Serendipity - A Bughead Fanfiction

four - sorry

JUST AN FYI, It's currently Thursday at the beginning of the chapter (where we left off).

♥betty♥

"Oh my god." I say to myself, tears falling down my face.

I grip the pile of papers tight to my chest. If this story was based on Jughead's life... god. I can't help but keep crying of the thought of going through all of this. Side note, it was beautifully written as well, even if it weren't based on a true story I would be bawling just as much.

Quickly explained, it talks about a boy, a boy who wants nothing more to be happy. But he constantly feels like an outsider, unwanted by even his own family. His mother and sister left him, his dad an alcoholic who only just recently began cleaning up his act. He is constantly hurt, being bruised and battered by gang members after joining a gang out of pure depression.

Who was I kidding, it was clearly his life story. Now I understand the depth to what Archie meant when he said that I was making him feel like more of an outsider than he already felt he was. Just the thought that someone didn't even feel they could turn to anyone for guidance and comfort made me fall apart. I had Archie, Veronica, Kevin and even Polly although she moved to Chicago with Jason. He didn't, he only had Archie and I assume a few friends from the Southside. And here I was, pushing him away and making it impossible for him and Archie to hang out at the same time as me.

But I would fix it, this only pushing me even further to do things my own way.

~~~

Friday: After School

I get to library as soon as possible, wanting to be early rather than my usually stampeding in a bit late for our tutoring sessions. My laptop bag by my side, the only other thing with me is his short story, tight against my chest.

Once I sit, I can't help but read it again. I wanted to keep it, honestly, it was an amazing story- yes the truth behind it being upsetting, but I felt as if I learned more about Jughead and I wanted to keep this part of him. As I skim through the pages, reading it for the 8th time, I hear the doors open. I look up, smiling at him as he walks in.

"Hey, Jughead." I say with a grin.

It was horrible that he was confused whenever I was kind, as if he thought there was no way in hell I would ever be nice to him. "Hi, Betts- sorry Betty."

"No." I shake my head as he sits.

He takes off his messenger bag, putting it on the floor beside him as he says, "What?"

"Betts is fine. It's great, actually." I nod, my bottom lip between my teeth.

He smirks, turning his whole body towards mine, lifting a foot onto his chair and resting his hand on the bent leg. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

"I haven't been honest with you. At all, actually." I say, looking down and fiddling with my fingers. "My mom is crazy."

He lets out a chuckle, "Aren't all parents?"

I giggle weakly before continuing, "Not as bad as her. She... she kinda forbade me from being friends with you." I look at it with only my eyes, my head still facing down out of embarrassment.

"Forbade?" 

"We're the Coopers. We're supposed to be Riverdale's 'perfect family'." I scoff. "She said I had to stay away from you, no friendship, purely tutoring. Of course, I listen to everything she says to keep her happy, keep up the family image. But not anymore." I shake my head, looking into his eyes.

His head tilts, interested.

"I wanted to be your friend this whole time, Jughead. Well, when you called me an uptight bitch not-so-much, but I would never hold a grudge over that when, I'll admit, I was being one."

He laughs. "Sorry about that, again."

"No, don't worry about it. But, if you'll still have me, I'd love to be friends." I offer.

"I want nothing more." he says.

"I'm gonna hug you now." I warn him.

"I'm not much of a hugger-" he starts, but I stand up, falling over him and ambushing him with a hug. Contrary to his remark, he hugs back, his leg going down to the floor and his face deepening into my neck.

It felt so right -just like how I felt the first day we met- to be in his arms. 

After a while I let go, sitting back in my chair, our eyes still connected. How is it possible that his eyes look even bluer today? 

Breaking our intense contact- which tends to happen a lot for some reason- I let out a breath of relief.

"I read your book." I try to sound happy to show him how much I loved it, but it also hurt now knowing his truth.

"Was it any good?" he asks.

My jaw drops. "Any good? Jug, it was amazing." 

"Oh, now I get a nickname too?" he smirks. I giggle before he continues. "Thanks, though. I'm glad someone finally read something of mine so I don't feel like a complete failure."

I frown. "But," I say, reaching over for his hand that now rests on the table. "It's also a true story."

He looks down at my hand over-top of his, at the same time avoiding eye contact.

"I'm so sorry, Jughead. I- I don't know what to say or if there is anything I could say to make you feel better but I want you to be happy. What I mean to say is, I'm here. You don't have to worry about ever being alone, I promise I will always be here for you."

Yeah, technically we just became friends but I knew it was a friendship that would last, and I stand by my promises.

He looks up at me, "Thank you, Betts. That means..." he shakes his head, unable to explain.

"I know." I say, stopping him from his search for words.

"I do have some notes, though!" I say trying to lightening up the mood.

His eyebrows raise. "You do? Okay, shoot."

"I'm kidding, the only thing I added to these papers are teardrops. Sorry if there's any smudging." I smile sheepishly as I hand back his story.

He chuckles. "That's okay."

"By the way, I write for the school newspaper. Maybe you'd want to join me, save me from my lonesome?" I ask.

"I'd love that! I used to run Southside High's paper."

"Huh, the more I learn about you the more similar we seem." I wiggle my brows.

Something in his eyes light up, I'm not sure exactly what. His eyes move around my face and he simply responds, "Yeah." with a grin.