JugHead x Reader

I need you, Juggie.

Word Count: 1443
Warnings: depression, cursing, alcohol (if that's a warning haha)
A/N: this one shot was requested and I absolutely loved the idea! I hope you enjoy!
Request: Jughead is battling depression but won't let his best friend know about it.

Y/N had been Jugheads best friend for as long as he could remember, but he couldn't put a finger on when he fell in love with her. Y/N had always been there for him, and at this point, it seemed like she was the only thing keeping him going. Ever since FP, Jugheads dad lost his job and his mom and sister left, Jughead had been depressed. It tore him apart not seeing his sister and mother everyday, and things only got worse when his dad took up drinking all day every day. It didn't help that Jughead was constantly going through bullying, especially from the football team. Y/N was of course there to pick up the pieces anytime they happened to fall, and to Jughead, she was the glue that held those pieces in place. But lately, the pieces had been falling more and more at a time, but he refused to tell Y/N. She already worried about him enough, he didn't want to be a burden. No matter how hard he tried to help it though, Y/N knew him too well, and was starting to notice.
"Juggie!" Y/N yelled, running through the hall to catch up to him. He gave her a small smile, and she beamed back. Oh man, how Jughead loved that smile. He swore it was the light of his life. "Pops after school?" she asked, lightly bumping into him.
"Isn't that the plan every day?" he teased and she rolled her eyes.
"Yeah but as of lately you've been kind of distant towards me and I just wanted to make sure." she said, a hint of worry and a tinge of hurt in her voice. Jughead remained quiet, even though he wanted nothing more but to spill everything to her, to tell her everything that was breaking him slowly. "I haven't done anything, have I?" she asked.
"No, absolutely not!" Jughead exclaimed, turning towards her. "Y/N I-" Jughead bit his tongue, not quite ready to admit his feelings for Y/N in fear of losing her. "I've just been really tired, that's all." He lied. He watched as her face fell, and he knew she could tell he was lying.
"Okay, well I guess I'll meet you by your locker after school so we can walk to Pops together." she said, trying to smile up at him. Jughead could see it was a forced smile, and he hated himself in that moment, because he knew she was upset and it was all his fault.
"Sure thing." he said, but it came out harsh. Y/N turned and walked down the hall, and Jughead just stood and watched.
                                • • •
      "Hey Juggie!" Y/N beamed, walking up to Jugheads locker.
     "Hey," he mumbled, throwing things into his backpack, and slamming his locker door shut.
     "You ready to go?" she asked tenderly, noticing he was in a mood. Jughead turned to walk towards the door.
     "I can't go today, I'm sorry." he called over his shoulder. Y/N felt anger bubble up from her stomach, and in that moment she had no control over what she said or did.
     "Of course you can't!" she yelled, and people in the hall stared at her. Jughead turned around, and saw tears streaming down her face and her fists in balls. He had never seen her so angry before, so hurt. "First, you lie to me constantly, and now you're just distancing yourself from me! Jughead, I am trying so damn hard to be there for you, but you make it so impossibly hard that it's exhausting! What do you want me to do?" she practically begged. Jughead felt tears stinging his eyes, but he refused to show any emotion in front of the tens of kids staring at him.
     "I don't care what you do Y/N, worry about yourself." he spat harshly, turning and walking out of the doors. He could faintly hear her start to cry, and Archie calling his name, but soon all he heard was his heart beating in his ears. He could have sworn in that moment, he heard it break, and he hated himself even more for leaving her back there. No matter how badly he wanted to turn around, run into the school and hold her in his arms, kiss her and tell her he loved her, apologize and never leave her side again, his body wouldn't let him. He forced himself to keep walking, leaving a trail of fallen pieces behind him, because he no longer had the glue to keep him together.
                               • • •
     It had been days since Jughead had last talked to Y/N, and it was slowly killing him. Jughead had snuck into his dads house every night the last couple of nights, and stolen some alcohol. He watched as his dad attempted to numb down the pain with alcohol, he decided he was going to try it too. Living with the pain that he hurt Y/N so badly, and that he lost the one person he truly loved was too much to bear, so he drowned himself in alcohol in the Twilight Drive In after hours.
     There he sat, a bottle of whiskey in hand and tears streaming down his face, he looked at the pictures on the wall. One of him and his sister from when they were little, and one of him and Y/N. He looked at the two girls, and smiled, but drank when he remembered they we're both gone.
KNOCK KNOCK
     "Jughead?" a small voice from the other side called. His voice caught in his throat when he realized it was Y/N.
     "Go away." he called, trying to sound as sober and mean as he could. He heard her sigh from the other side.
     "I'm sorry, but I can't do that." she said. "You weren't at your house so I came here. What are you doing here so late Juggie? The Drive In is closed for the night." she asked, but Jughead ignored her question, hoping if he stayed silent she'd go away.
     "Jughead please," she sobbed, no longer able to hold back the tears. "I just want to help you. I don't know what's gotten into you lately but I'm worried, and I can't sleep or eat or pay attention in any of my classes because all I can think about is you!" Jughead felt tears roll down his face as he listened to you beg for him. "You are my best friend, you are my most favourite person in this whole damn world! These past few days have been hell without you! I just want you to open up to me again Jughead, I just want you to let me in, to let me help you for fucks sake!" she yelled.
     Jughead opened the door and wrapped his arms around Y/N, and she held onto him for what felt like forever. Jughead forgot to close the door behind him though, and Y/N opened her teary eyes and pulled away from Jughead, pushing past him to see the room filled with alcohol bottles, a makeshift bed, and clothes littered all around.
     "Oh Juggie..." she mumbled, turning to face him. He dropped his head in embarrassment, and she cupped his cheek in her hand. "I'm sorry, I had no idea." she whispered. Jughead looked up to meet her eyes, and in that moment he couldnt stop himself anymore. He leaned down and kissed Y/N, his hand flying to her face.
     "Don't be sorry, none of this is your fault." he whispered, eyes still closed and his forehead rested against hers. "I'm the one who should be sorry, I've been living here at the Drive In for awhile, ever since my mom and sister left. I've been feeling incredibly depressed and alone and I've been pushing you away... and it's been slowly killing me. Y/N, I love you, you're are no doubt the best thing to ever happen to me." He opened his eyes and looked down at hers, to find her crying. She leaned up and kissed him this time, pouring all the love and passion she possibly could into it. When the kiss broke, she pulled him into a hug.
     "I love you too, Juggie. You will never be alone though, and I won't ever leave you. I need you, Juggie."