❝ SEASON ONE, EPISODE THIRTEEN ❞
🍒 The Sweet Hereafter 🍒

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Isabella walked into the room spotting Betty standing in front of Archie and Veronica who were seated, she felt oddly alone. "Hey Belle, where's Jughead?" Betty asked with a confused look on her face. "He, uh--" Isabella sniffled, "--He's transferred to Southside High. I was gonna transfer with him but he begged me not to." Betty's eyes widened as she looked at Archie and Veronica before looking back at Isabella. The brunette hated to admit it but being at school without Jughead just didn't feel right, she adored her friends but Jughead understood her in a way they didn't.

Betty's phone rang and she answered instantly, "Jughead? Why did you--" She stopped talking as Jughead cut her off, "Listen, Betty, don't worry about me. It's better this way, I just... I need you to look out for Isa for me. She's not gonna handle this well. Just promise me that you'll look after her. This is better for everyone, it's where I belong." Betty furrowed her brows, "Of course I promise but Jug--" He cut her off again, "Good. See you around, Betty." He hung up on her and she turned to the others, Isabella was staring off into space unfocused which already left Betty concerned, especially by how worried Jughead sounded.

"He thinks it's where he belongs and that no one wants him here," Betty said before looking back at Isabella, the brunette didn't even hear her due to her swirling mind. "FP warned me Jughead would cut himself off, go to the dark side," Archie said with a sigh. "Archie, we can't let him do that," Betty said before motioning towards Isabella who already seemed to be a mess, they assumed due to Jughead's situation but truthfully, it was everything that had been happening and she could feel the numbness threatening her and Jughead was nowhere in sight; how could she keep her promise if he wasn't there.

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Isabella's breath was ragged as she ran, her heart was racing and she ignored how cold and damp the snow was through her jeans. "Cheryl!!" Isabella screamed out. The brunette had messaged Cheryl to meet with her, she wanted to talk to someone who had experienced recent loss in hopes to help each other, but the message she got back nearly made her scream in fear. She knew what Cheryl meant when she said she wanted to be with Jason again, she wouldn't let Cheryl do this because she knew Jason wouldn't want it; Cheryl had so much to live for.

Finally, Isabella reached the bank of the frozen river. She spotted Cheryl on the ice wearing the same dress she wore the day of Jason's faux death. "Cheryl!" Isabella practically screamed. She carefully made her way over to the girl who had a broken expression on her face. "Izzy..." Cheryl whimpered, the nickname being the one that Cheryl once called her as Jason had chosen it when they were all kids. "You don't have to do this, Cheryl. I know it hurts and you feel so damn alone but there are people who will help you, you just need to give them the chance," Isabella told her, tears forming in her eyes as she ignored the cold on her bare arms.

"But that's just it... I am alone... why do we keep fighting the numbness? Why do we try so hard, Izzy?" Cheryl asked her, the questions hit Isabella. She knew what that loneliness was, her mother was dead and her father was barely around using work to distract his mind. Jughead had left her, Veronica and Archie were too distracted by their own romance and troubles, and Betty was focused on her golden role as the mediator between Riverdale's North and South. That numb feeling threatened Isabella as she closed her eyes and tried to think of something to bring those emotions back.

"Izzy... we could be at peace. Be with the ones we love, the ones who love us. No more pain, no more heartbreaks... just peace," Cheryl said as she looked Isabella in the eyes. Isabella saw fear, she knew that Cheryl wasn't certain about this choice; she was still hesitant whether it was because she was scared of dying or because she didn't want to do this. "I..." For the first time ever, Isabella didn't know what to say. Cheryl smiled at Isabella before she moved to her knees and began hitting the ice, Isabella still stood with her body carefully pressing on the ice. A distant yell caught her attention, she turned to see Archie, Veronica, Betty, Noah, and Jughead.

Jughead. His eyes locked on Isabella and it felt like everything in his world had stopped. He refused to believe that she was there to do what Cheryl was doing, he wouldn't allow himself to think of that possibility. His fighter wouldn't give up that easily. No. She was there to help Cheryl, to do what they were all doing; helping Cheryl. If he allowed his mind to think for a second that Isabella would break her promise to him, he would fall to his knees; he needed Isabella as much as she needed him.

"Just come to the shore and we'll figure this out together, okay?" Veronica shouted, the others were terrified as they watched Cheryl and Isabella. "See, Cher... We're not alone..." Isabella whispered to her but the ice underneath them cracked and the two fell through. The group began racing over in hopes to help the two while Isabella tried not to panic in the water, she had managed to grab Cheryl's hand as they fell and she did her best to keep a tight grip; Cheryl's grip was just as tight. Above the ice, Archie found both of the girls under the ice and his heart was racing as his cousin was in life-threatening danger.

Archie threw a punch into the ice as Noah dropped down next to him and slammed the back of his knife into the ice causing it to crack quicker. Jughead moved closer with the want to help but knew he couldn't risk more pressure that could send them all into the water. Archie and Noah managed to break through the ice, Archie's fist was bleeding but the two worked to pull Cheryl and Isabella out of the water and to safety. Archie moved to give Cheryl CPR while Jughead dropped down by Isabella's side, he was suddenly mentally thanking Betty for dragging him to the first aid lessons as he began CPR on Isabella.

Cheryl woke and spat water first, shivering from the cold. Archie picked her up into his arms and turned to the others as Jughead fought not to panic; he kept doing CPR until Isabella finally coughed up water and blinked her eyes for a moment before they fell closed. Noah moved to pick her up, Jughead reluctantly allowed him, and the entire group hurried to get away from Sweetwater River. Jughead had taken Isabella home the moment Noah put her into her car, Isabella's teeth were chattering as Jughead tried not to let the panic rise.

"I wasn't t-trying to..." Isabella trailed off as she tilted her head to Jughead, her cold, wet clothes made her shiver despite the car heating. "I know... You were trying to help Cheryl," Jughead told her with his eyes on the road, his grip on the steering wheel was strong. "B-But she had some v-valid points..." Isabella whispered as she looked out the window. "E-everyone leaves... alone in a r-room full of people," Isabella muttered through her shivering. Jughead's heart clenched as he took in her words, the girl who was selfless and put everyone above her. The one who showed him full support in his decisions despite the misery it left her in.

When they got to the house, Jughead ushered her inside and told her to change her clothes into warmer material. He made his way into the kitchen as she trudged up the stairs and began making her a hot chocolate knowing it'd help warm her up. When she came back down the stairs, he noticed she was wearing plaid pajama pants and a hoodie that definitely belonged to him. She was sniffling and her cheeks were still a rosy color from the cold water. Jughead walked up to her and pulled her into his arms, closing his eyes as he kissed the top of her head.

"I'm sorry for not thinking about your feelings in this. For ignoring the clear abandonment that you felt due to my own--" Jughead was cut off by Isabella kissing him. Her cold lips sent a shiver down his spine, he pushed against her slightly to deepen the kiss. He almost lost her, she almost drowned right in front of his eyes. Jughead knew that image would never disappear from his mind, that close call had he been a few seconds too late created a fear in him that he never wanted to face ever again. "I'm sorry for not being vocal about how I was feeling. You aren't a mind reader, Jug. I should've said something but I didn't," Isabella told him after she pulled away.

Jughead didn't let her move too far away, resting his forehead against hers. "It's okay. It's all part of the growing together, right?" Jughead asked her, she smiled at him. "Jug, I would never do that, you know that? I don't think I could ever..." Isabella reassured him before wrapping her arms around his neck. "That's why your my fighter," Jughead replied as he tightened his hold around her waist. "But you don't always have to be the strong one. Let me fight for you once in a while," Jughead teased lightly making Isabella grin. "Come on, let's warm you up before the Jubilee," Jughead told her, she nodded and let him lead her into the living room.

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Isabella sat with her dad at the Jubilee, she smiled as Archie sang the song he wrote with the Pussycats backing him up. Jughead refused the Jubilee but Isabella agreed that he could use the time to see his dad so the two had said goodbye with a kiss and headed in opposite directions. Isabella wanted to see the response to the speech she helped Betty with, the two of them were happy with its outcome and only hoped to seek out the better sides of people with it. Truthfully, Isabella knew the civil war between both sides was bound to get worse but maybe they could help even a little bit before it did.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," Betty spoke after the song had finished, Isabella was excited to talk to Archie about it after the Jubilee. "I'd like to thank Mayor McCoy for inviting me to speak on this historic day. Seventy-five years of Riverdale," Betty spoke before noticing someone in the doorway, her eyes moved to Isabella who noticed the slight eye movements and she turned her head to see Jughead standing there. "Excuse me," Isabella whispered before standing up and making her way toward her boyfriend. "Hey," Jughead spoke with a small smile on his face seeing that she had changed the pants to jeans but was still in his hoodie.

"Hey, I thought you weren't coming?" Isabella asked but he simply grabbed her hand and moved to lean against the wall by the doorway. He pulled Isabella to stand in front of him and wrapped his arms around her waist, Isabella didn't fight the action and simply melted against him. She was certain that the conversation he had with his dad was the cause of his great mood but what she didn't know was that Jughead had more clarity in his mind than he ever did before thanks to his father; the girl in his arms was who he was fighting for now.

"But what is Riverdale? It's the people, right? At least that's what Isabella always tells me," Betty said with a teasing grin, Isabella smiling as some laughed. "You helped with this speech?" Jughead whispered to Isabella. "Yeah, you should really listen to it," Isabella told him before looking at Betty, she nodded her head in support. "You, me, your friends, and your neighbors," Betty spoke as she looked around before deciding to go with the speech. "Riverdale is Archie Andrews," Betty began, looking back at the mentioned boy; some cheering for the boy.

"Kevin Keller is Riverdale. Veronica Lodge, she's Riverdale. Isabella Larkin, she is definitely Riverdale," Betty said causing Isabella to speak up, "Damn straight!" The crowd laughed at Isabella's response. "But you know who else is Riverdale?" Betty asked rhetorically. "FP Jones," The room's silence was deafening as she continued, "Who we were so quick to blame for Jason's murder." The crowd began whispering to one another. "Jughead Jones is Riverdale. The very soul of Riverdale. Without him, we may not have ever found out what happened to Jason," Betty expressed as Isabella looked up at Jughead.

"And yet, how do we thank him? By banishing him. Which is what we do when the truth gets too ugly in Riverdale. Truth being that, Clifford Blossom was also Riverdale," Betty looked around the room as she spoke, some having reactions while others just listened. "Riverdale's at a crossroads. If we don't face the reality of who and what we are, if we keep lying to ourselves and keeping secrets from each other, then what happened to Jason could happen again. Or God forbid something even worse. Riverdale must do better. We must do better," Betty finished off leaving the room in silence.

"THAT'S MY BEST FRIEND!!" Isabella shouted before she began clapping and cheering, Jughead and Kevin joined her before the entire room was filled with applause. Betty blushed lightly before looking at Isabella, the brunette winked up at Betty and the two had matching grins on their faces. "Come on, we'll meet them at Pops," Isabella told Jughead having already made the plans before the Jubilee. They made their way out and Isabella spotted Noah standing by his car, he bowed his head slightly before looking out for the blonde he was there for. "They're gonna be so cute together," Isabella muttered making Jughead laugh.

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We had many milkshakes that night and we all felt that as dangerous as the world around us had become, here, at least, in this booth, we were safe.

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Jughead opened the door to his family trailer letting Isabella walk in, she smiled at the cozy feeling it gave off. "It's actually clean in here," Isabella teased making Jughead laugh as he closed the door. "Not all guys are messy like Archie," Jughead replied to her receiving a grin from her. "But, uh, I cleaned it up after Sheriff Keller thrashed it. Just in case my dad..." Jughead trailed off as he threw his jacket onto the couch. Isabella turned to him with a raised brow, "Until he gets out, I'm not giving up on him, Jughead." Jughead smiled at her words knowing she wouldn't back down when she had a fight in mind.

"And that is why I love you, Isabella," Jughead said with nothing but adoration and love in his eyes causing Isabella to stare for a moment. "I love you... Isabella Larkin," Jughead said, the words felt right to him. Isabella gently placed her hands on the sides of Jughead's neck, looking up into his eyes with pure love and passion. "Jughead Jones the Third..." Isabella breathed out making Jughead scoff a laugh before she continued, "I love you." Isabella leaned forward and kissed Jughead, her entire body was tingling in happiness as she kissed the person she loved.

Isabella lightly pushed Jughead back until he was against the wall, Jughead's hands pressed her waist and pulled her body flush with his as their kisses became more heated and passionate. Isabella lightly bit on Jughead's lip before she ran her tongue along his bottom lip, Jughead didn't hesitate to allow her access. Her hands that had moved to his chest moved down and cautiously, allowing him a chance to stop her, pushed under his shirt onto his bare skin. The contact made Jughead groan slightly, Isabella's fingertips lightly brushing his skin leaving goosebumps in its wake.

Jughead, tired of her teasing, place his hands under her thighs and lifted her up prompting her to wrap her legs around his hips. Jughead walked the short distance to the kitchen, he almost slammed her against the counter before holding the side of her face to deepen the kiss. Isabella didn't bother trying to fight the moan that left her lips as Jughead kissed her jaw before moving to allow her to remove the hoodie, his sweater soon following. They continued to devour one another's mouths when someone pounded on the door startling the two apart. "That wouldn't be your dad, right?" Jughead asked and Isabella shook her head.

Isabella pulled the hoodie on while Jughead put his sweater on and made his way to the door, Isabella followed behind him before watching as he opened the door and stepped out. A dog barking prompted Isabella to move forward, her eyes looking over everyone just out of their view. "Easy, Hotdog. He's family," Someone said calming the dog. "Hey," Jughead greeted though he was unsure why there were Serpents on his doorstep. "Heard your dad could've named names but didn't. Serpents take care of their own," A man spoke.

Isabella smiled softly at those words, she leaned against the wall by the door with her eyes on Jughead as he listened. "We wanted you to know, no matter what happens to him, however long he's gone, we got your back. This is yours... if you want it," The man continued. Isabella watched as Jughead pulled on the Southside Serpent jacket, she bit her lip at the sight of leather on her boyfriend and took a deep breath seeing the grin on his face as he adjusted the jacket to sit properly. The Serpents left and Jughead stepped into the trailer, his eyes locked onto his girlfriend and a small glimmer of uncertainty hit him.

Isabella walked towards Jughead with a small smile on her face, she grabbed the collar of Jughead's jacket and looked him up and down. Jughead was frozen as he watched his girlfriend check him out before she pulled him closer, reaching around him to close the door fully. "I always liked a guy in leather," Isabella whispered into his ear, she leaned back to look him in the eyes and any uncertainty he felt seemed to fade in the moment. "So damn attractive..." Isabella whispered before pulling Jughead by the jacket collar and slamming their lips together. Jughead pulled away for a moment with a smile, "I love you."

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Rosemary Here!

AND THAT IS THE END OF ACT ONE!!

Holy moly, me oh my...
This story is probably one of my favorites.

I don't have much to say here except that I stayed up all night writing the past five chapters so any mistakes or such are due to sleep deprivation.

I'll see you when Act Two is released <3
Unless you're reading this book completed in which "See you next chapter!"