Mad World ~A Jeronica Story

When The Party's Over

Jughead's POV

"Happy birthday, Jug. Get up because you are not missing another day of school." What a great way to start the day. Having your best friend just barge into your house to wake you up. Is this how being seventeen feels like? 

"Archie how did you get inside my house."

"You left your door unlocked. Now hurry up because you are not ditching school today."

"But, Archie, it's my birthday and I'm suppose to have fun. How am I suppose to have fun if I'm stuck in a hellhole with my ex girlfriend? Wow, Archie, are you trying to ruin my birthday? Out of all days of the year you had to torture me on my birthday. Wow I see the type of friend you are now."

"Jughead, don't use the it's my birthday card because it's not going to work. You haven't been going to school for a few days and everyone's worried about you especially Veronica. I don't care how you feel. You're going to school today whether you like it or not."

"Haha that's a funny joke, Arch. I know for a fact that Veronica is not worried about me. She's probably making out with Reggie as we speak." As soon as I mention Veronica making out with Reggie, Archie leaves the room. That's pretty odd. Archie does have a point though. I get dressed and put on my serpent jacket as I head out the door. Today's going to be the day I have to face Veronica again. She has tried to call me a few times after it happened, but I couldn't respond. I wasn't ready to talk to her especially with what happened the other day. I still can't get over how the day after we break up she kisses Reggie in front of me. I still wasn't ready to talk to her, but it's not like I have a choice. All I can do is do my best to ignore her. I get on my motorcycle and drive to Pop's. I buy myself a strawberry milkshake to go and drive to school.

"Hey, Jones, happy birthday."

"Yeah thanks, Toni." I wasn't really in a mood to talk to anyone, so I walk over to my locker to put my stuff away.

"Jug, please stop ignoring me. I need to talk to you." Just the person I wanted to talk to, "I've been trying to call you for the last few days but you haven't been picking up."

"Yeah there's a reason for that which is I don't want to talk to you, Veronica."

"Jug, just let me explain," Veronica pleads.

"It's Jughead to you and I don't want to hear it." I slam my locker shut and walk away from Veronica. I can hear her heels chasing after me. I thought that maybe today I could talk to her, but I just can't. All I know is that she is determined to talk to me which could be an issue. I try to think of a place where Veronica can't find me.

 I walk through a crowd of people to try and lose her. I take a turn twists and turns and there it is! The ladder that lead to the rooftop of the school. I look around to make sure nobody is near, and I start climbing. As I reach the top, I am greeted by the nice October breeze. I bet I can stay here until English is over. Then I'll have a Veronica free day without ditching school. That way I won't disappoint Archie and I won't have to talk to her. I find a nice ledge to sit on and watch the morning sky. I hear the first bell ring and see people rushing to their first classes of the day. A couple of minutes later I hear the tardy bell ring as everything falls to silence. There is something so eerie yet comforting sitting on a rooftop in complete silence with a light breeze touching your face. I start thinking about what Toni meant about how Veronica didn't give me the real reason why she broke up with me. Was she cheating on me with Reggie? Was she simply not interested in me anymore? Did she think my lifestyle was too dangerous? Was I not enough for her? All these questions start flooding my mind and I suddenly jump back to reality. I check my phone for the time and see that there are only a few minutes left of first period, so I get off the ledge and start making my way towards the ladder. I take one last look at the sky and take off.