Weirdo - Jughead Jones

4: Jughead Jones

Seven Years Earlier

"One old-fashioned vanilla and two chocolate shakes."

"Thanks," the three of us chorused, pulling our shakes toward us. Third grade had finally come to an end and we, along with many others, were celebrating with our usual milkshakes at Pop's. I looked around at all of the students at the shoppe, all showing the same relief of finishing another year.

"Uggghhh," Archie groaned, tugging at his bright red hair. "Report cards are coming through the mail soon."

"I don't understand everyone's fear of report cards," I laughed before taking a sip of my milkshake. "My parents get all happy about them."

"Yeah," Betty chimed in. "When I get mine, my family takes me out to celebrate."

"That's easy for you to say," Archie squeaked in distress. "You guys are teachers pets."

I vaguely acknowledged the chime of Pop's telephone ringing, but moments later Pop came to our table. "Madison." I looked up. "That was your mother on the phone. She wants to talk to you."

I exchanged confused looks with my two friends before getting up from the bench and following Pop to the counter. He handed me the phone and left to take care of other customers.

"Hello?"

"Maddie. Where are you?" Her voice was soft, almost weak.

"I'm at Pop's. Mom, what's g--?"

"Can you come home?"

"Now?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"There's something we need to talk about."

Oh, God. Was my report card actually bad this year? "Do we have to talk now? Why can't--?"

"No. I'm sorry. Can you just come home?"

This is weird. There has never been an emergency before. Nothing where I'd have to be home right away. My mind immediately jumped into a pool of terrifying images of what could be happening. "Uh. O-Okay."

"Thanks, hon. I love you."

"I love you too," I replied, still confused. I hung up when I heard her do it first. I walked back to the booth where I'd been sitting, and Betty and Archie looked at me to see what was going on. "My mom just told me to go home."

"Now?" Betty asked, as confused as I was.

I nodded. I was disappointed; I was looking forward to celebrating the last day of school with them. "I'm sorry, you guys."

"It's okay," said Archie.

I pulled my backpack on and picked up my milkshake, which Archie was eyeing. He had an empty glass in front of him. "Yes, Arch. You can have the rest of my milkshake." He smiled gratefully as I set the glass in front of him.

Betty got up and gave me a hug, which I returned. "Call us tonight, okay?"

"Yeah, I will." I let out a nervous breath as I pulled away. "See you later."

"Bye, Mads."

"Bye, Maddie."

I turned away and walked out of the shoppe, wondering what was going to happen and what I was going to learn when I got home.

That was the last time I saw my best friends.

Jughead Jones

Present

She tugged at her faded pink bangs, gripping the strands of hair between her fingers. She had previously been staring out the window in deep thought, her eyebrows twitching once in a while as if they wanted to pull together in confusion. Her book was still on the table, held open by her other hand but unread.

I still didn't know anything about this girl, besides the fact that she had left Riverdale and come back only now, and that she was friends with Archie Andrews and Betty Cooper. The first time I saw her was here at Pop's the other night. That was when we accidentally made eye contact. From then on it seemed like that happened often, and it was getting to be less of an accident.

She caught me looking at her, as she always seemed to do. The corners of her mouth lifted in a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes before she looked away.

Pop returned to where I was standing at the counter, my mug of coffee in his hand. "Thanks, Pop," I said as I took it in my hands.

Before I could walk to my booth he called me back. "Jug," he said quietly. "I think you should talk to her." He had noticed me watching her.

I looked from him to the girl and back, unsure of why Pop was sending me there. I was never the social type.

"I'm worried about her," he explained. "She's had some problems lately. Family problems. And I don't think she even knows about them."

I tried to read his face, and then hers. I was curious. What problems? I wanted to ask him, but doubted he'd tell me.

"I know you're not the talking type," Pop continued. "She isn't either. But she doesn't look so well."

I knew what he meant. When I saw her here last, she was alone. She looked perfectly fine by herself. Now she was alone again, but this time she seemed lonely. And maybe she was lonely without realizing it. "Okay." I nodded.

"Thank you." Pop looked at me meaningfully.

I nodded again and began to walk to her booth. As I did I grew nervous. Like he'd said, I'm not the talking type. If I could make a friend by doing no more than sitting next to them while on my computer, I'd be pretty popular. But I was living in the real, modern world and so I didn't do so well with getting friends. But I would do my best to talk to this girl. And if she's like me as Pop said she was, she'd understand and sympathize with how I'm not the best conversationalist.

"You're here alone tonight." I spoke when I reached her. "Not a fan of dancing?"

She looked up at me, surprised that I was finally talking to her after our version of a staring contest.

Shit. Did that sound weird? Pervy? I think I just screwed up. "I'm sorry, I just noticed you weren't at the Semi-Formal."

"Oh. Yeah." She chuckled. "Well, for one, I can't dance. It's also not really my scene."

I smiled. "The dresses, nice shoes, slow dancing, punch that may or may not be intoxicated... Not your thing?"

I made her laugh this time. "I guess not. I helped Betty pick a dress yesterday, but that was enough for me."

"You are here alone, yeah?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Would you like some company?" I added, "Just as a warning, I am not skilled in socializing. And you don't have to say yes. Kick me out if I'm too annoying. But I'll try not to be."

She laughed again, and her smile was relieving to me. "Okay. Yeah."

"Okay," I echoed. I smiled back and sat in the bench across from her. "Oh, right. Introductions. My name's Jughead Jones."

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