Taking my message from the veins | Jarchie ✓

Two.

Archie swept his sweaty palms up and down his jean-clad thighs repeatedly, then, picked up his phone over more for the tenth or so time since messaging Jughead. He sighed when no new notifications lit up his screen. Soon he began pacing the length of his bedroom, glancing out the window, running a hand through his hair and then watching his phone for messages once more, but still a blank illuminated screen met his vision; mocking him almost. Another frustrated sigh escaped his lips, he felt like a deflating balloon with the amount of times he'd sighed in the last hour. It took him hours of thinking to actually send the message and then Jughead doesn't even have the decency to reply, Archie was annoyed, but also hurt. He thought that maybe Jughead would miss him as much as Archie missed him but apparently not, he wasn't even willing to try and Archie couldn't help but feel disappointed. God, did he want everything to go back to normal, back to how things were before; Archie longs to go back in time to the nights he spent cuddling jughead and whispering in his ear about how adorable he is. 

Then, almost a silver lining to the grey clouds above Archie's head, his phone buzzed. He jumped, not expecting the sudden noise, halting his pacing to check his phone. 

Jughead: meet at your house? 

With eager movements Archie sent a reply, and went to sit on his bed, twisting his fingers together into some nervous dance. His legs bounced as he sat quietly and waited, thoughts running away with him. He realised now that he probably should have planned what he was actually going to say to Jughead, there was just so many things to mention, nothing could be left un-talked about. However, a while later when Jughead was stood in his doorway all his thoughts completely escaped his mind, words were not coming to his lips. Instead, he breathed a sigh of relief, glad to have Jughead close again and stood up, carefully approaching Jughead, who was standing and staring intently at Archie. 

"Jughead.." Archie whispered, eyes still linked with Jugheads, their stare scrutinizing and speaking a thousand unsaid words. When he couldn't take it anymore, Archie reached out in a spontaneous moment and wrapped his arms around Jughead, who sighed and sank into the touch. For a few brief moments, the pair stood there holding each other, eyes close ed and embracing the tender moment. Archie had longed to have Jughead this close for months, and it left his skin tingling and heart racing. But all good things come to an end and Archie had to pull away, remembering his annoyance towards Jughead. He was supposed to be his best friend and yet recently he's been as distant as the stars in the sky and he had left Archie's side without decent reason as to why.  

"I brought you here to talk, Jug," Archie muttered, the room had gone silent and he was almost too hesitant to break it. Jughead glanced down at his shoes, avoiding Archie's waiting eye, then, when he did finally cast his gaze back upwards it was linked onto the wall behind Archie's  head and not his eyes. Archie sighed, taking a step back, putting distance between him and his friend. Jughead was obviously waiting for Archie to begin talking, his mouth was pursed shut as he stood there awkwardly, saying nothing and making no attempt to speak. 

"You know exactly what I want to talk about.." Archie added and Jughead bit his lip, rubbing his hands over his face. 

"Archie...I.." Was all he managed and Archie's shoulders slumped. 

"Someday we are going to have to talk about it, jug... What we had before Betty- I can't stop thinking about you."

Suddenly Jugheads stare linked either Archie's and for a paused moment all the two did was observe each other, and Archie could see the emotion stirring around in Jughead's eyes, he also noted how tired and pale he looked and his heart ached at the sight of him so downtrodden. All this secret keeping and lying was taking its toll on Jughead, his posture was slouched and there was no bright wide smile on his lips, the smirk that Archie adored. 

"I'm with Betty now, I- I love her." Jughead replied and Archie couldn't tell if he was trying harder to convince him or himself. "Please stop bringing up what we had... I cant think about it." 

"Why?" Archie pressed, furrowing his brows at Jughead. "Because you're trying to run away from it? You're living a lie jughead... You don't love Betty."

"Stop." Jughead shook his head and there was power behind his voice, he no longer sounded mumbled or nervous. The jughead Archie knew and loved was slipping back through the cracks, the opinionated and argumentative Jughead. 

"How are things at home Jug? You look exhausted." Archie decided the change the topic of conversation simply because Jughead was giving him these sad puppy dog eyes and of course Archie caved and moved on. Although the talk of what they had was far from over, it would just have to happen at some other time, perhaps when Jughead wasn't so tired looking and snappy. 

"Oh great -you know - I'm sure my dad loves his alcohol more than me but its great. Amazing. Really." He gave a tight slipped smile and Archie could almost sense his inner heartbreak, something that settled uneasily in his stomach. 

"If you need a place to crash for a while, Juggie, I'm always here." As Archie said this hope flashed in Jugheads eyes and he stood taller, almost as if he'd been thrown a lifeline or he'd been rescued from drowning in the ocean. 

"You'd be willing to take me in even after everything?" Jughead raised his eyes brows, the hint of an affectionate smile on his lips. 

"Course." Archie grinned, resting a hand on Jugheads shoulder, ignoring the tingles in his arm and the sudden jolt of his heart rate. "What are friends for?" 

"Thank you so much, arch, you're the best."

#

Later that night, as the sky had darkened and the stars had made an appearance, Jughead was lying on an inflatable mattress that ruffled under his movements, making a horrible noise. An arm was under his head and he felt like he was evaluating his whole life in the dark of the night whilst Archie slept on his own bed next to him. He could hear the window outside and the distant bark of a dog, the world had officially switched off for the night- people were too busy sleeping- like Jughead should be, but, no matter how hard he tried he couldn't get his eyes to stay shut. 

He shifted his position, rolling onto his side, so he was facing Archie as he slept peacefully. It was then that he noticed something. He shot up in bed, rubbing his eyes in disbelief, then a frown graced his features as he struggled to comprehend the moment and what he was seeing. 

There racing up and down the length of Archie's arms were bright, light coloured sparks like lighting in the dark sky. He remained staring for a while, beyond confused before, he suddenly laid back down and twisted away from Archie, forcing his eyes closed. He took a deep breath and attempted to regain his normal breathing rate. 

Archie had those sparks on his arms like Jughead had on his hands. 

What could this possibly mean? 

Now, Jughead's life was even more confusing and messed up. 

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Here's a slightly longer chapter!!! 

Hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading,
Heidi :) xx