"Hey!" Veronica smiled as Jughead approached her locker.
"Hey," he grinned back, crossing his arms and leaning against the locker beside her. Things have changed since they met at Pop's. One night of being ditched, milkshakes, and long conversations on a walk through the good side of town ignited a friendship that neither had expected. "Betty has something to do with Archie again tonight. Would an Uptown Girl wants to meet a Backstreet Guy at Pop's tonight?"
"Well I have been looking for a Downtown Man to buy me a milkshake, so I suppose I can find time." Veronica closed her locker and walked beside Jughead towards their first class they shared together, all four of them. "Betty and Archie doing another project?" Veronica couldn't hide the sarcasm. She didn't really try. "Don't we share most of the same classes? I don't remember having so many projects."
Jughead shrugged. He had pretty much thought the same thing. "Perhaps we don't have the same level of appreciation for our studies as they do? Or maybe they're slowly falling in love with each other? Making out in a pile of books." Veronica's eyes widened a little and she looked at him. "I'm just kidding."
But he wasn't. Veronica isn't sure when she started to read Jughead Jones, but read him she could most certainly do right now. His shoulders slumped, frown deep, eyes avoiding her, head down a little. He was being serious. And she felt something. Not what she thought she should feel, like despair or anger. But she felt something nice, like acknowledgement. Jughead was thinking the same damn thing she was. She's not crazy. He understands her. He understands the situation. Never the less, her new found friendship with Jughead had bonded them enough that she felt a little sad that he was sad. So she grabbed him by the arm and smiled up at him. "What do you say we skip Pop's tonight? What do you say we go to your place and watch a movie?"
Jughead stopped walking. "No."
"What? Why?"
"I just don't want you there." Jughead started walking without her. Veronica bit her lip before she following.
"Why not?"
"I just don't."
"I've been there before-"
"When you were trying to accuse my father of murder, Veronica."
Veronica grabbed his arm to stop him. He didn't look at her. "You mean save your father. Jughead, what aren't you telling me? Why are you suddenly so defensive and cold?"
"I don't want someone like you coming to my place. I don't want someone like you going somewhere that someone like me would live. It's embarrassing."
Veronica eyed him. "You've never shown any embarrassment over living in a trailer before. Why now?" She still had her fingers around his arm and her eyes stayed with him. "Are you afraid I'll judge you or think I'm better than you?"
Jughead smirked. "Oh, Princess. You already do."
That hurt, but she wasn't going to let it wound her. She let go of Jughead's arm and nodded. "I will be there at 7pm, sharp. Since you're being a real ass right now I am going to pick the movie. Ever see Titanic?" He stuttered. "Good. I'll bring the snacks. Now, get yourself together and fix your attitude. This is going to be fun." She smiled and pat his cheek before walking off.
"I don't really like romance movies!" Jughead called after her.
"Too bad!" She called back before rounding the corner, smiling to herself. Checkmate.
Jughead watched her, then smiled and followed.
When Veronica arrived, FP was the one who answered the door, dressed in his uniform for Pop's. He paused when he saw her and stepped out onto the small entrance way. "Hi, Mr. Jones. Jughead and I are going to watch The Titanic as punishment for his sour attitude earlier today. I would say you could join us but it looks like you're off to wo-"
"Veronica." FP interrupted her, putting a hand up to pause her conversation with, mostly, herself. "I don't know why you're here, nor do I care. Just... be gentle with him, okay? He's a good kid. You're a good kid. But your dad... just do the right thing."
"Surely, I have no idea what you mean."
"I mean if you're here for any reason other than to be friends, then... just leave him be, okay? Look, I gotta go. Just, be good."
Veronica watched him go. What do these Jones men have against her? Well, alright, her father she gets. He has been attacking the South side, but her? She did nothing wrong. FP had left the door open, so Veronica took it upon herself to walk in. "Jughead? I have snacks and a movie."
Jughead came out of his room and grinned, nervously, when he saw her. "Hey. I um, set up the DVD player." He motioned towards the smaller TV. "It's not HD or anything but it has good output." Now he crossed his arms. Nervous. She read him as nervous.
Veronica put the DVD and the snacks down on the coffee table and sat on the couch. "Here." She pat the cushion beside her. When he just raised an eyebrow, she did it again. Once he sat down, she turned towards him. "Look, Jug. I always wanted to be your friend. I always thought we had similar personalities. I found you funny, charming, witty, aggravating." He raised an eyebrow. "And to be completely honest Archie has been ditching me all week and if it weren't for you I would be stuck in my castle with nowhere to go. You," she poked him in the chest. "Have stopped that from happening. To be 100% real with you, I have had a lot of fun this week. I have really enjoyed your company. I want to continue being friends with you. I like this. I like you. And I don't care if you go back to living in a shed or if you grow your hair down to your knees or if you live in a trailer or if you're a Serpent. I want to be your friend because of who you are, not where you live or what your social status is. So stop letting my upper class and your lower class living situations get in between a real friendship here. Any insecurities you have about that stems from you, Jug. Not me."
Jughead watched her and finally noticed that she wasn't wearing her usual dress with pearls. She wore slimming black pants and a silky purple blouse. She had changed her wardrobe for him. He chuckled and flashed her a small grin. "You're right. I'm sorry, Veronica. I didn't mean to let our current climate affect us." He met her eyes. She grinned at him and pat his knee. "So, who dies at the end?"
"Everyone, basically." Veronica huffed and leaned forward, sticking the DVD into the player. "Here." She handed him a bunch of candy. "For that never ending sweet tooth of yours."
He took it. "I love M&Ms."
"I know." She winked at him before hitting play.
