Autumn // Jughead Jones

Chapter 6

// Jughead's POV //

I see Autumn at her locker as I walk down the school hallway. She's been sad lately and distant, but then again so have I. She hasn't talked to me in a while and it's starting to get to me. I see her talking to Archie all the time, and I just wish things were back to normal. She should be talking to me not him. I miss her. I see Archie and stop to talk to him.

"Hey Archie," I stand beside the ginger.

"Hi Jughead," His reply seems off too.

"Is Autumn alright? She's been distant and I haven't talked to her a lot," I push my bangs up.

"Not really dude, She's been pretty down," I've know Archie for years long enough to know he's hiding something.

"Archie, I know there's more to what you're telling me," I lean against a locker.

"I can't really tell you what's going on dude," His face hardens.

"Why?"

"Because it's something she would have to tell you, and when she does... if she does, it might complicate things."

"So she comes to you now?" I give off a pissed vibe.

"You haven't exactly been available," He turns around and walks off.

///

I open the door to Autumn's house looking for her. I walk upstairs to her room and see her singing.

  Too much time, losing track of us
Where was the real?
Undefined, spiraling out of touch
Forgot how it feels

All the messed up fights and slamming doors
magnifying all our flaws
and I wonder why, Wonder what for
It's like we keep coming back for more

Is it just our bodi-

She looks up at me and stops singing.

"Hey," I look at her.

"Hi."

"I talked to Archie today," I tried to make conversation.

"Yeah, how did that go," She leans her head back.

"Um, decent."

"He didn't tell you anything, did he?"

"No, I asked what was going on, and he said it was something for you to tell."

"Reasons I love Archie Andrews," She laughs. I haven't heard her laugh in a while.

"What is it, Autumn?"

"I can't tell you Jughead," her smile drops.

"Why? We use to tell each other everything."

"It's not like it was Jughead, You have a girlfriend an-" I cut her off.

"So? does it matter that I have a girlfriend?" I get offensive.

" Yes, because I can't tell you what I want to tell you because of Betty," Her voice raises.

"So you can go off and tell Archie Andrews but when it comes to me you can't tell me," I feel the anger rise. "Why can't you tell me, Autumn?"

"Because it's a hell of a lot easier to tell Archie that I like you than telling you that I like you," My eyes widen at her words.

"W-what?" I question.

"Shit," she gets up and tries to pass me but I lightly grab her arm.

"You like me?" I look at her confused.

"yes, Jug."

"But, why didn't you tell me. Why did you encourage me to date, Betty?" I look at her with confused eyes.

"Because no matter how much I like you, I would sacrifice that for you to be happy. You seemed so happy when you were talking about her." Her face falls. 

/// Autumn's POV ///

  "Because no matter how much I like you, I would sacrifice that for you to be happy. You seemed so happy when you were talking about her." My face falls. 

He paces around my room looking confused. He takes a seat on my bed and lowers his head. I study his actions, hoping things wouldn't mess up between us.

"I wish you would have told me earlier," He sighs.

"Would it have made a difference?" I ask the raven-haired boy in front of me. "Would you have seen me more than just a friend?"

"I don't know Autumn. But I do know that I get nervous around you. I know that if I had a deep dark secret you would be the only one I would tell. I know that you make me feel wanted." He steps closer, pushing my hair away from my face. "But I have Betty."

I feel the water weld up in my eyes. It hurts to know I will never be as perfect as Betty. She makes him happy and that's what he needs. He looks back up at me with sad eyes then walks out of my room. I sit on my bed feeling hurt and lost. What did I do?

/// Archie's POV //

I look over at the broken girl in the window. I know it's wrong to spy, but when my two best friends are going through hell what am I suppose to do. I see Jughead walk out looking confused, and Autumn begins to cry on her bed. 

I grab my jacket, walk out of my house and make my way to Autumn's door. I knock and see her dad.

"Hello Archie," He greets me, letting me come in.

"Can I talk to Autumn?" I look up the stairs for the raven-haired girl.

"Yeah, she's in her room." I start jogging up the stairs until I see her door. I walk over to the open door leaving three knocks.

"Archie?" Her voice is shaky.

"Hey, you ok?" I go over and hug her, letting her lean her head on me.

"I accidentally told him," She shakes her head.

"I saw."

"I don't know why I did that. Betty makes him happy why would I tell him," She huffs.

"Because even though you want him to be happy, you want to be happy too," I hold the broken girl. I see her eyes start to close, as she lets the tears fall. I look at her sleeping and hope things will turn out ok for her. I pick her up and set her on the bed right.  Gently I brush a tear off her face. I turn off the light and shut the door, saying goodbye to her dad on the way out.

I walk over to my porch and see Jughead. "Were you over there?" He asks not looking at me.

"Yeah, she fell asleep crying," I take a seat beside him.

"I hate seeing her hurt Arch."

"Do you feel something for her Jug? I mean you guys are so happy when you two are together."

"But Betty," He avoids my question.

"Jughead Jones, do you feel something for that girl," I point to her house.

"Yes, Archie. She's my best friend, but she's so much more too," I look up at the stars. He's so lucky to have Autumn, and I think that's finally hitting him.