Hello again. This story is shaping up to be a lot longer than I thought. Oh well. I enjoy the writing. Hope you guys do as well.

I do not own anything, (:

It's been a week. Her lips still tingled from the phantom kiss. Too much of that night was a blur; the kiss from Jughead was all too vivid in comparison. What was she doing at Sweetwater anyway? Why was Jughead? Countless questions, no one to answer them.

Veronica's ego was still bruised, which was why she had been ignoring Betty since that night.

Archie hadn't said a word to Betty either, even keeping his bedroom window curtain closed every night. No doubt aware of their window to window conversations.

They were both acting petty. It was just a big misunderstanding, but Ronnie was being too proud to back down from a war Archie was too oblivious to tell what from who, and Betty was too stubborn to crack first.

So the war proceeded.

The only other person she could talk to wasn't at school for the past week.

Sighing, Betty head into the administrative office, approaching the secretary quietly. "Good morning Mrs. Woods! How are you this fine day?"

The older woman smiled, "Ms. Cooper! How lovely to see you. My morning is well, how about yours?"

"I'm doing ok. I was actually wondering if you could help me with something?" Betty looked hopeful, smiling sweetly.

"Absolutely. What can I do for you?" How anyone was this happy in the morning was beyond any comprehension from Betty.

Leaning forward slightly, she lowered her voice. "I know it's technically not allowed, but I was wondering if you could tell me why Jughead hasn't been at school lately?" She smiled again, putting as much charm into her words as possible.

The older woman looked uneasy, "Oh. I'm not supposed to say..." Betty sighed, but smiled again.

"Oh c'mon. What if I bring you some of my moms famous brownies? She made too much for the meeting at the Register, and no one ate any! I know just how much you love them. We wouldn't want to waste them, right?"

"Ok fine, but only this once!" The secretary leaned forward, lowering her own voice. "Truth is Betty, Mr. Jones transferred to Southside high about 2 weeks ago."

Well.

Shit.

Thanking the secretary, Betty left and slumped against her locker. How was she, a Riverdale Vixen and student council member, going to get access to a single student at Southside High?

Sighing once more, she closed her eyes and internally scolded herself. Maybe it was for the best that she doesn't talk to him. Things could be, weird. But if she didn't figure this all out, would Ronnie and Archie ever talk to her again? Groaning, she stands up straight and heads to her next class.

"I'll just go over there and talk to him, quick and simple. Nothing more, nothing less."

An hour later, Betty pulled up in front of Southside High. Paying the taxi driver, she slowly steps out of the car, inhaling the smell of cigarettes and gasoline. She shakes her heads and hands, unsuccessfully easing the tension that was seeping into her bones. Failing to gain any courage to advance further, she let her mind wander to that night again.

The words were blurs, the events mostly shrouded by darkness. The only thing she could vividly remember was Jughead leaning his face towards hers, placing a long and gentle kiss against her lips. That's all she remembered, not even knowing how she got home that night or where her clothes were either.

Snapping out of her reverie, she looks over the entrance of the school once more, taking in more details. Outside the main doors sat an array of bikes, motorized and not alike. Occupying the space between the bikes and the door were at least a dozen leather-clad teenagers: The Southside Serpents. At least, the younger ones anyway.

They were loud, obnoxious and unnecessarily rough with one another. Some were small, lanky and energetic. Other were brutish and large, matching the physique of some of the football players at Riverdale. None matched the shape of Jughead though.

Swallowing her fear, and what remained of her lunch, Betty stepped forward gingerly. As she neared the group, one of the larger guys spotted her, signaling the rest to fall in step behind him. As he approached her, his eyes traveled the length of her body. Like she was a piece of meat, waiting to be claimed. Disgusted, Betty scolded herself for not changing out of her cheerleading uniform. She had left lunch practice early to get here anyway.

Subconsciously tugging her skirt down a little, she smiled shyly.

"Whats a beauty like you doing on this side of the tracks?" The guys voice rang out, desire evident in his words.

"I was looking for someone, maybe you guys know him?" She eyed their jackets again. "He's a serpent.."

The guy laughed, the group behind him joining moments later. "Now why you looking for him when you got me? I can give you anything he can. Probably more." He winked, licking his lips. Shuddering, Betty took a ginger step back.

"Uh, no thank you. His name is Jughead. Do you know him?" Betty was losing patience, and time. She needed to get back to school before 2.

"Like I said, I can give you more than he ever could." He winked again.

Actually groaning, Betty just crossed her arms over her chest. "If you can't help me, then I'll be leaving now." She huffed out, spinning on her heel.

The guy stepped forward, reaching a meaty hand out to Betty. Panic rose within her as his hand wrapped around wrist, pulling her to face him.

Biting back a scream, Betty clenched her other hand tightly, digging her nails in. "Let. Me. Go." The guy just smiled, looking her over once more.

"The lady said let her go." Betty snapped her head in the direction of the new voice, sighing with relief when she spots Jughead just a few feet away. A younger serpent behind him, no doubt the one who told him she was there.

"Yeah, and if I don't?" It wasn't a threat, but wasn't a question either. He tightened his grip on Betty's wrist, making her wince.

Jughead clenched his teeth, failing to keep his anger under control. "How about this," Jughead took a step forward, placing his hand on the assailants wrist, "I tell you to let her go." He pulled the guys hand off Betty's wrist, pulling her behind him quickly. His eyes flashed with something dark as the guy just chuckled.

"She's a Riverdale Vixen dude, she's not here for you."

"That's where you're wrong, dude. Betty is my girlfriend." A collective gasp rocked the group, the guy in front just letting out an angry sigh.

Jughead spun on his heel, linking his fingers within Betty's, pulling her along without another word. "Oh, and don't ever touch what's mine again." A dangerous glint was in his eye when he shouted over his shoulder.

As they turned the corner, Jughead tugged her in front of him, spinning her around to face him.

"What are you doing here Betty?! Do you not understand how dangerous this side of town is?" Jughead's voice rang out, any trace of anger gone.

Betty opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off by Jughead's lips crashing against her. She gasped, closing her eyes at the contact. His hands moved to her face, pulling back slightly. Their breathe mingled as her eyes stayed closed.

"Do you know how worried I was when I saw you with him? Do you not know who Boulder is?" He leaned his forehead against hers, letting out a breath.

"I needed to talk to you. How was I supposed to know they were going to give me trouble?" She huffed out, pulling away from him.

"Common sense? This is Southside High Betty. Serpents run this whole side of town." He hitched a thumb at his back, showing his emblem on the jacket she still felt around her.

"Well I'm sorry." Jughead just sighed, reaching for her hand and uncoiling her fingers. Pain flashed through his eyes when he noticed the small crescent cuts on her palm.

"Well, you got me alone. What did you want to talk to me about?" Betty shook her head, pulling away.

"What happened that night? I only remember you kissing me." Her face went red at the memory, but stayed with her back to him.

"You don't remember? Anything?" His voice spiked with hurt, but he stayed still.

"I don't know if you noticed Juggie, but I'm not exactly sane."

He reached for her shoulder, turning her to face him. "Betty, look at me." She kept her gaze fixed on his foot, eyeing something on his pants. He placed a hand under her chin, tilting her face upward. "Betty, I won't tell you unless you look at me." She turned her face to his, but kept her eyes downcast. Sighing, he pipped up again. "With your eyes too Betty."

She was too stubborn for her own good, so she kept her eyes off his face with every ounce of strength she had left.

Sighing loudly, Jughead finally opened his mouth.

"Betty, we had sex."