word count: 1,450

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE:

HEALING

     THE PEOPLE IN THE ANDREWS house quickly dispersed and in the crowd was Jughead Jones, ready to walk off into the night. He knew birthdays were awful but today probably was the worst.

"Whoa, where the hell are you going?" FP exclaimed, holding his son back from walking away.

"What, you want to give me some advice on my right hook?" Jughead asked sarcastically. His head was spinning over the nights events and he didn't know what to feel or do.

"I want you to go back inside and talk to your girl." FP told his son, thinking to the moment when Virginia Hopkins revealed her secret. He had been afraid.

"I don't think it's gonna work out. Irreconcilable differences." Jughead spat out with a frown. He thought he broke up with Betty, he wasn't fully sure after this crazy night. Betty knew he was in love with Ginny, so that meant they were over, right?

"Wrong girl, Jug. Don't run away from it. Don't run away. You've got something good here. With her, with your friends. Something that–Something that I could never give you." FP Jones grimaced as he gave his son advice, he was a pretty shitty person, especially to Jughead and Virginia Hopkins. "Also, man up. After what I just saw in there, she needs you."

Jughead sighed, tugging at his dark beanie. His father was right, Ginny Hopkins needed someone right now and he knew it was him. His heart clenched at the thought of an adult taking advantage of his best friend. However, when he finally sat down with Ginny, he would hug her tight and not let go. He wouldn't speak, he would just be for her there in the moment. She needed a constant presence in her life, not someone who nagged her with questions.

She needed him.

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JUGHEAD DEDUCED THAT GINNY wouldn't go far. She definitely wasn't going to an empty home or to Pop's and the nearest safest haven was Archie's garage.

Jughead sighed as he heard sniffling from inside the garage, knocking on the door. Immediately after his knock, the sniffling stopped and he sighed, knowing Ginny was trying to keep up with a strong composure.

A weak 'come in' was heard and Jughead entered the room, closing and locking the door behind him. He felt his heart ache as he saw his best friend curled up on the couch with a blanket wrapped tightly around her.

Tonight, there would be no interruptions.

"This is why I've been acting crazy," Ginny told him quietly, hugging her knees to her chest. It had been awhile since Jughead found her after the party and the two sat on the couch together quietly.

"Why you've kissed Archie and Reggie?" Jughead asked, lightly. He didn't want to say something that would trigger more tears. Ginny had cried for awhile on Jughead's shoulder and he stayed quiet, rubbing her back, and listening to her rambling words that made no sense. After awhile, Virginia Hopkins pieced herself back together and wiped away the tears. She wanted to explain to Jughead— he deserved to know.

"How did you hear about that?" Ginny asked with wide eyes, wondering if her best friend was disappointed in her.

"Rumours spread fast in high school, Gin." Jughead told her softly, pushing her hair out of her face to look into her teary eyes. "And Archie came to me and told me about it. He knew about– He knew about my feelings for you." Jughead explained, ducking his head.

Ginny rolled her eyes but continued nonetheless, she had to explain to him. "I would do that, Jug, b–because I feel like I deserve it. After being abused by this person, I've thought that abuse meant love and it didn't. So I've been trying to drown myself in others and in alcohol to figure out why I don't feel alive."

There was silence— Jughead felt awful but he knew Ginny just wanted to talk and get this weight off of her chest.

"But then when we kissed, I felt alive. I felt loved." Ginny breathed out, turning her body to face Jughead. Her heart was hammering in her chest at her sudden confession but it was true and she was glad she said it. Jughead Jones was the love of her life, she knew that much.

The young boy felt his heart beat fast at Ginny's confession. Jughead cradled her face in his hands, kissing her forehead softly. Her eyes fluttered shut at the loving gesture, her hands shaking as they clenched onto his shirt. He desperately wanted to kiss her but he knew tonight wasn't the night. Maybe he would ask her on a date first. Ginny was glad to be held by Jughead Jones. He knew what had happened to her and would be there for her.

This moment... Ginny never wanted to forget it.

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       JUGHEAD WOKE UP EARLY the next day beside Ginny, curled up on the couch and he quickly tugged on his beanie that was clutched in Ginny's small fist. He smiled softly at the girl who laid beside him and he felt certain that she was the only person he would ever want to wake up to. 

He had always been confused with girls ever since he was thirteen. The only girl he really knew or cared about was Ginny. Maybe that confused him or maybe she was the only one who he loved. He realised the difference between Betty and Ginny. With Ginny, he had a connection and from that he could kiss her. With Betty, it was forced, he tried to act normal but couldn't.

"Veronica. Hey, good morning." Jughead noticed the young teen trying to sneak out of the Andrews house. He rested on a chair in the dismantled living room, coffee in hand as he reflected on his birthday.

"Morning, Jughead." Veronica laughed awkwardly, looking around the room. "Um– So listen–"

"Don't–" Jughead shook his head as he stared down at his lap before looking back up at Veronica. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed." Jughead assured the nervous girl. Despite being friends with Archie, Jughead and Veronica knew complicating their friendship would be difficult— especially with Betty.

"Okay. Cool." Veronica took that as her cue to leave, leaving Jughead alone. Only twenty minutes later he heard the back door open and shuffling in the kitchen. Ginny's head poked into the room just when Archie finally came down the stairs, his face radiating happiness. 

The trio found themselves in the kitchen, all absorbing what had happened last night. Jughead and Ginny sat on the stools of the counter, still waking up while Archie furiously cleaned the kitchen. His dad was going to come home soon.

As Archie mopped the floor, his phone rang. He stopped his work to decline the call with a sigh. "I can't face the music right now." He leaned against the counter, staring at Jughead and Ginny.

"Yeah, I understand." Jughead nodded, taking bites of the left over food from last night. "So, you and Veronica?" Jughead asked, a teasing tone to his voice. It was nice, actually, to have a bro-talk. Ginny stayed quiet, munching on a small piece of cake. 

"Yeah– Jug–"

"Don't worry. I'm never telling anyone anything literally ever." Jughead swore to his friend with a small chuckle as he raised the milk carton to his lips.

"Okay, good. Thanks. That's great." Archie laughed, relieved. He continued to mop and took his work into the next room, leaving Ginny and Jug alone. There wasn't awkwardness in the kitchen, at least to Jughead. Ginny, however, thought she needed to avoid last nights conversation as much as possible. 

Ginny hopped up from her seat, clearing her throat. "C'mon Jug, we should help clean up." 

Jughead's hands circled around Ginny's waist, pulling her back to the stool she escaped from. "Sit," Jughead frowned at his friend. He knew that she wasn't eating much, ever. The last time he remembered her eating was for his birthday lunch. "You're going to eat, Gin." 

Ginny rolled her eyes but grabbed a banana from the counter. "This make you happy?" She asked with raised eyebrows, motioning to the banana. 

Jughead leaned into Ginny, pecking her cheek with his lips. His lips lingered on her reddening cheeks, his eyes finding her pale blue ones. She felt breathless around him. 

"You make me happy."

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OH MY GOD THIS STORY HAS 9K WHAT EVEN. Thank all of you who have stuck with me and this story since the beginning! I hope you love it and will stick around for the sequel ;)

also, thank you so much to  greasyytaco for the youtube video, it means so much to me!!