IN SUBURBIA | jarchie |

ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ｔｗｏ

Biology class. The stench of dead frogs filled the room and I wonder, when will we use this is real life? Sure, it's interesting, (kind of, not really) but I would rather be at football practice. At least it's the last period of the day or else I'd be suffering.

"Okay class, I need you to pack up you tools and leave the frogs for me to dispose of." Mr. Flores instructed. "Once you've done that, you are dismissed."

~

Football practice was like any other, getting tackled by people, getting dirty, sweaty. It may seem miserable to some, but to me, it's like a distraction from school and life. It does make me stressed out sometimes with trying to remember the plays and focusing on everything that's going on.

After practice, as I was walking home I saw the kid. The one I saw at Pop's with the weird beanie. He met my gaze and walked over.

"Hey, I'm sorry for snapping at you yesterday," he said. "I was a little on edge because my dad's kind of a jerk."

"It's okay. I'm not exactly supposed to talk to you, but screw it."

"Why can't you talk to me?" he asked.

"Well, you're from the Southside. It's kind of stupid, but my friend thinks you might be dangerous. I promised her I wouldn't talk to you. I guess I'm not the greatest at keeping promises."

"Just because I'm from the Southside, people think I'm dangerous? I'm not, I'm kinda weak. If you're a real bitch to me, I'd punch you, but I'm really not dangerous."

"Huh." Silence filled the space between us. Then I remembered I never got his name. "Hey, what's your name?"

"Jughead."

"Jughead?"

"Well, my real name is Forsythe, but I didn't want the same name as my dad. So, instead, he gave me the name Jughead."

"No, I mean, it's me, Archie!"

"Oh my god! Archie!" His face lit up and he hugged me. "When I moved to the Southside, I thought I'd never see you again! You changed. A lot."

"You too."

"You got a phone number?"

"Yeah lemme write it down." I took a piece of paper and a pen from my backpack and wrote down my phone number. I folded the paper and gave it to him.

"Thanks." He waved and ran off. I did the same as he went back to his side of town. What if someone finds out? What would they do? Throw me into the Southside with him? Would I get grounded? Would I get endlessly nagged by my peers? I don't really want any of that.

I got a text from Betty.

B: You know my friend, Kevin Keller?

A: Yeah

B: Apparently he has a boyfriend! And that's not really the news, he is in huge trouble with his dad, the sheriff, because his boyfriend is in the Southside Serpents! You see? This is what happens when you try to talk to Southsiders!

A: Oh my god Betty! You're turning into your mom! The only thing that would be bad for Kevin to get a boyfriend from the Southside, is if he did bad things to Kevin. Did he?

B: I am NOT turning into my mom. And no... but still... you could get in as much trouble if you talk to that kid.

A: His name is Jughead. He's not bad. I was actually friends with him when I was younger. The only reason he snapped at me is because his father was being a jerk to him that day.

B: [seen]

She didn't respond. I opened the door to my house and saw my dad leaning against the kitchen counter, waiting for me.

"I saw you talking to that boy." he said. "Care to explain?"

"That was Jughead, Dad!"

"Jughead? FP's boy?"

"Yeah."

Dad walked backwards and collapsed on the couch. He put his head in his hands and was saying, "Oh no. No no no no..."

"Dad. What's wrong?"

"It's just... I've had... experiences with FP that I regret. I really don't want to remember."

"What happened?"

"Stop. Asking. Questions. I guess I'm... okay with you talking to Jughead, even though he's a Southsider, just don't want to see FP or Jughead in this house." He stared at me with a stern face. "You understand?"

I gulped and nodded my head. I'm so curious about what happened, but I'm scared what he would do to me. Did FP hurt him? I need to figure this out. I can't just leave this be. Maybe I can talk to Jughead. Maybe he would know something.