He finishes the phone call with a sigh, putting his cell down to rub his eyes, feeling tired. Jughead spent most of his night awake, reading another contract his agent had sent him. This time, he wanted to talk about tours. Jughead argued with him about it, saying it was not time for this kind of discussion yet. The book isn't even ready. But the guy was certain the time would come, and when it finally did they had to be ready for it. All Jughead wanted to do was write when he was a teenager. He never thought about the bureaucracy that it involved.
So when he alarm rang this morning all he wanted to do was go back to sleep. He used to be fine with only a few hours of sleep when he was younger, but now he can't work properly without having at least 7 hours in his dreams. But he didn't have a choice. He had scheduled a meeting with the beer supplier for the bar early and another phone calls to make. He felt in a parallel universe where his job was to act like Veronica.
He was used to being tough, growing up in the Southside and now living in New York, that city wasn't made for beginners. But the ability to deal with people when you have a business that depends on their products involves a new kind of level of toughness. And now he can finally understand why Veronica is so good at her job.
Making his dad's business work was the reason why he was spending his morning in the White Wyrm and not at his bed right now. Taking a sip of his black coffee he picks the phone up again, opening his notes to see what else he has to do today and feeling his ass numb from sitting too long in the wooden chair.
"So you are dealing with Brad face to face now? Saw him leaving earlier. Smart decision, that guy is slippery like a fish. FP always hated to deal with him" Sweet Pea says seating in the chair in front of him. Jughead could see grease stains on his clothes and face and wondered if Sweets walks around like this all the time. He probably does, the guy was never one to care about other people thought of him.
"So why he did it? He can't be the only person that sells beer around here?"
"Actually, he is. The other alternative would be too expensive so FP stuck to him" Sweets shrugs eyeing the notes Jughead left opened in his screen "I can see you're a lot better than you were when you first started. Guess it runs in the blood"
"Hardly" Jughead scoffs "I don't know how my dad did it, the guy couldn't even make his salary last an entire month when I was kid. My mom had to step in so we could eat. And I'm trying, really hard. And Betty was helping me too"
Sweets smile with his reply "So the old miss Cooper is back in your life, huh?"
"No, she is not. And I have girlfriend now, I told you about that. Have some respect" Jughead snaps back and Sweets lifts his hands as surrender sign.
"Sorry" he apologizes "I have to say, I was shocked when she came back to town. Never thought I would see her ponytail again. But then, one day FP is leaving some Serpents meeting to go pick the princess from the bus station like she's his daughter. I still can't understand why he treated her like that"
Jughead wants to reply you and me booth pal, but chooses the easy path "He said that he decided not to judge her, and I get it. He was going to marry her mom, he had to do something like this" he shrugs.
"Still, we all saw how you were after everything. For me, she didn't deserve all the love she got"
"Can we please not talk about that part of my life. I'm not proud of those months" Jughead groans again and Sweets snorts.
"Sorry" he apologizes again "But you were pretty sad with everything. You know I never liked her much, but after knowing what she did and seeing you, all I could feel was hate"
"You didn't have to feel like that, you know?"
"Of course I did. You were my friend and Veronica was starting to become one too. She didn't like to talk about it in that time, but she was devastated too. I had no other option really"
"Thanks" Jughead shrugs wanting the topic to be over.
"It's not something you have to thank me for" Sweets looks down embarrassed "So, seeing her after all this time did nothing to you?"
Jughead remembers the first time he saw her when he got back in town. All the hate he felt, realizing he was still not over her and what she did; the sadness and relief, to finally be able to see her face again. He missed her for a long time right after they, or he, broke up their relationship. And thought the feeling was finally dead, but seeing her made it reborn like phoenix, with his heart on fire. But Sweet Pea doesn't need to know that.
"I won't say I felt nothing because it would be a lie. But it's over for us. It has been for a long time now"
"So there isn't any chance you might get back together?" Sweets asks.
"No" Jughead assures him with a pain in his heart he prefers to ignore.
"Good" Sweets nods his head in agreement "You know, I still don't like the woman, but I used to envy you two" he says blushing a little.
"What? You never told me anything" Jughead replies confused.
"That's because it wasn't a bad kind of envy, you know. It's just… seeing you together, it always felt like it was right. That you and her were right for each other, meant to be together even though you two lived in opposites sides of the town, with your parents history and you being in the Serpents. And I know you two broke up a few times before, but always got back together. You had her back and she had yours, investigating and writing and stuff. At least that's what I thought"
"That's what I though too" it hurts to listen his relationship through someone's eyes, remembering everything and a time when he was innocent and thought they were going to be together for the rest of their lives.
"Sorry, again" Sweets grimaces this time "I swear I'm not trying to be a jerk here, I'm just trying to explain to you why I asked if there was a chance for you to get back together. I never had something like you did or felt something like this for someone. And I guess if I ever did, it would be hard for me to let go"
Jughead remembers Veronica's words to him a few weeks ago, saying the exactly same thing.
"It was hard. But I can't do anything about it now" he says feeling his throat closing with sadness. He was used to this, having lived days when he felt he couldn't breathe, missing everything he had. But now, he learned how to control it and move on, like he should.
"I will end this conversation right now because I can see I'm making you uncomfortable. But just one quick thing" Sweets speaks getting up "I know what I said, but I won't judge you for your choices, I know I made pretty bad ones along the way. So if you want a non judgmental friend – which I know Veronica isn't – know you can come to me and I will support you" he finishes with a wink and Jughead knows what he's implying.
"Thanks but there's no need to"
"I know, but who knows? Life is crazy, right?" he shrugs "And talking about crazy, how is our dear Veronica?"
"She is good and still not wanting me to give you her number" Sweets laughs "Actually, I'm meeting her at Pop's for lunch in a few minutes"
"This has to be some kind of sign. I came here to ask you for lunch and now you tell me –"
"It's not going to happen Sweet Pea. You had your chance years ago, seven to be exact" Jughead talks getting up too.
"Are you sure? Because I told you to put in a good word for me –"
"I'm leaving now, bye Sweet Pea" Jughead leaves the bar laughing at Sweets complains and decides to take a cab to the diner.
The bell rings when he passes through the diner's doors, seeing Veronica sitting in a booth on his left. He sits on the other side and goes for the menu, even though he knows nothing changed since he left town.
"You're late" Veronica states putting her phone down, eyeing him.
"No I'm not. I'm right on time and I told you I had a lot of things to do today" he drops the menu and decides to annoy her a little bit "I was with Sweet Pea. Did I tell you he asked me for your new number?"
She groans and he laughs, knowing he reached his goal.
"What is wrong with him?! It was only sex and we still were in high school. A long time ago. People should know that certain things belongs in the past. Please tell me you didn't do it, that you didn't give him my number" she pleads
"Of course I didn't. I knew you would be pissed if I did it"
"Thanks" the waiter puts two milkshakes in front of them and he cocks an eyebrow at her "I already ordered for you. It's not like you eat anything else in this place. Anyway, Sweet Pea is still helping you with the White Wyrm? I'm still sorry I was too busy to do it"
"Actually, someone else is helping me" he says blushing a little, with a guilty tone.
"Why are you looking like this? If someone else is –" he can see her connecting the dots and prepares for the storm "Oh no. Tell me you didn't Forsythe" she threatens with poison in her voice.
"She offered, I didn't ask" he tries to explain.
"But you said yes so the specifics doesn't change anything!" she loses control drawing attention from some people next to them "Didn't you just hear what I said about the past? And what does she know about running business? She's an unemployed journalist from Washington that still lives in her mom's house"
"I'm not trying to divert the topic here, but how do you know all this? Because I'm certain I didn't tell you about her" he asks confused with all this information;
"It doesn't matter. What does matter is her obsession with being close to you and your inability to say no"
"It's not like that"
"Oh really?" she asks ironic "Because you already said yes to the Blue and Gold and now this. With you acting like that she will be back in your life in months, probably by the end of the year and you forgiving all the horrible things she did with my boyfriend" her voice breaks a little and he can see Veronica is trying really hard not to cry.
Veronica doesn't like to talk about her former best friend Betty Cooper.
When things happened, seven years ago, he was too destroyed to pay attention to her pain. And when he did, he thought she was hurting because of Archie. Then, he would start to notice how she tried to talk about girl things with him and got frustrated when he didn't answer her expectations. The night they kissed in Spain, she finally let everything out. Veronica said she always knew that Archie and her weren't going to stay together, and she was prepared to accept the end of their relationship or maybe try long distance for a few months before ending things for good. She was ready for this, but at the same time she always thought she would have her best friend with her. All the plans she had made for the two girls were gone the minute she saw the damn video. She didn't care about the humiliation, her cheating boyfriend – she always knew Archie couldn't say no to women, "He was basically the ginger bitch of Riverdale" – but she did care about losing Betty.
That night was the only time he ever saw her talk about Betty Cooper during their seven year friendship. He knew the former friendship was badly missed for Veronica.
She tried to be friends with other girls, but all of that seemed superficial to him, not real. But he never said a word. He knew that Veronica, just like him, was trying and that was enough for now.
"Maybe I shouldn't have accepted her help. I'm sorry this makes you uncomfortable" he apologizes not knowing the right thing to say.
"I don't think you do this on purpose, I really don't. Which makes me more concerned" her hands goes to her forehead, massaging "But you're an adult, you can make your own choices without me freaking out about it. I'm sorry I overstepped. It's your life and I promise I will stop being a pain in your ass about that despicable person. I guess I'm just tired from work"
She takes a sip from her milkshake and he knows she wants to change subject.
"And talking about work, I'm going to New York this week. I have some really important appointments in the city that took me too long to get. I can't reschedule"
"Business?" he asks taking a sip of his own milkshake.
"That and other appointments" she digress
"What, like doctor appointments?" he asks a little bit worried.
"Yes" she takes a deep breathe "Remember when my mom died and her doctor approached me saying her kind of breast cancer could be detectable earlier with a genetics test? I was too scared to do it at the time but I'm ready now. I want to know if I can have this disease in the future, and if there is a way to stop it, I will do it" she says with confidence.
Hermione Lodge fought hard and bravely ever since she discovered her breast cancer for three years. She did everything right and Veronica almost left college so she could be with her mom during her treatment. Even Jughead became close to older Lodge woman, since Ronnie would spend holidays and vacations with her and he didn't have nowhere to go to besides Riverdale. They weren't exactly friends, but they had an understanding. Veronica finally had cut ties with her father, so now her only relative was her mother and somehow, Hermione knew she wasn't going to make it so she was glad her daughter had someone else in her life.
Her cancer was very aggressive but it could be detected much earlier through a genetic test, to check the presence of a gene called BRCA1 which increases the potential to develop breast and ovary cancer. Veronica and her mother used to joke saying she was genetically close to Angelina Jolie, with the said actress saying she had the same gene. But Hermione didn't know about that until it was too late, with her breast cancer spreading to both of her lungs. She asked, many times, for Veronica get tested but the younger one was always postponing, too busy or too scared to know the truth. But now she was ready.
"That's really good, Ronnie" he assures her putting his hand above hers and squeezing "It will be good to you, to know and prepares if it need it. And you know I will be with you, in every possible scenario"
"I do know that. I'm still scared but it's like you just said, I need to be prepared" she squeezes his hand back and let go when the waiter comes with their french fries and burgers "I promise I will try to be back here to your birthday, though"
"That's okay. Take all the time you need, you know I don't care about my birthday very much" he shrugs
"I know but I do. Everyone deserves to have someone that cares about them on their birthdays" she puts a fry in her mouth and swallows before speaking again "Rest assured I will do my best"
"You always do" he laughs and she winks at him.
They begin to eat and when the ring bells again, Jughead lift his head to see another one of Veronica lovers getting in to the diner.
"You know" he starts "I have a complicated history with this town but I think I have a really good competition with you"
"What do you mean?" she asks confused.
"It means that in less than 24 hours I already saw two of your ex boyfriend's" he says smirking and nodding his head to the entry. Veronica turns her head at the same time Reggie seems to notice her in their booth.
"Oh my gosh. What is wrong with this place" she says turning back blushing and Jughead can't hold his laugh "And just to make things clear, Sweet Pea was just sex, he was never my boyfriend"
"And what about Reggie? Because he is about to get here in three, two –"
"Veronica Lodge" Reggie announces arriving in their table with his eyes on her and a smirk in his face.
"Reggie" Veronica nods her head politely and send Jughead a glare when he lets a snort slips.
"Jughead" Reggie turns to him, finally acknowledging his presence and turns to Veronica again "Heard you were back in town but I couldn't believe. Never thought you would step foot in here again"
"Yeah, well, neither did I. But it's not for long, I'm planning to go back to New York pretty soon" Jughead arches an eyebrow at her and she kicks him under the table.
"Well that's too bad. But hey, while you're still here, maybe we could get together, catch up. Here" he bends to the table and grabs a pen from his pants pocket, writing something on the napkin next to her "This is my number. When you're free, give me call"
"I definitely will. Bye Reginald" she gives him a smile and he does the same, leaving.
Jughead thinks she will get rid of the napkin soon but sees her putting inside her designer bag. He clear his throat, and she shrugs.
"What?"
"What were you saying about the past staying in the past?" he mocks her
"Shut up" she throws a fry at his face and he puts it in his mouth "This might be handful someday, considering this town. And if you don't stop using my words against me, you will have to walk to Riverdale High, understood me? Now, finish your lunch"
"Yes, mom" he says with a serious voice earning another fry in his face.
They end their meal with no troubles, so as soon Jughead finishes his dessert, they are in the backseat of Veronica's car going to their old school. The ride is fast considering Riverdale doesn't have the traffic New York does and Veronica can't help but feel nostalgic when they arrive and she sees the building she spent her last teenager years.
"Though Riverdale almost turned us in to ashes, I kind of miss this place. I have really good memories from school" she speaks lost in thought admiring the view in front of her.
"I get you. I feel like this everytime I pass through those doors" Jughead says leaning on the seat to have the same view "You could go in, you know? The inside is almost the same as seven years ago. Sometimes I get scared Cheryl will appear out of nowhere calling me Hobo"
"She didn't bully me in high school and I still get the same feeling" Veronica snorts and he laughs "You know what, I will take your advice. I don't have anything to do right now and since we are talking about the past so much today, these halls deserve the honor to see Veronica Lodge walking through them once again. Will you join me?" she asks turning to him.
"Actually, I have to see the new principle now" he groans and tilts his head to the side "See what I mean? It's like being a student back here again. Anyway, the new principle wanted to see me, to put every single thing about me in the school records, to make sure I'm not a child predator or anything like this, since my presence is kind of a constant here now"
"Well good for him, God knows this place had more than a fair share of criminals in these past years" she mocks without mentioning Miss Grundy.
"I thought the same. So I have to do this, which I think and hope it won't take too long and then I meet you somewhere? You can start without me" he offers.
"Deal" they leave the car, with Veronica leaving instructions to her driver do not leave without her. They walk in through the same doors they did years ago and Veronica suddenly get what Jughead meant.
"Wow" she says looking around "Even the smell is just the same"
"Yeah" Jughead agrees with her "Though I think every school smells like desperation and teenager hormones. So you go ahead and then you text me where you are later, okay?" he turns to her to check.
"Relax Forsythe, I won't get lost"
They separate and Veronica starts walking through the same path she used to walk. She had her favorite places, the gym where the River Vixens used to practice, some classrooms, the student lounge, the field she used to cheer on, and her locker. The last one is her final stop, and she moves her hand through it slowly, remembering her best and worst days she had and all the photos she had put it there. She could still picture her smile in every single one of them, the sweet and innocent Veronica mocking her. Her only concern that time was how to stop her dad, and today she doesn't care about that anymore.
Shaking her head, she decides it's enough of dwelling in the past for today and starts walking, picking up her phone to let Jughead know she is leaving. She starts typing and walking but suddenly stops, noticing the room she just passed without noticing. It's the old Blue and Gold office, the one she remembers spending time gossiping with her ex best friend.
She goes to the door and sees a scene she was used to when she studied in Riverdale High. Betty was sitting in a chair, one hand on the end of her ponytail curling the hair and the other with a red pen, writing and circling things in a paper in front of her, and completely absorbed in whatever what she was doing.
Veronica thinks about what she should do or not do anything at all. She promised Jughead to leave the Betty topic alone and the woman in front of her didn't notice her, so she could walk out and everything would be fine. But she didn't know if she wanted that. To be honest, Veronica wanted to see her in pain, and if she could choose, she would be the one inflicting it. She never had her chance to say what she wanted to in her former best friends face.
After the fall out of the disaster video at prom, Betty tried to talk to her. Many times. But the betrayal was felt so deep by her that Veronica couldn't even stand to look at the blonde's face. But she couldn't stop asking herself one question. Why? She almost got her answers when one night, after spending the
other one wide awake thinking about it, so she went to the Cooper house, but couldn't ring the bell. And suddenly, she didn't want to hear the excuses and lies and how her and Archie would make fun of both her and Jughead when they were doing God knows what behind their backs.
Wasn't she a good friend? Veronica knows she messed up when she kissed Archie at the beginning of their friendship but she thought that after that night everything was fine between them. She didn't even made a big deal when Archie told they kissed when they were searching for the Black Hood. She knew she wasn't a perfect friend but she also know how much she tried to be, how much she valued Be
tty's friendship. It was like having a sister, not by blood but by love, ripped away from you.
They were different, yes. But she still needed her friend.
Veronica had other friends at college and then at work, and they were good but nothing compared to what she once had.
She knows she has a real good friendship with Jughead, and they missed too much time in high school being too occupied with their partners to realize they could be friends. But it's not like she can talk with him about Chris Evans in a suit or Chris Pine's eyes or which Hollywood Chris was hotter. She had a connection with him but she craved a different kind of one, that he couldn't provide. And though she might find it in someone else, Veronica is too scared to look. She was burned before, and she wanted to make sure it wouldn't happen again. The pain was too much to go through it one more time.
Giving the blonde one last check, she decides it's better to go. If Jughead wanted her back in his life there was nothing she could do, but if it was up to Veronica, the blonde wouldn't get closer to her.
She turns silently, hoping not to catch Betty's attention but her plan fails when her cell bips in the highest volume available to iPhones. She curses Apple when she hears the blonde's voice.
"Veronica" Betty says surprised and Veronica evaluates if running is a childish thing to do right now.
Betty stands up, her hands going to her hair to make sure the ponytail is still in place and then pulling her sweater, looking presentable for the girl in front of her. Neither of them speak, the silence becoming too uncomfortable until Betty clears her throat.
"Are you looking for Jughead? He usually arrives at –"
"I know" Veronica interrupts her with a cold voice "I was the one who brought him here actually. He's with the principle right now"
"Right" Betty looks down and Veronica almost feel pity seeing how uncomfortable she is "So, were you checking up the school?"
"Yes. Jughead told me everything still looked the same but I wanted to see for myself" she crosses her arms and her cell is long forgotten.
"Yeah, it's just like when we're teenagers" she looks the other way, searching for things to say and the brunette can see the way her shoulders tense when she's about to speak "Jughead has been a great help here in the Blue and Gold. The kids love him and he's amazing with them"
"I bet he is" Veronica states and even she is surprise at her coldness.
"V –"
"Don't call me that" she snaps.
Betty looks taken back at Veronica's response, but she decides to try again.
"Veronica, I know we never had the chance to talk when everything happened but I still wanted to talk to you. I'm sorry –"
"Please Betty, spare me. All I'm asking is that you save me from hearing whatever you have to say. If Jughead wants to play the nice guy, then that is his problem, though I can't see how he can let you back in to his life or even talk to you. He is the good one, but I'm not. I figured you would've noticed by now"
"Veronica, I just wanted to –" Betty tries again.
"I don't care Betty" she shouts, forgetting there are students close by, having class "I'm sorry if this disappoints you but I don't care. I'm done living in the past and asking what did I deserve to have a betrayal like that happening to me. And I'm done with you. Have been for years now" she knows it's not true but the true now doesn't matter. Both of them are the verge of tears but Veronica refuses to cry in front of her.
"I want you far away from me, and if you still love Jughead which I can tell you do, I suggest you stay away from him too. He's happy, has a girlfriend and a amazing friend by his side that won't let him get hurt once again. You lost your chance when you went behind his back with his best friend. Leave him alone" she threatens forgetting the promised she made to Jughead earlier.
Knowing it's enough, she turns to leave but stops at the door, turning back to see Betty wiping her tears.
"I hope it was worth it what you did, because right now, looking at you all I can see is a sad despicable person in front of me"
She finally leaves, almost running and texts Jughead to let him know she's leaving already. Inside the car, her tears finally spill, but never smearing her make up. On her way home, she stops crying and replies her lipstick, remembering Holly Golightly words about needing lipstick to deal with shits being thrown in their way. And Breakfast at Tiffany's is the chosen movie for her afternoon, with a lot more crying and popcorn.
But Veronica isn't the only one crying her heart out. Betty leaves the room to the bathroom, trying to control herself and failing for a long time. When she's happy with her face again, she goes back to the Blue and Gold, finding Jughead reading the essay she offered to proofread for Brianna, not having much to do with her time. Her hands goes to her ponytail again, making it more tight and knowing it would give her a headache later.
She goes in and Jughead barely acknowledges her before going back to his reading, "This girl is really good, feels like I'm reading some thing written by the students in my Creative Writing program in Iowa"
"Yeah, Brianna is a great writer. She was actually thinking about applying to that same program" she says not registering what she's doing.
"She will love it, it's one the best in the country" he looks up to see her red face, with bloodshot eyes "What happened? Are you okay?" he asks worried, controlling himself to not go to her.
"Yes" she replies in a low tone and he doesn't believe her.
"Betty –" he gets interrupted by the kids coming in to the room and he doesn't try again, with so many people in the same space.
He gets distracted helping Gabriel but keeps sending glances to her, her mood improved but only a little. He decides to question her, even knowing that whatever had happened to her shouldn't concern him. So he waits until all the students are gone to approach her.
He's still seating in his chair when she comes close to tidy the desk in front of him and takes a deep breath before opening his mouth.
"Betty, something happened?" he asks paying attention to the way her shoulders shrugs when he says those words. She was clearly not expecting him to question her again.
"No, everything is good" she answers and sniffs right after and he is sure she's lying.
"You're lying, it's pretty obvious to me. What happened? Is Polly or your mom?" the thought that maybe she wouldn't want to talk to him about it crosses his mind and he decided it's better to let it go "I'm sorry, I shouldn't… I didn't mean to pry. I won't ask again" he looks down and starts to walk to the door.
"Jug, wait" she pleads on his first step and sits again, this time on the desk, coming closer to her.
"Veronica came by, said she dropped you off and decided to walk around I guess" he nods not liking where this is going.
"You two fought?"
"I wouldn't say that because it would implicate the two of us talking when it didn't happen. But it doesn't matter"
"It doesn't?" he asks confused.
"No. I mean, she said some things, and I guess she wanted to say much more. I deserved what she had to say. It hurt anyway. But my pain is not my point here" she looks down, her eyes watering and a chocked voice "I knew I hurt you and Veronica when me and Archie…" he flinches knowing what she's about to say and she looks up in time to see that and corrects herself "When I did what I did, but I guess I never measured how much"
"Betty –" he tries to stop her getting up, not wanting to talk about this.
"No, Jug. I know I'm in the wrong here but please hear me out" she pleads holding his arm still and only let it go when he sits again "I spent so much time locked in my own little world, focusing on my guilt, my pain of losing the two people that mattered most to me… I was selfish for so long that I never realized how this would affect you and Veronica. I knew she was still mad about it, and I think you are too. But hearing her today…"
She looks in to his eyes, making him uncomfortable but can't look away either. Her hands tops his, and his heart breaks feeling her warmth.
"I can't even imagine how much pain I caused you two. I tried to apologize many times, to you and Veronica and I never had the chance. You two were hurt and I thought it would be better if I backed off, because maybe my presence or even the mention of my name could cause you more pain. But now I have the chance, I need to do this" the tears falls down on her face and he nods, allowing her to continue "I'm sorry, Jughead. You probably have no idea of how much sorry I am. I have no reasonable excuse that can explain what I did and I'm terribly sorry that I've hurt you. I know you have no reason to believe and you probably hate me, and I'm so grateful you still haven't run away, but I'm asking you to believe me, and maybe, in the future, you can forgive me" she ends hopeful and he doesn't know what to say.
He doesn't hate her, and hated himself for so long because of that. He was hurt and angry and like Veronica, he wanted to make her suffer and hurt like they did.
She made him feel insecure, unwanted, alone, misunderstood and wary of anyone that got close to him since the betrayal.
He spent so much time questioning. Why? Why him? What he did wrong? Why wasn't he enough? Did she ever loved him? Did she ever lied to him? And if she did, how can he know what was true and what was a lie? For how long she and his best friend laughed behind his and Veronica's back? Would she ever tell him or wait to be discovered like it happened? Did he truly knew her or it was just a facade, a character she invented so she could deceive him like she used to do with someone when she wanted to achieve some thing?
He saw so many sides of Betty Cooper, and used to feel privileged knowing he was the only one who got to watch that. She was like a piece of art, and every time he looked, he could understand her through a different point of view, but in the end, with the same essence. But now, he was scared of that. What part did he miss, through their relationship, that turned her in to the person that did what she did to him?
She was waiting for his response yet, he still had none. He could forgive her, just like his dad asked him in his letter. He wanted to. He desired the freedom his dad said he would have when he forgives her. He wants to move on.
He doesn't intend to stay in town or interact with her after leaving this place. He has a girlfriend now, a new best friend and if that's what it needs so he can go on with his life without feeling like something is seated on his chest, then he will give it her.
"I guess I never hated you, Betty" he replies quietly looking at their hands.
"I had a tiny hopeful thought that you didn't" she replies with a small smile.
"And I believe you, I suppose. I believe you are sorry"
He does believe that.
After the prom, he stayed away from everyone but he still knew about what happened through Veronica. Tony took his side while Cheryl, surprisingly, was still friendly with Betty but not too much because of her girlfriend. Kevin stayed with Veronica most of the time, preferring the brunette instead of the blonde. Jellybean once said Betty used to spent her entire time locked in her bedroom. He knew she had no one else in her life, and probably felt alone just like he did. So if she wasn't sorry about the cheating, at least she was sorry about the consequences of it.
"I am. I truly am, Jughead" she squeezes his hand but he doesn't squeeze back "I know I don't deserve it, but thank you for believing in me"
He gets up, his hands leaving her, adjusting the jacket around his body. He clears his throat hoping to clear the air as well, avoiding to look at her face.
"We should go, it's weird to spend so many hours in this place when we are not students here anymore"
"Yeah, you're right" she gets up too, going for her purse and he puts his hands in his pockets to have something to do with.
She puts the strap on her shoulder, and looks hopeful to him."Again, I know I don't deserve it. But I wanted to ask you something, Jug" she waits and nods wanting to know what else she has to say."I've missed you so much in these past years, our talks, the investigating. You truly understood me. Do you think we can be friends? I know I'm asking for a lot here, definitely pushing my luck, but I really wanted you as a friend" she pleads.
"Betty, no" he says, his hands going to his hair.
"Just please, listen to me"
"Betty, I can't go back to what we were before –" he starts.
"And I'm not asking you to, I swear " she rushes "I know you have a girlfriend, and she looks amazing, and I know I missed my shot with you. I know all of that. But I missed you so much and all I'm asking is friendship. Or at least that you try to see me as your friend. I know I have a long way until you can trust me again and I hope you do it someday, but I would really like to try. I promise to earn the sacrifice and value the effort I know you will put in to this. Do you think you can try?" she asks hopeful
His dad's words keeps echoing inside his head, so he chooses what FP would have wanted.
"I guess I can" he reply rubbing his eyes but still can see her smile forming again "Just, don't push this too much, okay?"
"You have my word, Jughead Jones" she answers with a grin and goes to the door "Shall we leave now?"
"After you" he gestures with his hands and they leave together.
He doesn't know if he made a good choice. Veronica would hate him. Jellybean would probably slap him. His girlfriend would be disappointed at him. His therapist would probably smile and his dad would be beaming with happiness.
The majority of the most important people in his life would disapprove his decision. So in the cab, going back home, he questions himself. Why did I do it?