No one ever said that it would be this hard

Chapter 36

♾ Jughead ♾

*a week later*

I tried to spend a bit more time with Betty over the past few days.

"What do you say about going to Pops?" Betty asked and I just shrugged. Though in the end, I agreed. We walked to Pops. I felt shaky, so I didn't really want to drive the car and neither did I want Betty to drive while being pregnant. When we arrived, I chose our usual booth in the corner, sitting down on one side while Betty took the other.

"What do you two want today?" Pop asked, once he had walked over to us. Betty ordered a salad, some fries and a vanilla milkshake while I took a strawberry milkshake. Pop eyed me, though then nodded and left.

"Are you sure that you don't want to eat something? You haven't eaten breakfast either..." she asked. Betty had asked that a lot. She probably suspected some things — though she hadn't said anything. Everyone suspected things when I said that I wasn't hungry anymore. But even if she would ask me about it, I wouldn't know what to say. I wouldn't know what to answer.

I just didn't want to eat anymore.

"There you go" Pop said, putting down Betty's food and our milkshakes. We thanked him and Betty started to eat while I mostly just stirred in my milkshake.

"Is something wrong with it?" Betty asked after she noticed. I shook my head.

"No, it's fine. I'm just not that keen on strawberry right now, I guess..."

"But you just ordered it five minutes ago"

"I know, I changed my mind, I guess"

"Should we swap then?" She suggested.

"No, don't worry. I'm not even really hungry. I had made a salad at like 5" at least something to make her believe me. Betty nodded, accepting it. While she finished, I concentrated on my fidgeting fingers, though I sometimes sipped on my milkshake and stole one or two fries from Betty. Once finished, we paid and then walked back home, holding hands.

Though once we were home, I soon left again. I needed to take care of something, with Alice. Not that I liked her but she was the grandmother of the twins and she had money — we didn't.

Sighing, I walked over to the door and rang the doorbell. Alice opened the door with her usual appearance — golden hair and slightly curled, casual make up and polite smile despite her dislike on me. 

"Jughead" she greeted, eyeing me.

"Alice" I said, nodding "could I come in? I have to talk to you" she sighed, though nodded, stepping aside and opening the door further to let me in.

"You can hang your jacket over there" she said, though I declined, saying that it shouldn't take too long. She nodded and then we walked over in the kitchen "would you like some tea or coffee? A cake?"

"No, thank you. I wouldn't want to cause any inconveniences" I said, sitting down on a chair at a table. Alice sat down in front of me.

"So, what are you here for?"

"Well, you know that Betty is pregnant"