Holding Back |~| A Bughead Story

Chapter 11

Jughead's P.O.V:

I sat up to the shrill sound of my phone ringtone and a kink in my neck. I sit up quickly and hear a small feminine groan. I look down to see Betty starting to open her eyes against my chest. I reach over to the side table, picked up my phone, and blindly answered the call. "Where the hell are you guys?!" Toni's voice screeched through the speaker. I groaned a little as Betts sat up to rub her eyes. "We're in the treehouse. Something happened and we fell asleep." Betty looked to me in confusion for a second, before her nostrils flared and her jaw clenched. "We'll be home soon." Before Toni could say something else I hung up and tossed my phone back on the table. Betty was looking down and picking at her fingers. I ducked my head down a little to catch her eye, and when that didn't work, I stuck my hand out slowly and clasped her chin lightly. I turned her head towards me. Her eyes had tears swimming in them, and her lip was trembling. I sighed as a tear streamed down her face. I let go of her chin and dragged my thumb against her skin, collecting the tear. I grabbed her arm and pulled her to my chest. She immediately moved to me and balled herself up on my lap. She didn't sob. She didn't punch and scream. She just sat there while I lightly rocked her. I felt drops fall on my shirt a few times, but that was it. We sat in silence, comfortably too. 

Betty's P.O.V: 

I stepped over the threshold hugging Juggie to my side, as Toni rushed towards us. She looked up to me, and her face morphed to confusion and concern. I imagine my eyes were puffy, my face blotchy from the crying. In my peripherals I could see Jug lightly shake his head. He pulled me to his room and laid me on the bed. I nodded at his concerned oceans and he turned and left the room. I heard the front door close, and sat up. I slowly looked around the familiar room. The dark navy sheets I was laying on. The small desk in the corner with his computer on it. The bedside table with small alarm clock on it. And finally the small closet that I used to refill clothes in constantly. I noticed the red tank top in the closet and managed a small smile. I got up and off the bed and made my way to the item. I grabbed it off the hanger and pulled open the middle drawer. There sat black jean shorts, and I picked them up. Inside them were tucked a pair of undergarments. I dragged my heavy body to the shower, turning on the water. I stripped and stepped under the stream of water, washing with Toni's soaps. 

Jughead's P.O.V: 

I stepped into Pop's with Toni in tow. I nodded to Pop and he nodded back, making his way into the back to start the order. Toni pulled me into a booth, her face etched with concern. "What the hell happened?" She asked harshly. I pursed my lips and sat back with a sigh, "Fangs is a dick." She furrowed her brows. "He's gay." Her eyes widened. "Well maybe Bi, but instead of telling Betts, he cheated on her." She gasped. Pulling out her phone, she quickly typed in her passcode before I stopped her. "You know Betty almost as well as me. She wouldn't want this to be a big thing. The less people who know, the better. Maybe you, Chris, and some pizza? She wouldn't want Veronica. And you know, I know you know, she wouldn't want people to know he cheated on her." She blinked a few times and nodded, slowing her fingers on the screen. "Hey Chris. Uh I need you to pick up a few pizzas and make your way to Jug's trailer. ... No not movie night. Just bring you and the pizza. ... Okay. Bye." She tapped her screen and set her phone on the table. She looked up to me and sighed. Leaning forward and placing her head in her hands. A few minutes later Pop came over and sat the bag down on the table. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. We got up and walked out. 

Betty's P.O.V: 

I spit into the sink, and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was wet, yet still some how looked tussled. My eyes were less puffy then when I first walked into the bathroom, and face was clear. I started to inspect my face. What's wrong with me? Why didn't he like me? I stepped back a little to inspect my body. I tilted my head a little and stretched out my arms. I've always had good curves, a least people told me they wished they had them. Maybe they only said that to make me feel better. I lifted my shirt a little and stood sideways. I puffed out my stomach and straightened out my back. I didn't have that much fat. Maybe I could run a little more. I put my shirt down and looked down to my legs. With all the walking we do, my legs have always been pretty lean. I've been told their my best feature, next to my eyes. I furrowed my brow. Then I heard the front door open and close. I took a deep inhale and stepped out of the bathroom. Jug came into the room and smiled at me a little. I smiled back a followed him out of the room. He sat down at the small table, with Toni on the other side. I stepped over and onto Jug's lap. I curled my legs under his thighs and he slid an arm around my waist. I sunk into the familiar feeling, and relished in it. Toni's sad smile turned to a small smirk and a raised eyebrow. I matched her face and she narrowed her eyes at me. "So how did the date with Cheryl go?" When eyes widened a little my smirk grew. "Okay. Well. 1. It was not a date. We were simply two gay girls meeting to become friends. 2. She's so awesome. She has this awesome resting bitch face, so at first I was dreading it. She slowly let me in and let me tell you, she is a firecracker." As she gushed over the 'non'- date, and we ate, my heart ached at the familiar feeling of it all. Before Fangs. And that's when I felt it. I was happy he did that. Thank god for Fangs cheating on me. We could go back to normal. Cuddling with Juggie on movie nights, Pop's milkshakes everyday, homework Fridays, Drive-In Saturdays. I leaned back into Jug as he dropped the last fry into his mouth. I chewed on my lip as I thought about all the things we could do. I smiled big and got up off of Jug's lap. He looked to me in confusion, but I moved past the table and into the hall closet. My eyes scanned the small space until I spotted it. Yes! The picnic basket. If my smile could grow, it did. I pulled it out and got to work fixing up the materials.

Jughead's P.O.V: 

As Betty started to pack I looked to Toni who was equally confused. Betty suddenly stopped and turned to us, "I suppose you already called Chrissy with the pizzas. So tell her to bring a bathing suit, and invite Ronnie and Pea. Which I'm guessing is where he is. You can invite Cheryl too. Just make sure everyone has a bathing suit." She nodded at us and set back to work. I smirked in recognition of where we were going. Toni smiled at me, and set to work in getting everyone together. I stood and stepped up behind Betts who paused her shuffling as my hands wrapped her waist. She smiled a little and leaned back into me. I nuzzled into her neck and breathed her in. I'm happy she isn't feeling bad about the break up. She started to move again and I let go, moving to help her pack.