Chapter 1: we know that it's wrong, but it feels real fun

Dead brown leaves crunched under her feet as she approached the imposing brick house. She frowned, her whole body shivering. It was only late November and already a deep winter chill had set in over their sleepy town in upstate New York.

"You okay, babe?"

She looked up to her boyfriend, coming up just behind her in his blue and yellow letterman's jacket, bright red hair like a flame against the jet black sky. His eyes appeared filled with concern, but she could see the hard set of his jaw. The signal that if she didn't assure him she was totally fine, his annoyance would flare.

"Yes, just a little cold."

"I told you to take my jacket." His tone was neutral so their best friends who were now exiting their own car and bounding up to the house after them wouldn't sense something was off, but Betty knew Jason well enough to know this was a subtle dig. All their other friends maintained the old-school ritual of cheerleader girlfriend wearing football boyfriend's varsity jacket. Betty had never felt comfortable with the possessiveness of it, even when they had just started dating, but she had gone along with it in the beginning. But now, after two years of playing the perfect blonde girlfriend to Riverdale High's starting quarterback, she tried to wriggle out of it whenever she could. The thought of Jason Blossom, town golden boy and maple syrup heir, having one more way to mark her as his trophy made her want to vomit.

She offered Jason a smile, hoping it didn't come off as too tight-lipped. "We'll be inside soon."

The moment of minor tension thawed, as her best friend, Veronica Lodge, reached them and slipped her arm through Betty's.

"Who's ready to party?" she asked gaily, in that cool but effervescent way only she could pull off.

"Definitely," came the reply from Veronica's boyfriend, Archie Andrews, slapping Jason on the back with gusto. "Great game, bro."

"You guys were incredible," Veronica declared, flipping her perfectly coiffed dark brown hair behind her shoulder. "But how about us cheerleaders rooting you on?"

"You're always great, babe," Archie replied with his goofy grin.

"Let's head inside, guys," Jason said, before the round of compliments led the always horny couple to a fresh make-out. His voice was decisive. "Betty's cold."

Betty refrained from rolling her eyes. He was in a mood tonight, she could tell, and the gibes would continue. Archie, the team's running back, had scored the winning touchdown at tonight's game, and she knew it irked Jason not to be the one getting all the attention and shine. It wasn't enough that the team won, he always had to be the star. Still, she tried to shake off her annoyance. Reggie's party was waiting for them, and damned if she wasn't going to at least try to have a good time with her friends.

Making their way inside, the four friends were greeted with a blur of raucous sound and flashing light. Reggie had every high school party stereotype down to a T, Betty mused, smirking to herself. Angry emo rap playing at insane decibels and dozens of teens mingling while toting red Solo cups. She was sure there had to be a keg stand around here somewhere, too. It was definitely the opposite of what she would have preferred her scene to be, but it was at least familiar.

"Welcome, welcome," Reggie called, appearing out of the thick crowd, his arms immediately surrounding Betty and Veronica's shoulders. "Ladies, you look lovely as usual."

'Watch your hands, Mantle," Jason warned. He sounded like he was joking, but his eyes were dark as a thundercloud.

Betty inwardly cringed. Reggie, an admittedly good-looking guy, was a total flirt. But he was their friend since freshman year, and would obviously never take things beyond that, especially with his best friends' girlfriends. Jason was being ridiculous, and she suspected they all knew that. Immediately though, Reggie's arm dropped from around her, and he made a mock innocent pout and put his hands up as if to surrender. When the alpha spoke, everyone followed orders quickly. Betty was long used to it.

"Relax JJ. Let's get some alcohol," Veronica said brightly, while flashing Betty a covert look of annoyance. She was the only one who had somewhat of an inkling of Jason's darker side, and though she didn't press Betty on it, the blonde had gotten used to her judging, albeit worried, glances every so often.

Pressing further into the living room, the group took up court with their other friends on the perfectly upholstered couches, their designated spot at all of Reggie's post-game house parties. Sinking in, Jason pulled Betty into him so that she was perched up on one knee, his arm firmly and securely set around her.

"What are you guys drinking?" Reggie asked, corralling three freshman JV players to serve as their waiters.

The guys asked for their usual beers, while Betty allowed Veronica to convince her to try some of Reggie's special fruit punch. She closed her eyes momentarily, trying to center herself, relaxing slightly as Jason loosened his grip. She opened her eyes and studied her friends around her. Archie and Veronica were canoodling on the other side of the couch. Her good friend Kevin was dancing with a group of theater kids and she smiled and waved at them. Seated on the couch opposite were Moose and Midge, another football player/cheerleader couple. Cheryl, Jason's twin sister and the school's cheerleading captain, was draped over the huge armchair next to the couch. She, her best friend Josie, and Jason were all chatting about something vaguely related to social hierarchy that Betty couldn't care less about.

As their drinks arrived, Jason let Betty slip off his knee and next to him on the couch. She tightened her ponytail, her signature look of sorts, and then took a sip, letting the combination of alcohol and fruit juice run through her system. It felt good, but she had to be sure to pace herself. Jason expected his girlfriend not to turn into a drunk mess, even while he could go wild at parties.

"Such a great game tonight, bros," Reggie roared excitedly. "Go Bulldogs!"

"It was alright," a curt Jason replied. "We're going to need to play a whole lot better than that to reach the championships."

"With my baby doing his thing, you definitely will," Veronica cooed, petting Archie's face. The rest of the friends rolled their eyes good-naturedly as the redhead blushed.

"Jeez, Veronica, put some ice on it," Cheryl chided, her voice dripping with its usual combination of haughtiness and boredom.

"We're all gonna need to do our thing, I think," Moose threw in.

"Exactly," Jason said pointedly.

"Chill, guys, it's a party. You can come up with your oh so big plans at practice next week," Josie said. Even Betty cracked a smile at her sarcasm.

The drinking and conversation went on and Betty started to relax and enjoy herself, even getting lost in the objectively shitty playlist Reggie had put together. It wasn't until Jason's arm was once again around her and his grip tightening that she felt the air shift.

Strolling into the living room were a group clad in dark jeans and leather jackets. These kids, part of a gang known as the Southside Serpents, were new to Riverdale High School. They had only joined this year after Southside High, the town's other high school, shut down due to years of neglect. Immediately, and solely, it seemed, because of their lower socioeconomic status and disaffected attitude, Jason had signaled them out as public enemy number one, especially one in particular—Jughead Jones, de-facto leader of the group and so-called Serpent Prince, thanks to his father running the gang.

"What are those miscreants doing here?" Cheryl asked, annoyed.

"Who let the dogs in?" Moose said, laughing uproariously at his own weak joke. This time, Betty definitely rolled her eyes. Moose's juvenile early 2000s references and her friends' cliché popular kid attitudes were way too much to bear at times. She couldn't for the life of her understand why they, along with most of the north side of town, hated the Serpents. Sure, they were a motorcycle gang, but they didn't really traffic in anything heavier than dealing weed. Still, the town looked down on them like a bunch of indigent, murderous criminals who were ruining Riverdale's all-American good name. It made her hate living in the closed-minded town even more than usual.

"It's a party, bros. The more the merrier," Reggie said with a shrug.

Jason made a face, but didn't say anything. For all his bark, Betty knew he wasn't going to start a fight over fellow classmates coming to a party that basically the entire student body had a free pass to attend.

Oblivious to the tension or choosing with all his heart to ignore it, Archie extricated himself from Veronica and got up to greet Jughead as the small group of Serpents approached. "Hey man," he said, clasping Jughead's hand in a one-armed hug. Archie and Jughead had been quite close as kids, living on the same block (also as Betty) and their fathers had been good friends before the Jones family moved to the south side of town and Jughead changed schools.

"Good game, Arch," came the reply. Despite entering the equivalent of a shark tank, Jughead's voice was confident and steady. Even with three words, he had a commanding presence and an aura that screamed he couldn't give less of a shit at what you might throw at him.

"Oh, you know how to follow a football game? That's so cute," Cheryl taunted, unable to let the moment pass without drama.

"They teach you that at the trailer park?" Jason added.

Jughead didn't even flinch. He just grinned at their derision, before turning his deep blue eyes to bore into Betty. He scanned her body slowly, taking in the light-wash skinny jeans and white sweater, before meeting her emerald eyes. She shivered under his gaze, feeling once again the chill of the winter-like night. It wasn't subtle and her friends definitely noticed.

"Is there a reason you're gawking at our friend Betty, hobo?" Cheryl asked, ice in her voice.

"No reason," he replied with a smirk, and Betty could see Jason's eyes darkening and his fist tightening.

"You good, man?" Sweet Pea, one of Jughead's friends cut in, obviously noticing Jason's aggressive pose as well.

"All good," came the reply. Jughead flashed another grin, this time baring his teeth. "Always a pleasure," he mocked.

Jughead and his flock of leather sauntered away toward the kitchen and Betty let out what she hoped was a discreet shaky breath.

"How can you stand that guy?" Jason admonished Archie, who merely looked away, clearly not interested in opening yet another discussion about his friendship with Jughead. This had been an ongoing theme since the start of the school year when the high schools merged and south side kids started attending their school. Betty knew Archie looked up to Jason, who as a senior was a year older and something of a mentor for Archie on the field. However, Archie was as loyal as his pet golden retriever Vegas, and he would never stop talking to a friend just because of some silly feud. It was something Betty admired about him. She wished she had the strength to stand up to Jason about anything the way Archie seemed able to about this subject, but the dynamic of their relationship was so set in stone she found it virtually impossible.

Without an answer and with the Serpents safely ensconced in the other room, Jason changed the subject and the vibe shifted once again to amicable conversation. Betty, however, still felt tense and on edge. She really didn't want to be near her friends anymore, with their mindless chit-chat and judgmental comments, and her glass was empty. She turned toward Jason and put her best fake smile on.

"J, I'm going to the bathroom. Be back soon."

"Sure, babe," he said, distractedly, obviously too into the conversation to worry about her whereabouts. He let her get up to pass him.

Betty expertly weaved her way past the familiar faces, waving and smiling halfheartedly to a few as she made her way toward the foyer and then the stairwell. Pushing past couples making out and groups of friends drinking on the stairs, she finally made it to the second floor. There were a few people at the top of the stairs, but no one was paying any attention. She walked toward the master bedroom, pulling her hair down from its tight ponytail and running her fingers hastily through it. Finally, she could release some of the pressure she felt. Betty ignored the "no entry" sign in Reggie's chicken scrawl taped to the door, and made her way inside.

As soon as her hand lifted from the lock, his soft, insistent lips were on hers and her body was being pushed up against a wall. She moaned into his mouth, letting all the tension from the evening seep out of her as she eagerly kissed him back. He slowly lifted her arms up, running his fingers up the fabric of her sweater, until her hands were above her head, his right hand holding them in place. His left hand moved to her chin, angling her face to put even more pressure on her lips. Betty opened her mouth, and his tongue was immediately inside her, massaging hers. They kissed hungrily like that for nearly a minute, trying to recapture the taste of each other after days without it.

"How much time do we have?" he asked her, his voice barely above a whisper, as he began to kiss along her earlobe.

"Not long," she moaned, arching her back to feel more of his lean muscular body covering hers. She especially loved the feel of his leather jacket pressed against her. It was warm and cold at the same time and made her feel both defenseless and protected. She was desperate for that sensation. He moved his hands under her shirt to the silky skin of her back, drawing slow caresses as he found her lips once again. Betty ran her fingers through the soft strands of his black hair, tugging his lips open with the nibble of her teeth. She could feel him harden against her center and it made her weak in the knees, her own arousal on the verge of ruining her panties.

"Please," she begged, "Touch me."

His fingers tickled over her stomach for a few moments, teasing her, before eventually finding the button to her jeans. He pulled them down her long legs, leaving stray kisses along the way, before letting the jeans crumple at the base of her feet. He stood back up and examined her body, his hand gently cupping the crotch of her black lace thong. Betty gasped. His thumb softly stroked the thin material over her clit and Betty sank into his ministrations, her head falling back against the wall at how good he was able to make her feel.

"You feeling rebellious, huh?" he said, with a knowing smirk as he continued to work her over her underwear. "These panties and the white sweater are a bit incongruous."

Betty moaned again, involuntarily, loving and hating how much his use of big, literary words turned her on. "Stop joking around. We don't have much time," she sassed.

His blue eyes twinkled at her and he slipped a finger inside her panties, tracing her glistening slit. "Mmm, always so wet for me." Betty shifted her lower body in search of more of his finger and he chuckled. "And eager. Such a good girl."

"Kiss me," she demanded and he did, his fingers simultaneously pushing her panties aside and entering her swiftly. His right index finger inched in and out of her, taking his time, as they continued to kiss fitfully.

"Return the favor, Betts," he mumbled against her lips, and without breaking the kiss, Betty managed to find the button of his jeans, undo it, push them down, and spring him free from his boxers. She grasped the velvety skin of his cock, running her curled fingers up and down slowly at first, just like she knew he liked. He groaned appreciatively and inserted a second finger inside her, Betty gasping at the sensation.

"You're so tight, baby, you feel so good," he murmured between kisses.

"Oh my God, you too," she said breathily, as his thumb started to rub circles into her clit. Betty sped up her motions in response, his hard cock throbbing with each stroke of her hand. He too began rubbing faster over her sensitive bundle of nerves and her breathing ran ragged. She could feel herself drowning in him, the familiar feeling of losing total control at his hands.

"I'm so close," she moaned, her head falling back again as his fingers hit a particularly sensitive spot inside her.

"I know, baby, me too," he moaned back.

He removed his fingers and before she could whine at the sudden lack of contact, he concentrated his whole hand on her clit, rubbing the sweet little nub as her pussy began to pulse against him.

"Fuck, oh my...please...please," she babbled as an intense orgasm hit, her whole body convulsing as he held her up. She almost cried from how heavenly it felt. In the final throes, she remembered his cock still in her, now limp, hand, and she began to stroke him again, wanting to see him fall apart just like her.

It didn't take long. A string of curses escaped his lips, and he exploded over her hand, the hot white cum seeping through her fingers and dribbling down onto her legs. She didn't care about the mess. She was just grateful to be in his arms again if only for a few minutes.

"God, I missed you," he gasped, his forehead resting against hers as regained his breath.

"I missed you too, Jug," she whispered.

He kissed her again, softly this time. When he opened his eyes, he looked straight into hers, as if willing this moment between them to carry meaning beyond a quick hook-up on the sly in a random bedroom in a random house. She felt it, too, wanted that too. In a second, though, he released her. After adjusting his jacket, he pulled out some Kleenex from his pocket and handed them to her to clear herself up. She took them gratefully and rubbed the traces of him off her legs. They were quiet as they dressed and straightened themselves out. It wasn't awkward, but it wasn't wholly comfortable either. They could both feel the current of tense energy between them.

As she fixed her ponytail, Betty finally looked at him, ripping the Band-Aid right off. Only with him could she be this direct. "That was quite a show you put on down there," she said, remembering his gaze over her body. The power he had to disarm her was frightening.

"Your boyfriend was being extra douchey tonight," he responded, his voice emotionless, but not looking at her.

Although the remark stung, Betty's heart melted a little. She knew this was how Jughead showed her his vulnerability, which he seldom revealed to anyone else. They never discussed Jason if they could help it, so even bringing him up like this was a sign Jughead was more than a little rattled by what had transpired in the living room. More than anything, she wished she could hug him and explain to him how much she cared about him. How alive and safe and beautiful he made her feel. How if she were stronger, she'd break up with Jason in a heartbeat and be with him. But they both knew how complicated it was. So all she said was "I know. I'm sorry."

He looked at her then and gave her a half-smile. She knew he wasn't angry at her, just the situation. "It is what it is."

"Do you want to come over tonight?" she asked. They normally tried not to do things too risky like having him sneak into her house, but it had been too many days since they'd been together and she knew they both needed more. If they had this time together, it'd be enough of a fix until they could be together again.

He smiled again, fully this time. "You weren't satisfied?" he flirted.

"No," she replied, hotly. "I want you inside me."

Jughead chuckled and drew closer to her. "I was just inside you."

Betty blushed and rolled her eyes. "You're infuriating."

Smirking, he leaned in and kissed her once more, tasting every inch of her mouth. "I'll try, Betts," he said against her neck, bringing her in for a quick embrace. "I'll do my best."

She squeezed his hand as goodbye. She looked back at him once as she left to exit the room, and he gave her a small nod, letting her go.

A million thoughts ran through her mind as she made her way back to the living room. Her body already ached for Jughead's touch. She knew she could never have enough with him, because he was everything she wanted, all the time. She tried not to cry, drying the tears that formed quickly, as her friends still splayed out on the couches came into view. Her spot next to Jason was empty, right where she'd left it. She sat down.

Then, with whatever was left of her, she put on her best fake smile and chirped, "What'd I miss?"