Home sweet Home

Chapter 6

"Jug..." I sighed, not even knowing what to say.

"Do you want to talk to Toni? Or sweets? Or your dad?" I asked, knowing I wasn't the best person to handle this issue. He shook his head, still not looking up.

"Do you want me to go?" I pressed further, feeling useless.

"I don't know" he croaked, the tears evident by his voice.

"What can I do? Have you two spoken after your argument?" I questioned. He finally lifted his head and rested it on the back of the couch.

"She wouldn't stop calling me so I finally answered. She just screamed down the phone about how horrible I am and that I'm selfish" he informed.

"Jug, that's not true. She's just angry...how do you know it's over?" I asked.

"She asked me if I ever really loved her... I couldn't answer" his breath shaky as he mumbled the words.

"...Do you?" I asked softly. His eyes flickered to mine and the look on his face said it all.

"I don't know. We rushed into things once we started dating and never really talked about it properly. She said it...so I responded in the moment" he confessed.

"I shouldn't have said it. Maybe things would've ended calmly and I wouldn't be in this mess. I'm literally a wreck" he raised his voice, letting another tear fall.

"I'm just so lost and I keep messing everything up. I'm fucked up Betty" he cried.

"No you're not Jug. One breakup doesn't mean everything is ruined" I encouraged. But that was wrong...so damn wrong. The same thing happened to me, everything was ruined after a breakup. Our breakup.

"Hey Jug, we've got a serpent-" Toni burst in but paused when she saw the state he was in.

"Is this a bad time? I can cancel the meeting" she offered, her smile dropping.

"No it's fine. I'm fine" he wiped his tears and stood up, leaving the room swiftly. I followed after him and grabbed his arm.

"You don't have to do anything if you're not up to it" I pleaded, not knowing if he could handle it.

"Betty, please just leave it" he sighed and rushed off.

"Care to explain?" Toni spoke from behind me, crossing her arms. I shook my head and led myself downstairs and out of the bar, not being a serpent anymore meant I couldn't be present at meetings. I made it home and slumped on my couch. Why did he want me to stay? Why did he not want Toni or his dad? Why me...his ex?

1 week later

Jughead has been detached from normal life for the past week. I've been to the bar quite a few times and he's either sat there downing a shot or nowhere to be seen. It's like some sort of switch has been turned off and he's completely removed himself from reality. 

I poured water in the pan in order to cook my pasta when my phone started buzzing. Jughead's contact appeared on the screen and I swiped the screen to except.

"Hello?" I greeted, confused by his sudden need to call.

"Heyyy" he slurred. I rolled my eyes and rubbed my hand over my face.

"Are you drunk?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Shhhh, you can't tell Betty. She'll stop me and I don't want to" he hushed making me realise how wasted he actually was.

"I promise I won't tell her. Should I come and see you?" I played along. He slurred something along the lines of yes so I ended the call and turned off the hob. I grabbed my keys and got in my car.

I marched into the bar and immediately saw Jughead sat at the bar. Toni was pouring people drinks and beckoned me over.

"Hey girl, I got him to call you. Could you get him home?" she asked.

"Yeah I can. Why is he even this drunk?" I pondered.

"I don't know" she shrugged before going to grab a serpent a whiskey. 

"Hey Jug" I spoke softly, my hands reaching to his shoulder.

"Betyyyy. Did that girl tell you?" he whined. I rolled my eyes and held my hand out. He took it and we walked out of the bar before I helped him get into the car. I got into my side and passed him a bottle of water.

"Start sobering up" I demanded and started driving back to mine.

Hours had passed and Jughead was asleep on my couch whilst I resumed cooking my dinner. I added extra so that Jughead could eat once he woke up and we could talk properly. I poured the pasta sauce on top of the pasta just as I heard shuffling around.

"How you feeling?" I asked, turning round to see Jug.

"Like shit. How much did I drink?" he whined, sitting down at the table.

"Let's just say you were pretty out of it. Fancy some pasta?"

"I'm yet to figure out why you still ask me if I want food" he chuckled. I shook my head and placed a bowl of pasta in front of him and sat opposite.

"Before you say anything, I can't deal with a lecture right now" he sighed.

"Jug I wasn't going to. I'm just worried about you. I'm not gonna judge" I promised.

"Betty, I'm fine. This is what I do after a messy break up. Get drunk, lounge around for days and hen pick myself up again" he shrugged.

"Did you do that after our breakup?" I asked, immediately regretting it. My head dropped and I pushed my food around the plate not expecting him to respond.

"It was worse back then. I wasn't in a good place once you left and that's when I met Mel. She was the new girl in town and became my friend quickly. I was getting drunk a lot and not leaving the house much. She convinced me to move past it and we were friends for a few years before she confessed that she liked me. I thought I liked her too...I really did. Maybe I was just fooling myself?" he explained, conflicted by his own thoughts.

"I'm sorry I put you through that" I apologised guiltily. He nodded slightly and we finished our food in an awkward silence. 

"I should go. Thanks for the food" Jughead announced and stood up, both of us making our way to the front door.

"Betty" he spoke.

"Yeah?"

"It's not your fault" he assured. 

"I deal with things in my own messed up way. Please don't blame yourself for my issues. You left for a good reason" he further explained. 

"And you're gonna be okay Jug" I assured. 

"I know" he replied shortly before we shared a quick hug. A hug I hadn't felt in years, only making me want more. He then left quickly leaving my heart racing. God I missed his hugs.