Elizabeth Cooper had always been the good girl; had done everything everyone ever expected of her. She refused to let anyone down, least of all herself. Were the expectations she placed on her shoulder questionable? Certainly. Were the doable? Absolutely. And that was what kept her striving for perfection. She spent countless hours after school, working on the Blue and Gold. Then, when that was through, she'd go to her Vixen rehearsals, painting a smile on her face and putting extra pep into her cheers. She knew she was tired; knew that she was harassed. However, if spending more hours out of her house kept her away from the constant shouting she heard through her too thin walls, then so be it.

"Don't you ever go home, Betts?" Jughead Jones, her best friend, asked. Betty looked up at him briefly. Her and Jug had met back in third grade, when some bullies stole the book he was reading and flung it into the sand box. Not alright with anyone being mean to another person, Betty had marched right up to those kids and gave them a piece of her mind. By the time she was through shouting at them, they had scurried off and Jughead, whom she'd come to find out detested his full name, was looking at her in awe.

"Thanks," he whispered shyly, and Betty grinned.

"No problem," she replied before holding out her hand. "I'm Elizabeth Cooper but go by Betty."

Jughead took her hand. "I'm Jughead. Don't ask me my real name, Betts."

"Betts?" Betty asked curiously, and the little boy grinned a little.

'Well, I figured any friend of mine needs a nickname, too, since I expect them to call me by mine," he said softly, and Betty grinned.

"Betts," she whispered, trying out the name. "I like it. And I like your beanie."

"W-Want to try it on?" Jughead asked shyly. The rest, as they said, was history.

"Earth to Betts," Jughead said, waving a hand in her face. It caused her to come out of her stroll down memory lane and look at her best friend apologetically.

"Sorry, Jug, what did you say?" Betty asked, stifling a yawn behind her elbow. He sighed.

"I asked if you ever go home, which, clearly, you don't. I thought I was the only one who slept at school," he teased. Even though Betty could hear the light-heartedness behind his comment, it still clawed at her heart to know her best friend had lived at the school for a while. Jughead's teasing grin slipped off his face once he caught her troubled look.

"Look, Betts, its fi-," he began, but Betty held up a hand.

"Jughead Jones, don't say it's fine. Don't you dare," she warned, and he had the decency to stop talking. He looked around at the articles that littered their office.

"What's all this?" Jughead asked.

"Some leads I'm looking into about Jason Blossom's murder," Betty replied, biting her lip. Jughead picked one piece of paper up, reading it.

"Sisters? Like, the place they're keeping Polly?" Jughead asked in confusion, and Betty bit her lip harder.

"Yes," she whispered. "I need to know if she's alright. And, what secret my parents are trying so desperately to keep hidden."

Jughead looked over her shoulder at her computer, analyzing her research, before looking back at Betty.

"What time are we catching the bus?" Jughead asked, and she looked up at him in surprise.

"You're coming with me?" Betty asked, certain she misunderstood him but nope, he was still wearing that grin he had moments before.

"Of course. What kind of person would I be if I didn't help my best friend?" Jughead asked and Betty's heart sank like a stone into her stomach and rested there uncomfortably. All her life she had been fine with them being best friends, especially during the few months of her crush on one Archie Andrews. However, the idea that they could be something more always rested in the back of her mind, only allowed to come to the forefront when she was away from everyone else. She bit her lip.

"Betts?" Jughead asked worriedly, and she looked at him, thinking her words through.

"Do you ever wonder about us, Juggie?" Betty whispered, wringing her hands together.

"Wonder about us how?" Jughead asked carefully, and Betty felt, rather than saw, how he shifted an inch closer to her. She took a deep breath.

"I mean, you know, us," she whispered imploringly, waving a hand between them. She had half the mind to forget she started this conversation and dig her nails into her palm. As if sensing that's where her mind was, Jughead clasped her hand into his gently.

"Don't do that yourself, Betts, not again," he murmured, and she looked at him. Out of all the people in her life, he was the only one who knew the intricate details of her darkness. They had discussed it over dinner at Pop's one night. The mere fact that he was still standing there, next to her, left her astounded. She exhaled shakily and nodded, still looking at him.

"As far as thinking about us, there's no question," he murmured. Betty looked at him as he smiled warmly. Here she was, the perfect girl, the girl with expectations to meet, dropping her walls and baring her heart. And here was her best friend, the boy from the wrong side of tracks, baring his back to her. They joined their lips together for a chaste kiss. It was short and sweet, but full of promises for better tomorrows. Betty pulled back and leaned her forehead against Jughead's, sighing contentedly.

"I think I might be falling in love with you, Juggie," she murmured.

"Well, you're a little late to the party," he teased. "I've already fallen in love with you, Betts."

She pulled back. "You did? When?"

Jughead grinned. "Oh, just some day on an elementary school playground when this little girl stood up to some bullies. Her hair was in this perfect ponytail, and she had donned a superwoman cape."

Betty couldn't help it, she grinned, too.

Fin.

Author's note: Prompts accepted in the comments, if you have any Xxx This was AU a bit.