My Hero In Leather |Jughead Jones|

Chapter 18

I wake up and look around. I'm back at Braeden's house. I just can't face Archie right now. Of course going to the same high school doesn't help much. Braeden's already awake and staring at himself in the mirror and applying eyeliner.

"So you're sticking with the new look," I question as I toss the blanket off of me.

"Yeah. I kinda really like it. I miss wearing way to much black," he smiles at me and it's a soft smile.

"Cool," I reply and toss open his closet. I took some clothes from my house and brought them here. I grab a black tank top and put on a hoodie with a small Stitch in the top right of it.

Braeden is in a similar outfit as yesterday. He has on some dark jeans and he'd cut a shirt that I'd bought him before into a crop top. It had been a tank top so he was showing quite a bit of skin, which he used to hate. The shirt said Gay Boy Problems. I thought it had fit him well. We left and he didn't bother to grab his Serpent jacket from his door handle. It was strange he never went anywhere without that thing on.

I had mine tied around my waist. I don't really feel like going anywhere wtihout it. I don't know why. I just don't. I guess it's a part of me now.

He began to whistle a song that was strangely familiar. I just couldn't name it. I could see that familiar look in his eyes. He was nervous. Maybe because of what he was wearing. Maybe he regrets it. It's always been hard to tell with him.

"Are you okay," I ask and he nods without looking at me. "Seriously. What's wrong," I ask and stand in front of him.

"I don't know okay. I just don't fucking know. It's like I keep trying to force myself to be happy and okay when I'm not. I try and try and try to pretend I'm not in constant pain and fear, but I am. I hate being alone, but I hate being around people. I joined the Serpents and finally felt like I fit in somewhere, but my love for Reggie fucking Mantle made it so I can never fully move on. You don't know what that's like. Living with the fact that I can't be happy because I love him," he snaps and he wipes his eyes before walking past me.

He stops and then sighs. "It all became so lovely. Those bluest skies above me. Those funny feelings I had never felt before I met you. I thought I'd stay awhile. I tried to learn to smile. So many colors I had never even known. Maybe I'll find myself sitting on that distant shore. Maybe I'm not alone. Then I see the colors fading. Gentleness of light escaping. Shadows of my fear invading. Have I seen this all before," he sighs and sits on the ground.

"I know that there is something residing, a terror deep inside me. I couldn't understand how you could be so bold. Maybe I'll find myself smiling on that distant shore. Maybe I'm not alone," I rest my head on his shoulder and he smiles at me lightly. "We're really fucked up," I whisper and he laughs.

"Yeah. We're teenagers who obsess over lesbian space rocks," he shakes his head and I just nod.

"Come on. We have to get to school," I say and pull him up.

...

"Jasmin can I talk to you," Jughead asks and I shrug. He pulls me to the side of the school and he stares at me. "I think you should put the baby up for adoption."

"No," I don't hesitate to snap back at him.

"Why not? You're barely sixteen. Do you really want to be a mother," he questions and I roll my eyes.

"I don't know Jug. I just don't want to give it up. I want my baby to be in my life. If you don't want it then you can give up your rights. I don't really care Jug, but I am keeping the baby," I reply before turning away and walking back to Braeden.

"What was that about," he asks as we walk down the street. We don't really know where we're going, but of course we never do.

"Jughead wants me to put the baby up for adoption, but I said no. I just feel like I should keep it you know. I don't know why. I just do. I don't like the idea of not being in their life," I look over at him and he nods.

"I'd feel that way too. I may not be the sweetest person in the world, but I have always wanted a kid," he smiles. "And then I'd argue with Fangs for ages about the name. 'But Sankebite is a cool name' he'd yell and I'd want to name it some random TV character nobody would remember," I roll my eyes, but it's probably true. Honestly I can see him naming his son Thomas Sanders at this point.

"You know you can't hide your Serpent tattoo since you cut your hair," I noticed and he shrugged.

"It's whatever. Anyone who doesn't know is probably not the brightest anyways," he shrugs and I smile again. It was weird at school today. Reggie and him were more hostile to eachother then normal, but other then that, Braeden was just super calm. I kinda miss him being super sassy all the time though. It was kinda hilarious.

"So how's Fangs doing," I ask and he instantly bites his lip.

"We're taking a break right now. Fucking sucks but we need it. We clearly don't trust each other. I dont know. I need to figure out my feelings for Reggie anyways. On another note. What do you want for Christmas," he asked and I roll my eyes.

"I dont give a shit. Buy me something pretty," he smiles and hits me lightly.

I was gonna cut out the song part but then I decided I can leave in what I want and anyways Riverdale has song numbers in the most random places sometimes so yeah.