I am so sorry for the lateness of this! The new update day is Thursday, but I started student teaching this week and god I literally fell asleep in the middle of doing homework last night XD So, yes, hopefully, I'll be on time next week. As it is, I'm updating this during a break hour...editing smut during work (school) hours makes me so paranoid lol. It's a long one though, hope you enjoy it!

This chapter was one of the Reader's Vote chapters. We had over 400 votes which I think is so fantastic! We had a lot of other votes for things (maybe they'll show up in other places), but this one won with 29%.

The other ones with the scores, if you were curious, were:

-Boss & Assistant (13%)
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-Delivery Person and Poor Person (3%)
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There are still some more polls for upcoming chapters if you want to vote!

As always, thanks to my awesome reviewers: Boris Yeltsin, thosechosenpirates, dezibear57, Way 2 HP Obsessed, sophiecambellbower, and winterbabyalways!

Despite Betty's continual best efforts to avoid any contact between her mother and her college, somehow Alice Cooper still managed to get her hands on the news that her daughter had made the Dean's High Honors list as the semester wrapped up in May. Betty, who hadn't even heard herself before her mother was calling her and barraging her about her achievements, wouldn't have had any desire to tell her mother if she'd known. She would have gone as far as to systematically ban the college from contacting any home address at all, alas, but she just hadn't realized. She had thought that all-important documents were forwarded to her apartment here or to her grandmother, who on average was a much more reasonable person.

She wasn't sure if it was a stray email, a wayward letter postmarked to her childhood home, her mother's journalism digging skills, but somehow Alice had figured it out.

It wasn't like it was news that Betty had flunked out after her sophomore year, though perhaps that would have been better. Daughters disappointing Alice was all the norm. A daughter getting on to a very exclusive list, however? Well, time to call the presses.

Literally.

Betty found out because Polly sent a clipping from the Riverdale Register overnighted. It came from the front page and proclaimed proudly for the entire town to see that Elizabeth Cooper was a smart cookie, more or less.

Betty supposed when you owned the newspaper, you could afford to do such ridiculous things.

This was only stage one of the nightmares, however.

Jughead found it unreasonably hilarious. It had been a mistake showing it to him, Betty decided. Jughead wasn't an idiot. He'd gotten on the Dean's List too. Not high honors, but still on the list. She doubted her mother would care. As it was, Jughead snorted and snickered as he read over the little feature on her, glancing at Betty like he couldn't quite believe it.

The next day, he'd posted it on their fridge with a bunch of magnets surrounding it for all to see.

Betty threw it out.

The next day, a photocopy of it was back.

When Betty burned that one, Jughead responded by printing it out to the size of the entire fridge and (and spent $2.56 at the local library printer, he informed her) and duct-taped it.

Betty ripped it to shreds.

It was gone from the fridge the next morning, and she breathed a sigh of relief until it started showing up tucked between the pages of her books. And in her backpack. And blocking her shampoo bottle. And rolled up in her boots.

This was the trouble of living with your boyfriend.

But this was only the second annoying outcome of this.

Betty should have known that bad things come in threes.

The third was a call from her mother. One which Betty ignored until her mom repeatedly called her eight times. Finally, Jughead- frustrated because the vibrating was interrupting their viewing of American Psycho - answered for her and handed it to her.

"Betty! Finally. One would think you're dead," Alice squawked over the other end, "Or ignoring me."

"Me? Never…" Betty said, drawing the word out with a roll of her eyes.

"Have you seen that you made the Dean's High Honor list?"

"Uhm, yeah. In a few places," Betty said, fishing out a wrinkled copy from between the cushions of the couch as she spoke.

"We're coming down to celebrate."

"What? No...you don't have to do that." Betty said, choking and sitting upright, "Really, it's fine."

"It is not fine! We are a family that celebrates our achievements, Elizabeth," Alice said, though it sounded like she was lecturing more than congratulating.

"That is really, really, really not necessary," Betty stressed, praying some god would smite her right now or that she could magically go back and time and flunk a final to save her from this.

"We'll be down on Friday, at eight PM. Your dad is making a reservation." Alice said with a 'you are not going to argue, young lady' sort of tone, and at that moment, Betty knew she was running out of options.

"I have work," She fibbed.

"Find someone to cover. We expect you there." Alice sounded completely uncaring about her internship. Which, she did have a summer one, just not on Friday night. Really, though, she was considering begging for that shift now. However, she had no doubt that her boss would be getting a strongly worded phone-call from her mother, so that was even worse.

Damn, she was going to have to go to this dinner, wasn't she?

"Jughead is coming. Make a spot for him too," Betty blurted, unable to stop herself. Jughead, who had been half-listening to this exchange with a smirk on his face, went white as a sheet.

There was a long pause on the other end, "Your roommate?"

"Yes, that one." Betty hadn't gotten around to telling her mother they were dating. This dinner seemed like maybe a good time for it.

"Elizabeth," Her mother sighed, sounding like she was going to have three million and one reasons for that 'leather-clad ne'er-do-well' (her words, not Betty's) to not come. Which was stupid...Jughead had worn a leather jacket once. For Halloween.

Try telling that to her mother, though.

"I won't go unless he's there."

Another pause. Ah, the familiar Cooper-Family stand-off. Who would fold first, Betty wondered?

After the sound of her mother talking to her father in the background and some mild arguing ("Sure, I can add another person." "No, Hal, you're supposed to be on my side." "Honey, it's one extra friend. This is a dinner for our daughter-,") her mother returned.

"I suppose we can." She sniffed primly, "Tell him to wear something nice. If he owns it," She added under her breath.

"Oh, I'll let him know. See you Friday," Betty added, grimacing as though she'd just been forced to eat blended fish guts.

Alice hung up without a goodbye.

"That was not...I…" Jughead floundered.

"You were the one who made me pick up. Suffer with me," Betty grumped, "Besides, you've been my emotional-support friend around my family before."

"Yeah, but that was before we were...together," Jughead said, waving a hand between the two of them, "It's different now, isn't it?"

In a way, Betty hadn't even considered that. She swallowed, a little embarrassed.

"I mean, it will still be fine…"

"Oh, god. Please don't lie and say 'it's fine, my parents will love you.' We both know Alice would sooner have you move in with a drug-dealing, gun-wielding, diseased serial killer alpaca than live with me."

"Well," Betty shrugged, "My dad doesn't hate you. He might even like you. Polly for sure likes you. That's 2 out of 3!"

"That's still 66%. Or an F."

"I don't know if getting the Alice-approval is possible, though, so the whole test is faulty," Betty tapped her chin, "I don't even think she really likes me. And, if you consider Juniper and Dagwood, that's 4 out of 5."

XXxxXX

By some help from the gods (or, more accurately, an SOS sent out directly after the phone call with Alice), Cheryl caught wind of the little shin-dig and insisted on both her and Toni's presence. Which were at least two more people in Jughead's corner. Or, so Betty hoped. She was pretty sure that her cousin was merely curious about the mythical Jughead that she'd helped get laid.

And, since Cheryl was hardly well-liked by Alice, it would make Alice have to split her disapproval equally. The full-Alice grill something few survived. A half-distracted grilling was far better.

Betty tried to get Archie and Veronica to come too, since her mother had always liked Archie best (and it was hard to hate him, to be honest), but unfortunately the pair were both busy. Archie had a training weekend for football and Veronica was in Italy at some Gala representing her family's legacy. Which, she informed Betty she was about to invite her to, which made this dinner all the worse. As Betty tried on every dress she owned, all she thought about was that she could be sipping wine and enjoying the coasts of Vernazza. Instead, she was contemplating whether she wanted to wear a dress her mother would approve of and thusly make this night a little bit more bearable, or go the opposite direction and pick a dress that would be likely to start a fight.

Choices, choices.

Jughead tapped on her door.

"Come in," Betty groaned.

Jughead saw her in just a pair of underwear and licked his lips, his eyes flickering up and down.

"Which one?" Betty asked, holding up dresses.

"Well," He laughed, "I can't say that your family would approve, but I like this." He grasped her waist, pulling her up to him. He was wearing his nicest button-down with his slacks and his hat was very-much missing. Betty imagined her mother would have a hernia if he tried to wear it into the restaurant.

"Not my naked body! These." Betty slapped his arm playfully, "We don't have time for that."

Jughead pouted, "I can be quick. Your parents aren't set to arrive until 8, right? It's 7."

"Which means they'll be here at 7:30. I still need to do my hair and make-up," Betty groaned, peeling herself away with great regret.

Jughead scrunched his nose, but stepped away. He looked over the two choices with some actual thought, tilting his head.

Neither were going to give her mother an early heart-attack, though Betty had been severely temped. One was far closer to Alice's vision of Betty while the other was more genuinely her. Unsurprisingly, and it sort of made her heart thump, Jughead picked the one that was more Betty's style.

"This one. Be yourself. This dinner will be uncomfortable enough," He said, "Plus, I like this dress on you."

Betty felt a warm light settle over her body. Not lust, but just plain affection.

"Thanks," She said, leaning up to peck his cheek, "Now, get!"

Jughead held up his hands in defeat. Though, as Betty turned to throw the dress over her head, Jughead slapped her ass on the way out.

XXxxXX

Between some of the worst dinners in history- including Jesus' Last Supper, Meet the Parents with the whole 'milking a cat', and the Dinner Party episode from the Office- Betty was very confident that this dinner ranked somewhere in the top three. At least.

Betty felt like it was something out of Beetlejuice. It was equally as horrifying.

Her father had chosen a ritzy steak place on the other side of the city from her apartment, which meant a lot of yelling in the car and frustration from her mother. If Hal had asked Betty, she could have recommended ten good places within walking distance. And, it wasn't like Betty hated steak (she did love it), but it seemed a little superfluous for just getting Dean's High Honors. This felt like the sort of place you came once you made a million dollars on Wall Street.

Then there was the party. Seven adults (plus two toddlers) who all regarded varying degrees of loathing toward Alice Cooper, and vice versa.

Of course, the first thing Alice had said when Betty had taken off her coat (summer hadn't quite arrived yet) was some questions about her fashion choice. When Cheryl had taken off her jacket and revealed something a stripper would blush in, Alice was sidetracked and Betty was grateful. Cheryl could take it. She was made of stronger stuff. The sort of stuff that liked to pick fights with Alice.

The entire seating had been a debacle in itself. It was a long table and of course Alice made a comment under her breath that without Jughead, it was an even number, but it threw off the feng-shui of the table now that he was here and there was a seat at the end. Which was bullshit, because her mother didn't even believe in that sort of stuff.

And Betty had tried to sit next to him. She wasn't about to leave him stranded alone at this dinner, but Alice was doing everything in her power to make sure he did not sit next to her daughter. So, Betty was sequestered to one end of the table and Jughead at the other. At least he was sitting next Cheryl and Toni, who would make him feel welcome, but Betty still felt bad.

Luckily, Betty had claimed Dagwood, which gave her an excuse to be distracted a lot of dinner, as she was about making sure he ate and making him laugh. Didn't help stop Alice from serving up the Day's Special- judgment, bitchy side-comments, more judgment, and the absolute inability to talk to her daughter without adding in some unwanted advice. Hal tried the best he could to smooth it out, but he'd been useless at it his entire life.

At least a lot of it was aimed at Betty. For all intents and purposes, Alice acted like Jughead did not exist and Betty was torn between bringing him obviously into the conversation or taking this as a small respite. You can't insult someone that you were making an effort not to see.

Besides, Jughead actually seemed to be getting along with Cheryl and Toni, so Betty decided she was going to deal with her mother herself, with the occasional help of Polly.

"-Your apartment is so drab. It's tiny, Elizabeth. And smells like a homeless man's latrine in the halls."

"Yeah, well, it's expensive in New York. Beggars can't be choosers."

"I could find you a much better place, maybe a one-bedroom."

"That's nice, but I like where I am."

"You could find a nice roommate, a girl," Alice continued like Betty hadn't spoke, "I'd bet I could find you a roommate. Two or three. I'm going to text you when I do. Maybe a nice big one, like a three-bedroom."

"Mom, I'm not moving. I just signed another year lease."

"Oh, pish. You can find someone to take your space," Alice waved a hand, "We'll come down, how does early July sound? Hal, get the moving trucks for then."

"I'm not moving."

"I bet if I post a notice, we'll find someone in no time! Change is good, Elizabeth." Alice said firmly, "You've lived there a year. Hal, write it in your phone. We're moving her out on the first weekend of July."

"Mom, let it go, who cares?" Polly groaned.

"I am her mother! Of course I care," Alice sputtered.

"I dunno, Cooper. A new apartment sounds nice," Jughead said from the end of the table, grinning, knowing what he was doing, "Bet Betty didn't tell you I found a rat in my bed one day. I'm maybe thinking something closer to campus too, what do you say, Mrs. Cooper?"

Alice wheezed, "Most of the nice places are single-gender only. As it should be."

"It sounds like I'd be out of an apartment, though," Jughead said, relentlessly pressing her. Betty wished she could make him be quiet. This was not a good road he was going down.

"Well, you'll just have to find your own accommodation." Mrs. Cooper turned her entire body away from him, "Elizabeth, listen, we could find better roommates than-,"

"Why would you turn down someone who pays on time? Who doesn't move the thermostat or use a lot of water? He's a good roommate." Betty pressed her fingertips to her sockets, "I don't think 'better' exists. Guys are surprisingly fine roommates."

"Don't you want to live with girls, though? I think if you tried to, you'd really prefer it. Maybe we can move out even sooner...next month. Hal, what does your schedule look-"

"Not particularly. I have no interest in trying a new roommate. Even Veronica seems a hassle to live with at the best of times." Betty said.

"Alice, have you tried the sauce on this?" Hal asked, holding up a fork, "Good, huh?"

Alice was not so easily side-tracked from her interfering. She seemed to drop the apartment issue, but that hardly meant she was done. She sat back for a second, put out at Betty's continual fighting, but after a second her eyes gleamed with a brighter shade of manipulation, "You know, Betty, I ran into Mr. Mills yesterday."

"Oh, how is he?" Betty was unsure where this was going, but it had to be a trap.

"His hip could be better. But you know, he had a son about your age. He's a doctor now."

Ah.

"Good for him. His name was Roman, right?" Betty said lightly.

"Yes. Just look at him!" Alice shoved her phone into Betty's hands. Betty nodded, pressing her lips together. He was an average looking guy, she supposed. Totally not her type, however, even if she were single. And frankly, she got frustrated enough with Veronica's meddling. Her mother was a whole other story.

"Yep. He looks about 27." Betty said, unsure what her mother wanted her to say. Obviously, not that. Her mother glowered.

"Don't be purposely dense. He's handsome and very much on a good path," Alice took her phone back, "So he'll be down on Wednesday night."

Betty paused her fork mid-air, glaring across the table. Polly winced audibly. Even Cheryl and Toni were silent at the end of the table, Toni with her forehead creased and Cheryl watching this entire interaction with a sense of glee. She liked a good brawl.

"Wait, what?"

"For a date with you. I told Mr. Mills you were looking and we thought it would be fantastic."

Jughead choked on his bread down the table.

"Mom...I'm not going on a date with him!"

"Don't be rude, Betty, he's going to come all this way!"

"I never asked him to! I don't know him."

"Sure you do," Alice replied smoothly, "You went to elementary school together."

"Yeah, and he was like a fifth-grader when I was a kindergartener," Betty said, "Not the point. No, I'm not. I draw the line."

"Betty, imagine the stability. This is a good match for you," Alice said.

"Mom, stop acting like I'm a fair maiden in medieval times that you're selling off to the highest bidder."

"Oh, stop being dramatic," Alice said sourly, "You'll go on this date with him and god willing, you'll see reason and continue seeing him. I can just imagine a spring wedding, Elizabeth. Oh! You could wear my dress and we could have it at the country club. I'm thinking a nice, calm color scheme; maybe lilacs with some silvers or golds-"

"Mother. Listen to yourself," Betty stressed angrily, "You are planning a wedding for me to a man I've never met. You're in-,"

Across the table, her father frantically shook his head. Betty reeled herself in before she said something really damaging.

"One can't help but be prepared," Alice said, as though this was average behavior.

"Mom, this is is sorta weird," Polly said.

"Sorta?" Toni said, bewildered from down the table, "Hon, your family has so many issues. You're glad I love you more than anything," she added in a stage whisper.

"I don't trust Betty for much, but I do think she's a good judge of character," Cheryl said, which was like a gold star from her, "And forcing dates is creep-ville."

"Mom," Betty shook her head, "I will find him on Facebook and tell him to cancel." By this point, even tucked away in a corner, they'd begun to capture the attention of the rest of the restaurant. Hal was trying to shush the conversation to little success.

"Don't you dare! I'm just looking out for you, Elizabeth." Alice locked her shoulders, raising her chin, "Give me one good reason why you shouldn't-"

Jughead, at some point, had come around the table, unnoticed by Betty or Alice in the heat of their argument. He pulled Betty's chair back, lifted her chin and kissed her hard.

The table went totally silent, sans Juniper babbling in her baby seat.

"That's why." Jughead said tensely.

"Get your hands off my daughter," Alice whispered in a low hiss, "Betty, we can press charges-,"

"For what?" Betty threw her hands up.

"For that boy...accosting you! He practically molest-,"

"Oh, for the love of God," Betty slammed her hand down on the table, "Mom, meet my boyfriend."

There was just silence. Before Betty could hear any of Alice's objections, Betty stood and grabbed Jughead's hand and tugged him out of the restaurant. Jughead was red with anger.

"I'm sorry, god, I'm sorry," Betty said once they were outside. She leaned up, kissing him all over his face, trying hard not to cry.

"And here I thought I was the queen of family dinner fuck-ups," Cheryl said from out of nowhere, interrupting them.

"That was fantastic, Jughead!" Toni breathed, high-fiving him, "Alice had it coming. She always has. You are officially one of my favorite people now."

"Sorry," Betty said, wiping the edges of her eyes.

"For what?" Cheryl asked, frowning, "Making that god awful dinner memorable or for finally growing a pair when it comes to your mom?"

Jughead gave a wheeze of laughter. Cheryl grinned at him, at both of them. She charted the tension quickly, however, nodding to herself. Before Alice could come out in a flying rage, Cheryl decided something.

Cheryl strut to the street, hailing a taxi, "Get in, losers. We're going clubbing. On me."

XXxxXX

Betty woke the next day extremely hungover. She didn't recall much, but that didn't mean the night didn't happen. If anything, it was indicative that something had happened.

And, when she dragged herself to the bathroom and saw her makeup now looked more like a raccoon mask and felt some fruity drink coming up her throat, she was all but assured of what seemed to have been a fantastic party.

The vaguest ideas she had were from the photos Toni sent her of the four of them partying it up last night. It brought back the haziest memories of neon lights, thumping bass, copious amounts of alcohol, sweat from dancing, and Betty with her tongue down Jughead's throat for much of the night. Had she not had picture proof, Betty would have never believed that Jughead had willingly been lead to any dance floor.

There were no messages from her mother or her father. She wouldn't be surprised if she were all but disowned after last night.

God, she sort of hoped so.

She hopped in the shower but that did nothing for her hangover. She was contemplating blending some miracle mixture of raw eggs, orange juice, and coffee when her phone chimed. Polly.

POLLY: I'm outside your apartment. Let's go for brunch, please?

BETTY: Mom and dad?

POLLY: Went home with Juniper and Dagwood. Cheryl said she'd drive me back.

POLLY: Please :(

Betty grumbled all the way down the stairs, meeting her sister with narrowed eyes.

"Looks like you had fun last night," Polly said after a second, wrapping her arms around her waist.

"So mom and dad sent you to smooth things over?" Betty snipped, leading Polly to a close pancake cafe.

"Actually," Polly winced, "We went at it last night. I told mom she was being completely unreasonable after you left. Dad I think takes your side, but well, you know dad."

"Yeah," Betty sighed. Her father was well known for having no backbone around their mother.

They ordered. Betty asked for the waitress to just bring the whole pot of coffee over because she'd be drinking most of it.

There was a silence between the sisters.

"Don't let mom get to you," Polly said, "She does love us. In her own way."

"Not good enough. She's obsessed." Betty shook her head, "Why do you think I left? Damn, I should have gone farther for college. Like California, or Scotland, or Mars."

"She's just worried about you. I mean, trying to fix you so you don't make my mistakes. Not that you need fixing," Polly was quick to add.

"She's always hated Jughead," Betty pouted, her stomach curling at how angry she was last night and how Jughead must have felt.

Polly just nodded, but didn't speak.

"I know that I'm usually the first to try to get you and mom to make up," Polly finally said, "But I guess...I dunno. You're an adult now. It was different in high school." She reached for Betty's hand, "Are you happy?"

Betty rubbed the back of her sister's hand, only managing a nod.

Polly sat back, as though having come to a choice, "Then, know this, I'm with you, Betts."

XXxxXX

Especially now that she'd fallen out of favor with her mother, having a job was ever so much more important. She and Jughead both had held down jobs since the beginning of the year at different places here and there, but now that summer was upon them, it was almost needed for both to be working full time.

Betty worked at one of the libraries on campus, which was about as exciting as watching paint dry. She was taking summer classes, so it afforded her some space on the job to work when things got slow.

Jughead, through the semester, had been paid by fellow college students to edit and advice on college essays. Now that they were finished with their sophomore year and beginning their junior year, however, Jughead had been offered a position as a TA for a freshman summer course.

By the time he left for it Monday morning, Betty realized in between allowing him to sleep off his hangover, going to her own job, and hanging out with Veronica when she returned, they hadn't had much time together. They'd found time late last night for a good sit-down about the events of the dinner. They'd reconfirmed that they still liked each other and Jughead wasn't nearly as salty as she thought he'd be.

"I always knew your mom hated me. Not exactly surprising."

Despite having this serious and weight-lifting talk, there hadn't been time for much intimate relations.

Betty arrived back in the apartment to find Jughead not there, which was a little confusing to her. She didn't think that he was currently in class. Once conferring with the schedule they'd both tacked on the fridge, she realized he had to hold office hours once a week.

BETTY to JUGHEAD: How goes office hours?

JUGHEAD: Boring as hell.

They were two weeks into an eight-week long class, so Betty wasn't surprised no one was coming in yet.

JUGHEAD: Will you bring me some dinner? Please? I'm starving.

JUGHEAD: Wasting away.

JUGHEAD: About to keel over from lack of sustenance

BETTY: Big baby.

BETTY: What do you want?

This is how Betty found herself walking all the way across campus with a pair of sandwiches for her and Jughead.

Since the summer courses were far fewer in number compared to the normal semester, Jughead was given an entire office to himself. Well, office may have been disingenuous. It was sort of like a closet in the hallway, with no windows on the door or inside and one outlet. Still, during the school year three our four TAs would have squished themselves inside. At least now, it was all his.

When she arrived, there was someone in there. Surprise colored her for a second, so she waited patiently outside as Jughead explained something about paper writing. It wasn't too long before Jughead finished. It was a young girl, an incoming freshman, who lingered even as Jughead finished. It wasn't until Jughead saw Betty that he politely shooed the girl away. The girl's cheeks were bright red.

"Thanks again, Professor!"

"Again, not a professor," Jughead said, "And you'll get there, don't worry. This rough draft was a lot better than last time."

"You just are soooo knowledgeable." The girl gushed.

"Just my job," Jughead said, shrugging, "I'll see you in class on Wednesday."

"Thought you said it was boring?" Betty asked, handing Jughead a sandwich.

"It usually is. She's the only one that comes; Astrid." Jughead said.

"Hmm. She's into you."

"What?"

"That's why she comes. It's obvious."

"Well," Jughead snorted, sitting on the edge of his desk, "I don't think I could ever be interested in someone who misuses the wrong 'their' in a paper. I sincerely thought it was because her writing is atrocious. She's not getting anywhere, that's for sure."

"Oh, I'm so relieved," Betty teased.

Jughead grunted, looking Betty up and down. For a second, Betty saw his eyes darken before he shook his head and blinked. The sandwich was partially unwrapped in his fingers. He hadn't quite taken the first bite.

"How much longer?" Betty asked, waving a hand around.

"I actually just finished," Jughead said, "Trying to decide if I want to eat it here or if we should just head back."

"Right." Betty rubbed her hands on her skirt. She backed herself up to the door, locking it. Jughead was too busy staring at his sandwich with great question to notice, "Or…" She began hesitantly.

"Or?" Jughead echoed, not completely paying attention.

Betty inhaled shakily. She thought of her mother and these last few days and how she'd kill to be anyone but herself right now. Perfect Betty Cooper, great grades and the outward picture of a 'good girl'. Logical. Straight and narrow. Vanilla (or so her mother hoped, and so her mother pictured her).

Betty undid the bottom three buttons of her white tank-top and tied it tight under her breasts. She rolled her skirt twice until it was just hitting the edge of her bottom.

"Professor Jones?" Betty asked, making her voice a little more high-pitched and warbled than usual.

"Betty, what are you-," Jughead began, but choked off at the end. He nearly dropped his sandwich.

"Professor Jones, I just don't know what to do," Betty continued, trying to make her face look as pathetic as possible. She took the two steps between them, setting their food on a nearby chair. Jughead let her take it from his hands, his face still trying to catalog what was happening. She stood right before him, wringing her hands and looking up at his bashfully, "It's nearly the end of the semester and I just can't seem to get my grade up! I got an 'F' on the last test and I really can't afford to re-take this class."

"I...uhm...you…" Jughead flustered about for a second, "We…" He looked at the door. Betty was not about to break character.

"It might have locked on its way behind me. Wonder how that happened?" She said, tapping her chin, "Professor Jones, I don't think you're paying attention."

Jughead's eyes snapped back to hers.

"Oh, I'm paying attention," He said, finally starting to gain some ground as well as slip into the fantasy.

"What do you suggest?" Betty asked, sitting on a chair, looking up at him.

"Well," Jughead said, grinning now, "You might have to do some...make-up work."

"I'd do anything," Betty said in an over-earnest tone.

"You say that now," Jughead said, leaning forward, placing a hand on her knee.

"I mean it," Betty said, nodding. Her breath hitched as Jughead's hand parted her knees, trailing up her thighs.

"I don't know, Miss Cooper, you've been a bad student."

"I have?"

"Mhh. Never turns in assignments...shows up late for class, and when you do, you're always on your laptop... can't seem to pass a test to save your life…" He clicked his tongue, "I'm not sure there are enough papers in the world to pull your grade up."

His fingers had reached the crux of her legs. He rubbed at the center and Betty tried not to moan. She bit the inside of her cheek, swallowing hard as Jughead's fingers teased her.

"Sir, please, I need to pass this class." Betty begged.

"Well, perhaps there is something else. A trade that we could make." Jughead said, tilting his head as though deeply thinking about it.

"Professor Jones!" Betty gasped, pretending to be nearly outraged, "You don't mean-,"

"Well, I suppose you don't care about passing all that much," Jughead said, pushing a finger inside of her. Betty shivered at his touch.

"No, I do care." Betty said, "Honestly."

"You might have to work for it," Jughead said, "Or I'm not sure you really deserve it."

"I'll show you that you won't regret it, swear."

Jughead withdrew his fingers. Betty was wondering what to say next, or if she's said something wrong when Jughead moved some papers.

"Why don't you sit on my desk, Miss Cooper?" He asked, but his voice was a command and his eyes were dark.

"Like this?" Betty said, hopping up. She fanned herself, "Gosh, Professor, it is rather warm in here…" She said, undoing the rest of her shirt. She dropped it on the floor, along with her bra.

"Crappy school cut-backs and lack of AC," Jughead replied, shrugging, "Better?" he raised an eyebrow.

"How's my grade looking now?" Betty asked, leaning her hands back and pushing her chest up.

"Better."

Betty's fingers undid her skirt, but instead of pushing it down, she ruched it around her waist.

"And now?"

"Mhh, getting there."

Betty linked a finger under her underwear and slowly pulled it off, one leg hanging around her shoe.

"And if I do this?"

"You've made a strong argument, that's for sure."

"Enough to pass?"

Jughead looked regretful, "I'm not sure that could pull up your 29-grade percent average right now, though it's a good effort."

"What would help?" Betty asked, blinking at him, "Professor Jones...please." Her last plea was little more than a breathless sound.

Jughead reached for the back of her neck, kissing down it. His fingers unclicked his jeans, shoving it down just enough to free himself.

"Well," He laughed against her throat, "Participation is very important. Will you be a team-player, Miss Cooper?"

Betty had barely managed a nod before he was pulling her to the edge of the desk and pushing himself into her. She gasped out loud, Jughead reaching up to cover her mouth. Though there were few people around the building, there was no reason to draw any undue attention to themselves.

Betty's fingers closed at the hair at the nape of his neck. He wasn't wearing his hat; he was wearing it less and less. She had the brief passing wonder if it was because he was getting more comfortable without it due to Betty's assurances that she liked his hair, or merely because wearing a hat would be a taboo?

Although, there were plenty of eccentric professors that did stranger things than wear a beanie hat. Just the other day, she'd seen one of her professors fill up a hard taco shell with just mustard and salsa and bite into it like a sandwich-

Jughead bit her shoulder blade.

"Miss Cooper, I don't think you're paying attention, are we?" He teased.

"Sorry, sir," Betty whimpered.

"I guess I'll have to give you more reasons to stay attentive," Jughead said with a loud sigh. He pulled out, waiting. Betty squirmed against him until it was unbearable and Jughead grinned like the bird that had just partaken in the canary.

If it were normal, Betty would give him some shit about that, but in the play-moment, she knew she couldn't do anything.

Jughead lifted her a bit, slapping her.

"Would a few switches get you on the right track?" He asked.

"Whatever you think would help, professor," Betty replied, though she admittedly enjoyed it quite a lot.

"Mhh," Jughead said thoughtfully, and slapped harder. The sound echoed. He winced, "Probably shouldn't do that anymore. Damn."

"Another time," Betty consoled, "Professor... "

They couldn't spend a long time enjoying each other. It was exhilarating, but each second was one second closer to someone finding them in this position. They quaked as they finished, and Betty counted three long exhales.

"Is that sufficient enough, sir?"

"A-plus," Jughead replied, stepping back and reaching for the Kleenex.

There was an awkward pause as they re-adjusted themselves. Jughead smoothed out his shirt out. Betty pulled down her skirt and re-tucked her tank-top. They looked at each other and blushed, breaking off with giggles.

"Not that I didn't enjoy that, because I did," Jughead said, grabbing his bag and food that had been forgotten, "But, uh, what was that?"

"I think," Betty said, using the black of her screen to catch her reflection and pet down her hair, "That was a coupon."

Notes:

I did make up a 'Spoilers without Context' for this chapter! Check out my tumblr, youngbloodlex22, if you want to see it. For those who did see it, did anyone guess a plot point?

On a VERY exciting note, I have been nominated in the Bughead Fanfiction Awards! To anyone that submitted me for a nomination, thank you so much! I am incredibly honored and so pleased 😄 I am nominated with this story for Best Multi-Chap WIP and Multi-Chap Smut, an author's award for Best Author Award 'Creative' and Best Author Award 'Smut', and finally a Best Author Award for 'Other Couples/Ships'.

I believe voting begins this weekend, so be sure to vote and support not only my stories but all the other fantastic authors out there! Go to the tumblr to vote!