Forever And Always

Chapter 20

"Wher are we going?" Callie asked as she put those items on.

"To find Jughead with Betty," Jughead answered. They met Betty outside and searched all over town, soon ending up at the bus station.

"Come on," Archie breathed as he banged on the door. " From what he said in the hall, it seems like he wants to get to his mom in Ohio." They looked to see that Betty was checking her phone.

"Anything?" Callie asked as they walked over to her.

"No," Betty answered.

"Maybe his phone died," Archie suggested.

" Or maybe the only friends he has just completely betrayed him," Betty suggested. Archie's phone starts ringing.

" Is that him?" Betty asked.

"No, it's Veronica," Archie answered. Soon they all ended up at Pop's with Veronica. They found Jughead alone, with a cup of coffee and his hat off.

" Told you," Veronica spoke.

" Jug," Archie said. Callie and Betty both sat down as Jughead turned away.

"Jug, we're so sorry," Betty apologized. " About everything."

"Juggy, we screwed up. We all did," Archie added. " Breaking into your dad's trailer was wrong, but at least some good came out of it."

"Pretty sure my dad was arrested for murder," Jughead reminded them.

" That gun wasn't there when they searched the trailer," Callie stated. " Someone put it there after they left." Jughead looked back at them.

" What are you talking about?" Jughead asked. They explained it Jughead, then made their way to the police station.

"Excuse me, sir, we need to see Sheriff Keller," Archie said.

" There's been a huge mistake," Betty added. They looked behind them to see Jevin's dad walking up to them.

"Sheriff, we need to talk to you about FP Jones," Veronica pleaded.

" What about him?" Sheriff Keller asked.

" He's innocent," Callie said.

"He's been framed," Veronica added. 

"Then why did he just confess?" Sheriff Keller asked. They looked to see two other officers escorting FP Jones. 

*******

Callie now sat with Archie and the others at lunch. They were reading the newspaper about FP being caught.

"The police report said FP worked alone," Betty said.

"No mention of your dad, Ronnie. That's good news, right?" Archie asked.

" I can't stop thinking that...." Veronica began, they looked over to see people comforting Cheryl. " Maybe my dad hired another Serpent to plant that gun."

"It's surreal. isn't it?" Kevin asked as he sat down with them. " How's Jughead doing?" 

"Not good," Betty answered. 

" He's not coming in today," Callie said. "He's at the station."

" Being grilled by your dad," Veronica added.

"Who's just doing his job," Kevin said, defending his dad. " I mean of course he's gonna ask Jughead questions.

"Okay, well, he's wasting his time, Kev," Betty said. " Because FP didn't kill Jason."

" Betty, he confessed," Kevin pointed out.

"Or he was coerced," she pointed out. " Or he's protecting someone, maybe a Serpent."

" Apparently Mrs. C saw him and Joaquin together," Callie informed them.

" Don't! Do not drag my boyfriend into this," Kevin threatened.

" I'm just stating facts Kev," Callie said. She looked at the front her eyes went wide. " He came." everyone turned and saw Jughead walking into the cafeteria. 

"What happened to him not coming in today?" Veronica asked. He walked all the way over to Cheryl, she looked up at him. Everyone was quiet and watching the scene unfold. 

"I'm sorry, Cheryl," Jughead apologized. She stood up and slapped him and started hitting him while sobbing. The others ran over and Archie pulled Cheryl off Jughead.

"Enough!" Principal Weatherbee shouted. Archie let go of Cheryl who walked away in tears, Callie immediately went after her.

" Cheryl," Callie said as the door opened, the saw Betty walk in.

"I barely touched him," Cheryl said.

"It's not his fault, Cheryl," Betty pointed out.

"Even if his dad did it, it's..." Callie mentioned.

"Everybody keeps coming up to me, and hugging me, and telling me that I must be so relieved that my brother's killer has finally been caught," Cheryl explained. " This nightmare is over." Cheryl turned around and looked at the two. " Then why doesn't it feel that way?" Soon Betty left, leaving the two girls.

"Maybe the killer hasn't been caught," Callie suggested.

"Jughead's dad is in jail, the killer has been caught," Cheryl reminded her.

" There could be the possible chance that he taking the blame for someone else," Callie added. " Otherwise, you would feel like that the nightmare is over."

****

After school, Callie arrived home with Archie just their dad got off the phone.

"Yes, I...I appreciate it." their dad said before ending the call. " That was Weatherbee. He's concerned for Jug's personal safety. After what happened with Cheryl, he's worried about the other student's reaction to it. He thinks Jughead should finish the semester from home."

"What?" Callie asked as she put down her bag.

" Jughead's getting kicked out because Cheryl plummed him. How is that fair?" Archie asked.

"It's not," their dad answered.

"Well, can we call, I don't know, the school, board?" Archie asked.

"Son, FP may spend decades in prison, potentially the rest of his life. We got to think of a long-term solution," their dad explained.

" We are the long-term solution," Callie argued.

"That's not how it works, okay? I'm not his legal guardian," their dad tried to explain to them.

"Oh, good thing mom's a lawyer," Callie pointed out.

" Archie, Callie, my priority is keeping you two safe," their dad informed them. 

" Keep us safe from who? Jughead?" Archie asked. " Are you kidding me, dad?"

"No, from whatever trouble seems to follow the Jones' around, wherever they go, whatever they do," their dad argued. " Hell, maybe you two should go to Chicago and live with your mom."

"It's not even something I was considering, dad," Callie stated.

" Same here," Archie agreed. " But you know what? Maybe we should."

" Hey, if it'll keep you two out of trouble, I'm all for it," their dad encouraged. The two walked away from their dad to see Jughead starting for the front door.

"Hey, Jug," Archie greeted as Jughead opened the door. 

"I'm gonna sleep in the garage tonight. Okay?" Jughead asked him.

"Jug..." Callie breathed, shaking her head. With that Jughead walked out the door, closing it behind him. The two looked back at their dad angrily.

"I'm gonna spend the night at Betty's house," Callie said before storming up the stairs angrily.