Quicksand ¤ Jughead Jones

3-Releasing stressful thoughts

"If you want." The boy says. Archie nods and takes a seat. 

"What are you working on?" The redhead quips. 

"My novel." Jughead answers. "It's about the summer and Jason Blossom." 

"Seventeen years old and how will he be remembered? As captain of the water polo team?" Archie says. 

"The aquaholics." Jughead smirks. "Considering how he died. Probably not." 

"No, What I mean is... was he doing everything he was suppose to do?" Archie starts to get serious. "Everything he wanted. I mean, did he even know what it was." 

Lauren wakes up, rubbing her eyes and stretching a little. She looks at Archie and then Jughead and repeats. 

"What is happening and what did you do?" Lauren asks the two, the latter being a question for the red head. 

"Nothing." Jughead says for the both of them. "Coach Clayton was in here, talking to Pop Tate. Varsity. Does that make you, what, Mr. Popular football god now?" 

"No." Archie shakes his head. "In fact, I'm kinda terrified I lost my best friend tonight." 

"If you mean Betty, Just talk to her." Lauren answered. 

"You know, it'd go a long way." Jughead added. "Would've gone a long way with me."  

Lauren looks at the boy sadly and grabs his hand. A frown on her face. 

******

The next morning Lauren had found out about Jason's body, how it had been shot. And quite frankly, she couldn't care less. It was tragic, indeed, but she didn't have a connection to him that would tear her up. She was after all, locked up in a hospital for more then six months. 

As she sat on the grass at 5 am with Jughead next to her, his laptop finally away, the two of them were near Sweetwater River  she couldn't help but get lost in her thoughts. 

"Why do you always think so much?" Jughead asked finally, he noticed the look on her face. 

"Cuz that's what you have your brain for." Lauren teases. 

"That's not the only reason you have your brain for."  Jughead answers. 

"You're right." Lauren nods.

"What are you thinking about?" 

"My life." Lauren answers, looking at the ground. "And how it sucks." 

"Elaborate, please?" 

"I don't have parents, Jug." Lauren says sadly. "My mom was arrested and My dad left me. My sister doesn't give a crap about whether I'm living or not and I don't know what i'm doing anymore." 

Jughead stays quiet focused on her words. "i know about your mom." 

"My mom was arrested for murder, jug. She killed someone. And because of that I have to live without a mother. And my dad, oh my god my dad is so fucking selfish. I don't know why he left or when he's coming back, if he's coming back. But I care. I care too much sometimes and that really sucks." Lauren had tears in her eyes as she spoke.

"You'll get through it." Jughead spoke. "If I can than so can you." 

" I think some deranged part of me likes thinking I'm the only one with real problems. Like that makes me special." Lauren says, a tear falls from her eye. "And i feel like I'm drowning and I can't come out of the water. Like i'm being suffocated. And i'm so scared this feeling will never go away." 

Lauren closes her eyes as tears continuously fall. "And I don't have a family, jug. And that really fucking hurts." 

"Laur, please don't. Look at me." Jughead grabs her face in his hands. "You matter to a lot more people then you think. I'm your family. I will always be there for you. I love you." He kisses her forehead and Lauren falls into his chest, crying as he hugs her back. 

The two simply sit there, wrapped in each others arms, one crying and the other helping, they didn't need anyone else.

****

The ending scene almost made me cry. 

This chapter might be super all over the place, but I really like it. It shows Lauren's emotional side and Jughead's compassion. I ship them so hard. I've got a lot planned for chapters to come you guys.

Also im so sorry for not updating in a bit. More updates should be on their way.

There is a lot more to come and only a few more weeks till Riverdale's second season.