Riverdale: Betty X Jughead

Chapter 6: Two Years

Two Years Later...

Archie's POV:

It's been two years since my father died... Two years since Betty and Jughead disappeared.
When everything happened, I didn't know how I would survive. I lost my dad and my two best friends on the same day... The only reason I got through it was Veronica. She's been here for me through everything, and I can never ever repay her. 
  I watch her as she dons her cap and gown, preparing to graduate Valedictorian.  I'm so lucky to have her.
  She catches me staring and smiles.  "You ready?"
  "Yeah... I just wish Betty and Jughead were graduating with us..."
  "I know." She looks down.  "But I think they're okay... I just have this gut feeling that they are alive and well."
  "Really?" I say hesitantly.  I find it hard to imagine that they are alive somewhere, living life without us.  If they are, what is their reasoning?  Are they really so selfish as to abandon us when we needed them most?
  We are called into the auditorium and my questions go unanswered yet again.

  Graduation goes by in a blur and I can't even feel excited because as soon as I make it to the stage I notice a sad looking figure standing in the corner of the room:  F.P. Jones.
  My mind starts racing and I wonder if he knows what happened to Betty and Jughead.
  After the ceremony I walk up behind him slowly.
  He must sense me because he says quietly, "I kept hoping that maybe Jughead and Betty would come back and graduate, but it was stupid of me to come here..."
  "Do you know where they are, Mr. Jones?  Do you know if they're..." I gulp.  I can't bring myself to say it.
  "Alive?" He asks.  "They are alive, as far as I know... They ran away... They had to run away.  They came to me the day before they left... Told me to come visit when I got out.  Hell, the only reason I'm out is because Betty gave me bail money."
  "Wait- so you knew this whole time and you didn't tell anyone? Not us, not the police, not even Betty's family?? She missed Polly having her babies... Her mom has been worried sick!  You know, if they had wanted to run away to be together they could've just told me and Veronica! We would have been there for them!"
  "They didn't run away to be together, Arch... They had to leave... Betty wasn't safe.  Her mom snapped, and she took it out on Betty...  She only hit her and called her some bad names this time... But that woman is a loose cannon.  What would've happened the next time? Or the time after that?  Jughead wanted to keep her safe, and to do that they had to disappear completely."
  I stare at him blankly, my mind going a million miles a second.  "They had to leave because of Betty's mom?  That's insane... Do you know where they went?"
  He shrugs.  "Sort of.  They didn't even know exactly what their plan was, but I know in general where they are.  I'm heading off today to find them..."
  "Can Veronica and I go with you?" I ask quickly.  "Please?"
  "I don't know about that... They really didn't want anyone finding them..."
  "It's been two years, F.P.  I think it's time for them to be found."

  Five hours later, Veronica and I are loaded into Mr. Jones' truck, heading toward the city and toward our friends' new lives.