conceal. × jeronica/vughead

ch 56

Jughead woke up the next morning. He picked up his phone to check the time.

8:56am.

He got out of bed, and headed downstairs. Jughead made himself a bowl of cereal, he thought Veronica was still asleep. So, he sat down on the couch, and started typing on his computer.

After a few hours, Jughead was starting to wonder how long Veronica had stood up last night.

He checked the time. 12:32pm.

Veronica never sleeps in after twelve. He thought. Only when she's hungover.

But he doesn't think she'd be drinking. She only ever drinks at parties.

Jughead went up to her room. He knocked on the door, "Veronica?"

Nobody answered.

He knocked again, and again, and again. Still no answer. Jughead sighed before letting himself in.
He looked around, no sign of Veronica anywhere.

Although, there was a sticky note on her desk. It was covered in her beautiful handwriting.

"I'll be at Pop's w/ Penny Peabody. Handling the situation on my own, like I said. Please don't come for me."

It read. And obviously, Jughead headed out to see what Veronica is doing with Penny Peabody at Pop's.

As soon as he got there, he saw Veronica and Penny sitting at a booth together, discussing things. Veronica noticed his arrival, and glared at him. Jughead sighed, sitting in a booth away from them, but close enough to keep an eye out.

"So, today's the day. Have you decided?" Penny asked.

"Oh! You're Jughead Jones, correct?" Evelyn Evernever appeared, in front of Jughead. Blocking his view.

"Uh, yeah." Jughead confirmed.

"Great. And, I assume you know who Betty Cooper is?" Evelyn asked.

At this point, she was drowning out Veronica and Penny's conversation. Jughead couldn't hear them with Evelyn asking him ten thousand questions.

Veronica nodded, "but- when I make this decision, you promise you won't harass any of the Serpents?"

"We'll try our best. But, we'll be sure to keep our hands off of them."

"And if you do?" Veronica asked.

"Do your worst." Penny replied.

Veronica thought for a moment. Deep in thought. If she joins them, then they'd stop bothering the Serpents. But, what would happen to she Jughead's relationship? It's only January the second.

"Do you know where your father, FP Jones, is? My father needs to have a word with him." Evelyn asked Jughead.

"You mean, Alice Cooper needs a word with him?" Jughead rolled his eyes.

"Maybe. Just, please answer my question."

"Fine. You could probably find him at Sunnyside Trailer Park." Jughead answered.

"Thank you." Evelyn smiled, before walking off.

Jughead could finally hear what Veronica and Penny are saying.

"Alright, I'll join the Ghoulies." Veronica thought that their safety matters. Didn't they almost kill Jughead the last time by beating him? She doesn't want any of that to happen to them ever again, and this could be the only way.

"Good choice." Penny grinned. She stook out a hand, and Veronica shook on it.

"Also, you're going to have to let go of the Serpent King. Stop talking to him." Penny said.

"What?" Veronica furrowed her eyebrows.

"Really? You're a Ghoulie now. Do you really think we'll let you keep dating Jughead Jones?" Penny scoffed. "And, like we agreed, you get to control half of the Ghoulies. With us, you'll be safer than you were with the Serpents. You'll have that privilege, as if this was your gang."

Veronica squeezed her hand for a second, "fine. I'll make that sacrifice."

Penny smiled, while Veronica faked one.

Jughead's jaw dropped. He was breathing was heavy, and his heart completely shattered.

He felt betrayed, and heartbroken. It happened again, he felt that specific heart break he did when he watched Betty agree to break up with him. But it was worse, because this time it was just Veronica talking. She wasn't being mind controlled, or anything. Unless she was.

Jughead decided to leave, he didn't want to see or hear anymore. Just seeing Peabody and Veronica sitting down in the same booth makes him annoyed.

Veronica noticed him leaving, she sighed. "I'm going home."

"To talk Jughead into moving out? I would've done the same." Penny smirked. Veronica glared at her, standing up and grabbing her purse.

"See ya, girlie!" Penny called, while Veronica walked towards the door.

Lodge rolled her eyes as she walked out. She knew that this would've been a bad idea in many different ways, but she's trying to look at the pros in this. Plus, she had a plan in mind.

And breaking up with Jughead is going to be the most hardest, most difficult part.

She arrived home in no time. Walking back seemed faster, since she was busy stressing about how she's going to have to talk to Jughead. Veronica took a deep breath before opening the door. As soon as she walked in, she already saw Jughead all packed up. His belongings were all stuffed in his bag, and he was on his way out.

"Jug-"

"Don't, Veronica. It's better off we don't talk, ever. Wasn't that apart of you and Penny's dumb little deal?" Jughead cut her off. "Just so you could get your little share of controlling the Ghoulies for your safety? Because unfortunately, the Serpents don't protect you at all."

He picked up his bags, and walked his way to the door. Pushing Veronica out of the way as he walks out.

Veronica was left, watching him walk to who knows where. She closed the door. Although she expected this to happen, she couldn't help but shed a few tears. Let out the Niagara Falls out of her eyes, actually.

All she could feel was sadness, and the pieces of her heart falling out of place. She loved him, and now she lost him. All because of the stupid Ghoulies.

But their safety matters.

Veronica was sat down, her back leaned against the door. She was sobbing, no doubt.

After a few minutes, she stood up, and washed herself up. Trying to stay strong, she went through her plan in her head.

"I hope it works out," she muttered. If her plan hadn't successfully gone by, then everything would be ruined. She'd be stuck with the Ghoulies, in a miserable cycle everyday. Being in a gang she despises, and living in regret and stress about what she's done to Jughead. Losing him, after all. Veronica doubts the Ghoulies would even care about her safety.

Although thoughts completely drowned her head, and although the stress and anxiety had arrived, this was only the beginning.

Veronica then planned her next move, tears escaping her eyes from time to time.

But she knows this will work.

--
wc: 1115

hey i actually updated the story pretty fast.

and also ty all for the advice. it rlly helped and cheered me up :')