JUST LETTING YALL KNOW: this takes place after first season baby. ik ik im sorry but riverdale is like so complicated i cant even keep up and that was when i started the story lol WHOOPS anyways xoxo enjoy sorry bout the wait

It was too loud in the Salvadore house.

Her parents had been fighting a lot more than usual, which wouldn't have bothered Maximum so much except that she was the main reason for all the fights. That and the family income, which was waning and slowly robbing them of more every day. Before her father had been let go at his company and forced to relocate to a job with a much smaller payroll, her family felt like a safe haven from the stress and worries of school. Now they hardly had moments all together that didn't end up in a fight, and her school began to become the safe haven.

Funny how things turn around so fast.

The pillow Max is stuffing her face into isn't working, and she could still hear them screaming at each other. It felt like it was invading her very being, their horrible words filling her with a toxic poison she couldn't get rid of. Clawing at her very soul, telling her that she was the reason of all of this–

She stands up.

Takes a deep breath.

Grabs her bag and leaves the house.

If she is completely honest, Pop's kind of sucked, the first few times she went. I mean, who goes to a diner to spend their pastime? What kind of 1950's world were they living in where a diner was preferred over a regular old coffee shop?

But then it grew on her, little by little. It was kind of cute, the neon lights and the red booths, and oh, the ability to get shakes whenever. That is something never before seen in the places she used to hangout in.

And so that is where she finds herself, not really wanting to speak to anyone but Pop, with the only intention being to drown herself in a milkshake. Which she did. With no regrets. Her headphones are on, and her thoughts are being typed out furiously, her poor computer taking the damage of her skinny fingers jabbing with full force.

A hand rests on her shoulder.

She looks up, and it's almost as if everything is in slow motion. It's Jughead.

He gives her a smile, one that she can't help but reciprocate back.

"Hey stranger." His voice is low, and has a hum to it that makes her want to jump all over him. Which she does not do, of course.

"You look like you are about to poke a hole through the computer with all that aggressive typing." He slides into the booth across from her, a small smile still on that goddamn beautiful face of his. Max pulls out her earbuds, giving a small laugh.

"Great, I can't even type out my teenage angst without someone judging me." She closes the laptop slowly, pushing it to the side.

"Something pretty bad must have happened, because I basically live here and I have not seen your face around before today." He gives her a deep look. "So, what's up?"

She pauses for a moment. Even though she was hopelessly in love with this boy, she was reluctant to tell him her problems. She was reluctant to tell anyone her problems, really.

"I'm kind of one of those people who lets their problems bottle up inside of them until they spill over, but thank you for trying." She jokes, taking a sip of her shake and hoping he can't see the pain behind her eyes.

He can.

But he is nice, and understands. He doesn't press for more, instead pulling out his own laptop.

"Suit yourself. I am not that way, I am writing and I need major help; someone to confide in for a voice and direction. Care to help?" He flips the laptop open, giving her a somewhat pleading look.

"Does Betty not help you with this kind of stuff?" She says it before she can stop herself, but once it's out there she wishes it back. Of course, she would say something like this and be not cool. Out of all of the friends, this is the one she knew the least, and probably the one that would like her the least now.

But he just laughs.

"Betty has her own work cut out for her. Plus, it's nice to get a little new perspective every once and awhile. Especially since you are new and kind of have an objective look on the whole situation."

Max smiles. "I can give you my objective opinions on anything here."

Jughead raises an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

Max leans forward, elbows on the table.

"Ask away."

"Alright then. Cheryl Blossom."

"Annoying, rude, and too much to deal with frankly. Y'all are too nice to put up with her. I honestly want nothing to do with her, have had nothing to do with her, and am grateful for it every single day." Max grins.

"Y'all, I love it." Jughead chuckles, typing some stuff down. Max blushes.

"Alright, next: Riverdale high cafeteria food."

"Disgusting. All I have to say, next."

Jughead laughs. "Can't say I disagree with you on that one. Okay hmm…how about…Reggie."

Max thinks for a second. "Cute, but his masculinity is so strong that it's almost like he's…hiding something behind it. Take from that what you will."

Jughead is throwing his head back with laugher at this one, his fingers typing furiously.

"I cannot believe you just said that."

"You said objective opinion! I'm only delivering what you asked for." Max grins, her ability to make him laugh giving her more delight than it should.

"Okay um…Southside serpents?" This one is more serious, and Max is thinking for so long that Jughead looks up at the computer to give her a questioning look. She knows his dad is one, she has heard it around and is not an idiot. Whether he is one or not, who knows. He hasn't said much about it.

"I–I don't really know. I think it's cool that they all look out for each other. Obviously, I don't condone the things they are doing, but I think it's hard to uh, survive in the conditions they do and they are doing the best they can." As she's saying this, she realizes that she believes it. She never really had an opinion of them, but as the words come out of her mouth, it makes sense. Jughead nods silently.

"That one was more of a personal question. I don't know what to do about the whole situation, my dad being one of them and all." He sighs, looking up at her with a tiredness in his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"I guess I just…I mean on one hand, I have Betty and Archie and Veronica all telling me that the Southside Serpents are trash and trouble and to never go to their side. But on the other, it's my dad. And they are kind of the closest thing I have to family." He sighs with tired eyes.

"Yeah, I understand what you mean I guess." Max states flatly.

Jughead looks up. "What do you mean?"

"My dad was in some shady stuff before we moved here. He got caught, and fired. Nothing Hiram Lodge type, just…bad stuff. But at the same time, when he was doing the bad stuff, it was the happiest my family ever was." Max won't make eye contact, instead fiddling with the straw of her shake. "I barely know anything about the Serpents, though. I've only been here for a month."

She hesitates before asking, "Why do you want to know what I think about them?"

He pauses. "I care about your opinion, I guess." He shrugs. Max's heart stops.

Holy shit.

She has to try really, really hard to be cool.

"Anyways, I probably should be going. I think Betty wants me to stop by her house before the party tonight. You're coming, right?"

Max pauses. "I guess. Veronica has been begging for me to come all week. She keeps telling me she needs a friend that isn't tied down." Both of them laugh.

"I enjoyed this. You should come more often." His eyes are warm and on her.

"No promises." She grins.

"Not even to keep me company?" He pouts playfully.

"What's in it for me?"

"Some lovely conversation and a person to vent to. And maybe a dedication to my book, if you're lucky." He grins, beginning to pack up his stuff.

"Hmm…I guess I'll consider it." She jokes, pretending like her heart is beating at a normal pace and her palms aren't caked in sweat.

"I'll take that as a yes. Bye, Max." He gives her a dazzling smile.

"See ya, Jughead." She returns it, and with that, he's gone.

She lets out a breath that she hadn't realized she had been holding.

Holy shit.

It was hopeless.

Returning to Pop's after that would definitely be an act of suicide, a hole that she couldn't dig herself out of. She definitely shouldn't continue this, not with her feelings and his relationship with Betty.