I didn't sleep well that night. There were two big things on my mind; where was jughead sleeping tonight and was I going to go to Jason's memorial? I was pretty sure that Jughead wouldn't tell me if I asked, so I tried pushing that out of my mind, but it only got worse. If he was refusing to tell me, he must think that I won't approve, which was making me incredible anxious. As for Jason, I figured that I should go, it felt wrong not to.

Jughead asked me at lunch if I was going. I told him yes. We were on the couch in the student lounge when Betty came in and sat with us. She told us that the previous night, she had talked to her dad and finally got at least part of the story about why her sister wasn't living with them at the moment.

"My dad said that she had been trying to hurt herself," said Betty. "That's why they sent her away."

My heart broke for Betty. Neither she nor her sister had deserved something like this. I hadn't really known Polly since she was older, but she had always seemed sweet.

"Betty, I'm sorry. That's hardcore," said Jughead.

"I asked my dad if I could call Polly. He said she was doing better, but then when she heard about Jason's death she had a big setback. He doesn't want to risk another one." Her voice was sad. It made me feel sad.

"I may not know exactly what Polly's going through, but I know a bit about breakdowns. Betty, I think that even just one conversation with your sister could help her more than you know." I told her.

"I want to talk to her, I really do, but I don't even know where she is. I have no way to get in touch with her. Believe me, if I could, I would."

"Why does a rich kid sell drugs?" Jughead pondered.

"He was running away from his parents." Betty said.

"Yeah, probably," He stood up, "or drug dealers."

"Oh my god, is that possible?"

I could tell what Betty was thinking about Jug's theory, she was afraid that her sister had been mixed in with all of this. The drugs, the runaway, the drama. It was a lot to take in. I couldn't imagine what it would feel like if I Archie's life was a mystery to me. It would be overwhelming, not knowing if my brother was safe or not.

Not five minutes later, the three of us had planned to sneak into Jason's bedroom during the funeral reception. When Jughead had told me that he and Betty were going to do this, I hadn't really pictured myself playing detective as well. Now I was a part of the conversation and a part of the mission.

__________________________

Ronnie💜: Cheryl invited me over

Ronnie💜: Have you ever been to her house for a slumber party?

Me: SLEEP OVER AT THORN HILL?! Hell no

Ronnie💜: It's the night before the memorial, she says she doesn't wanna be alone

Me: Then you should go

Ronnie💜: What are the chances that I come back?

Me: Considering there'll be a house full of people the next day, it's 50-50

Me: You should go. It's usual 20-80

_______________________

Dad popped into my room that night to say he was going out for a little while and that he'd be back soon. Archie wasn't home, so I went over to Betty's and we decided I should stay the night so that she could help me get ready for the funeral in the morning.

"Jughead told me about what happened this summer. It sounds like you two had some adventures." She smiled at me. I was sitting on the edge of her bed, too tired for this conversation.

"I wouldn't exactly call them adventures." I laughed.

"He told me that you guys went to the old tree house."

"Yeah. We haven't been there in like three years. It was nice. Nostalgic, but like, in a nice way."

She nodded her head. "He's coming over in the morning to get ready."

I don't say anything. I don't have a response to that. Okay? Good? It'll be great to see him? I saw him yesterday, not that I'm objecting to his coming over.

"Hey, Y/N/N?"

"Mm."

"Are you sure you'll be okay going to a funeral?"

"Don't ask. Don't let me think about it or I'll start questioning my entire life."

"Right."

We didn't talk much until morning came around and Betty was looking for something black for me to wear.

"We could just go to my house and grab something." I suggested as she searched through her dresser.

"Do you have anything?"

"I don't know. I could check though."

"Okay. I'm gonna get dressed, you go check your closet."

"You trust me to go over there alone?"

"Of course, it's your own house and I can see into your room from here." She told me.

I stayed where I was sitting for a moment and contemplated that. Archie wouldn't have trusted me, neither would Dad or maybe even Jughead.

"Betty?" She turned her head and looked at me. "Thank you."

She smiled at me and I walked out her bedroom, downstairs and out the front door. Why did it mean so much to me just to able to walk from the house next door back home? Because nobody would let me do it. For good reason too because I almost let myself wonder into road twice during that twenty second walk. The first time because the house across the road had flowers growing under one of their windows and I wanted to know what they smelt like, the second because I started following a leaf that was being blown around in the wind the same direction I was walking. It blew closer to edge of the sidewalk and I subconsciously moved with it until it had been blow in to street and I followed for a second before I heard tires. The car wasn't even on my street, but the noise woke me up from this little trance and I quickly moved back onto the sidewalk.

Once I got to my room, I dug through my closet and pulled out anything that was black. I through all the clothes onto my bed and then sifted through them and grabbed anything that wasn't a tshirt or tattered leggings. Out of that, I took a lacy, black long sleeve top and the one pair of leggings that didn't have holes in them. I left my house, passing Archie who was sliding on his bulldogs jacket over top a dress shirt and tie.

On my way back to Betty's, I spotted Jughead walking up her front walkway. I sped up and got his attention by saying his name. He turned around and it was then that I noticed he was wearing an ill-fitting suit. For being too big, it didn't look bad.

"Hey." He said, a little surprised seeing me walking around the neighbourhood by myself. I smiled at him and nodded my head at his clothes.

"Oh, this, this is just an old suit of my dad's." He said looking down and grabbing at the collar of his shirt, "It was the best I could do."

"You say that like it looks bad." I said.

"Well-"

"It doesn't, believe me."

He laughs in defeat, "Alright. What are you doing here?"

"Betty's helping me get ready. I was just grabbing some clothes from my room."

"So you're coming then?"

"Yeah. Come on, I have to get dressed." I reached out and grabbed his hand. He opened the door and dramatically gestured for me to enter the house. I laughed and pulled him in behind me.