Chapter Text
"Archie! I'm bored! When can I leave!" Jughead whined.
"They said you'll be released soon."
"When is soon? They've been saying that for so long!"
"I don't know, man. The doctors just need to finish analyzing all the test to see if you're stabilized enough to leave."
"Who's gonna look after my Serpents?"
"They're not your Serpents, Juggie. They're your father's." Jughead stared at him, incredulously. Then he laugh-coughed.
Clearing his throat, he said,
"Yeah, like that drunk fuck knows how to lead shit. Can't even lead himself to the bathroom. I'm basically they're leader."
The door opens, with hushed voices. Jughead groans.
"Ugh... Veronica, how many times do I have to tell you this, I'm not interested in talking to Be-" The curtains pulls open, revealing a nervous Fp and two brunettes.
"Mom?" Jughead whispered, his voice cracking.
"Jughead, baby you're up!" Glady cooed running up to Jughead, only to be stopped by the raised of his hand as he winced from the movement.
"Don't 'Jughead, baby' me!" Jughead turned to Archie. "What are they doing here?"
"Your dad brought them." Archie shrugged, shooting a glare at Fp. "I told them they shouldn't be here, but hey, who listens to me."
"How're you feelin' son?" Fp spoke.
"How I'm feeling? I'm feeling great, dad! I feel like I could just dance around!" Jughead coughed. "I mean my mom left me with my drunk father at 15, didn't even bother to take me with her. She took away the only person I really cared about. She never called me, answered my calls or text, didn't even say goodbye. Just left. But then, THEN! She wants to come when I'm in a coma, don't know if I'll ever wake up. Well guess what, Mom?! I've been through way worse! I gotten my tattoo cut off, beaten way worse then this, I even got stabbed before. This is nothing." Jughead coughed a bit, tears forming in his eyes. "I wonder what she thought when Dad asked her to come and see me, maybe for the last time. 'Hmm... If I come will it look like I have sympathy for my son that I really don't care about?'" Tears were streaming down his face as he wheezed out coughs. "What'd you think Archie? Accurate enough?"
"Jug you need to calm down." Archie stood up.
"I will-" Cough. "Not-" Cough. "Calm- down. No not anymore. I've been holding on for 9 years. I will not hold back now!" Jughead wheezed.
"Jug, your heart rate is picking up! Please calm down! Get the doctor!"
Fp ran out of the room to get a doctor or nurse. A bunch of nurses and doctors run into the room, ushering everybody out.
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Veronica and Betty walk into Pop's together to end their perfect girls day at the spa and salon that Veronica rented out just for her and Betty. Classic.
When they walk in, Betty is hit with a wave of nostalgia.
"Wow, I haven't been here in like forever." Betty gasps. "It looks so different now." She notes the paint doesn't look like it's peeling.
"Yeah. Things have certainly changed." Veronica says, walking to the counter.
"Looking good Veronica. I see you bought in a beautiful friend of yours."
"How many times do I have to tell you Billy, I'm too old for you and so is Betty dearest. Plus I'm taken."
"Betty, aye? Is she single? Because im down to mingle." Billy, the cashier, wiggles his eyebrows. Betty scoffs,
"Is he the new Reggie Mantle?" Veronica hums in agreement.
"Mantle? As in coach Mantle?"
"The one and only." Veronica sighs. "Listen Billy can we order now?"
"Wait. Reggie coaches? Can't say I'm too surprised. Although I did think he'd get to college football first before dropping out. Betty wonders out loud. Veronica shrugs.
"His parents didn't have enough money to send him. He studied in the local community college."
"Serves the douche right." Betty mumbles.
"Why I cannot believe my eyes! Is that the Betty Cooper?!" Pop Tate asks incredulously as he walks out the kitchen, around the counter to give Betty a big squeeze.
Betty laughs as Pop lifts her off the ground. "It sure is. I missed you and the diner too."
"The diner really missed you. You were a real helping hand." Pop says as he puts her down. "So what brings you here on this fine day?"
Little did they know, today was not so fine. On the other side of town a man that has suffered childhood trauma's past comes back to haunt him.
Betty shrugs, "I was homesick."
"Well I'm glad you're back. Burgers on the house!" Pop's announces.
"It's okay Pop, really I could pay-"
"Now, hun, you were and always will be one of my favorites. You deserve this."
But she doesnt deserve this, she thought.
Betty nods as she and Veronica go and sit down at their usual booth. The one they always sat at when they were just teenagers. Just like old times. But the only difference now was one was single.
They both sat in silence until Veronica sighs, "I wonder what the boys are doing right now." Betty stays silent.
"Today was fun." Betty says, ignoring Veronica's first comment.
There's a pause until Veronica releases another sigh.
"Listen Betty, when Jughead gets out, which will be soon, since he's been doing good so far..."
Doing good was the opposite of what he was doing at the moment. On the other side of town Jughead struggles to breathe as the doctors calm him down from his panic attack.
"I was thinking, maybe the four of us could come back here at Pop's and hangout. Just like old times..."
"No way! No a chance in hell. Did you not see how he reacted when he first saw me come back?" Betty was looking at Veronica as if she had said the most idiotic thing in the world.
"Come on, B!" Veronica whined. "It's just one day, a couple of hours. The only reason he reacted like that was because it was surprising. After you left, he wasn't the same. But me and Arch could talk some sense in him so we could go as just friends." She reasoned.
Betty scoffs, "Yeah right. Like Archie would even be on my side. Also what do you mean as 'just friends.' I'm not dumb Veronica, I know you're trying to get us back together and its not happening. Beside even if we do get back together, I'm going to have to go back home."
"This is you're home, not LA. Betty I'm not dumb as well, I know you didn't comeback to Riverdale just because you were 'homesick.' That is complete bullshit." Veronica sighed as she looked at Betty, whose eyes were blown wide. "You never came home when I begged you to, your mom begged you to. So why now? Why is this time so different? What's wrong Betty?"
Betty sighs and opens her mouth to speak, defeated, but just as she does, Veronica's phone rings.
"Archie, hey. What's up?" Veronica's face twist with emotions as Archie speaks on the other side. "On my way." Veronica finally says, ending the call before getting up.
"Where are you going, V?" Betty cluelessly ask, getting up to follow the ravened-haired girl.
"No time to explain now. Come on, I'll tell you on the way."
They left right as Billy was headed to their table with their food.