Author's Note : Sorry this post is a little later than my usually. It has been a weird and crazy week. Anyway, here is the next chapter. It is a little longer. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks to anyone who reviewed. I hope you continue to do so. I love hearing from you!

Chapter Twelve Song : "Bones" by MS MR

Disclaimer : Don't own the characters. Just really like them.

CHAPTER TWELVE :

After Doiley left the Blue and Gold office, Betty's body revolted. She couldn't sit still. She paced back and forth, sliding both hands over her ponytail. She bounced from one side of the office to the other, went from corner to corner. Her body was trying to keep in time to whirling of her mind as pieces that shouldn't fit together snapped into place.

"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God." She kept saying over and over. Then she followed the chant with simple word, but it was the most important word she'd said,

"Archie?"

"You don't know that." Jughead tried.

"But...he was there. He's the only other person who's admitted to being at the riv..." Her gaze locked onto his face and she stopped all movement. "You knew. You already knew that he was there with her!"

"What? I-"

"Don't. Lie. To me." Betty commanded.

Jughead closed his mouth.

Betty let out a loud, humorless laugh, "So, when you said that Archie needed me..."

"He likes you, okay. A lot." Jughead said, "He wouldn't do anything to screw up what he has with you. Including..."

"Including starting things back up with Grundy." Betty finished for him.

Jughead walked around the desk and sank into the chair, "Yeah."

"How did this become my responsibility?" Betty demanded, "How is that fair?"

"It isn't." Jughead said, almost a whisper.

Betty walked over to the desk and stared him down, "You know how I feel about you."
She'd taken a cue from his book. It was statement. Not a question.

Jughead pressed his thumb and forefinger into his closed eyelids, "Yes."

Betty nodded, "And you feel the same about me."

Jughead dropped his hand from his face and met her stare, "Don't make me say it, Betty."

"Why not?" She cried, "Maybe I need to hear it. Just once."

Frustrated with the situation, the world, life in general, Jughead leapt to his feet, sending the desk chair skittering back across the floor. Whatever he had been about to say was lost however when the Blue and Gold door crashed open and Fangs and Sweet Pea came bursting in, Fangs clutching two candy striped plastic wrappers in his hand.

"Jones," Sweet Pea said, "we gotta-"

Jughead held up his hand to stop Sweet Pea mid-sentence. He focused on the blonde girl, who in turn was zeroed in on the plastic cylindrical wrappers. "Betty," Jughead said, drawing her attention to himself, "I'm gonna need you to leave."

He watched her face crumple. He'd hurt her. Again. It was all he seemed to be capable of anymore. But this was for her own good. She didn't need to be a part of this. He could keep her safe from harm in one regard at least.

Betty turned to leave, but just as she started for the door, Sweet Pea all of the sudden caught her by the arm and drew her up short as he said, "Wait!"

Betty let out a small squeak at the sudden halt, more from surprise, not pain. Not that it had mattered. Everything that followed the second Sweet Pea had laid hand on her had taken place in less time that it took to draw breath.

Jughead wrenched Sweet Pea's arm away from Betty with one hand and with the other, he caught his friend by the collar and slammed him into the wall.

"Don't touch her!" Jughead snarled.

Sweet Pea stared at him some combination of shock, confusion and remorse. "Jonesy?"

Jughead seemed to come back to himself all at once. Eyes downcast, he licked his lips and pushed away from Sweet Pea. Fangs was standing back, mouth agape at the scene and Betty had both hands pressed to her mouth as she stared at him. She was blinking rapidly, confusion evident on her face. And her eyes, Jug would swear he could see the universe swimming in those eyes.

"Look..." He started to say.

Sweet Pea interjected, "No, I get it. Blondie here is your ape-shit switch. Noted."

Jughead scowled at him.

Sweet Pea straightened away from the wall and jerked his blue jean vest back into place. He squared his shoulders and made the decision to risk the displeasure of his prince and say his piece.

"We could use her, Jones."

Jughead's gaze sharpened and narrowed into dangerous slits, "What did you say?"

"I saw you together at Pop's."

"Tread carefully, Sweet Pea."

"Dude..." Fangs tried to warn, but Sweet Pea wasn't listening.

"I'm saying you trust this girl, right?" Sweet Pea continued.

Jughead allowed himself a quick look toward Betty who met his eyes dead on, "Yeah," he said, "I trust this girl."

Sweet Pea gained a little confidence with the admission, "She's a cheerleader."

Jughead's head swiveled back toward him, "And?"

"And the Vixens are always looking to score a bump. She could ask around. Find out who's dealing."

"No!" Jughead hissed.

"Wait," Betty said, "If there is something that you need from me..."

"There's not." Jughead stated, flat.

She stepped towards him, her hand finding its way to his chest of its own volition, "If I can help you, Jughead..."

"I said no, Betty." Jughead said, removing her hand from his chest, but keeping a firm hold on it with his own for just a moment, "It's dangerous and I won't have you in the middle of that."

"But-" This time from Fangs.

"My decision's final." Jughead stated, leaving no further room for negotiation. He dropped his hold on Betty's hand, "Betty, I need a word with these two. In private."

Her lips pressed into a thin, tight line, Betty nodded once and the walked out of the Blue and Gold, easing the door closed behind her. Somehow, Jughead thought he would have felt better about everything if she had slammed the damn thing.

He turned to his crew, "I don't want this touching her. I don't want anything touching her."

"You mean except Archie?"

SNAP

Jughead hurled himself at Sweet Pea. His balled fist connected solidly with Sweet Pea's cheek before Fangs caught him by the arms and dragged him back. Sweet Pea staggered to his feet and spat blood on the floor. He glared at his leader, the boy who would be king, the friend he had pledged his undying loyalty to and watched as that friend struggled against Fangs' hold on him.

Part 2 on the way...