Sickness And In Love

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JUGHEAD POV

After a few days, I was back to normal. I was doing my treatments, medication, and Betty and I spent a lot of time together. She was still like a hemorrhoid that caused my ears a lot of pain...but she keeps my lungs active. She is also making me do small exercises at the gym and then drinking protein shakes. I'm officially banned from all junk food. I get the same meals now:

BREAKFAST: OATMEAL WITH BANANAS AND BLUEBERRIES, A PIECE OF TOAST WITH BUTTER, AND WATER

LUNCH: A TURKEY SANDWICH, EXACTLY 15 CRACKERS ON MY PLATE, AND A GLASS OF MILK.

DINNER: GRILLED CHICKEN, SALAD WITH MOZZARELLA CHEESE AND ITALIAN DRESSING, BROWN RICE, WITH 2 GLASSES OF WATER.

Then on top of that, I take 5 pills after eating every meal, 3 pills in the morning when I get up, and 3 pills before I go to bed. Then I do 6 breathing treatments a day. I must walk on the treadmill for 8-minutes everyday. It has been a pain, but I'm feeling more active all the time and I feel good. Betty has been so helpful and I can't thank her enough. Sadly, she can't stay tonight because she is spending the night at her house.

I sat on my bed watching "FRIENDS" on my laptop and eating my salad for dinner. Out of nowhere, I was getting a video call from, Betty. She was in her bedroom.

"Hello Jughead."

"Hello, my personal hemorrhoid." I snickered. She scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Whatcha doing right now...never mind, you're obviously thinking about me." I smirked.

"Was not."

"Was too. Otherwise, you wouldn't have called. Just admit it, you love spending time with me. I'm probably your favorite person on the list."

"You're my...5th favorite on my list." Betty snickered. I did a sarcastic gasp and she laughed. I then couldn't breathe and grabbed my inhaler. I did my couple breaths and put it away. I finished my salad and took my pills. Betty was just watching me.

"Like what you see, Cooper?" I smiled.

"You just look really cute right now...and also, please do a breathing before you go to sleep! I'm gonna try and be there in the morning at 10:00AM-"

"No! Betty, you should spend time by yourself. I know how take care of me. Not that it matters, I'm toast anyways."

"Jughead, everything that's going on is to help you!"

"Yeah? Well shoving pills down my throat and forcing me to spread my disease into a mask isn't going to fix that. I'm a disease."

"No, you're not! I care about you! I want you to live! Which is why...I'm gonna start looking for lungs for you on my own."

"Seriously?" I scoffed.

"Yes! I want you to know what it's like to breathe air, real air! Not air that comes from a tube or a mask. Also, I've felt so bad."

"Why?"

"We have our bodies. Every human has lungs and most of the time, we're just fine. We take the ability to even breathe, for granted. If only, people took better care of themselves and realized how valuable they really are. You made me realize that my lungs, are amazing and I wouldn't trade them for anything."

"Betts, I really appreciate it and all...but I'm not getting any better. But I do realize how lucky I am to be alive. I'm 13-years too late on death."

"Please Jug, don't say that."

"I was expected to live until I was 5-years old. But I'm 18-years old and I've never been within 8 miles from this stupid hospital."

"Things will get better. Also Jughead, remember?"

"Breathing treatment." We both said at the same time. She giggled and then hung up. I got out of bed and decided to go for a walk around the 8th floor. I saw guy sitting on a bench doing a breathing machine. He took it off and motioned for me to sit.

"Hey Dude, Can you sit?" He asked.

"Depends on what your damage is?"

"Chronic Heart Failure. I don't know why they're making me do the breathing machine but whatever." He rolled his eyes. I sat down next to him.

"What do you have?" He asked.

"Emphysema."

"You smoke?"

"There's a rare condition where you're born with it and that's what happened to me. My name is Jughead."

"My name is Kevin Keller. I was just recently transported to this hospital. It's a lot nice than plain old 'Riverdale General Hospital.'"

"I like it here...it's decent. So...you gotta girlfriend?"

"No, but I think you meant boyfriend." Kevin chuckled.

"I'm so sorry." I sighed.

"But no, I don't have anyone at the moment. I had boyfriend named Joaquin but he dumped me when he found out that I have CHF about  a year ago. What about you? Who's your girl?"

"I've known this girl for 3-weeks and she...is so beautiful and optimistic. We haven't made it official but we're a thing. I really like her."

"Than make it official! Man up and do it." Kevin chuckled. I nodded and stood up.

"I should probably get back to my room, bye Kevin." I said and went off. He was right, make it official with Betty.