I don't own the Characters, just the story.

Chapter 1: Pastel Princess

She was late. And she felt uncomfortable. Why did she let herself get talked into wearing these clothes again? For every other person, she seemed utterly normal. She didn't stick out. Her long blonde hair was in a tight high ponytail, over her pastel clothes. Knee length skirt, blouse, and cardigan.
She hurried across the street and headed straight into the little coffee shop on the corner.

"Elizabeth." A voice called her.
She looked up at the sound of her name. On a table near the entrance sat an elderly woman and a girl around her age, waving her over. Betty let out a silent sigh as she saw her mother and sister. She still wasn't happy about the clothes she needed to wear. But she hadn't had the strength to fight her sister who picked them for her. So, she just obeyed. Most importantly she didn't want another argument with her mother. Her style had quite shifted since she wasn't living with her parents anymore. Gone where her pastel sweaters. Her wardrobe was full of dark colors.
"Hey." She greeted as she sat down next to them.
"You look so nice Betty." Her mother Alice told her.
"Thanks, mum." She said, forcing herself to smile.
They ordered their coffee's and the interrogation began. Her mother wanted to know everything. From how her college classes were to what she ate on a daily basis to how many friends she made so far. It was horrible. About everything she made a rude comment. Nothing was good enough. Like always.

The afternoon went by dreadful slowly. And Betty just wished she were somewhere else. Away from the hard words coming out of her mother's mouth. Her sister Polly wasn't a big help either. Betty's palms were already violated by her fingernails. Even though she had worked so hard on herself to stop that habit. Her mother always managed to bring her back to this coping mechanism.
"I just can't believe that you rejected him. He seemed like such a nice guy." Her mother said for what seemed like the fiftieth time.
About two weeks ago Betty had broken up with a guy named Reggie. They had gone on a few dates, but she had found out that she wasn't the only girl he was dating. Not that she told her mother that. All she would hear regarding that would be that she just had to put more effort to be a good girlfriend. Because of course, it was her fault that the guy couldn't be faithful. Her mother had really strange and ancient views about the world. Besides the other girls, there had been no sparks, nothing. He was boring and clearly not interested in her as a person.
"It just didn't work." She just said.
"Maybe if you talk to him more you can make it work."
"Mum. I'm not going to date him again. No matter what you say it won't happen." She stated.
"But…" her mother started.
"No." she looked firmly at her mother.
Her mother pursed her lips and was about to continue her sentences. That was too much for Betty. She grabbed her purse and stood. "Thanks for the coffee mum but I have to go." With those words, she turned around and hurried out of the coffee shop. Ignoring her mother shouting after her.

It had started to rain as she made her way down the street. She didn't really know where she was going, she just wanted to leave this place. Not ready to go home yet.

Jughead sat at the bar at the Whyte Wyrm like almost every Friday. He was sipping a beer as she walked in. Soaking wet and looking completely out of place in the dark biker bar. The blonde girl was wearing a skirt with a fitting blouse. Both in pastel tones.
She looked around. For a moment he thought she was insecure or confused why she was here, but somehow it seemed like she relaxed at the sight of the bar. As if she was familiar with it, as if she belonged here, despite looking so out of place.

"Hey, Betty." The pink haired bartender called towards the girl and she looked up. A smile appearing on her face as she made her way towards the bar.
Jughead watched Betty make her way through the crowded area between the door and the bar.
"Look who can't take his eyes off a girl." The same voice said, this time directed at him. Jughead looked up in Toni's face. "I wasn't…" he started but she interrupted him, "Yes you were staring at her. I can't judge you for it though. She is hot." She teased with a wink.
He growled silently, taking another sip of his beer. "You know her?" he asked. Trying to sound casual. He hadn't seen her in the bar. He would've remembered her. Her face wasn't one you would forget that easily.
Betty reached the bar before Toni could answer him and her attention was now on Betty.
"Hey, Toni," Betty said, sitting down on the bar, smiling at the other girl.
"The usual?" Toni asked.
"Yes, please." The blonde nodded.
Toni smiled and started mixing a cocktail. Betty leaned against the counter and stroked her wet hair out of her face. She had opened the ponytail after she had run out of the coffee shop.
"You know, I nearly didn't recognize you in those clothes," Toni said as she sat down the drink in front of Betty.
Betty huffed out a laugh and took a large sip before she answered, "Met my mum and sister for coffee. They're in town for the weekend."
"Ahh." Toni stated, "That makes sense I guess."
"Yeah," Betty mumbled, sipping on her drink. Enjoying the alcohol getting into her system.
"I like your normal stuff better," Toni told her and looked over at Jughead who was watching the two girls. Following their conversation.
"Another beer Jug?" she asked him.
He just nodded and exchanged his empty bottle for a full one.
Betty looked over at him. He had caught her eye before as she had walked towards the bar. His dark hair hidden under a crown-shaped beanie and his arms covered in tattoos, a leather jacket hanging over the back of his chair. Adorned by the Southside Serpent logo. After all, it was the local hangout of the gang. Betty knew that but didn't care. Toni was a Serpent too and she had become a good friend of her. The man was no doubt attractive. She took another sip of her drink, trying not to stare at him.

Toni, however, caught her looking at Jughead and decided to play matchmaker for her friends. From what she knew about them, they would get along very well.
"Hey, Betty." She caught the attention of the blonde, who looked back at her "This is my old friend Jughead." She pointed at Jug before she looked at him "Jug, this is Betty. We have a few classes together."
Betty blushed as she realized Toni caught her staring.
"Nice to meet you," Jughead said, turning towards her.
"You too." She nodded with a smile, taking another sip of her drink. Fully aware that she still was wet and probably looked horrible.

He, on the other hand, wondered how she could look that beautiful in her current state and if the wet clothes didn't bother her.
He smiled back at her. Toni waited a moment if they continued to talk, as it didn't look like it she decided to help further.
"So Jug did you manage to finish your story on time?" she asked.
"No." the boy huffed, "I couldn't find a good ending. Seems like they will have to wait for it until the next edition."
"Hmm." Toni nodded, "and there I thought I have to buy a college newspaper this month." She said with a grin.
"Not this month." He shook his head, taking another sip of his beer.
"You write for the college newspaper?" Betty asked with wide eyes. She had tried to get in the whole last semester. But they always put her down. Telling her they didn't take freshman.
"He is." Toni answered at the same time as he said, "Not really."
Betty looked confused.
Jughead shot Toni a look that said 'I know what you're trying to do here' but answered nevertheless. "I'm more like a free writer. Sometimes they ask me for a story or to write something when they need another piece."
Betty nodded "I wished they were a bit more open towards new people." She mumbled, playing with the straw of her drink.
"You write?" he asked surprised.
She nodded "I ran the school newspaper back at High school and I study journalism. But they keep telling me that they don't take freshman" She said with a shrug before she emptied her glass.
"Another one?" Toni asked after she served another customer.
"Yeah, why not," Betty said. After the day she had she really could use the alcohol.
"Yeah, that rule sucks." Jughead looked at her, he knew how she felt. They had told him the same thing in his freshman year. After that, he didn't want to join anymore in Sophomore. But now his professor told them about him and he kept getting requests for short stories or articles on something. At first, he hadn't wanted to contribute but his professor insisted that he would at least decide from request to request if he wanted to write about that topic.
Betty nodded in agreement. Playing with the straw of her drink Toni had sat down in front of her.

"So, you and Toni have a few classes together?" he asked her after a moment.
Betty nodded "Yes. We're in the same psychology class and also have a history class together." She answered him while scooting on the chair that stood empty between them.
Jughead raised an eyebrow at her movement. Surprised. "I'm not keen on shouting at each other." She explained with a shrug.
He nodded. Now he could see her eyes had a beautiful shade of green. He looked away before he was drowning in them or caught staring.
Toni had watched Betty's movement and her grin spread wider.
"So what about you?" Betty asked, leaning sideways on the bar, eyeing him curiously.
"What do you mean?" he asked back.
"How do you know Toni." She clarified.
"Right." Jughead nodded, "we actually grew up together. She was a massive pain in the ass when she was little. Not that she's that much bigger now." He chuckled.
"Oi. Watch it, Jones." Toni scolded him as she caught his last words.
"Sorry, Topaz." He smirked at her.
Betty smiled and ran a hand through her hair. They had dried but were tangled. Her clothes were still wet, and she still was awfully uncomfortable in them.
She looked at Toni "You don't happen to have a change of clothes here, do you?" she asked jokingly but with a glimpse of hope in her words.
"Sorry B," Toni answered shaking her head.
"Didn't think so." She sighed, looking down at herself. "I'll be right back." She hopped off the chair and made her way towards the bathroom.

So.. this is my second Riverdale AU. This time a College AU. I hope you like it. Please review :)

And yes, the characters behave slightly different but they are older in this and have in some points a different background story which changed them slightly.

Please let me know what you think.

Tessa.