Veronica grabbed Betty's wrist pulling her down into the booth, her whole body bouncing with excitement.

"I'm so glad you're back. You have no idea what you've missed."

Betty rolled her eyes at her over dramatic friend, "I was gone for a week V. I doubt I missed much."

"Well you certainly missed Toni digging her claws further into one Jughead Jones while you were away."

Betty sucked in a breath, her fist automatically clenching.

She put a smile on her face as her nails continued to dig into her palm underneath the table, "It's fine Veronica. He broke up with me, what, or who, he does now is no longer a concern of mine."

Veronica cocked her head to the side, "But what about the plan to get him back?"

"That was yours, Cheryl's and Polly's plan. Not mine."

Veronica sighed. She had hoped the time away would help clear Betty's head and make her realize she needed Jughead back in her life.

If you were to ask Veronica, they were both being stupid anyway.

"I'll never understand why you just let him walk away."

Betty shrugged her shoulders, asking Pop for another milkshake.

In her defense it's not like she just let him walk away.

"What are you doing here Betty?"

"Toni invited me? What's it matter? Aren't you glad to see me?"

Jughead glanced over at Toni, who just smirked.

"It's not that.. Betty you shouldn't be here. This isn't you."

Betty was confused. She hadn't expected this reaction. She hadn't seen Jughead in days and she missed him, she thought he'd be happy to see her.

"What isn't me Juggie?"

"This," Jughead said gesturing to their surroundings and her outfit.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"Black leather isn't you!"

"Toni says I can pull it off."

Jughead had to bite his tongue to keep himself from agreeing. Betty could pull off the black leather look, and Jughead so badly wanted to tear it off of her.

"But it isn't you."

Betty looked defeated and unsure of what to say. She had just wanted to see her boyfriend.

"I just wanted to see you Juggie, and I thought you'd like this," she said motioning to her outfit.

Jughead gently reached out and stroked Betty's cheek.

"I do like it Betty.. but this isn't who I fell in love with. It's not just the outfit change Betts.. it's the drinking and staying out all night on the south side too. Betty you're quickly entering dangerous territory."

Betty knew what he was talking about but she just wanted to fit in with his new friends. She wanted to be accepted so she could spend more time with Jughead. She was doing everything she could to bridge the ever growing gap in between them.

"I love you Juggie."

Jughead closed his eyes.

"I love you too Betty Cooper."

Betty moved closer to him, even as she felt him pulling away.

"Just always remember that."

"Of course I'll always remember that Jug."

"Betty this is for the best.."

"What?"

"Archie is outside waiting on you."

"Jughead Jones what the hell are you talking about?"

"Betty this is over."

"Like hell it is! You don't just get to go out and decide this on your own!"

"Betts.." Jughead reached out in hopes to calm her down.

"Don't you dare touch me Forsythe!"

Jughead cringed at the use of his real name while others in the bar giggled.

"Fine, Elizabeth." If she could refer to him by his given name, so could he.

Betty scoffed, crossing her arms.

"Everything I've done has been for you! You don't just get to kick me to the curb!"

"Betty it's not like that! Please.. I just want you to be safe."

"I am safe with you Juggie."

Jughead shook his head.

"There is a war going on in Riverdale Betts and your connection to me isn't going to keep you safe on the south side forever."

Betty shook her head, he couldn't just do this. She hadn't even realized she was clenching her fist until she felt blood running down her wrist. She uncrossed her arms, wiping the blood on her pants.

"You're being over dramatic. I'll be fine."

"Betty.. Please."

He was growing desperate. The Serpent's have a plan to escalate the Cold War brewing in Riverdale and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He just didn't want Betty being caught in the middle.

"Over my dead body."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

Betty scoffed at that. Jughead grabbed her arm and dragged her out the front of the bar, to where Archie was waiting.

"This whole thing is about to blow up and I don't need you caught in the crossfire Betty. I don't want to have to worry about you. So please.. just let it go."

"Fine," Betty spat. "But don't expect me to be here waiting on you when you've realized what a mistake you've made."

She got in Archie's truck, slamming the door behind her.

"Drive."

Archie made no arguments as he quickly pulled away from the bar.

"He made his choice," Betty said once Pop stepped away from their table. "I never had a say in it."

"Speak of the devil," Veronica muttered as Jughead came stumbling in with a few of the other younger Serpents, including Toni.

Betty didn't bother sparing a glance knowing she wouldn't be able to hold back any tears that might come forth.

Betty hasn't seen Jughead since they ended things.

Well, actually that's not true. She did ask him to meet her one night last week.

He hadn't been to Pop's since he had officially become a member of the Serpents. She wasn't even sure he would show.

But he did show. And then Betty wished that he hadn't.

"Jughead! So good to see you. How you been?"

"I've been good Pop. Just had a few buddy's of mine who have never eaten here and thought they ought to try it."

Pop smiled, not one to usually turn away customers, he glanced over at Betty and Veronica sitting in their usual spot.

"Maybe another night Jug.. It's good to see you, but you probably shouldn't be here."

Jughead followed Pops gaze and felt his stomach drop out from under him.

"So Betty's back."

Pop nodded, he hated to see these two hurting after everything they've been through together.

"I think it'd be best if she doesn't see you here."

"Come on Pop, we both know she already knows I'm here."

"Jughead.."

Jughead's mind flashes back to one particular night last week.

"Hey Pop!"

"Jughead Jones long time no see. How's life?"

"Uh it's fine, have you seen Betty?"

Pop nods to a booth in the corner and Jughead nervously approaches.

He re-reads the text in his mind over again.

Pops. 8 o'clock. Please.

She hasn't contacted him since that night so her message shocked him and he didn't respond. He hadn't even known if she would actually be here.

"Betty?"

She didn't even look up to acknowledge him.

"This," she said sliding a box to the end of the table, "is a box filled with everything you left at my house or that you ever gave me. You can have it all back."

"Anything I gave you is yours Betts."

"I don't want it." Jughead slowly reached for the box. "And I'd prefer it if you called me Betty."

"Fine. Betty."

"That's all I wanted Jughead. You can go now."

"And if I don't want to?" He asked, sliding in across from her.

"This was your choice. I told you I wasn't going to be here waiting on you."

"I didn't come to get you back."

"Then why did you come? Because you thought I was going to beg for you back?"

"I didn't know what to expect Betty, honestly your message caught me off guard."

"Good."

"I do still love you Betty. I didn't want to hurt you."

"Well look where we are now."

"Betty."

"Jughead. Please. I don't have the energy for this."

And before he could even think of them, nevermind stop himself, the words were out of his mouth, cutting like a knife into Betty Cooper.

"Why? Archie keeping you up all night?"

Jughead wasn't dumb, he knew Archie had developed feelings for Betty. He knew that's why Archie stopped pursuing Veronica. But again, Jughead wasn't dumb. He knew Betty was over Archie. He knew Betty would never do something like that to Veronica, who had been more than confused by Archie's cold shoulder.

And before Jughead could even react, there was the sound of glass breaking against his head as Betty threw her milkshake at him.

He heard the gasps of other customers in the store and Pop asking if he was okay.

But the only thing Jughead could focus on was the tears streaming down Betty Cooper's face as she stood up and stumbled out of the diner.

Before Jughead could respond he heard the voice of Reggie Mantle and mentally cursed himself for even thinking that coming here would be a good idea.

"Well well well lookie who we have here."

"What do you want Reg?"

"Just wanted to talk to my favorite little southsider."

"Reggie leave him be, we're over here."

Jughead turned so fast he almost fell over.

"Betty."

Betty didn't say anything, but she didn't turn to walk away either.

Her and Jughead were locked in a staring contest until Toni broke the silence that had settled over the diner as both groups watched their respective member.

"Well this has sure been fun but what do you say we get out of here Jug?" She asked, coming up and looping her arm through his.

Jughead pulled away from her, his eyes going to Betty's tiny fist.

"Betty.." he trailed off, gently grabbing her hands.

"Are you happy Juggie?"

"What do you mean?"

"With her?"

"I'm not with her Betts."

Betty nodded and pulled her hands out of Jughead's grasp.

"I should head back over there."

Jughead watched her walk back over to the table that had filled up with his old group of friends since he had arrived. He caught Archie's eye.

He fucked up. Jughead knew that. He completely fucked up the only good thing in his life and now he didn't know how to fix it.