Poison | Jughead Jones

Chapter Forty Two

Coping mechanisms

"That woman was messed in the head." Bella spat, knuckles turning white as she clasped against her helmet with as much force as she possibly had. She pushed past the hand that shot out for her, storming up toward the white worm before anyone could bite back her rage.

Her vision had tunnelled, switching to the only plan that would've gotten her away from that freak. Even if she had previously refused to help. The small hoard of serpents stood among their bikes caught her attention as if she were a fly to fruit, swerving from her path to find the one man who would need to help.

"Oi tall boy!" She yelled across the car park, sight burning down toward the back of his head. The man swung around, eyebrows raised toward the disheveled girl marching toward him. She still looked sick, bags dug deep into her skin and cheeks grieving the loss of their rosy tint. The toll of the Blossoms still rooted deep into her bones.

"Still thought you'd be wallowing in that grubby little apartment of yours. What's got you stressed Princess?" The nickname was poison on his lips, souring at the thought she held a higher position in their organisation. Jughead rolled on the balls of his feet as he let Bella pounce, cautious of the reason behind her sudden rage.

"Fred Andrews was shot last night." She announced bitterly to the group, watching their response. She already knew they hadn't a part in the attemptive murder, but she needed to prove it to Jughead.

"You think a serpent did it?" A new voice bounced into the air, crashing all attention to him in a fit for her to notice. Bella was taken back, eyes squinting slightly as they focused upon Jack. Someone who had spared any care when she had needed it most.

"No. This guy was some coward, wore a freaking black mask. I need you guys to look into it. Someone's gonna know what happened at Pops, do this and I'll do whatever the hell you want me to." Her tone was definitive, already oozing with the authority that was clinging to her shoulders.

Taking up the mantle of leader from FP was something she didn't want, but something she had been chosen for by all. Even then, with her paled skin and weary expression, it was obvious no one else had the same power she had.

"Alright. I'll call you when we find something." Tall boy agreed, shrugging off the order as if he were the one to call it. The group soon dispersed, all but one serpent disappearing back into the Whyte Worm. Bella cocked her eyebrow toward the boy in front of her, face souring as his words fell toward the ground.

"Hey Bel, Sweetpea told me about your mum. You know we can get the serpents to deal with-"

"I don't have a mum Jack, so just drop your damn sympathy. Lord knows you don't really care." She sneered, blood boiling underneath the concerned stares that nipped at her skin. From the corner of her eye she saw Jughead go to speak, the pity oozing as he went to salvage the broken fragments of anger that had settled in her mind.

"Don't you start." She shot out before he could speak, storming back towards the bike with steps like thunder- cracking the path as each foot rose. Jughead called out her name, racing forward with panic lodged deep within his stomach.

He was worried it had become too much to handle. Losing FP. Her story being made public. Her mum. All dragging her down until she was left to drown.
As he was finally able to pull her back he saw the tears glassed over her eyes. And suddenly the pain had blossomed within him too.

"She can't just come back now Jug. She can't just act like she didn't leave." Bella wept, knees buckling under the pressure of it all. She was 16, ill prepared for any of the new burdens that had been thrusted upon her. And scared it would tear her apart. Jughead pulled her into his embrace, letting the tears roll on to his shirt as she fell into his arms. Both too afraid to let go in case she crumbled to the floor.

•••

161k!

Forgot I didn't post this update the other week! Sorry for the wait :)