Remind me to forget

Chapter 03

"Juggy..." Archie said, voice hoarse. He took a deep breath, swallowing before squeezing his hand softly.

"I... I don't know what to say. Just please wake up soon, okay? Please wake up and be fine. I love you and I know that you do too" Archie didn't care if FP was in the room right now and could see him start crying. He didn't care. He didn't know how to deal with this. Even though the Jones only moved to Riverdale three years ago, he couldn't imagine a life without him anymore.

FP just pulled him in a hug at some point.

"You should go home, Archie" FP said, sometime in the middle of the night. They both had settled down on chairs by then, each one holding one of Jughead's hands "You've got school tomorrow..."

"I can't just leave him alone, FP"

"He isn't alone. I'm here, and I'll stay here"

"I need to know that he's okay first"

"You're no use to him when you're exhausted once he wakes up. Please, go home and get some sleep, okay? I'll wait here until you come back from school" Archie sighed, looking down.

"I really should, shouldn't I...?"

"Yes, you should. I'm sure that he won't wake up that soon, so call Fred, ask if he can pick you up. After school will come sooner than you think, you will see"

"But if he wakes up, you would tell me, right? I'll be right here then"

"I know. I'll give you a call in that case"

"Okay..." Archie nodded before getting up. He gave Jughead's hand a soft squeeze, bending over to kiss him on the forehead.

"Goodnight, Juggy" He whispered before walking out of the room. On his way outside, he called his father, though he didn't pick up. In the end, he just walked home on his own. As soon as he arrived at his house, he just passed out as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Apparently Fred let him sleep in. When he woke up, it was already past noon.

"Can't believe he let me stay out of school"

Archie quickly texted FP, asking if everything was alright with Jughead before he got up to get in some new clothes. It was almost 1 o'clock when Archie arrived at the hospital. He tried to follow the direction from the prior day and eventually he stood in front of the door again — or at least he found FP standing in front of one. Archie furrowed his brows, approaching him. FP stopped pacing upon seeing him.

"Archie, you're here"

"Why are you standing in front of the room? Why- Is something going on with Jughead? What happened?"

"Archie, I... Jughead woke up"

"What?? He's awake?? Why didn't you call??"

"Archie, you have to know something. When Jughead woke up, he told me to get out. He... didn't know who I was"

"What...?" He shook his head "I don't believe you. I'm going in there now" He stepped forward when FP grabbed his hand.

"Archie. He's been doing nothing but draw the whole time. He doesn't want to talk to me and neither to anyone. Anyone, including you"

"Just because he doesn't know you, doesn't mean that he doesn't know me" Archie protested, pulling away from him "I'm going in there. Let me try"

"Okay, fine. But if he doesn't want you in there, you're leaving, understand? I don't want him to be uncomfortable" Archie nodded.

"Of course" FP nodded, finally letting go of him. Archie inhaled and stepped forward. He knocked on the door before peaking inside.

"Can I come in?" He asked and Jughead shrugged, though gestured to the chair then. Archie took that as a sign of coming in. He walked in and closed the door behind him before going to sit down on the green plastic chair that he had sat down the prior day as well. Jughead spared him a glance before going back to drawing. Archie just stared at him.