Aberration ≫ Jarchie

F O R T Y - N I N E

Trigger warning: Ace!phobia

Seventeen Years Old ❣︎ March

Archie is drunk.

His hands shake with intoxication, his eyes are pierced with a vivid cadmium, and his mind is running a mile a minute.

Archie follows the crowd. He isn't at all ashamed to admit that either, seeing as it is expected since he is considered one of the hottest jocks in school, but he can't help but to admire Jughead who always seems to do his own thing.

Jughead has his own opinions and his own style.

Archie can't help but to want that.

He can't help but to want Jughead.

He knows he shouldn't have took that red cup from Reggie's hand, and he knows that he shouldn't have went back to get four more. He just has a lot on his mind.

Well, only one person, but that one person just happens to be a lot.

Every time he closes his eyes he sees the cute boy with his floppy Raven black hair. He sees his toothy grin that rarely comes out of hiding, the one that only seems to be reserved for him. He sees the boy's dorky hat and his dorky jackets, but his mind also wanders to the abs underneath them.

The scarlet hue thought alcohol was supposed to help him get his mind off of the darker hue, not heighten his feelings.

The very feelings that he's not supposed to have towards his best friend. The kind of feelings he can't have because he knows Reggie wants Jughead too. The type of feelings he's supposed to have for his girlfriend, but can't muster.

"Jughead is bad for me." Archie mumbles incoherently before walking out of the large kitchen and into the living room where the rest of the party is at.

Immediately, Val comes into his vision which causes him to internally groan.

"Are you seriously drunk?" Val asks furiously, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I-I can d-do what I want V-Val." The red head giggles, unconsciously adopting the stutter he adorned years ago before loosely putting his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder.

Val cringes at the fervid smell of poison and pushes him off, shaking her head in honest disappointment.

"You promised we would enjoy this party together! For once I'd like to go to a party where you spent time with me instead of the team. You walked in here all grumpy like you have been for the past week, and instead of ditching me for your friends, this time you ditch me for alcohol!" Val's nose twitches in anger and her hands are vividly flying everywhere, desperately serving as a medium to convey her anger accurately.

After a few seconds however, a frown begins to grace her face after she realizes something obviously must be wrong.

"You're not yourself. Tell me what's up." She softly demands, not giving Archie the choice to postpone the conversation or change the subject like how he always manages to do.

Archie stares at Val for a few seconds before his lip begins to quiver, and his legs begin to shake. It's because everything just feels so horribly wrong, and Archie feels as if he isn't himself anymore either. Without Jughead, he doesn't think he even knows who he is.