you are the reason

chapter eight _ revelation

Veronica's POV

It had been a month since we started dating and things hadn't been so good since then. Jughead hadn't gotten any better yet. He kept throwing up his food and losing weight. He looked like anorexics and I was beyond worried about him. Doctor Williams told me to take him to the hospital if the symptoms persisted for more than ten days but he didn't even let me call his doctor every time I wanted to.
On the other hand, after one month of secretly dating we finally decided to make it official. We called our friends and invited them to my house for the announcement. That night when everyone came, Jughead told me that it's time.

"Guys can you listen to me for a minute" I said and everyone started looking at me and Jughead

"Actually we are here because Veronica and I wanted to announce something " Jughead said
"Yesssss I knew it " Kevin said with excitement
"Don't ruin the moment Kev. We called you here to tell you that Jughead and I are dating " and then Archie's jaw dropped
"Seriously Arch? Don't tell me you didn't know that " Betty said
"You knew and you didn't tell me?" Archie asked
"Relax Arch. Neither of us knew but it was obvious they were dating. Just look at the way they look at each other, that's not the way you look at your "just friend". You understand it?"
"I could predict that since the day he moved here " Kevin said
"That's the exact day we started dating "

We talked for a while and Jughead was silent all the time, staring at the floor until Kevin made him talk.

"Jughead, what kind of diet are you trying?" Kevin said
"Sorry Kev,what?"
"I just asked you about your diet. I think it really works because you've lost a lot of weight since the first time I saw you "
"Oh I never noticed your weight loss. Are you on a diet Jug?" Archie asked
"No I'm not. I had some digestive issues "
"Are you better now?" Betty asked
"Yeah I'm totally fine; spending my recovery days "

Another lie; I loved Jughead but I really hated it when he lied. He always lied when he said he was good and that really pissed me off. I just wanted to leave or change the subject to hear less lies. Hopefully Delphine came to save me in the moment. She started crying at her room and Jughead went to see what was wrong. I made sure he went to the room and came back to my friends then.

"Guys, I'm really worried about him " I said
"What is the problem?" Archie asked

"Didn't you see him Arch? His weight loss is not something normal. I can count his ribs when he wears a tight shirt. He says it's digestive problem but it's not. He can't have a digestive problem when he doesn't eat at all. He doesn't usually eat and whenever I make him, he throws up every bite of his food. I need your help, I really do "

"Veronica, are you sure he's not bulimic?" Betty questioned
"What do you mean Betty?"
"Bulimia is a kind of eating disorder. Polly used to have it but now she's recovering "
"How can I know he has bulimia?"

"Well,I don't know that much but Polly said that she used to bring different excuses for skipping meals and she made herself vomit after eating anything including water. These are visible symptoms but we couldn't understand she was bulimic because she didn't live with us and actually she was never so thin; she had a normal weight. I don't know about Jughead's body since he wears baggy clothes in front of us but as you said, he's lost so much weight that is not normal"

"Ronnie, how long he's been like this?" Archie asked
"Maybe a month? I don't know. He's been like this ever since he moved here "
"And you didn't call a doctor?" Kevin said
"Believe me I wanted to but he doesn't let me. I don't want to break his heart but I also don't want to stand in front of a bag that he's zipped in it "
"Will he get mad at you if you call the doctor?" Archie asked
"So mad " I replied
"What if I call him? I'm sure he can't break up with me. You and Jughead are my friends and I can't see you being worried about someone you love and I can't also see Jughead trying to torture himself "
"What would I do without you Arch "