The Room Mate

13-b a c k t o N Y C

👑Jugheads Point Of View-

It was 6am and we were driving back to New York. Betty had insisted we leave this early because she wants her own bed, which I thought was strange because she's literally been living in my room ever since that night we argued about Cheryl.

We were about an hour away from home and Betty had fallen asleep. She was still wearing my sweat pants from last night and her Riverdale high over sized hoodie. I looked over to her every now and then and wonder what was going on in that little head of hers. And since last night, what she had told me, I've never been more worried about someone ever. In my whole entire life I've only looked out for me.

My dads is incarcerated, my moms somewhere in Toledo with my little sister and I've pretty much been living in my own since I was fifteen, so it's all new to me.

When I was driving I realised that I haven't told Betty how I actually feel about her. I haven't told her that I love her and that's probably what she needed last night in the middle of her breakdown.

I almost kicked myself for not being if more help to her because it really did break my heart to see her like that, she's broken but not beyond the point of being fixed, we will fight through it. Together.

I carried on thinking for another hour or so, sometimes not concentrating on the roads and gazing at Betty for a little bit too long, or noticing how the morning light hits a certain building and lights it up like it's the only one for miles. I hadn't even noticed the scenery contrast from green, hilly suburbs to the ruthless streets of New York City.

I thought about how much I enjoyed Riverdale. The tiniest snippet I saw of it anyway. It was a peaceful town but I got the feeling that there is an under lying mystery to it. Maybe there was more going on behind the scenes than white picket fences, jewel tone decor and pep rallies and football games. It seemed safe enough. Maybe I would like to go there if Betty and I ever have children.

I then brushed the thought out of my head because it was an absurd idea. Even though I loved her 10 times around the moon and back I knew this relationship, like most will come to an end. Maybe in 3 years maybe in 10. But we are from different worlds and she is going to achieve so much more in life than just slumming it with me in a two bed flat.

I parked the car in its usual parking space in the parking lot and lifted Betty out of the car and into the elevator up to our floor.

For a slight second she opened her eyes for them to meet mine and a smile danced playfully on her lips.
"It's like we're married" she giggled softly and I couldn't help but smile down at her because she wouldn't say this if she was properly awake.

"Hey Betty, can I put you down so I can unlock the door" I whispered peppering little kisses on her face waking her up and she giggled and jumped down out of my arms.

I unlocked the door and pushed it up letting Betty walk in first. But when I walked in something felt odd. Like the feeling you get before something bad happens and you can't prepare for it.

My scalp prickled and grabbed Betty back to walk behind me.

"Stay behind me" I ordered and she dropped her bag and did as she was told.

"Someone's here" I whispered nodding towards the open bedroom door to Betty's room and she threw her hands over her mouth.

I picked up the closest things to me which was a lamp and peeled my head around the door, a lamp in one hand the other stretched out protecting Betty.

"Now its a party" a voice said and I flicked the light on in the room to see penny peabody sat on my girls bed playing with all her stuff.

"What do you want!" I shouted.

"Oh Relax Jones I'm not here for you" she spat.
"I'm here for your pretty little play thing" she added.

"She doesn't know anything penny" I warned and spun around to tell Betty to go into my bedroom and lock the door.

She did and I felt my heart crack abit as I watched her go. How the fuck am I going to explain this to her.

"Why are you here" I said sitting in Betty's dresser chair.

"Haven't been to work in a while, I wanted to know where you were, but I see your playing house with Malibu barbie" She cackled.

"I haven't been to work because I'm straight with you now I don't owe you anything!" I screamed.

"That maybe so but you see your daddy did a very bad thing and I don't think you understand how much I want to see him suffer and the only way to do that is through you" she cackled again.

"No I don't think you understand, I will happily go down for the crimes I committed for you but I will also happily rat you out and bring you down with me, either you leave here and never come back or I will knock on this wall three times and have Betty call the police. I'm fine either way" I screamed hoping Betty was listening.

"You wouldn't" she had cracked her voice was trembling.

"I wonder what NYPD will make of 15 gang shootings, 13 crates of stolen AKs and not to mention the drugs that are funnelling in and out of the city from your establishment" I yelled
Pointing in her face.

"You'll go down and leave your pretty pink princess" she spat.

"If it kept her safe from you then yes" I shouted and she hung her head low.

"Now get out and don't ever fucking come back here" I screamed pushing her out the door and slumping at the table.

That's when I heard the door open and Betty stood there with tears rolling down her cheeks and sadness in her eyes. I knew from just that, that this is the end of our relationship, she can't trust me anymore and I closed my eyes blinking back tears and waited for it.

🦄Betty's Point Of View ~

"Betty I can explain" he said.

"I heard enough of it Jughead" i cried.

"Please let me explain"

"I told you everything, I trusted you, I let you live here and you fucking lied! About everything! Where you work, what you do is jughead even your name?" I exploded, feeling a little bit of regret because I know deep down I truly do care for him.

"It's not what it looks like I promise I'll explain everything to you if you will just listen" he pleaded.

"You know what, no Jughead" I sighed my voice incredibly low, my hands clutching the sides of my face and running my fingers through my hair.

I opened my mouth to speak and then closed it again.
"I need to go, I don't know if and when I'll be back" I croaked out.

"Wait Betty" he said following me into my room.

"No!" I screamed.
"I loved you and you put me in danger just give me some fucking space!" I exploded and slammed my door shut and sobbing my heart out because that's the first time I told him I loved him and it was probably the last.

When I came out he was sitting at the kitchen counter with the most heart breaking look on his face.

"You said loved, is that past tense?" He croaked as he saw me go.

I couldn't turn around to face him because I would of  stayed. If I saw his face I would've stayed and even worse it would of broken my heart.

I put my hand in the door handle and left without saying a word. I lingered in the hall way for a moment hoping he would come out and get me and hug me and tell me it's okay and he doesn't want me to leave. I prayed for it but instead I heard crashing inside the apartment like he was throwing things out of frustration.

The elevator doors closed and I felt my whole body radiate with pain.

I was planning on going back to Riverdale and figure things out, I didn't know if I was coming back.

He didn't come and get me, maybe he didn't care