bitter heart - a jeronica fanfic

part four

When I finally got back to my trailer and patched up my hand, reality set in on me. I had just stormed out of Pop's acting like a complete maniac, and been a total jerk to my best friend.

I groaned, knowing that I had to fix this if I didn't want to be committed to a psych ward tomorrow. I dialled Archie's number, tapping my foot as I heard the familiar ringing.

"Jug?"

"Hey, Arch. Sorry about Pop's I just-"

"Don't worry about it, Jughead. I get it, it's really hard for you losing Veronica. Don't beat yourself up about it- literally. Dude you completely ANNIHILATED that milkshake glass, you should've seen my face!" he laughs, quickly switching the subject much to my relief. I was really lucky to have him as my friend, to have him be so understanding.

I laughed, "Yeah, I don't know what came over me. Hey, are you doing anything right now?"

"No, why?" he asks, and I hear his tone change to a slightly more reserved sounding voice. He probably isn't running to be with me, I did just act like an absolutely crazy person.

"I.. never mind you don't have to. I'll figure it out by myself, thanks bud," I say, before hanging up the phone, not waiting for him to respond to my sorry excuse for a goodbye message.

I ran my hands through my hair, not used to doing the motion with my opposite hand. I had to switch the hands, because of my bandages. I began to think about all of the people in the cabin that night.

Immediately I thought about the two lovebirds that night- Cheryl Blossom and Toni Topaz. Who were supposedly having a.. rendezvous during Veronica's murder. It wouldn't surprise me if this was true, but it still would be good for me to check if they saw anything in the midst of their private moment- or moments.

God they really did screw each other a lot.

I walked over to Toni's trailer, which was directly next to mine. I wrapped my knuckles on the steel door, and she answers almost immediately, wearing Cheryl's bright red serpent jacket.

"Hey Jug! What's up?" she asked, and I saw Cheryl appear behind her in the doorway.

"Just the duo I was looking for. Can I come in?" I ask, and Toni steps back, giving me space to step into the small trailer.

Cheryl gives me an annoyed look and I grin, knowing its her way of saying "hey Jughead so glad to see you're okay!"

I sit down on the couch without invitation- since Toni is one of my close friends we hang out all the time, and her trailer is like my second home.

"What do you want, hobo?" Cheryl asks, her voice thick with fake kindness. I smile again, knowing it will on bug her more.

"Oh just to talk to you two lovely ladies about what happened the night Veronica died," I say, and Cheryl's sarcastic smile switched quickly into a serious expression.

"What do you want, Jughead? The police have already questioned us enough- my mother was furious when she found out that Toni and I had been... whatever in the cabin. We're both exhausted, and need to unwind. Do you mind?" Cheryl finishes with another sickly sweet smile, and I nod understandingly, knowing how she must be feeling.

"I know what you're feeling Cheryl, and I'm feeling it right now too. I'm trying to figure out what happened to Veronica, because I honestly don't trust Sheriff Keller enough to get justice for Veronica," I say, and Cheryl tilts her head in silent agreement.

"Fair enough- he is far below par. Ask away, beanie boy," she commands, sitting in the chair across from me. Toni sits on the armrest of the chair, allowing Cheryl to wrap her right arm around her waist.

"What were you guys doing the night Veronica was murdered?" I asked, and Toni rolled her eyes.

"Fooling around, as you know," she replies, and Cheryl can't contain a smirk from growing across her face.

I jot down a note of that on my notepad, that i had previously pulled out of my jacket pocket.

"Did you see anything weird that night? Was anyone in the cabin acting weird?" I ask, and Cheryl tilts her her head, while Toni shakes her head.

"Honestly I have no idea, Jug. I was totally wasted- we all were. Archie and Reggie were smoking something other than cigarettes, that's for sure. I don't know about Betty, though," Toni replies thoughtfully, and Cheryl shakes her head.

"I didn't have a sip of wine the whole evening. I'm not planning on becoming an alcoholic like my ghastly mother. I don't think Betty did either, but who knows. Toni and I went to bed far earlier than the rest of them, and didn't interact with anyone else until we heard Betty scream.." Cheryl adds, and I shake my hand out to prevent it from cramping as I scribble furiously onto my notepad.

"Come on guys, you must have seen something suspicious," I push, and Toni shakes her head.

"Nope. Nothing."

I feel myself begin to get frustrated. I could tell they were holding out on me- they had to be. There was no way that they just goofed around with each other for almost two hours while Veronica was murdered.

"I find that difficult to believe, Toni," I say, and Cheryl raises her eyebrow, standing up and taking a condescending step towards me.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked icily, and I stand up to match her stature. Although Cheryl is a tall girl - probably around 5"8 - I was still at least four inches taller than her.

"It means that while you two were playing seven minutes in heaven my girlfriend was murdered. Maybe if you two weren't so obsessed with screwing each other she would still be alive," I say hotly, spitting out every word as if it was on fire. I was heated now- how could they have just been so ignorant about the situation, acting like they didn't care?

"Calm down, guys," Toni says, trying to step between Cheryl and I, who both had a rage in our eyes that was far from being settled.

"Not now, TT," Cheryl said through her gritted teeth, taking a step toward me. She pushed her aside, her eyes filled with fury.

"Don't you dare accuse my girlfriend and I of lying, or make us feel like Veronica's death was our fault. She was murdered, but not by us. Grow a pair before you accuse two of the only people in this town that don't think you're insane- or didn't think you were insane," Cheryl states forcefully, and I clench my fist.

"Oh really? W-" I begin, but Toni cuts me off, and when I turn to make eye contact with her she looks angry.

"Get out, Jughead," she says, quietly but firmly, and I can't do anything except for oblige. No one was being any help at all to this case, or to me even. God these people sucked.

I stormed out of the trailer, slamming the door shut behind me. Bitches.

I let out a yell of frustration, pumping my fist through the air, wishing that it hit a person and not just the oxygen surrounding me. Every person I talked to was no help at all- they all were hiding something. I knew they were.

I close my eyes tightly as I swing my arms around forcefully, until my energy is spent. I open my eyes slowly and see Betty Cooper standing a few feet away from me.

"Jughead?" she asks, her perky tone sounded more surprised than usual.

"Yes?" I ask, trying to return my face to a normal, less infuriated complexion.

"Are you okay?" she asks gently, and I bite my lip, wondering if I should confide in her.

After a moment of hesitation, I tilt my head towards my trailer, that she seemed to have been heading up to anyway.

"Come in."