Saving Grace

Chapter 1

My eyes slowly open as I hear my phone ringing.

"Hello?" I ask, my voice breaking, showing I just had woken up.

"Ana it's 8 am! Get up! We have to go to Pop's!" My best friend Jughead says as he is having a hard time breathing.

"Are you running?" I ask as a small chuckle escapes my mouth.  The boy doesn't say anything else, besides telling me to be there in 15.

I throw the blanket off of me, and rub my eyes, getting the sleep out of my eyes. I go to my dresser and grab a simple white tank top, with a black cardigan. I also grab a pair of jeans out of my other drawer. I change clothes, and put my converse on.

I look in the mirror and see my curly hair doesn't look all too bad. I guess I didn't toss and turn in my sleep much last night.

I grab my phone and wallet and stash them in my purse. I walk out of my room and down the stairs. As I reach the front door I look into the mirror and do a kissy face.

I walk out of the house, locking the door, and getting into my car starting my journey to Pop's.

Once I make it to the small diner that everyone in Riverdale loves, I take a moment to scan the windows. In the third window I see Jug. His beanie immediately giving him away. I open my car door and step out.

"Jug? What's so important that you made me get up this early to meet you?" I ask as I sit down in front of him. "They are closing the drive in." Jughead says, his face falling into a sad expression.

I reach across the table and grab his hand. "I'm so sorry, Jug." I say, giving his hand a squeeze. "Would you like a burger and a milkshake to make you feel better?" I ask, giving a small smile, knowing he could never turn down food.

"Thanks Ana, but food isn't going to make this empty feeling in my stomach go away." Jug says, shaking his head.

"I have a feeling it might." I say, and get up from the booth to order his food.

In the ten minutes it takes Pop to finish making Jughead's food, we sit in silence. Watching the people of Riverdale stroll by. This town is peaceful, but then you start to remember what happened to Jason Blossom, and you start feeling bad again. The tragedy hasn't left any of us. Mostly because the Blossoms make sure their son will never be forgotten.

I am snapped out of my thoughts as Pop brings Jughead his food. Jug thanks the old man, and I offer him a smile. After Jughead takes his first bite, I notice him smile a bit.

"So what was that again? Food cannot make this empty feeling go away?" I say, making Jughead look up at me. "Shut up." Jughead says, making me let out a laugh.

I watch Jug eat for another moment before speaking up. "Jug, where are you gonna go?" I ask, knowing he isn't going to go back to his father's. He hates it there. He hasn't stayed there in...actually it has been so long I can't remember when he has been back there.

Jughead looks at me for a few seconds before swallowing his food. He sucks in a breath before saying, "I have it figured out."

"Jug I know you better than anyone. Anytime you say that, you don't actually have a plan. If you need somewhere to stay, you still have that room at my house. My mom won't mind, you know how much she loves you!" As I finish I can see the smile on his face. He's grown very fond of my mom after all these years we have been friends. He used to be scared of her before actually meeting her. As soon as she opened the door to him and pulled him into her embrace, he has loved her ever since.

When he first left home, he stayed with us for a while. That is why he has his own room. Then after a while he said he was going to move back home. However, that was a lie. He just didn't want to feel like a burden, or an extra responsibility my mom had to take care of. I told him that was a silly thing to think, considering my mom loved him like the son she never had.

He just wouldn't believe me though, saying that he would be okay. That he was just going to stay at the drive in, and he would be safe. He'd come around when my mom was at work to take showers and stuff like that. Made me promise I wouldn't tell her. So I didn't. I couldn't handle him being mad at me if I did. However, I am really starting to consider telling her this now.

"Thanks Ana, I just might take you up on the offer." Jughead says, finishing the last bite of his burger.

"I have to go talk with Betty, see what she came up with about the case. I'll talk to you soon." Jughead says, taking a final sip of his milkshake.

I nod my head and we do our handshake we have had since we were five. I watch him walk out, and walk down the street. As he takes a right out of my vision, I realize how crazy I look. Sitting in a booth by myself, looking out at the town. This could be something someone gets put in a loony bin for. I grab my purse and pull out my wallet. I walk up to the counter and give Pop a five dollar tip.

"Ana I can't take that." Pop says, waving his hand at me, telling me to put it away.

"Pop, please? You deserve it, and if anyone is going to take my money, I want it to be you." I say, gesturing him to take the money. The old man hesitantly takes it, and smiles at me.

"Have a good day Anastasia!" Pop says, putting the money into the register.

"Have a good day Pop." I say, giving the man a smile.

As I turn to walk out of the diner, in the fourth booth I see two kids around my age. Both wearing Serpent Jackets. I notice the one in the seat directed towards the door. He has a snake tattoo on his neck, it slides almost all the way up. The green stands out against his skin. His hair isn't gelled, but still sits perfectly on his head. His leather jacket isn't too big or too small. Actually, if you ask me I would say it fits him perfectly.

Then it happened. Our eyes met, and for a second I had no idea what to do. It was as if my feet had sunken into the ground. I gave a small smile to him, but his face stayed ice cold. He just stared at me.

Finally I got the courage to move again, and walked right out the door. I'm surprised I didn't fall going down the steps. His eyes watched me all the way to my car, which happened to be parked right in front of their window. I quickly got in, and now I am so thankful I have tint on my windows. I am so thankful for them since if I didn't have them, he would have seen me grab the steering wheel and shake myself screaming, "NO WAY!"

Yes, I know that is dramatic, however! If you were just staring at a man as fine as he was, you would have done the same! I put the car in reverse and drive out of Pop's parking lot, making my way home. Jughead and that fine man on my mind the whole way h0me.