Riverdale High: Betty POV
The Serpent's brought a thick tension to Riverdale High. There were a few arguments between Bulldogs and Serpents, but nothing serious. Yet.
Betty learned that the boy with the raven hair was known as "Jughead" and that they called him "The Serpent King". Jughead, she thought, what a peculiar name. She also learned that Jughead, The Serpent King, was intimidating in every sense of the word. He was exactly the boy her mother warned her about, the type of boy who drags you into his world and never lets you leave. He was the type of boy she was supposed to stay away from at all costs.
They shared a chemistry class, but Jughead sat in the back, not paying attention, and Betty was too busy fawning over Archie Andrews, her lab partner, to notice him.
:)
The first real fight broke out not two weeks after the Southside students transferred. In all honesty, the fight was the Bulldogs fault, but of course the precious football team could never be held accountable for any of their actions.
The Bulldogs were out for blood. Serpent blood more specifically. Of course it was Reggie who started the fight, but Betty was upset to find that Archie Andrews himself had taken part in such uncouth behavior.
"Hey snake!" Reggie called mockingly.
Toni Topaz looked up from her English paper to see Reggie, Archie, and the other bulldogs standing before her.
Reggie stepped closer so that he was towering over Toni, "Yeah, I'm talking to you, Medusa." He took the paper out of Toni's hand and gave it to Archie who ripped it in half, "Where's your little gang? Not so tough without them, huh?"
Toni just glared up at Reggie from her seat, holding her ground, "You're not so tough even with your gang."
Reggies lip turned up into a snarl as he edged closer to the Serpent, "Wanna see how tough I am, bitch?"
Toni finally stood up, and pushed Reggie away from her, "Maybe I do, bitch."
Betty expected Reggie to push back, or even hit the girl, but he instead turned his back to her. He paused for a second, as if contemplating his next move. "Boys, let's show the little whore what we do to snakes in Bulldog territory." Betty was horrified to see two Bulldogs come forward and grab both of Toni's arms, restraining her.
Toni kicked out at both Bulldogs, "Hey! What are you psychos doing? Let me go!" Reggie turned around and sucker punched her in the stomach, causing her to lose her breath.
"We're giving you a warm Riverdale welcome," he snarled between clenched teeth.
"Y-you hit... like... my... grandma," Toni wheezed out, causing Reggie to let out a feral growl and grab her face with his hand. Betty saw Toni swallow, hard. "If-f you were a real man... you'd fight me one on one."
Reggie just scoffed, "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Reggie threw the girl to the floor. Immediately causing the bulldogs to attack like feral beasts. Betty went to take a step forward, only to be stopped by Veronica.
"She's just a snake Betty. She's not worth your while."
Betty was about to respond when he appeared out of nowhere, Jughead Jones. The Serpent King. His entrance was silent and he didn't bother with any arguments. He instead made a beeline for Reggie, grabbing him by his neck and pushing him back against the wall. Before Reggie could so much as blink, there was a hand on his throat and he was being choke slammed into the wall, the bulldogs all froze waiting to see what their leader did.
"Call. Them. Off." Jughead's voice was deep and commanding, and Betty could feel the concentrated anger radiating off of him. Reggie tried to push back, only to be re-slammed into the wall. "I said Call. Them. Off. NOW. I don't like having to repeat myself."
When Reggie still made no move to call off the Bulldogs attacking Toni, Jughead smiled wickedly, "Alright guys, let's show them what happens to Bulldogs who mess with the Serpents."
As soon as his command was finished, Serpents began to fill the room. Some went for Toni's assailants, others went for the rest of the Bulldogs. Blue was quickly drowned out by black leather. Soon, two Serpents turned their heads towards Archie Andrews. As they stalked towards him both Betty and Veronica reached for him.
"Archie!"
"Archiekins!"
Betty looked at Veronica incredulously, "Archiekins? Since when do you call him Archiekins?"
Veronica turned to Betty and smiled nervously, "Can we talk at Pop's after school?"
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"
Reggie pushed Jughead off him and scrambled to his feet, "P-principal Wetherbee! W-we, We were just minding our own business and... and the Serpents attacked us!"
"BULLSHIT!" Roared Jughead.
Principal Wetherbee's head turned to look at the Serpent King. "Jones. My Office. Now."
Pop's Diner
The three friends sat down in a booth at Pop's and ordered three milkshakes like they always did. While Betty and Veronica usually sat on one side with Archie sitting across from, Betty noticed that this time, she was the one sitting across from Archie and Veronica.
"Ummm, what's up guys?" Betty asked nervously.
Her two best friends exchanged a look, "B, we... have something to tell you." Veronica put her hand on top of Archies.
Betty felt her heart drop to her stomach, no, please no, she prayed to herself.
"Archiekins and I are dating... we have been for about two weeks now. We know we should have told you sooner... but we were just waiting for the right time to tell you, y'know?"
Betty's chest tightened, she tried to speak but she found that no words would come out. Betty swallowed, hard, before standing up and racing out of Pop's, leaving her milkshake behind. She could hear her heart racing and tears brimmed her eyes. She faintly heard V call out for her, but at this point, Betty couldn't care less. She pushed the doors to Pop's open and raced down the stairs. She was so engrossed in her thoughts she didn't bother to look before crossing the street, she could only think about Archie. and Veronica. and the two of them. together.
"JUGGIE LOOK OUT!"
Betty looked up to see motorcycle headlights through her blurred vision. Before she could move, the motorcycle swerved to the side and came to a harsh stop.
"Watch where the fuck you're going!" the biker snarled.
On a normal day, Betty would have had some sassy remark for the Southsider, but today was not her day. She started to apologize, only for the tears she had been holding back to finally fall down her cheeks.
Jughead Jones
Jughead was on his way to Pop's with his little sister Jellybean. He had somehow let her convince him to get milkshakes at the Northside diner. She claimed they were, "to die for".
As they neared the diner Jughead didn't see the blond girl in a pink sweater run out into the middle of the street. "JUGGIE LOOK OUT!" Jellybean screeched.
The Serpent King swore and swerved right, hitting the brakes. He checked to make sure Jellybean was okay before hopping off the bike. "Watch where the fuck you're going!" He snarled, probably a little more harshly than he should've.
Jughead expected the girl to either shrink back in fear, or apologize profusely, or even maybe give him a touch of attitude. What he didn't expect was for the girl to fall to the ground and break down into tears.
Jellybean quickly dismounted the bike and hit his arm with her helmet, "Jughead!" she scolded him, "Look what you did!" Jellybean walked towards the crying girl, "Hey." she said softly. The girl looked up at the 12 year old through her tears. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, still crying.
The 12 year old smiled, "My names Jellybean, but you can call me JB, this is my brother Jughead," she gestured at Jughead, who just rolled his eyes and lit a cigarette. "Ignore him, what's your name?"
The girl sniffed and wiped her eyes, "B-Betty. Betty Cooper."
"Nice to meet you Betty," JB smiled. "Do you want to come get a milkshake with my brother and I?" Jughead choked on the smoke he inhaled.
"Oh," Betty half laughed half sobbed, "No, it's okay."
"Leave it alone Jelly, Princess probably has better things to do," Jughead took another drag from his cig.
"Juggie stop being a dick." If Jellybean's words had any effect on the Serpent, he didn't show it. "First you make her cry, now you're being an ass."
Jughead took his cigarette out of his mouth and reached for his back pocket. "Please Jelly, as if a Northsider would ever give a shit about us, now get your milkshake so we can leave." He took a ten out of his wallet and held it out for JB to take.
"But-"
"Now Jellybean." Jellybean sighed and took the 10 before running into Pop's diner leaving Jughead and Betty alone. Betty was still crying just softer, but Jughead simply looked mildly irritated.
The two sat there in silence, well, moderate silence, for five minutes before Jughead put out his cigarette and finally spoke up. "Jesus, princess what's got your panties all in a bunch?"
Betty looked up in surprise, still sniffling. "W-what?"
Jughead blew the last bit of smoke at her face, "You heard me, princess."
Betty looked down and cleared her throat, "I... I just, found out the guy I've been in love with for practically my whole life is dating my best friend."
Jughead looked into the windows of Pop's, and saw a young couple. One redhead and one brunette. "Who?" He scoffed, "Daphne in there?" Betty slowly nodded. Jughead looked unimpressed, "He's not worth your while. You need a real man, not some ignorant fool."
"What would you know about being a real man," Betty shot back, clearing her tears from her face.
This made the Jughead chuckle, "Wow, so the perfect princess has a sassy side."
Betty frowned at his condescending tone, "You don't know anything about me... and quit calling me princess."
Jughead smirked and leaned closer to her. "Make me, princess," He said tauntingly. Betty just glared at him, causing him to lean back against his bike, and laugh.
The pair heard the door of Pop's open as Jellybean came out with two milkshakes in her hands. Jughead grabbed one and took a sip before getting back on his motorcycle with Jellybean quickly following suit.
Jellybean gave Betty a quick smile before putting on her helmet, "See ya later, Betty."
Jughead gave her a smirk and a flirtatious wink, "Later, princess."
Betty Cooper
Betty shifted uncomfortably while she watched the two siblings drive away. Since when did Jughead Jones give a shit about her?
She heard the door to Pop's open again, but she didn't have to look to know who it was.
"B? Were you just talking to Jughead Jones?"
Betty nestled her head in her arms, "What does it matter to you?"
Veronica looked at her as if she had two heads. "Oh I don't know, maybe it's because he's a GANG LEADER and a CRIMINAL?"
"Leave me alone, V."
"Betty he's dangerous. You have no business talking to him."
Betty stood up and turned to face her so called best friend, "What don't you get about 'leave me alone'?" Betty spun back around before V could answer and started walking home.
Some friends, huh.