Hiya, so I've posted some stories before, but life happened and I gave up on them. I know, I suck. But recently, I found virtue in Riverdale. It's amazing, cast, OST, storyline, everything. Obviously my love delves deeper for Jughead and Betty, as I vividly jumped for joy when they kissed, and squealed when they almost jumped eachothers bones in the season finale. This is just a one shot, possible to become more if so desired, but for right now it's just that. Angsty stories are my fave too, so I hope you enjoy, or at least feel something!

Betty sighed, leaning against her locker beside Veronica.

"What's wrong B? You looked like you haven't slept in days." Ronnie was blunt, but it was a necessary evil in the limelight. Betty always knew what her friend was thinking.

"I'm just tired." Ronnie didn't look convinced, but left the topic alone. Changing subjects, Veronica mentioned a party they should go to.

"You want me, the party style of a door mat, to go to one of the Blossom parties?" Ronnie just nodded, smiling.

Sighing again, Betty just shrugged. No way to convince her friend otherwise.

Hours went by quickly as Betty worried less about the party, and more about her tests, her college applications, her moms disapproval, her unrequited love for Archie. It all kept piling up. Taking over the Blue&Gold was a mistake as well, since not long after she reopened it, Jughead Jones, former bestie of Archie and Betty, wormed his way in. Their relationship was testy, at best, since Jughead was a serpent now. They haven't spoken alone in well over 4 years.

Not that she cared. Nope. Not at all. Betty was above the drama that was a Southside Serpent. They just ignored eachother in the halls anyway.

Sighing again, she finally gave into the idea of this party being fun. She needed fun. She needed a break. So she steeled her nerves, and head over the Veronica's house to get ready.

Who knew what a nightmare it would actually turn out to be.

The scene unfolding was less than comical, but that didn't waver Cheryl's maniacal laughter to resonate through the air. Most people sat in silence, no doubt processing what Chuck just blurted out to the entire student body.

"I slept with Betty Cooper."

He'd said it so casually, like everyone knew and should've expected it.

Everyone, except for Betty, apparently.

She sat in horror, as her peers sent countless looks and whispers under their breath in her direction. Swallowing hard, she clenched her fists and dug deep. She would not step down to their level and fight.

"Who knew the pretty pink princess would get down and dirty with Chuck" Cheryl's voice broke the silence once more.

"Oh it was more than just down, and a helluva lot dirtier too, right Betty?" All eyes shot the her as Chuck just smirked.

Clenching her fists harder, Betty just rose to her feet, looked around once more, and head for the door. Pushing past the masses, she quickly made her way down the street, not caring where she would go. Tears spilled freely from her bloodshot eyes, finally giving into the disdain she was feeling.

Without a real destination in mind, she set out to Sweetwater River. The fresh air was meant to clear her head. At least that's what she thought anyway. As she walked, the tears kept falling. Till eventually they stopped. And she stopped feeling.

She neared the river bed within the hour, her whole body still shaking from the shock. Was it this cold when she left? She didn't know. All she knew was to get away. Far away. Biting her tongue, she relived the moments from earlier that night. The eyes of disgust from peers, the whispers of a rumor that was far from the truth. No one would care about the truth now though, not when they all thought Betty was just a booty call for Chuck.

Her breathing became ragged as she dove head first into a panic attack. Her whole body quaking from the trauma. Her head was spinning, she couldn't feel her fingers. All she could do was scream.

And scream she did.

Betty wailed out in pain as her nails dragged across her forearms. Again and again. Physical pain to alleviate the mental pain. A small clearing in the fog that was her mind. Her breathing calmed, but her mind still raced. Dropping her gaze from the stars, Betty set her sights on the water. The tide was brutal. She played with the idea of how long it would take for her to go under, when a voice broke the silence.

"Betty?"

She spun quickly, a flash of white bursting behind her eyelids from the movement. Regaining her vision, she set her eyes on the origin of the voice.

"Jughead?" His smile was the same, forced and sad. His eyes were inspecting her, no doubt in response to the rumor everyone's been talking about.

"What're you doing out here Betty? It'd cold." She laughed dryly, and turned around.

"Just go home Jughead." She heard him sigh, and heard movement behind her. So she stepped forward, toes engulfed in water.

"Betty." His voice was strained, his movements halted. His eyes darted to her marred forearms, and still shaking body. "Betty, I need you to come away from the water"

"Why?" She took a step further, and his voice rose in panic.

"Please."

She took another step. "Why should I, Jughead?" She yelled out, spinning around to look him in the eye.

"You don't know me. You don't care about me. Just go home and pretend you never saw me. Pretend you don't even know my name!"

"You're the one who ignored me! How could I compete with the boy-next-door Archie? Or the Vixens? Or your mom? You stopped talking to me Betty, not the other way around." His voice was dead, his heart racing. Taking a small step forward, he extended his hand.

Tears began to spill from her eyes again as she took a step back. "I never should have left you Juggie.."

Her voice was cut off by waves of water, crashing into her lungs as she went under.

"BETTY!" Jughead dove after her.