A whole new world

Chapter ten

Betty's POV

My head was buried into Jughead's chest as he was trying to comfort me. I haven't felt this warmth and this scent for ages; even though his cologne smelt different his usual scent was still there and I remembered it immediately. The tears have already dried on my cheeks when I had an incoming call. He gently let go of me and nodded as if he was trying to say that I should answer it. I nodded too and picked up my phone from the dining table. Without looking at the caller's name I answered clearing my throat. - Hello? - 

- Cooper, where the hell are you? You should've been here at 8! - A grumpy male voice brought me back to the sad reality. The grumpy and rude voice belonged to Dylan.

- Good morning to you too. As far as I know, I got this case not you. And I am working 24/7 collecting information from the locals. Give me a break, Owens. Reggie was my friend. - Jughead chuckled at my strong words. I know I was rude but it's the truth. He needs to understand that I'm not his employee; we are equal agents. Well, this time I'm basically his boss. And about Reggie... It's also true. His death shocked me too, not just others. I'm surprised I even have myself together while investigating his murder.  

- Fine. I'll look into his phone calls and text messages. Look through the crime scene and call me if you find anything. - His voice was lower this time but he still didn't get that my job doesn't rely on him.

- I will. - By the time I replied he had already hung up. - Jerk. - I said as I put my phone back on the table. 

- From what I've heard now, he's a real douchebag. - Jughead said without any hesitation. 

- I have to go to El Royale and look around. I'm sorry. - I grabbed a hair tie and put my hair up into a low pony. I stopped putting my hair up in a ponytail a few years after we broke up. It felt more comfortable and eased my headaches. - But I do want to continue this talk. I want us to be civil at least. - I said as I walked into the bathroom where Veronica had laid out a white blouse and my jeans for me. 

- I think we can say that we are pretty civil after the moment we had on the counter. - His words surprised me and him as well. I didn't say anything just got dressed and walked back out. - I uh... I didn't. -  He scratched the back of his head and I gave him a soft smile. 

- It's fine. - It is. I feel some sort of ease between us but the guilt of his relationship and my complicated life tells me to stop what's happening between us. 

- Betty? - His voice was eager to stop me from walking out the door. - If you would like some company, I could drive you to El Royale. - He fixed his messy hair by a quick hand movement as he spoke. 

- Really? I mean, I would like that. - My face couldn't not show the surprise.

- Yeah. I'll grab my jacket and keys and we can go. - I nodded as he exited the apartment. I followed him shortly after; closing the door but staying in the hallway. A few minutes later he walked out motioning that we can go so I followed him down to his car. Now that I see it's not his, it's Veronica's. She must've left it here and called an Uber. We didn't talk on the way there, he was awkwardly quiet. Probably because he thinks I rejected him. I didn't want to but I couldn't forgive myself if he would lose his girlfriend because of me. Riverdale is much smaller than New York City. It took us 5 minutes and he was already parked in front of Archie's gym. 

- I can't believe it happened here; where Archie hosted many kids in need... - I looked around the gym where we watched countless matches and practices between our friends. The memorial of Mr. Andrews stung my heart. I miss him. He was the nicest man in Riverdale. 

- I miss him. - Jughead sighed deeply as he followed me inside the messy building. 

- Me too. - I nodded and started walking around. I spotted the yellow cordon around the used-to-be office. I swallowed and made my way towards the room. A big bloodstain dried on the floor. The table is broken and the papers lay on the ground. I took out a pair of plastic gloves and put them on before I stepped through the cordon and Jughead followed. I've seen many crime scenes and this wasn't the most stomach-turning one of them, but I still felt like I was about to puke. 

- Are you okay? - Jughead's voice comforted me and I nodded looking at the broken table. I looked into every drawer but they were all empty. My eyes traveled down to the floor where the papers were laying. I started looking through them. They were unpaid bills, dating back to 2022. Two years after Archie left. Reggie probably tried to keep this place open but didn't have the budget to.  I put them into a zip lock bag and spotted a paper's corner under the broken table. 

- Can you help me lift this? - I handed him another pair of gloves and he stepped next to me lifting the heavy wreck. I grabbed the paper and looked under to see if there was anything else in there before he put it back down. It was just this dirty paper which turned out to be an envelope. I gently ripped open the sealed envelope and pulled out the paper folded into it. The envelope was too dirty and the writing on the front wasn't readable but the letter was. 

Dear Mr. Andrews,

For the last several months, El Royale Boxing Club has not been paying electricity and water bills. After sending out several reminders the payment has still not been done. Due to this, we have come to the decision to close El Royal Boxing Club effective 2023. January.

 We appreciate all of the good work you have done. 

Regards, 

Electricity and Water Authority

- This place has been shut down since 2023. - I looked up at Jughead from the letter. - They sent out letters to Archie but he was in the army; meaning Reggie run this illegally before and after it was shut down. - 

- Why would Reggie keep this running when there were no electricity and water? - He started looking around while I looked at the letter again. - Betty? I think you should see this. - He said after a while. He was leaning under the open drawers. I looked under and couldn't believe what I saw...