Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"I'm asking you now Archie, if you love me, in this moment? " The blonde asks the redhead, teary-eyed.

"Of course I love you, Betty! But as a friend," he speaks softly, not wanting to further hurt his best friend.

"Do you remember, when we were 8, you got down on your knees, at this exact spot, and asked me if I would marry you." She sniffles "and I told you to ask me again, when we would be 18 and I'd say yes,"

"We were 8! I didn't know Veronica then!"

"You met her a month ago, Arch! We've known each other for entire lives. Wasn't it always supposed to be us? Th-the girl next door, and the boy next door?" her lip quivering violently as she further continues to stop her self from breaking down.

"I love you Betty, believe me, I do, but as a friend," He tries to explain to her calmly.

She simply scoffs, walking away from Archie. 

Her feet were aching, in her tall heels that strutted noisily against the rough ground. She felt lost, however knowing exactly where she was headed : to Pop's Chock'lit shoppe.

The one pace which stayed open all night long, the one place where she could be alone, without anyone hovering over her. 

She walks into the bright cheery place, that were filled with childhood memories. The bells jingling, above her as she lets herself in. 

She quickly scans the place, noticing all booths were stuffed with high-schoolers, she recognized from the hallways of Riverdale High. However she was glad that neither of them included any of the people she talked to on a daily basis. Namely Archie, Veronica, Cheryl and even Kevin. She hated being pitied at, she felt weak.

But from afar, she notices, a raven-haired boy, who had a beanie placed proudly over his curls. Typing away, intently on his laptop, as he continues to sip his coffee. She didn't recognize him, at all. 

She walks over to his booth, he was too good-looking to be alone on a Friday night, which did puzzle her. 

"Hey, uh, can I sit here?" she asks him.

She notices his piercing blue orbs look up at her, sending chills down her spine.

"Anytime," he mumbles from below his dusty beanie, as he shuts his laptop close, sliding it away.

"Thanks," She says as she slides in the seat, across him.

He could smell the floral scent diffusing off of her, and he had to admit he did find it attractive.

"I'm Betty, short for Elizabeth. And you are?" She asks him politely, taking off her warm red scarf and putting it aside.

"Jughead. Jughead Jones," He replies, his lips slightly turning upwards as he continues "How old are you ? " 

"16, you?"

"I'm turning 17 in a few months," Jughead explains, to the blonde.

"I don't think I've seen you before, here in Riverdale, are you new?" she's quick to question him.

"No, I've always been here. I spend most, if not all my evening in this very booth," He explains.

"Oh... Thats odd. You know, we've never even seen each other?" She chuckles.

"Yeah, because you've been too busy with some other redhead-ed hunk," He snaps quietly at her.

"Archie... yeah." she looks down slightly ashamed.

"What happened to him, today?" he aks the girl in front of her.

She laughs nervously, unsure how to continue, due to the flush of embarrassment. 

"I don't judge, we're strangers, how would it possibly matter even if I did judge?" 

"I loved him and he didn't love me back," she explains, with a flat tone, as if it didn't affect her.

"Gosh, that's painful..." Jughead says.

"Yeah, well welcome to the life of Betty Cooper, I guess," she chuckles, trying to laugh her pain off.

"I don't know your entire story nor do I know his, but hey," Jughead rests his hand over the blonde's who had started to form tears in her eye yet again "It was his loss, he didn't realize how lucky he must have been, to have someone as caring and loving as you by his side," he finishes as he caresses her hand comforting her.

"One day, you'll meet someone who'll treat you right, someone who feels this exact same way towards you, okay?" he continues softly.

"Okay," she mumbles back to him.

"C'mon lets cheer you up, what would ya' like to have?" he asks her, as if he had known her for years.

"I'll take a vanilla milkshake," she smiles through her tears, letting her delicate hands stay comfortably in his.

It had been hours , since she had stumbled into the diner, heavy-hearted. However, now after getting to know Jughead, she felt anything but heavyhearted. She felt... relieved. He had been making her laugh, and smile more than Archie ever had in the long years they knew each other. He had even paid their bill when they left the building, and whilst Jughead was gathering his belongings, Betty had a short talk with Pop's ; who had assured her that he was fine, young gentlemen.

"It was great meeting you, Jughead," she says to him, as they stood a few hundred meters from the blonde's home.

"The pleasure was all mine Cooper," he says to her, as he starts turning away from her.

"Wait!" she tugs at his arm, pulling him back, and wraps her arms around his neck, as she buries herself in his embrace. "Thank you for tonight," she mumble into his arm, that was draped around her frame. "You don't need to thank me, 'kay?" 

She simply smiles at him, pulling way from the warm hug, in the cold night. 

"I'd walk you to your door-step however I'm sure your parents would hate if a sketchy guy dressed in black hoodie and sweats randomly drop their daughter off home at 3 am," he laughs.

"My mom would come out with a shot gun," she giggles at his joke.

"I'll see you around, Cooper," he waves her off, a she walks back to her home

Chapter Text

It hadn't been until the next morning that Betty realized she forgot to ask Jughead his phone number. Nor did she know where he lived, or which school he went to. She knew nothing about him, other than his name and his age. 

"Betty? Would you like some pancakes?" Her mom asks her as she comes downstairs.

"Uh... I was actually thinking of going to Pop's," She explains.

"Of course, are you going to meet someone?" The middle-aged woman inquires.

"No, I was just craving one of pop's burgers,"

"Right, make sure to buy me a plate of onion rings when you're coming back," her mom smiles at her, as the young girl nods and turn away, heading out the door.

It had been a few minutes since she had left home and all she could think of was if she'd be able to meet Jughead again. He did mention that he goes to Pop's almost daily, so she was bound to run into him. But will he even remember her or will he even want to talk to her again?

She shrugged off that possibility, as she walks towards the busy diner. She didn't look as good as she did last night. She let her hair flow freely, similar to last night, however this morning she wore a simple floral-printed top and a pair of her classic dark blue jeans. She finished her look with a pair of ordinary ballet flats, unlike last night where she wore nude heels.

She swings to door open, and walks into the cool building. The bells jingles above her head, just like last night. However this time, when she scanned across the diner, the first people she notices are Veronica and Archie, sipping away milkshakes as they laughed mindlessly, probably at some stupid joke. They didn't even think of inviting her. It was her and Archie's thing, not Veronica. Veronica was supposed to be the outsider, when instead she felt like the outsider herself.

She scoffs to herself as she looks back down at her feet and lets out a long breath before walking straight to the counter to order. 

"Mornin' Betty, your usual in that booth ?" he asks referring to Archie and Veronica's booth. 

"No... I'll just have my usual and onion rings, to go," she responds, looking away from them. Pop simply nods at the girl, not wanting to put her in an uncomfortable situation.

It wasn't until Betty takes her order from Pop and is about to leave that Veronica and Archie take notice of her presence at the diner.

"Betty, wait!" Archie tries stopping he.

"Just leave me alone!" She exclaims at him furiously.

"Betts, please just join us," he pleads the girl.

"You didn't even think twice before replacing me with Veronica, then why do you want me to join you?!" tears were already rolling down her rose-tinted cheeks as she spoke.

"I'm not replacing you with Ronnie," he speaks gently, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him.

"You know that's not true," Betty argues, "I get it Archie, I was never the one, okay. I get it. Now, please, I need time. I'm not okay, I should be, I thought i could be, but it's too much, too fast," she sniffles, wiping her tears away.

This time as Betty turns away, Archie doesn't try to top her. He simply watches as she walks far away from the diner, and then he soon returns back to his booth, to Veronica.

He didn't want to rush her into 'being okay'. 

He truly wanted her to heal from this, and figured that maybe the only way possible was if she got some space from both him and Veronica; forgetting that they were the only friends she had, excluding Kevin.

Jughead watched, before him, the entire scene unfold, as he sat at the last booth, on the opposite side of the redhead's booth. He noticed Betty look around Pop's and her eyes catching the wrong guy. He figured she was eventually going to look towards his side of the diner, later join him for a late breakfast and but she seemed too occupied in trying to ignore the boy that made her shed her precious tear the previous night. He continues watching her as she had a quarrel with the red-head she was in love with.  

Just as he's about to leave the diner himself, Pop's asked "I thought you would want to talk to Betty again today," he was... puzzled, the two hit it off so well last night and then this morning proceeded to behave like absolute stranger.

"Last night was just a one-time thing. She needed a booth and all the others were occupied. Nothing more," he answers, cold-heartdely.

He knew it was more than that. She knew it was more than that. But he simply ignores that feeling, as he figured that she must have had plenty of friends at her school, just like he did, at southside.

"We're two different people, from two different backgrounds, our friendship would never work," he goes into detail, explaining himself.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Pop sighs as he goes back to doing his chores around the diners, after the beanie-clad boy exists the diner.

Chapter Text

It had been a good few weeks, since that morning, when Betty initially planned to go looks for Jughead at Pop’s but got too distracted by Archie and Veronica.

She hadn’t talked to her only friends, for those few weeks either. She came to school, avoided them at all costs, and then at the end of the day simply walked back all by herself. It was painful seeing Veronica and Archie together, they had seemingly gotten closer. She figured that they probably had already started dating, she hadn’t seen them kiss, at least not yet, but she had seen them walking through the corridors their hands entwined together, like the roots of an ancient romantic tree’s roots . Archie did everything he used to do with Betty and more, for Veronica. 

He really did deeply care for Veronica. She could see it in his eyes, everytime Veronica let a giggle slip out of her lips, or when she was simply around him. She often caught them together at Pop’s too, two straws in a dark-chocolate flavored milkshake (a flavor Archie despised, but one that Veronica adored)

Truthfully, they had stopped noticing Betty’s presence, around them. They forgot about everyone else, when they were together. 

She loved seeing Archie and Veronica , so damn happy, but she hated that it wasn’t her instead of Veronica. Everybody knew that one day, the golden boy would grow up, steal Miss.Americana’s heart and then go down on his knee, asking her hand on this goddamn beautiful life together. That he’d become a musician and she’d become a reporter, have two adorable children, buy the perfect cul-de-sac house. Everybody had visioned it, before Veronica came in. Betty envisioned it, Alice and Hal did, Fred and Mary did, their classmates did, and a part of Archie did too. 

However, that all changed the instant Archie’s eyes had met the mysterious New-Yorker’s deep hazel brown eyes, during that ‘date’ with Betty at Pop’s. Now all that everybody could vision was, Veronica and Archie, the perfect couple with all the fame and success in the world, even if their worlds were in each other’s arms.

Betty had gone... silent. She hadn’t really spoken to anyone in a while, she hadn’t really smiled either. The last time she could remember being truly happy, was the very night her life fell apart, but she can’t remember that addictive happiness  not with Archie. The last time someone had made her smile was when she was with Jughead. She had gone to Pop’s numerous time after their encounter, and carefully looked around, hoping she’d find him in some corner, in the dark, peacefully typing away, but he never was.

Soon enough, she gave up. She figured that maybe he was part of her life, just for that one specific night. Soon he’d just become a fading, fleeting memory. That soon, it’d be a night that barely even existed. She understood falsely that he didn’t want to be found, he knew exactly were she lived. Her street, her house, everything, yet he never cared to show up, just like the numerous people in her life.

The blonde expected this day to be exactly the same as the previous: she’d go to school, spend her day in the corner of a classroom, all alone, walk down the hallways alone, and return back. But that changed when, as she sat quietly by-herself finishing off her homework for the next day, due to boredom and an announcement on the inter-com goes off.

“Tomorrow, a few Southside high students will be transferring to Riverdale high, by the orders of Madam Mayor, as part of a trial. Elizabeth Cooper, Tina Saltzman, Archie Andrews, Reggie Mantle, Veronica Lodge and Kevin Keller are all requested to meet up with Student Body President Cheryl Blossom; she will assign you, your tour buddies for tomorrow, thank you,” The announcement echoed through out the school. As most of the students groaned due to the unwanted arrival of the southsiders, Betty simply accepted it as it came. Nothing foreign really affected her, anymore. She felt... numb, in a way. She felt forgotten and unwanted. Unwanted like the dust by the window sill, like the coal in a black lung; and forgotten like the underrated 60s trend. 

Betty had been quietly listening to her distant cousin, explain everything to her and the others. She had gotten someone with a rather odd name. “Forsythe Pendelton Jones the third,” she mumbles to herself quietly. 

She simply wondered who would name their child like that, snickering at the name. She noticed the Jones, remember her ‘fleeting’ memory, Jughead Jones. but his name was Jughead not... Forsythe or Pendelton. Whoever this kid was, he must’ve been some sort of prince. His name did sound a little dreamy, in an odd way.

Cheryl had gotten another big named Fangs, and Veronica had gotten some girl called Toni Topaz. After explaining exactly what they had to do, Cheryl finally let them free.
She’s stunned as she notices Archie rushing towards Veronica, after their meeting, his shoulder lightly bumping into hers, not even acknowledging her existence. She sighs, walking past them with her head hung low.

It was finally the hour of their arrival, when she’d get to meet this Forsythe.

The large door swings open as a few leather clad teenager walked through it, she hadn’t looking at them yet , as she was busy sorting out their timetables and locker codes to hand it all to them almost immediately. She could hear a few whispers around her. It is then that she finally looks up, noticing the same piercing ocean eyes observing her intently. A soft-smile plastered adorably on his lips, his dimples clearly visible in the brightness of the day. His luscious locks decorated with the same beanie from that night.
She feels something she hadn’t in a while. As if  a beautiful unfathomable feeling in her stomach had grown wings and was fluttering silently inside.

It is then that she truly smiles, without having to fake it. 

“Jughead?!” she exclaims.

It is then that her broken heart finds its other half. 

Chapter Text

“What were the odds?” He asks her almost chuckling, walking towards  her through the crowd.

Betty does the same, as she replies "Slim to none."

For the first time, in a long time she is happy, she doesn't feel... lonely.

"You never gave me your number," she states.

"Memory fails you at the most important times," he reasons with her.

"Betty, how do you know him?" Archie asks, rather concerned.

"He's a friend Archie," Betty signals him to back off.

"Yeah, except he's part of the Serpents!" he says noticing their classic leather jacket embedded with a majestic Snake design, which seemed more like a logo, or even a brand now.

Jughead is quick to chime in, "Leader. I'm their leader, Red."

"Just leave us be, Archie," Betty responds, strong-willed to keep her friendship with Jughead.

"Betty-" Archie starts off.

"I think he made it clear, Red. She's fine with who I am," Jughead cuts him off, moving intimidatingly close to the redhead teenage.

Archie scoffs, trying to hide not only the feeling of feeling weak, but also the mild hint of fear, in him, taking a few small steps away from Jughead. 

"Alright, how about we start with our individual tours?" Veronica jumps in, trying to keep the hallway in peace "All of you here, will have your own personal tutor, mentor, guide and friend, all in one, in the form of a classmate. We'll give you your locker codes, your own timetable and a list of extra-curriculars, which you are more than welcome to join," 

Just as the small group of teenagers, find their guide, Jughead starts wondering who he has been partnered with. Hoping to not get partnered up with Archie.

"Forsythe?" he hears a soft and familiar voice call out his name. Walking through the small group of people, he realizes his guide is none other than the blonde herself.

"Who are you partnered up with ?" she asks him casually, still not realizing that it was him.

"I dont know... you tell me," he responds playfully.

Betty catches onto his playful tone, "You're Forsythe?" she asks him rhetorically giggling at her own luck.

"Forsythe Pendelton Jones the third, that's me."

"So you gave me a fake name at Pop's?"

"My preffered name," he corrects her.

"Aah, got it," she clicks.

The two continue conversing, not noticing Archie's glare at them.

She leads him throught the hall way, to their class, considering they had numerous classes together, as that is why she was chosen to be his guide. She introduces him to the teacher and the class, who were not very enthusiastic about a southsider amongst them.

They sat together, epecially since Betty didn't really sit with anyone, it was easier to be arooud her. And in class like English literature, where none of his friends would be, he had the best company, without a second doubt.

As lunch-time rolled around, they picked u their food from the cafeteria, and walk through the empty hallways, as Betty introduces the entire building to him. Archie spots them, a few-times together through-out the day, noticing how happy his childhood friend, Betty, was. It was that genuine smile plastered sheepishly across her face, something that he hadn't seen in a while. Well, to be fair, even if she was smiling before Jughead came, he had almost forgotten about her, so he wouldn't have known. He remembers the blonde and him walking together through the school, just like her and Jughead did, just like he and Veronica did. 

He was eternally greatful for Veronica, she was everything he didn't know he needed and more. She helped him find stability between two things he loved : music and football. She helped him realize that football, was his like his first love or a omething he enjoyed everyonce in  while, like Betty... and muic was his true love, like Veronica. 

Veronica didn't specifically do anything that gave him this realisation, but her presence over his shoulder as he roughly scribbled some lyrics onto a paper, as he walks through the corridor hand-in-hand with her, as the entire world beside him faded away into some distant noise, did. She was his inspiration, and she didn't even know her impact on him.

However, she was aware of Archie's impact on her. He helped her mental health, with the entire drama in the Lodge family, with the stress of moving to an absolutely new place and leaving her entire life behind in New York, with the unnescessary amount of hate she got for her father's bad deeds.  He knew everything that had happened, in depth and detail and yet, he never doubted her purity once.

But a very small fraction of him, missed the simple life he had with Betty, before the back-to-school dance's after-party where the blonde revealed her feelings for him, when their entire childhod went to flames, and burnt into ashes. He trully didn't have feelings for Betty as more than a friend, but she isn't even his friend anymore.

They're simply two strangers with a shared childhood. 

During lunch-time, as Veronica and Archie seated themselves at their usual table, that once used to be Betty's and Archie's table, Archie questioned Veronia about her well-being. 

"You've been so... quiet today, is everything alright Ronnie?" he asks his beloved.

She shrugs lightly as she responds to him, "I am, but I'm worried bout Betty, and Jughead,"  she expresses.

"Same," he sighs as he continues on eating his sandwich.

"No Archie, I've heard things 'bout Jughead. He doesn't physically harm girls or anything but he's a player. The vixens often gossip about him and from what I've heard he's your typical heartbreaker. Makes the girl fall in love with him and his charms, and then dumps them immediately after. and I'm afraid he might be doing the exact same thing to Betty."

"Honestly, I'm not even suprised. It's written all over his stupid face"

"I wanna talk to Betty and warn her about Jughead, but I feel... guilty. I mean if it weren't for me being in Riverdale you two would be together. I feel like I ruined your friendship with her," she explains before she starts devouring her salad.

"Ronnie, I don't think I ever felt what I feel for you towards you, for Betty. I was confused; Everyone told us that she and I would end up together, so I just believed what I was told, but that was before I met you, that evening at Pop's."

"When you were on a date with Betty," veronica argues.

"It wasn't a date! It was simply two friends meeting up after the summer, okay? I've only ever had feelings for you,"

Veronica briefly looks away from Archie, before her eyes landed on the duo, that concerned her : Betty and Jughead, now seated peacefully together at an empty lunch table.

"What do we do about Betty and Jughead?" Veronica questions the redhead seated beside her.

"I still think you should go and talk to her. Lay all the facts out, and just be as genuine as you are right now,"

 Veronica hums slightly showing her agreement as she continued to observe the two conversing, "I'll talk to her at the end of school, when he isn't around her."

Chapter Text

The two teenagers that recently met, sat in the peace and quiet of the school’s newspaper room, as the blonde teenager explains everything about it patiently. 

“You run this entire thing alone ?” Jughead questions Betty, shocked at how hard working she is.

”Yeah, well not if you join me,” she says grinning adorable.

”Trust me I’d join but I’m not sure if this is the right platform for my voice. I’m a fictional writer, I haven’t really written a newspaper article,” he explains truthfully.

”I can teach you! I mean I am your mentor, and it is kind of like my job to teach you things about Riverdale High and help you out as much as I can,” she suggests “Please Jug, trust me it will be amazing and I’m sure you’ll do great too.”

”That smile of yours is extremely persuasive Cooper,” he chuckles.

"Did it work?" She asks him sheepishly.

"It did, I'm in" he announces.

”Great! So basically, you can come in here whenever you want, and there aren’t fixed times for you to write for the Blue & Gold. You can write anytime you want. We’ll gather all the articles we write at the end of every two weeks, and we’ll publish them on The third Monday.”

”Understood ma’am,” Jughead teases her.

As the two teenagers, continue discussing the school newspaper, a disturbing knock interrupted them. As the blonde looks towards the door-way expect some new student wanting to join the Blue & Gold, she was shocked to see it was the decadent Veronica. Veronica Lodge, draped in pearl jewelry , a tight skirt hugged her lower half, beutifuly. Similarily a matching, dark top covered her torso eleganty. Her intimidating scent invading the soft and sweet atmosphere of the room. 

"Veronica..." Betty gulps as she quickly glances at Jughead checking to see if he was as mesmerised by Veronica as Archie was when he first laid his sights on her. Luckily he wasn't, or at least Betty didn't want to think that. She was simly too confused to even see the  truth.

"Jughead," Veronica flashes a forced smile on her face for the boy, before turning back to Betty "I need to talk to you, about something important,"

"Oh... about what?" Betty asks clueless.

"In private," Veronica explains, casuing Jughead to be irritated.

At least Jughead wasn't immediately head over heels for New Yorker. "I'll see you tomorrow Betts?" Jughead asks the blonde girl as he gets up and starts grabbing his things.

"No Jug, don't go just yet," Betty tries to stop him "Me and Veronica can talk another time,"

"It's alright. It must be important if somene randomly pops into others' conversation," Jughead starts "It's getting sort of late anyways."

It wasn't getting late, school had finished just half an hour ago. But he figured that Betty would probably feel ashamed to call him, her friend, he felt like an outsider in her life. He didn't really know anything about her still, and neither did she know about him. 

"I'm sorry," Betty mouths to him as he walks out of the room.

There was a small moment of silence before Betty asks, knowing full well that she didn't come to appoligize to her or try and rekindle their friendship, "What do you want Veronica?"

"Betty I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but.." she gulps in fear, before continuing "It's about Jughead."

"Are you somehow interested in Jug as well? Because aparently stealing my best friend wasn't enough for you," Betty spits out in anger.

"I'm sorry about Archie, I really am. I never intended for the rift between you both. And I hate myself for liking Archie, because a part of me feels like if it weren't for me, you and Archie would have been together, now."

Betty simply scoffs "You're sorry? You took away my best friend! It hurts knowing that he doesn't feel for me the same way I feel for him, but it feels like a knife to my heart seeing both of you doing things that were mine and Archie's! It's as if I don't even exist, you won't even understnd how it feels to be an outsider in your own world . I had this one friend, that I just knew i would end up with, and the exact day you walked into that diner, you ruined it all ! And now you're trying to take my only other friend from me, again !" Betty exclaims in anger.

Veronica looks down in shame, before sighing.

"Betty just hear me out abut Jughead, please," She beggs the blonde.

"Go on," She agrees through her gritted teeth.

"He isn't how he seems to be. The vixens, they often talk about him and from what I've picked up is, he's a typical playboy. He dates girls, makes them fall in love with him and dumps them at their most vulnerable," Veronica explains "I can't tell you who to talk to and who to date but I just want you to be careful around him. I don't want you to be played around by him, or be hurt,"

Betty looks at disbelief in Veronica.  A million thoughts and doubts had flooded her mind, almost instantly. 

Was Jughead just using her? 

He did meet her at her most vulnerable. Well, it was more like, she met him.

But he did talk about how he constantly saw Betty and Archie as they walked into Pop's, which isn't exactly normal.

He did know exactly where she lived and never tried contacting her, in the past few weeks.

She lightly licks her lips,  in anxiety.

But he never, once crossed the line of a friend. She hadn't even thought of him, like that, before now.

"How are you so sure?" She questions the girl in front of her.

"I'm not, but I don't want you to get hurt," Veronica says.

"That's ironic," Betty huffs sarcastically.

"I'll be on my way out," Veronica says.

"Wait." Betty calls after her "Uh... How's Archie? Is he alright? Is he happy? With you?"

"I think so... yeah... He's good," Veronica replies unsure of what to say "He's an amazing musician,"

"Yeah," Betty chuckles awkwardly.

"You know, he's deciding on going to this music school in LA after graduation," Veronica adds.

"Wow... I thought he wanted to go to Princeton, and continue with football there," Betty says confused.

"He had that as an option, yeah. But he finalized on Music," Veronica  explains.

"Vee... I'm happy though. I mean Archie looks like he's glowing. I hadn't really seen him like that ever since his parents got divorced."

"I really am sorry Betty," Veronica still apollogises.

"Yeah," Betty mumble before sighing heavily, turning away from the decadent girl; Veronica turns around and decides on leaving the room as Betty faced her back towards her.

Just as Betty realizes that Veronica had left, and when she can hear nothing but her own heartbeat, tears start spilling from her eyes. Thinking that she never treated Archie right. Wishing she could be Veronica, instead. Hoping that all of this was just a nightmare, and wakes up up in a world were Veronica never exited, were it was just her and Archie, just like it was supposed to be.

The two childhood neighbours, become best friends, become classmates, soon fall in love and get married.

She tries to furiosly wipe the tears that stain her rose-tinted cheeks, and cause her mascara to darken her undereyes. She slides down against her table, her heart was aching, and there was no medicine designed to stop this unbearable pain.

There was no way of avoiding the hurt or trying to stop it either. She knew time would heal the hurt, but it was taking far too long, it had gotten to a point where she couldn't control her own emotions.

On top of that, the shocking news that Veronica bombared her with, about Jughead.

It all got too much for the young girl.

From a family where expressing yourself seemed like a crime, to losing her chidhood best friend, to finding out her new friend and her only friend might be using her, it was too fucking much.

It seemed as if the entire world was speeding past her, leaving her behind, all alone. It was too fast to catch up on. She was far too behind now, to catch up.

She felt too suffocated to continue fighting, she felt too weak. American glory had faded before her, and now she felt nothing but hopeless. The  whole school rolled fake dices, playing stupid games and wining stupid prices, whilst she sat on the floor, sobing her eyes out.

Everything she once knew, ceased to exist now.

It all seemed like a fight, one she knew she had to win.

But now it started to feel like she is losing, and there is nothing in power, that she can do to stop it.

Chapter Text

The next couple of days Betty spends it isolating herself from... everyone.

From Jughead, from Archie, from Veronica, from Kevin too.

It isn't that she hated them; she felt as if she needed to catch her own breth before she continues chasing her image. 

She still went too school, however, she couldn't afford falling behind school, as well. Her days seemed identical, she avoided going to the Blue & Gold, she avoided the popular groups at lunch, even though she knew full well, that she could join them any moment and they'd happily have her. She avoided talking in classes too.

She walked past all the chatter in the hallways at the end of the school day, and simply walked past all the noise.

Jughead noticed her, he noticed how alone she was. He spent a huge amount of his day wondering what caused her to distance herself from evryone, even him. But he never pushed her or forced her to open up, she din't owe him an answer, however he hoped that if she ever does want to talk about what is going on in her llife, she'll be able to talk to him. He knew she was alright, considering the numerous e-mails she sends him during the day, regarding the Blue & Gold. However he didn’t know if she was alright.

However, today was fairly different.

As Jughead sat in the Blue & Gold during his free period, the blonde girl chimes, her perfect ponytail in place. Her lips glossed with the lightest and most natural shade of pink. 

"Hey," she greets him brightly.

"Betty...hi," it would be safe to say he did miss her, "How are you?" his entire attention and focus on the girl as she makes herself comfortable at her own spot.

"I'm okay. You?" she responds a if she hadn't jut gone incongnito for days.

"I missed you," he says softly.

He watches her open up her laptop and settle in her seat, before she relies to him "I missed you too, Jug,"

She took the few days to think and re-collect herself. Her parents always told her that comuniction is the key to healthy friendship or a relationship, so she will follow through on their advice. 

Be honest to Jughead, and confront him. and besides he knew that she already liked Archie, so it wouldn't make sense, if he ony talked to her because he was using her. And every time they talked, until they officilly became friends,was simply all coincidence. She was the one who sked if she can sit with him, that night. His school shut down, which agaian isn't his fault either, and top it all of, it was Cheryl who had chosen her as a guide for him, considering they had mot of their subjects together. Which ultimtely shows that deep in their cores they're two very similar people.

He gets up from his seat, and walks towards where Betty was seated, the girl follows him with her eyes, before he settle atop her table. Fixing his intent gaze on her, he asks "Where were you? You pretty much, avoided everyone person."

She sighs heavily, she speaks looking down at her lap, desperately trying to avoid Jughead's pittyful eyes, "I was just exhauted." 

" 'Kay," he lightly licks his lips, "You know you can alway talk to me right? And I don't mean this a formality,"

"Yeah.." Betty sighs.

"I care for you," he mumbles to her, casuing her to break into a small delicte mile.

"Thank you Jughead."

”Can I ask you something?” She starts.

”Of course, ask away.”

The blonde gulps lightly before continuing “Few days ago, when Veronica rudely interrupted us. After you left, she told me something, and I-I don’t know what to believe anymore. And I know I’m probably taking her too seriously for my own good, but I need to hear it from you,”

”What did she tell you?” He asks, curious as to what the pearl clad girl had told her.

”Do you… use girls? And play with their emotions?” She asks him concretely.

There is a glint of… pain, visible through his expressions, she sees him shut his eyes tightly for a moment, looking away from her when he opens them.

”No. I don’t.”

She looks at him in disbelief. “Are you lying to me?” 

“What?! No!” Jughead exclaims “I've never even talked to her before,"

"She heard that from the vixen's," Betty states.

"That was part of a rumor these girls spread about me at my last school. Just don't believe them."

"But why did they-"

"I'm a serpent, Betty, those girls they were from the Ghoulies: our rivals,"

"Oh.." betty sighs softly, finally seeing the bigger picture "I'm sorry, for believing Veronica and some stupid rumor,"

"It's fine, as long as you don't also hate me for something I never did," he chuckles.

"God the sarcam," Betty giggles playfuly, as the two return to their normal and joke about the situation.

Archie watches from outside the room, as Jughead and Betty make jokes similar to like him and Veronica did, similar to how he and Betty did once upon a time. He notices the constant sheepish smile spread wide across the girl’s face. Similarly to Jughead, it would be safe to say he missed her. He missed his goofy friend. After much thought and consideration, the redhead Ed boy decides to knock on the door, and then immediately barge in and interrupt the two.

”Betts, there’s an open for all party at Cheryl’s, me and Ronnie were going together… would wanna come with us? Or we could meet up there, if you prepare that,”

Him and ‘Ronnie’ were going.

Not him and Betty and then Veronica.

”It’s fine, Archie. You go ahead and enjoy with Veronica,” she declines, pretending to be unaffected  “I wouldn’t wanna impose on your little date,” she spits out “Maybe you can go to pop’s after and order our usual, I’m sure she’ll love that.”

”Betty-“ Archie sighs.

”Have a good life, Archie Andrews.”

Archie looks down in disappointment, at his failure, and simply walks away. Not evening putting up an argument to make her stay.

Chapter Text

It was finally Friday, the day of Chery's party. Everybody had already decided who they're going with or what they're wearing but, Betty had decided to distance herself from all of that. She used to go such parties with her best friend, Archie, when he didn't leave another option for her, but now she had no reason to go. 

"Will I see you on Monday?" the beanie clad boy asked the girl, who conversed with him as she gathered her required items from her locker.

"Why won't you see me on Monday?" she asks him back, eliciting a chuckle from Jughead. 

"In case you decide to vanish again, let me know so I don't freak out that you hate me," he bites back playfully.

"Hmm...  Well I haven't planned on vanishing over the weekend, but I might after that," she laughs out.

"Touché" Jughead finishes, watching Betty walk away, wanting to say something. However, he had absolutely no idea what to say. It's not even been that long that they've known each other, so it definitely wouldn't have been appropriate to say that he'll miss her, even if he did.

"Wait! Betty!" he calls out into the rather empty hallway occupied by his and the fleeting presence of the blonde.

"What?" she turns back around, as he jogs up to her. "What's wrong?"

"Uh... if you want, I can take you home,"

"I mean, I don't mind but isn't southside the opposite direction from here ? "

"Well that's one of the few perks of having a motorcycle," Jughead adds.

He watches as her face tenses up, and she makes an uncomfortable face, "A motorcycle, are you insane?"

"What-"

"My mom will come out with a shotgun. Honestly, Jug it's fine, I always walk back home. I'll be fine,"

"Are you sure? I could stop right before Elm Street and we can walk the rest of the distance" he suggests.

"No Jug it's fine, I swear."

"Well then I can walk with you," 

"Jug-"

"No Betty, it's fine I swear," he imitates her.

"Betty!" a feminine voice interrupts them. 

Veronica.

"Jughead...' Veronica says awkwardly, approaching the duo.

"Did you need something Veronica?" Betty inquires.

"Well I was hoping, you me and Archie could go as a trio tonight to Cheryl's party."

Betty sighs, knowing that saying a simple no  wouldn't matter to them, they'd bug her until she would be forced to say yes.

"I already have a date!" she beams.

"Oh... really?" Veronica mumbles in disbelief.

"Yeah, but it's some other place... w-we're going, not to Cheryl's." Betty lies, trying to make up something convincing enough to skip the entire soirée altogether "Please guys, don't tell anyone else, he's not from here and I don't want it to be awkward." she finishes.

"Yeah of course, Betty. I understand, I just didn't want you to spend a party alone, but I'm really happy for you," she smiles genuinely.

"Yeah..." Betty forces a smile, knowing that she will be spending a party alone.

Jughead glances, down at Betty, knowing that she was lying.

"I'll see you around, Betty," Veronica walks off, ignoring Jughead's presence.

Betty lets out a huge sigh once Veronica was out of their sight.

"A date? Really?" Jughead laughs.

"Shut up," Betty smacks his arms playfully before exiting the building with Jughead.

It had been a good few minutes that they had been walking, they had talked for a while until they didn't know what to say to each other. They shared quite glances, through the few minutes.

"Why don't you wanna go to the party?" he asks her out of the blue.

"Cheryl's parties are disasters. Always exposing someone, accusing someone, alcohol, jingle jangle too. I'm just not into it. I love going out and parties, but not that kind," she calmly explains.

" Vey well, but don't you feel alone? You know just staying home whilst everybody's partying or left out when everybody talks about what they did the next day?"  He asks her.

"I'm a human, of course I do. I just got used to feeling that," she answers quietly.

He nods in response, continuing the silence for a while; trying to think of a solution.

"Do me a favor? " He asks her.

"Sure, shoot."

"Don't go to sleep early tonight and make sure your parents do," he says.

"I told you, I'm not going to her party," she says oblivious to the little plan Jughead was cooking up.

"And you won't have to," he responds to the stubborn girl, walking besides him.

She gives him a known look.

"Jughead,"

"Just trust me."

"Where the hell have you been, Jones?" his brunette childhood friend asks Jughead as he enters the dimly-lit bar, located on the Southside.

"Out. Walking." he replies coldly, plopping down on the couch beside her.

"What is the northside doing to you... god," Toni jokes.

"Is that supposed to be good or bad?" Jughead questions her, confused by her tone.

"Oh definitely good. You look happier too. Is it because of blondie?" Toni teases him.

"Betty's just a friend, calm down," Jughead says.

"Friend?" Toni teases him further "That's new."

"Damn Jones, what happened to 'Mr. I don't do friends' ?" Sweet Pea chimes in.

"Oh c'mon! I said that when I was like 10," Jughead protests.

"Whatever. Jones, we're heading to Blossom's party tonight, you're going right ?" Toni asks inquires.

Without a hint of hesitation, he replies "Nah, count me out." They all watch him in disbelief. Why was Jughead ditching a party? He had declined numerous parties before, however when he was being invited to one, especially one from the Northside, why did he decline?

One person. Betty Cooper, god damn Betty Cooper. 

He hadn't really felt something, in a really really long time, it was as if he had forgotten what it meant to feel something. It was addictive. Her bright smile, the tight little ponytail, her honey-coated laugh was all so fucking euphoric. He wasn't in love, not in the slightest he told himself. He felt different around her, that's all. He felt special when he was around the over-achiever. 

He used to dread going to school on most days, however now he loved it.

Around her, he could be honest, he could truly be himself. He didn't need to be a jerk, because now he wasn't scared that she'd hurt him. He could be a novel-obsessed teen. He could unapologetically be as childish and goofy as he wished. No matter who he presented, he knew she'd accept him.

"Why not ? It's Cheryl's party, it will be lit. Besides, Topaz here was personally invited," Sweet Pea teases her.

"Okay shut up."

"Well damn Toni.  Blossom? Cheryl Blossom?" Jughead smirks playfully.

"She's really nice once you get to know her, trust me."

"Alright, alright we believe you," Jughead laughs softly, causing the mater to slip away. WIth his amazing luck, Toni caught the topic immediately after.

"Real question is why aren't you going ?" Toni asks determined to know what mischief he's planning.

Jughead flashes a known look, rolling his eyes in annoyance of the girl's determination. " Betty isn't going,"

"You always have us ! You don't need a Northsider to be present to a party, Sweet Pea's going alone too." Toni protests.

"Don't worry I'm not missing out, I have... a little something planned. I'm taking Betty with me," Jughead explains to his best friend, hoping to calm her down.

"Oh my god, you're going on a date- Jughead Jones is going on a date," Toni lets out a shrill shriek in excitement, as laughs and words of support are followed from Sweet Pea.

"No it's not a date!" Jughead fights against "We're just enjoying... our- lives. Whatever, it isn't a date. Just two friends, close friends, hanging out,"

"uh... alright, I guess," Toni says rather awkwardly, not sure how to respond to Jughead's bizarre excuse.

"Have fun Jones," Sweet Pea finishes.

Oh he would. Every minute with the blonde is enjoyable, and exciting. It were her imperfections, that made her so perfect. It was her kind heart that made her so attractive. It was her radiating positivity that pulled him closer to her. It was her, that made him so free.

Chapter Text

Mid-night had rolled around, as Betty laid flat under her covers, dressed in a sleeve-less pearl white dress which went down to her ankles, her hair done in a loose low ponytail, splayed across her pillow. But Betty's heart was pounding in her chest as she waited for the boy to show up. She had packed a small bag and kept it beside her on the bed under her covers. Her dimly-lit room had grown silent, in wait for the boy to show up. 

She lets out a sigh in the pin-drop silent room, starting to give up hope; maybe Jughead had forgotten and wasn't going to show up. However she remained patient, remembering how he told her to simply trust him, how he promised her a good time. Her mind wanders to how Archie must be having the time of his life, with the girl he replaced her with, with Veronica. 

A quiet knock is heard, Betty is confused if she was imagining it or if it was legitimate. As she rolls out from underneath her warms covers, and stumbles across towards her window, lifting the blinds meeting the gently piercing eyes of the teenage boy she was waiting for. 

He kept his promise. 

She chuckles, whilst opening her window as gently as she could realizing he was up on a ladder. 

"What are you doing here ?" she laughs quietly.

"Well I told you I'm coming. I like to keep my promises blondie," he says playfully.

Jughead glances at the girl. Seeing the pearl white dress draped across her frame, getting in lost her scent.

"Are you coming in or..." Betty pauses waiting for Jughead to come in.

"How are we gonna leave then?" Jughead questions her.

"The front door, stupid," Betty responds, amused.

”Ohh, that’s not gonna happen. I’m sure your parents will kill me,” Jughead whispers to her.

”They won’t! ” She laughs at his reaction.

”Nobody wants this random guy sneaking off with their daughter, at midnight. Come on, you’ll be fine this way,” Jughead insists, referring towards the ladder.

”Fine,” Betty chuckles, before handing the boy her small bag, which he takes a hold of without complaint.

Jughead climbs down first, giving the girl room to also climb down. Betty as usual wore flats which helped her a tonne. 

As Betty might’ve forgotten in the moment, Archie was still her neighbour. She has assumed that he would be at the party, but luck had other plans for the boy. Whilst at the party, he had sprained his ankle; Veronica decided it be best to bring Archie back home, considering he is a football player, his health is extremely important. They’d both seen them, climbing down the ladder, and how after that, they held hands, whilst quietly running toward’s Jughead’s motorcycle, how Betty despite slight hesitation had gotten on it, wrapping her arms around the beanie-clad boy’s waist.

“She’s willingly being a fool Archie. I warned her before about him. And now she’s sneaking off with a southsider.” Veronica says to the redhead.

”But she… looks happy,” Archie pin-points, “It can’t be that bad, right? If she’s happy. What if he’s actually good, you know?”

”I don’t have anything against Betty, but Jughead… I don’t trust him. It’s like a gut feeling, you could say.” Veronica expresses, “I mean… what if he is an abuser?”

That elicits a laugh from the boy “He’s a high schooler, Ronnie,”

”He’s a gang leader. That’s what he is,” Veronica corrects him, “I think we should stop them,”

”Ronnie, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this happy. She hates parties, she hates going out so late at night; but for him, she looks like she’ll go to the end of the world.”

”That’s what love does to one,” Veronica says, this time talking about how she felt instead of how Betty possibly felt.

Archie flashes a dorky smile towards the gorgeous young woman standing in front of him.

"I guess it does," he admits, knowing exactly what she mean.

Veronica, who was dressed in a dazzling black dress, adds "I know it does."

They were in love, even if it was unsaid. They had a beautiful unsaid way of communication, they'd look into each other's eyes and know exactly what the other meant. They also knew where they were headed. Despite being "just friends" at the moment, they both were together, it was left unsaid. Soon, one day, when the raven-haired New Yorker would be ready to call Archie her boyfriend, that's what he would be to her. 

The wind was cold against the two teenagers as they rode across the town, Betty had yet to know where Jughead was taking her, but she trusted him. She had every confidence in him, that he'd never hurt her, at least not purposely, neither willingly.

"You alright there?" Jughead had asked the girl.

"And more!" Betty exclaims, "I would've never thought that this would be so free-ing. Nor did I know that Riverdale could be so beautiful,"

She is just barely able to make out Jughead's chuckle as they had rode into the quietest part of Riverdale. A part of town, where Southside and Northside ceased to exist. The most beautiful part of town.

Jughead soon slows down, stopping by the road surrounded by greenery. Neither of them had worn helmets, tonight they just wanted to feel free, to let their hair flow freely in the wind. "Just follow me, alright?" Jughead assures the girl, leading her into the woods. betty reaches for his hands, grasping it as she follows him, with her bag on her shoulder. They walked for a while, until they had finally gotten out the woods, into a small clearing, facing Sweetwater River as the moonlight shone down on it. She had found a blanket laid across the flat grassland. A picnic basket placed neatly over it, candles lit as they were placed by the blanket.

"You did all of this?" she turns behind, facing the blushing teenager.

He looks down at his rings, fidgeting with them, slightly nervous "Yeah, for you," he admits quietly, before his nerves had taken a hold of him, making him stutter "Was it too much? Or-"

"No, No. It's perfect!" Betty beams, her face glowing in the dark. Sudden realization hits her as she asks him, "Is this why you were late?"

He quietly nods, causing Betty to nibble on her lower lip trying to control her excitement.

"No one's ever done something like this for me, like ever."

"Well now, someone has," Jughead says, a dorky smile lighting up his face, seeing the blonde so so so happy. "This place, nobody really knows about it, except me and now you too. I would come here every time I needed an escape."

The blonde girl realizes, that she's the only one he's ever shown this place to. 

"You know how people write what they feel in a journal or diary?" he asks her.

"Yeah, I like to do that sometimes ," she confesses.

"Well this place, is like where I like to confide. I found it when I was a kid, really and its grown on me ever since" he explains to the girl.

"You are a mystery Jones," she says.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he chuckles.

"You're a lot different than you seem. Oh and by the way, I uh- brought something," she says as she starts rummaging through the small backpack that she had brought along with her. She takes out a small instant polaroid camera, "For making memories."

"Polaroids? I didn't know you would've liked polaroids,"

"Oh?" Betty murmurs in a rather confused tone.

"I love taking pictures and I love polaroids too,"

The two teens seated themselves on the blanket, taking off their shoes, sharing laughs and small meal together, that Jughead had brought for her. Surprisingly, he had remembered that Betty wasn't the kind of person who liked to drink anything related to alcohol and had a brought fresh orange juice for them instead. He poured it in the plastic cups, that he had brought, before handing the drink to the girl; which she gladly accepts. They spend the next few minute taking pictures together with Betty's polaroid camera, laughing and making memories just as Betty had planned.

The two had been conversing for a good few hours by now. Betty was now laying down, her head resting on Jughead's lap as she gazed up at the sky. 

"Do you ever take your beanie off ? " Betty asks the boy.

"Not really, I feel... exposed without it. I just don't," he chuckles explaining the situation.

"Well you do look cute with it. I just wonder, how you look without it, sometimes,"

"Well I've never seen you without your ponytail, other than the first time we met, at pops," Jughead recalls.

"You could say, its a similar story, similar to yours. My mom has a set of rules, or preferences set and I've just gone with it my entire life,"

"Wow..." Jughead trails off.

Betty sat there lay in his lap quietly, before frantically getting up.

"Everything good?" he asks her, he simply gets an enthusiastic nod from the girl.

She sits up straight facing, as she pulls her hair tie and lets her hair down, naturally.

"This, is the real me," she says, a small little smile painted over face.

Jughead gets the message, as he, without hesitation pulls of his beanie. For probably the first time, he isn't feeling exposed without his beanie.

"And this is me."

"Juggie, your hair is too perfect to be hidden under that beanie of yours," she compliments him smacking his arm. 

"Don't insult the beanie, Elizabeth," Jughead says mocking betty's family.

"God you sound like my mom, shut up."

"Hey. We're not gonna ruin tonight, by talking about our parents."

"Alright," Betty giggles at the dorky teenager.

There is a moment of silence between the two, only the rustling of the leaves and the flowing of the river was heard. 

She looks up at the boy, only to catch him looking at her longingly. The wind was in action now, blowing hard over the two teenagers. Betty's curls falling over face, as she observes him inching closer to her, tucking the loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Betty couldn't take it anymore. It was a sickeningly beautiful feeling, a uneasiness settled in her stomach. His thumb grazing over her soft, tinted cheeks, making the blonde crave more of him. She was tired of being so far yet so close to Jughead. Betty grasps his cheeks in his soft palms, pulling him closer to her, attaching her lips to his.

It felt perfect, all of it. It was so correct. Betty and Jughead, Jughead and Betty. It felt like it was meant to be, like they were meant to be. Their lips were like two pieces of a puzzle. They fit so well. Now, Archie was just a hurdle in her life, which kept her from meeting her lover, as if Archie was a fading phase. Jughead and Betty were so different, yet deep down they were so similar. Whereas Archie and Betty, seemed like identical personalities but in reality, in their cores, they were so, so different. All of a sudden Archie and Betty, made absolutely  no sense. 

Jughead traces his calloused fingers over her jaw, as he slowly pulls away from the kiss. 

"You don't understand how long I've been waiting to kiss you," Jughead admits, "I can't pretend like I-I don't feel this towards you. I don't know how to explain it, this feeling i-its so strong."

"You don't have to explain it to me, Juggie. I know how that feels too."

"Will you be my girlfriend? " he asks her, almost immediatley. 

Betty squeals in response.

"Is that a yes? or a no?" he asks her playfully.

"Of course yes!" Betty exclaims, lightly pecking his lips with another kiss, which he happily returns, both smiling into the light-peck-turned-kiss.

Not long after, the two positively giddy teenagers, had decided that it was getting late. They walked away from the small clearing in the woods, belongings in one hand, and each other's hands in the other. Jughead had driven the girl back to her house. He stops before her house, walking her all the way to the ladder beside their house. He kissed her once more, not wanting to let go off her, as they stood at the foot of the ladder.

Betty climbs back up the ladder and into her room, as she waves the teenaged boy, a goodnight. They both turn away from each other, as Jughead had started walking back to his motorcycle. Neither of them, could stop smiling and giggling to themselves every once in a while. Unable to believe what had just happened. 

They had gotten there together as friends - best friends and left the place as a couple.

Betty, plops down on her bed, after changing into her PJs. She turns towards her side, looking over at her bedside clock, it was 3.33 A.M.

She looks back up at the ceiling, replaying the beautiful moment when her lips met his, over and over again. She mentally pinches herself, hoping she doesn't wake up from a dream, but she didn't. It was real.

Betty was Jughead's girlfriend, and Jughead was her boyfriend.

What both of them had missed out, was the pair of eyes, that had followed them ever since Jughead had parked his motorcycle in front of the Cooper's residence, to drop the blonde girl back home. The pair of eyes, watched from his window.

It was his daughter after all, Hal had every right to know what his foolish daughter was up to, especially in the middle of the night. He was utterly disgusted, seeing his perfect Northsider daughter with a cheap low-life, from Southside. He was even more disgusted, when he noticed that her lover was a Jones man. To him, they were all cheap and unworthy of anything they hadden got. One Jones man was enough to scar his relationship with his wife, he didn't need another Jones man to ruin his relationship with his daughter.

He may have been disgusted after seeing it was a Jones, but he can't say he was surprised. After all, it runs in the foolish blonde's blood. Like mother like daughter.

Chapter Text

Betty opens her eyes, smiling brighter than the beam of sunlight that invaded her room, as images of the previous night flooded her mind. She tilts towards her side, reaching for the bag besides her bed, and rests it over her stomach, as she searches through it. She takes out polaroids they took last night. Biting her lip, ever so slightly, trying to to contain her the joy she felt. The joy that only Jughead could bring her. 

She reaches for her phone that she kept on charging over the night, unplugging it as she brings the screen in front of her eyes. 

Breakfast at pops? 

She texts her boyfriend, smiling as he responds almost immediately.

Breakfast at my house?

He suggest, as he adds onto his suggestion with another text.

I'm cooking. You'll get to see the master chef Jughead Jones.

The blonde giggles at the adorable invite.

Text me your address. Be there in 30.

She is quick to get out of her bed, rushing to her bathroom to get ready, for the first breakfast with her lover. 

She didn't want to put much effort in looking 'good'. She knew Jughead preferred to see her the way she felt most comfortable. He couldn't care less, if her hair was tightly done in a ponytail, or a messy bun, or even if she had done nothing on it. He just wanted to see her, see the real  her. Similarly, that's what Betty wanted to be with Jughead : her true self.

Betty waves her mom, a bye, saying that she is going to have breakfast with Kevin. Alice even believed her lies, But Hal knew. He knew better than not trusting the women in his house. Alice had lied before, Polly had also done that and was now far away with Jason Blossom and he could see  his dear daughter, his innocent little Betty doing the same. However he pretended to not any better. He was going to be patient with her. 

As Betty shuts the door, she is quick to facetime Jughead. 

"Hello bedhead," she says, noticing his messy hair. He simply chuckles. 

"Hey I was wondering, do you like pancakes?" He asks her.

"Love them," Betty responds. "I'm on the way, just left home,"

"Betty!" she hears her voice being called from behind her. 

"Veronica? Hi!" Betty greets her, forgetting their entire quarrel.

"Uh hi. Breakfast with me and Archiekins ? Pops?" the raven haired asks her, as sweetly as she could. Truly wanting to mend her relationship with Betty.

Jughead listens carefully, thinking his girlfriend might agree. Or hide the fact that she's going to his house.

"I'd love to, however. I've got plans with Jughead. He's cooking for me and I can't miss it for the world," Betty says, "But enjoy, with Archie. You look good on each other," Betty says, genuinely.

"Right, yeah. Thanks," Veronica says, backing away from the blonde as she returns back to Archie's house.

Betty knocks over the trailer door, he's excited. He's never been so excited.

"Hey there, come on in. Make yourself at home," he greets her, opening the door widely, for her.

"I hope this is okay. The trailer an all, not an ideal breakfast date," he says.

"On the contrary, I loved the trailer," Betty smiles "And an ideal breakfast date with you, is you being with you, now shut up. I'm hungry as hell," 

Jughead serves the girl pancakes, as she sat across him, on the small dining table they owned. She is immediately attacking the delicious plate of pancakes. "God, you're phenomenal, Master Chef Jones," she teases the boy, sat across her as she continues stuffing her mouth with the meal.

Jughead laughs at the girl, as he, himself starts chewing away  at his plate of pancakes. 

"Betty?" he says trying to divert her attention from the honey-coated pancakes. 

"Mhm?" she hums back.

"You're not feeling awkward about telling people about us? You know this morning with Veronica," he asks her, modestly.

"No! You're my boyfriend, Juggie. She can't change that, even if she doesn't like you. I don't care what she feels towards you, I like you a lot and nobody is going to interfere  with that," she responds

"And you don't like Archie, anymore ? Look if you need more time to get over him, I'm willing to wait as long as it takes," he speaks softly, lightly grasping her hand, as if he were trying to comfort her.

"No, i don't like him anymore. Not like that. And being around you, makes me feel in a way, nobody ever could," she explains.

"Like what?"

"Free. I feel more me in every minute I spend with you, than I've felt in my entire life. And now, I see what Archie meant, about Me and him not making sense at all. But with you, it all makes perfect sense. " she expresses.

"There is just one thing, that I'm worried about. My parents. They want me to be set with some Northsider, and live in the same fake bubble for the rest of my life. And by the time I'm 30, I'm clinically depressed, a heavy smoker and part of a dysfunctional family," she scoffs. "I want what we have, spontaneity, excitement, thrill, fun."

"Then our parents don't have to know," Jughead states, making the blonde smile.

"God I love you," Betty blabbers out in the moment, she gasps as she realizes what she said. "Uh.. I- U I- meant-" 

"I love you too" he reciprocates. Betty is gawking up at the boy, shocked by his natural reaction.

"Come on, we've been friends and we've said it before. Just because we kissed and we're dating, our feelings shouldn't be different. I love you and that's final."

Betty is able to do nothing smile, a light blush creeping up on her cheeks. His emotional maturity towards his relation with her, had always surprised her, ever since they were friends.

Chapter Text

Every time, Archie spotted the blonde teenager, he once called his friend, he always spotted her with Jughead. he wasn't certain that Jughead wouldn't hurt her, but he knew he had hurt her too. Jughead was there for her, when Archie had abandoned Betty, as he was scared of confrontation. That is why even when Archie is sat trying to convince himself, that Betty is surrounded by the wrong person, he can't. Most of the times, Archie had spotted the blonde was either strolling through the hallways, her delicate hand entwined with Jughead's calloused one, or sipping milkshakes at pop's for breakfast. It looked as if Betty had forgotten about the rest of the world. But truthfully, she hadn't. For her entire world was the cute raven-haired boy , who despite being from the wrong-side-of-the-tracks (who admittedly hated the idea of being in love) was indeed very much in love. 

Veronica, on the other hand, couldn't get herself to trust Jughead. She was too caught up in the town's belief of Southsiders being unworthy ,to truly notice the joy the southsider had brought to the preppy northsider. She wanted to get to know Jughead and genuinely mend her relationship with the blonde ray of sunshine. But where to begin?

It was just another normal school day, where Betty was sat besides Jughead in the student lounge's couch, her laptop taking over her lap. He read the blonde's essay from over her shoulder correcting or making her add words, where ever he felt necessary. The blonde thanks him, with a light peck on his cheek, as he smiles dorkily.

"Betty, Jughead,"  Veronica interrupts them, as Archie follows the decadent girl into the student lounge. He notices Jughead's arm, resting over her shoulder, and also taking note of how comfortable Betty felt. veronica seats herself, neatly across the couple, pulling Archie besides her.

"Since you guys are... together, I was wondering if we could all hang out. Me, you, Jughead and Archie,"

Betty looks at Jughead, checking to see if he was hesitating as Jughead did the same towards Betty making her giggle through the silence.

"We'd love to Veronica," Betty replies through her small laughter.

"Perfect! We could have it at pop's or any where you guys are comfortable at," Veronica states.

"Pop's sounds perfect," Jughead responds, whole-heartedly in love with the delectable burgers.

Betty is laughing at the boy again.

"Is something wrong, Betty?" Archie questions, unsure at what Betty was so giddy over.

"Yeah, just pop's is Juggie's most favorite place in the planet. Well, second favorite," Betty corrects herself, remembering the night when he took her to his most favorite place in the world.

"Hey, the burgers and milkshakes and onion rings are perfection," the teenager argues.

"I'll second you on that. bro," Archie supports Jughead.

As evening had rolled around, Betty had again lied to her controlling parents. 

"I'm actually going to pop's, I feel like Archie wants to be friends again. And Veronica wants to patch things up," she says. Not mention a certain beanie-boy accompanying her.

Her mum was all convinced when she herd 'friends again' and 'Archie' in one sentence.

"Also, since I know how the Lodges are, if Veronica asks you on a sleepover, I won't mind it. But just for today."

Betty squeals in excitement, thanking her mother, and embracing her multiple times before heading out. 

She walked straight away from her house, walking all the way to a turn, where she knew her lover would be waiting for her. As always, she found him at his usual waiting spot, slightly away from the Cooper's residence, hidden behind a huge bush barrier that belonged to an abandoned house on elm street. 

"You look refreshing," Jughead compliments the bright-eyed girl, referring to her floral dress, and her natural wavy hair. It was a little weird, for it to be happening to real people. Betty was all bright and and pale pinks whereas Jughead was gloomy and gray.

His world was similar too, it was dark with no colors, but she was the bright rainbow paint, that consumed his darkness. 

Betty thanks him, almost used to him complimenting her ever so often. Almost.  She'll never be completely be used to him looking at her the way he does, oh the way she would melt under his touch. 

Betty was always told, that Serpents much less Southsiders aren't capable of loving. That they will only hurt you, either physically or emotionally.  And that they'll never keep one happy. That they'll only bring pain and danger into one's life. 

However, for Betty it was the complete opposite. He had given her the perfect American smile; she smiled like a child when their eyes met. He had given her everything that nobody had ever done, and ever will be able to. They say that 'home is where the heart is"  but that's not where her lives, because, god, she loves the serpent.

Over the past few weeks that the two had spent together, both were visibly happier even to to those who hadn't known about their little secret.

Betty gets off the motorcycle, that she had grown to love, and waits for Jughead as he takes his keys. She clutches his hand in her hand, and swings it back and forth as she tells Jughead about how she could spend the entire night with the boy. A bright smile taking over his face, as he listened to her.

The couple, walk into the brightly lit dinner, as Betty's eyes scan across the dinner, catching a glimpse of the other two. Betty is quick to walk towards the booth. It used to be the one where Betty and Archie had spent most of their evenings.

The couple sat across the other couple, Betty sliding in first, facing Archie.

"We ordered your favorite Betty, Vanilla milkshake and I wasn't sure about Jughead," Archie states.

"Well Jug loves a good cup of coffee too." Betty turns towards her boyfriend, "Milkshake or Coffee?"

"Hmm... I'll take milkshake today," Jughead grins as he decides.

It had been a few minutes of awkward Hi and How are you's as they waited for all of their orders to arrive to their booth,

"So uh... How did you guys meet?" Archie asks them, truly curious.

"Well, it is a bit ironic," Betty laughs.

"We met in that far corner booth. She was all dressed fancy and yeah. All the booths were filled," Jughead continues.

"No you were writing your novel, and I was sort of a run-away from Cheryl's afterparty. And we just talked about random stuff," Betty states trying to recall the life-changing night.

Archie feels a small wave of guilt, remembering how badly he had messed up and treated her after that after party.

"Sure, but we talked for hours, like the entire night. Oh and then I walked you home too," Jughead adds.

"Okay, that was actually so cute though," Veronica chuckles.

"And then we became official, when Juggie and I had a midnight picnic. He made me sneak out for it, but it was worth it." Betty explains. "Also where the hell, did you get that long ass ladder from?"

"Yeah... We uh... we saw you both sneaking out," Veronica laughs, as Archie joins in.

"Weren't you supposed to be at Cheryl's party ? Wait, wait a minute," Betty gasps "You guys- you, slept together that night?"

"Yeah, but like not in a boyfriend-girlfriend way. Just as friends. Like on the same bed, but not like... sex or anything," Veronica corrects the girl, as Archie chuckles at the adorable new Yorker.

Jughead looks at them peculiarly. 

"Oh and you think we'll buy that?" Jughead says, actually enjoying his time.

"No really! Me and Archiekins are legit just friends," Veronica forges.

"Yeah right Vee," Betty teases her.

"Well, I mean I'll consider myself as her boyfriend. Just takes time to be official  ya' know," Archie joins in on teasing Veronica.

"Jughead, man. I really thought you'd be like an asshole or something," Archie starts off, being brutally honest "But I see why Betty's so.. happy now. Keep her that way."

Jughead looks in disbelief, Archie Andrews, someone who's hated Jughead and all Southsiders, was being nice to him? That was surprising.

Jughead and Archie had made an excuse that Archie was interested in seeing Jughead's motorcycle, just to talk alone, and be brutally honest.

"When Betty walked over to me, that night. It felt a lot more than just a beautiful girl walking over to me," Jughead expresses, looking through the glass-window as he saw his girlfriend sat inside the booth talking with the New Yorker.

Archie simply listens, not making an assumption or an opinion. 

"She was god sent." Jughead expresses, tears of the bittersweet night pricking his eyes in remembrance. "And she doesn't even know, how she saved me. Have you ever heard of FP Jones?" Jughead asks the boy.

"The guy who went missing ? Wait is he your dad?" Archie asks Jughead, amused.

"Yeah," he sighs. "I found out that night. I was frustrated and so I just headed to pops, when she walked in. If I'm here, it's all because of her,"

"God man. I'm so sorry about your dad. You live with your mom now ?" he asks Jughead.

"My mom... I don't know where she is, she and dad got divorced after my younger sister was born. So uh... I don't really know. She picked up my sister and left," 

"That's harsh," Archie says, unsure of what to say, "Does Betty know?"

Jughead simply shakes his head, refusing. " I don't want her to change the way she looks at me. because the way she does, it makes me feel like... like everything will be ok,"

Archie laughs at the boy's obliviousness "There's nothing that will make her change the way she looks at you. I may not be a relationship expert but trust me when I say, she'll be with you through it all. That's how Betty is. When she truly loves someone, she'll go against the world for them. She'll go against the entire world for you."

Jughead smiles at the redhead "I told Betty a part of it. I told her that my dad's missing and all, but not about that specific night."

"Life's too short, bro. Besides, she already told you she loves you,"

"Holy shit, that went deep, real quick!" Jughead laughs, lightening the mood, before asking Archie a little few things.

"What about you and Veronica? What's even happening?"

Betty and Veronica were inside the bright building, as Betty had somehow had asked a similar question.

"I like him, like a lot. But I'm scared...," she admits.

"Why ? Is everything alright?" Betty asks the decadent girl sat across her.

"Archie is. But I've never had good experiences with guys in New York, and I don't want to ruin what me and him have. I appreciate how he's being so patient, with me," Veronica explains.

Betty nods, unsure of how to assure the girl. 

"Also, Bee... I'm so sorry for how things went down, between You and Archie and between our short-lived friendship and for trying to keep you away from Jughead."

"Vee.... I told you, don't worry about it," Betty chuckles "Without that terrible night, I wouldn't have met Jug. And you were worried, its fine."

"He really does keep you happy, doesn't he? How does it feel, to you know, say to the world you love someone?" Veronica asks the blonde girl.

"Jug and I are still hiding from my parents Vee. But you'll know how it feels, too, real soon."

Veronica simply nods, before taking a sip from her milkshake.

"Do you ever feel like... running away?" Betty questions Veronica.

"Why?" veronica asks her back, slightly suspicious.

"I'm not running away, jeez. But I wish I could, no more hiding, no more problems."

"Girl... you're in love," Veronica giggles. 

They girls also conversed for a while before, Betty had a request to make, as she noticed the boys heading back into the glowing building.

"Vee, I know we just became friends again, but can you cover up for me. If anyone asks, where I am tonight, I'm at a sleepover at yours."

"I'd be happy too, but what's happening Bee?" Veronica asks, lightly biting her lip.

"Juggie wants to take me somewhere. He says its a surprise," Betty goes into deatils.

"Oooohh. Promise to give me all the deets, later ?" 

"Fine!" Betty chuckles, grateful for Veronica's help.

The two couples, wave each other off. 

"So what was all that talk about motorcycles you had?" Betty asks Jughead cheekily, as he drove his motorcycle, cutting through the still of the night.

"I'll tell you, when the time is right." Jughead says strongly, feeling his girlfriends, arms around his waist, thinking back to what the redhead had told him. 

"She'll go against the entire world for you."

And he'll go against the entire world for her, just for her.

Chapter Text

Jughead had pulled up at a beautiful cottage cabin in the woods, Betty admired the sights as Jughead showed her around the place.

"My and dad and I, we'd come here every year. He'd book it for the weekend and we'd spend it here, disconnecting from the world and re-connecting with each other." Jughead explains the backstory. "He had booked it again this year, but uh... you know how it went after that," 

Betty holds his hand softly, caressing the front side of his hand with her thumb, as he continued his small tour.

"I booked it for us tonight," he starts off, already provoking a smile sweeter than honey on the blonde's lips.

As the Betty wanders around the insides of the remote cabin. "Archie made me realize something today."

"Oh?" Betty looks at him curiously.

"That night when you met me, you changed the meaning of everything for me, " he exhales shakily, lightly nervous. "I was going to do something really... harmful" he says.

At times, he couldn't tell if his troubles were even real. He always feared, that he was a make them a bigger deal than they actually were. He feared, that one day if he gets so exhausted of keeping everything in, he overshares to a person who wouldn't understand him. He didn't want to loose anymore people, especially if that person was Betty.

Betty simply listens to him.

"When you walked over, I never felt like that towards anyone that I ever met. And you unknowingly kept me from... yeah," he sighs, his lip quivering, unable to exactly say it. "After that night, I don't know what happened, b-but I felt hopeful. And I kept on going, I didn't think you'd appreciate if I came over, so I never tried to contact you. But deep down, I wanted to see you again, so, so bad. I tried to have this mean, cold exterior but I couldn't be that towards you."

He takes the blonde's hands in his,  as he bring it to his lips, placing a soft kiss. "I never knew that I would've been able to survive losing my dad. But I am surviving, because you're here with me,"

Betty says nothing as she attaches her lips on to his. "Why did you never tell me this before ?" Betty asks him, pulling away from the kiss of reassurance.

"I... I guess I was scared."

"Well, you never have to worry about me, alright? We're in this for the long haul Jones," she says caressing his cheeks with her delicate fingers. "And Jughead, I love you, for being so strong through all of this. I know the system is kind of shitty, but they'll find your dad."

He pulls her in for another kiss, as Betty giggles into the kiss.

Jughead had felt relieved, as if the mountain rocks, that weighed more than one could bare, were being removed from his chest. His lungs felt so clear, the moment her breath met his, its as if he was silently suffocating this entire time. The young couple are smiling into the passionate kiss, as Betty finds herself wrapping her arms around the back of his neck, as Jughead frees Betty from her ponytail, burying his calloused finger into her soft and silky hair, his thumb resting slightly before her hairline. 

And before they realize it, the small kiss turns to them tugging at each other's lips, sliding of the pieces of fabric off of each other, as Jughead rests them on the bed. He is quick to attack her jaw with small chaste kisses. For them, it wasn't about desire or lust, it was trust. It was the faith they had in each other. 

Betty pulls away from Jughead, turning to the switch by the bed, and reaching for it, and soon it is all a fade to black.

"Good morning, sleepy head," Jughead greets the girl, as she opens her eyes. And suddenly when her eyes meet his, a smile bright enough to light the entire room, is visible on her lips. "How was last night ? It was spontaneous, if you couldn't tell," he laughs.

"Last night was... perfect," she smiles, pecking his lips, as her legs stay entwined with his under faded-white blanket, "It was my first time,"

"Mine too," he responds. 

Betty's not quite sure if she should feel honored or shocked that it was Jughead's first time. It was amusing really, that a someone was so gorgeous, it actually hurt. It was insane that someone like Jughead had never slept with someone or dated someone.

It's quiet between the two teenagers, as they lay bare, silently listening to the birds chirping outside their window. He's gazing at the girl, that for someone reason, was with him; him out of everyone. 

"What do you want to do today?" he asks her, lost in her eyes.

"Well considering today's Saturday, I wanna stay in bed with you a little longer,"

A little while later, Betty decides, to take a cold shower leaving the boy in the bed.

Jughead was laying there in silence, when there is a series of buzzes coming from his phone. 

Of course someone would call to ruin his perfect morning. He picks up the call, groaning.

"Hello?" 

"Jughead ?!" It was a familiar female voice. He couldn't understands exactly who it was.

"Uh yes. And you are ? "

"Where the hell is Bee?" It's Veronica. 

"She's taking a shower, why? And who gave you my number ?"

"Uhm, idiot. I called Betty, you answered her phone," Veronica states.

"Oh shit-"

"Anyways, is Betty alright?" she enquires.

"I'm not trying to kill her, alright?" he chuckles, eliciting a scoff from the raven haired.

"Jug? Did you call me ?" Betty asks him walking into the room, dressed in her dress from the previous night, drying her hair with the towel that was provided by the owners of the cottage.

"Well not me, but your best friend sure did," Jughead smirks playfully, handing the phone to Betty.

"Vee?" she asks.

"Well, well well," Veronica trails off, the playful tone clearly visible in her tone. Betty simply groans in response, knowing full-well what was coming next.

"You and Jughead slept together, didn't you?!"

"Vee! That's none of your business," she whispers into the phone, "Also did my mom call?"

"Not your mom, but your dad did. He asked to speak to you but I told him you weren't feeling so well so you went to sleep early," Veronica explains.

"My dad called?" she confirms, receiving a hum of approval from the other side of the call, "Well that's odd,"

"Anyways, enjoy the rest of your Saturday!" Veronica exclaims, referring to Jughead.

Betty chuckles as the New Yorker hangs up on her.

"Everything good?" Jughead asks the blonde.

"I guess. Vee just told me that my dad had called, which is weird because he's like the most lenient person ever," Betty explains.

"Did he see us?" he asks her, slightly afraid.

"No, he probably didn't. Otherwise, I'd be locked up in my bedroom already," she explains to the boy.

Jughead and Betty were now seated across each other in a booth, as they sipped their milkshakes sided by burgers, for their breakfast.

The two are laughing foolishly at some stupid joke made by the beanie-wearer.

"Jones?" there is a feminine voice from behind his back, Betty glances at the short brunette, recognizing her from school; however not quite remembering her name.

"Hey there Topaz, isn't it a a little early for you ?" He jokes, as she stood besides their table.

She simply scoffs at the boy, "I'm Toni by the way," she introduces herself to the blonde, with a warm and sweet smile. Betty already likes her. Her drenched-in-honey smile was quite the opposite with the way she dressed. She confidently rocked a black leather jacket in the cool morning, paired with a red and black plaid shirt skirt accompanied by a bold fishnet tights.

"I'm Betty. Betty Cooper," She reciprocates the brunette's smile.

Toni turns her eyes at Jughead, a light smirk on her lips. "Your... friend, right Jones?" 

"Girlfriend, actually. Me and Betty are together," Jughead explains to the know-it-all.

Toni flashes a playful smile at them, "Congratulations,"

The bell rings again, as a redhead struts proudly towards Toni. Cheryl notices the couple sat in their booth, "Good morning Betty," Cheryl greets her.

"Good morning Cheryl."

Cheryl signals Betty to scoot over, as she forces herself in the couple's breakfast, as Toni follow her lead and sits beside Jughead.

"What are you both doing here ?" She asks them. 

"Breakfast," Jughead says shortly.

"We're dating, Cheryl. You can drop the interrogative mode now," Betty says, causing the redhead roll her eyes.

"Alright... If you hurt Betty, I will kill you," Cheryl says with a beaming fake smile to Jughead.

"Well-noted," Jughead says.

"Guys, me and Cheryl were heading to the port from here. I have a boat and it's pretty big and we were wondering if you'd want to join us," Toni suggests.

"A double date? huh? Full on southside style? " Jughead smirks, looking down at the girl beside him.

"Yes" she sighs " You got us, we're together ta-da!" Toni says sarcasm laced in her voice. 

"Hold up. What do you mean by full on southside style?" Betty asks her curiously.

Toni sighs firstly, "If you don't know what Southside day out is like... girl you haven't lived,"

"Just get your bathing suit and we'll get the rest," Jughead says.

"I have to go home for that," Betty groans.

"What's wrong in going home?" Toni questions her.

"My parents. They'll ask me to stay back. I'm ready to go directly from here," Betty smiles mischievously. 

"You're defying your parents?" Cheryl asks the blonde shocked.

"Fuck parents, fuck school, fuck everybody" Betty snaps her finger  "Like Toni said, I haven't lived. Also, should we also invite Veronica and Archie?"

"Well... we came here to pick up our order, but sure!" Toni exclaims.

"This is perfect, I'll make the calls," Cheryl beams, before she gets busy placing the calls.

"I'll just triple our order, in that case," Toni says, before she skips towards the pop's cashier.

Chapter Text

In about an hour, Veronica and Archie had also joined the two couples at the port. It was perfect Saturday, the sun sparkling brightly above them, the sea glittering, waves decorating the surface of the water. But most importantly, Betty was with Jughead, her friends were with them too. In the short time of 60 minutes, 3600 seconds Betty had gotten to know Toni and Cheryl and Jughead had gotten to know each other,  who surprisingly also gotten along together well. Veronica may have been a little skeptical at first but slowly she had warmed up to the two Southsiders. Her doubts and worries had also eroded away with the numerous conversations she had with Jughead.

She realized, that  truthfully, he was hopelessly in love with the blonde. That he'd never intentionally hurt her, that he appreciated her. The gleam in his eyes as he observed his girlfriend was enough proof for the world to understand what he felt towards her, but the intensity and depth of his feeling is impossible to comprehend. No words or grand gestures would ever be enough to express the depth to his feelings.

Jughead lends out a hand to his blonde beauty, which she accepts gladly stepping into the boat.

Archie is quick to take control of the vehicle, as Toni pops open beer bottles.

"Betty, you want one?" Toni offers the girl.

"She doesn't drink Toni," Jughead pauses the girl.

"Actually, I'd like one," Betty inetrferes.

"You don't have to, alright. It's completely your decision," Jughead rests his large palm over her shoulder, lightly rubbing her shoulders to give her a sense of comfort.

"But I feel like it today," she explains.

Jughead takes a bottle and pops it open it before handing the girl what she requested for today, a small smile over his lips as he brings his own bottle to his lips, taking a small sip from the bottle. 

Betty tastes it a little, scrunching her nose in disgust of the taste as she coughs lightly. 

"You alright?" Jughead chuckles, receiving a hum from the blonde beside him as she licks her lips.

A familiar music was being blasted behind their laughter and jokes, as the boat stood still in the middle of nowhere. As far as they could've seen, they were surrounded by an endless body of deep blue.  Betty had, had a couple of beers by this point, it had just been afternoon. Of course a few beers wasn't enough to get her drunk, or even tipsy for that matter but enough to free her. Enough to make her realize what it meant to live her life. The wind blew against her, as she takes another sip from her beer can, her hair flowing freely behind her. 

They'd all stripped down to their under garments, which they had used as their makeshift bathing suits.

Betty sways her hips to the loud music, causing Veronica to join her. Cheryl simply laughs at the two girls dancing foolishly. 

Jughead sits on the side, admiring the young blonde, as she mindlessly enjoys herself. He remembers what his dad had taught him: 

"Nobody will be there for you when you need them, so you need to learn how to take care of yourself,"

He wasn't correct. He had found someone who was with him during the toughest part of his life. He had found someone, who was there to there to bring him up high, when grief and sorrow had brought him low. He still couldn't how he had gotten so lucky. Especially, considering that luck was usually never on his side, but it seemed that this time it might just be on his side. 

Archie shifts to beside Jughead. "You good bro?" he asks him, noticing his silence.

"Surprisingly yeah," he chuckles back, speaking softly, as to not disturb the group of girls swaying to the music, "I told her about it."

"Damn, how'd it go?" he asks Jughead.

"Just like you told me it would. I just don't get how I got so damn lucky. Just look at her, she's..." he's speechless when expressing his feelings, "She's perfect."

Archie simply smiles, understanding that feeling Jughead had. He was truly happy for Betty and Jughead. 

In the next few minutes, Jughead had taken control of steering of the boat, everyone was seated by the edge of the boat, talking and soaking up the sun in their make-shift bathing suits. 

"I wanna swim you guys," Veronica requests.

"Isn't that why we've all stripped down?" Jughead says sarcastically "Or was it a secret strip-show that I didn't know about?"

"Juggie-"

"Secret strip show," Archie responds joking with the teenage boy.

Jughead simply laughs at the boy, scrunching his nose in the process. 

"Whatever, I'm going," Veronica complains, standing up and stretching first, when suddenly from behind her she feels a strong arms drape around her shoulder, and forcing her into the water with him.

"Archie!" veronica gasps, as she resurfaces after her forced dive, "Not cool!" 

Archie simply laughs at her, floating in the water, as he watches Cheryl and Toni getting ready to jump in. After the two girls dive into the cool water, Betty and Jughead step up on the edge of the boat, their hands laced together, as Jughead starts counting to three. Exactly on the count of three the two join the rest of the teens in the water, their hands still tied together with euphoric feeling of love.

The music blasting in the background, as Betty wraps her arms around her lover who, oh-so lovingly does the exact same, pulling her closer to his body. Admiring her as she giggles with pure happiness. There's a wholesome smile spread wide across his face. She places small and play-ful kisses across his face, as they hugged each other under the water, clinging onto each other.

"God I love you," He mumbles into her neck.

"Yeah, I love me too," she responds sheepishly. He responds to her clap-back with a playful eye-roll, making the blonde laugh harder.

"Okay y'all. We get it, you're married and shit!" Toni laughs along to the young couple.

"Funny coming from you shortie. You legit have a wife," Jughead teases his old friend.

"Hey, she maybe short but- she's still cute and still my wife," Cheryl playfully defends the love of her life.

"Damn!" Veronica laughs at redhead's adorably defensive words 

"Cheryl Marjorie Blossom going soft? Never thought I'd live to see the day," Archie comments, swimming closer to the other, as Veronica follows him.

As the group's favorite summer hit comes onto their speaker, they huddle close together and form a group-hug like position dancing and vibing from within the waters. All of them screaming the lyrics on top of their lungs, as they did what they did best. Enjoying their lives.

It was almost sunset by this time, as they all lay in the boat, admiring the view and continuing to sing along with whatever song came on. Sipping beers, relived that tomorrow was a Sunday, and they'd get to relax after being completely spent from today. 

"New Yorkers could never," Veronica states referring to this almost-no-expense party and comparing it directly to all the expensive and formal parties that she was so used to attending.

They'd all learned a lot about themselves today, about each other and a little something about life. 

They'd learn, especially the Northsiders, that money truly can't buy all the happiness in the world. True happiness comes from not only with in but from your surroundings too. They'd learn that not everyone is lucky enough to have such beautiful friendships like they had just created over a day. They'd learn what the phrase 'live your life'  truly meant. They'd learnt that enjoying something, meant being around people that you loved, people that you cared about and those who care and love you equally.

Most importantly, though. They'd learn what real friendship meant. They'd learnt that the people that they were surrounded with today will be the ones who'll still be there when any of them would have fallen into a deep, dark corner. That they'd be the ones to pick each other up from the low and lift them up high. They'd hold each other's hands and show each other the light.

As night had rolled around the teenagers had left the boat really late.

Jughead as always had dropped Betty back home.

Both of the teenagers, had gotten more and more lenient with the idea of them being hidden. It was becoming more and more obvious to the entire world about the truth. But of course they'd fail to see they way the young couple saw each other. They'd fail to see the passion, the love that they saw. They'd fail to feel love the same way they did. They'd fail to see the world they saw. 

Everybody only saw the perfect girl next door, who is bound to live the typical and financially happy life, with two children, and a husband who'd be cheating on her. And before she's know it, she's drinking her life away in search of something other people told her to go look for.

Similarly, the world only saw Jughead as the heartbreaker who'd grow up not knowing love or financial security, who is bound to end up alone, all alone. 

He drops her closer to her house, not wanting her to walk as much she'd normally would. Betty hops off his motorcycle, leaning against him as she presses a soft kiss on his lips.

"Thank you for the best weekend of my life." 

It's really dark at the moment, but he is able to make out her glowing smile as she thanks him.

"No..." he mumbles quietly, his reaches for her face, his fingertips grazing over her soft cheeks "Thank you," he says.

"I'll see you later, my love," she says, walking away from him and towards her house of horrors.

She does a cute little wave, that Jughead oh-so adores about her. 

He drives away soon after, hoping her family doesn't see him.

Betty knocks at her door, waiting for a reply from the other side. "Mom! Dad?!" 

"Coming!" she hears the distant voice of her mother. 

Her mother swings the door open, greeting her daughter with a soft sweet smile.

"How was your day?" she asks her daughter, her hand swinging over Betty's shoulder, pulling her daughter into her home, as Betty starts rambling about all the things she did with Veronica and her other friends, just being careful to exclude the love of her life from all of it.

Chapter Text

As Monday had rolled around, the teenagers now could be spotted arriving to school, as they grouped together in deciding their escape from this cruel building filled with un-realistic torturous expectations that were created by elders and purposely made un-attainable, if personal well-being and happiness was of importance to any of the teens. 

Now, Betty had discovered the fruits of life. The gift that the high school years were. These years weren't meant for obeying rules or locking yourself in you room and blankly staring at a book containing the most useless things. High school years were meant for living; living before they'd have to face the true hardships of life. It was meant for throwing your hands in the air, swaying your hips to the beat of the song with the family you'd have met along the way.

Frankly, Jughead doesn't remember Betty being so carefree ever. He hadn't even known her for 6 months yet he still knew her more than anyone that had known her for years. He had seen the real her, her carefree spontaneous self that was over-shadowed by those same torturous expectations. After all the best people in life, are free. 

As the teens, head to their classes together. The seat themselves close to each other. Quietly gossiping as their teacher blabbered the same things they had been hearing for at least the past 3 years. 

"My parents will kill me!" Betty murmurs to the group "And I don't even wanna spend another minute here,"

"Well... we could say that you are... sick?" Toni suggests.

"Wait how about a family emergency!? It'd make perfect sense that you'd come with me then," Cheryl exclaims.

"What about everybody else though?" She questions.

"My parents don't even care, so I'm good to go," Toni says, "Same with Jones,"

"Wait. I have an idea," jughead interrupts.

"Damn Jughead has an... idea??? That's shocking," Toni laughs causing the small group to snicker.

Their teacher throws a scorn look at the group, noticing their chatter. The teens slightly quiet down, as they continue their scheming.

"So who has free periods today?" Jughead inquires.

Archie raises his hand, as Veronica sits silently beside him. 

"So Arch you can leave then, Veronica... we'll fake kidnap you," Jughead snaps his finger in her direction.

"My dad will come out with a freaking shot gun, it's not even funny Jughead." 

"I'm sorry!" jughead raises his arm in surrender as an apology.

"Wait Ronnie, go to your teacher and tell him you're feeling extremely sick and that you need to go home ASAP," Archie suggest.

"I guess that could work, when do we leave?" Veronica clicks.

"Whenever Archie has a free period. After break right?" Betty double checks with the redheaded boy

Archie simply nods in response to the blonde girl's question. 

As break time had rolled around, the teens acted 'normal'. Cheryl hanging out with the cheerleaders, Veronica ditching the cheerleaders for Archie, Betty's shoulder draped with warmth of Jughead's arm lingering on her back. Toni hanging out with the serpents. All of them physically in their own  bubbles as their minds freely travelled the thoughts of their fun today. 

Betty had deciding to tell her mother that she was going over to Veronica's for the night. 

As soon as the bell rang signaling the end of their boring break time, Cheryl lies to her vixens that she had a 'family emergency' regarding their maple business. That now since she's old enough, her parents want her to start taking decisions in their business, which was true however much the redhead despised it. She's waiting for the other students to disappear into their respective classroom as she's sprinting to her locker, arriving to her waiting girlfriend. Upon her arrival to her locker, she places a rushed kiss on to her girlfriend's glossy lips before proceeding to take out her belongings from her locker. Whilst the teenagers were busy gathering their belongings from their lockers, Betty and Veronica were out and about excusing themselves from their lessons. Betty had done Cheryl a favor by getting Cheryl also excused from their lesson. Jughead had during that time gathered his and Betty's items whilst Archie had done the same for Veronica. 

The teens try to be discreet when passing by their classrooms, and silently rushing out of the building and into the parking lot.  Cheryl, Toni and the boys head together for the parking lot, being as discreet and quick as possible.

Archie start up the car, considering he was the best driver, despite it being Cheryl's jeep.  Cheryl's brand new jeep was somehow big enough to fit in all of the teens. It was equipped with the most latest technology and was custom made to fit around the 6-7 people, which bode well for the group.

"I'm gonna go check on Betty." 

"Alright lover-boy we get it, you're getting worried but we're literally in school," Cheryl says to Jughead, giggling at his behaviors.

Just then, the girls can be spotted heading into the parking and towards the jeep, running side-by-side.

The two girls hop into the back, as Archie changes the gears, and driving out of the area.

"Where the hell were you ?" Jughead asks, snickering at the two best friends panting.

"We could've died, shut up," Betty smacks her boyfriends arm playfully. 

"You're being over-dramatic Bee," Veronica states.

"What even happened ?" Toni asks this time.

"Bee first got scared when she saw the cleaning lady."

"She's a snitch. She told the teachers when I was throwing away lunch and buying from the cafeteria instead, and they told my parents." 

Cheryl an Archie simply laughs at the memory, remembering this incident from their previous years. "You were a child!"  Cheryl exclaims from between her laughter.

"That was so funny though," Archie laughs along.

Betty simply frowns at the teens mocking her.

"Oh and then she contemplated hiding inside the lockers," 

Jughead burst out in laughter at his adorable girlfriend. 

"We're not even done yet. Then we decided to hide in the bathroom stalls, and my mum decided to call me when we were trying be discreet and hide."

"I've never been more scared in my entire life than in that moment when her phone started ringing, but somehow through some miracle we survived. We fucking survived," Betty sighs, as she explains.

"I'm still not used to you swearing," Archie states as he continued driving towards the port where Toni's boat awaited them.

They had mid-way picked up a few drinks for themselves when driving to the marina. As their jeep entered the marina they crossed a sign that vividly said ' Welcome to the Marina. It's been waiting for you'. Their day today was identical to  yesterday as they carefreely relaxed and enjoyed themselves and their freedom atop their boat. They did what they did best, enjoying life in the best way possible. 

Faint music roared in the background as the teenagers sat together all laughing at all the pointless jokes they made.

"I remember a few weeks ago, like Betty you didn't talk to anyone.  You would NEVER ever in your wildest dreams skip school for fun and partying," Cheryl laughs as she points out this major change in the girl's attitude.

"I didn't even have friends!" She exclaims, receiving an playfully annoyed look by Archie, "You wouldn't skip school either Arch! I'm not to blame," Betty reasons out with her childhood friend.

"No offence Cheryl but you were a bitch," Betty says.

"Whatever," She scoffs leaving hints of a smile on her lips, as she takes Betty's comment lightly.

"How did y'all even meet ?" Toni asks as she explains the beginning of her and her love's beautiful love story , "I met Cheryl when we moved too Riverdale High when I joined the cheerleaders.", 

"Well me and Arch have been neighbors for literally our entire life, our parents knew each other in Highschool too. Me and Juggie met at Pops," she says attempting to contain her smile, as she bats her almond-shaped eyes at the teen with the green orbs..

"I was in my booth all alone and I was writing and she just walks up to me,. Betts threw herself at me afterwards," Jughead jokes, chuckling.

"Hey! Not cool! I did not do that," Betty defends herself, lightly smacking his arm. "It happened... well thanks to Archie, because you had just told me you didn't like me back," she states awkwardly, "So I was sad and I took a walk to Pops and ALL the booths were filled. So that's when I walked up to him,"

"Betts and I, we talked for hours. After that, it was like 3 AM or something ? and I walked you home too," Jughead continues. "After that we didn't talk until we moved to Riverdale High and Cheryl, you had assigned Betty as my guide."

"Stop thanking Archie and thank me!" Cheryl says playfully.

"What about you guys?" Jughead asks Veronica and Archie, genuinely curious.

"Pops as well. I had just arrived in Riverdale from New York and I was exploring. Then I saw these two having dinner at Pop's. Like Betty, I walked over too. Then we all went to the back to school dance as a trio, the very same night you both met," veronica explains.

"I felt like a complete third-wheel when these two first met!" Betty adds.

The teens continue their blabbering and their jokes, as they evening starts to set. As the a midnight summer breeze fills the atmosphere, the small group of happy, free, confused teenagers had decided to go back home

They had all created a story and discussed it all out during their ride back home, something that the northsider jailers would believe, wholeheartedly. Despite the fact that Betty was going over to Jughead she and Veronica discussed a made up story where she'd tell her mother that she had stayed over for a movie night. But deep in their cores, neither really cared about what their parents thought about them. They had all worked hard and had given up their childhood and freedom to them, it was their last few years as a teenager. It was their time. It was theirs, waiting for them.

Where as for the southsiders... they didn't have such over-bearing parents but that didn't mean they didn't feel trapped by the expectations as serpents. Their childhood was also stolen from them. 

They were all widely and wildly different but they had one similarity...

They were all happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time. 

Chapter Text

Everything was seemingly perfect. Betty was deeply in love with Jughead , so deeply it felt as if their teenage love was for evermore. School had slowly become not important to her at all. before, she couldn't stop caring about school and her grades, now... 

Now she couldn't find it in herself to care about it. She did however get her fabulous grades, and pushed Jughead and did everything in her power to help him with all his school work. She didn't overwork herself now, though. She had become wiser in this matter. She understood what was required of off her as a highschool student, but she overcame her unhealthy addiction to perfection. 

It was all perfect.

It was all a fleeting mirage.

"I know you keep going out with a cheap southsider Elizabeth!" Hal's voice is ringing in their house, as Alice sat silently beside her husband.

"He's my boyfriend, he loves me and I love him too, dad." She replies calmly, as if she was prepared for it.

"He is a Jones. He will never love you," Hal says strongly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Betty huffs.  Alice, wide-eyes turns her gaze to face the man she married. 

"Alice, care to explain to our daughter ?" 

"What is going ?! " Betty exclaims, noticing her mother's heartbroken face.

"In highschool..." Alice starts off, her eyes swelling up, "I used to see Jughead's dad," Alice has already gone pale as the memories of the past came back to haunt her once more in her motherhood.

" FP made your mom cheat on me and then dumped her," Hal explains the entire story, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, especially when there's a snake curled up in its limbs."

Betty's eyes swell up with tears upon hearing the accusation made on her boyfriend.

"I don't want you seeing him, ever again Elizabeth," 

"Juggie isn't like that dad! He would never do anything to hurt me,"

"This is my house. If you want to continue pursuing a Jones man there's no place for you here." Hal states stone cold, emotionless. Expecting his daughter to immediately give up arguing; he had underestimated her love for him. 

Alice isn't able to say anything, her mouth sealed tightly as all the bittersweet flashbacks bind her lips together.

"Okay," Betty murmurs just loud enough for both her parents to hear her. She gets up silently, her mother's gaze fixed on her blonde daughter as she gets up from the table. Hal lets out a soft sigh, delighted that his daughter had given up Jughead. But he had underestimated her.

Betty walks up to her room, tears silently spilling from her now red eyes.  She doesn't as much make a noise when taking out the suitcase she had, and filling it up with every piece of clothing that came into her hand at first, not really caring what she took as long as she had something to wear. 

She walks down quietly as well, her parents soon becoming very aware of what their daughter was about to do, after their gazes tread upon the suitcase in her hand.

"Betty, what are you doing ?" Hal says his face turned a crimson red color as anger overtook his sense.

"You said I couldn't be with Jughead as long as I'm in your house, so... I'm leaving,"

"You don't mean that..." Hal says in disbelief. 

"I love him," she says before flashing her eyesight at her mother. Alice stood there quietly, tears falling freely from her ocean blue eyes, a small hidden smile creeps over her, proud of her daughter, being able to see herself in her teenage years; wishing that she had done the same when she had the chance, wishing that she was as fearless as her daughter.

Alice purses her lips ever so slightly, and nods in the slightest signaling that she supports her daughter in standing up against the world for the man she loves.

All was perfect... it was all to well.

Chapter Text

Betty was quick to go over to Jughead's place, just wanting to be in his comfortable aura. Just wanting his ocean blue eyes looking into hers, his warm smile filling her stomach with butterflies, wanting that beautiful feeling that young love often gave. 

When he does swing his door open, surprised at who it was, he is firstly happy too see the surprise visitor, but upon noticing her red eyes and tear-stained cheeks, it soon erodes away. He glances upon the suitcase in her hand, he's not sure exactly what has happened but he had a very accurate image of it. Enough for him to understand that she needed him to hold her in his loving arms, and draw circles on her palm as he normally does. 

She tells him the entire story not too much time later, and she's exactly where she wants to be, tangled up in him, her hair splayed across his chest, their hands are tied together. Her breathing is softer as he had successfully reassured her and brought her peace. This was a time they'd remember all to well. It was getting real, more than either could've imagined.

He frowns at the entire story, despising every small detail about her quarrel. Maybe if he was closer to her in class, the society would've been alright. 

But he's happy; happy that someone chose him first. That someone cared for him so deeply, that she had left her own home, her own family for him. 

"We'll get through this together," he says.

but truthfully will they? 

"Mhm..." she mumbles into his chest.

He turns to her, their nose almost touching. 
"Thank you,"

"What for ? " she asks him, puzzled.

"For choosing me. No one has ever-" he starts mumbling to her.

she lifts her soft palms and rests it on cheek as she cuts him off  " I'll always choose you."

He doesn't say anything after, he simply smiles softly at the blonde that he was so blessed to have run into.

The next day, she's much better. She's surrounded by people that she loves. 

"I vote Cheryl and Toni to be the first ones married!" Archie laughs as they continue playing superlatives as they all occupied the couches in the student lounge.

"I vote Vee to be the extremely famous and successful business woman,"  Betty chirps.

"Awww! You're being biased," Veronica says.

"Well.... I vote Betty and Jug to be the most likely ones to run away together," Archie says.

"Oh my god, facts please!" Toni agrees, as Veronica nods.

"They better bring us all with em' " Cheryl says in response to Archie, as the two quietly look at each other laughing.

"I vote Toni to be the most likely to kill someone for trying to hurt Cheryl," Jughead votes.

"Well what else am I supposed to do?" Toni says in her defense.

The few teenagers continue their day as normal: together. But when they are about to go home, Veronica is able to get her bright bubbly friend aside and away from Jughead and others when she asks her "Is everything alright?" 

"Uh... Yeah! Totally!" betty beams not wanting to dump her problems on someone else.

"You've been upset all day long, whatever it is I'm going to be here for you,"

"Was it really that obvious?" Betty asks her, her bag hanging from over her shoulder.

"You just... don't seem in the right mindset,"

"I might've left home or gotten half kicked out- Its complicated," she says.

"Oh my god, what happened if you don't mind me asking," The pearl clad teenager asked her friend, worried for her.

"My dad found out about Jughead and it only gets worse- my mom and jug's dad were... dating in highschool," she says quietly, not wanting others to hear.

"What the hell-" Veronica says loudly before being shushed by her best friend "Sorry, does Jughead know ? and where have you been staying ?"

"I told him that my parents don't approve of a southsider, but I didn't tell him the real reason why.  I wanted to throw up when I heard that FP Jones and my mom dated- we could even be related ! That would explain why my dad is SO against us!"

"Betty calm down! You said they were together in highschool, and Jughead is a few months elder to you and not the kind of difference that two siblings can have,"

"I think I internally threw up," Betty remarks.

"You don't even look alike, and the ages with his dad and your mom don't add up. It could've just been a non-sexual relationship you know ?"4

"How will him and I work out ?" she sighs "I was so... so happy for the first time in so long! My dad can't even see me happy,"

"Don't lose hope, Bee. You've got to keep your head strong, what you and Jughead have... it seems like something that'll last forever,"

"I don't doubt us, but i'm doubting everything else around us, I can't even imagine my life without him, oh also I'm staying with Jughead for now,"

"You'll get through this, okay? With him, and you'll come out stronger than ever," Vee says holding her best friend's hands in her own, tightly, reassuring the blonde.

"Thank you se much Vee," Betty flashes a warm smile at her friend.

"How are you holding up?" Jughead asks his girlfriend, as the two strolled back to his trailer from school.

"I'm... surviving," she says softly, they share a small glance before Betty looks back down as she continues "because you're here with me."

Jughead feels a sweet smile creep up to his lips, feeling awful however that someone he loved was going through such a difficult. He reaches for her hand, holding her small hand in his large ones. 

"I'm always going to be here with you,"

"Well yesterday, I found a little something in your drawer," Betty starts off, "a certain red scarf"

Jughead laughs knowingly. "You had forgotten it, at pops the night we first met, and... well I liked it, it smelt like you and reminded me off you," he explains shyly.

"Uh huh?" The blonde hums quietly, a smile lighting up her face.

He notices that, his heart feeling lighter immediately. He gets closer to his girlfriend and wraps his arm around her shoulder reeling her closer to him, as they walk back to 'home'.

Chapter Text

"Oh it'll be fun! We promise," Archie reasons with his newly found friend, Jughead.

"I don't think Betty's up for a party really," Jughead explains.

"I heard about her family and all, I didn't think it'd affect her this much," Archie discusses freely as it was only the two of them in the student lounge, "Betty staying at home because she isn't feeling... emotionally well and skipping school isn't like her at all,"

"Archie she's a human, she deserves the breaks,"

"Yeah, I get that, it's just she doesn't seem like her. She was this shinning star in a way. In the worst and darkest of times, she was the brightest and strongest,"

Jughead sighs, a million insecurities filling his fragile mind. 

"Sometimes, I feel like she and I aren't working. I love her, really. She's the best thing that has ever happened to me, but ever since I met her, her life's getting filled with problems, many of them starting because of me."

"Jughead."

"I know I sound stupid Archie,"

"Don't let others get in between you and her, keep fighting for her. No one has ever fought for her. Hell even I didn't fight to keep her in my life, it's because of you that she and I are back to being friends like before,"

Jughead lightly bites his lip, nervous and guilty.

"Don't leave her, you'll both be destroyed,"

"I don't want to! I'm so glad that for once someone I love chose me over others, but that others is her own family, her own blood. Her parents kicked her out because of me! I don't want her to suffer because of me,"

"Jughead... her parents didn't kick her out, she left her parents for you. There's a difference. It's not that she had no option, she willingly and knowingly left them, besides her entire family is so toxic. She needs you and you need her. Do you remember the day you first met her, at pops?"

"Mhm," Jughead hums in response.

"She unknowingly saved you, and you unknowingly saved her, just by being next to each other. Stay strong, this... tough and... and troubling time will pass by," 

"Okay... That was deep and exactly what I needed," Jughead sighs, realizing what his friend meant, "But.. I don't know how to act around Betty anymore,"

"What?" Archie spits, confused.

"I mean... she's so closed off, and I... I just feel guilty that I'm planning on breaking up with her when she tells me, casually, that she loves me,"

"Dude what the heck. You're making things more complicated than they are,"

Jughead gives Archie a stern look, mocking him.

"Okay I know its already  complicated, but still. I can't force you to keep on dating Betty, but I'm just telling to you not let other people force you to break up. Because you and her work out perfectly fine,"

"Jughead, what the hell?!" Veronica remarks, as she heard their conversation, "You're breaking up with a girl who left her family for you?!"

"Ronnie, you didn't hear the entire thing," Archie stops her, "The reason for this is because he thinks he's ruining Betty's life,"

"Oh god," The raven-haired woman sighs "Seriously? People spend their entire life trying to find someone who treats them like Betty treats you and the way you treat her, and you're here casually thinking of breaking up with her over this?"

"Her life has been bombarded with dilemmas ever since I met her! First, she and Archie had their fall out then you and her, then her own family. Why? Because neither wanted her and me to be together," He rambles.

"To be fair, that was before we became friends, we didn't know you then, we know you know. It'll be the same with her parents,"

"I don't think it'll work out," he says coldly, trying to cover up the hurt.

"No. You just don't want it to work," Veronica says, "Stop being foolish. Can't you see that she need you? She's already facing her toxic as hell family, she can't handle a break up now and that too with you. She can't handle it."

"What are you implying ?"

"Whatever you want to think I'm implying," Veronica responds.

Jughead sat through English literature agonizing, and over-thinking over what Veronica had implied a while ago. 

"She can't handle it."

The sentence ringing through his head constantly.

Had he never noticed exactly how dependent the were on each other ? 

Did he even care for her as much as she cared for him ?

He kept telling himself he did, but the voice not letting him be in peace.

Is he terrible for wanting to let go off a dream-like relationship that was doomed from the very first moment ?

Is he terrible for wanting to be selfish and not let go off her ?

Maybe, they were a classic case of right people, wrong time

or worse : wrong people, right time.

But Veronica had also said that, people spend their entire lifetime trying to find something as beautiful, as euphoric as the love that he and Betty had already found, at such a young age.

They were... lucky, to have found each other, but it seemed as if luck had turned against them.

"Forsythe Jones, please report to the principal's office.  I repeat: Forsythe Jones to the principal's office immediately." It rang throughout the school.

Jughead quietly, gets up from his seat with his belongings, as he walks out of the classroom and through the hallway with his head hung down.

Upon entering the principal's office, his eyes fall over a blonde-haired woman. She turned to look at him, and her face resembles to Betty's. Her mother.

"Good day Mr.Jones. This is Mrs.Cooper, Elizabeth's mother and legal guardian, she has requested to talk to you in private now,"

"Thank you for the introduction, Mr.Weatherbee, I can take this from here," she smiles at the principal, who, respectfully, leaves the two alone to chat in his office.

"Mrs.Cooper, uh... hi?" he stutters shocked.

"I'm not here to... try and separate you from my daughter, don't be afraid. She's not responding to my calls, or texts. I was hoping to find her at school but Mr. Weatherbee tells me she didn't come,"

"She stayed back home, she wasn't feeling well," Jughead replies truthfully.

Alice is quick to notice his use of words, considering her profession. Home.

"Oh dear, what happened?" the woman sighs.

"I mean she's physically fine but... she's dead tired from her fight with you and her dad."

"Oh..."

"Please, take her back in. She really loves the both of you,"

"Jughead, I have absolutely no problem with you and her being together. I understand what its like when everything and everyone is against you. However, Hal, Betty's father does have a problem,"

Jughead nods, slightly relieved that at least her mom was on their side.

Maybe everything could work out, maybe Betty and him were right people right time. Maybe it was really just a hard time.

"Hal doesn't despise you because of your origin but because of your last name. He despised your father, and he's taking it out on you."

Jughead looks down blankly, unsure of what to say.

"I'm not going to force you apart, I can't see my daughter living a life of fake happiness and misery like me. I don't know for how long you have been together, but lately with all her skipping school, and then coming back home days later she has looked more happier than ever, and if to be as happy, she has to be away from her home, I'm supporting her,"

"Thank you Mrs. Cooper. Your support makes me feel like I can finally breathe again,"

"How are you both managing and how's life for you? I mean FP is... not around and neither is your mother I've heard."

"My mom sends me money, she and I don't get along well, my sister lives with my mom,"

"Where do you live?"

"Sunnyside trailer park,"

"Oh... Fp's been there since he was in highschool,"

"Yeah... the trailer was really his only property,"

"Look, I'm just... I'm trusting you with my daughter, please don't break her heart or hurt her,"

Jughead simply nods. It felt as if this was a sign, that his thinking was wrong. He and Betty belonged together, that they made more sense than anyone else.

"Before I go, I just need you to promise me, to let me know if she or you ever need my help , financially or emotionally. I'm right here," She says before softly slamming her work card with her number on printed on it.

"Keep texting me often, I just want to know if my daughter is fine." 

With that she leaves him alone in the office, as he soon gets up and follow her out the office before he heads back to his lesson. 

Feeling lighter, feeling better, feeling more free

How could he have even thought of leaving the woman he loves?

How could he abandon her, when she needed him the most? when she had abandoned her family for him ?

He loved her, and she loved him. That reminder was enough for him to realize that he won't let the ghosts of his father's past haunt his present and his future. He will not let an outsider force him apart from the love of his life.

Chapter Text

Over the course of the past few days, Betty had gotten slightly better. She felt a bit happier than before, she was finally coming to terms that her perfect family had fallen apart, and that she had been the reason for it.

She loved her dad and mom but she wouldn't give Jughead up for them. She'd never chose anyone over him, she wouldn't be able to even if she tried to . Her love for him was profound. 

He had made her into someone she couldn't have imagined; she had felt what freedom, fun and fire-like passion felt like. It was odd, they had never met a serious fight, where they'd turn against each other, it was really their situations that were turning against them. But she kept on walking, with her head held high, her palm buried in the warmth of his hand. 

She had gone back to school like normal, she looked tired but there was a smile over her rosy pink lips. It wasn't the same old Betty, but it was still her because she had Jughead.

Jughead, however, felt guilty. In a world, where everyone has an unknown and limited amount of days, he knew best what it was like losing a loved one. Betty was also his loved one, but they were just teenagers, and their age reminded him every day that he is separating a life long relation for a fleeting memory.

He kept his thoughts to himself, even if Betty had noticed the strange distance between him and her. She knew he loved her, she could feel it but every time he looked at her, and gazed into her eyes she saw a hidden saddening glint. Neither said nothing, they acted as if neither felt the distance. 

Veronica, wanting to see her best friend had begged her to come over at her house for a sleep over or soirée, how Cheryl liked to call it. It was the perfect sleepover, her, Veronica, Cheryl and Toni, the entire group of girls enjoying their night talking what-not and pulling all-nighters binge-watching movies. 

For Jughead, it was supposed to be nothing too... devastating. A night away from his girlfriend wasn't something he couldn't have survived. Frankly, he was happy that his beloved was able to normalize her life, and so strongly handle everything that her family had thrown at her because of him. 

For Jughead though, the evening turned around, when he heard a knock on his trailer. 

He expected that Betty had returned to get something that she had forgotten, walking calmly to his trailer door, swinging it open to only be shocked.

"Hello Jughead," the man said.

"Mr.Cooper?" Jughead asks him puzzled.

"Is Elizabeth there ? " he asks the teenaged boy.

"Uh... no. She went over to Veronica's house for a sleepover along with Cheryl and another friend of hers," he replies truthfully, hiding Toni's name, remembering how much Hal already despised southsiders.

"When is she coming back?"

"She actually went over today, so my best guess is tomorrow... I can get you on the phone with her if you'd like to talk to her," Jughead suggests, desperately wanting Betty's relation with her family to be fixed.

"I came here to talk to you, actually," Hal confesses.

Shocked the teenaged boy, doesn't utter a word but simply lets the man in his trailer, watching as the posh man invades his cozy home and looks around, as if he were judging his little piece of heaven.

"How can I help you, Mr.Cooper?" he asks politely, trying his best to present himself a mannered young man, who is capable enough to be with his daughter.

"I suppose Betty has already told you what has happened..."

"Yeah," Jughead mumbles.

"I'm here to request you, to do what's best for her. I cannot force you apart, I tried!" he chuckles admitting his cruel attentions, "She has worked so hard to achieve her dreams. She's always dreamt of attending Yale, she has never missed a day of school and ever since she has been with you, she's been doing just that. She's stopped turning in homework, the school's newspaper is lagging behind. I hope you're aware that as her legal guardian and parent, the school sends all the parents notifications and alerts about their children,"

"Mr.Cooper, Betty is still just as hard-working! Have you ever thought that maybe all of this drama involving her family is the reason for her lagging behind? She's a human, who deserves breaks, she isn't a machine who functions mechanically!"

"Yes, Jughead. You're correct, I definitely agree that she deserves breaks, but dating at such a young age, for a girl like her, isn't the correct thing to do," Hal argues softly with the boy, not once raising his voice, "Whatever I do, whatever I've done, is for the good of my daughter and my family. I will admit, I get extremely uncomforatble to hear that my daughter is involved with... serpents and the Joneses, but what I feel above that all is love for my daughter,"

"That doesn't mean I don't love her! Do you even care about what she wants? I mean, have you ever seen her living her life, enjoying a day ?"

"You don't know what she needs in her life. She's throwing away her dreams for a poor southsider with no money or future! She's throwing away all her hard-work and family for you!" Hal continues now fuming, " You don't know anything about life or the brutalities about it! Sometimes you have to do things that you don't like in order to progress,"

Jughead sighs heavily, turning away from the man invading his home, invading his personal life with his girlfriend.

"What do you want?" he asks quietly, still not facing the blonde-haired man.

"My daughter back. You're the only one who can do it, She won't listen to me or her mother," he says plain faced, " You know what its like losing a family member, you lost your father. It has taken a terrible toll on betty's mother and I. If you want money or entrance to a respectable university i'll give it to you, just please leave my daughter," he begs the boy.

"Why can't you approve of her and me! I don't care about money or any of those things, I care about Betty. Forget me, how would your daughter feel if she found out her own dad broke her up with her boyfriend? "

"She will get over it, she's just 17,"

"She's almost an adult! She can make her own choices," Jughead argues.

"She's naive! She's innocent, she knows nothing about the world. Take it from me, she has not at all gone through any of the difficulties that you have gone through. Do you really think that a girl who's had an almost perfect and extremely easy life will be able to take such big decisions for herself?!"

Jughead doesn't respond, not knowing what to say. He was correct, Betty hadn't gone through things he had, but that doesn't mean that her life has always been easy.

"I'll give you all the money you want," 

"I don't care about your stupid paychecks! I told you I care about Betty," Jughead spits out.

"Then do what's best for her," Hal finishes, nodding at boy as if pushing him to follow through on his wishes.

Chapter Text

As Jughead sat back in his home, Betty was enjoying the very last of her freedom. However, she remained yet unknown. Laughing along with her friends, that had are here for her in the hardest phase of her life. She only Jughead to thank for her being able to form such long-lasting bonds. He had pushed her to accept Veronica and Archie's apologies, that her ego wouldn't let. He had introduced her to Toni, a person she didn't know she could have gotten so close with. Unknowingly had also brought her closer to her own cousin. None of this would have happened if she hadn't walked in that diner after being rejected by her best friend. 

She doesn't have a clue who she'd be if she hadn't waltzed towards him, heartbroken on a Friday night. 

Surrounded by her closest friend on Veronica's bed, she snuggled in her warm pajamas. She told them to not worry about her family life being wrecked, she assured them that she knows soon everything will go back to how it used to be. That soon her father would learn to tolerate and approve of her boyfriend, oblivious to the damage that her father had done to her relationship behind her back. 

But she should've known that this golden age of freedom, wouldn't be long-lasting. She should've known that love is a ruthless game, a 5-minutes worth of euphoria, something that will slip away into a moment in time that they'll simply be lost in the memory.

"I heard that you and Archie official now," Betty says cheekily.

"News travels fast," Veronica chuckles, not denying Betty's claim.

"Congratulations Vee!" Cheryl exclaims as Toni bursts into awes. 

"I'm so happy for you!" Toni says.

Veronica simply chuckles at the supportive behavior of her friends, so genuinely happy for her. 

"How are your parents about you and him ?" Cheryl questions her.

"They like Archie,  my dad and Archie are getting along really well," Veronica says.

Betty glances back forth between the rapid conversation of her friends, hoping that her dad had a similar reaction, that she could bring Jughead home for dinner with her family one evening. That her family would gather around the table over a shared dinner made by her mom, and  her dad would join in later in the kitchen to help Alice out. She wished that before reaching her home, Jughead would nervously ask her if her parents would him, and that she could assure him that they'll enjoy his company.

She wishes so badly, that she hold his hand in front of her parents in her home, and tell them about she met him and how he swept her off her feet, how he made her life brighter and brought a shimmering smile to her lips in her darkest days. She wishes that they'd take picture of her and Jughead together as the first fall of snow glistened as it fell over their brushes hair. She wishes that on her birthdays, she could be sat in chair, with Jughead and her closest friends stood behind her as her dad brought her birthday cake from the kitchen, with lit candles placed over the cake ready for her to make a wish, that her mom would tell her to make a wish and smile brightly whilst capturing the moment with her polaroid camera. 

She wishes that she could keep him for evermore to herself, but he was never hers to keep. He was only hers to lose. 

 She isn't even sure how long took for the night to end and for her head to finally hit the pillow, feeling somewhat empty and confused what to feel. her friends are quick to pass out and fall deeply into the darkness of sleep. Meanwhile, she lay flat, her mind wandering to her own made up scenarios which included her family being in awe of her relationship with Jughead. Spending hours, in her own mind she enjoys the feeling of happiness of these wishes. Beginning to get mentally tired, she doesn't realize when her drooping eye lids collide her created world of artificial possibilities with the subconscious world of dreams, blurring the thin line as they blended in perfectly. 

Jughead, who also lay flat on his bed, feeling cold without the blonde beside him. Unlike her, instead of also dreaming into the impossibilities about his relationship, he looked up at the ceiling blankly, filled with grief. Contemplating the worst of worst scenarios, ailing with such thoughts that would soon turn into his reality, his own life. Unable to slip away into the deepest darkest depth of sleep like Betty had, he turns to his side, facing the side where Betty would have been. His thoughts haunting him, as his heart ached in the night. A part of him hoped that this torturous night won't end so he could still at the very least call her, his. Where as the other part of him, dreaded for his arms to be draped around her waist, pulling her closer to him, smelling her honey-scented hair, as they lay twisted in the bedsheets, to spend each and every last moment of theirs together. 

He knows full well, he won't be able to survive at Riverdale high the coming week. His soul being crushed every time their would cross, he knows he couldn't get through it, but like her father had advised him to do what's best for the blonde teenager. He'll do everything in his power to do what's best for her even if it meant dropping his glass-heart, shattering it to pieces that would scar his own skin if he tried to pick them up. But he'll do it all if it meant that she would progress. All for her, and only for her.

Chapter Text

As the next morning came, Jughead spent every moment of the night dreading, unable to sleep, unable to breathe, paralyzed. He felt stuck, not wanting to lose another person he loved so badly. After his father's vanishing he refused to believe he had passed away, he was in denial even if he had known the truth. Their relationship stood across the mirror which reflected the image of his father, dead and gone and buried even if he denied it. 

No matter how many tears he shed, Betty was his to lose. 

The sleeplessness slightly visible under his eyes, which could easily be mistaken for an all-nighter he could have pulled to study for an exam or test.

As he made himself a strong coffee, that would give him the energy to continue his day and do the task, after wasting all his energy blankly staring up his ceiling, reminiscing his relationship with the young woman he loved. 

A knock was audible on his door, dreading as he walked to answer it.

"Hey," Betty smiled brightly at him, as he attempts to hide his pain, replying to her. She notices his state, "Are you okay? you look exhausted, did you sleep well?"

"Yeah," he replies coldly, trying to detach himself from her. He does not say another word. Betty, uncomfortable with his behaviour, tries to confront him.

"Okay. What is going?" she huffs lightly, slightly annoyed and majorly concerned at his behaviour.

"Nothing." 

"Jughead," Betty calls his name.

"What?" He asks, trying to seem as if he was annoyed at her.

"Why are you being like this? You've been distant enough lately, but this? Did I do or say something wrong?" she asks, acknowledging his stranger manner.

"Look, I had a late night and I... tired. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go freshen up," Jughead says trying his best to show that he did not care, that he was not fracturing every passing moment Betty scoffs in annoyance, walking away from him and settling in the living room, as Jughead follows through on his words and heads to the bathroom. 

Turning on the shower, hoping to tune out his voice with the sound of running water. Tears pricking his eyes as he wipes them furiously, trying his level-best to stay as strong as he possibly could, trying to keep himself together in front of her, at least before he ended their journey together.

Sniffling as he could not control his tears anymore, giving up at trying to control his tears. he let them flow freely down his cheeks. His heart aching so bad, as if a hundred daggers had penetrated his heart as if a hundred knives had ripped apart his heart. 

He could hear the faint noise of Television playing from the living room. he stayed there, until he had no more tears left to shed. He freshened up as he told her he would. He leaves the bathroom, going to his room and changing into a comfortable t-shirt and jeans, he combed his hair, trying to think of what to say, trying to comprehend what reason he would give her to despise him enough for to never look him in the eyes again. He looked at himself in the mirror, contemplating why he had the worst luck, why he had to always lose everyone he loved, what faults he had that cause everyone to in some way leave him stranded. Maybe he was the fault? 

He opens his wardrobe, in which he suggested Betty also place her belongings in. Finding a polaroid, from her small pouch, she had of them from the very first night they had gone out. It was the night he had begged her to sneak out and escape to a small clearing the woods with him, on a midnight picnic. It was also the very first time they had kissed, it was the moment he knew he would never let her be the one that got away.

He stuffs the photograph in his pocket, wanting to keep it with him, until the very last breath he took. 

"Now that you have freshened up, could you please tell me what's wrong? If I've hurt you in any way, I will fix it, just please talk to me," she begs, gazing up at him from the couch in his living room.

he hated himself for making her feel as if she was at fault, "Betty..." he breathes out, words stuck on the tip of tongue, unable to speak with guilt, pain, and fear.

"Juggie?" she reaches for him, getting up from the couch, placing her velvet-soft palms over her cheeks, lightly cupping them, pushing the words from his mouth further back. That nickname, that goddamn nickname.

His breath hitching, in his throat, his lip quivering. Betty stood confused, not sure what he was going through, she pulls his cheeks closer to her gently placing a comforting kiss over lips. He did not kiss back. Betty doesn't care, she is determined to help him process his emotions, but he knows she cannot, and she should not.

He lightly pushes, himself away from her, not being able to look into her eyes, he looks down at her hands as he now held his hand, determined to be there for him. He drops her hand, pulling away from her, "I can't do this anymore," he mumbles quietly.

She heard him, correctly but she doesn't believe her ears, "What? I-I don't think I heard you properly."

"I can't do this anymore," he says louder, the fear teardrop leaving his swollen eyes. Betty was taken aback by his statement. 

"What do you can't do this anymore?" she asks him softly, still not believing her ears.

Jughead presses his chapped lips together, not saying a word, but his silence had spoken his words.

"Please don't do this," Betty begs him, trying to reach for his hands once more but he rapidly pulls away from her, "I don't know who I am without you. You are a part of me, I can't live without you," she says heavily breathing, breaking into tears.

He looks away from her, "I'm sorry."

"Look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't love me, that you really want to break up," Betty commands.

"If I do, I won't be able to do this," Jughead reasons.

"Then don't break us up!" she tries to convince him.

Tears flowing down his face, he confesses quietly "I love you, Betty."

"If you did then you wouldn't do this," Betty defends their relationship.

"I'm doing this, because I love you. You can't sacrifice your future and your hard-work for someone like me," he says softly.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? Someone like you? You're my boyfriend Jug!" betty argues with him.

"I'm a Southsider, without a future Betty.  No matter how much you deny it, it will not change who I am,"

"I'm not trying to change you! I love you for who you are, Southsider or not. I won't let this stupid town destroy us," Betty is adamant over their relationship.

"When you get to Yale, when you become the FBI agent you always wanted to become, I'll be just another person, roaming around in the world," Jughead mumbles softly.

"I'm begging you Jughead, please don't do this," Betty pleads. 

"I'll always love you Betty, but you need to return back home, you need to return back to the northside, where you belong"

"I'm not letting you push me away," Betty states strongly, trying her best to be too strong for him to push away.

"We're done! The show's over! Go back home!" Jughead shouts at her.

She feels small and she knows, she knows it has done that damage has been done. He had never raised his voice at her, she had never even heard him raise his voice at anyone until now.

 Sobbing, she mindlessly backs away from him, wiping her flowing tears the long sleeve of her unbuttoned cardigan. 

"Just know that- that I'll always love you," she hears him confess as she stumbles back to his room, gathering her belongings as fast as she could. Stuffing all of her belongings in her the very luggage same she had brought here. The tears that blurred her vision as they fell over her belongings did not let her see quite properly causing a few things to be left behind. She is lost, overwhelmed with ache.

She stumbles back to the living room, her luggage in hand, wiping the tears off her face before she came in his sight. "I'll always love you too," she admits sniffling, tears pooling her aching eyes yet again. 

Jughead had not care anymore, if she saw him sobbing and mourning over the relationship that he had thrown away. getting up from the couch, teary-eyed.

"Can you hold me one last time, please?" she requests, the tears spilling from her eyes once more. Without hesitation, he rushes to her, pressing his lips against her soft ones, one last time, before wrapping his arms around her one last time, "I'm so, so, so sorry," he mumbles into her hair, as she pressed her body closer to his, embracing the warmth of his hugs one last time. She acknowledges his apology, "Don't be, we were just not meant to be."

"You need to leave, Betts, because if you stay any longer, I won't be able to let you go," he says softly pulling away from her, "I'll always love you."

Tears glistening over her cheeks as she responds, "I'll always love you too."

They both forced a soft smile, he watched as she stepped out of his trailer. Watching as she walked, far, far away from him, leaving him behind. He let her be the one that got away. Watching as they slipped away into a moment in time, as they had gotten lost in a memory, but he knows, that all along there will always be an invisible string tying him to her. 

Chapter Text

After having wiped her soft face clean of all the tear stains that had accumulated as she had strolled back to her home. She didn't want to go there, it was what had destroyed her perfect and happy life, but she returns like a soldier returning home. Knocking on the bright red door to the house where she had grown up, waiting patiently outside the house. 

Clueless to her daughter's return, Alice opens the door. Letting the cold early autumn air, blow into the warmth of her house, feeling somewhat happy to have seen her daughter after such a big quarrel. However, she soon realizes what Betty had gone through that she had returned home, rapidly engulfing her daughter in a comforting and understanding hug. Betty also wraps her arms her around her mom's waist, sniffling softly as she continued to shed her tears. Hal pulls his wife and daughter inside his home, relieved that Jughead had left his daughter. 

"I'm sorry mom and dad," Betty apologizes, unknown to truth that her father had caused this. 

"It's alright honey," Alice mumbles hugging her daughter, now inside their home as Hal joins the two, wrapping his arms around both of them.

She settles her belongings back in her room, realizing all the items she had forgotten back at her ex-boyfriend's house. She knows that soon he'll realize that he was missing one of his favourite t-shirts and one of his warm sherpa jackets. She refuses to return it, and she refuses to ask for her belongings that she had forgotten. She knows he'll treasure them all, like how she'll treasure his clothing for as long as time would allow her. 

For the content father, time had been flying by, whilst his now-18-year-old daughter felt paralyzed by it. However, he assumed that she had healed her wounds by now. Especially considering her achievements after her breakup with Jughead, her grades, attendance and effort had skyrocketed. He was immensely proud of her when they had gotten an e-mail from Yale's admission department, assuring her an early admission. However, behind her arduous work lay the constant need to distract herself from thinking about the painful parting. Trying to keep her mind occupied, she had decided that she bury her mind in her books which resulted in such excellent grades. 

The three girls, and Archie had kept simultaneously close to both of them, understanding how both of them were heart-broken and needed support. 

But in this moment, her friends, that she is so grateful for, stood behind her as her dad brought the freshly baked red-velvet birthday cake for their daughter. Alice stood across them, capturing every second of their little girl's 18th birthday. 

Everything had resembled to what she had hoped for, except the presence of a certain beanie-clad boy. Smiling at the cameras, Hal tells his daughter to make a wish, placing the cake in front of her, as her friends were squealing and cheering her up for her birthday. Giggling for the video-camera that her mom held, she discreetly wishes to able to one day return to the arms of the boy who had stolen her heart for eternity.

Jughead had told her it would be fun turning 18, yet why did she hope she could become younger and trap herself in the few heaven-like months she had spent with the Southsider, who now remained just another classmate. 

As the last day ever of school had arrived, the teenagers waited for the clocks to strike 2 to celebrate surviving the difficult teenage years. After hugging her friends first, Veronica returns to the arms of the man she had promised to marry upon graduating from school. Archie holds Veronica tightly to his chest, chuckling at his graduation and tremendous luck to have the love of his life in her arms. Cheryl lightly pulling her girlfriend towards her, placing her deep-red lips over Toni, as a form of celebrating. Feeling slightly, lonely upon seeing all her friends so happy, wishing that it could've been her and Jughead. 

She stumbles out of the classroom, along with other classmates. She stood by her locker tidying it up and grazing her fingertips along it, remembering all the time she had conversed with Jughead by this very locker. Still lightly smiling, shutting her locker close, her mind wandering to how she had met Jughead here for the second time, how they had sneaked out of school to enjoy the last days of the summer breeze. 

The girl decided to drive herself to her favourite diner. She had decided that she wanted to celebrate by herself, and treating herself to Jughead's favourite meal, to reminisce their short, entwined journey. Smiling brightly as she orders a plate of onion rings as a side to the delicious burger that Pop was so glad to serve accompanied by Jughead's favourite Chocolate milkshake. Despite, her personal preference being Vanilla milkshake she had often ordered a chocolate milkshake ever since. 

Upon finishing the meal and after having a small conversation with the kind-hearted owner of the diner, she turns around waving him a farewell. She is stopped in her tracks when she sees in front of her, the very same boy that she often loved to remember. 

"Congratulations," he mumbles smiling softly, maintaining their distance, the blonde genuinely smiles at him.

"You too."

"Yale?" he asks her briefly.

Betty hums in agreement, smiling after realizing that he was proud of her. 

"Iowa?" she questions him back, in the same manner.

Mirroring the blonde's response, he hums in agreement. 

Remembering the very night that they had met, the night that they unknowingly rescued each other. Betty says exactly what she had said that night, hoping if he'll understand what she had done and respond with what he had said that night.

"Thank you for everything," she repeats her words from that very night, however, instead of referring to an evening at the diner, she referred to their unfathomably beautiful relationship. She thanked him for all the smiles, the countless times when he held her close to his chest, for introducing her to freedom and for all the moments he loved her even in those when she couldn't.

"The pleasure was all mine," he says, his lips creeping up into a smile, at the realization of the night she had referenced. Purposely, repeating the very same words, he had said to her that night. 

They parted ways this time, pretending as if it would be the for the very last time. Jughead and Betty moved past each other heading in the opposite direction as Betty headed out of the diner and Jughead approached the counter of the diner.

15 years later

Jughead, who was tasked with dropping off his sister’s daughter to her first day in high school, turned the engines of to his SUV. Resting his arm, over his little best friend’s shoulder, as her carried her bag for her, whilst he walked her towards the very school, he had graduated from around 15 years ago.

“Highschool won’t be easy bud, but hold on tight you’ll survive,” he advises to the teenaged brunette, a red scarf wrapped around his neck.

“I hope I do,” she mumbles in response.

“You’ll be fine, I was a train-wreck when I was here and hey, I think I did fine. You, with your grades and scores, you’ll thrive,” he confesses.

She waves her uncle bye heading inside the familiar building. Just as he sighed, his dart over to the woman who stood a meter apart from him.

It was Betty, as she adorably waved bye to a small blonde boy, who he assumed to be her son. As she also notices the familiar pair of eyes, she turns to took at him.

Jughead, smiled at the chic yet elegant blonde woman, as she returns his smile. Surprised to have found him here.

Jughead couldn’t have known that Betty would have adopted a child and preferred to be a single mother, rather than giving birth to one with a husband by her side.

He didn’t know, similarly Betty assumed Jughead had been here to drop off his own child. Their eyes meet for a fraction of a second, before they moved past each other, heading their separate paths, pretending to be strangers.

Which they were, except with a shared past.

There they were, Ms. Americana dressed gorgeously in a borrowed dark blue sherpa jacket which covered her nude-pink dress, her hair done in a lose and natural curls. The heart-prince, dressed in jeans paired with a plaid shirt and a borrowed red scarf, with a missing polaroid of them in his wallet.

Despite, walking away without uttering a single word of acknowledgment, they remembered it all too well, how they were voted most likely to run away together. And yet now they ran away from each other.