No one ever said that it would be this hard

Chapter 18

♾️ Jughead ♾️

The next morning, I woke up with such stomach cramps that I just curled up on myself, groaning. There were noises in the kitchen but I just ignored them, covering my eyes with the sleeve of my hoodie to block out the light

"Are you awake, Jughead?" Archie asked and I just groaned as a response "Great, how are you feeling?"

"Like I had a motorcycle accident yesterday" I mumbled, groaning again but then slowly sat up, holding my head as the headache got worse. I heard footsteps and then Archie stood in front of me, a glass of water in one hand and two pills in the other.

"This one is for the hangover" he said, reaching me one pill and the water "and the other is for the stomach ache. Just let it dissolve in your mouth"

"How did you even-"

"You're a sleep talker, Jug, and you complained, a lot. I just figured the rest from there" he shrugged and I nodded, swallowing the first pill and then taking the second, which was more like a tablet, to just put it in my mouth "So, how much do you remember?"

"Of...?"

"Of yesterday, Jug"

"I... went to the White Wrym...?" Archie hummed, gesturing me to continue "and that's it..."

"First time you're drinking and you already have a blackout" he shook his head "What do you want for breakfast?"

"I don't... feel like eating breakfast" Archie sighed and sat down next to me on the couch. I turned around to face him "what?"

"What's going on between you and Betty?"

"What do you mean?"

"You fought, you never did before"

"It's just... stuff. I was trying to get some money together and it might have not been in the best way. Betty found out yesterday and of course asked me what's going on. We kind of- got loud and then she told me to leave"

"So you did?"

"So I did" I sighed "I meant to call her last night but I haven't yet, I think. I wanted to give her time to process first..." I mumbled, getting out my phone to check the caller list. I had not called her. Great.

"I guess, I'll leave you to call her then... or should I drive you over?"

"No, I think that I will be fine. I'll text her really quick and then walk over to her"

"And you won't drink?"

"No, Archie, I won't. Yesterday was a stupid idea and I don't know why I did it"

"Will you tell Betty?"

"Don't know yet.. probably not"

"She will find out anyways"

"No, she won't" I mumbled before getting up "can I shower?"

"Sure... your clothes will still smell like alcohol though, and like cigarettes and weed. Did you take that as well?"

"No?" I hesitated "at least I don't think so..." I added, shrugging.

"My God, you really went downhill yesterday"

Better then other things I used to do. I nevertheless checked my forearms through the sweater. No pain — a good sign. I at least stayed clean over the night.

"I've never had a fight with Betty, not like that at least. She actually sounded like-" I stopped myself.

"Like, what?"