Caught In The Storm

Chapter 19

Cheryl's POV
I run into the hospital and look around frantically. Finally I spot Betty sitting on a chair at the end of a corridor with Veronica and Archie.
"Betty" I call, running up to her.
When I get to the chairs, she stands up and I embrace her in a hug.
"Hey Cheryl" she says.
"How are you doing?" I ask.
She gives a small smile. Clearly fake.
"I'm fine. I'll be okay" she lies.
"Will he?" I ask.
She looks off in the distance like she can't talk about it if she's holding eye contact with someone.
"The doctors think he will be" she says.
A feeling of relief comes over me.
"That's good, right?" I try to be cheerful.
A tear rolls down her face.
"Can we sit down?" she asks.
"Yeah of course"
I sit down in a seat next to her.
She puts her head in her hands and stares at the floor.
What happened? I mouth to Veronica.
I don't know! she mouths back
Should I ask? I say, still silent.
Veronica just shrugs her shoulders.
"Betty?" I start.
She looks up at me.
"What happened?" I ask carefully.
She sits up straight again.
"We don't really know. It was a perpendicular crash and the other driver got the worst of it. It was right at the bottom of my driveway. They don't know if Jughead meant to do it or not, but it was definitely his fault. And the other car was the black van" she tells us.
I can see Veronica's expression change.
"As in the black van" she asks.
"Yeah" Betty answers. "They won't tell me anything about the other driver"
"Have they told you anything about Jughead?" Archie asks.
"He has a severely compressed spine..." she chokes back a sob "...and he'll have to be in a wheelchair. He's expected to walk again, but after two or three months of physical therapy"
She lets the tears fall and puts her head back to her palms.
"Betty I'm so sorry" Veronica says.
"It's just so hard. It's all so hard. He was my support system through everything that's happened. And now he's in a hospital room unconscious. They haven't let me go back and see him either"
No one says anything. No one knows what to say.

Betty's POV
It's been two hours since Cheryl got here and no one's saying a word. I don't blame them. I wouldn't want to talk to someone who's as much of a mess as me.
"Elizabeth Cooper?" a voice says.
I look up and see a nurse standing there.
"You're the girlfriend, correct?" she asks.
"Yeah" I answer.
I'm sure everyone's shocked.
"Do you want to come back and see him" she asks. "He's awake"
I look over at Veronica and Archie. Veronica gives me a small nod.
I stand up and follow the nurse down the hallway. We stop just outside of the room I'm assuming is his.
"I'll warn you. He's covered in a lot of wires and doesn't look like he's in very good condition. I just want you to be prepared.
Do you want to look through the window first, so you don't react in a way that will scare him?" she asks.
"Yeah" I answer.
She steps aside and I look through the window. The tears that stopped come rushing back.
Jughead. My Jughead. Covered in wires and tubes and machines, with bandages all over.
I turn away and put my hands over my mouth, letting the tears fall.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" the nurse asks.
I nod.
"I'm not supposed to tell you this, but he asked to see you. He really wants you to be in that room with him" she tells me.
I wipe away my tears.
"Okay I'm ready" I lie.
She opens the door and I step inside. I hold back my tears because I have to be strong for him. He's watching TV.
I keep walking. I don't think he can turn his head with all the bandages.
"Juggie?" I manage to say.
His eyes flick over to me and immediately his expression changes. His eyes light up and he even gives a small, weak smile.
"Betty" he says.
I put my hands over my mouth and the tears start coming again.
"Please don't cry. I'm okay! I'm going to be okay!" he tells me.
The nurse walks out and slowly closes the door behind her.
"But I love you Jug. It hurts to see you like this" I respond.
"I love you too" he says.
I give him a smile.
"Did they tell you what's wrong?" I ask.
"Yeah" he answers.
"They told me too" I tell him.
"I'm scared Betty. But I'm going to go to physical therapy and I'm going to walk again. I can promise you that" he says.
How is he being so strong?
I can't respond. I'll burst into tears.
His shaky hand reaches down and grabs mine.
"It'll be okay" he says. "I'll be okay"

AN // So I definitely meant to post yesterday but I forgot I'm sorry. The next chapters gonna flash forward two or three weeks because if not then this book will never end. We haven't even reached the climax lol. Okay tell me what you think I love feedback. Please vote if you want Juggie to recover!!