Jellybean Jones

Chapter 26: I Hate This

Jellybean POV
I stood wrapped in Jughead's arm for what must of been an hour. I couldn't calm down. Somebody had tried to kill me! Somebody actually tried to kill me! My breathing once again quickened as I started to really think about this. I spoke in a scratchy, nearly silent voice. "He tried to kill me. He tried to kill me." Those were the first words I had said in a long time.

I kept saying them over and over, but eventually, fatigue overtook me. I grew extremely tired. The fact that my head was pounding didn't make it any better. "He tried to kill me." I mumbled one more time before I was right on the verge of unconscious. Jughead carried me to my room and laid me on my bed. More tears slipped down my cheeks, but before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

Jughead POV
Over an hour later, I still had no idea what was going on. I rushed back into the living room. "Dad! What the hell does she mean, He tried to kill me.?" I demanded, but my voice was extremely sad. Dad didn't answer, he looked more worried than I was. "Jughead, take a breathe and sit down." He directed. I did. "Before I tell you what happened, can you please explain to me what the hell that was?" He asked. His voice was much calmer than mine, but he was clearly wondering about Jellybean.

"She uh," I began. "she had an anxiety attack Dad. She's gotten them before, but not to that extent, not at all." His face completely fell. "She has anxiety?" He asked remorsefully. I nodded. We were both silently crying at this point. We sat there for a while, I was glad that Dad knew now. "Jug, I'll tell you what happened, but you need to not freak out, okay? It's over now and we both cannot change what happened." He said.

I nodded. Then he told me. He told me everything about how Jackson and Ryan were cousins. Everything about the strangling attempt. Everything about the note. Absolutely everything. I felt horrifically sick by the end of it. Tears flowed out of my eyes. I wanted to scream. I wanted to hurt both of those boys so badly.

But instead of doing anything, I just cried. I don't think I've ever cried this hard. Somebody had tried to kill my little sister. Somebody had tried to kill my Jellybean. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to say. I thought the 'climax' of Riverdale was over for us after the Black Hood was caught. It wasn't. It was far from over. It wouldn't be over until my little sister was okay. It wouldn't be over until we were okay.

Jellybean POV
I woke up in the middle of the night. I tried to sit up, but my head still ached from being smashed against the wall. I wondered what colour my eye was and if there were finger shaped bruises on my sore neck. I still could barely talk and it hurt to swallow. That's when I remembered. I just had the worst anxiety attack I've ever experienced. Right in front of Dad.

I had never intended for him to know, it was just between me and Jughead. I wanted to get up. I wanted to see my family, but I didn't have the physical ability to at the moment. I grabbed my phone and texted Dad, asking them both to come see me. I knew they'd still be awake. They came quickly. Jughead came in first. He sat on the bed beside me. "Dad told me." His voice was solemn. He was crying.

"I'm so sorry Jelly. I'm so sorry." He ran his fingers through my hair. "I'm okay." I said nearly silently. Dad walked in, carrying something. Jughead saw Dad come in. "I gotta go to bed." He said. He smiled and left the room. Dad walked over to me. I saw that he had ice. "Hey baby girl." He said. "This if for your eye, kay?" He asked softly. I nodded.

I winced at how cold it was, but it was soothing at the same time. Dad stayed with me for a long time, he eventually took the ice and came back to my room empty handed. "Jellybean," He began slowly. "that was pretty scary watching you go through that anxiety attack earlier." I didn't look at him. "Jughead said that you've had some of those before." His voice trailed off.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." I said horsely. I guess it's pretty hard to talk after you've been strangled. Dad gave me a sad smile. "I understand." He said quietly. "But if you ever feel like you need help, please just let me know." He told me. I nodded. "You should get back to sleep." He added. I shut my eyes and was out like a light.

Jughead POV
I didn't sleep at all that night. Well after Dad and Jellybean had gone to bed, I had thrown up from nerves. I felt completely horrible for my little sister. I was also infuriated. Someone had wanted to kill her and if she hadn't defended herself, she might be dead right now. That thought was nauseating. I couldn't imagine life without Jellybean.

The next two days went by painfully slow. Dad had realized that Jellybean had a slight concussion. He didn't believe it was necessary to take her to a doctor, as it wasn't much more than a headache. Her eye was a deep purple with shades of blue, yellow and green. Her neck was also pretty bad. There were ten finger shaped bruises that were shades of the same colours.

Physically, she was doing alright. Except for throwing up a few times from the concussion and her head aching, she made it out of the strangling the just some bruises and a very scratchy voice. Emotionally, however, she was not doing well at all. She was incredibly shaken up and who could blame her? Someone had tried to frickin kill her.

When Monday morning came, school was the last place I wanted to be. I wanted to be home with Jellybean. She could now talk much more clearly and move without assistance, but I think this will take her months to fully recover from. I got up and was getting ready to leave when I heard Dad talking on the phone with Sheriff Keller. He ended the call when he noticed I was up. He didn't, however, tell me what the conversation was about.

I knew Dad was pressing charges and Jackson and Ryan were going to have to be brought in, but he sounded mad on the phone. "Dad?" I asked as I was about to head out the door. "Yeah Jug?" He responded tiredly. "Do I have to go today?" I was desperate to stay home. I figured he was going to say no and that I needed a break from this. So I was surprised when he said I didn't have to go today or tomorrow. I was beyond relieved.

Jellybean POV
I hate this. I hate this. I hate this! I was stuck in bed all day because I was slightly concussed and still recovering from being the victim of a murder attempt. Just thinking about that made me sick. I was better now though, as much as Dad denied it. I didn't like that he knew about my stupid anxiety. I didn't like it one bit.

I was still on edge though. I felt like Missile Kid. Like one of these days I'm just going to blow up because I can't take it anymore and I'm sorry if you don't get that reference, but I'm pretty sure you get the point. Anyways, I was scared. I was sick. I was tired. I was sad. And I had reason to be. Jackson Millstone had tried to kill me and that's reason enough.