GAZE- Jarchie

5- Girlfriend?

Friday 1:01am

The week goes by quickly and it's now Friday. It's a school night and I'm lying on my bed rewatching the video I found of Jughead online. It comes to the part where the guy asks what Jugs favourite movie is and he says 'Romeo and Juliet'. I've never seen the film before and for some reason I want to watch it. I find the movie online and watch it. I'm currently at the scene where Romeo and Juliet are in the pool together kissing each other. It goes by quickly and before I know it I'm at the end of the movie. A tear falls from my eye as Juliet kills herself. After the movie has finished I lie back down leaning on my pillow. Just thinking. Why do I care so much about Jug? Why the fuck do I feel the need to know his social media? I grab my phone and go on Facebook typing his name up again. As before, nothing comes up. I sigh loudly, putting my phone down and stare at the ceiling. I don't know what I'm feeling at the moment but it's really getting to me. I turn off my light and try to sleep. Sleeping is something I've always struggled with.

3:30pm

After a tiring day of school I walk to the bus with Reg, Moose and Chuck. We talk about parties, girls and drinking. The usual stuff. "Let us know details about Valerie's party" Reg says as we all say our goodbyes and walk opposite directions. I get to the bus and lean against a bench on my phone while waiting for it.

After a while it finally arrives and I get on standing in the middle bit holding onto the railing. My eyes are locked into my phone. 'Are you at home? And can you buy beer for me?' I message Kevin. I need beer for Valerie's party tonight. I watch the bubbles as he types. 'I'm working until 9pm sorry' Kevin replies. "Hello" a very recognisable male voice suddenly says. It was Jug. I look up with my eyes wide open, surprised to see him and he stares at me smirking. He was holding the same railing and to be honest we were standing quite close. "Hi" I smile. I awkwardly look at the floor not quite sure what to say. "Going home?" He asks. "Yeah. You?" I answer. He nods in response. We both go silent and I feel slightly awkward and nervous for some reason. I turn to look at him and he's still smirking at me. I awkwardly smile back not saying anything. "Nice chat" he says grinning. I lightly laugh trying to get rid of the awkwardness. The bus stops at town. "You're 18, right?" I ask him. He nods and lightly smiles. "Could you maybe buy me some beer?"

We get off the bus and head to town. I wait outside and play on my phone as he goes in to get the beer. After a few minutes he comes out. "I forgot my ID. I have to go home and get it. You coming?" He questions as he walks away. I slowly turn around and follow him.

After a while we get to his small house. "Hello?" He calls as he opens the door. No one responds. "Great" he says sarcastically while putting his bag down and taking his shoes off. I do the same thing while closing the door behind me. We walk into his room. It's full of random posters, an acoustic and electric guitar and drawings on the wall with a bunk bed in the middle. "I don't know where I've put it" Jug says referring to his ID as he looks through his room. I turn around and get distracted by the drawings behind me on the wall. They were cartoon drawings. They were really good. I couldn't help but slightly smile. "Did you draw these?" I question. He turns and looks at me. "Yeah" he says grinning as he see's me lightly smile. "They're good" I compliment. "Thanks" he responds. "Really funny" I slightly laugh referring to the cartoons. "You think so?" He questions. I nod. "Here it is" he says. "You found it?" I ask turning round thinking he's talking about his ID. "No, but..." he holds up a cigarette. I grin and he smirks back.

We sit on his big window ledge looking outside while smoking our cigarettes. "What do you listen to when you listen to music?" He suddenly asks staring at me looking curious . "I'm quite a big drake fan" I answer honestly. "That's what gets you going? Have you listened to anything from the neighbourhood?" He questions. Who's the neighbourhood? I shuffle my eyebrows and he notices. "Are you kidding? You've never heard of the neighbourhood?" He says lightly grinning. "I have heard of it" I lie. "It doesn't sound like it" he laughs taking the cigarette out his mouth. I look down. "You should listen to them later" he says as he smokes his cigarette. We carry on talking about anything for what seems not a long time but in fact we talked for ages. We both tell rubbish jokes and laugh. As we stop laughing I gaze at him as he looks outside. His eyes meet mine again and I smile looking down.

After our conversation he decides to make a cheese sandwich for us both.I watch him carefully as he makes it. "That there is very sweaty cheese, man" I grin. "I know I forgot to put it back in the fridge when I left for school" he laughs. "Have you ever forgot to put it back before?" He questions. "Yeah I always forget the cheese" I smile. "Fuck, that's a problem " he grins back. "Yeah. Cheese and keys. I always forget them" I say. "Yeah they're the two things I forget most" he says walking over to the fridge. "Beer?" He asks holding the drink up. I nod. "There you go" he says as he hands me the drink. "Cheers" he says as we click drinks and take a sip. "So, do you want any spice toppings?" He asks. "Spice toppings sounds perfect.Go ahead" I nod. I go on my phone and check my messages as he adds the toppings. 'When should we be at Valerie's? Did you get the beer? Answer' said a message from Chuck. Shit I completely forgot about the party. 'Hi. We will start the party at 7pm. Just call me when you're outside town and I will come meet you. When are you guys coming?!' A text from Valerie says. "Do you want chili?" Jug suddenly asks. "Yeah fuck it" I respond. "This sandwich is going to taste like shit" we both laugh. "We can't go back now" I say. "No. We can't" he nods. I go back to my phone thinking of what to say. 'Sorry man. Valerie cancelled the party. So I think I'm just gonna chill at home' I text him back lying. I just want to spend time with Jug. I can't be asked for Valerie's party. 'Sorry I forgot we have other stuff we were doing. We will join another time' I text Valerie lying again. I feel bad lying. Jug watches me as I look down at my phone. "Should we put it in the oven?" Jug asks smirking. "Let's do it"

We sit on a the floor in his room and take a bite out of our cheese sandwich with all the toppings. I prepare myself for the shit taste. I regret taking a bite as the taste fills my mouth and I can tell Jug regrets the bite too. "There's something that doesn't taste right" he says. "It's absolutely terrible" I say honestly making him laugh. "You're the one who wanted all the toppings" Jug says smirking at me. I hate when he smirks. It makes me feel really nervous. I don't know why. It's quite I don't know attractive I guess. "Toppings are the best bit" I say. "Is that the trick? For it to be good?" He questions. I nod and smile.

There's suddenly a knock at the door. "What time is it?" He asks. "Ten to eight" I say as I check my phone. "I've invited some friends but just stay. We have lots of beer" he responds while getting up and walking towards the door down the hall. I hear voices join the room causing me to get up. Walks in are two girls and one guy. "Hi" one of the girls say. I smile back. "Introduce yourself" Jug walks into the room. "Elise. Nice to meet you" a girl shakes my hand. "Archie" I greet as I shake hers and the guys hand. "and this here. Is Betty. My girlfriend" Jug speaks up, putting his arm around a girl with blonde hair.

I suddenly feel extremely irritated and uncomfortable. His girlfriend? I didn't think he had a girlfriend. "Nice to meet you" she smiles. "Archie" I shake her hand and fake smile back. "Your girlfriend won by the way" Elise suddenly tells us. "Really what? You're so smart" Jug replies holding her hips and looking into her eyes smirking. "Yeah, yeah" she looks back up to him laughing.

I awkwardly stand watching having no clue what they're talking about. They start whispering into each other's ears smiling. Jug then starts kissing her. I feel hurt. I don't know why. I awkwardly watch Jug and Betty. Paying no attention to what they're saying between kisses. I just watch as Jug kisses her. Part of me feels like he's doing this purposely. I check my phone and get a message from Chuck saying 'Why are you lying? We just talked to Valerie and her friends' I quietly sigh.