How to be the Perfect Outcast || Jughead Jones / Riverdale

13 || first detention. ((pt. 2))

-eden's pov.-

I cross my arms over my chest, pouting. Honestly, I have no idea why I did that. I regret it, sorta. I think this jacket and my friends are starting to change me and give me a little too much of an ego. 

I am not a badass. I can not fight worth the shit. I need to remind myself of this, because if I keep acting out I'm going to end up getting myself beat up, and then no one will show me any respect, and this jacket will lose its purpose.

Jug pulls my chin toward him, "We gave you this jacket to give you protection and the reassurance that someone is here for you. How do you think that will work if you keep diving into fights, Eden?"

I flinch. I think this is the first time that I've heard him say my name. I look down, my cheeks heating up with embarrassment. I feel tears sting my eyes, and I try my best to blink them away, with no avail.

I feel the warm stickiness drip down the side of my face, and I quickly brush it away. Jughead sighs and takes a hold of my elbow, pulling me into his warm chest. I bury my face in his sweater and jacket, taking in the cologne.

"I'm sorry," I blubber, sniffling.

"Shh." He hushes me, wrapping his arms around my back. I clutch the fabric of his long sleeved shirt, holding it close to my face.

---

I give a meek smile to our friends, who are leaning against the back of the school. It is lunch, and we are at our new adopted spot- with some of the other serpents who come to hang out, in case they are needed by Jug or the rest of us.

"Hey Popeye!" I grin, giving him a big hug. He rocks us to the side a few times before letting me go. 

I turn and greet the others: Foghorn, Bumblebee, Lashes, Siren, Joaquin, and Scorpion. We all start to joke and laugh. I start to feel better almost immediately, seeing Jughead genuinely laugh and smile.

---

When me and Jughead get home, it is nearly 8 pm, since we stayed at the Whyte Wyrm until Stefan insisted that if we didn't leave then we wouldn't be able to get up in the morning, and we couldn't risk having another tardy.

Stefan offered all four of us to stay at his house, but Ryland was the only one to accept. Damon eventually got eased in and agreed, as well, but Jughead sternly declined, so I figured he didn't want to.

I shiver as Jughead slides off of his bike and walks toward me, grabbing his and my bags. He grabs his keys out of his leather jacket and walks toward the front door, bending down slightly to unlock it.

I quickly walk inside, jerking to the left and into the bathroom, relieving myself. I hear Jughead laugh as he walks up the stairs. After I have done my business, I wash my hands and then walk out of the bathroom.

I walk up the stairs and turn left, into the open room. I see Jughead laying on the couch with his arms behind his head. A toothpick hangs loosely from his lips, and he grins at me. I smile back and start to undress.

When I am done, I throw on a shirt of his and turn out the lights, crawling over him to lay beside him. He lets out one of his arms from under his head and then wraps it around me, pulling me into his side.

When it has been a few moments of complete silence, I take a huge breath and turn my head to look up at Jughead, who peers down at me, eyes dilated due to the darkness in the room. I decide to hit him with the big question.

"So... what happened to your mother?"