Authors Note:

Thank you so much everyone for patiently waiting for the update to this story. Sorry it has taken so long but I hope it is worth the weight. Thank you so much for all your reviews. Makes me smile to know that you guys are enjoying the story and eager to learn more. As always couldn't have completed this chapter without the guidance and feedback from my awesome beta Jandy.

Thanks to Jen2000, Alwaystoolate, violet1429, whenitsover, ash543, sara, lovesbooks12 and of course all the guests who left me a review on the last chapter. Hope you enjoy this one just as much.

Chapter 9: More Strange Than True

Veronica's apartment, if it could even be called that, was every bit how Betty imagined it would be. It was the penthouse of the historic Pembrooke Apartments right in the heart of Riverdale. From the doorman in the lobby to the wrought iron on the roof, everything screamed old money.

Once, as a gift for Betty's 21st birthday, her mother had arranged for her to stay on a lower floor of the building for the weekend. She'd spent the night relaxing in the oversized bubble bath, momentarily forgetting her every day stresses. It was that night of freedom that had prompted her to start looking for her own apartment when she permanently returned to town. She hadn't wanted those moments of solitude and rest to be a one-time thing.

Betty may have stayed at the Pembrooke before, but the penthouse suite was something else entirely. The large glass windows of the lounge overlooked glittering lights of the small town below them. She ran her fingertips gently across the glass as she took in the view. Veronica had insisted that she drive Betty over to the apartment from the theatre, letting the boys make their own way across. Betty couldn't imagine that Jughead and Archie would be sharing the car ride over. Kevin had had to step in a few times during the rehearsals to separate the two of them, particularly as they acted out the fight between their two characters over her character, Helena's affections. Their performance had seemed a bit too real.

While they were waiting, Veronica pulled a bottle from the fridge and opened it with a loud pop, the cork hitting the roof. She handed Betty a flute and poured her a not small glass of what Betty could only presume was genuine French champagne. Veronica poured her own glass. "No harm starting before they get here," she explained, before clinking her glass against Betty's and they both took a sip. "Now remember, guys like Archie love to talk about themselves. Just build him up, flatter him, maybe even giggle a little and he will be putty in your hands. Meanwhile I will keep Mr. Dark and Broody occupied."

"Good luck," Betty scoffed.

"Oh, I have my ways," Veronica said with a wink and a twirl of her hair around her fingers. Betty was reminded of her talking to Jughead at the theatre, her hand resting on his arm and wasn't so sure she was comfortable with whatever 'Veronica's ways' included.

Soon enough there was a buzz on the intercom and Veronica walked over to the panel, greeting the two men, the taller one at the back of the other had his hands thrust in his jacket pockets as he scowled at the redhead who was smiling confidently into the camera. Betty downed the rest of her champagne quickly before Veronica opened the door and the night began.

She took her final bow on the stage as she continued to clench her fists. The pain grounded her if only briefly. They were all just a mass of faces in front of her. 'I have always depended on the kindness of strangers' the words rung in her ears. What a joke. Kevin went to congratulate her and she walked straight past him, a brief glancing look in his direction. She went to her locker grabbing her belongings from the shelves and shoving them quickly into her bag.

"Betty." Kevin was beside her locker now leaning heavily up against it as his eyes flicked over her taking in her hurried expression. "Where's the fire?"

"What?" she snapped in his direction and he took a step back from her and she wondered briefly if he saw it now. The part of her that she was always trying to squash down that had surfaced now, had been masked by her performance, but had not dissipated with the final fall of the theatre curtain.

"I just mean you seem in a hurry. The rest of the company was going to the Whyte Wyrm to celebrate." She grabbed the last of her belongings, shoving them into her bag before slamming the locker door shut. Kevin jumped a little at her forcefulness before continuing, "It might be a good opportunity to blow off some steam."

Betty considered the invitation before nodding. Why the hell not?

Archie had started talking to her almost as soon as he'd walked in Veronica's door. Betty had thought that she would have had to beg and steal his attention from Veronica so she was pleasantly surprised. For tonight at least, he seemed happy enough to speak to her which only made her more nervous that she would say the wrong thing. Not only that, but she was distracted by the goings on across the room. Veronica had pulled Jughead away as soon as the two men had entered. He had reluctantly followed as she spoke in his ear. Veronica continued to talk animatedly at him as Betty stole glances at them.

"Betty?"

"Sorry, Arch. I am listening. Just a bit - distracted."

"Performance jitters." He took another swig of his beer, forgoing the expensive champagne for something a little more familiar. Jughead on the other hand was continuing to take sips of the Coke he had asked for when he had been offered a drink. Betty knew he didn't drink, not since his dad. "I get them too believe it or not."

"Yeah that must be it." Veronica's hand was resting on his elbow as she spoke to him and Betty tried to recall if Veronica always touched people when she spoke to them or whether she was making a special exception for Jughead.

Betty reminded herself that Veronica had said she was going to distract him so that she could speak to Archie and finally work up the nerve to ask him out on a date in a relaxed environment without Jughead getting in the way. But it wasn't like he was turning her affectionate gestures away either. She had imagined that he would. Or at least put distance between him and Veronica. He never let anyone in his personal space. Well… that wasn't exactly true. He used to let her in, didn't he?

"It must be hard acting opposite Jughead," Archie interrupted her thoughts again. She pulled her eyes away from across the room to focus on Archie who had obviously noticed her watching the other pair.

"Why? What do you mean?"

"Well, he isn't exactly an actor is he? And he's always been a bit weird, even in high school."

"It's not been too bad," Betty admitted. Well, it had been but not for the reasons that Archie was alluding to. "Besides he is doing really well now." Was she actually defending Jughead to the man who had been the main object of her affection for years? Yep, looked like she was.

"Well, I think you're doing great given the circumstances." There was that award winning smile. She had waited so long for it to be just for her and yet, she couldn't bask in her own success.

"Thanks Arch." She noticed that he had already finished his beer while she was still sipping her champagne.

"Hey, I'm going to get another beer do you want another drink?" Betty held out the still nearly full glass to him, shaking her head as he moved to the kitchen. She wasn't sure how she hadn't noticed Archie was a drinker before. Thinking back she could remember very rarely seeing him sober at the wrap up parties, or any other the company get togethers to be honest. There was a giggle that pierced through the room, and Betty's attention was drawn back again to Veronica who was now tracing a finger along the outline of Jughead's jacket. Betty pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth, clamping down to keep herself silent as she tried not to look towards them. She wanted to march over there and stop them. Snap Jughead out of whatever spell Veronica had managed to weave.

She wanted to distract herself with Archie, to drown out the memories of earlier times with Jughead that kept being dragged to the surface every time she looked at him. With this in mind, she moved to the kitchen to speak to Archie once again, knowing that she should be content with his attention but she was finding it difficult to fake it.

The night continued on with the two pairs moving in separate orbits. Despite being occupied with Archie, Betty continued to internally question why Jughead hadn't acknowledged her at all, instead choosing to spend his time with Veronica. Her company for the evening was now crashed out on the couch snoring softly. She had spent the evening trying to get to know Archie - she really had - but the words, the conversation didn't come easily and she found herself wondering if that was the reason she had never really had a chance with him in the past. Maybe it wasn't because she was the second choice or the bottom of the food chain or any of the other excuses she'd built up in her head… but maybe because she was better than him. Maybe they really didn't have anything in common. Maybe she had outgrown a schoolgirl crush that she had been foolishly holding onto for years. Maybe? Then why had she asked him on that date?

"I should be getting home," she said finally when Veronica came over to check on her.

"It's still early," Veronica argued, a questioning look on her face when she noticed Betty gathering her jacket and keys. Jughead had followed her over, a bowl of chips in his hand as he munched on them as he observed.

"I'm tired and well," she moved her head towards the sleeping figure on the couch.

Veronica laughed and hugged Betty tightly. "Did you get what you were looking for?" she whispered into her ear, and Betty wasn't sure how to answer that question. Veronica pulled away from the embrace and Betty could tell she was searching her face for the answer. "Do you want me to call you an Uber?"

"I can take Betty home." Jughead volunteered, his hand already on her back pushing her towards the door. She looked towards Veronica for saving. She couldn't deal with this kind of emotional upheaval right now. After everything tonight, Betty was already questioning her actions over the course of the last few years and being stuck in a car with Jughead would only remind her of things she couldn't have.

Her friend didn't seem to get the message though. "Only if you drop this one off first." Veronica pointed towards the slumped figure of Archie who had drank far too much and conked out on the sofa not long after Betty had finally plucked up the courage to ask him out on a date. Ridiculous as it may seem, Betty truly did want to confirm or deny whether Archie had never really been the man for her. It was hardly fair to judge him when she couldn't even keep her mind occupied on something other than the man in the crown beanie across the room.

Jughead turned towards Betty, "Can you help me get him down into the car?"

Betty wanted to refuse his offer, but she didn't know if she had the word, and she had to admit to herself that she would rather be driven home by Jughead rather than a stranger, so she sighed in agreement and helped Jughead lift the very heavy and very drunk Archie out of the apartment. Veronica gave her a little wink as she closed the door behind them.

"So you finally got your wish?" Jughead said grumpily as they got back into the car after maneuvering a very uncoordinated Archie Andrews back into his childhood home. He had managed to murmur a barely coherent thank you as Fred Andrews took his weight from them. Archie had sobered a little on the ride and was able to stand swaying slightly with the support of his father. He had also mumbled that he would see Betty next Monday after dress rehearsal for their date and Betty had simply smiled at him, while she could practically feel the daggers that Jughead was sending his way.

"I guess I did," she whispered in response as she folded her hands on her lap, playing with the fabric of her skirt, pointedly keeping her gaze out the window. Her apartment was not far from her old childhood home on the same street as Archie's house but they travelled in silence. He stopped at her apartment building and she noticed that she hadn't had to give him directions-he had remembered. "Thanks," she said sharply as she got out of the car, not meaning to slam the car door as hard as she did when she closed it. Her head was all over the place and she wasn't sure that she could blame it all on the champagne. Jughead was soon beside her.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm walking you to your door," he didn't even wait for her to argue with him instead taking the lead and waiting by the entry for her to enter the code.

"You don't have to." She punched the code into the keypad and he opened the door allowing her to go through first. She was on the first floor and he followed her to her apartment door. She turned the key in the lock, eager to escape into her safe haven where she could at least attempt to collect and re-order her thoughts without distraction. "Thanks again," she managed as she went to close the door, not wanting to meet his eyes. His hand stopped the door from closing and her face finally turned up to his. What she saw there nearly took her breath away.

"What are you doing Betty?" He stared at her, his gaze is intense. She tried to will herself to look away- to close the door in his face but she couldn't.

"Doesn't concern you Jughead." She turned away from him and walked further into the apartment, knowing that he would follow her – this conversation was long overdue. She heard the door shut and turned to see him behind her. There was something in his eyes, almost like desperation. She knew she'd seen that look before.

"He doesn't love you, he doesn't even notice you," Jughead murmured under his breath.

"He noticed me tonight," she replied simply and it's not the taunt that she intended it to be instead it sounded sad, almost regretful coming out of her mouth. Everything about this situation was irksome. Of course it was now her who couldn't seem to focus on her end goals. Instead Betty's attention was divided between the person she thought she should be with and the person who… well, she couldn't allow herself to finish that thought.

"This isn't you, Betts. Giggling like a schoolgirl at every inane word that comes out of his mouth. You're better than that. You don't have to pretend."

"Really, Jughead?" Her temper flared. She moved towards him, and with her heels on she was almost his height as she held his gaze. Her hands were flexing by her sides and she felt the familiar bite of nails piercing skin and the eerie calm that came along with it yet set her on edge at the same time. "Because you saw the real me." Hot tears were filling her eyes and she blinked them back furiously. "And you didn't want it. You didn't want me."

Betty spotted Jughead behind the bar, pouring drinks for the other actors. She thought that maybe he might have taken some of the night off to share with the rest of them but he was always about business. She had made her appearance with the rest of the company for the majority of the night. Faking her laugh, feigning interest, but now she was bored. Now she was craving something else entirely. She straightened her appearance before making her way over to him, delicately perching herself atop one of the bar stools. She caught his eye and he made his way over leaning on the bar in front of her.

"I'd ask if I can get you anything but I think you may have reached your limit."

"You watching me again, Juggie?"

"Maybe." A shy smile crossed his lips as he continued to wipe a glass before filling it with water and moving it across the bar towards her. "You'll thank me tomorrow." She took a sip from the glass eyeing him carefully. Noticing the way he had this one loose curl that seemed to fall over his eyes, she noticed he would twist it in his fingers sometimes when he was nervous. Like he was doing right now. She leaned over the bar slightly aware how low her top was and the view she must be creating for him.

"I could thank you now." Her tone was low and seductive and he eyed her warily. He shook his head, moving away from the bar as if he didn't hear the words from her mouth or he was trying to pretend he hadn't heard them. She finished her water, like a good girl and watched him as he served the last of the patrons before turning towards her again. The bar crowd had started thinning out, the company was going their separate ways, leaving her and Jughead as she noticed Reggie and Moose drunkenly stumbling out of the bar together.

"I'm closing up, Betts; do you need a ride home?" She ignored his question as she hopped down from her stool. He was closing the blinds when she trailed her hand up his back. He turned immediately to face her. "Betts?" his voice was soft.. She loved the way he looked at her, as if she was the only one in the room the only one who mattered. She pulled on the material of his flannel shirt bunching the fabric in her small hands as she brought her lips to his. He moved his lips gently against her own, while her tongue plundered his mouth, seeking more and more. She took his bottom lip in between her teeth pulling roughly as he groaned into her mouth. She needed more; she needed to feel something, to feel desired, wanted. Something anything to take this overwhelming feeling of nothingness away. She was numb and wanted him to make her feel again.. The deep nail shaped crescents in her palms just weren't enough anymore. Her hands pushed eagerly at the flannel shirt as she pulled it away from his shoulders and letting it fall to the floor.

His hands cupped her face, holding her steady in his hands. She pushed against him and he fell to the couch, looking up at her, stunned as she started to undo the buttons on her blouse. She approached him slowly before she peeled the blouse away from her body, dropping it next to his shirt and revealing the black lacy bra she had chosen for the evening. She noticed his Adam's apple bob as her body was revealed and she lowered herself down onto his lap. She could see him trying to form words and instead pressed her lips against his again urgent and needy. She pulled the beanie from his head setting it beside them as she allowed her fingers to thread through his hair, pulling roughly so that she had access to his neck. Her lips trailed down his jawline to his neck, a scrape of her teeth had him bucking against her in response. She smiled wickedly at the response and moved her hips against his in experimentation. He let out a groan and she moved her hands down from his hair to his belt buckle. Her fingers tried to undo the buckle and the clink of metal filled the space between them but before she could complete her mission, his hands found hers and he stopped her.

"Betts." His voice was scratchy and low and she could feel the heat pooling in her belly. She moved to continue but he held her steady. She looked into his eyes and he looked at her with soft eyes that she could only interpret as full of pity. Ignoring this, Betty moved her lips to his again, eager to continue, wanting to be loved. Wanting to feel something.

"Betts." He said again as he pulled his mouth away from hers, his hands tightening around her own. There was a sharper tone to his voice now and she felt like a scolded child. He wanted her didn't he? He looked at her like he wanted her; he had said that he wanted to kiss her that night in her apartment. He had brushed his lips so briefly against her own with the promise of more to come. Then it clicked and she wanted to laugh. But at the same time she wanted to scream and cry and yell. That was when she was sweet Betty Cooper, unmarked by grief and tragedy. Not now that she was tainted. "You've been drinking."

"I know what I want, Juggie." One more try. She moved in to kiss him again and he turned his face away. She tried not to let the hurt show on her face at his rejection but she was certain she'd failed. She could feel something inside of her crack.

"Betts, stop." He began to speak but she had already started moving. She grabbed her shirt from the floor. "I -"

"Save it, Jughead." She pulled her blouse back on, doing up the buttons as quickly as she could. Her fingers not co-operating as she instead just clung the material to her body with her fist. She was an idiot. Nobody wanted this messy version of herself. No, they wanted picture perfect girl next door Betty Cooper. "You know my mom told me about the Jones'. Trash, the part of Riverdale that everyone else pretends doesn't exist. So don't you dare think that you can sit there and judge me. You are note better than me." Her free hand was again clenched in a fist by her side; she had to press hard to begin to feel the familiar biting sensation of nails cutting into the flesh of her palms. She could feel the wetness there. He looked in horror at her hands and she pulled them back against her chest.

"Let's talk about this, Betts." He stood up from the couch moving to wrap her in his arms. She pushed him away looking at the blood that was now on his white vest. He noticed too, his hand reaching out for her. "Betty, let me bandage those."

"Get the fuck away from me, Jughead. I don't need your help or your pity." She walked out of the bar, shrugging her jacket on to ward off the biting cold which struck her body as soon as she was out in the open. No-one had ever seen her hands. She had become so practiced at hiding them away, concealing her pain from everyone around her. Not only had Jughead Jones rejected her, he had rejected the part of her that no-one else had seen, the part of her that she was sure that no-one could ever love.

He didn't say anything, as if he was letting her words wash over him. The tears were already burning behind her eyes, a tightness in her throat begging to be released. The urge to wrap her tiny hands into fists was overwhelming. He reached out to grasp her hand as if he could read her mind, read what she was thinking about doing.

"That's not how it was at all, Betts."