Slowly Giving Up ~Bughead~

Chapter 8

Jughead's POV: When I picked her up, she still didn't seem any different except for the redness of her face, and the deathly black droops under her bright blue eyes, that were closed. She was still awake, opening her eyes every other minute. It's like she was in a whole other world. Every time she would open her fluttery eyes, she would look at me, like I was the darkness that covers Riverdale. If so, the picture of Riverdale's darkness holding its last ray of sunshine would surprise any fractured soul of this terrible town.
I took her to her house. A perfect little two-story rectangle. I couldn't go through the front door, because I don't have a key. So, it was going to be hard, but I went around her house to the side, being sure that Archie wasn't in his room. The last thing Betty wants is another person knowing about her stress. It took a while, but I made it up the latter. I pulled out my pocket knife, and opened the window, hiding the knife so Betty would never find it. I left her knife at the Drive In, so hopefully it's gone, forever.
As soon as I got her into the window, I made sure she was comfortable, and put her on her girly, pink covers. I sat down by her, and wondered what was going on it that beautiful mind of hers. Her eyes were no longer fluttering, so I assumed she was calmed down and asleep.
I looked at her one unharmed wrist, making sure she didn't have time to hurry a quick cut into the trembling, glowing, perfect skin she had. She hadn't done anything but a little cut, barely able to see. As I looked at her head, I remembered when I bandaged the tiny cut on her forehead. I was guessing it was healed now, so I peeled it off gently. I was right, and it was all better. There was just a little scar that I knew wouldn't be going away as fast as the actual cut that caused it did.
Her damaged wrist that was still bandaged was showing no blood still, so I took the risk of peeling it off, too. Her fingers were still bruised, and I still didn't know what she did too make them like that. Her palm still had a trace of fingernail carvings, but they were healing. And then I saw her wrist.
           Betty was perfect in every single way. And I know she hates it when people call her that. But, I don't call her that because of her grades, or because she never fails anything. I call her that because of her. Her face was perfect because of the innocence that filled it. And her perfect eyes, I could stare into them all day long. Her hair was like strings of gold. Every strand brighter, or more delicate than the other. Every day, a new golden shade appears, like the phases of the moon.
           And that's what tore me up so much, when I saw her wrist again. She'd taken herself and hurt what she could. And the world is a very, very terrible place if it made her do this.
          Before I knew it, Betty's eyes fluttered open, causing me to see the waves of an ocean washing up onto the sand. When they were completely opened, she saw me. She knew what had happened, once again. Her eyes started to tear up as she sat up. She opened her mouth to talk, but I stopped her from being even more upset. "Don't say anything, Betty." I whispered. "I'm sorry, Juggie. About what happened at school. You didn't do anything wrong. It was all me....that's why I ran off." She said while reliving every moment in her mind. "It's ok, Betty. We all do things we regret." I said. She looked down at her wrists to see the bandages removed.
          "Wow. I must have really punched him hard." She said while laughing. "Yeah. Who exactly did you punch...and why?" I asked. She looked at me and smiled. "Chuck was messing with Cheryl. She fell for him and his nasty tricks. I guess something in me popped." She said. "Have you seen him lately?" I asked. "Not really. Ever since I punched his eye." She said.
          I got up and went to her bathroom, looking for a bandage to take care of the rest of the scars she's caused. I found them in her cabinet, along with a razor. I didn't trust her. I knew her, but we all have a dark side. And hers would be willing enough to use a razor. I quickly shoved it into my pocket, and left with the new bandage.
          She had gotten up, and was putting her hair down. I couldn't help but notice how well it fell perfectly over her shoulders. She brushed it out, leaving a few rough curls.
She turned around, and saw the bandage in my hand. I walked over to her, and started wrapping it around her wrist. "Don't do anymore stupid things, ok?" I asked. "Ok." She smiled. That smile always did something to me.
           "So, any ideas for the Drive Ins final night?" I asked. She turned back around to face her mirror, with me standing behind her. She looked at me through it, and said, "Maybe..Rebel Without A Cause?" I laughed silently at the name she chose. "Maybe.." I said.
           Betty's POV: When Jughead left, it was my time to take action and make Veronica and Archie come along for the movie. It was one of my favorite places, after all. I texted Veronica and Archie in a group chat, notifying them that they have no excuse not to come. Scared to reject, they agreed to walk to the movie with me.
          A few minutes later after re-applying my makeup and putting on a pink dress, I heard my doorbell ring. I wasn't expecting anyone, at least for twenty minutes.
          I went downstairs, and opened the door. I was surprised to see Veronica, looking stunning as always. She was wearing a purple knee length dress, and holding a violet handbag in her right hand. Her hair was curled at the bottom, and straightened at the top. She had one streak across her lips of red, and her cheeks puffed with blush. "Betty! I'm so sorry I'm early." She apologized. She walked in, and made her way to my room. I followed her, and shut my door behind me.
          "Veronica, I don't mind, but, why're you here early exactly?" I asked. "Well, I needed to talk to you before Archie got here. Are we alone?" She asked. "Yeah, my parents are at their office. What's wrong, V? I asked while starting to get worried. "You don't like Archie anymore, do you?" She asked. Hearing that question was a surprise. I hadn't thought about the night he rejected me for a while, and I wasn't planning on it. "V, I think I'm actually over him, now. I guess feelings go away if you're not meant to be." I said while smiling sweetly. "Ok, that's good. I'm thinking about telling Archie how I feel tonight." She said with a blush. "V! That's great! I'm sure he'll be as happy as you are. When he first saw you, I could tell he thought you were meant to be." I said, trying to calm her.
          For another 10 minutes, we talked about Archie. We talked about my hand, and I told her everything. Not about my wrist, just the punching. "Chuck deserved it. He hurts girls and then tears out there souls with his own two hands." She said. I quietly agreed.
          When the doorbell rang, Veronica grabbed her handbag and I grabbed my light blue miniature cloak. We went out the door to meet Archie.
But, that was just the beginning.