1 | There's a Ghost [JUGHEAD JONES]

THIRTY THREE

word count: 1,450

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE:

HEALING

     THE PEOPLE IN THE ANDREWS house quickly dispersed and in the crowd was Jughead Jones, ready to walk off into the night. He knew birthdays were awful but today probably was the worst.

"Whoa, where the hell are you going?" FP exclaimed, holding his son back from walking away.

"What, you want to give me some advice on my right hook?" Jughead asked sarcastically. His head was spinning over the nights events and he didn't know what to feel or do.

"I want you to go back inside and talk to your girl." FP told his son, thinking to the moment when Virginia Hopkins revealed her secret. He had been afraid.

"I don't think it's gonna work out. Irreconcilable differences." Jughead spat out with a frown. He thought he broke up with Betty, he wasn't fully sure after this crazy night. Betty knew he was in love with Ginny, so that meant they were over, right?

"Wrong girl, Jug. Don't run away from it. Don't run away. You've got something good here. With her, with your friends. Something that–Something that I could never give you." FP Jones grimaced as he gave his son advice, he was a pretty shitty person, especially to Jughead and Virginia Hopkins. "Also, man up. After what I just saw in there, she needs you."

Jughead sighed, tugging at his dark beanie. His father was right, Ginny Hopkins needed someone right now and he knew it was him. His heart clenched at the thought of an adult taking advantage of his best friend. However, when he finally sat down with Ginny, he would hug her tight and not let go. He wouldn't speak, he would just be for her there in the moment. She needed a constant presence in her life, not someone who nagged her with questions.

She needed him.

º   º   º

JUGHEAD DEDUCED THAT GINNY wouldn't go far. She definitely wasn't going to an empty home or to Pop's and the nearest safest haven was Archie's garage.

Jughead sighed as he heard sniffling from inside the garage, knocking on the door. Immediately after his knock, the sniffling stopped and he sighed, knowing Ginny was trying to keep up with a strong composure.

A weak 'come in' was heard and Jughead entered the room, closing and locking the door behind him. He felt his heart ache as he saw his best friend curled up on the couch with a blanket wrapped tightly around her.

Tonight, there would be no interruptions.

"This is why I've been acting crazy," Ginny told him quietly, hugging her knees to her chest. It had been awhile since Jughead found her after the party and the two sat on the couch together quietly.

"Why you've kissed Archie and Reggie?" Jughead asked, lightly. He didn't want to say something that would trigger more tears. Ginny had cried for awhile on Jughead's shoulder and he stayed quiet, rubbing her back, and listening to her rambling words that made no sense. After awhile, Virginia Hopkins pieced herself back together and wiped away the tears. She wanted to explain to Jughead— he deserved to know.