A/N: I'm sorry for the lack of updates but I just got back from Borneo. I was there a month and had no wifi and once I got back I was busy catching up on work and other things. Thank you to everyone who has commented and voted and just read it. I never expected this many reads so thank you so much!!!!

_______________________________________________________________________________

"What makes a place feel like home? Is it warmth and familiarity? Some idealized, make-believe TV version of the American Dream? Is it love and acceptance? Or is it simple safety? Or it's none of those things. And it's a place where the captain of the football team is murdered. Or maybe it's just a forgotten closet under a well-trod staircase, where it's just you and the mice and the spiders, like an extra in a Wes Craven movie."

Jughead's phone started beeping, telling him that it was 5:45 AM and time to get up. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up in the darkness of the school closet. He switched on the camping light next to his makeshift bed; pulled on his beanie; grabbed his wash kit and exited into the deserted school. He took advantage of the school's showers before brushing his teeth. He didn't notice the tall redhead enter until he looked in the mirror and gasped.

"Oh!" Jughead exclaimed as he turned to face Archie as they both started chuckling.

"What are you doing here?" Archie queried.

"Taking advantage of the school's state-of-the-art facilities." Jughead quickly answered.

"No, really, Jughead. What are you doing in here?" Archie pressed.

Jughead sighed and once he was changed he took Archie to the closet he was living in.

"How long?" Archie asked as he walked in and looked at all of Jughead's stuff.

Jughead looked at his shoes. "Well, since they shut down the drive-in. That's where I was living before."

"Why the hell are you not living at home?" Archie enquired.

"The truth is, things aren't good at home." Jughead muttered.

"With your dad?"

"Yeah. Blake is the only one I told." Jughead met Archie's eyes. "He kind of fell off the wagon. After your dad fired him, to tell you the truth. Hasn't had a job since. He keeps promising that he's gonna get his act together, but my mom couldn't take that rollercoaster anymore, so, she grabbed Jellybean and went to live with our grandparents." The bell rang and Jughead pulled Archie out before shutting the door. "Come on."

"God, Jug, why didn't you tell me?" Archie exclaimed as they started walking. "And where does your dad think you are?"

"He thinks I'm couch-surfing and Blake thinks I'm back at home." Jughead revealed.

"Well, screw that. Live with me. I know Blake would love it." Archie tried.

"This is temporary, man. I'm going to figure something out." Jughead assured him. "Just don't tell anybody. Especially not Blake."

"Blake? She's not gonna care." Archie scoffed. "If anyone's gonna be a snob about it, maybe Veronica."

"Right, well, exactly. Don't tell her, either." Jughead pleaded before walking away. He managed to walk straight into Blake who smiled at him. He couldn't help meet her smile as he greeted her. "Hey."

"Hey, Betty wants to let the rest of the group know about Polly. So, we are wanted in the rec room." Blake shared as she grabbed his hand.

The pair were the last to enter the room and Blake sat next to Betty. Jughead immediately took the seat on her other side. Archie and Kevin were settled in the two armchairs at opposite ends of the table and Veronica was sat across from Betty on the cushioned bench. Jughead subconsciously reached for Blake's hand and laced it with his own.

"My mom and dad don't want to get the police involved." Betty said after she had recounted the events of the previous night. "They don't want anyone to know that she ran away, or about her shameful condition."

"Please. What decade is this?" Veronica said.

Betty continued, "Also, since she knew where Jason's getaway car was, they're afraid people might think that she burned it and that if she did..."

"She could be the murderer, trying to cover her tracks." Jughead cut in.

"Who did burn the car, then?" Archie questioned.

"Sheriff Keller says it's possible someone was following us." Blake told him.

"Oh, my God. Honestly, guys, we should just move." Veronica muttered.

"Guys, what if Polly's really hurt? What if whoever killed Jason is coming after her next?" Betty let out a shaky breath as Blake took her hand.

"Betty, even though your parents don't want to, maybe you should go to the police." Archie reasoned.

"Seconded. We can talk to my dad together about how he has to be discreet." Kevin agreed.

"No offense, Kev, but your dad answers to a higher authority than God, the Blossoms." Jughead said. "They're the first people that he would tell."

"And if there's anyone to keep this a secret from, it's the Blossoms. They'd twist it around and go after Polly out of spite." Betty concluded.

"How can we help? Tell us, B, and we'll do it." Veronica said.

None of them noticed one of Cheryl's puppets listening in over by the vending machine.