Jeronica is amazing and I hope this satisfies everyone. Please let me know.
It had been years since the 'core four' had actually been the 'core four' and years since Jughead talked to Veronica, Betty, or Archie. In all fairness he never really talked to Veronica anyway it was all just for the group. He'd left for the south side and broke up with Betty so the only real connection he had was Archie. After a while Archie left him behind too, not wanting more trouble with the Serpents.
He'd see them at pops every once and a while, talking in the corner booth like nothing had changed, while him and Serpents did what they needed and left. Needless to say his Northside connections were slowly ripped apart piece by piece until all that was left were memories. Nostalgia would kick in every now and again, give his stomach a turn then leave as quickly as it came never stopping to say hello.
JV
It was the beginning of year two of college, almost four years since the gang was still the gang. He'd seen Veronica around campus here and there never bothering to say hi assuming she hadn't noticed him like he did her. But he was wrong.
She searched him out one day where she knew he'd be. The dinning hall.
He sat in the corner with the laptop he never stopped typing on since high school and his loving food. He was deep in what he was doing and never saw her walk to him. She walked the same way she did in high school all those years ago but she no longer wore those impossibly high heels. She was still dressed nicely and put together, hair perfectly curled, make up impeccable, and clothes with out a single wrinkle.
She slipped into the chair across from him the model of poise and perfectionism. Hands folded, head held high.
"Jughead Jones." It wasn't a question but a statement. He finally lifted his head and peaked around the laptop recognizing the voice from so long ago.
"Lodge" he'd envisioned the moment they finally crossed paths many times but none started the same. He had many greetings in mind, many conversations. None came to mind when he finally saw her.
"It's nice to finally hear a familiar voice around here. I kinda miss it." He nodded at her statement giving a grunt of agreement.
"How is everyone? From the Northside I mean." She looked down at her hands still folded on the table from when she sat down.
"I wouldn't know. Haven't seen Betty in over a year and haven't even spoken to Archie since our break up two and a half years ago." She had a hint of sadness in her voice but she lifted her eyes to meet his.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I really am. I know what it's like to loose your closest people." He never left her gaze as he spoke giving way for her to smile. It wasn't a happy smile, it was an agreement smile. A smile to say I get it, we've got that in common now.
Just as Veronica was about to speak again some of her friends had walked over interrupting anything she was going to say dragging her away to get ready for something, Jughead didn't know what. She waved good bye and he gave a nod in return. Even if he'd never really been friends with her in high school it felt nice to have something from his old life come back and not tear him apart limb from limb.
VJ
He'd gone to the party out of pure boredom. His roommate wanted him to go and he had nothing else going on and in all honesty he wasn't the secluded social pariah he was back in the day. He thought he might enjoy it for a little while.
He sat off in the corner of one of the quieter rooms sipping his drink just watching like the writer he is. Documenting everything incase it's important for the story later.
He saw that raven hair he could recognize anywhere come almost sprinting in his direction grabbing a hold of his forearm with her free hand. She stopped in front of him looking up to his face. It was days since he'd seen her last.
"Come on Jones were going to dance." And with that she pulled him to the room with the speakers that sounded like they were going to burst any second from the noice.
She swayed with him for a moment grinding when necessary for the music and doing what she could to get him to dance.
That's the thing though. You don't need to like Veronica, hell you don't even need to know Veronica for her to take over and make you do what ever she damn well pleases. She's not mean, she's not manipulative, or conniving just really fucking good. You never know you've been had until after she's gone and you can't speak.
He'd left his drink on the other room so he could freely dance and she never had one to begin with. He was reluctant at first but eventually just being around Veronica got him to dance along with her following her movement holding, her hips.
She wore heels to the party making her closer to his high but he had grown since high school so he was still much taller. She wore a sequined top with no coverage that demanded attention and boy did she get it. Her mini skirt didn't do anything to diminish the stares. She payed them no mind.
She danced her heart out with Jughead and only Jughead until her friends found her to take her home. She walked away with a sway in her hips and one last look over her shoulder at him before disappearing into the crowd.
He no longer felt a need to be surrounded by all the drunk sweaty collage kids who probably weren't even old enough to drink. He found his roommate and told him he was leaving ignoring all of the protests for him to stay. He no longer had a reason to.
JV
He doesn't know how it happened it just did. She started showing up at his place always when his roommate was out. They'd sit, they'd talk, they'd watch movies. They had way more in common than he ever thought they would back in high school. She was a fan of some of his favorite writers and she loves the same kind of movies as he always did. They could talk, or argue, for hours about the nuances of Truman Capote. She was more Breakfast at Tiffany's and he was more In Cold Blood but they worked.
"What got you into all this classic stuff? You don't seems like the type." Jughead asked her one day while they watched a movie in silence.
"I was lonely I guess. No siblings and not many friends so I leaned towards books and movies. They just seemed to fill something for me the new stuff just never did." She said tucking hair behind her ear looking at the floor to hide her nervousness.
And that was that. She came over every Saturday night instead of going out to party's and Wednesday's with a pizza and a peppy attitude. They talked, they watched, they sat. Silence wasn't foreign to them but it was never awkward or nerve racking just peaceful.
He never saw her go on dates and he never when on them either. Who would want to date the guy with the snake on his back? (Yeah he still wore the damn jacket but it wasn't everyday anymore). He worked really hard to get the Serpents to be legit but people were still scared. Not Veronica. She didn't seem to care. Never really seemed to care.
"You know, leather jackets are damn sexy." She spits out never taking her eyes off of the screen playing some classic movie with a dude wearing one.
"So what your saying is I should wear my Serpents jacket more often, Princess?" He was joking
"Yeah." He couldn't tell if she was.
VJ
Eventually Veronica convinced him to go to clubs with her or to the games where she still cheered. In all honesty it didn't take much to get him to do the latter, seeing her cheer was his favorite part. He kept telling himself it was because he was being a supportive friend.
He followed her every Saturday to the clubs and bars always wearing his Serpents jacket. He goes to all her games always wearing his Serpents jacket. He always felt the need to put it on before leaving but could never figure out why. Just always put it on just before seeing her. She never said anything and he didn't really care. He just loved to be himself around her and she was growing on him.
The more they hung out the more he learned about her. Her favorite color is deep purple almost like a bruise. Her go to drink was a mimosa or a Chardonnay depending on her mood. She didn't each cherry's much but when she did she tied each and every stem into a knot with her tongue (and fuck if that isn't hot.) But that's not what he loved to know about her. He got to know her secret laugh she never showed until those rare moments he said something incredibly stupid that she found so down to the bone hilarious. He knew when she was upset with just one look. He knew when she was losing grip with a simple phone call. He knew every emotion through a touch. He knew when she was faking it all no matter how many others she could convince. He knew her and it didn't scare him. It always had with others. But not her. Never her.
JV
She dragged him out again but they had friends. Her "besties", or so they claimed even though he never once heard about them, tagged along as well as his roommate.
He was in the corner with his drink while his roommate was some where hanging with her friends. She was at the bar getting more drinks and he could just see her from where he stood. He watched her loving the sway of her hips as she walked. Loved the way she gracefully leaned on the counter to get the bartenders attention. Loved the way she flicked her hair behind her shoulder as she ordered, it wasn't flirtatious just a way to move it. But being able to see her meant he could also see all of the others who loved all those things just as much as him.
He told himself it was all a best friend thing. They loved it just as much just not the same way. But it didn't stop it from hurting. He couldn't figure out why.
He had a front row seat to the flirting. Some tall blond with a green button up shirt, sleeves rolled to elbows and kakis pushed his way next to her drink in hand. She smiled politely and he felt like his heart was crushed. Shattered into pieces, squished the life out of, by the hands of the one and only Veronica Lodge. He didn't know why it hurt so damn much and he hated it.
He turned away hiding from the scene unfolding just a few feet away. He felt the over whelming urge to just walk up and beat him till he couldn't breath but he knew Veronica and the others wouldn't take to kindly to that so he didn't. It took most of his will power to stay where he was. He could tell someone walked up to him but he couldn't bring himself to look.
"You really gonna let that guy fuck with you girl like that?" His roommates voice flooded his ears.
"She not my- wait what!?" He turned sharply to Veronica. The blond was talking to her hand gripping her arm tightly. Veronica looked angry, pissed, but mostly, scared. He didn't have time to think before his feet carried him to them. He slammed his drink in his roommates hand before he walked (more like stomped) away.
He didn't think just did. He draped his arm around her shoulders staring the blond in the eyes. "Hey Princess is this guy bothering you? You ok?" He spoke mostly to the blond.
"We were just talking. Ain't that right baby?" The blond looked at Veronica.
"It didn't look like talking to me so how bout to leave my girlfriend alone." He didn't know why he said it. He didn't know why it felt so right in his mouth. But he didn't care. Just kept on going.
"Nothings happenin' man. Why don't you just go? The chick would like me better anyway." There was no answer no more talking just the rushing of blood in his ears.
He punched the blond as hard as he could. Probably broke his nose too. Blood dropped on the counter and stained his knuckles but it was worth it.
"Talk about her like that again and you won't be able to speak you hear me you piece of shit!?" He grabbed her hand and walked her away from the blond leaving him to bleed by himself.
Veronica walked just a little behind Jughead never letting go of his hand. "Jug. Juggy." He never turned around still fuming. "Jughead!" She screamed it. He turned sharply almost nocking her over. He figured she'd be pissed. He had no right to say those things but the moment he turned around her face softened and she smiled up at him. "Thanks" is all she said.
"No problem." Is all he said in return.
VJ
Weeks had gone by and neither had mentioned what happened at the bar. None of their friends did but they never really hung out with them to give them the opportunity. But nothing was really different.
The only change was that they stopped going out. They stayed in like before mostly because Veronica didn't want another incident and Jughead did what ever she wanted. They still went to her games but that's was mandatory for her. Everything was perfect until it wasn't.
They sat and watched like they always did. Eyes glued to the screen. There wasn't as much conversation as normal but he thought she was just really into it. At least he did until she turned to look at him ever so slightly.
"Why did you call me your girlfriend?" She spoke just above a whisper.
"I don't know. Just trying to be a good friend. Help you out from douche bags." He never turned to look at her to scared he'd melt right then and there.
"Oh." It was short. She sounded angry and folded in on herself more. He felt bad but never took his eyes off the screen.
The credits started to roll and she unraveled herself before popping up off the couch. "I should go." She doesn't look at him just like he didn't look at her. She grabbed her shoes and slips them on (heels).
"Are you sure?" She had never left right after the credits. She always waited at least an hour just to talk about the movie.
"Yeah." It was short. That time he knew she was angry. He walked up behind her as she reached for the door putting a hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong? And don't tell me nothing because I know that bull shit." He said sincerely.
"Nothing Jug just leave it." She never looked away from the door.
"Don't lie to me you know I can see right through you so just tell me, Princess." Silence. "Please?" He said it softly
She sighed dropping her head closing her eyes. "You Jughead! It's you." She turned to him and looked up into his eyes. "It's everything about you. Your jacket, your jokes, your kindness. That damn hair I was finally able to see after all these years. I just... I hate my self for it." She never said what 'it' was but he knew something changed. Something changed when she sought him out that first day. But this was different. This wasn't I haven't seen you in years let's talk and become friends change. This was heart wrenching, sole crushing, world burning change. But he didn't know why.
"Why?" That's all he said. That's all he could get out.
"Because I'm not supposed to ok? Your Jughead Jones. South side Serpent. Terrible friend. You left. You hurt us... You hurt me." She looked down once again letting a tear fall from her eyes onto the floor between their ever close feet.
"I-I I didn't know you cared. I didn't know it mattered to you. You never seemed to care."
"That's the problem! I don't care! I'm supposed to but I just can't. I'm supposed to hate you with every fiber of my being for leaving but I just can't. I don't want to." She lifted her head up slowly as she spoke to once again look into his eyes to show she meant it. To show it was tearing her apart inside cutting every bit of her little by little until she was run dry. It broke his heart.
"I'm so sorry Ronnie. If I had known..." he could barely be heard over their own heart beats.
"What? What would you have done!? Not become a Serpent? Because you and I both know that was never happening. If Betty couldn't get you to stop what in hell make you think that I could have!? You didn't even talk to me." She was screaming. She was crying. It was angry tears filling her eyes. It was angry tears blurring her vision. It was angry tears that killed him.
"No it wouldn't have but it would have made me try and stay in touch with you all a little more. I wouldn't have gone so far deep. I wouldn't have gotten in so much trouble so damn fast. But why does that matter now? Why should that change anything now?" He didn't scream, not once.
"Because I'm not supposed to love someone who abandoned me and tore apart my whole life!" Once again she screamed. She hadn't realized what she had just confessed until it was already gone. "I-I didn't mean- Ohh he'll what's the use." She gave up trying to change what she said. She was to drained from it all to care anymore.
Jughead didn't answer her with his words just leaned in colliding his lips with hers exploding the reality they both knew. It was a hard, messy kiss leaving them both more confused than fulfilled.
They separated opening their eyes, pulling in air they had missed.
"I'm sorry." Is all he got out before she was in him once again pulling the air out of his lungs as their mouths melded together. She got him to open his mouth the same way as she always gets people to do things, by being Veronica Lodge. They pulled apart again, lungs screaming for air, and just looked at one another.
"Well Princess, I can officially say I don't give a shit about all that because we've changed and it doesn't matter anymore." He held her by the waist with a feather like touch. She had her arms wrapped around his neck reaching her own neck up to look him in the eye. "Yeah I guess you're right about some things."
"Always Princess." He was stopped by his own lips coming down to hers. There was so much heat so much heartache trying to be mended all in one movement. Her hands made their way to his hair itching to finally feel what had been hidden for so damn long.
One of his hands mad it's way to her face while the other traced up and down her side drawing nonsense patterns.
She kicked her heels off once again knowing she wasn't going anywhere for a while. They clattered to the floor with a loud smack but neither of them were even fazed. His jacket was disregarded by nimble fingers but a minute later, tossed gently on the chair by the door.
He didn't wear as many layers as he did in high school but those damn ratty jeans and flannel tied around his hips were still a staple. She untied the flannel throwing it haphazardly to god knows where.
She had her skintight, low cut, shirt and mini skirt on giving him a show. He reached his fingers under the hem of her shirt feeling her beautiful, soft, tanned skin. He couldn't get enough.
She broke from him for just enough time to pull his shirt over his head before reconnecting. She ran her hands along his torso marveling in every muscle she never knew he had.
Just a few moments later he did the same to her revealing the hidden lace. With her mini skirt still on he grabbed the back of her thighs lifter her up before making their way to the bed.
The rest of the clothes were shed in a haze before her deep purple lips stained his skin everywhere she could find. Many whispered names, obscenities, and moans began to fill the room. Bliss was all either of them could find to describe their state of mind. For once bliss.
JV
The next morning she left before he woke so she could make it to class on time. It hurt to leave because all she wanted was to stay with him for ever but she knew she couldn't. She slipped out, walking with a limp, not making a noise to wake him.
She made it to class with out a second to spare never once having her thoughts drift from Jughead. Bliss.
He was outside her class when she left. He leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, waiting. His entire face lit up the moment he saw that raven hair he loved so much.
She turned the opposite way from him not even noticing, lost in her own thoughts. He walked just far enough to catch up to her still in the night before clothes. His arms winded around to the front coming together just bellow her collar bone and lips resting next to her ear.
"Morning Princess." He whispered into her ear. She stopped when she felt his hands and turned at his words.
She smiled up at him reaching her hands for that marvelous hair before kissing him gently.
"Morning." She replied after they separated.
They continued to walk down the corridor his arm around her shoulders.
"You wanna know a secret?" He asked her looking down to her face. She just looked up at him. "I think I like you Princess."
She smiled that raw genuine smile she barely ever shows. "I think I like you to Jones."
Bliss.
The ending doesn't seem right but it is much better than it was before so I think it'll be ok. I just hope that it lives up to everyone's expectations or at least close to it. (PS: Jughead calling Veronica Princess is my weakness)