"Say Betts, Harry Potter 2 came out yesterday, it's going great guns, I managed to snag two tickets. When do I pick you up ?"
Betty was shaken, she was trying to figure out how to react. Jug had walked up to them in the meantime. "Hi Arch, what's up ?"
Archie ignored him, he pressed her arm "So, tell me, the show starts at 7, pick you up at 6 ?"
"Archie !" Betty wrested her arm free "Archie, thanks but I can't go."
"Why not ? It's the last Potter film ! Everyone's dying to see it ! You don't want to hear all about it from the girls later do you ?" He leaned in close to her "Come on, Sugar ! Be a doll ! I will take you to that Italian place at the mall after the movie."
Betty turned to Jughead, her eyes imploring for help. "Arch" Jug said.
It took another 2 tries to get through to him, Arch looked at Jug as if he just walked in. "Oh look who's here ! Sorry pal, but you won't like the Italian stuff, it's too fancy and the portions are rather small."
"Arch, it isn't about that. We..." he looked at Betty "We will be hanging out this evening, Betty and I."
"Hanging out !" Archie threw up his hands in surprise "What do you mean hanging out ? Betty, come on ! This is big ! I am really missing your company, we will get some popcorn and be all cozy in the dark."
Betty's grip on Jug's arm tightened, her face hot and her stomach felt cold. Jug wanted to say something, anything "Arch, I don't think Betty like the idea."
"What ? Listen Jughead, we have been dating since kindergarten, I know Betty !" Arch stressed.
"No Archie !"
"What ?" Archie asked
"I said No !" Betty raised her voice "I didn't want it to be like this but I am sorry Archie, I can't go out with you anymore."
"Why not ? I am asking you ! Not Ron ! Nobody has asked her yet for the movie !" Archie shot back.
"Please Archie !" There were tears in her eyes "Don't you understand ? After all that happened on Monday ? We are through Archie, we are through !" She buried her face in Jughead's chest, sobbing quietly. Jug placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes on Archie. Archie had it all planned out but what he saw in Jug's eyes shook him a little, he didn't see anger or jealousy. It was pain, sorrow, as if he was asking him Why Arch ? Why make her cry ?
"How can you say that Betty ? You love me Betty ! You know that !" Archie implored.
"Arch please ! This is not the time, we have been over this !" Jug said, his voice firm.
"I told you on Monday Archie, and I will say it again. I am not your girlfriend anymore. You will always be a dear friend but I can't be more than that for you." It took a lot of pain to say that, her hands were crushing Jug's jacket. "Juggie, please take me home."
"Bye, Arch." Jug held out his hand but winced at the look which Arch gave him, he stomped away in the opposite direction.
-
They stopped a lot on the way home, sitting down often while she sobbed quietly, he holding her hand. She told him about all the times, however few, when Archie did take her out, all the fun they had. It was once a month, every weekend if Veronica was out of town, how she once waded through the snow and slush on a cold night just to be with him. "I feel so stupid Juggie, I feel so stupid !" she wailed, Jug hugged her, whispering that it was ok, everything will be ok.
"How about the mall ?" Jug asked.
"What ?" Betty asked disoriented.
"How about the mall ? Let's hang out there, no homework tonight so we will be fine. I am dying to try out that new Greek food at the food court. What say ?" Jug smiled.
Betty smiled, her eyes sparkling with tears, "Are you asking me out for a date ?"
Jug blushed "Well yeah, you know ! I mean what the heck, we have to start someday so why not today ?"
Betty rested her chin on his shoulder, smiling into his eyes "Ok Done ! When do we go ?"
"Right now."
"What ? Jug, I am not ready!" Betty said.
"You look perfect !" Jug threw up his arms. "We are going to the mall, not a ball ! We are supposed to be dressed normal, not pig out on clothes and makeup !"
Betty tilted her head as she looked at him, Who was she kidding ? He may have given up his beanie but he was still the same Juggie she always knew. Down to earth, funny, clear and perfectly normal !
They laughed all the way to the mall, Jug regaled her with tricks as he flipped his notebook into the air and kept catching it every time. She thought she would split her sides, only he could make her so happy, treat her like a dear friend.
The mall crowd was not too big on weekdays but that gave them all the more room for wandering around. They spent a lot of time at the pet shop cooing over kittens, puppies and rabbits. Betty dragged Jug into a bags boutique and for well over an hour, Jug had to judge her posing with bags which ranged from ridiculously tiny to humongously large. She then pushed him into a men's clothing shop and had him try on one t-shirt after another. She settled on a red one with RIVERDALE stitched in blue, the price was a little too steep though and they promised themselves that they would pick it up in the weekend.
Only an hour was left for the mall to shut down and it was Betty who noticed it "Jug ! quick, that Greek place !"
Jug was taken aback. He actually forgot about the food and here was Betty dragging him to the food court, the same Betty who once tried to push him out of Pop's and shooed him away from lunch hampers, the same Betty who cooked for him and valued his opinion over anyone else's for her recipes.
They settled on souvlakis. He took the one with all the meats, she the veggies, with a whole lot of olives and dates. They split them so they ended up eating meats with olives and dates and had a blast in the process.
It was a date like no other, no awkward sitting in restaurants waiting for the food to come, talking about things that had been done to death, prancing in fancy costumes. This was how two old friends enjoy each other's company. The best way to love someone is to show them that you care to let them be.
The mall was quite some way off from their neighbourhood, they had just turned into Wittenburg Drive when Betty whined "Oh Jug, I am so tired !" she clung to him, there wasn't a bench to rest on her home wast just a few lots away. "Yeah but it's late already, and your mom called you too." Jug said.
"So ? So did yours, and anyways" she hugged his arm "She knows I am with you, safe as a baby with her nanny." she giggled.
"Ok, if I am your nanny then I can do this !"
"Jug ! Whoa ! wait !"
Jug reached under her and picked her up in his arms. Betty was at a loss for words. "Juggie !"
"Now ! Comfy ? Let's go." Jug started walking.
"Juggie, you will get tired, put me down !" Betty protested.
"Tired ? What's your weight again ? You are as light as a feather !" Jug said.
Betty punched his chest lightly. She put his arms around his neck resting her head on his shoulder. Her mind went back to all her previous dates, yes there were quite a few dream dates, when she felt herself on cloud nine but did anyone care so much ? He didn't have a car, he couldn't afford the cab from the mall to her home, but he picked her up when she was tired. She felt warm in his hands, felt safe. Something that she never felt with anybody else.
They were at her porch. Betty looked up and saw that Jug had not climbed up the steps. She looked at him "Baby does not want to get down !" she mimicked Jellybean.
Jug smiled and climbed up the steps to the door "Should I put you in bed too ?" he asked.
"I wish you could, but we will leave that for later." she ran her hand through his hair and pulled his head down as she rose hers. They kissed, neither wanted it to end. The touch, the position, the love. It was too much. After they broke off, she caressed his cheek. "Thanks !" She said dreamily, "that was the best date ever."
He kissed her on the forehead and let her down. They hugged each other, not ready yet to let go. "I will try to get the tickets."
"Which tickets ?" she asked.
"Harry Potter 2. Let's make it on Saturday night."
She looked up at him smiling "Jealous of Archie ?"
"Hey, as I said, I have to show that I care !" he grinned.
"You are so sweet !" she kissed him again "I will miss you !"
"See you tomorrow, same time, same place !" Jug laughed as he marched down the stairs.
Betty walked into her home, up to her room and lay in her bed wishing he could stay, there in her arms.