❝ SEASON ONE, EPISODE TWELVE ❞
⚰️ Anatomy of a Murder ⚰️

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Isabella checked the trailer before she went to the grounds of the Drive-in, her heart was pounding as she spotted a familiar person leaning on a street post. "I'm guessing things went to hell tonight?" Noah asked as he stood up straight. "FP was arrested," Isabella told him, Noah sighed as he nodded. "Viper, where's the one place in this town that means the world to you and Jughead?" Noah asked her causing Isabella's eyes to widen. "Pop's..." Isabella whispered before moving in that direction. "I'm sorry about your mother," Noah spoke, the Southside had already learned about the death of Annelise Larkin.

Noah could tell the fighter was ignoring her pain to put Jughead ahead of her own, but he also knew that would swallow her up in a matter of time; Noah just hoped that Jughead will be there to help her pick up the pieces. Isabella ran until she could see Pop's in the distance, her eyes stung from the threat of tears and her heart clenched in sorrow; she hated tonight more than anything but she needed to be there for Jughead. It's not like Annelise is going anywhere if she's already dead and Isabella knew her father would be out dealing with his own sorrows.

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Isabella pushed the door open and stepped in, she turned her head to see Jughead seated in his usual spot. Her heart seemed to stop as she noticed the broken expression on his face, the look broke her already torn heart further and she knew then and there that she'd burn the world down if it meant saving Jughead Jones. He was her gravity, the one who centered her world and kept her fighting. Jughead Jones was her lifeline. Jughead's mind was swarming with questions and unsure arguments about his decision to leave town, a certain brunette flashed through his mind making his decision seem more stupid and rash.

Jughead looked up at the sound of heels. And there she stood, her eyes puffy and lips trembling. She meant what she had said. He wasn't alone anymore. And he never will be again. Isabella walked toward the table and sniffled as she stopped by it. "This seat taken?" Isabella asked but Jughead knew what she meant, she was giving him the chance to tell her to leave him alone but that's not what he wanted; not what he needed. "Only by you," Jughead whispered to her, Isabella sent him a small smile before sliding into the seat next to him. They interlocked their fingers, the coldness of Isabella's hands sent a shiver through Jughead's body.

Jughead pulled the girl closer to him, she leaned her head on his shoulder and let his warmth surround her. "I'm leaving Riverdale..." Jughead told her. Isabella closed her eyes to fight the pain, she couldn't get in his way; she couldn't tell him how much she needed him right now. Isabella couldn't tell him that her whole life was about to collapse because she would never hold Jughead Jones back from what he needed to do; she support him and his choices. "You do whatever it is you need to, Jughead Jones," Isabella whispered to him.

Jughead let a tear fall as he tightened his hold on Isabella, he knew it was selfish of him to expect her to run away with him. She had her dad and her sick mom here in Riverdale, she had friends and a bright future. He was just an outcast loner who didn't belong on either side of Riverdale. But he was grateful for even a moment in Isabella Larkin's life. He was beyond honored that she ever considered him a friend, someone worthy of her heart. And as he kissed the top of her head, he was thankful for the woman who would never hold him back; the one who was willing to let him find his way.

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The jingle of the door alerted Isabella and Jughead, the two had been in silence just enjoying what they believed to be their last moments together for an unknown amount of time. "Jug, Isa," Archie's voice caught their attention as he, Veronica, and Betty approached the couple. Betty sat across from Jughead with Archie joining her as Veronica stood by the table. "Jug. We're so sorry. About everything," Betty told the dazed teenager. "Juggy, we screwed up. We all did," Archie added as he leaned forward to look at his best friend. "Breaking into your dad's trailer was wrong, but some good came out of it," Archie continued, pulling Jughead's attention.

"Pretty sure my dad was just arrested for murder," Jughead replied to Archie as Isabella began rubbing his hand with her thumb. "That gun wasn't there when we searched his trailer. Someone put it there after we left," Veronica explained to Jughead softly. Jughead turned to look at Veronica before looking towards Betty and Archie, the two nodding in agreement with Veronica's words. "What are you talking about?" Jughead asked her, his voice raspy from the emotions of the night. Isabella looked up at Jughead, "What do you wanna do?" Jughead looked at all of his friends.

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The five teenagers rushed into the police station with the intent to talk to Sheriff Keller with the information, even if it was possibly inadmissible in court; it still meant something. "Excuse me, sir. We need to see Sheriff Keller," Archie told the receptionist. "There's been a huge mistake," Betty added as Isabella stood with Jughead behind the three. Sheriff Keller stepped out and Veronica moved forward, "Sheriff, we need to talk to you about FP Jones." Isabella noticed the tension in Sheriff Keller, she had a bad feeling about this and her focus was hazy.

"What about him?" Sheriff Killer asked her. "He's innocent," Archie answered before Veronica continued, "He's being framed." Sheriff Keller sighed as the teens looked up at him but Isabella knew the kind of man FP Jones is; he confessed to a crime he didn't commit and he did it for his son. "Well, then why did he just confess?" Sheriff Keller asked them. Isabella and Jughead looked up at FP, the man was being escorted past them and he sent Jughead a stern look while Isabella shook her head. "No... FP would never..." Isabella's throat dried as FP's eyes softened.

FP knew he had to distract them, he knew his next words would throw Isabella for a loop but he had to stop them from meddling further. "I'm sorry about your mother, Isabella. It's time to be strong," FP spoke up causing the others to turn to the brunette who was biting her lip in an attempt to fight the tears. "FP..." Isabella whispered as her breathing became unsteady, she was trying so hard to be strong for Jughead; he needed her right now but as the room seemed smaller, she just couldn't stay in there. She felt like she was suffocating. And so she ran.

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TW: Panic Attack

Isabella's gasped as she finally stopped, her lungs were screaming for air as she fought against the sob threatening to escape. Her body was shaking as she dropped to the pavement, her hands dove into her hair and began pulling it slightly as her lips trembled and her eyes stung with tears she fought to stop. She could hear her heart pounding in her head, she tried so hard to give her lungs air but nothing seemed to work. All she could think of was the fact her mother was gone, FP was getting locked up for murder and Jughead planned to leave town. She felt selfish for her pain, she didn't deserve to feel this when others were hurting.

She felt someone grab her shoulders causing her breathing to get worse, she began fighting them off before the hold disappeared. Jughead pushed Archie aside knowing that his attempt to help her was only making her panic attack worse. "Isabella... Isa..." Jughead spoke clearly, he knew that he needed her okay before attempting to cage her in. "Darling..." Jughead continued as he carefully moved closer. He cautiously reached for her hand, letting his fingers brush against her own to allow her the chance to reach out to him.

Isabella felt the familiar soft touch, her mind barely processed the action before she flexed her fingers. The action let Jughead know he could pull her in and hold her, that's what she wanted. Jughead slowly pulled her into his chest, he wanted to give her the chance to pull away but instead, she melted into the familiar scent of coffee and leather. Jughead made sure her ear was resting above his heart, steadying his breathing as he lightly rubbed his fingers up and down her spine. "I've got you, Isa. Just focus on my heartbeat. Close your eyes and just breathe," Jughead whispered to her, the other three stepped back and watched fondly.

"S-She's gone..." Isabella whimpered as the trio crouched down to the couple. "I-I didn't... I didn't say goodbye," Isabella added as she hiccuped quietly. "Bella... You can't hold it in forever," Veronica whispered to her, Isabella turned her head slightly to look at the girl. "It'll kill you," Veronica added, her own eyes teary as she looked at her friend. "I can't... I'm not the only--" Isabella was cut off by Jughead, "You're allowed to mourn, Isa. I can't watch you play pretend." Isabella sniffled as she felt the pain sear again. "We're all right here and I think we all need this," Veronica told her and the others agreed.

It was at that moment that Isabella broke down and truly cried for the second time in a long time, she cried so much that the tears couldn't fall anymore. Jughead cried with her, for her mother, for his father, and for Jason Blossom whose life was taken. Archie, Betty, and Veronica sniffled softly, they let a few tears fall but they were mostly hurting for their friends; they knew that Isabella and Jughead needed this more than anyone. The night that had started off fun and sweet had changed into a nightmare that none of them would wake up from. And it was bound to get worse.

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Rosemary Here!

Are you crying? Cause I am.
This chapter broke me. I am so emotional and being on my monthly doesn't help!

Some things I have planned out sort of changed as I wrote and listened to music.
It is 2 AM as I wrote this chapter so don't attack me, please. Lmao

See you in the next chapter!