I stumbled over some text messages today and they just screamed Bughead, I swear. And they were stuck in my head the whole day. That’s why I had to type this little one shot.
I normally don’t write in english and I edited this myself, so I’m sorry for any mistakes. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Let me know if you do! <3
Warning: FLUFFY xD
___________________________________________
Betty
couldn’t help it. She stared at the screen of her phone for a brief moment and
then started laughing. The day had been batshit crazy and she was beyond
annoyed. That’s why she texted Jughead. After all it was his wedding too. But he
couldn’t help her with the last preparations right now, because he had to
promote his newest book. He tried to get out of this promotion tour, but Betty
encouraged him to go. And that’s why he
had to endure her ranting, about flowers, cakes, dresses, her mother and Veronica now.
Those two really just wanted to help her, but somehow, they ended up making
everything worse. They were just…a little bit over the top. Jughead really had
no chance to answer between all the messages he got. But after Betty had
finished, he finally answered.
J: Hey, Betts. This may sound a little bit
demanding after all you went through today. But can I play some important role
in your wedding? Like…the groom?
Betty
laughed so hard, that tears were running down her cheeks. This day had been so stressful.
But with just one text message, Jughead could lift her mood. After she had
calmed down a little bit, she was finally able to answer.
B: I don’t know Jug. You’d have to wear a suit.
And you can’t wear your beanie. Also, I’m pretty sure you’d have to dance with
me. And you’d have to be nice the whole day. Is that something you can pull
off?
Betty smiled,
making herself comfortable on the couch and looking at the ceiling of their
living room. They had moved in here one year ago and Betty was still in love
with this house. It was beautiful and she was glad, that they were able to
afford it. Her phone buzzed and Betty smiled and bit her lip, when she read
Jugheads response.
J: I’m offended. I’m not only an amazing writer. I’m
also an amazing actor. I can totally pull that off. We have to talk about the beanie
though.
It took
Betty only a few seconds to send her reply. She grinned while typing her
response.
B: Maybe I should rather cast another groom. One
who doesn’t wear a beanie. I could ask Veronica, if she’d lend me Archie for
one day.
She waited
patiently for Jugheads response. At first, she only got a GIF showing a man who
fainted. The blonde laughed out loud again. Of course Jughead knew how to cheer
her up, even if he was thousand miles away. Now he was typing again.
J: I just read our contract again (you agreed to it,
when you accepted that ring from me). The contract says you have to cast me for
the role of the groom. No other option. With or without my beanie. Also…you
wouldn’t be happy with Archie. He can’t dance at all. And he doesn’t look as
good as me in a suit.
The blonde
giggled and began to type her answer.
B: Oh, is that so?
His answer
came very fast this time.
J: Sure. You can’t deny you like me in a suit. May
I just remind you how Archie’s and Veronica’s wedding ended for us?
Oh, she
didn’t need a reminder of that night. Betty blushed. She was glad Jughead
couldn’t see it. He would have teased her immediately. But he proved once again, that he
really knew her.
J: I know you’re blushing right now. So why not
give in and book me as the groom already?
B: You’re annoying.
J: But you love me.
Betty
chuckled and shook her head, typing another message.
B: Doesn’t make you less annoying. But, oh well.
Congrats. You’ll be the groom. I don’t want to hear you complaining at our
wedding in three weeks!
J: That’s my girl. You won’t. I’ll marry you, why should I even
think about complaining?
Betty shook
her head again. This time, because she still couldn’t believe, that she was
lucky enough to marry the love of her life. They texted back and forth for a
while, until she finally went to bed. Tomorrow would be another crazy day, she
knew that (she had another meeting with Ronnie and Alice). But she also knew, that Jughead would be there for her, whenever she
needed him.
oh my god.... Toni being like "Jug, i think im in love with Betty" and Jughead not even being mad just like......... yeah, relateable, don't worry Toni i Understand... (then they form the Betty Cooper appreciation society)
Toni sat slumped in her assigned seat, her right knee bouncing with nervous energy. Mind racing, betraying her and drifting back to the weekend. Flashes of them in a booth at Pop’s. It was long overdue, meeting Jughead’s other half. They had made many plans before, all falling through. She idly wonders if that was partly due to her own fears, insecurities.
What if Betty didn’t like her? Where would that leave her and his friendship? Surely he’d up and ditch her if the person whom mattered most didn’t approve. Her worries turned out to all be in vain though. Cooper and Topaz hit it off almost instantly, falling into an easy banter. She gets it now, why the beanie clad boy was so smitten with the archetypal blonde.
Something sparked in her after that evening of milkshakes and double cheeseburgers, a fondness. Not for her male counterpart but rather the girl sat snug underneath his arm. Lost in her somewhat torturous reverie, her brain doesn’t register the heavy thud of his boots on the deteriorating linoleum floor.
“I swear, Ton, you’re going to break your damn teeth off doing that one of these days.” Jughead’s words cut through the thick fog, startling her; loosing her grip on the pen she was gnawing on. “Christ, Jug! You scared the living shit out of me!”
“Sorry.” He utters through an amused, breathy chuckle, “Where were you just then?”
“I, uh, I was just…” and before she had time to think, to catch them, the words came rushing out of her mouth like vomit “… I’m in love with Betty.”
“Yeah? Join the club. We meet every Tuesday and Thursday.” he mutters, distracted by whatever it was he was trying to retrieve from his beaten up messenger bag. “Shit, did you do the homework last night? Ms. Fredrick is going to have my ass.”
Like most things in my writing, this chapter grew a mind of its own and a completely different plot of its own, so… this will be fun. Now there’s a whole new plot line and drama worked up and I’m a bit excited for it.
This chapter is short and honestly a filter, but it does set things up in motion so… I’m sorry? :(
WARNINGS: This chapter deals with a character who is very heavily addicted to drugs. However, there’s no actual consuming of drugs, just talks about it.
Enjoy!
It was stupid. Of all the stupid and reckless things he’s done in his lifetime, the events of the other night seemed to be somewhere near the top of the list. He had spent the better half of the night reminding himself just why he couldn’t involve himself with another girl and yet he had sex on a sink with a girl who had spilled coffee all over him. It was idiotic and he knew it, but when he had seen Reggie talk to her, he just couldn’t help himself. He’s always been somewhat of a jealous man, he can’t help it. He was used to being an only child after Jellybean left, so he didn’t need to learn how to share or work with another person. At least not until Joaquin had come along, but that was years later when Jughead was already an adult.
He knew how Reggie worked. He knew the kind of games he played with girls. What did it say about him that he’d been with a girl just an hour prior to deciding to hook up with Betty? Jughead didn’t know the girl at all, but he knew that he didn’t want her to be another one of Reggie’s many conquests. He had already made sure that wouldn’t happen when he told Reggie she was off limits, but no. That hadn’t been enough for him. He just had to go and fuck her.
And Jesus, he couldn’t have fucked her normally? He had to go all in, didn’t he? He knew most girls didn’t like the same things he did; the commands, the dirty talk, the praise, the rough sex. Most girls were vanilla, Betty had seemed like she was vanilla, but she hadn’t complained. In fact, it had seemed like it was exactly what she wanted from him. Still, a part of him feels bad. He almost wants to apologize to her, but what would he say? Sorry I fucked you really good and gave you an orgasm?
Her words come back to him. ‘It wasn’t that memorable.’ He wasn’t someone who slept around, but still. He had never been told anything like that before. Even back when he was younger and he did sleep around, he prided himself on the way girls used to throw themselves all over him, begging for him to sleep with them. He doesn’t do it for a while and then the first girl he decides to have sex with tells him he’s not memorable? It was really insulting to say the least. He didn’t think he was that bad. It had been fun for him. At least until he had realized just what he’d done. Jesus Christ, he didn’t even fuck her with a condom on. He had no idea who this girl was or what she did in her free time. It had been stupid, careless even, and he makes a reminder to call his doctor when he’s free. She looked innocent enough, but… she fucked a perfect stranger at a club. He couldn’t be too safe.
As much as he wanted to forget the blonde, he couldn’t. She still had his jacket. He normally wouldn’t care about her keeping his jacket, but this was his Serpent one; the one all the guys wore. It has sentimental value to it and it had been a stupid move to even give it to her in the first place, but she had just looked so cold and tired. The gentleman inside of him couldn’t just let her stand there in the cold.
“You good, bro?” Reggie walks into the kitchen, where Jughead’s currently having his crisis, walking over to the fridge to pour himself a glass of milk. “You need some milk?”
“I’m lactose intolerant.” He’s not, but for some reason the words come out of his mouth anyway.
“Me too,” Reggie says before putting the glass back in the cupboard. Jughead watches as he proceeds to chug the entire carton of milk straight. “I drink it when my bowels are messed up.”
Jughead grimaces. “You’re disgusting. And you owe me a carton of milk.”
“You’re lactose intolerant though?”
“It keeps me comforted knowing there’s milk in the fridge.”
“Whatever, bro. So what was up with you last night? Who was that girl?”
Jughead sighs. He knew Reggie would bring last night up. He just hadn’t thought it would be so early in the morning. He doesn’t want to focus on her, but both his thoughts and his best friend seem to be fixated on her.
“I don’t know.”
“Sure seemed like you knew her,” Reggie says as he grabs an apple from the fruit basket. “You sure you wanna go with that story?”
“I was talking to her before. She just seemed… sweet.” Reggie gives him a perplexed look before nodding slowly at the words.
“If that’s the story you want to go with then fine, but you two were gone for quite a while. Anything interesting happen?”
He’s about to tell Reggie to fuck off, when the doorbell rings throughout the large house. The two of them share a look with each other. No one just randomly shows up to Jughead’s house. That’s not how this shit works. He gets up from his seat and grabs his gun off of the table in front of him. Reggie snorts at the action, but he gets it. None of them go anywhere without their guns. It’s law.
Joaquin stands in the foyer, ready to open the door, but Jughead pushes past him and opens it himself.
“Andrews.” He greets plainly once he sees the redheaded man standing in front of him. He’s by himself which, is a stupid move, but it means that he’s here on a personal favor then. If it was business, he’d have his men with him no doubt.
“Jug.”
Jughead hates when Archie calls him that. It’s a nickname, a nickname that Archie shouldn’t get to use freely anymore, but yet still does.
“What do you want?” He doesn’t move aside for Archie to come in.
“I need to ask you a favor.” Ah. There it is. “I know you don’t owe me a single thing, but if you can help me out here then I’ll be in debt to you.”
“Aren’t you already, though?” Reggie asks from behind Jughead. Archie glares at the other man, but doesn’t say anything. They all know it’s true.
“Look, I know I’m the last person you want to see, but this is important.”
“Then fucking tell me what you want already.”
“I need ten thousand.”
Jughead and Reggie stand completely still and silent, looking at the redhead with matching blank expressions.
“Ten thousand?” Jughead scoffs finally once Archie starts to look uncomfortable. “Ten thousand what? Ten thousand guns? Ten thousand pairs of fucking shoes? Ten thousand grams of cocaine?” The last one is a low blow, especially because Jughead knows about Archie’s drug problem. At one time he’d tried to help him, but not anymore. Not after what his addiction did to severe their bond. Jughead shakes the thoughts away from his mind, he can’t think about that right now. “Ten thousand what?”
“Dollars.”
“Get the fuck out of here.” He makes to close the door on him, but Archie sticks his foot out to stop him. “Are you serious, man?”
“Jug, come on!” Archie’s eyes widen and as Jughead takes a closer look at him, he realizes that they’re dilated and red. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t absolutely need your help.”
“Backup, Andrews,” Reggie barks as Archie reaches out for Jughead. Jughead just stands there, not knowing what to do. At one point in their lives, Archie had been his brother; the other half of him and he would have done anything for the redhead, but now? Now things weren’t like that anymore. He wants to shut the door on Archie and tell him to go fuck himself, but he doesn’t.
“Come inside.”
Archie’s eyes light up and Reggie sighs behind him. He knows deep down that he’s making a stupid move, but he can’t help it. Despite everything Archie has done to him, he still has a soft spot for the guy. He thinks a part of him always will.
They walk over to the living room where Joaquin is currently sitting down on the couch. His eyes widen once he sees the company with them. He makes to get up and walk away, allowing them their privacy, but Jughead shakes his head.
“You can stay.” The dark haired boy sits back down and all of them follow his lead.
Jughead watches Archie’s movements, the way his leg bounces up and down once he sits; how he wrings his hands together and plays with his fingers, the way he can’t seem to keep his eyes on one spot. Reggie notices the redhead’s actions too, if the side eye he gives Jughead is anything to go by.
“Tell me why you need ten thousand dollars,” Jughead says. Joaquin eyes somehow grow wider at his words and Jughead would laugh at the look on his face, if any of this were actually funny.
“Jug…”
“I’m not giving you the money unless you tell me why you need it.”
“You shouldn’t give him the money at all,” Reggie says under his breath, but Jughead ignores him.
Archie looks at the floor then back up to them, his leg shaking even harder into the floor. Jughead would tell him to stop, but he knows that would ultimately be calling Archie out on what’s wrong with him and he’s given up trying to help the other man.
“I owe someone a lot of money.”
“Really?” Reggie draws out. “You don’t say?”
“Shut up,” Jughead barks at his best friend before looking Archie over. “Why do you owe someone money?”
“Better yet, why don’t you have the money yourself?” Joaquin finally speaks up. Jughead doesn’t tell him to shut up like he had with Reggie, because it’s actually a really good question. The Andrews’ aren’t poor, they’re the furthest thing from it. Archie has money. Jughead knows how much money he has.
“Because it’s drug money. I owe someone drug money.”
And there it is.
Jughead had an idea that’s what all this was. It always came down to drugs in Archie’s world. It’s also the only reason Archie would ever come to him for help. He knows that Archie’s dad wouldn’t support him or help him with the money. In fact, Jughead wouldn’t be surprised if somehow his dad had cut him off of all their money. Archie Andrews wasn’t made for their life. He wasn’t cut out for any of it. That’s why instead of being groomed to become the Boss, he was drowning himself in drugs and girls; well, one specific girl at least. Jughead shakes the thought away from his head before it can linger any longer.
“Why should I help you?” He doesn’t ask the question with malice in his voice, he genuinely means it. He wants to know why Archie would ever even think that Jughead would help him out.
“I’m trying to get better,” Archie says, but Jughead’s heard it one too many times. He believed the story once, but now? That’s all it was. A story. The same story Archie’s been writing for years. They all know how it ends.
“Ten thousand dollars doesn’t sound like you’re getting better,” Reggie says. “Fuck, Andrews. How the hell do you even end up owing someone that much money?”
“Well, it’s not just me you know that–.”
“Okay,” Jughead says, cutting him off before he can continue his sentence. “She’s part of this too then?”
Archie, bless him, actually has the decency to look at least somewhat ashamed. But he just nods.
“Fine,” Jughead sighs. “Joaquin, get the money.”
“You have to be fucking kidding me,” Reggie yells out as he stands up. “You’re fucking serious right now, Jones?”
“You know what will happen if he doesn’t pay up.”
“Yeah,” Reggie says, eyes crazed as he looks at Jughead like he’s stupid. Hell, he might be. “So let it! You don’t owe him anything! You definitely don’t owe her shit!”
“Reg,” he says, speaking the syllable with as much force as he can. Reggie might be his best friend, but that doesn’t give him any excuse to talk to him the way he is. Archie keeps his eyes on the ground. He doesn’t argue with them like he might have once upon a time. Jughead doesn’t know how that makes him feel anymore. “Let it go.”
Reggie’s lip twitches and he gives Jughead a disgusted look before storming out of the living room. Jughead watches him go before sinking back into the couch cushions.
“What have you gotten yourself into?”
It’s a rhetorical question. He doesn’t expect Archie to answer, but of course he does.
“I’m trying,” he says again, but this time he makes eye contact with Jughead. He looks almost sincere and Jughead wishes he could believe him, but he just can’t. “It’s not that easy.”
“I tried to help you,” he reminds him. “When I got clean, I tried to help you. You didn’t want that. You won’t get any sympathy from me.”
“I know and I don’t want it. I’ll pay you back. Every penny, I promise. I’ll pay you back.”
Joaquin comes back in the room at that exact time and tosses the money to Archie. The two of them stand up and make their way back over to the front door, knowing the conversation is over. Just as Archie is about to walk out of the house, Jughead reaches out and grabs him by his jacket. The redhead turns around and looks at him, confusion and hope mixed together in his eyes.
“I know you’ll pay me back,” Jughead says. “Because if you don’t… I’m done playing nice. You’re lucky you’re still standing here after everything you’ve done to me.”
Archie doesn’t say anything. He just nods and leave.
“If he was anyone else,” Joaquin speaks up as soon as the door closes, “he’d be dead by now.”
It’s true. It’s true and it makes him the weakest son of a bitch on the planet, because even after everything Archie has done to him, he still loves him. FP would laugh in his face if he could see the way his son had been acting. For all that Jughead likes to act hard and ruthless, he has his soft spots. He wishes he could turn off all he was feeling, but he couldn’t. As much as he hated it, he was human. It would be his downfall.
“Reggie was right, you know.”
Jughead ignores Joaquin’s words as he grabs his car keys off the table by the front door. He doesn’t need to stand here and get told things that he already knows.
“Where are you going?” Joaquin asks as Jughead opens the door to leave.
“For a drive.”
He needs to clear his head and the best way to do that these days, is to take his car out for a drive. It’s a black Aston Martin One-77 and it had been the first car he’d bought back when his father finally let him take care of his own money. It had a special place in his heart and he only ever took it out when absolutely necessary like right now.
He doesn’t even know where he’s going, but it doesn’t really matter. He just needs to be anywhere but here.
********
He ends up at Daniel’s. He doesn’t know why he chose here. He tries to tell himself it’s because he likes their coffee, but that’s a load of bullshit. He knows exactly why he’s here.
The coffee shop is nearly deserted once he enters it, which isn’t that hard to believe. If it weren’t for the money he gave Daniel, he’s pretty sure this place would have closed down a long time ago. It had its loyal customers, but it wasn’t Starbucks. Which was where Jughead would usually go if he wanted a decent cup of coffee.
He walks up to the counter, looking for one specific girl and falling disappointed whenever he doesn’t see her. He does however, see a tiny brunette girl staring at him with a startled expression.
“Hello,” he greets, trying to sound as friendly as he can. He doubts it sounds friendly at all. “I was wondering if an Elizabeth worked here?”
“Uh,” the girl says, dragging it out. “Betty?”
Right. She had made a disgusted face whenever he had referred to her as Elizabeth so she must not normally have people call her that. Jughead didn’t understand why. He thought it was a nice name.
“Yes, Betty.”
“She does, but she isn’t schedule to work until Thursday.” Jughead’s eyebrows raise at the statement. That seemed like a long break from work if you asked him. The girl must see the confusion on his face because she elaborates. “She has finals so Daniel’s letting her take a few days off to study.”
Before she can say anything else, Daniel himself walks up to them.
“Mr. Jones,” he says, startled by Jughead’s presence. “What are you doing here?”
“He’s looking for Betty,” the dark haired girl says. Daniel shoots her a glare and Jughead knows why. He’s probably freaking out over the fact that someone’s spoken for Jughead. He doesn’t really care, but apparently Daniel seems to think that the two of them are five seconds away from getting beat up for it.
“You let all your employees have a few days off to study?” It sits weird with him. A day off, sure. But nearly a week off? He knew Daniel didn’t have that many people working for him. For some reason, the thought of the man giving Betty special treatment bothered him.
“She’s a good girl,” Daniel says, smile on his face like he knows her so well. Jughead wants to snort. A good girl? Sure. He almost wants to make a comment about it, but he won’t do that. He’s not disrespectful. What happened between him and Betty is their business. Still though, he wishes he could let Daniel know that he probably knows Betty a little better than him.
“She has something of mine,” is all Jughead ends up saying. “I just wanted to get it back.”
The burnette’s eyes narrow as she stares at him and Jughead wonders what the hell her problem is. She doesn’t know him.
“Would you like to talk in my office, Mr. Jones?”
Jughead shakes his head. “No. I’ll be back on Wednesday. She’ll be working then, won’t she?”
Daniel nods. “Yes, sir. I’ll call her and let her know you were looking for her.”
“I’m sure this young lady can do that for you.” Jughead looks at Veronica. “Can’t you?”
Veronica gives him a weird look and he knows he’s acting really off right now, but he can’t help it. He doesn’t want Daniel calling Betty and asking her how she knows Jughead or what she could possibly have of his.
“Uh, sure?”
“Perfect. No need to worry, Daniel.” Jughead says his name like it’s a joke and he can see the way both of them look at him warily. “See you on Thursday.”
He leaves the shop, feelings in a jumbled mess. Disappointment at Betty not being there, annoyance at Daniel for the way he seems to be close to her, and disgust at himself for even having the other two feelings at all. Betty was a one time thing. He just needs his jacket and that’s it. He’ll never have to think about her again.
You know how Jughead was sent to the delinquent center because of playing with matches? Could you do a fic where it was Betty playing with the matches and Jughead took the blame because he knew she would get in trouble?
Nonnie, sincerely thank you for sending this into me. As soon as I got this prompt I knew I had to fill it ASAP.
I hope you enjoy.
Let It Burn
He could smell the smoke. It permeated the air around him, burning his nose. He is familiar with the scent of something burning, after too many times putting them out. His father falling asleep on the couch, correction, passing out on the couch with a still lit cigarette in his mouth. He would wake up before Jellybean as the familiar scent wafted through the small trailer. He would put out the fire, slapping it with whatever he could find. An old jacket, a new shirt. Never his dad’s clothes though they would only add fuel to the fire. Sometimes he would earn himself a backhand for his troubles, waking the sleeping man. Other times it would be as if nothing had happened and he would return to the bedroom that he shared with his sister and try to return to sleep. Knowing that there would be yet another argument when his mum returned home and smelt the burning. She would see the burnt hole in the couch, or the blanket, or the old worn carpet.
She would threaten to leave him again and Jughead just prayed that she loved him enough to take him with her.
It was late after school as he wandered the empty halls, most of his fellow students couldn’t wait to leave. To return to the safe haven that was their home. Jughead tried to delay it as much as possible. Never knowing what he was going to walk into when he got there. Some nights it wasn’t so bad. His dad wouldn’t have drunk as much and his mum may be in a good mood. Those were the bearable nights the ones he hoped for. More often than not he came into a screaming match, accusations flying around the small space as he pulled Jellybean into their room and waited out the storm. Usually his dad leaving again, heading to the bar across town. He knew on those nights he had to be aware. He had to make sure he didn’t burn the place down.
He was rounding the corner of his final lap before he relented and made his way home when he smelt it. Smoke, a strong smell of smoke. Almost on instinct he ran in that direction, the smell becoming stronger and stronger as he neared the source. It was coming from one of the classrooms. The door was shut, but the smoke was escaping from the top and the bottom. It wasn’t one of the small fires that he had put out at home. This was something much larger and he cursed himself for not having noticed sooner. He could seen through the clear glass pane of teh door that there was a figure inside the room. Smaller than him and for a moment he imagined Jellybean being stuck there. Being stuck behind a fire she couldn’t escape.
He opened the door and prepared himself for the backdraft. He pulled off his flannel and put it over his mouth. It was a weak attempt to try and reduce the smoke pouring into his lungs but it helped a little. He made his way over to the figure who seemed to be sitting calmly in the middle of the room. The only sound they emitted was small coughs. His hand landed on their shoulder and they turned to face him.
Betty Cooper. Sweet, innocent, girl next door Betty Cooper was calmly sitting in the middle of the smoke filled room. She eyed him curiously as if she couldn’t quite figure out why he might be there or why he might look so distressed, before returning to gaze at the flames in front of her. He pulled her gently. Urging her to follow him to escape the room. Her eyes did not break their gaze the slight shake of her head the only indication that she understood what he wanted. He groaned and pulled on her arm again, stronger this time and yet she still didn’t budge.
He lowered his flannel, “Betty,” he managed to choke out. She blinked and it was as if she returned to herself. Her eyes grew panicked and darted around the room. A scream left her mouth and Jughead gave her his flannel to hold against her mouth as he pulled her from the room. He placed her up against the outside of the door as he looked around for the extinguisher. She had pulled her legs up to her chest and was rocking now. Her face buried against her knees. He went back into the room and pointed the extinguisher at the desk that had caught fire. The flames calmed and he now pointed it at the source of the fire. A metal bin with numerous papers in it. Once he was satisfied that everything was covered in a sufficient amount of white foam he returned to the outside of the room to the hallway.
He dropped the extinguisher to the floor with a loud thunk, jolting Betty to look up at him while he bent over his hands braced on his knees as he attempted to catch his breath. He could now hear the faint sound of sirens in the distance and realised a silent alarm must have been triggered or maybe had seen the smoke. Betty returned her face to her knees and began muttering as she rocked back and forth. He took another deep breath. Filling his lungs with air that was cleaner and less painful. He moved to the wall Betty was leaning against and slumped against it himself. He folded his knees up like hers and rested his head against the wall. He tried to contemplate what had just happened. Why Betty Cooper of all people was setting a fire on school grounds perplexed him.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice was small and quiet. It didn’t sound like the Betty Cooper that he knew. She was sunshine, happiness and everything that was good in this world. To him she was perfect.
“It’s okay Betty.” The sirens were growing louder now and he knew that soon enough the fire department would be coming through the main doors to put out the fire that he had already extinguished. And then there would be questions.
“No it’s not, Jug.” She was the only person who could get away with calling him that. Coming from anyone else’s mouth it would have sounded wrong, but from hers. “I don’t know what happened.” She looked up at him briefly and he could see the tears behind her eyes as well as the fear in her voice. “I was just practicing for the debate this weekend. It’s the finals you know.” He didn’t but he nodded anyway. “I’ve been practicing so hard, but -” her voice broke as she choked down a cry. It was starting to bubble to the surface now, she sniffed loudly, taking a large breath to keep it under control. “I just can’t get it right, and Mom says that I need to work harder but I am and -”. He took hold of her hand without thinking. Holding it steady in his own as she lost her words again. She started to cry in earnest now, unable to keep her tears at bay any longer.
He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into his side. His hand still clasped around her own as she sobbed into his body. He had done this before, comforted Jellybean just like this on the bad nights. But with Betty it felt different, he pushed those feelings down as deep as they would go. There was no point hoping for something that couldn’t happen. “My mom is going to be so angry,” she spoke into his chest. Jughead had seen the wrath of Alice Cooper before. When they all played together as children she had always shouted at Betty, put her down. Betty had once told him in secret all the things that she said to her. How she compared her to Polly. That no matter how hard she tried she would never be as special, as smart, as talented as her big sister. He hated to think what she would do if Betty was caught setting fires, what she might do to Betty.
“I’ll tell them it was me.” She looked up at him immediately, her eyes searching his own, before she shook her head.
“No, I won’t let you. I did it.” She was straightening her body moving away from his own and Jughead could already see her putting back on the mask that she wore. Sweet, innocent, girl next door Betty Cooper. She needed that mask to survive, he wasn’t going to see it taken away from her.
“Look, they expect this kind of stuff from me.” He doubted his family would even take notice at this point. His parents were too wrapped up in their own problems to notice something like this. Besides it was only a small fire, an accident. “ It will be one more little point of interest on my school record. Might even get me some street cred.” He smiled weakly at his attempt at humour and Betty could only smile in response. “Betty.” He removed his arm from around her and shifted his body around to face her. “You are going to do great things, you’re smart and kind and I don’t want a silly mistake or accident to ruin that. Let me do this for you.”
She closed her eyes and nodded, not able to look him in the eyes as the decision was made. He pulled her hands to his own and placed a gentle kiss across against her knuckles before jerking back in surprise at his own actions. Her eyes were wide as she looked from their clasped hands to his face, before the loud sound of footsteps coming from the hall behind them snapped them out of their moment.
“You kids okay?” They both stood up, Jughead helping to pull Betty up as they both leant up against the wall behind them for support. “What happened here?” Jughead cleared his throat before speaking.
“Betty put out the fire,” he started weaving his story, it wasn’t the first time he had lied to someone and it would not be the last. “I was playing with some matches in the classroom and the fire got out of control. It was stup-”
“Damn right it was stupid.” The fire officer interrupted him and he prepared himself for the lecture that he knew was coming. “We are going to need to take you down to the station. Sheriff Keller is going to want to know about this.” The officer moved to take hold of Jughead and Betty stepped between them.
“No,” she shouted, squaring her shoulders as she looked directly at the officer. Jughead moved out from behind her and stepped to go along with the officer. She looked at him confused. As another officer shouted from the classroom that it was all clear.
“It’s okay, Betts.” Jughead said as he let the officer lead him back down the hallway to no doubt a lecture from the fire department and the sheriff’s office. He looked back over his shoulder to see Betty being wrapped in a blanket by another member of the fire department and smiled to himself. He, Jughead Jones had saved Betty Cooper.
Betty was a world famous actress, dancer and singer who goes to Riverdale for her upcoming television series.
The eighteen year old tried to escape the press but catches someone else’s eye - Jughead Jones.
He knows her, who wouldn’t? And he would admit that he was star struck when he saw her walk into the local library with fifteen guards trailing her.
Jug was more than nervous when going to approach her. Why would she want to affiliate herself with him?
There was no looking back now, his legs were already moving towards the beautiful blonde.
“Hey,” he blurted out. “Do you need any help?”
She turned to face him. She was as beautiful on magazines and photos as she was standing right in front of him. Her skin looked soft and flawless, her hair looked silky and smooth. Her enchanting green eyes landed on his blue and they were more pure than on paper. Her smile could light up a thousand rooms and she was real, right in front of him.
“Yes actually,” her sugary sweet voice was just as beautiful as her appearance. “I’m looking for something to read. Preferably murder mystery. I want to do research on being a detective before acting as one,” she scratched the back of her neck.
He nodded with a smile, trying not to seem such a stalker. “Well first, you’re looking in the wrong section.” He pointed to the sign above her that read ‘autobiographies.’
“Oh my god I’m so dumb,” she giggled. The sound was enlightening and Jug didn’t want her to stop.
・ ・・
She was meant to stand in the wrong section. She couldn’t help her eyes fall on the mysterious brooding boy in the isle, sorting books and looking like a goddess. She felt something when a brown curl fell onto his eye, she just wanted to grab him into a kiss. But this wasn’t a teen drama that she grew up acting in. This was reality and it would end in awkwardness and regret.
So when she acted casual, running her finger across the spine of multiple thick books, she was so willing to just go up to him. But how would he react? Did he know her? Would he act like a super crazed fan and jump on her like the people outside or would he not even know her. He didn’t look like he was into pop music or chick flicks.
Thank god he walked up to her first. Wiping her sweaty hands on her dress, hoping she doesn’t act embarrassing.
The need to touch her has consumed him. Before Betty he would never have subscribed to the concept of PDAs. His life was private and he would have expected that his romantic life would have been even more so. But he can’t help it. Maybe it’s that small part of him that is worried about losing her to someone who deserves him more than him. He needs to show the world, this town that she is his.
He presses his body up against hers as she lets out a little squeak surprised by his forcefulness and willingness to make out with her against her locker in between periods when the entire student population is milling around them. Not that she is complaining as Jughead’s tongue sweeps across her bottom lip and she groans against his mouth as his tongue explores her mouth.
“Ahem.” The two teenagers break apart at the sound to see Kevin and Veronica staring at them. Jughead’s arm is still wrapped around Betty not wanting to break contact with her. “I need to get to my locker.” Kevin explains as they both move aside giving him room. Betty can feel Jughead’s hand moving away from her arm, down her lower back before his hand is inside her rear pocket and she tries to hide her blush as he squeezes slightly.
“You might want to put a hold on the PDA’s Jughead.” Veronica says as her eyes look behind the couple. “Mama Cooper is making her way down the hall.” Jughead’s hand moves away from Betty as if he has been electrified putting distance between them as Betty stifles a laugh, sharing a look with Veronica. There seemed to be only one thing in Riverdale that could dissuade Jughead from kissing Betty in public and that was the possible wrath of Mrs C.
Jughead Jones is trying so hard to be good while living under the Coopers’ roof. But Betty isn’t making it easy.
Post S1 finale, canon divergent. Definitely not PG-13.
Notes: Yeah, of course my mind went to the smutty place when I saw the “come live at our house” deleted scene from 1x13.
It’s just past midnight, and he is almost asleep when he hears the knock on the window of his basement bedroom. In that place, half-to-dreamland, enough that his thoughts feel hazy, like they’re on a delay, when he sits up to investigate the tap-tap-tap from outside.
Must be Archie, he thinks, as he flicks on the small bedside lamp. It wouldn’t be the first time his best friend had stopped by to say, “Hey,” after a late-night run.
But he usually texts first, to give him a head’s up. These days, it doesn’t hurt to be a little skittish in Riverdale.
So he sits up, waits, hears another tap-tap, and then shuffles out of bed and toward only window in the room. Jughead squints to peer through the windowpane, rubbing at the small bit of condensation that’s gathered so he can get a better look.
But it’s not his redheaded best friend, stopping by for a late-night check-in. She’s there, crouched down, a nervous smile on her face as she holds her hand up in a sort-of half-wave, as if to greet him. Then, she curls it into a fist and holds a finger to her lips.
“Betty?” He whispers, suddenly not sure he’s awake at all.
“Let me in,” she mouths. If he had his wits about him, he’d say, It’s late, or, No, go back upstairs, or, you’re crazy, or even just What are you doing? But he’s dumbfounded and still half-asleep, and he does as he’s told, sliding the window open.
thank you @itstenafterfour for looking this over. :) time to meet betty!
this chapter is me giving my baby, jason blossom, the justice he deserves. also i’m experimenting with literally every relationship on riverdale in all of my fics because why not? in this case: say hi to cheronica.
