You and I- A Bughead Story

eight

Jughead's POV:
Betty stirred on my shoulder when my dad slammed open the door. I held her head and got up, gently placing her on the couch.

"I thought I told you to stop hanging out with Betty!" he yelled. Betty woke up and saw my dad and didn't say anything.

"Dad, calm down." I replied. I basically whispered it.

"Don't tell me to calm down. Why did you go to the Sheriff." he asked and pushed me up against the wall and held me, "Why did you tell the damn cops? Huh? Why did you?" he yelled in my face. I looked him straight in the eyes, "Because, Dad, I'm sick and tired of being treated like this." I mumbled.

For the first time in forever, my dads aggressive, rude look went away. His face went soft and he let go of me. He turned around and faced Betty, then looked back at me. He had tears in his eyes, "Talk to me at home tonight, I need to explain." he said and patted me on the shoulder. He looked over at Betty before he left and closed the door. I stayed put up against the wall, not knowing what to do and not knowing what just happened.

I grabbed my bag without looking at Betty, and she grabbed my hand, "Are you going?" she asked me.

"Yeah. I need to know what's going on with my dad." I replied and went to the door. I looked back at Betty and she looked upset.

"Just talk to your mom, she'll be okay with it, I promise." I said to her and kissed her on the forehead, "I'll see you tomorrow." I said and left to go see my dad.

Betty's POV:
There I was. Standing in front of my house. I sighed as I turned the handle slowly and looked into my house and opened it all the way. My mom was right there.

"Little anxious to come home, Elizabeth?" she asked me. I quickly nodded and she pulled me into a hug, "Don't let those people get to you." she said as she hugged me and rubbed my head.

"How did you find out?" I asked her and sniffled because I had started to cry.

"First Wetherbee and then Jughead." she replied, "That boy cares a lot about you."

"That's because we're dating mom." I said and looked at her.

"Oh... really? How long?" she asked. I replied with a week. We sat there and talked for a while and I completely forgot about Jughead and his dad and the things on my locker. For once I felt like she understood me. Yeah, she's my mother, I'm her daughter, we're obviously going to fight and disagree, but this was a new feeling. A good feeling. It felt good to talk about Jughead. I haven't told anyone yet because we want to keep it on the low, and my mom really supported it. I told her about how supportive he is and how he's always there for me. She was happy for me. Happy that I finally have someone that cares so much about me, something she never really had.

"Have you guys said you loved each other yet?" she asked me smiling.

I choked on my drink, "Mom it's been a week." I said and laughed.

"Oh yeah! I forgot!" She replied and we both caught up. I told her everything, except for the fact that I dig my finger nails into my palms. I don't think she would understand that.

After a long discussion with my mom, I felt like I could breathe again. It was like this invisible weight was on my chest, making it hard for me to breathe. But, I can breathe again. I laid down and quickly fell asleep.

Jughead's POV:
I walked into the trailer to see it all clean. The living room looked nice, the cushions weren't messed up and the pillows weren't on the floor. The trash was picked up, the bed was made, and the alcohol was gone. These are usually things I do, but recently I haven't been here so it's probably been messy. I sat down on the couch and my dad cane out of the bathroom.

"Hey Jug, we have a lot of explaining." he said and sat across from me. I nodded and noticed he had shaved his beard.

"So, when your mother left me, I was in a dark place. I needed family. That's when I obviously joined the serpents. But, when I wasn't with the serpents, I needed something else to escape from reality. That's when I started drinking." he paused for a second and looked at me.

"Boy, I never wanted to hurt you. I was and am still in pain. I don't know how I can ever make this up to you. I'm trying Jug, I really am." he said looking down at his hands.

"But, Dad, sometimes when you... hit me, you weren't even drunk." I whispered.

He looked up from his hands with tears in his eyes and choked out, "We all make mistakes Jug." before he started to sob.

I don't think I've ever seen my dad cry. Not once when he hugged Jellybean for the last time, not once when their car drove away to Toledo. Never.

I sat down next to him and pulled him into a hug, "It's okay, Dad. Everything is going to be okay. I'm here and I'm going to help you." I said.

For once my dad and I actually were okay. We want to help each other now and stick with each other. This was a new feeling. A great feeling.

"Get to bed, boy, you have school tomorrow." he said, breaking the hug.

I nodded and got up, "I'm liking this new dad." I said walking into the kitchen.

"Me too Jug." he replied.

Narrator POV:
For once Betty and Jughead fell asleep with nothing on their minds. They felt relived. They felt something that they haven't felt in a while. They felt genuinely happy.