Circumlocution ≫ Jarchie

[Chapter Twenty-Two]

One Year Ago

Trigger Warning: abuse, reference to suicide

"I'm short on money this month and I need to pick up an extra tutoring shift tomorrow so can you please watch Jelly for me?" Jughead said nonchalantly as he climbed into Archie's car.

"Yeah, of course." Archie said monotonously. It seemed like he was somewhere else.

"You okay? You seem out of it." Jughead frowned as he put his seatbelt on.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Archie brushed it off and put the car in drive.

"You don't seem fine. You can't even look at me. Did I do something?" Jughead asks curiously, searching his face for answers.

"You didn't do anything. Just tired." Archie yawned.

"Okay. Are you sure you have no problems with watching her?"

"Watching who?"

"Jelly Bean! You know, 15 year old, graduating high school this year at the top of her class, long black hair, piercing green eyes, the only person I love more than you." Jughead teased.

"Oh, yeah. I'll watch her. What time?"

"Eleven to Twelve."

"Why do you have to watch her anyways? Your dad hasn't been home in two weeks."

"So? He could come back any time and I can't have her at the house alone if he does come back which is why you, my dear boyfriend, will physically rip those textbooks from her hand and take her out of the house until I can get off from tutoring." Jughead explained.

"Fine, fine." Archie mumbled, but again, he wasn't really paying attention.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes! I'm sure!" Archie snapped, and Jughead jumped, involuntarily curling up into himself and leaning as far away from Archie as the car would let him.

Archie didn't even notice.

***

"Archie still isn't there?" Jughead asked nervously.

"No. wasn't he supposed to be here 30 minutes ago?" Jelly Bean sighed through the phone Archie had bought Jughead.

"Yeah. I've tried texting and calling him but he won't answer. Um, screw it. I'm on my way." Jughead sighed.

"You need the money, Jug." Jelly Bean insisted.

"I need you more." Jughead laughed.

"I'm not a little kid. Dad hasn't been home in weeks."

"You are a kid. You're only 15." Jughead insisted.

"I'm going to go to college soon and I haven't even been able to stay at home by myself. How do you think I'm going to survive college next year?"

"Don't act like I don't give you any freedom, you're being unfair." Jughead whined.

"How am I being unfair?"

"Because I do this to protect you! If our dad wasn't an abusive piece of shit I'd let you do whatever you want and I wouldn't call at least three times a day. I wouldn't work so much to make sure you have anything that you need and want. I wouldn't put my education on hold for yours." Jughead yelled. "And I don't even mind, as long as you're safe. You're the most important thing to me, I wouldn't know what to do if something happened to you! Please, just let me come home and take care of you. Don't argue with me, don't ignore me, just let me make sure you're safe." Jughead begged.