Autumn // Jughead Jones

Chapter 7

/// Autumn's POV ///

I wake up and go downstairs to make breakfast since it's Saturday. I see my dad sitting in his recliner watching a movie. "Hey, dad want some eggs?"

"No Hun. Hey is Jughead still using the guest room?" My heart sinks when I hear his name. Even though I screwed everything up, I don't want him worrying about where he's living.

" I don't know dad, I'll talk to him today." I begin cooking eggs.

"Are you two ok?" 

"I don't know dad," I shake my head.

"He didn't do anything to hur-," I cut him off.

"No, No he wouldn't. I may have told him I liked him," I look down.

"I always knew you two would fall for each other," He laughs.

"I think it's one-sided dad."

"I don't think so, Autumn. You haven't seen the way he looks at you. He cares about you a lot. He may not be with it right now, but I'm sure things will work out, just talk to him." My dad gets up and gives me a hug before going back to his room. 

I finish making eggs and go upstairs to get ready for my day. I jumped out of the shower and put clothes on before I hear a knock at the door. I grab a towel trying to dry my hair as I open the door.  I see the blonde ponytail and my heart drops.

"Betty?" My eyes widen.

"Hey Autumn, Can I come in?" I let her walk in and she follows me to my room. I set down the towel and start on my makeup while she sits beside me.

"So uh, what did you need?" I ask scared as hell.

"Ronnie was telling me about how you weren't acting normal anymore."

"No, I'm ok just feeling sick or someth-"

"Autumn you are not a very good liar," She gives me a concerned face.

"I'm sorry Betty," Is all I say.

"It's Jughead isn't it?"

"Yeah..." I try to avoid eye contact.

"You like him?" She stays calm.

"No uh- uh I."

"It's ok Autumn, I could tell for a while. That's why I asked weeks ago," She places her hand on mine. " I'm going to step back from him." I look at her with wide eyes.

"No, please don't. You make him happy. Don't do this because of how I feel," I start to panic.

"Autumn, He looks at you with so much love. It's hard to compete with," She laughs. "You would make him happy. He's been acting differently too and I don't think he's happy."

"But-," I start to feel bad.

"But nothing Autumn. I'm ok, to be honest, I don't think I'm really over Archie as much as I thought I was," She looks down.

"Really?" I ask shocked.

"Yeah, and I'm not going to let Jughead go through me not knowing what I want. Just know you are not the reason." She gives me a hug. "Go be happy." She walks out of my room leaving me confused.

///

I enter the retro diner we call Pop's to look for a seat to write some more songs. I find a booth in the way back where the noise from others starts to disappear. Pop's is where I would always come to write songs when my mother fell off the wagon. It's so easy to pour my feeling out when I'm sitting in a booth.

I hear a jingle at the door making me look up seeing a boy with sad eyes and a crown like beanie. I feel all of the air leave my body when I see his eyes. He doesn't look like himself; his eyes are dark an filled with emotion. He begins to turn around and walk out, but he stops picking his head up a little. I keep my eyes on the boy I fell for. He turns around and walks over to me.

"Autumn?"

"Yeah Juggie?" I hope he tells me everything will be ok, that we would be ok.

" I uh," He stops. I stand up leaning back on the table.

"What?"

" I'm sorry," he turns around and walks out of Pop's leaving me hurt once again. Pop Tate comes over to me and gives me a milkshake making my frown into a slight smile.