Author's note: Little note here to say I will be in the office the next two weeks. I will try to update as I can! Xx

Jughead stared at Betty's bedroom door, the sound of it slamming it shut echoing inside of his skull. They were so far from who they used to be – he thought it would take a war to get them back on their old path. And, undoubtedly, there would be casualties. He just didn't know who. Sighing rather frustratedly, he ran a hand through his inky, midnight locks and shook his head, rolling his eyes heavenward as he thought about the predicament, he currently found himself in. Jughead had royally fucked up.

Sweet Pea, who Jughead had felt his eyes on him, decided to choose that moment to interrupt his self-loathing. For the best, most likely. "You going to continue to sulk because your friend has a point or are you going to help me figure out how to catch this creep?" Sweet Pea's tone was on edge; the taller always did have a motto he lived by: act first, think later. He was most likely already running potential scenarios through his mind that would help them apprehend the guy stalking the woman he loved. And that was the truth of the matter. Jughead did love Betty. Had from the first day he met her, and she shared her fruit snacks with him in grade school. But throwing a pity party for himself would not help anything. Nodding, he started to answer his friend's question.

"I'll stop sulking and keep my mind focused on what we need to do. Sweet Pea, did you catch anything about this guy that will be useful for us?" Jughead asked his friend, but Sweet Pea sighed, leaving Jughead with little hope.

"Not really, man," Sweet Pea admitted, tone somewhat begrudging. "It was too dark to catch any distinguishing features and besides, if it had been daylight, I still wouldn't have been able to catch anything. He dressed the way he needed to in order to remain hidden. Not inconspicuous, but hidden."

Jughead nodded, chewing on the inside of his cheek as he thought. "He, whoever he is, clearly has no problem with escalating his advances."

"Meaning?" Sweet Pea asked, leaning against Betty's kitchen counter and folding his arms across his chest.

Jughead chewed on his lip indecisively for a moment, unsure of whether divulging this piece of information would be considered breaking Betty's trust. Then, Jughead realized he hadn't earned Betty's trust. Not even in the slightest bit. So, he pressed forward. "Remember how I mentioned something about photos?" Sweet Pea nodded, eyes hard as he listened, and Jughead continued. "The dick sent her pictures of her naked back from inside of her bedroom."

"Means he not only knows where she lives but has no issues risking being caught with a camera in his hands as he sits on the fire-escape," Sweet Pea acknowledged, and Jughead nodded his head.

"My thoughts exactly. If he's already this bold – how long will it take before that boldness to escalate into recklessness?" Jughead mused. "I mean, it's not like he seems to have any qualms about getting caught. Not if he's willing to sit out in the open and take public photos of Betty while she's in what's supposed to be her private space."

Sweet Pea exhaled heavily as he shrugged. "Honestly, Jug? I don't know. You said Betty only recently found out about him a few weeks ago, when she started receiving the creepy shit he was sending her, right?" Pausing for Jughead's confirmation, the taller carried on. "Just because she started to receive it then doesn't mean he hadn't just started watching her; hadn't just started keeping tabs on her."

Jughead hissed through his teeth, knowing his friend raised a valid point. Clicking his tongue off the roof of his mouth, Jughead nodded. "Yeah, that's a definite possibility."

"I think so, too," came a voice and both men spun on their heels to spot Betty leaning against the entryway to the kitchen. "I mean, just because I got the first picture a few weeks ago does not indicate that whoever this guy is hasn't been keeping tabs on me for a lot longer."

Jughead ground his teeth together in frustration. If Betty was already willing to believe that – it really meant he had no reason not to, either. Sharing a look with Sweet Pea, Jughead refocused his attention back on Betty. "You haven't seen this guy anywhere, Betty? Apart from what he's sent you, you haven't had any altercations with men who have been too uncomfortable for your liking?"

Betty narrowed her eyes in thought, and it was a look Jughead hadn't seen in too long that it simultaneously made him relieved and panged at his heart. Years. He spent years without seeing this blonde-haired beauty. And Betty was right. That was entirely on him. He ran because he didn't want to be hurt and the worst part was, he ran without a goodbye. He fucked up. Betty's voice brought him out of his dejected thoughts.

"Quit throwing yourself a pity party, Jughead," she sighed. "Not going to do any of us a lick of good. And to answer your question, no, I cannot recall anyone acting strange around me. Not even a guy staring just a smidge too long or smiling too sharp."

Jughead nodded, lips thinned. It wasn't the answer he wanted but it was the answer he was expecting. This stalker, whoever he was, gave Jughead the impression he wasn't going to go out of his way to reveal his identity. Not anytime soon, at least. From what he knew of stalkers – and admittedly, it wasn't much – Jughead knew that they did like cat and mouse games. Hunter hunting its prey. Jughead recognized that while Betty was the prey, it was only temporarily. They could turn the tables on this guy the instant he slipped up and gave them some new information. And he would. Psychopaths had the tendency to make mistakes the hungrier they got in their pursuits. Only a matter of time for that, at least.

"What we need is someone to just sit back in the shadows, so to speak," Jughead said. Betty tilted her head thoughtfully and he was honestly relieved she wasn't snapping at him once more. Not that he didn't deserve her ire.

"What do you mean?" Betty asked, tone hesitant but she wasn't denying anything he offered. Not yet.

"Someone who you haven't been spotted being seen with," Jughead replied. "Someone that this guy won't recognize who can kind of just hang out and about with you in public if you need someone there. I'd offer to volunteer myself but…,"

"We obviously would kill each other," Betty interrupted dryly.

Jughead sighed. "I was going to say it would be obvious for me to be the shadow of sorts because we've already be in public together."

"Correction: we were with Archie. It was a meetup. A meetup I didn't agree to in the first place so let's not make it anything more than it already was, okay?" Betty demanded.

Sweet Pea snorted. "Yeah Jug, she's going to be giving you shit for a long time to come. I'll stand in when needed and if we need other people, Toni is enrolling in NYU as well. Something about chasing some girl."

Jughead nodded, unsurprised by that information. He turned to look at Betty. "Sound good?"

"Do I have a choice?" Betty countered.

Jughead frowned but didn't say anything and she nodded. "Thought so. Sounds fine, I guess. Now seriously, get your asses in bed. You two are ridiculously loud and I'm trying to sleep."

She walked off and Sweet Pea looked at Jughead. "She's fun."

"The most fun," he agreed, tone holding reverence.

Author's note: This will be the slowest of burns because our babies are not in good places right now. Enjoy and thoughts lovely per usual! Xx