Author's Note : Hello all! Here is the next chapter. I think y'all will like this one! It was fun to write. I am excited! Let me know what you think!

Chapter Sixteen Song : 'Freak' by Lana Del Rey

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

CHAPTER SIXTEEN :

The party was in full swing when Jughead pulled his motorcycle to the curb outside of Archie's house. Music blared, silhouettes danced in the Windows, voices drifted out through the open front door, shouting to be heard over the stereo. Jughead heaved a sigh, balanced his helmet on the bike seat and started to make his way into the hoard.

He entered and spotted Sweet Pea braced against the wall, leaning over Josie McCoy in a corner. Jughead slapped him on the back as he passed by.

"Hey Boss," Sweet Pea greeted before returning to his flirtation.

Jughead made his way into the living room. Not two seconds had passed before Betty came rushing, stumbling from amidst the crowd and straight to him. She looped an arm around his neck to catch her balance and sloshed her drink.

"You're here!" She squealed.

"I am." Jughead responded, not able to keep himself from smiling down at her. Then, he took in her appearance; her flushed cheeks, her pink lips, her big pretty eyes. Eyes that were glassy and unfocused...with pupils the size as one of Pop Tate's cheeseburgers. The smile faded. "Are you on something?"

"What!" Betty said, "No!" She pressed her lips together and gave her head an emphatic shake.

Jughead didn't buy it for a second. "Betty!"

She scrunched up her little brow, adorably, "You're gonna be mad at me aren't you?"

"Probably." Jughead replied honestly.

"Okay," she said and leaned more heavily against him. She spoke in a not-at-all quiet whisper, "So, one of the River Vixens had that stuff you were talking about, Jangle Jingle or...whatever! Anyway, she asked if I wanted to try some and I figured if she thought I did it too that she would introduce me to her dealer! You know, the guy from your gang!"

Jughead grabbed her by the arms and held her at arms' length. He wanted to shake her. "You did JJ? Dammit Coop, do you know how dangerous that stuff is?"

"Not really." Betty said honestly, "You wouldn't tell me anything about it." She leaned into his hands and smiled at him, "I like it when you call me Coop. Did you know that?"

"Who was the River Vixen?"

"Midge." Betty answered, "But she's gone now. She left with-"

"Fangs?"

"Actually, yeah. Which was weird." Betty said, "She's supposedly dating Moose, but Moose is more into Kevin and Kevin took off with a serpent with really pretty hair. It's all very complicated."

Jughead found himself smiling. He hated that she was on drugs right now but dammit, she was cute. "Nah, not complicated. Just Riverdale. Where's Arch?"

"Somewhere." Betty said with an absent wave, "Let's not talk about him."

He lead her over to the couch, dragged someone off of it to clear a spot and then sat Betty down. "You sit right there, okay? Do not move until I get back."

Betty nodded. Again.

Jughead took off toward the kitchen at the back of the house in search of his childhood friend. He found the redhead slamming back shots in a game of quarters.

"Hey Arch, Betty is...are you drunk?"

"What?" Archie said, and the smell of alcohol wafted on his breath to slap Jughead in the face.

"Great." Jughead replied.

What the hell was he supposed to do now? Betty needed to be looked after in her condition and Archie sure as hell wasn't in any shape to do that.

"Calm down, Jug!" Archie slurred, squeezing his friend's shoulder, "I'm glad you're here! You wanna drink? You need a drink! You should play with us! You wanna play?"

"Okay," Jug said, "tell you what, I'm gonna go look after your trashed girlfriend since your too wasted. I'll just make sure she doesn't overdose, get alcohol poisoning or...you know, raped."

Archie didn't seem to be listening but had turned his focus back on the game, "Great, thanks, Jug. You're the best." He grabbed Jughead by the arms and smacked a loud kiss on his friend's cheek. He really was gone.

After Archie turned back to his game, Jughead turned to make his way back to Betty. Her head had lolled back on the couch cushions. He leaned over and shook her shoulder, "Betty."

Her eyes snapped open and then she beamed at him. She leapt to her feet and again threw her arms around his neck.

"You should dance with me, Juggie," she said.

Jug cast a quick glance to find Archie. He could just barely see him through the kitchen window. He was in the backyard and appeared to be assisting a fellow bulldog in a keg stand. Another scan of the room and he found Veronica making out with Reggie in the corner, oblivious to their surroundings. There was no one to see. What could be the harm? He turned back to Betty. Why not take this one moment in time, just this one, for himself? He felt Betty sway her hips against his. His thoughts went a little fuzzy and his jeans went a little tighter. He could take this moment and hold her in his arms and lock it away just for him. He slid an arm around her waist and pressed her body tighter against his own. His other hand he slipped up her back to cup the nape of her neck. She tightened her own arms around him as well.

"Juggie, huh?" He asked, his eyelids dropping to half mast as he stared down at her.

"Yep," Betty said and rested her head on his shoulder. When she spoke he could feel her lips brushing against his neck, "You're my Juggie and I'm your Coop."

"Betty..."

"I know," she cut him off, "I know it isn't true, that it isn't real. But just for now, let me pretend. Let me pretend that I belong to you and you belong to me."

Jughead took a deep breath, filling his nose with her sweet scent, "That's a dangerous game."

"Important, though."

He held her against him, swaying to the music, her hips moving against his own causing the most wonderful, torturous friction he had ever experienced. The dance seemed to last for both an eternity and no more than the blink of an eye. He didn't think any length of time would be long enough to satisfy the need he could feel growing for her every second. When he felt Betty's limbs slackening a little and her head laying more heavily against his shoulder, he knew she needed to lie down.

"Alright, Coop," he said and stopped their motion. He kept one hand braced against her back and scooped her up from beneath her knees with the other, "Let's get you somewhere to pass out."

Author's Note : Hehehehehehe...