Slowly Giving Up ~Bughead~

Chapter 5

Jughead's POV: As I was walking home, I realized The Twilight Drive In's last day was tomorrow night. Just seeing the sign say "Closing Soon" made me shiver. It feels as though I'm losing a person. The Twilight Drive In is special to me, in many more ways than one. The most important reason? I live there. It's my home, and an unknown buyer is taking it away from me. It doesn't matter what else they do, but they can't and won't take my treehouse away from me. If they do, I'll be officially homeless.
I don't want pity, or people to feel bad for me. I just need this one thing, and I'll be thankful. All I'm asking is for my treehouse. The broken, hurt, treehouse I call home.
What hurts the most is that my dad knows I live in a film room, and he's not even hurt by the fact. He always asks if I'm safe, but he doesn't actually care. He wants me to think he does, but he really doesn't. No one does. No one cares about Jughead Jones. I'm just the broken outsider boy from the wrong side of the tracks. No one will ever care.
As I neared home, and turned the corner to find my treehouse, only to find my dad standing before it. "Hi, Dad." I said in a low mumble. "Jughead. How are you?" He asked. "Fine. It's not like you care, though." I said. "Jughead, I care about you more than you'll ever know. It's not my fault you don't wanna live with me in our trailer." Said FP. "What do you want, anyways?" I asked. "Just warning you before hand, that there's a storm headed our way. The treehouse may not be too stable for you tonight." He said. "I'll be fine in the film room, Dad." I said dryly. "Just warning, you, Jug. Bye for now, then." He said while waving. As he went to leave, I saw his black leather jacket. The dark green snake on the back was enough to keep away anyone. Above the snake it said "South Side Serpents". Not such a surprise.
My dad asked me to join before, and I thought about it. It sounds better than the life I'm living right now, but it takes time to think about joining a gang. Anyone could turn their back on you in the blink of an eye.
Betty's POV: I decided to take another walk, before the storm started. It's supposed to get bad, so I want to get back in time for a romance book, cuddled up with a blanket. When I was about a few minutes away from Pop's, I heard voices splashing in with the sound of trees swaying, sending the message that it's about time for a storm. I turned a corner, to find a tree with Cheryl Blossom and Chuck Clayton standing under. Chuck was the most cruel human being I've ever witnessed. He uses girls and then throws them in the trash can like they're nothing. From afar it sounded like arguing, but would Cheryl really fall for Chucks tricks? Why can't you just be normal, Chuck?! You told me I was special, and then I catch you kissing a desperate train wreck?! Said Cheryl. "Oh, come on, you still wanna be with me, Cheryl." Said Chuck. Hearing him do this, to any girl, is heart breaking. Even Cheryl doesn't deserve this. I quickly stormed over to them, and stepped between Cheryl and Chuck. "Chuck, walk away. Now." I threatened. "And what're you gonna do about it, Betty? It's not like you're gonna do anything BAD like Polly." He taunted. "Chuck. I said leave. her. alone. NOW." I began yelling. I gave Chuck the deadliest stare I've ever gave anyone. "And what if I say...something like no?" He asked. That was a mistake. I looked Chuck in the eye. Right through his ice cold soul and said, "Then I do this." Very low. I raised up my fist, and punched Chuck Clayton right in the eye. Something I thought I'd never have the guts, or glory to do. He gave me the iciest look with a bruised eye already, and walked away. I looked down at my hand, and I saw what looked like the biggest bruise I had ever seen. The blackness was surrounding my hand, with purple covering my fingertips.
          I turned to Cheryl, and she had a devious smile attached to her face. "Betty Cooper, the fierce cat. I'm impressed, Betty." She said. "And, thanks. You might wanna put some ice on that. It'll be worse in the morning. Once again... thanks." She said while turning to walk away into the now rain-smelling air.
          Once again, I looked down onto my hand, and my fingers were trembling. It hurt..really bad.
          Suddenly, off in the distance, I heard a brief clapping of ones hands. I slowly turned, to see who'd witnessed the whole situation. It was a Serpent, with black hair, and his leather jacket the finest out of all Serpents. He came out of the shadows, to expose the name on the leather. "FP" was his name.
          "I'm impressed." He said. "You don't even know me to be impressed. Who are you and what do you want?" I asked. "Relax. I used to talk to your mom. Alice Cooper, was it?" At the words of her name I slightly winced. "She was a part of the Serpents." I said. "Yeah. Just like me." He added back. He slowly came closer, but not too close. "I was surprised when you punched that kid. You have some guts." I was pleased with myself, getting a compliment from a Serpent. "Say, we could use some help from your kind of hands. You know, a little back up here and there." I was intrigued to hear him say this."I'm sorry. My mom would kill me." I started to walk away, but he talked once more. "You'd have a family. One who'd protect you more than your mother or father could. Think about the offer. I come here every day, at this time. If you happen to change your mind, I'll be here." He said. I turned around, and said, "thank you". And I didn't look back after that.
          When I found my house sitting on the now dew filled grass, I ran up to my room. I laid back, and thought. Thought about the offer. About all of the problems in my life. And when I thought, I cried. I needed Polly. I needed happiness. I needed a safe place to land. I was lonely. I was sad. There was only one thing I could think about.

**this part may be uncomfortable for some readers**
          I walked into my bathroom. I reached for something. Anything I could find. I couldn't find my razor. So, I went into my room by my bed, and I dug out my pocket knife. I went back to the bathroom, and I slowly cut. One, done. Another one, halfway done. I didn't feel anything. Any pain, any emotion. It's the only thing that felt right.  
I started crying. I started balling my eyes out, without thinking. Blood was flowing down my palm, going between my fingers onto the white, clean floor. I sat the knife down, and the blood was now on my shirt. I tried to calm down, taking breaths one by one. The blood wouldn't stop, so I got up, and went into my room once again, under my bed I reached for a bandage. I wrapped it around, and wiped my eyes. My makeup was ruined, but I didn't care. I wiped up the blood from the floor, and didn't mind changing my shirt. I had to go. Somewhere. Anywhere. Before I opened the door to leave, lightning threatened me. Still, I didn't care.
          I ran wherever I could. The blood now showing through the bandage, my hair and makeup a mess. I ran. Didn't know where I was going, but I ran. As fast as I could.
          I showed up at our spot. I saw the treehouse. I ran. I fell. Everything was a blur. I was screaming, crying, in the wet grass. Hoping I would just drift off, forever. I did. Almost. The thunder didn't keep me awake. The rain splattering on my face didn't. I didn't keep me awake. I just went. As fast as the rain was pouring over Riverdale. This time, there was no sunshine. All lightning. And then, I realized. It was just the beginning.