Taking my message from the veins | Jarchie ✓

Three.

It was inevitable that Jughead wasn't going to get any sleep that night with all the thoughts that were clouding his mind. His history with Archie, his current relationship with Betty, the fact that both he and Archie's veins had started to glow, whether or not Archie's veins lit up for the same reason that Jughead's did, whether or not Archie even knew about all of this, it was all too much to think about. After what seemed like an endless night, the boys were finally greeted by the rays of sunlight that poured through Archie's bedroom window. Jughead rubbed his tired eyes, looking back at Archie who was still peacefully asleep, the veins in his arm still as bright as ever, glistening as the sun hit them. Jughead couldn't help but stare once more, just because he had seen the same sight last night it didn't make it any less incredible and confusing. One thing was clear however: Jughead needed to clear his head, otherwise he wouldn't be able to focus on the day that lay ahead of him.

So without thinking twice, he forced himself to get up out of bed and take a cold shower since they usually helped to calm him down. It was as if all his troubles were just temporarily washed away as he let the water run down his body, sending them away down the drain. Showers were also one of the best places to just think, think about your problems and how to overcome them. Unfortunately for Jughead, his mind was blank and he couldn't think of a single answer for any of the questions that lay in front of him. Fuelled with disappointment, Jughead stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist. He looked at himself in the mirror, seeing nothing but an emotionally confused mess staring back at him. He ducked his head down as if he was trying to avoid eye contact with himself, and when he finally looked back up he wasn't expecting to see Archie's face had joined his own in the mirror. Jughead spun around to properly face Archie, as both boys chuckled at their once shocked expressions.

"Jeez, don't do that Archie!" Jughead said, still slightly chuckling.

"Sorry." Archie smiled. "I didn't realise you were in here. I can leave if you want."

Jughead was about to just nod in response to Archie's question, but then he remembered the sight that he had witnessed a few moments ago that involved Archie's arms. He had to talk to him about it now, otherwise he may never understand. "Wait, Archie. I need to ask you something important."

Archie smirked slightly. "Well, you should probably get some clothes on first." He pointed out as he turned to leave, causing Jughead's face to turn bright red.

"Archie!" Jughead said once again, this time grabbing hold of the red-haired boy's hands to make him look at him. There was a brief moment of silence. "How long have the veins in your arm been glowing?"

The smile on Archie's face immediately dropped, his body becoming noticeably stiffer. He gently pulled himself away from Jughead's grasp. "How did you know?" He asked, his eyes filled with fear.

"Last night, they lit up in your sleep... I saw them." Jughead explained, looking directly into Archie's deep brown eyes. He immediately sensed that Archie was about to try and leave again, so Jughead instinctively pulled him closer. "Archie... Don't leave. Just watch." He gestured down to his hands which were entangled in Archie's.

Archie obeyed, looking down at Jughead's hands, and he could've sworn that his heart stopped for a moment. Jughead's hands were lighting up in the exact same way that Archie's arms had been doing for the past few months. At first he didn't believe it, he had to pull his hands closer to his face so that he could take a closer look. After a few moments of studying the bright white lights that ran down Jughead's hands, Archie concluded that they were indeed real and he wasn't going crazy.

"You too?" Archie asked nervously, finally breaking the uncomfortable silence.

Jughead nodded. "Yeah..."