Weirdo - Jughead Jones

24: Search

Thanks guys this is pretty cool I didn't think this thing would be liked this much

It was another morning of waking up to an arm around me, and I basked in the comfort of it, smiling to myself. I turned in Jughead's arms to face him.

His eyes open slightly at the movement, his eyelashes fluttering. The corners of his mouth turn up a little. "Hi."

"Hi," I giggled.

"Weirdo," he said sleepily before a yawn. He held me tighter.

"Weirdo." I giggled again. I probably sounded sounded stupid and annoying but I didn't care.

Jughead opened his eyes a little more and met mine. "Hey. I'm..." He trailed off, looking away.

"Hm?" I waited for him to continue.

"I, uh...." He looked at me in silence for a moment before quickly leaning in to kiss me passionately.

I was surprised by it, smiling into the kiss. After a few moments he pulled away. "What was that for?" I chuckled.

"For being in love with you," He replied, looking me in the eye. "I love you, Madison Parker." He said it so softly.

I didn't know how big my smile could get. It almost started to hurt. "Jughead Jones," I said to him. "I love you."

He kept looking at me, his lips tugging slowly into a smile. He's just so adorable. I gave him a tiny, quick kiss on his nose. He scrunched his eyebrows as if he was confused by this. Then he leaned forward for another kiss but I pulled away, propping myself up with my elbow. Jughead scoffed and I giggled as he followed me and leaned in again. I pulled away.

Jughead sighed, then narrowed his eyes and smirked.

"Wha—? Oh no!" I laughed and squirmed as his fingers found my sides. "No no no ah!"

Jughead straddled me, pinning me down as he tickled me. I couldn't contain my laughter, gasping for air and trying to say "stop."

This went on for a few moments before I heard the floor outside my room creak. "Maddie?" I heard a knock on the door.

"Shit!" I whispered. Jughead jumped off of me as soon as he heard her, and he crashed to the floor in the action. We both tried and failed to contain our laughter. "Yeah, Mom?" I called when I caught my breath. Jughead laid on the floor between the bed and the wall opposite my door.

The door opened and my mom stepped in. She looked tired and out of it. "Good morning." She smiled faintly. "What's so funny?"

Jughead's hand crept under the covers and onto my thigh. "Oh, it was uh..." I giggled again when he squeezed above my knee. I slapped his hand away and he took mine in his and just held it.

"It was...?" I forgot about my mom.

"Oh! It was just a... a meme. Betty sent it to me."

She raised her eyebrows and smiled like parents do when they try to understand. "Great. How is Betty doing? I heard about Polly."

"Oh." My smile faded. "She's okay. Betty's the kind of person who solves problems before worrying about them."

Mom nods. This is the first active conversation we've had in a while. "You're right. About that, did you hear about the search she planned for today?"

"Oh, yeah. She texted me about it. She's inviting both us, if you'd want to come."

I think she's going to decline as I take in her tired eyes, but she doesn't. "Sure. We'll go together, yeah?"

"Yeah."

She smiled again before stepping out and closing the door behind her. I sighed and rolled over to look over the side of the bed.

Jughead looked up at me with a smirk. "So I'm a meme now?"

"Well it wasn't completely a lie," I laughed.

He just rolled his eyes and chuckled. Then he picked himself up and flopped next to me on the bed. I smiled and leaned into him, taking in the warmth of the contact. "So what's the plan for today?"

"I think I'll go see my dad." He sighed. "Archie said that his dad could give him another chance. I thought if he got the job, then he would clean up a bit. Start being an actual dad. I don't know."

I shifted and moved closer in response and his arm wrapped around me.  "Do you want to meet at the search today?"

"With your mom?"

"Oh. Forgot about that." I turned to him and grinned. "I guess we'll have to keep our distance."

"What if we make meaningful eye contact?"

"Oh god. How scandalous."

Jughead snorted and threw his crown beanie on my face. I scrunched my nose dramatically.

"But would I be able to take you to Pop's while your mom isn't looking?" He asked.

"I think that could happen."

"It's a date." He looked down at me and smiled.

"So it is, Weirdo." I giggled as he adjusted the beanie onto my head.

* * * *

I didn't know what to say to my mother. I don't think she knew what to say either. The drive to a parking lot by the forest was almost completely silent, save for the awkward small talk. I was grateful to join my friends among the search party.

"Thanks for coming, Maddie," Betty said as she hugged me.

"Of course." I squeezed her in my arms.

Betty called everyone to a semi-circle around her. As the people shuffled forward I saw my mom joining Alice and Hal Cooper. Just as the crowd silenced I caught a pair of blue-green eyes looking at me. Jughead winked before we turned our attention to Betty, who began to instruct the party to search close to the Sister of Quiet Mercy.

* * * *

The search party was cut short when the Blossom family marched through the woods, accompanied by Sheriff Keller and multiple search dogs. They accused Polly of murdering Jason, which led Alice Cooper to reveal to the media that Polly was carrying Jason's baby.

Despite the two search parties, nothing and no one was found.