Ch.4: Frustration

Two hours and Jughead's fingers were stiff. He rotated his neck, while stretching and cracking his knuckles.
"Okay, finished my part." He announced, leaning back, balancing the chair on two legs with his legs crossed on the table. There was no response other than the clicking of keys. The last person, being the janitor, had left at least half an hour ago. Well, that's what Jughead was presuming since there hadn't been a sound of life since. Betty sat across from him, working diligently- and silently, to his dismay. Initially, he was content with the agreement; work until the projects done. But he was going to crack up if she didn't interact soon.

"Coffee?" he asked, pushing away from the desk, walking towards the counter. No response. "Fine." He grumbled, flicking the switch on the kettle, and leaning against the counter, folding his arms across his chest, observing her. She sat poised, fingers arched over the keys; dancing across the keyboard without a loss of fluidity to her actions. Nothing. How did she work consistently? It was robotic. Jughead knew, without having to look in the mirror, that his hair was mussed and sticking up, after consistently running his fingers through it. His eyes were puffy from staring at the screen, and every now and again he had to just move.

It was only a class project. The room should've been full of idle chatter and coffee breaks, as they leisurely worked together. To a stranger walking in, it would've appeared like two strangers working symbiotically, tolerating the other- not a god damned couple. She wouldn't even look up at him. Why did it frustrate him so much? He loved her company; whether it be alone, with others present, talking, silence. It- usually- didn't matter. Betty Cooper in his company was all that Jughead wanted- except that night. He wanted their usual playful, casual conversations to alleviate the workload. The utter silence and tense atmosphere only made matters worse.

The kettle came to the boil, and he poured two cups of coffee and grabbed a bar of chocolate from the stash in the corner, shoving it in his pocket. Mug in either hand, he walked towards her side of the desk, setting the coffee down beside her and resting his hands on her shoulders.
"Betts, come on. Take a short break, it looks like you're nearly finished anyway," he tantalised, whispering in her ear.
"Jesus Jughead, talk about personal space! Can't you see that I'm working on it! We can't all work on your time schedule." She snapped out of her robotic trance.
"Betty come on I was only sayi-"
"Only bored here cause we actually have to do work! Can't always be the way we want it."
"What's gotten into you?" He asked reaching out to her. Betty opened her mouth to protest, but instead opted for moving out of his range.
"Can you not just listen to me? Give me my space to work!"

Like the kicked puppy he was, Jughead retreated to his side of the desk, nursing the coffee between his stiff hands and played back the events of the day, trying to pinpoint something he could've said or done to evoke such a reaction. Nothing came to mind. Betty had seemed perfectly fine all day. So why the sudden outburst? There had to be something else.
"No." He stated, standing up, bracing the palms of his hands against the table.
"What?" She asked looking up, almost dazed.
"No. You can't tell me to just give you space without any basis!" He explained.
"Juggie let it go." Betty shook her head, a strand of hair falling loose, as she proceeded to type.
"What's going on? It's just a stupid project." He was walking towards her with purpose.
"I don't know okay?" She slammed the laptop shut. "I…I just don't know. There's so much going on… and the simplest things are stressing me," Her voice cracked. His hands were clutching the back of her chair while he stood in between her knees, looking down helplessly. Nothing he could say would make everything ok. He was no good at that. Not when he needed to be anyway. Instead, he swooped down in one quick motion.

There was nothing sweet or passionate about the kiss. Their lips devoured each other; tongues fighting for dominance, the need for oxygen forgotten, clothes only proved to be an irritation. When suddenly, Jughead remembered the table- such a better vantage point. Swiping away a few notebooks, he hoisted her onto the surface, hands moving to the hem of her shirt as she trailed wet, hot kisses along his jaw, moving her hands underneath his hat. He grabbed both of her thighs, hoisting them higher above his hips, causing her to scoot further up the desk as he leaned further in, covering her body with his. He kissed along her collar bone, allowing her time to grasp her breath.
"I'm sorry," She panted from above him.
"I'm sorry too," he said, drawing away from her body, helping her to sit upright. "You can tell me anything you know. Even if you think it's nothing," he smiled, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.
"I know. Thanks, Juggie." She smiled, pressing her cheek against his chest, wrapping her arms tightly around him. He kissed her forehead, resting his chin atop her head, and as they embraced the project and irrelevant stress was forgotten about.

I know it's a bit short, and the previous chapter was as well. But I figured two short chapters would make up for it. Anyway, please review, thanks. Also, this prompt was given to me by jennimisk on tumblr, so thank you ?