Betty sits at their usual table in the library, tapping her pen against her notebook as she waits for Jughead to meet her. He'd texted her a while ago mentioning that he had something important to ask her.
Every few seconds Betty's eyes glance towards the door, wondering where the hell he could be. She was going to be late for her Women's Studies class. She was never late for anything – a characteristic she was proud of.
Another five minutes flew by and she just couldn't wait any longer. Betty starts to pack up and leave just as Jughead stalks over to her table, trying to catch his breath. "What did you do, run here?" She asks, shuffling her notebooks into her backpack.
"Sorry," he breathes. "I can't feel my toes it's so fucking cold out there." It's the middle of March and spring is close on the horizon, but Mother Nature wasn't getting the picture. Jughead brushes the snow off his beanie and rubs his hands together, using the friction to regain the feeling in his fingers.
Betty looks at him with a hint of annoyance on her lips. "What was so important that I had to meet you here, when you know I have a class in ten minutes?"
Jughead sits down across from her, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "I have a favor to ask you." He clears his throat. "Before you say no, just hear me out. Can you do that for me?"
Betty nods, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "Sure Jug, but you know I'd do anything for you."
"Don't speak too soon Betts," Jughead shakes his head and continues on. "I received the final project for my Photography class and well, it includes having to capture nude photographs of someone who inspires us." Betty's cheeks flush. There is no way he expects her to take her clothes off for him, especially in front of a 1080 pixel lens. "I was wondering if you would possibly consider modeling for me. I can't ask Archie, because that'd just be weird. And I know Veronica agree to it, but I don't want to cause any tension between her and Archie. So that leaves me with you. Plus, you kind of owe me."
She scoffs. "Excuse me? What do I owe you for?"
"Don't you remember senior year and all those late nights I spent helping you write and rewrite your thesis until it was absolutely perfect?" Betty drops her eyes from his steely blue gaze, the memories resurfacing. She'd never drank as much coffee as she did those last few weeks before obtaining her bachelor's degree.
"Yes," she mumbles through tight lips. "But that's different. I didn't ask you to take your clothes off and pose like the statue of David."
Jughead exhales deeply. "No, that you didn't. But if you had asked me to, I would've."
"Bullshit." Betty says, standing up and tossing her bag over her shoulder. "I'm sorry Jug, but I've gotta get to class. I'll see you back at the apartment later."
He lifts the beanie off his head and shakes the remaining slush from his hair. "Fine. At least promise me you'll think about it, alright?"
Betty nods and looks at her watch. "Okay I will but I really need to go." She pulls her hood on over her ponytail and dashes out of the library, thanking each and every God she knows that her class is in the next building over. If she sprints she knows she can make it on time.
She slips into her seat seconds before her professor starts to lecture. Betty struggles to free herself from her jacket, sweating despite the below freezing temperature outside, earning herself some glares from her surrounding classmates. Hastily, she digs her notebook out from her backpack and begins to scribble the notes posted up on the screen.
Throughout the entire lecture Betty is unable to keep her focus on the board ahead. Instead she finds herself scanning her eyes around the hallowed auditorium. The lighting is harsh and the room is too hot for her liking. Her sweater clings to her skin in the most uncomfortable of ways. Betty groans under her breath. Why does Jughead always have to do this to her?
His bad timing is impeccable. Betty barely hears a word her professor rambles about, too occupied with the thought of Jughead's request. She's not even comfortable looking at herself in the mirror naked, let alone having Jughead snap nude photos of her for a class project. Retrieving her phone from her bag she texts Veronica all about the situation, wanting to know her friend's take on the idea.
Ronnie: I say go for it.
Betty: Easy for you to say, he didn't ask you.
Ronnie: Ahh, but he considered me and chose you instead. Maybe he secretly wants to see you naked?
Betty: I highly doubt it. He's never once shown any interest in me or my body, V
Ronnie: Say what you will, but I think you should do it. With your body and those cheekbones? Hell his professor will probably be knocking down your door to see the real deal.
Betty: Please don't say that.
Ronnie: Betty I'm kidding. Just try it out, OK? Do a test run. You may be more comfortable in your own skin than you think.
Betty sets her phone down and stares at the nearly blank notebook page in front of her. She draws her lip between her teeth and sighs. She is going to kill Jug for dropping such a bomb of a question on her before class. She shouldn't have bothered to come at all with the way her mind is reeling, feeling a little claustrophobic in her own skin.
She glances around the room for a clock, forgetting the watch she has clasped around her wrist. Unable to locate one, she picks up her phone and checks the time. Betty still has over an hour left of lecture and she can't find any willpower to concentrate. Quietly, she packs up her things and sneaks out the back door, softly closing it shut behind her.
She grabs her phone from her bag, dialing Jughead's number as she walks down the snow covered path leading to their apartment just outside of campus. "Pick up," she mumbles under her breath, making sure not slip on the ice hidden beneath the snow. The wind whistles in her ears, burning her cheeks and making it hard for her to breathe.
"Hello," Jughead answers on the fourth ring.
"Took you long enough," Betty breathes into her receiver.
"Aren't you supposed to be in class?"
Betty huffs and puffs; reaching the part of the path that breaks off into an incline. She really wishes she would've worn her boots today instead of her sneakers. "Yeah I am. I was a little too distracted though, thanks to a certain someone." She's gasping for breath into the receiver, pretty sure her phone is permanently frozen to the side of her face.
"Shit Betty I'm sorry. I should've waiting to ask you. Are you on your way home?"
Betty nods, realizing he can't actually see her. "Yeah, I am. Want to order some takeout? I'm sure Chinese doesn't cover the cost of the class I just missed though."
Jughead laughs and Betty feels her knees quake at the sound. "I will buy you all the Chinese you want. Lo Mein and Sesame chicken as per usual?"
Betty grins, he knew her so well. "Yes please. And extra brownie points if I get to have both fortune cookies."
The line goes quiet, Betty quick to assume that the call must have dropped. She's about to put her phone away before she hears him speak. "You drive a hard bargain Cooper. I'll see you in a few."
"Thanks Jug!" Betty hangs up the phone and shoves it in the back pocket of her jeans. She can see their apartment complex from where she stands, guessing she has about a half mile to go before she's home. Despite the snow, the sidewalk is littered with footprints, creating a cushion for each step she takes, saving her from the ice that hides below.
Once she's home she stomps her shoes on the welcome rug, shaking off any lingering slush. She's soaked through to the bone. Desperately craving warmth she decides to shower while Jughead's out picking up their dinner.
Betty leans in past the curtain and turns the knob for the shower, letting it heat up while she undresses. Before stepping in she looks in the mirror, studying her body in a way she hadn't before. Her shoulders were too broad and her breasts were too small. She traces the curve of her jaw, wishing her chin wasn't so pointy and angular. Standing there staring at her reflection, she's suddenly hyperaware of the flaws her body possesses. There is no way she could pose in front of Jughead, completely unguarded and exposed. She rarely enjoys being photographed with her clothes on. She can't imagine having to take them off.
The bathroom mirror fogs over from the steam in the shower. Sighing, Betty rips her ponytail from her hair and steps inside, letting the hot water wash away her insecurities and bring the feeling back into her fingers and toes. She catches her bottom lip between her teeth and presses her forehead against the chilling tile wall. Her eyes are closed and she imagines herself standing in front of Jughead, wearing nothing but a smile. He has a camera pointed at her, clicking away furiously as the flash causes bright spots to swim in front of her eyes. Jughead tells her she beautiful and she melts into his words like an ice cube on a hot summer day. Breathing steadily, Betty opens her eyes and reaches for her shampoo, a shy smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Maybe she will model for him; she does owe him after all.