Chapter 4

Sweet Pea heard the girls before he saw them. He turned around and smiled when he saw Betty wearing Toni's clothes. This is going to be so good collecting on this deal he thought to himself. "Well there is my new old lady," he said when Betty came over to him. "Hey." she said as he put his arm around her waist. She brushed his face with her hand and timidly smiled. Toni just looked at the two in front of her and didnt know what to say. It was weird but seeing them like this they kind of looked good together. The only thing she knew though is that Jughead would definitely not think so. She thought quickly and said, "so this is like a real thing? You guys are really going to do this?"

Sweet Pea grabbed Betty's behind and said, 'what? You don't think I can get ass like this?" He noticed Betty did not squirm away.

"God you're gross," she said as she took her position back behind the bar.

Betty knew if she was going to do this, she was going to have to be tough. Dating Sweet Pea for real or fake will be very different than dating Jughead. She had to have her wits about her and be ready for anything... including apparently being groped in public. "Yes, we are going to do this."

"Its your funeral if this blows up in your faces. I wash my hands of this."

"Alright, well let's get you home, Cooper," the boy said as he got up off of the stool. He head toward the door and Betty followed. Before she took more than two steps she turned around and whispered to Toni, "please keep my secret."

Toni didn't answer with words but gave her a sympathetic look and shook her head to signal she agreed. Betty made a face that said thanks and continued to follow Sweet Pea out of the bar.

Sweet Pea was already at his bike when Betty got to him. He had his helmet in his hands and held it out to her. She took it and put it on. He got on his bike and she got right on behind him. He was a little impressed with her courage and started his motorcycle. "Hang on," he said to her. She put her arms around him and he peeled out of the parking lot leaving the Wyrm in the dust.

Once back at Betty's house, the two got off the bike. "So how are we going to do this?" Sweet Pea asked.

"Well, I guess we will see each other at school tomorrow."

"And I have to act like I'm your boyfriend?"

"Yes."

"And after school, I'm planning on collecting your first payment for your part of the deal?"

Betty swallowed hard. That was going to be the hardest part; giving away her virginity. But if it got Jughead back, she didn't care. "Yes. It's just sex."

"I can't promise I will be gentle but I do promise you will enjoy it," he said as he moved in to kiss her. Hard.

She let him put his lips on hers and she was on fire. Jughead had never kissed her like this! It was like he was trying to devour her and he parted his lips to breathe in. She opened her lips too and allowed his tongue to enter her mouth. She put her hands behind his head and settling them on neck. He out one hand behind her head and held it so she could not get away. His other hand went directly to her breast and just sat there for a moment. He wanted to see what she would do. She didn't attempt to move it but kept kissing him just as hard as he kissed her. He moved his thumb over it for a moment but then pulled away from her. "That's just a preview of what's to come."

Betty was out of breath. Unexpectedly, she had enjoyed that. She just wished it had been a passionate kiss shared with Jughead. "So tomorrow, do boyfriend things and I will let you do that again."

She turned to go up her driveway but he grabbed her arm. "I have to be totally transparent here. I've... never dated anyone. I don't really know how to do boyfriend things."

Betty studied Sweet Pea's face. Was that, fear. she saw creeping in? Was he...nervous? "Just follow my lead," she said. "I'm a really good girlfriend."

The next day at school Sweet Pea could see Betty down the hall standing at her locker. Archie and Veronica were standing there too. 'More Northsiders' he mumbled as he started down the hall. He could see Betty and the couple were having what appeared to be a serious conversation. He felt a little out of place just walking up the them in school, without a knife or a threat. When he came up next to her the other two just stopped talking. "Hey, Betty," he said somewhat nervously. He was holding a couple of textbooks low in front of him and he focused down on them. Archie gave him a dirty look but stayed silent. "Hey, you," she said softly. He let go of his books with one hand and she swooped it up in her own, interlacing their fingers. "I had a lot to fun last night." Sweet Pea swallowed a hard lump in his throat. "Uh, yeah. I had a good time too. Maybe we could go out again tonight? On another DATE?" He asked in a voice so awkward Veronica laughed at him. He wanted to snap at that prissy Northsider so badly but he knew he shouldn't blow this up before he got to see Jones's face at lunch and collect his prizes after school. Betty could tell this wasn't looking so genuine so she did the only thing she could think of, she kissed him. It was a quick familiar kiss that took him totally by surprise. "Of course," she answered.

"Good," he said dryly. He was so out of his element in this conversation, he couldn't think of how else to respond. "I mean, cool, I will see you after school."

"Maybe I can sit with you at lunch?" she asked, trying to steer the conversation in a way that sounded normal.

"Uh yeah. Come find me. You know where the Serpents sit." He started walking away. This was too Pleasantville for him.

"I do. See ya later."

When he was gone Betty shut her locker and her friend just stared at her in shock. "What?"she demanded. "I told you Jug and I broke up."

"Yeah for like 2 seconds!" Veronica said a little too loudly and some people stared at them.

"Yes. And he made it clear its over so... I moved on."

"With that violent douchebag?" Archie asked.

"So what? Jughead was violent. In a gang, remember? And he was a douchebag for dumping me. So who cares? I'm dating. I can date, right?" She looked to her friends for approval. Veronica's fierce look softened as she looked at Betty.

"Fine. Yes. You can date. Who ever you want. But tell me, why another Serpent?"

Betty looked at them both. "Please don't take this the wrong way but... you guys left me last night. I get you were arguing and stuff but... I needed someone. And as weird as this sounds, the Serpents were there for me. Sweet Pea and Toni got me through the night. So I think he deserves a chance. We aren't getting married, guys. It's just dating."

Archie drowned. He worried about his two best friends. He already lost one to a gang but now would he lose another. He had hoped that Jughead and Betty's relationship would pull him out of the club but it seemed as though that may be a lost cause. "Does Jughead have a chance of getting you back, Betty?" He asked in a concerned tone.

"Right now, yes," Betty answered truthfully. "I still love him and want him to come back to me. I'm on my last hope though." She looked down at her own books and said, "gotta get to class. See you guys later."