Believer ➵ Bughead

Chapter 17

Archie walked out of his classroom, hands in his hair and a piece of gum between his lips. So far, his "fixing all his wrongs" plan hasn't really worked out very well for him. Veronica's still her annoying,  pissed self. Betty's being guarded twenty-four seven by the other two power puff girls (Or, one girl and an extremely gay boy), and his father's funeral is very soon.

At this point, word's gone around about his death, and the kids of his school had gone from cold to sympathetic instantly. Everyone would stop in the halls and offer Arch their condolences. He'd scoff and brush them off. Since when did they care about him? They were all a bunch of fakes and stuck ups, anyway. They're just being nice to him because his father's on his death bed. 

The weather was getting warmer, and flowers started to bloom. He stopped by his locker to remove his letterman jacket. Closing it,the boy headed off to the plaza near the school to grab a coffee. 

He's been addicted to caffeine lately. It keeps him awake, and away from all the horrible, lonely nightmares he had.

It was silent in the hallways. Kids were in class, he wasn't. Skipping was another thing that came naturally to the ginger haired boy. He wasn't in the mood for learning, especially after everything that's been happening lately.

As he walked out the back door, he noticed Josie McCoy crying under a tree. Her bag was slumped against the bark, and her knees were held tight by her arms, fetal style.

He approached her slowly. She still noticed him though, and quickly faked a smile.

"Skipping class, Andrews? Isn't that a bit naughty?" She cooed.

He smiled, and sat down beside her.

"I'd say the same to you, Josie. What are you doing out here?"

She gasped, as if remembering something she forgot. She shook her head, and smiled that fake grin once again.

"Oh, you know. Enjoying nature." 

"Josie...did something happen?" He replied in a serious tone.

She sighed, letting go of her legs, and grabbing a flask from her bag.

She took a swig of it before speaking.

"Everyone thinks I'm a snooty, stuck up chick. It sucks, because I'm actually not that at all." 

Archie's smile faded as he heard the words leave her mouth.

"Josie, trust me, everyone thinks you're amazing. You're talented-"

"That's where you're wrong, Arch. I'm not good enough to the ones who count. I'm not good enough for my father." She blubbered as she looked up at him, fear in her eyes.

She took another swig, and put it back in her backpack.

"I'm never good enough for him, and sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be. And my mom, she doesn't even utter a word when he's critiquing all my tiny mishaps. She's too busy with the town, with her own problems."  She continued.

"When I was little, I had a little toy microphone. I sang into that thing every day, and one night, my dad saw me. And that's when he dropped me into singing lessons. I was practically forced into this life."

"I'm so sorry, Josie..."

"You know what made me get through all those dark days with my family? Cheryl."

His head perked up, suddenly intrigued.

"She's a real sweetheart, not the monster everyone says she is. I wish people knew that..."