It was the worst day of Jughead's life. Every year on this very day. He felt terrible. It was his birthday and he was thrown a party that he didn't even want. Archie and the rest of his friends thought it would be a great idea to throw him a surprise party, to hopefully make Jug come out of his shell a little bit more. But they don't even realise that he wants to be alone. Forget about his birthday all together.
It was fine at the start. Only a few of his friends were there like Archie, Kevin and Veronica. But then more came. Which became a huge problem. "Archie, why the hell would you invite more people you know i hate parties!" He yelled.
"Oh c'mon man a few extra people won't hurt." He slurred, Jughead figured his friend had already got his hands on the alcohol.
Jughead couldn't stand the thought of drinking. Mainly because his father caused so many problems at home because of it. More people started to flood in through the Andrews' house. It made him uncomfortable, he could actually feel his skin start to crawl and itch as more people started drinking. Started to drunkenly dance to the loud blasting music played through the speakers (It was'nt even a song he liked).
Then, from across the room he saw her. She seemed to be the only sober person here besides himself. He couldn't manage to stop looking away from her. She seemed to stick out from the rest of the insanity of this party. But i guess in some way do did he.
Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Archie. Go figure. "I see you staring at that girl. Betty i think her name is. You should talk to her man."
"What Arch, are you serious no way i'm not doing that!" From the corner of his eye Jughead could see a bottle of beer being lifted to his face. "Scientists say that having a alcoholic drink can boost your confidence." Jughead highly doubted it was true. Even when Archie wasn't drunk he's just as stupid.
Before Jughead could say no, the tip of the bottle was forced into his mouth. Making his mouth fill with beer. 'God why do people drink this stuff it tastes awful.' Jug thought. But the bottle still remained in his mouth forcing him to swallow the foul tasting beer.
Archie coaxed a few more swallows into him before he took the bottle away from his mouth. He drank around half the bottle. -- It seemed for him that he was a super lightweight. He already felt tipsy. Not fully drunk but enough to want to lay down. But he couldn't do that because the next thing he knew he was being pushed by Archie over to the girl that stood in the corner of the living room still.
He walked to the blonde stumbling over his feet a little. His vision becoming dizzy. 'Yep. Super lightweight.' Jug thought, but as he got closer to the girl his thoughts seemed to be less coherent. He seemed out of it like he was looking at the world from beneath the surface of Sweetwater River.
Before he even realised he was stood in front of the blonde. Her voice strained to a yell over the music. "You must be the birthday boy." She smiled. Jug could only manage a smile back. He found himself unable to speak. Maybe from the alcohol or maybe from the nerves. Whatever it was it was terrifying for him. Her voice broke him out of his thoughts, "I'm Betty." She stretched out her hand for him to shake but Jughead's mind was playing tricks on him. His hand-eye coordination was well off. He finally met the soft skin and slurred. "I'm Jughead. The reason for this shitty party." She chuckled slightly at his humour.
"I see you already found your way to the booze?" She asked rhetorically. But instead of being harsh it was said nicely. "I only had one teeny bit*hic* or maybe my best buddy, but not anymore, made me drink half the bottle."
"Why would he do that?"
"So i could supposedly gain some confidence to*hic* talk to you." He smiled sheepishly, embarrassed to the fact he finally admitted the truth. "Why do you need a confidence boost to talk to me?"
"Cuz Bet-*hic* Betty, I-I like you okay. Like a lot. Like so much i want to be your boyfriend a lot." He blushed and covered his mouth as another hiccup slided out from his lips.
Before Jughead could fully register Betty's emotion from the sudden reveal of his feelings he started feeling something nauseous in the pit of his stomach. He swore he could feel his face turning green. Betty seemed to notice because the next words that came out of her mouth were, "Are you feeling ok? Do you feel sick?" Jug could only manage a nod scared to speak in case anything came back up. That is not the best way to impress the girl you have a crush on. "Do you want me to take you home?" There was silence until the nauseating feeling subsided from his stomach"I live here." He mumbled. "I don't think im going to be able to sleep through this noise though."
"I can take you back to my place. I live next door." Yes. Jughead remembered that Betty lived next door. Everyday seeing her exit her house towards school. His thoughts were interrupted once again, this time from Betty grabbing his wrist to slowly drag him out the house.
They finally exited the mad house. Finally managing to get some air that didn't smell like sweat or cheap beer. Which made him feel slightly better but not fully. He still felt like he was going to throw up any moment. And that moment was now. His stomach contents found its way onto the patch of grass in front of Archie's house. Once he stopped puking his guts up he just mumbled a small "Sorry." Which Betty just brushed ot off kindly by saying that what usually ends up happening when they're not used to drinking much alcohol. Jughead knew that. His dad was either in the bathroom or on the couch the entire day. Not moving. But only making sounds of retching into the toilet or a bucket.
The conversation that followed inside Betty's house was a blur all he could vaguely make out was Betty talking about Jug needing a place to stay to hide out from the party to her mother. Hopefully not telling her about him getting slightly drunk. He couldn't remember if that was said or not.
His brain was being terribly slow with its thoughts, he felt like he wasn't even moving. Like he was drifting through a dream. His body felt fatigued. His head was pounding. He knew he was going to have a hangover tommorow. 'This is what you get for being a lightweight.' His thoughts said. Soon he found himself laying in Betty's bed, she came into the room with a bottle of medicine in one hand and a bucket in the other. "I bought this in case you throw up again." He was embarrassed but also thankful. The last thing he wanted was to vomit all over Betty's beautifully quilted sheets.
Betty left the room then quickly returned in her Pyjamas slipping into bed beside Jughead, on her side facing Jug, her arm resting on his chest. She was about to ask him about what he said about liking him. A lot, but in the end she decided to wait until the morning when he was sober.
Betty awoke the next morning with Jughead's arms wrapping her in a hug whilst he was still asleep. However that sweet sleep was shortly lived as he woke up with a groan. Most likely from the headache he had. "Morning Juggie." She whispered softly. "Morning." He murmured, turning slowly to face her.
"Do you remember anything from last night?" She asked, secretly hoping that he did remember something. Specifically the part when he said that he 'liked her so much'. "Yeah I definitely remember getting drunk." He laughed. "I also remember saying that I, um, that I liked you. A lot." He blushed.
"Good because I remember that as well." She smiled.
"Well do you like me back, that way?" He asked, ready to accept rejection. But to his suprise the answer he got was far from what he thought he was going to get. "Yes. Juggie, I love you in fact." And to prove it she kissed him on the lips it was warm and sweet. If only the beer he had last night tasted as good as this, he would have it more often.
So yeah I've pretty much been gone from the surface of the writing world forever but I'm back and I just want to say a thank you to everyone who votes and comments on my writing. You do not know how much your nice words make my day so I just want to say that you are all amazing I love all you guys 💖💖💖
