I don't own the Characters, just the story.

Chapter 10: Sweetwater River

It was finally Friday. Betty couldn't wait for the weekend. She grabbed her helmet and walked out of the school after she had said goodbye to Veronica and Archie. She hadn't seen Jughead in the past days. They had texted, but neither of them had mentioned the kiss they had shared two days ago in the Blue and Gold office. Betty was nervous what this meant. He had told her that he wasn't feeling well so he stayed home. But she wasn't sure if that was true.
Deep in her thoughts, she made her way towards her bike. She had been late this morning and had taken it to be on time. Additional she didn't understand why she wasn't allowed to take the bike to school, she had done it for Southside High so why not here? It didn't matter if she drove herself or if Toni and the other young Serpents picked her up after school with their bikes.

She drove home. Enjoying the wind on her face. Happy in the moment. And looking forward to the evening. It was the evening before her 16th birthday after all.
She pulled her bike in the drive-in in front of the house and got off it.
With her helmet under her arm, humming something she entered the house. Only to nearly ran into her father, who was standing in the corridor with crossed arms.
"Hey, dad." She said, placing her helmet on the bureau.
"I thought we talked about you taking the bike to school?" he asked her.
Betty's gaze shot up and she looked at her father.
"Yes… but…" she started but he interrupted her "no but. We didn't allow it and you did it nevertheless."
"I was late this morning and you were already gone." Betty looked at her father and then at her mother who just came out of the kitchen.
Hal Cooper shook his head. "That is no excuse young lady."
"Then please enlighten me what I should have done instead?" she questioned back. It probably wasn't a good idea to talk back to her parents like that. Especially her father didn't take it well if she was anything than obedient to him. But she grew sick of it.
"Not in this tone." Her father looked coldly at her "Not after everything you've done to this family. Helping your sister and now running with that Lodge girl."
Betty ached an eyebrow. "Veronica is a nice girl and a good friend." She said, looking from her father towards her mother.
"She's a Lodge. Do you really think she cares about you? Those high society girls look down on us, the same as the Northsiders do." Her mother sided with her father, though there was something strange in her tone. Something seemed off. And that not just because this definitely wasn't how this day should go.
Betty let out a huff "It's not like I'm going to ran off with her or ditch my other friends. And you don't know her so don't talk about her like that"
"Don't talk to your mother like that." Her father snapped. Betty looked at her father. She hadn't raised her voice, in her opinion they were the ones trying to argue with her. She took a deep breath, the hand that didn't still hold her keys had curled into a fist, the nails had already broken her skin and she could feel the blood on her fingers. For once she had really looked forward to coming home after school. But now…
"Can't we just leave that for today… or the weekend?" Betty pleaded.
"No we won't and that's it, no bike, no Wyrm. Go to your room and think about how you speak with your parents." Hal said coldly. He held his hands towards Betty who stared at him for a second, "but today is…" she started to say. Her father just looked at her with a cold look. Leaving no room for arguments. She let out a frustrated sigh before smacking her keys in his hand and running upstairs to her room.
"That wasn't necessary Hal. Not today. Not this weekend." She heard her mother say before her door fell shut. She let herself fall on the bed. Now both her hands were curled into fists and the pain of her fingernails gave her a little relief and blocked out some of her thoughts. Why had her parents to be like that? And today of all days. It was the day before she turned 16. It should be a special night. There was a Serpent tradition for aspirants. It was part of the initiation for the younger ones.

Jughead sighed. He had stayed at home the past two days. Not because he was avoiding Betty. God no. He wanted desperately to see her. But his father had one of his downs again. Drinking more than usual and not being able to go to work.
Most times FP was put together enough to go to work, but sometimes he had bad days. And after Jellybeans birthday had passed and he wasn't able to congratulate his daughter, because her and Jug's mother wouldn't allow it he had fallen deeper again. It just wasn't fair.
Jughead was hurt too. He missed his sister. And not being able to talk to her did hurt more than he admitted to anyone. Most time not even to himself. He tried to push the pain away. Fleeing in his writing.
The past two days had been bad. Really bad. His dad was passed out most of the time. But he just couldn't leave him there. He was too afraid something might happen. It wouldn't be the first time. He couldn't leave him alone. And he hated him for that. Knowing no child should have to look after his parents like that.

But after being stuck at home for two days he just couldn't stay there any longer. He needed some space. At first, he thought about going to Pop's, taking his laptop with him and typing away. Like he did every Friday evening. Maybe he would even meet Betty again there, just like last week. But as soon as he put on his jacket he knew that wasn't what he needed right now.
His dad was passed out again. Laying on the couch. But at the moment it didn't bother him. He needed air.
Jug took a deep breath, took the car keys and left the house. It wasn't a long drive to Sweet Water River. He parked the car and made his way down towards the water.
It was a warm evening. Everything around him was quiet and he enjoyed being alone. Having finally some space. Jughead knew the path by heart. He had come here since he was a child. Playing in the woods with his sister and Archie.

His feet dragged him further till he stood on the edge of the water. He closed his eyes, enjoying the winds brushing over his face and just listening to the sound of the water. It was quiet, peaceful. Suddenly there was another sound. He opened his eyes to look in the direction of the sound.
He hadn't expected to meet anybody out here. Especially not at this time. But he had certainly not expected to see her here. The blonde girl he was dreading to see again since Wednesday. But there she was.
Betty stood about ten meters away from him, but she didn't seem to notice him, she was just staring at the water.
"Betty?" he asked her in disbelief.
There was no reaction from the girl. Jughead frowned and took a few steps towards her. He had an odd feeling about the whole situation. Something was wrong.
"Betty?" he said again. Still no reaction. "Betts? What are you doing here?" he asked her.
The blonde girl still wasn't looking up, instead, she took a few steps forward, towards the water, till her feet stood in the water. She began giggling and looking down at the water.
Jughead frowned. "Betty please come out of the water." He had followed her and as he noticed she wanted to go further into the river he snuck his arm around her waist to stop her.
"Betts. Stop. The stream." He looked at the river before he took a few steps back with her.
As they stood again on solid ground he turned her towards him, to look at her.
Betty's eyes were glassy and red. And there was a strange smell hanging on her.
She finally seemed to realize that he was there and who he was.
"Juggie." She let out throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him closer. Jumping at him as much as their already close embrace allowed.
"Yes, Betts. What are you doing here?"
She let go of him and started to jump around. "It's such a beautiful night." She said, stopping to jump and staring at the sky while turning on her spot.
Jughead watched her carefully. She erupted in giggling again before she turned her attention towards some flowers on the ground and he suddenly realized what was going on with her. Or he had an idea what was going on.
Just as he realized that Betty's phone started ringing. Betty looked up and started singing and dancing along with the song. She didn't seem to realize it was her phone. Or she didn't care.
Jughead sighed and walked over where Betty's leather jacket was laying and apparently the phone was too. He took it out of the pocket and looked at the caller ID. It said, Toni. Jug knew from some stories Betty had told him that Toni was her best friend. Good, he thought, maybe Toni could help. He picked up.
"Why are you turning off the music Juggie?" Betty scoffed, but she continued singing anyway. Making her own music.

"Betty, where the hell are you? And why aren't you answering any of my texts or calls?" Jughead heard a girl on the other side of the line.
"Ehh sorry, I'm not Betty… she is a little preoccupied at the moment." He said a little insecure while watching Betty dance around. Making sure she wasn't going back to the water.
"Who is this? And why do you have Betty's phone?" the voice asked him in a sharp tone.
"Yeah sorry. Uhm I'm Jughead and well I just found her at …." He started but was interrupted by Toni "Jughead? The guy from Riverdale High? The other writer?" she questioned.
"Ehh yes." He was slightly confused at why Toni knew all that. But then again, he remembered that Toni was Betty's best friend and they probably talked about everything. That would mean Toni probably knew about the kiss. She snapped him back to the reality before his mind could drift any further.
"Ohh good. Then she is at least with someone she knows. But where are you anyway? And why hasn't she answered my calls before? Were you two a little preoccupied?" she asked with a suggestive voice at the last part.
"What?" he asked and felt a blush creeping up his neck. He looked over at Betty who seemed absorbed into sorting stones or something like that. "No, I just found her out here at Sweet Water River like ten minutes ago." He said.
"What is she doing out there?" Toni asked confused.
"Well… I'm no expert but I think she's stoned…" he said, his eyes nerve leaving Betty.
"What?!" the other girl squeaked into the phone.
"Yeah." He replied, holding the phone a little away from his ear at the loud squeak.
"Where exactly are you? I'm coming." Toni said.
"Ohh good, I just wanted to ask you to come here anyway." Jug sighed relieved. He told Toni where they were, and they hung up.

New Chapter :)
I know this is going in a different direction then you probably thought. For now.
And yes the initiation is coming soon. Betty will be a Serpent ;)
So… I'm interested, if you have any ideas what the Initiation could be let me know in the reviews, I have a few ideas but are open for all suggestions, cause we all know Alice would never allow the Serpent Dance to stay tradition… so there will be something different.

I hope you liked that chapter though.