Rainy Days ▸ BUGHEAD

chapter eighteen

"here it is." betty tells me. after a long walk through a forest, we finally had arrived. this was where polly was hiding out.

i observe it carefully. it looks worn out, and it certainly seems like someone's been living there for a long time. the door was run down, and the shack had no windows. it was basically a strap of wood, with a door. almost like a 1st grade craft.

"how long?" i asked betty. "how long has she been here?"

betty shrugged. "i haven't been keeping track that closely." she paused to think. "i know it's been since july."

i glare at the shack again, this time more carefully. "seems about right." turning towards her, i give my arm to her in an escorting position. "shall we?"

betty gladly expects it. "we shall."

the first things betty does is knock on the door. but this wasn't an ordinary knock, it seemed to be some sort of code. and with all that's been happening, i can see why it's needed. especially when cheryl is coming after us.

"betty?" a voice from inside says.

i knew who it was, polly. good thing i know, betty could have easily been lying.

"polly, it's me betty. i've brought someone, someone i'd like you to meet." she answers.

suddenly footsteps leading to the door occur. i knew she was coming. and maybe, just maybe, my questions would finally be answered. it was about time. thinking about it gave my anxiety anxieties.

that's when polly unlocked the door, to show herself. this polly was not the polly that this town once knew. oh no not even close.

instead of her river vixen outfit she'd proudly wear, she had very worn down clothes. by her appearance, she hadn't bothered to brush her hair, or shower in who knows how long. as well as that, crusted mascara tears were covering most of her face.

she looked horrible. she looked like the hot mess rumors said she was after jason's death. i could barely look at it, it made me sad to think betty, someone i love and care about, risks everything for her. she sees polly worse than this, its blows my mind.

"come in." polly's voice trembled.

the first thing i noticed in that shack were the hundreds of pictures of jason on the walls. a normal person couldn't tell if this was a shrine for him or not, that's how bad it was. mainly i just wanna know where she got all these pictures.

he must be a corn field, because she was definitely stalking him.

i also noticed polly no longer was tidy. a lot of things were either on the floor or on various pieces of furniture. it certainly hadn't been cleaned in a long time.

and how betty has stay strong for this shocks me. i can barely contain myself just being here for a few seconds. i will never get betty, then again who truly does? i think that is why i find her so fascinating.

as we enter polly motion us to sit on a couch. as far as i could see, it was the cleanest part of the shack.

"may i get you anything?" polly asked us. "i can make tea, coffee..."

"we are okay polly." betty interrupts. "please take a seat."

i watch as polly takes a seat. she looks sad, as if she was about to start crying. but i overlooked that fact slightly so i could do what i came here for, investigating. i needed answers, and polly was my answer key.

"polly," betty said interrupting inner detective vibe. "this is jughead, jughead you already know polly."

i reach my hand to polly, but she doesn't accept it. all she does is look directly at my hand. by her eyes i could tell she thought something was wrong. but it was just my hand, i haven't done anything bad with my hand.

"archie, you already know me silly." polly said, giggling slightly.

betty looks at me, shame filling her blue eyes. "polly, you haven't seen archie in like six months. this is jughead."

"oh no." polly continued. she leaned up and touched my hair. "archie you're red hair has turned... black. why did you do that to yourself?"

i looked puzzled. i was so confused, why would she think i'm archie. i mean in a way it's sort of flattering, she thinks i have a six pack. but also not flattering, i mean why would i want the f boy in this town?

it was complicated thought process. but eventually i knew what betty had done. it had turned out she was hiding more than just polly, betty had more secrets.

how i did not see that coming shocks me.

"betty," i say. "a word outside."

we stand up, leaving polly in the room. while i have no proof, i am almost certain polly was okay with us talking for a moment. maybe betty mouthed something to her behind my back.

it would not the first time she's done something behind my back.

as we stand outside the shack i start to speak. "archie knows about polly?"

betty nods in agreement. "he's the one who told me about the baby shower the gang planned for me. so in an attempt to stop it, i told him the truth, that's why he didn't come. i only came to warn either you or ronnie, whoever i could talk to first. i still can't believe he didn't try and cancel it like he promised."

"you should have told me." i replied. "maybe this was, i dunno, an important detail!"

"sorry." betty simply said. "i didn't want you to know since i know he kinda stabbed you in the back this summer."

"speaking of backs, guess who's back?"

i turn around to see a large group of people. leading them is none other than the cheryl blossom. following her is her little passé, with usual faces. and by usual i mean her parents and officer keller, but also many workers. i assume those are mr.blossoms workers.

"oh and before you go on with the dumb slim shady reference," cheryl says. "i brought you something."

cheryl hands betty a piece of paper. betty reads it but isn't sure what it is just yet.

"what is this?" betty asked, still unable to tell.

"a lawsuit." cheryl said.

oh brother.