Resilience | Sweet Pea.

4 - Tears.

I sit anxiously, waiting, and waiting for Archie to come back or to be allowed to see Fred. I'm barely holding it together by now.

Jughead and Betty had been sent off to find Fred's wallet by Veronica, apparently my distressed brother who's currently attending a police line-up became very upset over the missing wallet. I look around, Veronica's talking to Kevin Keller, the Sheriff's son. The Coopers talking to Mrs. Lodge, but here I am, feeling alone. The sense of un-importance fills my bones.

I feel selfish thinking of myself, but I can't help the thoughts from seeping into my head. Fred Andrews took care of me in my weakest moments, I've always seen him as another father, so it wasn't a big shift when he became my father. But as much as I feel like a part of the family, I'm not. People haven't acted the same towards me as they have Archie during this, because Archie's his real son. Whereas I am an outsider when you really think about it.

I guess trying to be strong has told people I don't care as much. I do care, I care a lot. Thinking of Fred lying in that hospital bed hurts right in my heart. The thought of possibly losing him hurts worse than I could explain. Fred's the only parent I have, the Andrew's are the only family I have left.

"Nova?" Veronica asks, coming over to me.

"Hm?" I hum.

"Are you okay?" She asks, putting her hand on my knee, my heart hurts like hell, and I'm on the verge of tears.

"Yeah fine, Veronica. Excuse me." I say, almost leaping out of my seat, scurrying towards the nearest bathroom. I find the bathroom empty and can't even make it to a stall before throwing my back against the wall, sliding down it, finally broken into tears. I hug my knees to my chest, the broken, tight feeling blocking my airways, I hide my head in my arms rested against my knees. 

This was all so sudden, who would do this? Why would they do this? What's going to happen? What if Fred doesn't start breathing on his own? Or doesn't even wake up? What will happen to me? Or more importantly, what will happen to Archie? I sob into my knees. Not even looking up when the door opens.

"Nova?" Veronica asks.

"I'm fine, Ronnie. Don't worry." I assure her, even thought it was stupid of me to, it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out I wasn't okay.

"Well the fact you called me Ronnie's a big indication you're not, that and the fact you're... you know... crying on the floor." Veronica says, sitting on her knees next to me, rubbing the side of my arm. I look up to her with teary eyes.

"Oh Nova..." She sighs.

"Thank you for looking after Archie like you have. Maybe you're not as bad as I thought." I tell her.

"I'll take that as a compliment. Don't thank me for looking after Archie, I care about him a lot. I care about your family a lot." She says.

"What if he doesn't wake up, Veronica? Or start breathing on his own? What if he leaves us. I can't lose another parent, I just can't!" I say, sobbing into my arms again.

Veronica wraps her arms around me and hugs me tightly as I sob.

"He's gonna wake up, Nova. It's going to be okay." Veronica comforts me.

"I have no right to be so upset, everyone's made it clear I don't count in the fam-"

"No way, cut that out. Fred and Archie wouldn't give you up for the world. I know it. You should hear all the sweet things they both say about you when you're not around. You're just as much a part of the family as they are. Blood or not." Veronica tells me.

After Veronica finally releases me from the hug, I stand up, going and looking into the mirror. My eyes are a little puffy. Veronica hands me some toilet paper, and I wipe my nose and eyes. I scrunch it up and throw it out before turning to Veronica.