First Day of My Life

Chapter 5

The first few days were pretty hard. I didn't know how to act or feel in the new house. I didn't want to be annoying; I didn't want them to think I was being needy. I was just so grateful that I could have a normal bed and a normal home again. I was so thankful for FP and I was happy to be out of the hospital. Only that I didn't have the courage to keep asking different questions from him or Jughead, that I was dying to know. I knew Gladys, Jughead's mom, had been living with them a while back. I knew she had left, but I had no idea why. I also knew that his little sister, Jellybean, had had SIDS when she was 3 months old. I wondered that probably had something to do with it. But I wasn't brave enough to ask.

The first complication was getting up and down the stairs. One of them had to carry me, which was embarrassing enough. So, on the first day, I kind of just stayed in my new room, lying on my bed, earbuds in, and thought about everything. Since my arms were getting stronger, I was able to lift myself into the wheelchair when needed. I could go to the bathroom by myself which was a major plus now.

I found out FP cooked amazing food. Even though Jughead said they mostly get takeout since his dad works a lot, he was like a professional. He made a huge amount of food since Jughead was literally able to eat as much as I could in a week.

During the first night, I had quite a few panic attacks. The nightmares were suffocating my mind and every time I woke up, I was a sobbing mess. So, neither I nor FP could get much sleep. Every time I fell asleep, he stayed in the armchair in my room just in case. I woke up so many times I'm not even sure I could count.

On the second day, he had to go back to work. He was incredibly worried about me and Olive, and it was adorable to see a grown man worry like that, but Jughead promised not to go anywhere, so he was able to go to work in peace. Taking care of my little sister never used to be as hard as it was now. She was a toddler now. And god did she like to explore everything. So, while Jughead tried to handle it, knowing I couldn't move too well inside the house, he was so tired when I managed to put her down for a nap.

We just watched movies and talked most of the time after that. As we did the day after that. But I never asked him the important questions that were haunting me. I finally did it on the fourth day.

"Hey Jug?" I asked as casually as possible as I was half sitting-half lying on the couch, looking at him making some sandwiches in the opened kitchen area.

"Yeah?"

"How come you're not in school right now?"

I couldn't see his reaction because his back was towards me, but I could almost hear the smirk in his answer, "Who else could take care of you?"

I held back my eye roll at that. "I mean... Aren't you falling behind?"

"Aren't you?" he asked, setting my plate down on my lap and handing me a glass of juice.

"I mean, yeah, but... I'm kind of, you know."

"Injured?"

"Mh-hmm. I have to sleep like 11 hours a day, I can't go to school right now..."

He swallowed the big bite of his sandwich and started talking, letting me eat mine. "I've been studying online right now," he said. "Even though Riverdale looks really nostalgic and old, the school has an online system, too. It's a small town, everyone knows everyone. A lot of people get bullied. So, I know a few kids from the school who do it at home."

"So, you're not staying behind because of me?" I asked in relief.

He smiled softly. "Just a bit. I still have to do all the tests I've missed when I go back to school."