The Other Side

A Birthday To Forget

Chapter Three:
    Days in this house have been more awkward than ever, whenever we passed each other in the halls we never say a word. Today is mine and Betty's birthday and if she shows up with her friends, my parents are going to freak. I thought I should wear something nice so I put on a dress shirt, but kept my black jeans. I went downstairs where my parents were more than happy to say happy birthday to me. They had their normal landfill of breakfast items and decorations around the kitchen. I sat down waiting for a talk that I know will come from my mother.
    "Morning Jughead! Happy birthday!" My father says as he put eggs on his plateis th.
    "Thanks!" I sit in the chair.
    "Don't forget we're having a party here today." My mother took out some orange juice.
    "I won't and I'm having some friends come over for the party!"
    "Do we know them?" My mother sits down.
    "No they're kind of new." I guess I didn't lie, they are new in my life.
    "Well we're more than excited to meet your new friends."
    We were in the middle of breakfast when my phone rang at first I thought it was Betty, but I saw that it was Veronica. I got up and went to the other room.
    "Hello?"
    "Hey babe! Happy birthday! Can't wait to see you later!" Her words made me get irritated immediately.
    "Thanks Veronica." I say sarcastically.
    "You'll love my present babe!" Does she not understand were not together anymore?
    "Veronica I have to go."
    "Okay, bye I love you Jughead!" The phone disconnects.
    What the fuck just happened? I don't understand Veronica, maybe she's crazy or wants to believe I didn't break up with her.
    "Hey mom I'm gonna go meet with Archie for a little." I scream from the other room.
    "Make sure you're home before your party!"
    I immediately run out of the house and jump into the car. I drive to the bridge, it's been my safe point from my life for days now. I would just sit at the edge and listen to the animals in the forest. I didn't sit down this time because I didn't want my outfit getting mud on it, I just stood there taking a breather.
~*~
    It was my--birthday, my real birthday. I woke up to the smell of bacon which was unique in this trailer. FP was at the oven flipping the slices of greasy bacon and making toast.
    "Good morning Betty! Happy new birthday!" He pulls out the chair for me to sit.
    "This is new, thank you FP!" I wipe my eyes.
    Right as soon as I sit down the doors bust open, Toni and Sweet Pea come running in hugging me and grabbing pieces of bacon.
    "How's life now that you know your real birthday?"
    "Feels the same just on a different day." I take a bite out of bacon.
    "Well you're officially seventeen! What do you plan on doing to celebrate?" Sweet Pea winked at me. I smiled.
    "Jughead invited us to go to his house today."
    "Wait Jughead invited you and FP to his house to celebrate your guys birthday?" Toni pours herself some juice.
    "No he invited all of us, including you two. So if you don't go I will kill all of you."
    "You plan on taking us to that side where there too scared to see us?" Sweet Pea says as FP finally sits.
    "Yes! So go put on something better than this and meet us when you're done." I get up and push them out.
    "Fine, we'll see you in a few." They leave.
    "Are you ready for this?" FP says.
    "Nope." I grab the outfit I planned last night and go to the bathroom to change.
    I came out wearing the most formal clothes I have which isn't formal to what Jughead would think. I was in a black transparent crop top that showed my black bra with capri jeans that showed my high waist tights underneath and my heeled boots, I put on my jacket debating whether I should wear my gang jacket or to leave it here, until I finally decided to just wear it and waited for FP to come out. He finally came out with a brown shirt his jacket and pants. I grab my keys and go pick up Toni and Sweet Pea while FP follows in his truck. I followed the unfamiliar road until the edge of the forest ended and all I could see was sunlight and unbroken homes. I've never seen a home that wasn't a trailer in real life before, I looked at Toni and Sweet Pea in the back and they looked just as shocked as I did. There were kids walking with their parents with ice cream and soda, trees with blossoms blooming, and people having fun. When mine and FPs beaten up trucks came through the streets everyone looked at us in displeasing looks. I turn down the street that Jugheads house was according to him. I parked in the street just so his parents didn't hate us immediately. Toni and I get out while Sweet Pea jumps over the back and lands next to me, FP gets out and walks towards us. I think they knew that I was getting scared, but they pushed me along anyways. When we were up the driveway FP knocked on the door and Sweet Pea secretly held my hand knowing how sweaty and trembling it was. Jug opened the door and locked eyes on mine.
    "It's great to see you guys! Happy birthday Betty!" I let go of Sweet Peas hand.
    "Happy birthday to you too Jughead." I felt my voice tremble.
    "Come in every ones in the back, just don't get overwhelmed." He opens the door for us.
    When we walked in the back following Jughead everyone locked eyes on us and started whispering to each other. There were people there who looked like the same age as Jughead and only a couple who looked older, but I immediately knew which ones were his parents. They both had deep brown hair and bright blue eyes, they were around the same height as Jughead and looked really similar, they were also starring. I was breathing deeply as Jughead brings us towards his parents.
    "Mom, dad this is Betty, FP, Toni, and Sweet Pea. They're the people I was telling you about this morning." He said confidently.
    "You invited gang members to your seventeenth birthday party?" His mother sounded scared and furious at the same time.
    "I think you should be happy that they're here!"
    "Why would we be happy about this?" His mother was going off on this.
    "Because Betty is my sister!" He smiled and moved out of my way. His parents look in awe.
    "How the hell would you know if this is your sister? She could be lying! She's a gang member." His mother started screaming towards me.
    I had to hold back FP and Sweet Pea they were ready to just attack them, it was a good thing I made them leave their pocket knives at home, I even had to pat them down to make sure they didn't have any other weapons. Everyone who wasn't apart of the conversation went inside waiting for them to kick us out.
    "I want all of you out of this house and back to the scum side of town you were born on." His mother went off on me.
    This was my cue to jump into the conversation. "Ma'am I would advise you to stop being a bitch!" I start getting closer as Jugheads jaw dropped. "I know you can't trust us because we're apart of that gang you're so fucking scared of, but you need to cool your shit before you talk to us that way." When I said that everyone's mouths just dropped except for FP who was just proud.
    "You left a baby on the bridge that separates our sides seventeen years ago in two days. She was found in a yellow blanket with flowers on it by an amazing man who took her in. She was raised by him and a gang who became her family because her birth family didn't want her." Those words made his parents cry.
    "Did--did you say yellow blanket with flowers on it?" His mother steps up,
    "Yeah I still have it." I try calming down.
    "You said your name is Betty?"
    "It's short for Elizabeth." I take a deep breath.
    "I--I need to go." His mother runs inside wiping the tears off her face.
    "We're sorry-- Betty, but I think you guys should leave." His father said.
    Those words broke my heart the moment they came out of his mouth, it felt worse than knowing that they got rid of me and kept my twin brother. I turn around and push past my friends and walk out the gate, I went into my truck and step on the gas. I was going around fifty miles per hour in only a twenty zone. I was so outraged I felt abandoned twice by the same people in one lifetime. I was finally out of the rich privileged part of town and back to where I should always stay, I parked at a place only pissed off Rebels go to beat the shit out of everyone. I get out of the truck and go towards my cargo bed I took out my baseball bat I keep in my truck at all times. I head towards on of the walls that had old graffitti and one hole in the wall already, I swing the bat and bust a hole through the wall. It caused the wall to crumble into nothing, I kept swinging with tears rolling down my face and blisters forming around my hands. I dropped the bat and fell to my knees. My life was crumbling in the matter of days, I wish I didn't meet Jughead and I didn't trust him to go to his house. I wipe my tears with my ash covered hand and threw the bat in the cargo bed while I jumped into the driver's seat. I took a few breathes and start driving home.
    I needed to get away, away from my life. When I got home FP's truck wasn't there so I made sure to quickly go in and cry my eyes out alone. I stumbled in my boots towards the door and carried my heavy body up the porch stairs. I trembled as I unlocked the door which I turn to quickly and broke my key. It was only one in the afternoon and my birthday was ruined. I just slam the door closed behind me and grabbed a pack of beers, I guess this is something with how FP felt when he lost his baby and his wife. I sat in one of the dining room chairs and opened a bottle, I start chugging it until it was gone. The door shook and FP walks in.
    "What the hell happened to the door?" He says as he examines the key.
    "The key broke when I unlocked the door." I opened the second bottle.
    "When did you open that first bottle Betty?" He grabs the empty bottle I set on the table.
    "Two minutes ago, but shouldn't I have some sort of fun on my birthday? I mean other than what I already had today." I take a sip of the second beer.
    "Betty I know today isn't how you wanted it to go, but I just want you to know that I'm proud of you!" I looked up. "You stood up for us when she was talking trash about us and I think you did the right thing when you stood up to her even if she was your mother."
    "I only protected my life and my family." I pass him one of the four remaining beers.
    "Your life isn't the best and never has been, but we can't take it away. The scars are what make us human. You have more scars than anyone I have ever known." He sighs.
    "What about you?" He looks up. "Your life was terrible."
    "What do you mean?"
    "I was told about your life before you met me--about your wife." When I said that his heart dropped and I made the mistake of saying his daughter. "And your daughter." I felt as though I stabbed him and then poured poison down his throat.
    "So you know?" He chuckled surprisingly. "Alice and Jaylen."
    "Jaylen?" I put down the bottle.
    "That was gonna be my daughters name before we found out we lost her. Her full name was going to be Jaylen Elizabeth Jones." That was the first time I've heard him say his last name. "It's not how you should name your kid after you lose your other kid, but I thought if I gave you something of hers I wouldn't feel that bad for her death."
    "I think it was a beautiful thing to do FP Jones!" He chuckled when I said that.
    "Don't start telling people my last name or my back story." He takes a sip of his beer. "How about we re-invite Toni and Sweet Pea and have a quiet night with cake and food?"
    "Sure!" I sigh and open another beer, he smiles.
~*~
    "You have got to be fucking kidding me?! Why the hell would you do that?" I screamed at his parents after he threw everyone out.
    "Jughead watch your language!" My mother screamed.
    "You just kicked out your daughter for a second time. You don't fucking care about anyone's opinions or feelings." I threw her side table over.
    "HEY! You need to calm down! The way you have been treating your father and I the past couple of days is ridiculous and disrespectful."
    "The way you treated Betty and I for seventeen years is ridiculous and disrespectful. You left her to die or be randomly taken and left me without my twin sister. You are the worst parents in the universe not only to Betty, but to me." I got real close to my mother, I could feel her trembling breath hit my face. "I'm staying with Archie for a while."
    "No you are not!" She stands up.
    "Yes I am." I walk away leaving my mother angry and shocked.
~*~
    Everyone was singing happy birthday to me and FP was bringing my favorite cake out. This was the best part of today and I was finally happy. I blew out my candle and everyone was laughing and having fun. I cut the cake and gave everyone a slice and sat on the couch where my back was resting on Toni's arm and my legs were on Sweet Pea. Someone decided to knock on the door while we were hanging out, FP got the door and let someone in.
    "Betty, someone's here to see you." I got up and went by them.
    "Jughead? What're you doing here?" I put down my piece of cake.
    "I wanted to apologize, I didn't think that's how they would react. You didn't deserve it and I told them off." He sighed.
    "Jughead it's fine! Why don't you come in and have some cake?" I grab a plate.
    "Thanks Betty!" He grabs the cake and I bring him to an empty chair.
    We sit down and just talk and have fun. Until FP gets up and start saying he has one more thing.
    "I know I'm not the best father figure, but you're seventeen and I want you to be able to travel the world one day. So I got you a gift, your truck won't always make it so I got you something quicker." I smirk and wait to see what he's talking about.
    We all get up and go outside where the most beautiful gift I have ever been given. I race down the stairs and go towards my new motorcycle, it looked so new I could see my reflection in it. I start tearing up, FP walks towards me.
    "It's all yours whenever you want to escape from your life." He hands me the keys and holds them in my hand. "You have your whole life to explore the world."
    "Thank you so much!" Along with the motorcycle he gave me a journal that I could take when I did want to explore the world.
I grab the helmet and hop on, revving the engine I felt so much freedom. Sadly I turned the motorcycle off and hopped off. Smiling I started pushing everyone inside. When we got inside everyone was getting settled, I was twirling my new keys around trying not to smile too much. Sweet Pea got up saying he wanted to give me his present.
"Betty I want you to know that you are my best friend in the entire world--also Toni, but I just want you to know that I love you so much! Not only as a best friend, but as my girlfriend and I'm so glad I found you." Toni's mouth dropped and I smiled so widely, I didn't know how to react.
"I love you too!" I get up and kiss him.
"This isn't happening--My two best friends are dating?" She comes over and hugs us.
We sit down and continue eating cake I tried not to drink in front of Jughead, so I would sneak a few sips of Sweet Peas and Toni's beers when he wasn't looking. Jughead's phone rang he was about to go outside when FP warned him it wasn't a good idea to be out at night so he pushed him in his room. I took a huge sip of beer when he closed the door.
"Why have you been hiding the fact that you drink? You're in a gang how is drinking worse than that?" Toni takes her beer back.
"I don't want Jughead to see how badly his twin was raised. I'm in a gang, I drink, I threaten people. The only bad thing I don't do is drugs or selling of drugs." I say.
"You weren't raised bad Betty, you were raised a perfect way for your lifestyle." Toni says.
Jughead came out asking to speak with me. I took him outside because if I was with him he would be safe. It was dark and I could hear some Rebels screaming with the fun they were having.
"What's up Jughead?" I say.
"I need you to trust me on this and meet our parents." I was kind of shocked he would say that to me.
"You want me to meet your parents? The people who told me to leave and that I was raised by scum?"
"Please Betty! Once something goes wrong you can leave and never meet them again, but I am your twin brother and I want to know you and have you be something to our family."
"Jughead this is complete madness and a completely awful idea, your mother hates me and your father hates me less than your mother, but still hates me."
"Betty please, I know it's not okay, but they specifically asked to see you."
"That makes it even worse because I don't know what they're planning."
"Betty I will be there through whatever happens, you're my sister. I promise they won't hurt you." He puts his hand on my shoulder.
"Fine, are you going home then?"
"Yeah I think I've tortured them a little."
"Stay safe and drive with your lights off when you're around here." I give him a hug.
"Thanks! Bye Betty!" He gets in his car.
I start walking up the stairs and into the trailer.
"Hey! Where did Jughead go?"
"He went home." I grab a bottle of beer.
"I hope you've had a great seventeenth birthday unknown!" Sweet Pea says.
"Yeah--I have!" I smile and we all hit our bottles together.