He looked and felt like an awful mess, but Pop’s was the only place he wanted to be right now. The only place he could count on a quiet booth in the back and endless burgers. The only place he could rely on Pop Tate to give him advice, to give him extra fries without charge, and to be a quiet observer.
It was late into the evening, long after Jug’s Serpent initiation. Being apart of them felt right, but the truth also lingered in the back of his mind: he was doing this to try and keep the peace. Well, that was his original intention. What was the point in that anymore? Now that he and Betty were done, by Archie’s word, and he and Archie - well, give that inspiring chat, he expected their friendship to be on hiatus. Of course, right? Wasn’t this the path they were always going to be headed down?
❛ ‘ey Pop, no don’t worry, I’m alright. Just the usual, yeah, I’ll be in the back. ❜
Jug nodded at Pop who looked concerned from behind the counter but there were no questions. Thankfully. Jug limbered on towards the back of the diner, not seeing many patrons. In his state he would probably scare them off. He’d done his best to wash away the blood and bandage the open wounds, but there were too many, and he’d given up after the fifth bandaid wouldn’t stick.
What he did notice was Lydia Martin. What he didn’t do was say hello like he’d done last time, and instead hobble on past her booth towards the back.
