Caught In The Storm

Chapter 18

Archie's POV
Veronica reads the article about Betty in the newspaper for the third time while I make us lunch.
"Why do you keep reading that?" I ask her.
"I don't really know" she says, yawning.
"I feel so bad for her. Jughead texted me and said that Jack already left town" I tell her.
"I don't blame him. That's some heavy stuff" she responds.
"Yeah" I agree.
"Do you think that this is all because of Jughead?" she asks.
"What do you mean?" I respond.
"Well her and Jack were fine back in California but then she reunites with Jughead and suddenly she's calling off her engagement" she explains.
"You always thought that Betty and Jughead were soulmates" I remind her. "Maybe you were right. Maybe they're supposed to be together, or something"
"Do you think that they're already back together?" she asks.
"I think that it is their life, not ours. It isn't any of our business, okay" I say.
"Arch, she's my best friend. I just want to know what's going on" she whines.
"We all do. This whole town. But Betty needs to figure this out. I have a hard time believing that she got back with her ex boyfriend the same day she called off her engagement, but I don't know. That's all I have to say on the matter" I tell her.
"She still loves him, Arch. She told me. They're soul-"
"Veronica. It isn't our life, it isn't our business. I think that we should stop talking about this" I snap.
There's silence.
"I'm sorry, I don't know why-"
"No it's okay, you're right" she cuts me off.
She stands up out of the chair she was sitting in and starts walking towards the stairs.
"Lunch is ready" I yell.
"Not hungry" she responds.

Betty's POV
"Are you ready to do this?" Jughead asks.
We're sitting in his car outside of my house and I'm trying to gather the courage to face my mom.
"I'll never be ready" I answer.
"Betty, you're the bravest girl I know. You've stood up to your mom before and you can do it again. Okay?" Jughead says.
"Okay" I answer.
"I can come in with you" he offers.
"No, I have to do this myself. It's my problem, I have to deal with it" I tell him. "But I know my mom and I know how she'll react. I'll
probably end up moving out of this house so if you could just stay out here so I can make a fast escape, that'd be great"
"Yeah, of course" he says. "You got this"
"Thank you" I say.
I lean across and give him a kiss.
I take a deep breath and open the door. With every step I take the butterflies in my stomach intensify.
I get to the front door and stand there for a few seconds, trying to calm down.
When I'm finally ready, I open the door.
"Mom?" I yell.
She steps out from the kitchen.
"Hello, Elizabeth" she says.
I can tell from her tone that she knows. Let's make this short and sweet.
"I know you saw the paper, mom. I know that you know it's true and Jack left this morning. I'm so sorry and I know how much you loved him and really wanted us to get married please don't-" I get cut off.
"I'm not mad. Did I think that Jack was great for you, yes. But I married the wrong man. I don't want the same to happen to you. You're my daughter, I want you to be happy. Don't look so shocked. I have a heart, you know" my mom says.
I look down at my hands, processing what she just said. I look up and smile at her.
"Thank you" is all I can say.
"I'm going to ask one question and I need you to answer it honestly. Is this because of Jughead?" she asks.
I nod silently.
"As long as he makes you happy" she says.
"I didn't think you would be supportive" I admit.
"Like I said, I married the wrong man and obviously I can see that now. I don't want you to have to go through a divorce. I want you to be happy" she says.
I smile at her.

Jughead's POV
I sit in the car, looking through Instagram when I realize how long it's been since Betty went inside. I look up at the house, and that's when I see it in my mirror. A black van. Parked perpendicular to Betty's driveway, blocking my way. I can't see who's in the car, but I know they came here for Betty. It's the black van she was telling me about.
I put the car in reverse and gun it.
After less than a second, the cars crash. I knew that the other driver would get the worst of it, considering I was ramming the back of my car into the driver side of his van, but all I cared about in the moment was protecting Betty.
I feel searing pain in my back, then everything goes black.

AN // I TOTALLY MEANT TO POST TODAY BUT FORGOT AH IM SORRY BUT IM POSTING NOW SO IT'LL BE HERE FOR U GUYS ALL DAY TOMORROW IM SO SORRY!!! Anyway, gotta admit, this was never gonna be in the storyline until now and I feel like car crashes are kind of unoriginal, but idk I felt like writing about it. I hope you guys enjoyed and are excited for the next chapter. Please send me feedback and vote if you want Jughead to be okay!!