Consequences

Chapter 26

"Cheryl, Toni," Jughead barged into their room. "You're on toilet duty for a month."

"HELL NO!"
"We saved you, you ungrateful little..."
"There's no way I'm doing that."
"My house, my rules; my house, my decor!"
"Only if you ask Veronica out I'll do it."
"I'm still not doing it even if you do."

"GUYS QUIT IT!" Jughead tried to silence the bickering couple. Their voices gave him a headache. "Just shut up and accept it."

"Jughead, what's taking so long?" FP poked his head in their room. "What's going on again?"

FP sighed. "You know what, I don't want to know, but please be on your best behavior, Jughead, alright? It's our first picnic with the whole family together."

"Yeah, yeah, and Choni is still on toilet duty," Jughead shut the door to block out their protests.

FP shot him a look and Jughead raised his hand in surrender as they walked towards their car to put the picnic basket in the back of their car.

"Why are we even going on a family picnic with everything that's going on?"

"Because family comes first," FP retorted. "We haven't spent much time with your mom and your sister since they arrived. Besides, Fangs and Sweet Pea are on guarding duty. You trust them, right?"

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"Jughead dear, running the Serpents is a very dangerous job, honey," Gladys looked at her son, concerned. "I don't understand why your dad would make such a decision to pass his throne to you."

FP cleared his throat upon receiving Gladys' glare. "I know our son, he is perfect for the job, and I couldn't be more proud of him."

As Gladys opened her mouth to argue, Jughead dragged her sister away to the river to play.

"How long do you think we're staying?" Jellybean asked timidly. "You know, before they..."

"I don't know," Jughead confessed. It was obvious that his parents did not get along well and that they were far from the picture of a happy family.

Seeing his sister's despondent look, Jughead ruffled her hair and comforted her. "That's why we've got to treasure our time together, right Jel?"

Jellybean's lips curved into a smile. "Yep! So tell me Juh, is Veronica your girlfriend?"

Jughead coughed, offended. "Of course not! We're just friends. Why does everyone think that?"

"You are so oblivious," Jellybean giggled.

"And you're delusional."

"Fine, but when you two get together, you have to tell me, so I get to say 'told ya'," Jellybean stuck her tongue out at her annoyed brother.

"In that case, you won't get to say it."

The Jones sibling sat side by side, overlooking the river that seemed to connect the blue sky. Jellybean Jones took her phone out to snap a few photos of the scene, then switched to front camera and took a few selfies of her brother and her.

"I never got to ask, Jel," he gazed at his sister seriously. "How's living with mom?"

Jellybean thought for a moment. "She...I know she's trying really hard to be a good mom and provide everything I need, but it's just different living with one parent only. She works hard 24/7 but I barely get to see her and I much rather we get less money than less time together."

"I just...I just wish we were complete, I wish we could live together as a family," Jellybean continued wistfully. "I miss the days when dad gave us piggyback rides and we just had fun and were happy."

"Are you happy, Jel?"

"Right now, in this moment, I am."

Jughead felt a wave of sadness wash over him. This little girl in front of him was forced to grow up much quicker than her age because of a broken family. She had been torn away from her brother and her father, and her mother could not provide much emotional support she needed. His sister was so precious and did not deserve going through all that. After all, she was only fifteen.