{UNFINISHED}We Won't Give Up//J.J.||Riverdale[sequel to The Diner]

Chapter 2

*Your POV*
I sit back down with Betty and Veronica. Veronica sighs, "There are certain things that no one does better than me, Veronica Lodge. Such as, makeovers, party planning, dance-offs, dropping as if they were bomb bombs." Betty chuckles. "But conversely, there are things that I'm not good at all," she shrugs. "Grief, bedside vigils, comforting boyfriends..."

"Okay well that's the Old Veronica talking," Betty says.

"Old Veronica would've bolted by now. But.." She sighs, "The New Veronica doesn't want to let Archie down."

"So you won't," I say. She nods.

"Speaking of.." She looks over and we do, too. Archie's coming out of the room and looks disappointed. Jughead stops him and talks to him about something. They hug for a couple seconds and then pull away.

"Archie Andrews. I'm Steven, your father's doctor." A doctor comes out and says. Everyone stands up and walks over to him.

"How is he?" Archie asks.

"Well, we got the bullet out and we've stopped the internal bleeding. But, what's most worrisome is, he's not breathing on his own yet."

"I need to see him."

"And you will. As soon as we've got him set in a room, you'll be able to sit with him. Should be an hour or two at the most."

"And until then, what am I supposed to do? Nothing?"

"You should get home and get changed. Veronica will come with you, too," I say, touching his elbow.

"No, I'm not leaving."

"Archie, [Y/N]'s right," Veronica says.

"Here are your dad's clothes and personal belongings. Everything he had on him." The nurse holds out a bag. He just stands there, frozen. I take the bag from her.

"Thank you," I give him the bag. He snaps out of it and takes it.

"Yet another reason to go. You can get your dad a change of clothes," Betty says.

"We'll hold the floor down here. Archie, try not to worry. Your dad is strong stock. He's a fighter," Alice says.

Archie nods and starts to walk out. I whisper to Veronica, "You've got this, don't worry." She nods and follows him. I walk back to the chairs and sit back down. I check my phone and just read to kill some time.

"A fresh hot chocolate from the bakery, because I know you hate coffee," I hear someone say. I look up and it's Kevin. He sits down next to me.

I turn my phone off and over, and take the drink, "Thanks." I lightly chuckle and take a sip.

"And of course, all we can think about is Mr. Andrews, but if we weren't so focused on his well-being, I'd be asking if you and Jughead..."

"We...did." I shrug and nervously look over at him.

"Oh, my God, really?"

"He..even told me that he loved me." I look down at my drink. I can feel myself blush a little...

"Wait, what?" Kevin leans forward a little to make me look up at him. "Jughead Jones said 'I love you?'"

"And I told him I loved him back..." I nod.

"Well."

"And then things got," I glance up and nod, "you know." I shrug and look over at him.

He nods, "Oh yeah." He takes a sip of his drink and looks forward. "What the hell?"

I look to where he's looking and see Cheryl walking in a white dress, following someone in bed... She glances over at us, and then keeps walking. Kevin and I both look at each other, and then get up and go to her. "Cheryl?" I ask, and she turns around. "What's going on?"

"Is that your mom? What happened?" Kevin adds.

"Oh, haven't you heard? There was a terrible fire at Thornhill last night," she says.

"What? Cheryl, why didn't you tell me?" I ask.

She shrugs, "I might've perished, if not for Mommy's heroics."

"Oh, my God," Kevin starts, and I look over at him, "Is this the apocalypse?"

"After my, ordeal at Sweetwater River, I was asleep when the fire started," she looks over at me, "they think it was some type of breeze that knocked over a candle, catching the curtains. Mommy got home from the Jubilee and rushed headlong into the blaze, risking her life, to save mine." She looks down, "But unfortunately, she suffered third-degree burns and acute smoke inhalation."

"Cheryl, I'm so sorry," I say and Kevin nods.

"It's okay," she smiles, "What are you two doing here?"

"Well.." Kevin starts, and we look at each other. "Fred, he got shot. At Pop's."

"Oh. Well, I'm sorry about that. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go." she turns around, and goes into a room. Kevin and I both look at each other and shrug. We walk back over to the chairs and sit down. Jughead comes into the room with Betty. He walks over to us and sits down next to me.

"Hey," I say.

"Hey. How are you doing?" He asks.

"I'm fine," I nod, "how about you?"

"I'm okay, too." We hold hands and I lean on his shoulder. After about 30 minutes of talking, Veronica comes into the hospital and we all stand up.

"Hey, how'd it go?" I ask.

"Okay, but Archie's with Sheriff Keller, trying to figure out who might've done it."

"Wait, Archie's where?" Betty asks.

"At the police station. Doing a line-up. He asked me to come back here and be here with Fred until he gets back."

"Well, that's," Jughead and I both look at each other, and then back at her, "going to be traumatizing for him, we should go down there."

"Well actually, can you guys do me a huge favor?"

We both look at her, "Sure, what is it?"

"Mr. Andrews' wallet is missing. We think it might be back at Pop's. That or, the guy that shot Fred, might have it."

"Well, I mean it's just some rando at Pop's who, probably took the money and then got rid of the wallet," Betty says.

"Unless it wasn't just some rando. It could've been premeditated in some way," Jug says.

"Wait what? Is that an actual theory?" Veronica asks.

"Not according to Sheriff Keller, but if you ask me, people have grudges." He nods, "People have enemies. I mean, think of where we live. Fathers are killing their sons. It's conceivable this was a hit."

"Or, the wallet's just at Pop's. We'll check it out, Vee." I say.

"I'll come with you guys," Betty says. I look over at her, and then back at Veronica.

"Actually, Betty, I kind of want you here," she says. Thank you.

"We'll be really fast, don't worry," Jug says. She nods and goes with Veronica to sit down.