The Theory Of Chaotic Perfection |BUGHEAD|

Chapter XXV - Juliet And Her Romeo

"You killed her! You killed my best friend!"

For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

The news of Betty's death spread quickly. Newspapers with their headlines reading "town's king and queen's daughter commits suicide after broken heart over gang leaders son." It was no surprise they wanted to blame Jughead for it. He was calmly walking around town, receiving dirty looks from people passing by, which wasn't unusual. What he didn't know was that he killed Betty Cooper, not by his own hand, but by his actions.

The looks got stronger and scarier with every second he spent in the city. They never got so intense before, what was going on now? Jughead still chose to ignore them, he's always been treated like a criminal.

"You!" Veronica Lodge screamed at him and marched straight to him, "how could you do this, you monster!" She started beating at his chest. Jughead caught her hands in his and looked dumbfounded.

Veronica tried to break free and hurt him again, but Jughead was stronger. She screamed and kicked at him, but for the first time in his life there weren't many people around to aid her.

"Alright, what the hell is going on?" He asked her, still holding her hands, hoping she will calm down from this weird faze.

Veronica started to tear up, "you killed her! You killed my best friend," she screamed at him.

Jughead furrowed his eyebrows, "I didn't touch her, I'd never hurt Betty, what are you talking about? How many more lies will someone make up about us? Leave my family alone!"

"She killed herself because of you!" Ronnie screamed as Jughead let her go and started to walk away. Her words made him turn around, whatever nonsense she was saying, Jughead was done with it.

Coming closer to her, his frightening expression nearing her tear filled eyes, "listen here, Veronica Lodge, I have no idea what the hell you're talking about, but you better explain yourself fast."

Ronnie rolled her eyes, "don't you read the newspaper in that truck of yours?" She shoved the front page news article into his chest. Jughead slowly looked at it, his eyes widening with every word he read.

"Where is she?" He asked.

Veronica thought for a moment, "she's dead, they're going to bury her tonight." He could tell that Veronica was upset, but he still lacked trust towards her and her intentions.

"You have to tell me where she is, please?" He pleaded, now his voice was desperate and she had all the power.

Ronnie shook her head meaning no, "so you can make fun of her dead body? I don't think so!"

"Veronica, please," Jughead's voice cracked, he did mean to sound so desperate, but it was strange because he never could let himself beg the people who hated him for anything, "I love her."

She was confused. Her senses told her not to trust Jughead, but Betty was her best friend who managed to leave sensitivity in the cold hearted brunettes life. Even though she did not trust Jughead, her heart drove her to tell him where Betty was. Or, at least where her dead body was.

"It's in the Cooper's basement, they're holding a funeral for her in their backyard. She was their only daughter and I guess they want her spirit to stay tied to that house?" Even Veronica was creeped out by the idea of Betty being buried in her own backyard.

Jughead looked down, as if whatever happiness and hope he ever had that day just leaped out of his body and died with the news of Betty's death. "Thank you, Veronica." He didn't look back at her as he was leaving, and she turned away as well. Although they were still enemies, it was like a little piece of Betty's innocence helped them agree for once in their life.

Jughead knew she kept the window opened for him, he knew that it had a broke latch and that he could get in at any time. He knew this because Betty did it for him, how much trust she put in him. She was probably scared at first, probably intimidated by him, but then she must have gotten used to him. All he could think of was how badly he treated her a day ago, how he broke her heart, unintentionally. All the headlines he read on the way to the Cooper's house, haunted him.

Getting there, he climbed up the vine that grew all over the house, and into Betty's bedroom. The room itself was peaceful, like someone pressed pause on its life. Jughead walked around the room, searching for something he couldn't quite understand. Her bed was made, like she hasn't slept in it for a good two days. Her dressed was closed and everything looked neat and tidy, just like Betty's life. The wallpaper was coming off the walls, as if Betty's room was a representation of the girl herself. Curious, Jughead ripped the piece of wallpaper off. To his surprise there was nothing but black on the wall, the kind of black that was imperfect with white lines peering through, the kind of black someone would draw out of anger or fear. Tearing the piece down further, he revealed the drawing on the wall. It was just a plain black dot. As if he was peeling her skin to reveal what was inside Betty Cooper, Jughead slowly put the piece of wallpaper back. It didn't stick to the wall, just dangled about. What was inside the perfect Betty Cooper? Darkness? No. A big black dot, a nothing she was hoping to fill with something.

Jughead waited until it was deep in the night. Staying in her room without her and knowing that she's dead felt strange. He then went out of her room and down to the basement, fearing he'd wake the Coopers up.

There was a big long coffin in the middle of the basement, Betty's picture on top of it. Tears started to fill his eyes, it all became too real, too quick. Violently opening the coffin, he revealed the horrific truth. A sense of fear came over him, brokenness and complete dismay. He was confused as to what was going on, the woman he loved was gone. Trying his hardest to conceal the tears, Jughead furrowed his eyebrows and closed his eyes. He put one hand on the coffin and inhaled a sharp breath. The coffin was empty, now he truly did not know what happened to Betty Cooper, but his determination was not fading. He lost her once, he will not do it again. Marching up the stairs, no longer caring if the Coopers hear, he walked out of the house down their front lawn and into the cold nigh street. A hand grabbed him from the back and Jughead was prepared to give anyone a fight if they so dared touch him.

"I just want to help," Fred Andrews said as he let go of the confused young man, "Betty didn't listen to me, but I know you will."