Once again, our small group of friends, including Cheryl, were all sat around a small table in the student lounge. I was sat on the arm of the couch next to Jughead, his arm holding me in place. My short red skirt revealed a little more thigh than Jug felt necessary, leading to his large hand resting itself on my bare skin, the other snaking around my back to cover the same space. This small protective action made me smile wide at how much he cared for me, resulting in me kissing his head on the small part that wasn't covered by the beanie.
"Polly's convinced herself that no one wants her baby." Betty said when Cheryl took the seat opposite.
"Besides, of course, the child-snatching Blossom monsters." Kevin interjected, adding that he meant no offense to Cheryl and me. As much as I wished that I could stand up and defend our parents to our friends, saying they were caring, loving and respectful people who only wanted to best, I knew that I would have been lying to myself. Despite being my parents, if something didn't benefit the Blossom name or wasn't exactly what they wanted, it didn't happen. Everyone in this town was somewhat scared of my family and the large house on the hill.
"So, your mom and dad want Polly but not the baby, and the Blossoms want the baby and not Polly." Jughead concluded. It seemed very malicious and vindictive when you put it like that. Polly clearly wanted to keep the baby and find peace with both families. Sadly, everyone knew that wasn't possible.
"It's an impossible situation." Betty added. Veronica spoke to Betty, saying she had an idea. The raven-haired new girl was a great addition to our social group. She always seemed to have an idea, or at least, an outfit for every occasion.
"What if my mom and I were to host a baby shower?"
"Count me in," smiled Cheryl.
"Me to." I seconded. I thought it would be a lovely idea go to a baby shower. After all, Jason would have wanted us there if he were still alive. Jughead smiled at me as I grinned back.
"You want Polly to feel loved and supported." Veronica added. Betty brought up that Polly would want to feel that from their parents, not just her friends and the Blossom twins. If Polly and the Coopers were in the same room without fighting, in a public setting so neither would cause a scene, it would mean that they were one step closer to accepting her choice. It was a genius plan. One that had almost no possibility of going wrong.
"Am I expected to come to this thing?" Jug asked, looking up at me and then to Veronica as she answered before I had the chance.
"Of course. You're the infamous Cynthia Blossom's boyfriend, you can't miss it." She said. I knew that Jughead didn't like those type of parties, or parties in general. Jughead looked down, blushing as I turned my head away from the group. It was obvious that both of us were blushing, and hard. When I felt a kiss on my shoulder, I turned and saw Jughead grinning up at me. Cheryl, being the giddy-girl, she is, started clapping and squealing, saying how cute the pair of us were. That, understandably, caused us to blush more.
"Elizabeth Cooper. I need you," Alice Cooper demanded, pointing Betty, "and you. Right now." She pointed to Veronica. The two girls stood up and followed the angry woman with wide eyes. We all knew this would be about Polly staying with Hermione Lodge.
Later in the afternoon, Archie called Jug while we were in a booth at Pop's, saying that his dad needed help at the construction site. When we arrived, a few of the football team and Kevin were there, sporting yellow hard hats and equipment. I looked very out of place. Archie told me his dad's construction workers had been forced to pull out so that they could work for my dad. As soon as I realised that my dad was a reason that Mr Andrews' business could fall, I decided that I would stay. We watched Hermione Lodge and Fred Andrews come out of the trailer, Archie going over to meet them.
"What is this?" Fred asked laughing at the group of school boys that held equipment and wore hats that made them look like they were playing dress up on careers day.
"Your new crew." Archie said, smiling to us. Jughead held a large toolbox containing thing that I didn't even know the name of. His hat was being carried by me, him not wanting to part from his iconic beanie hat.
"I appreciate it, I do, but isn't there something more important you need to be doing?" Fred asked.
"We can work after practise and on weekends. Until you find a new crew. Help keep things on schedule. Come on, dad. I worked for you the whole summer. And these guys—"
"We're bruiser studs, Mr Andrews." Moose cut in from behind Archie, "At least some of us are." He added, looking at Jughead. Jug glared back as I put a hand on his chest, preventing him from commenting, showing him, it was only a joke. Hermione said a few words to Fred, finally he agreed, about to walk out to the site. Before Jughead could move, I took his beanie of his head and replaced it with a yellow hard-hat. He pouted as I put it on my head, so I leant up and pecked him slightly, before pushing him away to follow the rest of the boys.
I sat on the steps of the hut until it started to get dark, then I moved nearer to where they were working. Jughead took off his jacket when he saw me coming over, placing it on the floor where I would be nearer to them, but far enough away so that I didn't get in the way. He gave me a quick kiss before running of to continue helping the others.
Fred took us all back to the hut, Jugs arm around my shoulders as I felt his warmth radiate off him. He told us where to put the hard hats and told us to help ourselves to whatever was in the fridge. You could tell the Mr Andrews was incredibly grateful to us and all that we had done for his company that day.
"Hey guys, I forgot my phone." Moose had just reached the door when I realised that I left Jughead's Jacket by the truck when I went to see what they were doing, bored of sitting on my own.
"Moose, hold up. I need to Jug's jacket." He waited for me and we began to walk outside into the dark cold air. It was cooler than the nights previous but after the physical labour of the afternoon, it was a relief.
"So, you and Jughead." He laughed. I blushed. Moose and I had always gotten along, he was one of the nicer football players. I just pushed him slightly, him stepping easily. It was obvious someone my size could never move someone like Moose, but it was funny to pretend I had.
We rounded a corner and saw a guy hit a hammer to some of the electrical equipment. Moose started to jog down, me following after him. If a girl is going to wear heeled boots, she must make sure she can run in them. A second guy grabbed a crow bar and hit the control panel, sparks flying back at the hooded men.
"Hey!" I called. "Get away from there!" Moose called after. The two guys ran towards us, the machinery going dark casting their faces into shadows. Moose started running, pushing me in front of him so that he knew I was safe. We both scrambled a few feet before the hooded figures grabbed us and threw us to the rocky ground. The lights around the construction site dimmed and went out, loosing power and sending the attackers into a shadow. For somewhere a third man emerged, double teaming Moose who was trying to fit back. I covered my head and my attacker sat on my waist, pinning my legs down with his as he punched me. The position we were in made images flash in my mind, ones that I had tried to suppress since the incident.
I saw the group that was inside, run out, into the dark from the moonlit path. Jugheads white vest top made him easily visible as he led the rescue party with Fred Andrews. The man stood up as I remained on the ground, grabbing the crowbar and hitting me one last time, before jumping in the truck and driving away with the guys who jumped Moose.
Fred knelt by Moose as he groaned in pain, Archie and Jughead coming over to me. My bright hair was now matted and dirty, my skirt had risen slightly. Archie ran off and grabbed Jughead's jacket and Moose's phone, handing the phone to Moose and the jacket to Jughead. Jug lifted me to a sitting position, my breathing coming out in short gasps as the pain throbbed and my mind played over images.
"Who did this to you guys, Moose?" Jughead asked as Moose managed to sit more. Jug pulled my shaking body into his arms. I could already tell that my face and arms would be bruised and red, my chest probably matching them.
"No clue. But they said as long as we keep working, they're gonna keep coming back." He replied. Jug pulled me tighter to him, Archie placing the jacket over my shoulders. Fred walked off. Jughead me up, trying not to hurt me as I gripped on to his white vest top, making sure he couldn't leave me if he tried to. Archie put his hand on my head, comforting as I leant against Juggie's shoulder.
"Do you think your dad will let her stay with us? She can't exactly go back to her parents looking like this, they'll blame your dad." Jughead asked. Archie Nodded, running off to tell his dad that I was going to be staying with them that night. Jughead began to walk me back to the Andrew's house, located not that far from the work trailer. The entire time he was whispering comforting things into my ear.
When we reached the home, Jughead lay me on the air mattress that I knew he was sleeping on. He threw me on of his shirts and I asked him to turn around while I put it on. Just in case, not that I thought he would look, I turned around. When I took off my top I heard Jughead gasp. I glanced over my shoulder and saw him looking in the mirror at my very bruised sides. I quickly pulled on the shirt and shimmied my skirt off from underneath it. Jughead turned around and took off his top, leaving him in loose jeans. He then got under the covers and pulled them over me. My head lay on his chest as he stroked my hair, slowly lulling me into a peaceful sleep.
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