"Come on Jug, don't be such a grouch" Veronica scolded as they walked down the wet New York sidewalk, "Who knows you may even have fun" she teased.
He just rolled his eyes, pulling his jacket tighter around him to block out the chill of the autumn evening.
"Yeah Dude, relax for once, it's a night to celebrate" Archie added with a slap to his back.
Jughead glared at him, "It's a night for Veronica to celebrate, I'm still not sure why I'm here" he muttered.
"Because Juggie darling, like you said, it's my night and I want to share it with all my close friends, one of which happens to be you" she said, pointing a perfectly manicured finger at him, "Besides" she continued with a dismissing wave of her hand, "You need to get out more, maybe find a girl that can finally knock you out of this broody funk you insist on living in" she tusked as he scowled at her.
A hearty laugh burst out from behind them, "Yeah right Ron, Donnie Darko picking up a woman!" Reggie chuckled again, "Are you sure you even like woman Jug?" he smirked.
"Fuck you Reggie" Jughead spat at him, wishing he'd give it a rest already. He was getting pretty sick and tired of listening to the same old shit from him all the time.
Hell, it's not like he didn't like women; he did, just as much as the next guy and he usually found that women liked him too. He was smart and good looking, or so he'd been told, and regardless what Veronica thought, dark and brooding seemed to work for him. He has had his fair share of dates and a couple of short-lived girlfriends, and he wasn't completely inexperienced sexually, but despite all that, Reg still bugged him, claiming he was weird because he didn't feel the need to gawk or drool at every nice ass or pair of legs that crossed his path. He insisting that he wasn't interested in woman because he didn't take every one that showed him interest to bed. He knows he's not the 'typical' male, but he's just never felt that yearning to constantly chase women the way Reg and Arch do, or the way they did before Josie and Ronnie that is.
Don't get him wrong, he enjoys the company of women and has had fun with the ones he has dated, but no one has ever made his head spin and his heart flutter or made his body and mind lose control completely. Someday, he hopes he'll find someone that does, but until then, he has no problem with being alone; content to concentrate on his writing and his work. He doesn't need constant companionship and would prefer to save his time for women he actually has a connection with.
"Leave Jug alone Reg" Josie reprimanded, breaking Jug out of his thoughts, "Not every guy is a fuckboi you know" she said, giving Jughead an apologetic smile that said 'I'm sorry my boyfriend is an insensitive jerk'.
"Can we just move on please" Kevin sighed clearly growing bored with the banter, "I want to know where you're taking us Ron?"
"Omigod, you'll absolutely love it Kev!" she told him excitedly, "It's this posh little bar called the Blue Note, a total hidden gem. It's like one those vintage lounges with big comfy booths and every night they have different acts and singers but it's not cheesy like you'd expect. It's like the old blues clubs where sexy women and men make you swoon as they sing atop pianos and shit, Josie and I stumbled across it one night and it's amazing!" she gushed.
Jughead stopped making Reggie bump in to him, "What the hell Needlenose?"
Jughead ignored him, "Lounge singers? Like in one of those dark trashy clubs you'd see in a bad movie, where woman drape themselves over drunk men as they croon some terrible old love song?" he cringed, "Really Ronnie?"
"Well technically yes, but think more like Cameron Diaz in The Mask, sexy not trashy. You'll love it, I promise" she grinned as Josie nodded her head in agreement.
"Fine" he muttered, shoving his hands into the pockets of his Sherpa jacket, wishing more and more that he had stayed home, he could of hammered out a rough draft of another chapter by now.
They rounded the corner and he could see a blue neon sign in the shape of a music note up ahead, it was hanging above a steel door and there was no other sign or anything else that indicated a business was inside. How very secret society he thought rolling his eyes as they entered.
They found a large high backed booth in the shape of a semi-circle just to the left of a large shiny black stage. Everyone sat and gave their waitress their drink orders, the group chatting idly while Jughead surveyed the room. It wasn't as bad as he imagined it would be, yeah it was dark, a little smoky, which didn't bother him, seeing as he current fiddled with his own cigarette, but you could tell the building was older, with exposed brick walls and dated carpet. And then there was the biggest cliché of all, the plush booths, wrapped in deep purple velvet because, well, why wouldn't they be. But there was also something appealing about the ambience the room gave off when you pulled it all together.
The stage, including the steps surrounding it, was lined with lights and there was a small runway that came out into the crowd. A silver curtain was hanging across the back, currently blocking everything from view except for a grand piano that was sitting to one side of the stage.
The establishment itself was spacious with a mixture of tables and booths spread out among the two different levels of seating. Both levels were shaped in a semi-circle, one in front of the other, hugging the stage and mirroring the design of the booths. The lower level around the stage, where they were seated, was pit like, the table tops even with the floor of the stage. The second level sat five steps higher, wrapping around the pit and there was a black metal railing separating the two areas.
Older silver chandeliers hung from the ceiling, creating a soft glow as candles flickered on each table and framed vintage pin up girl posters were hung around the room. There was a huge bar running all the way along one wall with tall low backed vinyl bar stools lining its counter. Liquor bottles of all sorts sat on glass shelves in front of the exposed brick and both the shelves and the bar counter were under lit by tiny lights. The effect completed by the Bartender, who was currently drying a glass with a rag as he surveyed the crowd. He had slick black hair that fell to his collar and was dressed in a white dress shirt with a black vest overtop, his sleeves rolled up his inked forearms and a purple bowtie at his neck. His whole look including his facial features screamed old nuance and he looked like he stepped out of A Streetcar Named Desire.
Maybe they really had went back in time he thought, shaking his head as the young redhead came back with their drinks and a couple bowls of pretzels for their table. Christ, even the waitresses wore older flapper style cocktail dresses in shades of purple and silver, his mouth quirking up in amusement as he took a sip from his glass.
His eyes widening when she winked at him before heading to the next table, "See Jug" Archie nudged him, nodding towards her back, "You just need to get out more, show the goods" he teased.
Jug gave him a wry look before putting his cigarette between his lips and lighting the end. At least he didn't feel under dressed since Archie had convinced him to wear a blue long sleeve button up shirt with his dark jeans and good leather jacket but he drew the line at leaving his ever present beanie at home.
"Well now that we're here and we have our drinks, I purpose a toast" Archie said, raising his glass, "To Ronnie, after flying through both Business AND Design School and spending the last two years working and building your dream, it's finally coming true! Come Monday morning, Cashmere & Lace will officially open its doors, congratulations baby, I'm so proud of you" he finished dropping a kiss to her lips.
"Thank you, Archiekins" she smiled, gazing up at him eyes glistening, clearly moved by her boyfriend's toast.
"To Ronnie!" Kevin shouted, the rest of the table following suit as they clinked their glasses together and drank to Veronica and her new business.
Betty sat in front of the lighted mirror in her dressing room; she was just putting the finishing touches on her look when she heard her name being shouted down the hall.
"Betty...what the hell is taking so long, you go on in five!" Chuck berated her annoyingly as he walked in the room.
Betty frowned and rolled her eyes at him in the mirror, "Believe it or not Chuck, I don't come to work dressed as a sexy lounge singer" she retorted as she applied her scarlet lipstick and checked her work, wiping a small amount of excess from the corner of her full lips before capping the tube and turning around, "And this" she emphasized, running a showy hand in front of her face and body, "Does not just happen in five minutes."
Chuck looked her up and down appreciatively, setting his annoyance aside, "Mmm" he hummed, "I gotta admit, you do good work babe" he grinned, strolling towards her.
"Uh uh, back off" she told him, shaking her head and putting a pointed nail against his chest to stop his advancement, "Don't even think about ruining my lipstick."
He frowned and she could see his annoyance return, he didn't like being told no but he seemed to let it go for now, taking a step back without saying anything.
She grabbed her red heels, sliding them on while using one of the chairs to steady herself, then took a minute to survey her completed look with a tilt of her head as she stood in front of the full length mirror.
She had kept her makeup sexy and subtle with a smoky eye and her red lips, and besides the small section that was pulled back with a sparkly red comb on one side, she had left her long blond hair down and it fell in curly waves around her shoulders. Her silver wrap dress dipped suggestively low in the back, almost to her buttocks, and the front showed a hint of cleavage but not enough to look trashy. The material clung to her in all the right places before ending mid-thigh, showcasing her legs, which she had been told many of times was her best feature. Her red heels on her feet and minimal jewelry completed the look, pulling it all together.
"Gorgeous as always" Chuck complimented, stepping behind her and placing his hands on her hips.
"Thank you" she said as she turned around and kissed his cheek. Chuck could be extremely sweet at times, when he wanted to be or if it served him well and he often complimented her or surprised her with some sort of gift. But he could also be a real asshole sometimes, hell who was she kidding, Chuck was an asshole most of the time. He could be mean and calculating, and was possessively controlling, even slightly abusive. But he had given her a chance when no one else would, provided her with a place to live, a means to pay bills as well as tuition for the classes she was currently taking and she felt indebted to him.
She grabbed her perfume from the dressing table, spritzing some on her wrists and dabbing it along her neck and behind her ears before setting it back down. A small buzzer sounded as the red light above the dressing room door blinked, telling them the show was scheduled to start in one minute.
"Well there's our cue" Betty said heading towards the door, "Showtime!" she grinned, feeling that spark of excitement run through her. The job wasn't glamorous but it paid well and she couldn't say that she hated it either. It wasn't something she wanted to do forever but she enjoyed performing and being on stage, she found it added a rush or a sense of control to her otherwise mundane life. And it gave her the opportunity to play dress up and pretend she was someone else for a while.
Chuck grabbed her by the wrist before she got out the door, making her wince at his grip, "Hey babe" he said, his voice questioning.
She turned around to face him, giving him her best smile, "Yeah?" she asked.
He reached up, running his knuckles slowly down her cheek, "I don't have to remind you who you belong to while you're out their putting on a show, do I?" he asked his casual tone failing to mask the warning that lied beneath.
"Of course not" she placated, shaking her head.
"Good girl" he said, grabbing her chin tightly between his fingers before kissing her harshly, "And don't ever tell me when I can and can't kiss you" he told her, wiping the red smudge from beneath her bottom lip before dropping his hands and walking out the door, throwing a "Go and make me proud" at her as he left.
Veronica had been telling them about her plans for the opening day of her boutique when the lights dimmed and a well-dressed man walked on stage, he looked like he was not much older than them Jughead thought.
"Good evening Ladies and Gentleman, my name is Chuck Clayton, owner of this fine establishment and I would like to welcome you all to the Blue Note" he greeted, throwing on his most inviting smile. Betty wasn't the only one who put on a show every night.
Chuck was tall and built with creamy dark skin and well-bred good looks; he was well spoken and charismatic and he could charm the pants off men and women alike, proving to work very well for him thus far, both in business and in his personal endeavours. His stage presence gave nothing away to the fact that he could also be cruel, and pompous, and arrogant.
Jughead had decided, not long after 'welcome to the Blue Note', that he didn't like the man who was currently wooing the crowd. Albeit, he'd never actually met him, but Jughead was extremely perceptive and he could tell this guy was full of it. He may ooze charm but he reeked of bullshit.
Thankfully he didn't talk long before introducing the first act, "Well I know you fine people aren't here to see me sing," smiling as the crowd chuckled politely and Jughead rolled his eyes, "So without further ado, please put your hands together for the beautiful and the talented Elizabeth!" he said with a flourish before descending the stairs.
"Oh my gosh" Veronica whisper shouted to the table, "She performed the last time we were here and she's amazing! And that man's right, she's a total hottie!" she confirmed.
"You hear that Jug, maybe she'll even turn your crank" Reggie quipped, earning him a smack on the chest from Josie.
"I'm surprised anyone turns your crank Reg" he countered, "Pun intended, no offence Josie."
Reggie flipped Jug the finger as Josie shrugged, "What can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment" she sighed then burst into giggles as Reg shot her a look.
The curtain opened to an already hooting and cheering crowd, this woman was obviously as popular as previously implied. The open curtain revealed a dark backdrop that mimicked a city skyline at night and there was a large fake moon hanging from the ceiling and small twinkle lights poking through the backdrop like stars in the sky.
Not that anyone noticed the set up though, as everyone's eyes were on the blond, sitting atop a wooden swing that was suspended above the stage, her long legs crossed at the ankles and her back facing the audience. Her hair shone like a halo in the lights and her dress sparkled as the milky skin of her back, left bare by the low cut of her dress, seemed to glow, making her look almost ethereal, the whole effect was breathtaking and Jughead couldn't look away.
The swing lowered slowly as the piano played and she began to sing.
Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singing in the sycamore trees
Dream a little dream of me
Her voice was the most angelic thing Jughead had ever heard and as the swing reached the stage and she stood up, gracefully circling around to the front, her hand still holding one of the ropes as her hips swayed, he's pretty sure his heart stopped and he forgot how to breathe.
"Holy shit"
"Damn"
Arch and Reg choked at the same time, obviously sharing in his reaction.
"In all that is holy, that woman could almost turn me straight" Kevin exclaimed, receiving a raised brow from Ronnie, "What? I said almost" he shrugged.
"I told you she was gorgeous" Veronica said smugly.
That was an understatement if he had ever heard one Jug thought, swallowing the lump in his throat as he forced his body to breathe deep while trying to calm his already increasing heart rate. His eyes followed her as she moved around the stage, she was strikingly beautiful and he found himself getting lost in the deep emerald of her eyes as she swept them across the room, letting them linger every once in a while on some lucky gentleman.
She made her way closer to their side of the room, walking down the stage steps and into the pit, flirting harmlessly as she went. It was all for show of course but she had the men eating out of the palm of her hand, Jughead included.
She stopped in front of their table, leaning seductively against the side of the booth as she reached out and lightly traced a red fingernail down Reggie's cheek, to his shoulder, then down his arm.
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
She pulled away, causing Reggie to almost fall out of the booth as his body followed her fleeting touch. She gave him a smile, running her fingers over their table top as she went. She winked at Archie who looked like a giddy puppy dog as he followed her every movement, Kevin watching it all in amazement as her eyes landed on Jughead. She stopped again, gazing at him intensely before reaching towards him and threading her hand through his hair, knocking off his beanie.
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
She gave his hair a final caress before continuing her way through the crowd. Jughead's scalp was tingling from her touch and he's pretty sure he couldn't have put a coherent thought together if he tried, especially since a lot of his blood seemed to be heading south at the moment. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his brain, she had barely even touched him yet here he was, reacting like some horny teenager.
"You boys can close your mouths now before you drool all over our table" Josie stated, "Honestly V, why'd we bring them here again?" she asked the brunette beside her.
"Because you're the best girlfriends in the world" Reggie said with complete adoration, causing both girls to laugh, vanquishing any hint of jealousy they had felt.
Jughead watched as she moved throughout the room, turning men into puddles of mush as she went. As silly as his sudden infatuation made him feel, he couldn't bring himself to look away from her either. It was clear she was the one in control on the floor, she could touch and flirt, but when one guy tried to get a little handsy with her, two bulky bouncers stepped forward, emerging from the shadows as she took a step back from the man before giving him a pointed look and wagged her finger at him.
She sashayed her way back onto the stage as the song was winding down, sitting sideways upon the swing and crossing her amazing legs as she leaned back, her mic free hand reaching up and gripping the rope above her head.
She pushed off gently with her toe so that she swung a little, her head resting back against her arm, her green eyes gazing out at them hypnotically as she sang the last verse of the song,
Sweet dreams, till sunbeams find you
Gotta keep dreaming leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
You gotta make me a promise, promise to me
You'll dream, dream a little dream of me
She smiled sassily and threw the crowd a wink as she sang the last word, the curtain falling seconds later, hiding her from view again and giving the illusion that the stage had winked at them as well.
The room erupted into thunderous cheers of applause and whistles; even Jughead was on his feet.
WOW he thought that was one of the most incredible things he's ever witnessed and he was vibrating as he sat back down. He's never had this strong of reaction to a woman before and it should scare the shit out of him but instead it was doing the complete opposite, he felt energized and alive, excited and a little turned on if he was completely honest.
Elizabeth was by far the most beautiful woman he's ever seen and he was entranced the moment the first note floated across her lips. She was angelic yet tantalizingly sexy, his body still burned from her miniscule touch, which had him imagining what it would be like to feel her hands in other places.
He put that thought on hold for now, not allowing his mind to wander any further, being as they were still strangers and all, but for the first time in his life, Jughead felt the pull, the need to give chase and he sure as hell wasn't going to ignore it.
Determination set in as he ran his fingers through the condensation on his glass. Before the night is over, he mused, he would know her full name and she would surely learn his, he deemed.
Maybe Archie was right, maybe he did need to get out more he thought, grinning into his drink as the next performer took the stage.