Jughead Jones the Third rarely smiled, and when he did it was most usually in front of a well-made cheeseburger from Pop's.
But he was smiling now, and it was in front of Betty.
"You like it?" asked Betty timidly, eyeing Jughead through her thick lashes. "Is pink too, I dunno, predictable?"
Betty smoothed her palms on her skirt. Jughead watched as she nervously picked at its hem, and he ached to hold her hands in his.
"Juggie?" He snapped out of his stupor.
"Well, nothing says Betty Cooper like a nice pink dress," he replied, putting his hands in his pockets.
Stop trying to be witty, you asshat.
He took a deep breath. "You look great, Betts."
Beautiful. Breathtaking. Perfect.
Betty gave him a small smile, although his heart pinched when he saw her eyebrows still furrowed.
"Is something wrong?" He couldn't bear to see her hurt. He instinctively took a step towards her, and he could smell her vanilla-scented perfume, could see the strands of hair that had come loose from the tight bun.
She avoided his gaze and bit her lip. "I don't know if I want to do this, Juggie. The last time I went to a school dance…" Her voice trailed off with an edge of sadness.
"Hey," he began, putting his hands on her shoulders. "You've got a better date now, don't you?"
At this she laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and his heart swelled at the sound. But Jughead was close enough to her for him to see that she was holding back tears. He wanted more than anything to pull her close, to hold her and tell her that she deserved all the good in the world.
"You're right. It's not everyday a girl can say she's on a date with the Jughead Jones."
"Well, get used to it—"
"What?"
Fuck. Jughead definitely did not mean to let those words slip out of his mouth. Where did that even come from? Get used to it? Get used to what?
"Nothing. Let's go?"
Betty gave him a questioning look but decided to let it go. She put her arm on the crook of his elbow and beamed at him.
"What?" he asked, suddenly self-conscious.
"Thanks, Jughead. For everything."
She doesn't know it, but those four words, the way she smiled, the way she held him: Jughead wouldn't think of anything else for the rest of the night.
This was a mistake. Jughead stared in horror as he watched the intermingling mass of bodies in front of him, of suits and dresses. He watched as Reggie's hand travelled down to a poor girl's ass and she slapped him in return.
He and Betty had found their way through the crowd to where Archie and Valerie were dancing a little too close for comfort.
"They've been like that for five songs now." Kevin had popped out of nowhere with a disgusted look on his face.
"I know," Veronica piped in, falling in step beside Kevin. "Listen, I'm all for the Archerie ship, sure. Whatever makes them happy. But seeing them all lovey-dovey twenty-four seven seriously makes me want to barf."
At that, a slow song came on, and the crowd dissipated as the more comfortable friends — and more-than-friends — remained on the dance floor.
"M'lady?" Kevin asked, offering Veronica a dance.
"Don't mind if I do!"
Jughead was left in quite an awkward position. That is, he was left standing next to a very anxious, and very pretty, Betty.
"So." She shifted her feet to face him, her pink lips curled into a shy smile.
"So," Jughead repeated, looping his thumbs on his suspenders.
Do it, you idiot. Don't leave her hanging.
His eyes met hers and part of his carefully crafted facade crumbled. In her eyes he saw not the sweet innocence that everyone did, but the strength that only a girl who had conquered so much on her own could have. In her eyes he saw heartbreak, and compassion, and fear, and courage, and love. So much love.
"So what do we do now, Juggie?"
Do it.
"Would you—"
"Hey, Betty, would you want to dance with me?"
Jughead's face fell as he watched Trevor standing beside Betty, his hand raised to take hers. Betty's eyes widened for a second, but she took Trevor's hand with a smile.
"Sure thing, Trev. You'll be okay, Jug?"
Jughead gave her a small smile. "Yup."
But she was already being swept away by some other guy, and Jughead, like always, watched her go.
Hi guys! I'm completely new to this and quite frankly I'm really scared of how my writing is going to be received. But comments, suggestions, and requests are all welcome! Also, if anyone wants to fangirl over Riverdale/Bughead/Jughead/Cole Sprouse as Jughead, we shall be very good friends :)