Dazed and Confused

Hard Times

⚠️TRIGGER WARNING: THIS PART HAS SELF-HARM IN IT, IF THIS IS TRIGGERING FOR YOU, PLEASE SKIP THIS PART ⚠️

JUGHEAD'S POV:

A few weeks later:

I still couldn't believe that Betty can't remember me or our relationship. It's been really difficult and a struggle for me and her both. Right now, I'm about to do something that I know I shouldn't...I grabbed a knife and I started cutting my arm. I was in the bathroom at Pop's.

Archie walked inside the bathroom while I was cutting myself. He rushed over to me and said in a concerned tone, "Jughead! What are you doing that for?!"

I was sitting on the floor crying and my arm was bleeding. "B-Betty can't remember me or our r-relationship," I sobbed.

Archie started tending to the cuts on my arm while talking to me. "Dude, she was in an accident, a horrible accident. She can't help it that her brain isn't working properly right now. It might take some time, but I promise you, she will remember you and your all's relationship. But Jug, harming yourself isn't the answer, do you hear me?"

I was still crying but I nodded because deep down I knew he was right. I just needed to be more patient and try to stop hurting myself in the process.

Archie wrapped my arm up in a bandage and pulled my flannel sleeve down. "There, all fixed. Come on, let's go eat, my treat," he said smiling as he held his hand out for me to take.

I smiled faintly and took his hand and got up. While we were eating, I kept looking at him. He finally looked up and gave me a confused look. "Why are you looking at me like that, Jug?", he asked me.

"Just...why didn't you freak out when you saw me like that?", I asked him.

He looked down and swallowed his food and then looked back up at me and sighed, "Because...Ronnie's been in a bad place like that before too and I had to help her through it. I know that panicking doesn't help, it just makes the other person feel even worse so I've learned to be calm in those situations."

"Oh," I said looking down. "Is Veronica doing better now?"...I took a bite of my burger.

"Yeah, yeah she's doing a lot better now. She's been going to therapy and it's helped her a lot," he said. "Jug, maybe therapy would help you. I mean the one on one therapy not a group thing."

I nodded slowly, understanding where he was coming from. "Yeah maybe you're right. Maybe I should. But, who will look after Betty while I'm gone for that? I don't want to leave her home alone in this state that she's in."

"No, no of course not. Me and Ronnie can help watch her while you're at your therapist appointments," he said.

"Thanks, Arch. You guys are amazing, you know that?" I said smiling a bit.

He smiled and said, "Oh yeah we're the epitome of amazing." He chuckled.

I laughed, "oh yeah I know. You guys would save a whole aircraft if you could," I said grinning.

He laughed. "There's the Jughead we all know and love."

I smirked while eating my burger and fries. "Seriously though, man, thank you."

"Of course, Jug. That's what friends are for," he said.

"No man, we're not just friends. We're brothers." I said smiling.

He smiled back. "You better believe it."

We finished eating and walked back to our houses.

"See you tomorrow?", he asked me.

I tilted my head slightly. "Tomorrow?"

"School, man," he said.

"Oh! Right...school. Yeah I'll see you then", I said.

"Later, Jug. Text me if you need anything, alright?" he said.

"Will do." I said as I opened the front door to mine and Betty's place. When I got inside, Betty was passed out on the couch, so I laid down beside her caressing her cheek and fell asleep.