The drum rolled the end of the song and the audience clapped. It had been a really nice concert. The school auditorium was a broad room that the director had nicely lent them for the weekend. The Archies were starting to get known and they already had fans coming back to their gigs. Archie saluted the crowd in the name of the group and they all waved goodbye before going backstage. The red-head was so happy he couldn't keep his smile out of his face. Betty was jumping with excitement and even Reggie and Veronica had smug smiles on their faces, that wouldn't be there for any reason. Jughead, who was an enigma for all, kept his mask. He grabbed a handful of snacks when reaching the safety of their lodge, and started munching on them thoughtfully.

"Good work! That was an awesome gig!" Archie's voice boomed once they settled in their chairs.

The girls were chatting with each other. Veronica was already reapplying some makeup on her while Betty sat on the table. They cheered at his statement. Reggie merely huffed.

"How can you call those concerts?" Reggie asked. "With your twangy voice coming out of the speakers, I'm surprised the public stayed at all."

Archie shook his head with a smile. The guy may sound self-contained, but he knew Reggie had loved the concert as much as him. He put his guitar back in its case and took a drink before slumping next to his best friend.

"Hey Jug."

Jughead lifted his head, mouth full of Kit Kat. He made no sound at all and kept on munching. Archie took that as an invitation to keep on.

"You look completely out of it. More than usual at least." He tried a laugh, and Jughead actually smiled. "A penny for your thought?"

Jughead took a big inspiration and looked at the door seriously. This was not an unusual look on him. Though for once, Archie was not sure why. He swallowed a mouthful before talking.

"I messed up in the third song. After the coda."

So that's what was eating him? That was ages ago! Archie raised his eyebrows in surprise and then smiled fondly. He often forgot how professional Jughead could be. Jug was back to eating, actually looking pained by the experience.

"How dare you make me worry like that? You look like that killed the whole song! I didn't even notice."

"That's because you're a moron. Besides, you messed up too."

Archie took the insult with a smile.

"Exactly, I messed up too! So don't beat yourself up too much, 'kay?"

Jughead looked at him with a smile. How glad he was to have a friend like Archie. Though that didn't satisfy his need to fix his mistake. Archie punched him in the arm and Jug let him leave to talk to the girls, joining Reggie in his unsaid love contest. He kept thinking. But they were all excited and filled with the after concert adrenaline, so he didn't stay alone for very long before the group joined him. They all talked animatedly for quite a long time. Eventually, the evening slowed down, and everyone picked up their instruments, and buttoned their coats to leave. Archie shared a word before they left.

"Everybody, please! Tonight was wonderful, but tomorrow needs to be perfect!" His voice was cheerful and shared his joy to everyone. "So I advise everyone to work their score. Also, please take your instruments with you."

"But why?" Reggie asked. "We're playing in the same place tomorrow. It's still school. Can't we just leave them here?"

"You idiot," Betty smiled, not sounding bitter at all. "We have to pamper them. Do you not remember that we're gonna be evaluated tomorrow?"

A sudden wave of enthusiasm and anxiousness spread over the group.

"Oh myeah!" Jughead said, still eating. "The emvaluator's coming tomomrow almready?"

"Gosh, would you not talk while eating?" Veronica said, disgusted.

"If I did that, I would never be able to speak again," Jughead replied.

There were snickers, and that made the lanky boy smile too. He knew they weren't harmful and he liked to be the one to relieve the tension. This evaluation thing had shaken the group bad. All of them had worked a lot to be perfect for this day. They needed a good mark to finally be ranked as a real group. It was almost worse as waiting for your final grade. Jughead went back to thinking about his mistake. There was a part in this song that he hasn't a good grip on yet. It was torturing him to know that he could make a mistake that would stop his best friend from reaching his dream –aka, Archie. Speaking of which, Archie spoke up once more.

"Don't pressure yourselves too much, guys. It's alright if we don't get a good grade. We can live without it."

He was looking at all of them, but he stared a bit longer at Jughead as if he was speaking to him especially. That made Jughead smile. Reggie looked puzzled by something. Veronica sighed and shook her head.

"Oh my, Achiekins. We cannot let that happen. I won't bear listening to you whine another month."

"Wait, didn't you say that this evaluation thing was really important for you?" Reggie interrupted.

Archie looked left and right. He had been caught red-handed. He managed to swift the situation around, earning a few laughs from Betty. Jughead only twirled his drumsticks. It didn't matter what Archie said, he already had his night planned.

"Hum, okay," Archie interrupted his thoughts. "I suggest a full night sleep and tomorrow night, we'll party!"

This idea was met with a chorus of "yeah!". All five of them chatted while packing their instruments. Reggie was whining because Jughead was the only one exempted from carrying his instrument back; Mr Weatherbee had agreed to keep the drums locked for the night. He had even let Jughead borrow the keys of the auditorium.

"He's always being a smartass and they let him keep the keys? I can't understand Mr Weatherbee" Reggie growled, closing his guitar case.

"It's because I never end up in detention like you. I'm actually being smart about things."

"I want to punch you so bad."

Jughead laughed him off and slurped on a soda before walking the group to the door. Archie was surprised to find his friend stop at the door instead of coming with them.

"Jug?" He asked.

"I need to lock the concert room. Gotta wait for everybody to leave."

Archie looked anxious. He sent an apprehensive look to the rest of the group, but they aren't looking at them. Instead, his eyes settled back on Jughead, who was still drinking from his straw and smiling at him as if nothing was wrong.

"You're not planning on spending the night rehearsing, right?"

"Archie…" Jughead was really pleased to have Archie's concern, but he couldn't allow himself to go to tomorrow's concert unprepared. "You see right through me. Where are the old days when you had no idea what I'd do for you?"

Instead of making Archie smile, it only increased his compassionate look. His friend grabbed his hand for a second, before letting it go as soon as he noticed how awkward it was.

"Be serious, Jug. We can't have you tired tomorrow. You're the best drummer in all Riverdale! It's alright if you don't know one little move. Please, just lock the auditorium and go to sleep."

"There are things that go beyond my human capabilities, my friend."

Archie rolled his eyes. He knew he wouldn't change Jughead's mind. He would have to deal with it.

"You're an idiot, Jug."

"Right back at you."

They both smiled and Archie left, radiating energy again as if nothing happened. Just like Jughead, he wished to not make their friends worry. After all, Jughead was just planning on rehearsing for a bit, nothing too dramatic. The tall boy leaned on the door, watching them leave, and then went back to the concert room.