked back into the apartment, clenching his jaw when he saw Betty looking around his drum set. "What are you doing?" he asked and she glanced up at him.

"I was going to help you take it down," she explained and he stepped over to her. "Is that okay?"

"It's probably best if I just do it," he muttered and she scoffed. "Betty-"

"No, I can help," she challenged. "How hard can it be? You just, what, take this thing off," she muttered as she pulled on one of the drums. She tipped her head to see why I wouldn't come off, her hand pressing into the drum head.

"Betty, don't-"

She applied too much pressure as she tried to stand and her hand went through the head. She gasped and he clenched his jaw, wiping a hand over his face as he turned away from her.

"Jug, I'm so sorry-"

"Go sit in the truck," he whispered, not looking at her.

"I just wanted to help."

"Go sit in the truck! You've done enough! Why would you even—just go!" he shouted and she stood quickly, walking past Cheryl in the hall.

Sweet Pea walked up the stairs, furrowing his brows when Betty walked past him crying, Cheryl hurrying after her. He moved up to the hall, looking at Toni in confusion. "Why is she crying?" he asked and Toni sighed.

"She broke Jug's snare," she muttered and Pea winced. "She was trying to... I think she was trying to put it away and she put her hand right through."

"It would have been a matter of time before it would have broken anyway," he mumbled and Toni shrugged. "And at least it's not the set he uses every night. Is she okay?"

"He yelled at her, but she'll be fine. She was trying to help, she doesn't understand drums like he does. She doesn't... she doesn't know how to put them away, it's just what happens."

Sweet Pea looked into the apartment and Jughead was pacing, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Should we leave him be?" Sweet Pea asked and Toni nodded.

"Let's go see Betty," she muttered and he nodded with a sigh.

They walked down the stairs and outside, finding Cheryl holding Betty as she cried against her shoulder. She rubbed her hand over her arm, her cheek pressed against the crown of her head.

"He's going to hate me," Betty blubbered and Cheryl scoffed. "I ruined his drum."

"Betty," Fangs started and she adjusted her head, sniffling as she looked over at him. "You honestly did nothing wrong. If his head broke that easily, then it would have broken sooner rather than later. Yeah, he's pissed now because he's gonna have to change all of his drum heads, but he'll get over it."

"What if he doesn't?" she muttered and Toni sat down next to her, squeezing her shoulder.

"We'll force him to," she promised and Betty smiled tinily. "He loves you and he may be upset, but love trumps anger. He'll get over it."

"I feel bad," she muttered and Toni nodded.

"I know, but you just have to leave him be for a little while. Why don't we go get lunch or something? It's nice, we can eat outside. Pea and Fangs can stay and help Jug," she said with a pointed look and they both frowned. "And we can bring them back something to eat."

"Okay," Betty whispered and Toni nodded, looking over at Cheryl.

~

A few days had passed and Jughead had barely said three words to Betty. She had tried to get him to talk, but it had been no use. He would only shrug, nod and shake his head.