Okay, this popped into my head while re-watching the season 1 finale (in preparation for season 2 tonight) and I noticed that when Betty says "I'm with Jughead now." he smiles at the comment. So, this is my interpretation of what Jughead is thinking following that. And, also a little bit of Archie's thoughts, because he didn't seem to happy with Betty's comment in that scene.
I'm with Jughead now.
Four words that sent his heart into unexpected overdrive. He couldn't stop the smile that grew on his face when she said it, nor could he help that the same smile grew when he thought about those simple words.
Simple.
Nothing in life was simple. Not anymore, and certainly not in this town. Nothing was simple. Nothing but those words that fell so easily out of her mouth.
She was with him. They were together. He knew that of course, but for some reason hearing her say it made it official. Yes, they had said they were boyfriend and girlfriend and yes, everyone knew they were together. Hearing it was like heaven. He never wanted to stop hearing it. He never wanted it to not be true.
It was something he never thought he would hear. He had always had a lingering crush on Betty Cooper. It had started when they were friends, all three of them. The day that Archie introduced the two of them, he thought the young blonde in pigtails was annoying, but he was just a little kid and he was supposed to think that. As the time went on, it was clear to him that she was staying around; after all, her and Archie are next door neighbors.
He had developed a crush on her, right around the time that her crush on his best friend had made itself to known. So, without the harsh words of rejection, he hid the feelings. For years. Until that one night, where he climbed up and through her window. He still didn't know what came over him in that moment, to just grab her face and close the distance between the two of them. Maybe it was the longtime secret crush, maybe it was the time they spent together at the Blue and Gold, maybe it was just being in her bedroom, or maybe it was just the right time. Whatever the reason was, he was glad he did it.
Betty Cooper is with Jughead Jones.
That was something he hoped never changed.
I'm with Jughead now.
For some reason, those words cut through him like a knife. He likes Veronica and they are just starting a relationship together, he should be happy. Hell, he should be happy for his best friend. Both of his best friends. But he wasn't.
He couldn't place his finger on it exactly, but whenever he looked at his friends, he felt something bubble up inside of him. Jealousy? Longing? Fear? He didn't know. He only knew that whatever this feeling was, it wasn't a positive feeling.
She had always been his best friend, they grew up next door to each other. He was always friends with him too. He introduced the two of them, and they became the Three Musketeers. Always hanging out, he thought their friendship would never change. It was supposed to be constant, something he could always count on. She was constant in his life, he could always count on her.
Of course, they were still friends, the three of them, but it's changed. They were together. It was easy for anyone to see. He was different around her, not by much; but he was different. He knew they were happy, and he wanted to be happy for them. For some still unknown reason, he wasn't.
Betty Cooper is with Jughead Jones.
He, for one, never saw it coming.
