No one ever said that it would be this hard

Chapter 20

♾ Betty ♾

When I was back at the car, with just a water, Jughead was gone. I didn't know where he was but I was worried. I didn't mean all of that. When I called him, he didn't answer. Even to my texts he didn't reply.

I got back in the car and just started driving around, hoping to see him. An hour later, my phone vibrated. Hoping for it to be Jughead, I took it out but only Archie called. Nevertheless I answered.

"Archie?"

"Jughead is here. I don't know what happened but I'm guessing you know. I just- wanted to call you to tell you that he's here. He can stay here if you want, or you pick him up, I don't necessarily care but he doesn't look good"

"Why?"

"I think he has a panic attack in the bathroom right now. I'm not sure though, he locked himself in there before... But he was hyperventilating and he's really badly crying right now" Archie explained.

What did I do?

"I'm on my way" I said and Archie hummed before ending the call. When I arrived at Archie's house, he was already waiting at the door.

"Still in the bathroom?" I just asked and Archie nodded. I thanked him before walking over to the bathroom to knock. The sobbing stopped for a moment.

"Juggy? Can you let me in?"

"No"

"Please?"

"No. You wanted me to leave, so just-"

"I didn't mean that. You were right, okay? I was- I was hurt. I am still. I don't want you to leave. Juggy, you are my rock in the ocean. Please let me in"

"No"

"Juggy," I said, pressing my head against the door "Archie said that you are having a panic attack"

"I'm fine. Just leave"

"You didn't want to leave me, so I won't leave you, okay? You don't have to open the door but I'm not leaving, not without you"

He stayed silent. When he didn't say anything further, I just sat down on the wall opposite to the bathroom door. Jughead soon continued crying, his racked breaths and sobs heard through the door.

At some point, I just took out my phone to get the time around. Archie offered me a cup of tea and then sat down next to me.

"How long will he be in there?"

"He won't come out in at least an hour when he really has a panic attack. He never does"

"How long... has he been having panic attacks, Archie...?"' I asked, turning around to face him.

"A few years, at lest when we got into High School. That's when I found out about them. He could have had them for longer though"

"Why didn't he tell me?"

"You know him"

I did.