Calm Waters [Jughead x Archie]

₁₄.

Me and Reggie quietly trecked down the stairs, trying not to wake my father up. We raced out the door and into Archie's car. I slid into the passenger seat while Reggie slid into the backseat. Reggie scooted himself into the middle seat so he could lean forward in between me and Archie's seat.

The car ride was very silent, uncomfortably silent so I decided to speak.

"What happened?" I said while I looked down at my lap.

"I don't really know, Ronnie texted me hours ago so I came back." He stated.

"Why?"

"Because Betty and Veronica are still my friends." He said like it was no big deal. So Archie keeps in touch with them and decides to screw me over? Maybe he said it out of jealousy just to make my blood boil. Reggie rubbed my shoulder trying to comfort me.

"That's cool." I said in a disinterested tone. I shifted in my seat and grabbed Reggie's hand; pulling it so his wrist was laying on the front of the center console. I intertwined our fingers together just to make Archie's blood boil too. How does it feel Archie?

He took one glance at our hands and turned back to the road, the only reaction I got was his grip on the steering wheel had tightened.

So the car ride was silent after that. No one talked. And I didn't let go of Reggie's hand either. What's it like Archie? Seeing me hold Reggie's hand? Are you in pain?

-

Stepping foot in the hospital was overwhelming. I never liked hospitals, there's plenty of reasons why but I won't get into that. Archie jogged up to the front desk and asked if we could see Betty.

"Are you family." She asked as she typed impatiently at her computer.

"No-"

"Only family is allowed in sir, you'll have to wait." She nodded towards some chairs to the left of us where people were sleeping since it was nearly 4am.

I looked up at Reggie; I know he was never good friends with her. I don't even know if he talked to Betty but I could see something in his eyes. Why couldn't I read you? What were you hiding?

I switched my gaze back to Archie who was in front of us now, staring blankly at the bright white concrete floor of the hospital. I had forgotten how mad I was at him. I wanted to reach out to him, maybe hug him?

We made our way to the green stained chairs towards the left. I sat down next to Reggie and Archie decided to sit to the right of me.

Hours went by, Reggie had fallen asleep again. His head was on my shoulder. I had racked my hands through his hair a couple of times to get him to fall asleep which was actually very quick.

Archie was leaned back, almost as if he was looking at ceiling but his eyes were closed. He wasn't sleeping though I think he was trying. I stared at the wall in front of me trying to piece together the situation.

Archie could have kept in contact with me and decided against it. He texted Betty and Ronnie everyday. Suddenly Betty is in the hospital and Archie came back for her, except he dragged me into this mess. Instead of making my life a hell of a lot easier he dragged me in again during such a rough time. I didn't like seeing him like this, it's because I still have feelings.

The feelings never really go away. There's so much of them I don't think they can. And when Archie leaves again my feelings are going to turn to shit all over again, maybe even worse.

I looked over at Archie again, still I could tell he hadn't fallen asleep yet.
"I hate hospitals." I laughed.
Archie didn't answer but I continued.
"I hate thinking about how the majority of the people here are hurt or dying. You know how I said Jellybean and my mom left me? Well they did and they aren't coming back. I um-" I paused trying to catch my breathe.
"They actually died in this very hospital." I stared down in my lap now, trying to contain my tears.
Archie was looking at me now. His eyes filled with sympathy.
"It was a car accident. The day my mom was going to meet up with that other guy." I confirmed.

"Jughead, I'm really sorry." Archie grabbed my hand and squeezed it, trying to comfort me. But it felt so wrong for him to be touching me. His touch was cold and not how I remembered it. I slowly slid my hand away and placed it in my lap.

Ronnie then emerged into the waiting room. She gave me and Archie a small smile. She greeted with a 'hey' and beckond us to come with her.

I woke Reggie up and we all followed Ronnie to the room. It was now around 6ish in the morning. Betty was actually awake when we came in. Her mood immediately changed when she saw us walk in. The heart monitor connected to Betty began to beep faster.

"What are you guys doing here?" She said in a raspy voice. Her eyes were barely open when she looked at us.

"We're seeing if you're okay." Archie answered for us. He scooted a chair by her bedside and proceeded to ask her questions. He asked what had happened. Her eyes quickly searched Veronica's face before speaking.

"I don't want to talk about it right now." She shook her had at Archie who was watching her with careful eyes.

Hours had passed and Betty decided she wanted to sleep. Me and Reggie had missed first period already and decided not to show today.

Reggie went home and said he'd call me. I wanted to stay with Archie and Ronnie to support them since I felt bad that their friend was in this state.

They had sent us out into the hall where a couple of seats were positioned in front of the hospital door to Betty's room. Ronnie had apparently been up all night and had fallen asleep.

The doctors had came out and said we were allowed to enter. Me and Archie did but left Ronnie in the hallway, since for some reason Veronica was preventing something?

"What happened?" Archie asked again as Betty looked away from Archie, it was like she was ignoring us.

"Don't tell Ronnie I told you but, I was trying to kill myself." She admitted. Archie's eyes got big at her answer, then silence.

"Why?" I finally spoke.

"Isn't it obvious." Her sassy attitude was back. I shook my head at her, was I missing something?
"Some messed up things are happening to me, my friend might have drove a relationship to it's breaking point. And those people are so mad at each other." She said while a couple of tears feel onto her cheeks.
Us? Was she referring to me and Archie?

"Who?" I said in confusion. I began to walk closer to her bed.

"I can't say." She brought her hand up to her face to wipe the tears from her face.
"Don't tell Ronnie or she'll tell people." We left the conversation at that because Ronnie entered as Betty had just finished saying that.

Since Veronica was here and Betty wasn't allowed to talk anymore I went in the hallway to talk to Reggie.

"Hey." Reggie immediately picked up. I smiled at his voice.

"Hi." I responded quietly, as I paced the hall bored.

"Are you still over there?"

"Of course I am I cant just up and leave." I laughed since I found it comical that he thought I'd do that.

"Yeah you can, I did."

"Well you're not close friends with anyone."

"I'm a close friend of yours, really close." He said as he emphasized 'really.'

"Wow." I answered as I knew he meant something else.

"I also like sleeping with you." I could tell he was smirking into the phone.
"Jug I have to go, I actually made it to school so I could finish the rest of my afternoon classes, I love you."

I almost thought I was imagining things.
"I love you too?" I said as my heart started to beat faster. Why did he have to say that? I can't respond any other way. I hurried and ended the call because I was nervous of what he might repond with. Stopping at the end of the hall, I spun on my heel so I could walk to the other end of the hall but Archie was standing there watching me. He turned on his heel and began to walk the other direction and into an elevator.

-

I apologize for the late update and also for this chapter being really ueventful. I'm thinking of changing the cover of this book because I feel like it's boring so don't be alarmed if it changes.