you are the reason

chapter three _ sick boy

Veronica's POV

"It's Gustavo Lodge, how can I help you?" Said the man behind the phone
"Hi uncle Gustavo I'm Veronica. Remember me?"
"How can I forget my nice. I see you finally decided to call your uncle after years "
"Sorry, I was so busy. Actually, I called you because I can't find Vivian. She doesn't answer her phone and I really need to talk to her. I was wondering if you know where she is "
"I wish I could tell you but I really don't know where she is. Few months ago she broke up with her boyfriend and and decided to leave town for a recovery. I haven't seen her since then "
"I understand. Would you please just call me whenever you found her?"
"Sure "
"Thank you uncle Gustavo; I'll see you soon "

I hung up the phone and buried my face in my hands
"You can't find her, right?" Betty asked. I nodded and started walking around the lounge .
"She left town months ago, probably after she gave birth to Delphine. She's an evil Betty. How could she do that to Jug? I mean he's the most innocent person I've ever seen in my life " I started getting angry then

"Calm down Ronnie. We can't judge her before we talk to her; maybe she had a reason "
"For what? Calling Jughead a rapist and destroying his life? I'm sure she did it on purpose but why? Why Jughead?"

"I don't know Ronnie but now that we can't find her, all we can do is helping Jughead. As Archie said, he was suicidal and he used to feel his life was miserable. I know these type of people and I know their suicidal thoughts may come back every second. So, if you really want to do something for him, make sure he doesn't feel alone. I know how similar you two are; you both grew up so fast and you understand each other better "
Then Archie stepped in the lounge with a confused face
"Is everything ok girls?" He asked
"No Archie nothing seems to be ok. My evil cousin just disappeared and no one knows where she is "
"Ok I got it Ronnie. What about Jughead? Did you talk to him or not?"
"No, he's probably resting and I don't wanna interrupt him "
"Ronnie, remember what I said minutes ago?" Betty questioned
"Yeah " I sighed
"He's sick and alone. Why don't you go check on him? In that case he won't feel alone and he will believe that you care for him "
"You're a genius Betty. Did you know that?"
"Yeah people usually say that " she giggled
"So you wanna go to his apartment after school?" Archie asked
"I can't wait that much, so I guess I'm going to skip school "
"I thought you were the good girl "
"Shut up Archie, now I you don't mind I'm going to talk to principal "

I wore my coat and went to mr. Honey's room. I just told him I didn't feel good and just like that, he let me leave earlier. I headed home and saw my mom there.
"You came home early, is everything ok?" She asked
"Yes mom don't worry. I was wondering if you could make me some soup ?"
"Ok"
We went to the kitchen and she started preparing ingredients together.

"Veronica, I think you're hiding something from me. I mean since when you come home earlier and ask me to make you soup? "
"I'm not hiding anything mom. I just want to visit someone "
"Who "
"He's the graphic designer of our company. He's an alone single dad and now that he's very sick, I want to bring him something "
"Ok fair enough but still odd. You told me you hired a teenage boy as the graphic designer "
"I did mom. He's a teen dad and his daughter is still a baby. He's having a hard time and I just want to help him. By the way he's from Riverdale, just like me "
"Really what's his name?"
"Jughead Jones. Do you know him ?"
"I don't know him but I know his father. Do you remember sheriff Jones?"
"Is FP Jones his father?"
"There's only one family with the Jones last name, so he must be his father "
"OMG he helped us a lot when dad was in jail "
"He did. FP is a good man. I hope his son is just like him "
"I think he is "

She cooked the soup and packed it for me. I went to Jughead's apartment and knocked the door. A few seconds later a tired sick figure was standing in front of me
"Ronnie? Hi " he said with a surprised tone
"Hi Jughead. I brought you some soup "
"Thank you. Come in "
"Ok "
I walked into his room and I can say it was a real mess. I had to be careful not to step on rattles and pillows on the floor and finally I could sit on the couch without any trouble.
"I know this place is a real mess. We had a tough night " he said
"I understand. Is she better now?"
"Yeah she's better now. "
"What about you? You got better?"
"Of course I am. It was just a fever; I'm sure I'm stronger than that "
"Ok Jug, you can lie to me as much as you want but I'm not a fool. I can see how hard you're trying to look good but I should say that you're not a good actor "
"Fine you're right; I'm still a little sick but it's not something important Ronnie. "
"It is Jughead. I should take you to the hospital, right now "
"No, please Ronnie "
"Why not? You definitely need to see a doctor "
"I can't Ronnie. What if I get hospitalized? Then how can I take care of Delphine on a hospital bed? "
"Ok Jug we won't go to the hospital but at least let me stay here. You can rest while I'm taking care of Delphine ,okay?" He nodded.
I made him go to bed and after that I sat on the couch,keeping an eye on him. He slept  for hours and I just let him sleep because I knew how exhausted he was but I kinda got scared when I realized he had been sleeping for 12 hours. I just decided to wake him up to give him something to eat. I shook him and  he groaned. He looked awful and his body temperature was higher than the last time I checked it. I shook him more this time until he opened his eyes.

"Jughead, you've been sleeping for 12 hours. You need to eat something. You can sleep again after that " I said
" I can't eat anything Ronnie. I feel nauseous "
"Your stomach is empty now. So, don't worry Jug. "
"Ok"
I brought him a bowl of soup and I could see his hand shaking while he was lifting the spoon. He only had two spoons of his soup and he rushed to the bathroom then. He was vomiting nonstop for 15 minutes and after that he came out of bathroom. He couldn't walk on his own and he took few steps by grabbing the wall . I ran to and him and got him before he lost his control.

"Jughead it's something serious. We should go to the hospital "
"No,No, I'll be...." and then he collapsed. I got him and took him to his bed. I tried to wake him up by shaking him but it was useless, he had fainted.
I didnt know what to do and I was freaking out. In that moment all I could do was calling Archie.

"Hey Ronnie what's up?" Archie asked
"Archie can you come to Jughead's apartment? He just fainted and I'm really scared Arch . What shall I do?"
"Ok Ronnie don't panic. Call 911 and stay there till I come. Does he still have fever?"
"Yeah he's almost burning "
"Oh God, listen to me Ronnie, the fever may cause him a seizure; so if he started having a seizure don't freak out and please try not to move his body or make him stop. I'll be there soon "
"Ok Arch, I'll send you the address, bye"

After that I called 911 and asked for an ambulance. Archie arrived a few minutes before the ambulance and hopefully nothing happened to Jug. I tried to calm Delphine while paramedics were checking her father to see if he needed to go to the hospital or not; of course he needed. They put Jughead on a stretcher and took him to the ambulance. Archie, Delphine and I were just behind them all the way to the hospital. We arrived there and they sent Jughead to the ER and a doctor came to check him.
"His fever is high. How long he's been like that?" His doctor asked
"Since last night " I whispered
"Why didn't you bring him earlier?"
"I wanted to but he didn't let me. Is he going to be ok ?"
"I don't really know what's wrong with his body, it can be many things but if it's just a flu, then he'll be fine soon. I'll give him the medications he needs as soon as I see the result of his blood test, he has to rest till then. He'll wake up in  few hours but let him rest, please "

"Ok thank you so much doc "
He left the room and I sat next to Jughead's bed with Delphine in my hands. She was trying so hard to get out of my hands to be with her father but poor Deli ,she didn't know where how sick her father was.
It was almost midnight and even Archie went home. Jughead was still sleeping and my mom kept calling me telling me to come home but fortunately she stopped calling when I explained her the whole situation. It was a rough day and we were all tired, including Delphine and me. I thought a nap might be good for both of us, so I lay on the couch with Delphine. I put her on my chest the same as his father and started singing her the only lullaby I remembered.
(listen to this lullaby if you want to get emotional 👇👇👇👇)