Braking Hard (Riverdale-Jughead Jones)

18

TW // CHAPTER MENTIONS PREVIOUS R*PE

"The full truth?" Betty raised an eyebrow and I sighed. "I got an abortion. That part is true. But, I did lie about why. I didn't tell anyone. Not even Kevin."

I locked eyes with each person sat in front of me and listed them in my head.

Toni. Sweetpea. Jug. Betty. Archie. Veronica. Cheryl. Kevin. Sheriff Keller.

I had no clue that I would ever admit this in front of so many people.

"You told me it was because you weren't expecting it. It was a one night fling and you weren't ready to be a mother." Kevin said in confusion. I let out a breath and looked down, preparing myself.

"I killed the baby, because." I started, slightly choking on my words. "Because I couldn't stand it! I couldn't have the baby of someone I didn't know. The baby of some freak in a back alley that just grabbed me and-" a sob tore through my words, and me, not expecting it, threw my hand to my mouth to try and stop it, tears beginning to rush down my face.

I hadn't realised that dredging it back up would make me so upset, but I suppose I should have known. I felt a supporting hand on my shoulder and I instantly leant into the person, sobs wracking my body.

"This guy, he... He forced himself on you?" Archie spoke slowly, attempting to not provoke me.

I finally managed to take a breath, tears still rolling but sobs beginning to calm and nodded my head.

"I couldn't stop it and I felt so helpless, I couldn't have a baby from that, I just couldn't, and now I never can!" My words began a fresh wave of tears, and the person with me leaning against them wrapped their arms around me, laying their head on mine and giving me soothing words.

I realised that it was Cheryl soon enough, and reached my arms round her as well for extra comfort. Cheryl lifted her head and spoke to the crew in my trailer.

"I think Ali should have some time, I'll look after her." Everyone seemed to agree, and most of them began to leave, but not before Betty lay a soothing hand on mine.

"We're here for you, ok? If you need to talk, any of us will be willing to." I nodded, the tears unabling me to talk properly, and watched as my friends left the trailer one by one.

Jug lingered behind, as did Sherriff Keller, they both sat on the couch below my bed, and looked at me softly.

"I know it's hard Alison, but at some point I'll have to ask you questions about it, ok?" Sheriff Keller told me. I took a deep breath and leant away from Cheryl smiling at her gratefully.

"I'll make you a hot chocolate." She spoke lowly, rubbing my shoulder gently before standing to do as she said.

"I can answer then now, Sheriff." Jug looked down and winced.

"Are you sure? I don't want to-" I cut him off.

"I'd rather do it now. I don't want to have to come back to it even more than I already will. I'd rather get it over with do I can work on getting over it." I smiled and wrapped my arms around myself.

"Ok, where did it happen, do you know?" He pulled out a notepad.

"The back of Regent Street. You know the back alley behind the back of the Regent Bar?" I explained. He nodded and jotted it down.

"What do you remember of what actually happened?" He was being careful with his words, trying not to freak me out I could tell.

"Well, it was about half 12, you know, midnight. And I was walking back from buying new parts. The delivery guy was ill I remember, so I know it was the 14th July, that was the only day he called in sick. So I went to pick them up myself, and when I was coming back I thought I would take a shortcut." I looked towards Jug for comfort but he was still looking down, and I instead looked over to Cheryl, who smiled at me as she poured milk into the mug she was holding.

"Go on."

"Umm. When I went along that back alley, I wasn't really expecting it, but this guy just sort of grabbed me and hit me over the head. I passed out and then when I woke up he had a hand over my face and he was..." I coughed. "He was doing stuff to me."

The Sheriff sighed as he was writing, and Cheryl plopped the hot chocolate next to me, wrapping an arm around me again.

"Why didn't you report it when it happened?" The Sheriff asked, and I took a sip of the hot drink in front of me, hands shaking.

"I was scared, I don't know. I just couldn't. And I couldn't really talk about it to anyone." I finished. "This guy, he terrified me. I couldn't leave my trailer for days. I skipped school, I skipped work, and nobody at school even noticed that I was gone. I made this stupid excuse for work that I had needed time off. And I just couldn't tell anyone. I didn't really have anyone to tell." I rooms gulp of the hot chocolate.

"Stop me if this is too much ok?" The Sheriff raised his eyebrows. "Can you remember at all, what he looked like, and what exactly he did to you?" I took a deep breath to answer him.

"All I remember about how he looked, was that he had brown eyes and brown hair, although it was hard to see in the darkness. And he had an earring in his left ear. I remember a tattoo on his hand, because his hand was on my face. Umm, it looked like a boat or something like that? But that's all I saw. It was dark." I swallowed and continued, squeezing Cheryl's hand.

"It's ok Ali." She comforted.

"I remember, that he had his hand up my top. And, um, he was touching me." I swallowed. "All over really. Um, he kept feeling me and he was lying on top of me while he was doing it." I stopped for a quick breath, tears filling up the edge of my eyes.

Jug looked away, and I noticed his fists were clenched, but I could understand why he wouldn't even look at me.

"I was trying to shout but his hand kept stopping me, and he was-" I stopped, my voice not permitting itself to leave me. I shook my head sharply and gasped for air.

"I think she's said all she can tonight, ok Sheriff? Maybe she'll feel up to it another time." Cheryl showed the Sheriff out of the trailer and I felt lonely without her arm round me. I turned to Jug, still facing the floor.

"Jug... Please tell me what you're thinking." I managed to choke out.

"I'm not thinking. I'm reacting." He spat back.

"And your reaction is?" I whispered.

"That whoever this dick is needs to pay." Jug looked up at me sharply, and I could see the anger in his eyes. "Why didn't the black hood go after him instead of you!"

"Because I didn't tell anyone. No one knew, so of course the black hood came after me. He didn't know it was a sin commited because of a sin commited." I explained, my voice still shaking. "All he saw was one sin. Not two."

Cheryl came back in and closed the door shut. She turned to Jug and placed her hands on her hips.

"Jughead, I think it's time Ali got some rest, ok?" She said, pushing the table under my bed.

"Of course. Call me if you need me Al." He gave me a quick kiss on my head and turned to leave, but I grabbed his arm.

"Jug, please don't do something stupid. I couldn't deal with it if you got hurt too." He looked away and I sighed, letting go of him.

"I can't promise anything. But I can try." He left and the door swung shut behind him, Cheryl and me watching in silence.

"Look hun, I'm right next to you. Ok?" She pulled out the two couch's to become her single bed and I nodded, sliding back into my own and pulling my curtain shut.