A Step in the Right Direction
Pairing: Jughead x Reader
Request: @writerbugg -I was wondering if you could do an imagine where the reader is new to Riverdale and doesn't speak a lot and everyone thinks she's really shy but really she just doesn't like to speak because she has a really bad stutter and Cheryl bullies her for it but the gang takes her in and makes her feel comfortable and less insecure about her stutter and JugXReader becomes couple and fluff and all that jazz :)
A/N: This was a really great idea and I enjoyed writing this story :). Let me know if you have any other ideas like this (could be any pairing). <3
Another town, another school, another neighborhood, another opportunity to be "the new one". Yup, living with parents that can literally work anywhere, had its down sides.
Their latest triumph? Moving to a small suburb called Riverdale. Sure, the name was nice and the pictures were amazing and it all seemed well, but doesn't everywhere?
The second we crossed the border into this quaint little town, I tried to convince myself that things would be better this time. Maybe I'd make friends easily and maybe I'll just automatically be normal around them and maybe, just maybe, my stutter wouldn't act up and be the bitch that it is.Here's to hoping.
The moment I stepped onto the pavement at the entrance of Riverdale High, I sighed. Honestly, I wanted to be optimistic and I really tried, but these little bubble of anxiety kept creeping up and surprising me. At the front of the school, I noticed a well-built Redheaded boy chatting and smiling along with a slightly shorter pitch black-haired boy wearing a grey and frayed beanie. They both glanced over at me as I passed by and cut their conversation suddenly when I came too close. Whoops, my bad for interrupting your conversation with my strange presence.
The hallway was packed, like a goddamn party, and I almost couldn't catch my breath. Despite all the noise and gossip, that didn't stop every single student from looking in my direction and sparing a second of their time to give me the up-down.
Once that was over, my legs finally started to act normal and I raced off in the direction of the school Office.
Armed with a map of the school and a class schedule, I headed to my first class.No doubt I would have to interrupt an already-started class and introduce myself. Otherwise known as The First Public Challenge.
Every time I have to do this in a new school, I always wonder if I should just do prints of my Facebook account as a self-summary instead of actually talking to anyone. Y'know, kind of how everyone communicates anyway.
When the teacher noticed me standing awkwardly in the doorway, he ushered me over and told me to introduce myself before I take the only empty seat at the back of the classroom.I turned towards the class, squared my shoulders, and breathed deeply through my nose.
"H-hi, everyone. I'm Y/N Y/L/N, and I'm n-new to this s-sch-school," I mustered.I was very aware of all the comical glances and stares I was getting. The girls especially seemed to be relieved that I was someone they could easily make fun of.
"God, are you o-oh-okay?" one of the smirking girls asked, easily mimicking me. Her hair was a flaming, intimidating red and I couldn't help but admire its rich natural colour. The class caught on and played the part of her audience, chuckling to support her subtle cruelty.
I took a quick glance at the teacher and made a beeline for my seat at the back. Once safely tucked away in the confines of my seat, I took out a notebook and began to distract myself from the others' mischievous glances and snickers.
A boy to my right, the same one with the beanie, met my eyes and offered a smirk of his own, but it wasn't a cruel one; it was one of those that said "*shrug* what are you gonna do? They're assholes."That made me feel a bit reassured that everyone in this school wasn't going to try and slaughter me on my first day.
Once lunch rolled around, it was clear that my stutter and my being new to everything was the most enjoyable part of the day for most people. I couldn't move from one class to another without someone mimicking me.I didn't even go to the cafeteria because I knew that would make things a whole lot worse.
Instead, I took my bag to the football field bleachers and took a seat in the shadows.
"Spot's already taken, y'know," a deep voice spoke out.I turned quickly in the direction of the voice and exhaled when I realized it was the guy with the beanie.
"S-sorry, I-."He held up a hand to stop me.
"You wanna join me and my friends for lunch? It'll beat staying out here all alone."
I didn't respond right away; this had never happened before. I was not prepared for this kind of change of fate. Slowly, I nodded and took up my bag.He led me over to a table with the redheaded kid, a blonde girl, a raven-haired girl and a chestnut-coloured hair boy.
They all looked at me with welcoming eyes and the beanie boy made room for the both of us.They each introduced themselves and I finally found out his name: Jughead Jones.
From that day, I became one of them and I didn't have to worry about being judged; they just liked me for me.
Weeks have passed and the school is a lot more familiar and comfortable to me. I was even beginning to love it. The other students didn't find anything new about me to make fun of, so even the stuttering jokes dissipated.
Jughead and I had a lot of classes together every day and instead of sitting with Archie, he would come and sit next to me. Even in Chemistry, he offered to be my partner right away and Archie didn't complain. 'm not blind; I saw the mischievous glances that Archie threw at Jughead throughout the day, like he knew some big secret about him.
It was only after a few weeks when I began to notice the changes. Sure, Jughead was my partner for a lot of classes, but he physically moved closer to me; our knees knocked very often and there were even times when our legs just touch and neither of us moves away.
From the get-go I felt an attraction to him, but I didn't dare dream that he felt the same.
It was only when the school dance rolled around and the second it was announced at the end of the day, he ran through the halls to find me outside, amidst the crowd of exhausted students.He stopped me in my tracks and a lot of other people stopped too, curious about what the big deal was.
He placed his hands on my shoulders and was panting slightly.After a short while, his breathing returned to normal and he looked me right in the eyes and asked, "Y/N, will you be my awesome date to this not-as-awesome dance?"
People started snickering, but I tuned them all out.
"S-sure," I answered, grinning widely.He pulled me to him and embraced me tightly. I didn't want to let go.
He pulled away first and grasped my hand in his. It was clear to everyone: I was Jughead Jones' girl.
