Now typically I prefer not straying too far from canon, and I promise to have Riverdale story more like my Serena work, but for now, here's a little piece exploring Jughead and Cheryl. Probably just a one-shot unless there's high demand for more. Time: early season one.
Our story takes place in the same little town you already know. A town of joy and darkness. A place where the good, the bad, and the ugly bubble beneath the surface.
And on this day, yours truly set out to find what lies beneath the surface of one of the most well-guarded secrets in Riverdale. Cheryl Blossom.
Jughead scoffed at the words, then erased them from the screen. He closed his laptop and set it gently in his bag. The gym bleachers were typically easy for Jughead to retreat into, as anyone else there would be preoccupied with their activities. Today, the River Vixens were practicing with Veronica at the helm. Cheryl Blossom sat a few rows in front of Jughead, still in a short dress and heels.
Against his better judgment, Jughead stepped over the rows of hard, metal seating and landed near Cheryl. Neither said anything at first, a game of who was the better loner. Cheryl crossed her arms and pursed her lips. Clearly, she wasn't giving in.
"Cheryl," Jughead began without a real train of thought.
"What do you want, trailer trash?"
"Look, ice queen, I'm trying to say something nice," Jug snapped.
Cheryl arched an eyebrow. "Thirty seconds. Go."
Jughead resisted the urge to make a comment about the virility of Cheryl's boy toys and instead continued on. "I just wanted to let you know that I get messed up families. And they're not always easy to talk to."
"That's an understatement."
He shifted uncomfortably. "If you ever need to talk, I could take some time out of my normally scheduled time for loathing you."
Cheryl leaned over and narrowed her eyes. "That's very noble of you, but I actually have friends for that." She turned her focus back to the Vixens.
"I just thought you'd rather talk to someone whose biggest concern isn't the latest fall fashion or how many kegs to buy."
Cheryl laughed instinctively, then blushed slightly. "Thanks, Jones." She stood up and started to leave. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to deal with the family business."
She stopped midstride and looked down. Tears started to come to her eyes. "It's like everything reminds me of him…" she sighed, wiping her eyes.
Jughead stood up begrudgingly and patted Cheryl's shoulder. "Look, I know I'm going to regret this, but what if we just cut out for the rest of the day?"
Cheryl scoffed in disbelief. "We? I feel like my net worth my drop if I stick around you, Jughead Jones."
"Then don't come with me as a Blossom. You won't be the daughter of a maple syrup empire, and I won't be the son of an alcoholic Serpent." The words come out faster than he intended, hoping she wanted to forget herself, too.
In the background, Veronica's voice rang out over the peppy rehearsal music. "Ladies, hustle! The crowd is dying for boredom!"
Cheryl nodded at last. "Alright, Juggy. Where we are we going?"
Pop's had seemed too conspicuous a place for the odd couple, and so Jughead had elected for a more secluded venue.
Jug unlocked the door to the drive-in's projection booth and held the door open. "Welcome to the last place anyone is going to suspect Cheryl Blossom is hiding out in."
They entered the small room, and Cheryl began to peruse the knick-knacks that were Jughead's personal belongings. She was still perfectly poised, as if she were wandering a tiny museum.
"Sit anywhere you like," Jughead called out while rummaging through boxes of reels.
Cheryl realized the humor in the statement, as the only seating appeared to be a cot in the far corner. "Jughead, do you live here?" She was surprised by the softness of her voice, almost as if someone else were speaking for her. Someone who wasn't a Blossom.
"Home sweet home," he joked. "You're welcome to crash here if Thorn Hill starts to feel a little too much like The Shining." He found what he was looking for and placed the reel in a projector facing the wall. The movie flicked to life and he sat down on the cot.
Cheryl lowered herself onto the makeshift bed, keenly aware of how little space remained between them. "I didn't take you for an Ingrid Bergman fan," she said politely.
"I didn't take you for someone who knows who Ingrid Bergman is," he retorted with a smile.
They sat in silence for the first twenty minutes of the movie until they reached that inevitable point where comfort takes priority over appearances. Jughead slid his hat off his head and tossed it in a corner. Cheryl removed her heels and unpinned her hair, letting it spill down over her shoulders. She moved closer to her companion, allowing her body to touch his. The world wasn't orbiting around Cheryl Blossom, and instead the two were in tangent to each other for the first time.
"I miss him. I'm sure you don't. You wouldn't have a reason to…" Her voice trailed off, and she laid her head gently on Jughead's shoulder.
"No one deserves that," he said plainly. "And no deserves to go through this sort of pain." He rested his hand on hers, and they sat in a more comfortable silence for the remainder of the movie.
When the screen finally went blank, neither one moved. "Guess it's time to get back to the Addams Family, huh?" Jughead said dryly. Cheryl paused before answering. "Most good theaters have double features. Are you saying that having me for company isn't worth another film?" She sneered at him for effect.
"Why don't you choose?" he offered. She stood up and thumbed through the pile of old movies. At last she settled on Bullitt and handed the reel to Jughead. "Be a good little worker and put this on."
Jughead looked at the title. "McQueen. I approve."
"Who says I need your approval? Besides I'm a sucker for a leading man." She smiled genuinely and resumed her place on the cot. Jughead switched the reels, and the new film began. He went over to the little bed, but Cheryl stopped him. "Do you have a blanket?"
He picked up a small fleece blanket from the other side of the room and handed it to her. Cheryl draped the fabric over herself and laid down on the cot. Seeing the confusion on Jug's face, she patted the space behind her. "Sit, boy."
He rolled his eyes but did so anyways, lying right against her. He laid his hand tentatively on her waist, and interlaced her fingers in his.
"Tell anyone about this, and I'll kill you," she half threatened.
"Same goes for me," Jughead muttered.
The second movie was more relaxed, and they made occasional sarcastic remarks to each other and the characters throughout. By the time it ended, neither even noticed. They were facing each other now, Cheryl tracing her fingers over Jug's hand.
"We used to try to tap the trees with straws when we were kids. Jason would take straws from Pop's and save them up, then we'd go and start stabbing at trees with them. One year, we actually did it. There was a tree that had been tapped before, and we used the old hole and got a few drops out of it. It was like a pirate's treasure for us."
Jughead listened intently. His brow was furrowed, and his eyes stayed completely focused on Cheryl's words. He was always a good listener for his friends, but it felt important that he linger on every word, as if this were the only time he'd get to hear Cheryl Blossom speak.
"You okay, there, Jones?" she asked softly.
"Yeah, just listening."
She smiled as she looked around the room. "Maybe next time I'll bring food… and some air freshener."
"Next time?" Jughead cocked his head in confusion.
"You should be so lucky! I mean it can't happen again. We're not being ourselves, but we're still… something."
"We're just people, Cheryl. Two people who get each other. I think you're the only person lonelier than me in this town. So better to be lonely with company, right?"
She nodded. "It's sort of nice not being a Blossom. I get why other people do it." She cracked a smile and bit her lip. Jughead found himself leaning in towards the woman who was mean girl by day and outsider by night.
They looked at each other for another moment, then Cheryl pulled away and slipped her heels back on. She stood up quickly. "It's getting late. I should go do damage control with my parents."
Jughead nodded solemnly. "I'll walk you."
They crossed the large lot and talked intermittently on the long walk to Thorn Hill. When they finally arrived, it seemed that neither of them wanted to see Cheryl go inside.
"Be safe," he said simply. She nodded and fidgeted with her purse. "Jughead… thanks. I know we haven't exactly been friends, but…"
He interrupted. "Things are weird. It's a weird town. It doesn't matter what things are supposed to be like. If you want to do this again some time, I'm here."
She smiled softly then turned away. She took a single step and turned back to him, talking quickly. "Look, I know you're like a weirdo and all, and you probably don't get to talk to girls much, so I'll do you a favor." She leaned in and kissed him quickly.
"You're a sweetheart, Jughead Jones," she said, then walked briskly through the iron gates and left him standing alone in chilly nighttime air.