Author's Note : Hello all! Here is the next chapter. And all I have to say is...Oh, Betty. Review and let me know what you think!

Chapter Fifteen Song : 'Cheap Thrills' by Sia

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

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

When Friday evening rolled around, Betty sat on the bed in mother's room as Alice packed a bag.

"Okay," Alice said as she folded a silk pajama top into her bag, "I'll be back from the retreat on Monday morning. Your dad will be back from Cincinnati Sunday evening. Of course, Alan will be here but if you need me, you can call my cell."

Betty laughed, "Mom, you've been out of town before. I know the drill."

"I know you do, sweetie, but we're still new to town and I'm feeling a little guilty leaving so soon after we've gotten here."

"You've been looking forward to this spa retreat for months. I'll be fine." Betty assured.

She would be fine. She'd be at a party. Eavesdropping. Snooping. Hitting up sources. All the things she did best that...let's face it, her mother would be proud of.

And Jughead would be there at some point.

Twenty minutes after Alan left to take Betty's mom to the airport, Veronica and Kevin appeared on her doorstep.

"Ready to par-Tay?" Veronica said as she breezed through the front door, then came to an abrupt halt as she took in Betty's appearance, "Is that what you're wearing?"

Betty looked down at her jeans and sweater, "Uh, yeah why? What's wrong with it?"

Kevin answered with another question, "Isn't that what you were wearing at school today?"

"Uh-huh..." Betty answered slowly.

Kevin and Veronica shared a long look that involved tightened mouths and raised eyebrows and made Betty more than just a little self conscious.

"Okay, honey," Veronica chimed, taking Betty by the arm, "to the closet!"

"Party wardrobe and school wardrobe should be very different entities." Kevin explained as he followed the girls up the stairs.

Nearly an hour later, Betty found herself standing at Archie's front door in her Veronica/Kevin approved outfit. She felt half-naked and exposed in what had to be the world's shortest black skirt. It hadn't started out that way. It had been a perfectly respectable length until Veronica and Kevin had attacked it with a pair of scissors and a needle and thread. Every now and then. Betty would catch herself tugging at the hem and mentally willing the material to grow just little.

The door swung open and Archie enveloped her into a warm hug.

"You're beautiful," he said into her ear and dragged her into the house where there was already a throng of people drinking from red plastic cups and grinding their bodies against one another.

Betty scanned the crowd and when her eyes landed on a familiar leather jacket, her pulse skyrocketed...only to plummet right back down when she saw that it was only Sweet Pea. Veronica caught hold of Betty's hand and drew her away from Archie, leading her into the crush of guests.

"Let's get a drink!" She called over the music.

Veronica thrust a cup into Betty's hand before she was carted off by Reggie to join the mass of dancing bodies. Betty was left alone and not really sure what she should do with herself. Archie was surrounded by members of the football team playing some kind of drinking game. Kevin had disappeared with another leather jacket wearing non-Jughead serpent eons ago, an unhappy looking Moose glaring after him from Archie's side. There was an interesting drama in the making. Funny how Kev was the gossip columnist and the best gossip she had seen so far was his. Bet that wouldn't be making the spread. Betty took a small sip of the beer in her cup and searched the room for anything that might yield some kind of a lead for herself...or for Jughead.

That was when she spotted her.

A perky little brunette that she recognized from the River Vixens. Midge. Moose's girlfriend/beard. Midge was holding a candy striped wrapper and watching the retreating back of a-serpent! Betty darted for her side.

She purposefully swayed a little on her feet to appear a little drunk, "Hey, Midge!"

Midge smiled openly, "Hi, Betty!"

"Was that Jughead I saw?" Betty hedged, "I need to ask him something."

"Oh," Midge replied, casting a glance over her shoulder, "No, that was someone else."

"Oh, darn." Betty nodded, "What is that? Pixie stick?"

Midge tinkled out a musical laugh, "Gosh no! This is way better! It's JJ!"

Betty blinked, radiating innocence, "What's that?"

"It's great for when you just wanna feel good."

"Where do you get it?" Betty asked.

"My friend," Midge shrugged, "He doesn't like it when I use his name."

Betty nodded again. She felt like a bobble head.

"Did you wanna try some?" Midge offered, her voice rising at least two octaves in her excitement.

Betty stopped nodding. Try the JJ? That was probably not a good idea-but isn't that what undercover cops did all the time to earn trust and develop sources-CIs and stuff? Jughead wouldn't like it. But Jughead didn't like anything she did it seemed.

So, tough for Jughead.

She broadened her smile until her cheeks hurt, "Sure!"

Author's Note : Anyone concerned?