Autumn // Jughead Jones

Chapter 2

During our break periods Jughead, Archie and I join Betty, Kevin, and Veronica in the lounge at school. I walk into the small room and see the rest of my close friends.

 I take a seat on the empty couch in front of them while Jughead and Archie take a seat on the other sides of me. I feel tiredness comes over me when I finally relax in my seat. The loss of sleep over the past few days have made it hard for me to keep my eyes open. I rest my head on Jug's shoulder and close my eyes while the rest of the group talks.

"Is she ok?" I hear Kevin.

"She hasn't been getting much sleep," Jughead replies.

"Why not?"

"Some nightmares she's been having."

"She stayed up all night singing," I can hear Archie mutter sleepily, but I know he isn't mad.

"She sings? I haven't heard her sing before," Betty says in a confused tone.

"She doesn't really sing in front of a lot of people, just in the music room and her room alone," Jughead explains. 

"I get front row seats," Archie jokes. I open my eyes and lightly hit him on the shoulder.

"Shush," I laugh.

"Autumn you should sing at the Variety Show coming up soon."

"So the beauty has a voice?" I hear Chuck's voice pop up. Chuck would be one of the school jocks, let's just say he's not at the top of my like list. I look over at Jughead who's glaring at him.

"Nope no voice," I make eye contact.

"So Autumn, I was wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner tonight?" Chuck leans on the back of the couch close to me.

I look at all of my friend's faces. Kevin and Veronica have a "Go for it girl" face. Betty and Archie looked confused as hell and Jughead just looks pissed. I stand up and stand in front of Chuck.

"Sorry I'm not interested in jocks, I go more for the damaged, loner, outsider guys who actually care." I smile.

" C' mon Autumn, most girls would want to go out with me." He smirks; he rests his hand on my shoulder making me glare at him.

"Do I look like most girls?"

"You will want to soon Autumn, I'll be waiting." He laughs.

"Good luck waiting," I go and sit beside Archie and Jughead again waiting for Chuck to leave.

" Autumn he's hot," Veronica points out.

"I'm not looking to date."

"And he's kind of a player," Betty adds.

"Who cares? He's the hottest of hot. Is it because you like someone else?" Kevin asks with wide eyes.

"What? No, I didn't say that" I brush my hair out of my face.

"No one turns down eye candy unless their heart is set somewhere else," Veronica states.

"And now I'm leaving," I get up from my spot walking out of the room.

///

I grab my stuff for home out of my locker, closing it. Betty walks over and starts talking about re-opening the Blue & Gold school paper.

"We are investigating Jason Blossom's murder. Juggie already said he'd help, and I know you write, so would you consider joining the team?"

"I don't want to get involved with Jason's murder Betty, I'm sorry but I can't," I walk with my head down.

" Autumn, we will be ok," She sets a hand on my shoulder.

"I'll help a little bit but for the most part, I'll stay behind the scenes on this," I smile at the blonde.

" How are the nightmares?"

"Betty they are freaking me out."

"What's happening in them?"

"Jason's murderer... he keeps showing up and hurting people," I look back down.

"Who?"

"Jug and I don't know why it's just him but hell it's getting to me." I open up to her.

"I mean you are really close to Jughead. Is it because you like him? Maybe that's why it's just him," She looks at me.

"No Bets I- He's just a friend," I keep walking towards my house.

"Are you sure?" I nod to her as she turns around and walks towards her house. I open my door and lay my books on the couch.

"Dad I'm home," I walk to my bedroom waiting for a reply. I look outside to see my dad's truck gone, telling me he's at work. I live alone with my dad. My mom went crazy with pills and now she is staying somewhere else. One day, she decided it was time to move out so she took all of the stuff and moved to a new house while my dad was away at work. It was just my dad and me living in a house with what she left us.

After everything started shifting wrong in my family life, no one wanted to be friends with me besides Jughead. He was going through similar stuff which made it easy to connect to him. My dad started getting back on his feet, along with me working too. We got money and moved into a better house, and I finally got out of my awkward stage and grew up. I made more friends when we started getting back to normal, but Jughead was and will always be my best friend.

I hear a knock at the door. I walk over to the heavy wooden door and open it seeing Chuck's face. My eyes widen as I see the douche bag in front of me. "Chuck, what the hell are you doing here?"

" I came here to ask again," He leans on my door.

" No, now go the hell away," I push him back.

" Hey! You don't want to get on my bad side, I wouldn't do that," He takes a step closer.

" Watch me," I push him harder out the door and lock it, watching him walk away.