Like it was meant to be |Completed|

chapter 29

Jughead was shocked, to say the least when he saw Veronica's room.

She's been living here? That's why…that's why she was at pops always… why she didn't want me telling archie where she was, it all made sense now.

He looked at her with wide eyes "Veronica …"

"The only thing holding me together were them jughead! And i lost them too. So don't. Don't go ahead judging me jughead. Coz i don't think i can take it from you too" she said as she looked down

He felt guilty. All this time, he was making it about himself. He was being selfish, thinking only he's the one hurting. I pushed her away, yet she came back and i hurt her more. He thought.

"Since when are you staying here Veronica?" He gently asked her as tipped her face upwards to look in her eyes.

She looked away "it doesn't matter…."

He turned her face again towards him "tell me"

She mumbled something and jughead questioned "what was that?"

She sighed "ever since the work on speakeasy was finished"

"Veronica! That was…that was 9 months ago! You've been alone all this time?"

She looked down and nodded

"Does anyone know?"

"Only you"

He shook his head frustrated " why didn't you tell me?"

"I .. i didn't want to be a burden"

"Thats crap Veronica. And you know it. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to seem weak and have people feel pity on me"

"But why did you move out?" Jughead questioned although he probably knew why.

"You know why"

He nodded. She once again managed to surprise him. She has been on her own all this time when we were all giving her shit about supporting her father. It made him feel worse. All those times, she was helping us, she went against them and what did i do ? Judge her wrong.

"You're not staying here" jughead stated.

"What?" She questioned jughead who didn't ask but stated that she wasn't staying here.

"You heard me. You're coming with me" jughead said as he went in the room and started packing her belongings.

"Why jughead? U told me to gi away now you're taking me with you?" She asked as she just stood there.

" I was being an idiot.im not letting you live like this"  he said

And just like that, even without an apology, Veronica forgave jughead. He can act like an idiot at times, but still.

She smiled. "Jughead, i can stay here. I have till now, so you don't need to worry okay?"

"No. I refuse. I know how hard it is not staying at home. Bunking here and there. And although i never admitted it, but it felt nice staying with archie. I found a home. and im not leaving you here without a place you can call your home."

Veronica felt so comforted by jughead's words. He wanted to make his home, my home she thought. She smiled and soon packed her luggage and decided that, she was staying with him.

"Thanks jughead" Veronica said graciously.

"Veronica, why are you thanking me? We're friends right? Friends help each other out" he smiled

"Yeah… and they also huggg" Veronica teased him

He groaned "can't you let that go?"

"Nope"

"Hey jughead you remember you promised me you would do what i tell you?" Veronica asked

"Yeah. What do you want me to do?" He said as smiled at her

She stopped and turned towards him "i don't want you to ever drink again"

"What?"

"Im serious, promise me, you won't become an alcoholic, promise me that whenever you're hurt, you'll come to me and not go out and get drunk" she said in a serious tone
Jughead slowly made his way towards her and held her shoulders firmly

"I promise princess. I will never do it again"