Betty left the bookstore, with Jughead tagging along behind her.

Jughead settled into the passenger seat of Betty's small red sedan. "So, game night? Never really pegged you as a board game kinda person."

"I'm full of surprises. It started when we had just moved in together, freshman year, and were so broke that staying in and playing monopoly was all we could afford."

Jughead smiled, finding it hard to believe Betty Cooper was ever broke, and asked, "So, what's the agenda for tonight?"

"We get to meet Kevin's boyfriend, Joaquin. He's very mysterious- they've been dating for a couple of months now, and nobody's met him yet. But, before that, we've got to go shopping and do some last minute prep for dinner. You can be my sous chef. And tonight's board game is Scrabble. It was Kevin's week to choose."


They arrived at Smith's Grocer's, the small family-run grocery store in town. Betty liked it because it was quaint and cute.

Betty gestured to the trolleys. "Jughead, you're the cart chauffeur for today."

Betty rushed around the grocery store, and quickly filled the cart up, consulting her shopping list. Jughead ran behind her, trying very hard to keep up with her madcap pace.

They proceeded to the checkout lane, where Betty greeted the elderly cashier.

"Ethyl! How are you?"

The white-haired lady smiled. "Betty, I'm doing great. And who is this nice young man with you?"

Jughead nervously chuckled, and Betty quickly shook her head. "Ethyl, this is Jughead. I work with him."

Ethyl winked, as if she had been let in on a secret. "Of course, Betty. He's your co-worker."


Betty and Jughead walked out of the store, and as they loaded the groceries into Betty's car, Jughead smirked.

"Betty, I've got so many questions. Why are you on a first name basis with Ethyl?"

Betty groaned. "Cooking is my way to relieve stress. Anyway, she already likes you. Maybe you should try making a couple of trips there, maybe even picking up a few vegetables to eat?"

Jughead clutched his chest. "Cooper, I'm hurt. You're saying my diet of burgers and milkshakes isn't nutritionally complete?"

Betty shook her head. "Sometimes, some broiled Brussel sprouts can taste just as good as french fries."


After she pulled into her parking spot at the apartment complex, Jughead rushed out of the car and quickly unloaded the shopping bags from the trunk. Betty said, "Here, let me carry some", reaching out to help.

Jughead shook his head. "Nope. You're feeding me tonight, I've got to earn my keep."

Betty rolled her eyes. He had the same sense of honor as when he was a teenager. She remembered when he tried to give her gas money for driving him to a concert senior year, and she refused to take it. Frustrated, he ended up stuffing the bills into her glove compartment, which she only found months later.

Before she started unlocking her four locks, Betty turned around to Jughead. "Also, Archie and Kevin are my roommates? I'm sure you remember Kevin from high school, and obviously you know Archie."

Betty had actually been worried about Jughead meeting Archie again. She knew that they had fallen out toward the end of their senior year, and she was a bit apprehensive of thrusting them together again. She'd never actually found out what drove them apart. All she knew is that after one party at Cheryl's house, the pair had a confrontation that nearly came to blows. Then again, senior year was so long ago, they'd probably both forgotten about their old grudges.

Jughead tightly smiled. "Archie? Didn't know he would be here."

Betty groaned. "I know you two fell out, but I figured you guys would be OK to hang out again. Burying the hatchet and all that."

Jughead nodded. "Definitely. It was so long ago, anyway. Doesn't really matter anymore."

Betty beamed. "I'm so glad. Anyway, let's get inside, the chili won't cook itself."


Once inside the kitchen, Betty assigned Jughead the task of chopping onions and peppers. "Look, Jug, you literally can't mess this up. It's so easy. All you have to do is chop."

Jughead raised an eyebrow. "Betty, you're severely overestimating my cooking experience. What if I cut myself?"

Betty dismissively waved. "Look, Kevin's pre-med. He'll take care of you. Get chopping!"


Despite his protestations, Jughead was a quick learner, and quickly finished chopping up the pile of vegetables. He leaned back in one of the barstools at the island, and watched Betty flit around the kitchen. She made it look so easy.

Even when they were freshman, Jughead had always admired how put-together and poised Betty was. Even as she cooked, her movements looked rhythmic, polished- like a dance.

He snapped out of the little trance, and called out to Betty. "Hey, I finished chopping. No grievous bodily harm, either."

Betty spun around, and smiled. "See? Knew you could do it. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be Gordon Ramsey 2.0." She picked up Jughead's diced veggies, and stirred them into the chili simmering on the stove.

She quickly washed her hands, and gestured to Jughead. "Onto the board games! The rest of them should be waiting in the living room."