(   word count: 1,700   )

CHAPTER THREE:
AFTERMATH

BETTY WAS SITTING WITH KEVIN in the waiting room as they waited for news on Mr. Andrews. Archie and Veronica had left to change and Ginny was with Jughead, leaving the two friends to talk.

"Of course all any of us can think about is Mr. Andrews. But if we weren't so focused on his well-being, I'd be asking if you and–"

"We broke up, Kev. Awhile ago, and it was because he loves Ginny. If that's what you were asking." Betty told her best friend, a glum look sent towards Jughead who entered the room, holding hands with Ginny.

"But wait, like, no," Kevin scoffed, he was out of the loop because of his own drama with Joaquin. He refused to believe that Betty and Jughead were over.

"Does Jughead seem any different to you?" Betty asked, trying to veer the subject away from herself and her feelings. She might've still missed Jughead but Betty felt uncomfortable thinking about it. She also noticed that something about Jughead was different, he exuded confidence as he stood with Ginny.

"Besides the look of being in love?" Kevin asked and winced at the heartbroken look Betty gave him. "Sorry."

"No, in like a determined way."

"His girlfriend was involved with the robbery," Kevin commented as he watched the couple from afar. "Maybe he's just overprotective?"

Before Betty could counter a different theory, both noticed Cheryl Blossom and ran after her.

"What the hell? Cheryl?"

º   º   º

     GINNY WAS CALLED INTO THE SHERRIF'S station, and she sat nervously waiting for Archie to be finished. She was called into the room, separately, so there wouldn't be bias in Archie and Ginny's statement.

"So, this is who we've picked up so far. All of them have a history of armed robbery or some other violent crime. So, you feelin' up for this?" The Sheriff asked the young teen girl, just like he had with Archie Andrews.

"Yes," Ginny said in determination. She felt her heart beating fast as she prepared herself to be faced with the robber.

"One, step forward."

"No."

"Step back. Number two, step forward."

"No."

"Step back. Three, step forward."

"No."

Ginny was frustrated when she couldn't pinpoint the robber. She wanted to. She didn't want his haunting eyes to keep her on the edge of her seat, or keep her from sleeping peacefully at night.

Who was the man?

Ginny desperately wanted to know.

º   º   º

     JUGHEAD, BETTY, AND VERONICA WERE all in the waiting room figuring out what had happened in the past hour.

"Wait, Archie's where?"

"At the sheriff's station with Ginny, doing a line-up. He asked me to come be here with Fred until he gets back." Veronica told Jughead and Betty who didn't realise the others were gone.

"Well, that's gonna be traumatizing for him. We should go down there. "

"Wait, actually, can you guys do me a huge favor? Mr. Andrews' wallet is missing. We're thinking it might be at Pop's." Veronica told Betty and Jughead before realising what her request was and who it was aimed at. The ex couple— awkward.

"That, or the guy who shot Fred might have it." Betty stated, wishing she wasn't being asked to hang out with Jughead.

"Well, if it was just some rando robbing Pop's, then he probably took the money and then got rid of the wallet." Jughead stuttered, "Unless it wasn't just some rando. Unless it was premeditated in some way."

"What? Is that an actual theory?"

"Not according to Sheriff Keller, but if you ask me, people have grudges. People have enemies. I mean, think of where we live. Fathers are killing their sons. It's entirely conceivable this was a hit." Jughead said, thinking of the Blossom family.

"Okay, or the wallet's just at Pop's.So we'll check it out, Vee." Betty told her friend with a small smile, she wasn't ready for this.

"A motorcycle?" Betty asked in disbelief as they were outside of the hospital. Betty never knew that Jughead had any sort of vehicle to drive himself. And a motorcycle? That was dangerous.

"Hop on." Jughead smirked at the doting girl. If it had been Ginny, she would've jumped on immediately.

"Without a helmet?" Betty asked with raised eyebrows. She was scared.

"You can use mine. Or we can walk. We can take a bus or–Or we can call your mom." Jughead offered, giving the blonde options.

"Oh. No, just go slow, okay?" Betty asked.

Jughead revved the engine as Betty sat down behind him, hesitantly wrapping her arms around his waist.

"No, no, no. It's actually much more dangerous if we go slow. You are gonna need to hold tight."

º   º   º

  GINNY AND ARCHIE RETURNED TO THE HOSPITAL, where Reggie, the football team, and a few others waited for the young boy. It was nice to see the Riverdale community come together to support Fred Andrews in a time of need.

"Bulldogs are here for you."

"Thanks, Reggie." Archie told his buddy.

"And so are the Pussycats. We're sending your dad our prayers and giving him as many of our nine lives as he needs." Josie stood beside Reggie, a look of concern for the red headed boy. Ginny would've rolled her eyes at the cat reference if the sentiment wasn't so touching.

"Thanks, Josie." Archie said with a small smile as he took in the group there for him and his father. He was moved by the support.

"Veronica said that you were down at the sheriff's station? That maybe they got the guy?"

"Yeah, but it wasn't him. He's still out there." Archie shook his head, his mind flashing to the mans eyes from underneath the hood.

The doctor came out, approaching Archie. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath. "Archie. He's in Room 12, you can see him now."

"Okay, great." Archie said, relieved.

"Listen, he hasn't woken up yet. But talk to him, coax him back. Keep it positive. Honestly, that could make all the difference." Ginny stood beside Archie, letting her hand grab his with a squeeze, showing the boy that she was there for him.

Archie gave Ginny a grateful smile but walked away with the doctor, leaving Ginny with Veronica and Kevin. She looked around trying to find Jughead.

"Where's Jug?" Ginny asked, and Veronica and Kevin avoided her gaze.

"He went with Betty to Pop's."

º   º   º

     AFTER A FRIGHTFUL RIDE, Betty hopped off of Jughead Jones' motorcycle, nervous after clutching onto him so tightly.

"Sorry, kids, we, uh–We're closed today. There was, uh–" Pop Tate called out as the blonde teenage girl and the beanie loving boy entered the diner.

"Pop, we heard about what happened. We just got back from the hospital to look for Mr.Andrews' wallet. It's missing."

"Is he–" Pop Tate began.

"He's out of surgery. We'll know more when he wakes up."

"All right.The police have already looked. But if you wanna double-check, he was in that booth, there." The older man pointed to where Fred Andrews was shot and both teens held their breath as they took in the crime scene.

"So, uh–What happened, Pop? From your point of view?" Jughead asked, getting into detective mode.

Pop sighed, "I wish I knew. As soon as that gun turned off me, I–God help me, I dove. I don't even remember calling the police, but I guess I did."

"Hey, how much cash did the creep end up taking, Pop?"

"Not a penny," Pop Tate replied.

"I knew it. What kind of thief shoots up a joint and then doesn't take a single dollar bill? He wasn't a thief." Jughead had a theory, Pop just validated it.

"Over the years, this place has been robbed many times. Bricks through the windows, even, during the riots. I've looked plenty of thugs in the eye, but this man–His goal was something else. Darker. It was like the Angel of Death had come to Riverdale."

"Jeez, Pop, lighten up. You sound like the cranky old guy in the Friday the 13th movies."Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."

"The wallet's not here." Betty announced after inspecting the booth and the surrounding area.

"Hey, you kids hungry?" Pop asked and Betty felt her stomach tighten in disgust. Eating somewhere after someone was shot?

"Oh, no, we're good, Pop." Betty replied politely.

Well, Jughead thought differently.

"Oh, I'm always hungry, yeah. In times of crisis, some people lose their appetite. But me, mine increases tenfold. I haven't eaten since last night." Jughead replied happily, moving to sit at the counter.

"I don't want to be thinking about this while Mr. Andrews is how he is–But Jughead, something happened last night, right? You're acting different." Betty asked her ex, wanting to know what was up.

"Something happened. You're different since you left Riverdale high and now you're riding a motorcycle, which you've never done." Betty continued.

"Betty, I'm not a Serpent, okay? That might be my dad's life, but it's not mine." He realised that she thought he was going down a darker path since he started attending Southside High.

"What about your soon-to-be foster family? They're from the Southside." Betty stammered out as she watched Jughead clench his jaw. "If they have ties to the Serpents— they could try to—"

"Indoctrinate me? Don't worry. I've actually made a decision about that. They'll cover for me with my social worker, but I'm not even going to be staying with them. I'm gonna be at the trailer. My dad's trailer." Jughead told the blonde who was worrying way too much for a friend.

"What? Why?"

"Betty," Jughead sighed. "Archie almost lost his dad. He may still. And facing facts, my dad is going away for a long-ass time. Riding his bike, living in the trailer—"

"Does mean something."

"Just kinda hoping that it means I'll always be close to him no matter what."

"I don't want to see you get hurt. Or hurting someone else. Ginny." Betty insisted, thinking of the girl she wasn't close with. "Not because you did it on purpose, but because that's the Serpents' world. That's how they live. Isn't it?"

Jughead wished he could disappear through the floor. Why did he agree to go with Betty?

º   º   º