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forsythe;

"Juggy? Wake up!" 

I groaned softly. "Not now..."

"JUGWAKEUPNOW!" Someone, a girl, prodded me on the shoulder. 

I cursed silently, and got up slowly. The girl stared at me happily, with a grin showing her missing tooth in the front. 

I couldn't help but grin back at the girl. She had dark brown hair, with a hairclip pinned carefully in her long hair, and jeans with a few holes in it from falling. Her shirt was dirty, but she made up for it with her smile and her plump, rosy face. Jellybean. My younger sister. She was 8.

"Fine, I'm awake, Jellybean. What do you want?" 

"Can we play hide and seek?" 

"Not now, Jellybean. Mom's probably waiting. Maybe after breakfast?"

Her cherubic smile quickly turned into a frown. I felt bad, but--

"JUGHEAD! JELLYBEAN! BREAKFAST!" 

I looked at Jellybean. "See? I told you she would call us. We can play after breakfast, Jellybean. I promise." I started walking towards the house, and she ran after me. 

She held out her pinkie. "Promise? Because you usually ditch me. You don't keep your damn promises."

I stopped, kneeling down to her height. "I promise, but don't say words like 'damn' , okay?"

I know where she got that language from. From Mom and Dad. These days, they argue more and more. Dad comes home late, drunk and angry. He yells at Mom, and Jellybean always comes running to me, tears silently falling down her face. The same old thing. Every day. For the past 2 months. 

I didn't realize that I got to the house so fast. Technically it was a cabin, which, I guess, the landlord forgot about. It was in need of repair, desperately. I walked inside the house, with Jellybean at my heels. 

Dad wasn't home. Obviously. He was probably gambling or drinking with his cronies. 

Mom was preparing breakfast. Bacon was sizzling on the stove. But wait. She never gives bacon. Only on special days...

"What's the occasion?" I asked Mom. 

She turned. Mom had bags under her eyes. Her black hair was tied into a messy bun, and she turned her lips up into a small smile. Her smile looked...sad. 

"Sit down. I'll tell you."

She gingerly sat down on the creaky table, her brown eyes piercing into mine. 

"Your father and I have decided on something. Something that I think you'll learn to like later on."

"And that is?"

"We...we think that Jellybean and I should leave Riverdale. Go live in Toledo. With your grandparents for sometime."

I clenched my fists. "WHY?"

Mom shifted nervously in her seat. "Look, Jug. This is gonna be hard for you at first, but I think you'll learn--"

"You keep SAYING THAT, but did you even THINK of asking Jellybean or me for what we thought before RANDOMLY DECIDING TO BREAK APART THE FAMILY?" I yelled, banging my fist on the already broken table. Jellybean grabbed my hand, her cool fingers clenching mine with fear.

She played with her sweater. "Jughead. Please. I think your father needs some time to...heal. He and I think we should all just take some time to relax and reflect. Even you."

After she said this, I couldn't take it anymore. I angrily rose from the table, and stomped out of the kitchen. Jellybean tried to grab me, but I pushed her away.

I ran into the forest, not knowing where I was going, not caring. Angry tears spilled down my face, but I just wiped them away on my sleeve. 

I heard the sound of rushing water. Sweetwater River. I found a stump to sit on, and stared at the river for as long as I could imagine.

When I finally snapped out of my reverie, it was already evening. Dad would be home right now. Maybe I could talk some sense into him. 

I ran to the house, thinking about Jellybean, how she'd be crying in her room when I came home. How Mom would be sitting at the table, doing taxes, running her hands through her graying hair. 

When I finally opened the door and inhaled the smell of burnt wood, I immediatly began to calm down. The cabin was unusually quiet. "Jellybean? Mom?" I yelled out, my voice echoeing against the walls. I climbed up the ladder to Jellybean's room. "Jellybean?" I said quietly, knocking on her door. The door was full of pictures, pictures of me, of our family, and the occasional glittery unicorn. 

"Jellybean?" There was no answer. "Aw, Jellybean, come on, I'm sorry. Do you wanna play hide and--" 

The door busted open. She must have forgiven me. I ran in.

"Thanks for forgiving me Jellybean, I promise that--"

I stared into the room. 

No one was there. 

Is this what I thought it was?

In order to clear my doubt, I ran to Mom's room. The room was bare. Nothing was there except for a bed and the empty walls. 

No, no, no. This can't be happening. 

Was Dad still--?

I heard snoring. He must be in his room. But that's not the point. 

They left us. Left me. 

Jellybean left me.

And guess what? I didn't even get to say goodbye. 

IT WAS LONGER ;D  Anyways, hope you liked it! I'll be updating soon, and if you have any suggestions or opinions, you know what to do! (Okay I sound like a voicemail box thingie.)

~mo


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