The leaves flew up around the SUV as it curved with the road. The driver slowly increased the speed of the vehicle- it was growing dark, and hoped to reach the destination before it became harder to see.
"In .5 mile, take the next right onto Lakeland Dr." As the GPS chimed a reminder to turn soon, the driver of the SUV slowed the vehicle. As the SUV turned onto Lakeland Dr., a conversation was being had at a secluded lake cabin just a few miles ahead.
"Archiekin's- did you remember to switch the laundry over for me?"
"V- the sheets are already on the bed. I'm sure Jug won't notice if they're not clean."
At the mention of the name, the brunette spun around on her heels. She stomped from the kitchen into the living room, and shut off the TV. Her red headed fiancé glanced up at her, confused as to what he had done now, she couldn't be that upset about the laundry.
"Archie." Her tone was different, not cheerful like it had been a moment before. "Please tell me you didn't invite Jughead to Thanksgiving."
"Of course I did- Ronnie! What's he gonna do, eat turkey at the White Worm?"
"Arch.." She didn't have time to finish her thought, as at that exact moment, the SUV pulled into the driveway.
"I wonder why Juggie didn't drive his bike, it can't be that cold out yet." As he watched from the window, he instantly knew what he had done wrong. Why Veronica wanted fresh sheets, why she had seemed so upset when he mentioned inviting his best friend. He watched as Kevin Keller got out of the SUV, and watched as he pulled three bags of luggage from the trunk. Why Kevin would pack three bags for a 4 day weekend, was answered as soon as he saw the long-legged blonde step from the passenger side, her hair tied back in her usual ponytail.
The air was colder than it was when he left, and Jughead Jones regretted taking his motorcycle instead of his truck. The drive was perfect though, the country road lit only by the lights on his motorcycle. He glanced down, and saw it was already half-past ten. He shouldn't have left Riverdale so late, but he had to deal with a problem at the bar. It was hard finding wait staff that would actually show for a normal shift, let alone a holiday weekend. He had thought about not coming at all, he couldn't leave the bar unattended for the entire weekend, but Archie Andrews had insisted. Truth was, Jughead needed a break. From the bar, from his trailer, from the suffocation of Riverdale.
He hadn't been able to leave his hometown after high school. His dad was still in prison, college was never a question. So he had taken a job bartending at the White Worm, the bar frequented by the Southside Serpents, the motorcycle gang whose emblem was emblazoned on the back of his leather jacket. The White Worm served as unofficial headquarters, and Jughead kept the books for the club. Since his fathers arrest and the downfall of the Blossom family, the Serpents dealt mostly with small-town drugs, mostly marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy- the things that keep small-town suburban housewives happy.
He had never married, didn't have a girlfriend, only the occasional night with a Serpent groupie. They hung around the bar in droves, hoping for the chance to spend the night with any of the Serpents, but the brooding, wavy-dark haired god behind the bar was always oblivious to their attempts to win his attention. His heart had always belonged to a certain blonde-haired girl, despite the fact that she left him over 5 years ago.
As he turned his bike up the winding driveway, he tried to shake her from his mind. It was hard, knowing he would soon be surrounded by his high school friends- Archie, Veronica and Kevin, and there would be an empty spot at the dinner table. As he shut off his bike, he watched as Archie, his best friend since birth, stepped outside to great him.
"Jug- I'm so sorry"
"Some greeting Arch. Nice to see you too!" But the curtains fluttering caught Jughead's eyes, and he glanced up to the large bay window that overlooked the drive. He froze, because there, on the other side of the window, staring at him with those bright green eyes that he had spent the last 5 years of his life trying to forget- Betty Cooper.