Jellybean Jones

Chapter 2: New Beginnings

Jellybean POV
I hopped off the bus, almost falling in the process. I threw myself into Jughead's arms. The warm arms I knew so well. I looked at him, he was wearing his trademark beanie. "I missed you." I said, as he pulled me in for a second embrace. I then hugged my Dad, "Thank you, you really did change." He smiled at me. "Let's go home." He said.

We walked to the car. It was a newer, red car. I climbed into the backseat with Jughead. "Tell me." His voice was older, "How on earth did you get yourself kicked out?" Dad looked at us "Yes why?" He seconded. "Well I didn't do anything. Last night Mom came home from work and said she was done with me. Then she said she was sick of providing for me." I sighed.

"I assume she was sick of working tirelessly just to feed us both." I knew that wasn't the only reason, but it made sense. Juggy pulled me into his arms and then smiled "Well I'm just glad you're here." I smiled back. "Well my life is getting better, it looks like your mother's is getting worse." Dad remarked. "Truer words could not have been spoken." I agreed.

Jughead POV
I looked at Jellybean. That look of innocence and curiosity still gleamed in her eyes. But she looked so old. Her face had matured and she was taller. "We're here." I said, as we pulled up to the grey rancher. It was slightly modern, but had a very home like vibe.
Jellybean stared at the house. It was quite the improvement from our old trailer.

We got out of the car. Jellybean was nearly running up the driveway, suitcase in hand. Dad unlocked the door. "What do you think?" He asked her. "It's amazing." She spun around in the living room, laughing. I motioned for her to come with me. She followed. I had organized her room a little bit this morning, but not much. As she stepped into her room, you should've seen her face.

Jellybean POV
I walked through the door of my new room. The walls were a soft blue. But the kicker was, there was all of my old things. A huge smile spread across my face. Though there were only five boxes, I was excited to see all of my belongings again. I opened the box that contained my few toys. A board game, some string for bracelets, a toy keyboard and lastly, the thing that had the most relevance, Freddy the Teddy.

I know, I know. Cringeworthy. But as I pulled him out of the small box, I couldn't have been happier. I turned to look at Jughead. He smiled at the small teddy bear. "You loved him so, so much. But you always thought of me. And do you remember what you said?" Jug questioned "I said 'I love Freddy, but you keep him, so you'll never forget me." I smiled at the memory.

"I insisted you keep him, but you wouldn't take him. Actually, I had him in my room this morning, but I put him in your box so you could find him." Jughead explained. On my third birthday, Juggy had given my Freddy the Teddy. I had taken him everywhere. But when it came time for me to leave, I gave him to Jughead. I pulled the small bear to my chest. "Could you help me unpack?" I asked, "Of course." Jug answered.

Jughead POV
Jellybean grabbed her suitcase. "Is that everything?" I asked her, it didn't look like much, "It sure is." She said dryly. Out of it, she took clothes, mostly black, a laptop and a lot of books. "You like reading now?" She didn't used to, but she used to have a shorter attention span. Jellybean smiled "It's a way to escape to a different world." She explained.

She opened her laptop, "I also write." She clicked on a tab and scrolled through many stories. I smiled, "Me too." Jellybean's eyes lit up, "So!" Oh dear, when she spoke like that, I knew it couldn't be something good, "You got yourself a girlfriend?" She laughed. I started tickling her. She fell to the floor, "Heyyyy!" She jokingly pushed me. I looked down. "Actually, I do."

Jellybean POV
I couldn't believe it! Jughead had a girlfriend! "Who's the lucky maiden?" Jug playfully rolled his eyes. "Betty." He said looking down. "I can see it now! Bughead!" Betty Cooper was like a sister to me. I was sad to have to say goodbye to her. "So besides the blossom drama, what have I missed?"

Riverdale, being a small, gossipy town, was bound to have some news. As well, Mom had never let me talk to Juggy. "You missed Veronica Lodge." He said, "As in.....?" Hiram's daughter. Jughead nodded. "She and Archie are together. And you know about Polly." I nodded. "When can I see Archie, Betty, Veronica and Polly?" Polly used to babysit me.

I was also enthusiastic to see them again, "We'll meet at Pop's." I smiled. Dad knocked on the door. Jug and I got up and followed him to the living room,  "So," Dad began. "Who are ya now?" I laughed "Well, my name is Jellybean, I'm thirteen years old, I have black hair." I said sarcastically. "Oh! You meant what I like!"

Dad and Jughead laughed, "I see someone's just as sarcastic as her brother." Dad joked. "Well for starters," I began "I like listening to Pink Floyd and other rock and electronic music. I really like reading. But I spend most of my free time writing," Jug nodded, "Oh and I'm still as uncoordinated as heck." After about another hour of talking and making jokes that were bound to crack each other up, Jughead and I got ready to go to Pop's.

We were meeting Betty, Archie and Veronica. Polly couldn't make it. It was a Saturday at 12:30, so I would start school on Monday. "Jellybean come on!" Juggy called. I walked to the front door and followed him out. The walk to the diner was short. The bell jangled as we walked through the door. A huge smile spread across my face as I saw Betty and Archie sitting at a booth. Veronica hadn't arrived yet. And then, right then, was when I realized just how much I had missed my real home.