I have no rights to Riverdale or these characters.
Jughead had followed Betty around most of the morning. They were in most of the same classes. And of course, since he was new, his desk was right beside hers.
Okay, that he didn't mind so much. It was cute. She was cute. The bounce of her ponytail. The way it all collected into one solid curl at the end. The way her face would turn as pink as her sweater when he caught her checking him out.
Then he had chemistry. One of the few classes he didn't have with Betty. Walking in, he could tell this was going to one class he hated. Football players all sat in one area of the room. Their letterman's jackets screaming popularity and like mindedness.
"Great," he muttered walking into the classroom.
"Hey hot stuff," Veronica said taking in the back side of the new guy, "you can sit next to me, I'm Veronica."
"Jughead."
"Seriously?" Veronica asked, arching an eyebrow.
"It's the only name, you'll ever hear me answer to," Jughead retorted, stepping out of the doorway.
"Ah, man of mystery," Kevin said joining the twosome, "I'm Kevin."
"Jug…"
"Yes, I heard, Jughead."
Jughead just nodded and followed the two to their seats. He took the empty stool next to Veronica.
"Move, Serpent," a voice behind him said.
Turning he looked and saw a letterman's jacket, "oh calm down Archiekins," Veronica said, "B asked me to keep our new friend company since they don't have this class together."
"It's cool, I'll move," Jughead said standing up.
"At least you know your place," Archie said taking a seat.
Jughead laughed, "what's your deal, Serpent?" Reggie asked glaring at him.
Turning, "you think asking me to move seats is a victory," he answered, "what a waste."
"Mr. Jones, please have a seat next to Kevin," the teacher said, not wanting the fight to get egged on.
Jughead walked back and took the stool next to Kevin, "I'd be careful" Kevin said when he sat down.
"Why I'm not worried," Jughead muttered, opening his book.
"Archie is Betty's next door neighbor, they have grown up together," Kevin explained.
Nodding, Jughead watched the football player. This was going to be fun, he thought. Riverdale High was about to get much more interesting.
As class drowned on, Jughead couldn't help his curiosity, "so are they dating?" he asked.
"Archie and Betty?" Kevin asked looking at him, he could tell that the Serpent really wanted to know.
"No, the King and Queen of England."
Kevin snorted, the new kid had sass, "no, but Archie thinks Betty belongs to him."
"What?" Jughead asked setting his pencil down, "why?"
Shrugging, "look Archie is football captain," he started, "plus, Betty has kind of always had a thing for him."
"Ah," Jughead realized, "so she goes for the golden boy type," he muttered, "what a waste."
Looking at the guy next to him, Kevin couldn't help himself, he thrived on drama, almost as much as Cheryl Blossom, herself.
"You'd have shot, if you took it," Kevin said quietly, noticing that Archie and Reggie were watching him.
Jughead looked at the kid, "…"
"She's interested," Kevin continued, "even if she doesn't know it yet."
Jughead picked up his pencil and got back to work, ignoring the glares from the football players in the class, "she thinks your cute."
Smirking, Jughead couldn't wait for class to be over. One next was lunch. Two he was starving. Three he would get to see Betty and see just how true, what Kevin said is.
*Bell Rings*
Walking into the lunchroom, Jughead just looked around. Yep, every high school was the same. Every clique sat in their own space, no where near someone who was different.
Gripping his tray, he found an empty table and had a seat. Eating his burger and fries, he watched the millings of the students around him. No one bothered to come near him, he didn't mind though. He was looking for one person in particular.
Betty walked into the lunchroom and smiled, but then frowned when her eyes landed on Jughead. He was sitting by himself.
Pivoting she headed in his direction, not noticing the water on the floor in front of his table.
Reggie and Archie both jumped up, they had spilled the water, hoping to make the Serpent fall in front of everyone.
It wasn't meant to hurt Betty.
Jughead moved swiftly. His arm encircled Betty's waist as she lost her balance. His free hand grabbed the other side of her lunch tray, keeping it steady so they didn't end up covered in her lunch.
Betty felt the strong arm come around her waist as she lost her balance. Leaning back, she inhaled the scents of leather and something else, Jughead.
The whole lunchroom took in a collective gasp as Betty smiled at Jughead.
"Let her go, Serpent," Archie snarled.
"Get your dirty hands off her," Reggie threatened.
Jughead looked at Betty, who was gnawing on her lip, again, "and what if I don't?" he asked looking at the two angry football players.
"Betty get away from him," Archie demanded, pulling at her arm.
Tugging her arm free, "Archie, let go," she retorted, "he's not doing anything wrong, he caught me before I fell."
"On the water you two spilled, hoping I would fall," Jughead explained as Betty stepped towards the table.
"What did you say?" Reggie demanded, standing up.
"You heard me," Jughead said turning his back.
Reggie grabbed him by the shoulder, "no I don't think I did, because it sounded like you were giving me attitude."
Jughead laughed, "just saying what you to Neanderthals won't."
Archie's fist connected with Jughead jaw, before anyone could react.
"ARCHIE!" Betty yelled.
Jughead didn't want for the second, before landing his first punch against the red head's jaw, not seeing Reggie's fist coming at his ribs.
Doubled over, he coughed before standing up and nailing Reggie in the nose with a solid punch.
"MR. JONES, MR. ANDREWS AND MR. MANTLE," Principal Weatherbee yelled, "MY OFFICE NOW!"
"Jughead," Betty started, seeing the cut on his cheek and the bruise already forming under his eye.
"I'm fine!" he snapped following the two football players to the office.
Leaning against the wall, Jughead was furious. This was the last thing he wanted. It hadn't even been one day.
"Mr. Jones," Principal Weatherbee said opening the door to his office, "have a seat."
Jughead sat and stared at Principal Weatherbee's name plate, "you have a rough history, Mr. Jones," he started, "bullied, quite a bit…"
"Yeah, my name is Jughead, what do you expect?" Jughead retorted, it was the same old story.
Principal Weatherbee ignored his sarcasm, "do you want to tell me your side of the story?"
"I started it," Jughead admitted, knowing that he hadn't.
"Why?"
"For the fun of it."
"The real reason Mr. Jones."
Jughead looked at the man, "because Betty's not a piece of property and that's how red treats her."
Principal Weatherbee fought back a smile, Jughead's file had also said that he defended the underdog. Not that Betty Cooper couldn't defend herself.
"So, you were defending Ms. Cooper?"
Shrugging, "sure if you want to put it that way."
Nodding, "this will be your only warning," Principal Weatherbee said, "I don't tolerate fighting in my school, for any reason."
"Got it," Jughead responded, "can I go get my bag now?"
"Yes, then get to class."
Jughead got up and nodded, "and Mr. Jones…"
Turning to look at the man, "no more fights over Ms. Cooper."
Rolling his eyes, he walked into the hallway and almost knocked down Betty, who had his bag, "are you okay?" she asked handing it over.
"I'm fine," he said starting to walk away, he knew the way to his next class, yet another without Betty.
"Jughead," she said, "I…"
"It's fine, Betty," he said, "consider it payback for you showing me around this morning."
Betty stood in the hall and watched Jughead walk away. She didn't know what to say. She was furious at Archie for hitting him. But now, she was confused.
The nurse came rushing out of her office, "have you seen?" she asked looking at the slip in her hand, "Jughead Jones?"
"You just missed him," Betty replied watching him slip into a room that wasn't his next class, "I can clean him up if you'd like."
"Could you?" the nurse asked, "that would be a big help, let me get you some supplies."
Jughead opened the door to the empty classroom and wandered in. Closing the door, he sat down by one of the desks and wrapped his arms around his legs. Putting his forehead against his arms he grimaced when his jacket touched his cheek.
Reaching up, he felt the sticky liquid on his cheek, blood, "great," he mumbled closing his eyes and leaning his head back.
Betty took a deep breath outside the door, opening it slowly she stepped in, "Jughead?" she asked.
Hearing the door, Jughead shuffled his feet away from the stream of light from the hallway.
Betty followed the shuffling sound and found Jughead sitting on the floor holding his legs to his chest, "I brought some first aid supplies to clean that cut on your cheek."
"Go away, Betty."
Kneeling down, Betty ignored him.
Opening one eye, he looked at her and smirked. Betty was on her knees in front of him, with a pleading look in her eyes.
Letting go of his legs, Jughead put one on either side of her and let her crawl closer to him.
Betty gulped when Jughead placed his legs on either side of her. But taking his silent invitation, she crawled closer to him.
"This may sting," she said as she wet the cotton ball in her hand with what he guessed was rubbing alcohol.
Nodding, he placed his hands on the outside of her thighs. The sting took him by surprise making his squeeze Betty's thighs, causing her to gasp.
Betty gasped as Jughead's grip on her thighs tightened, "sorry," she mumbled.
"Why?" he asked, looking at the girl who eyes were now closed, "you warned me."
Opening her eyes, Betty just stared at him, "are you sure your, okay?" she asked opening a bandage.
Jughead laughed, "I'm fine, promise," he answered, "this isn't my first fight and it unfortunately won't be my last."
Betty nodded and gently pressed the bandage to his cheek. His skin was soft and warm under her fingers.
Watching Betty, Jughead smirked. She was nervous. Running his fingers along the outside seam of her skirt, his smirked deepened as her cheeks grew pinker.
But she wasn't moving away. Betty couldn't explain the pull she felt for the boy sitting in front of her. But it was overpowering.
Licking her lips, it didn't go unnoticed by her that Jughead's eyes followed the motion.
Tracing the bandage on his cheek, Betty gently cupped his cheek. Gnawing on her lip.
"You really need to stop doing that," Jughead spoke in a horse voice.
He was fighting every urge he had right now to pull her against his chest and kiss her until the minx he knew was hidden underneath came out.
Swallowing hard, Betty let go of her lip. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a split second before pressing a quick, soft kiss against Jughead's uninjured cheek.
Pulling back with an embarrassed squeak, Betty shot up and dashed from the room, before Jughead could even comprehend what had happened.
Touching his cheek, he smiled. So, Kevin had been right.
Archie stood outside of the Blue and Gold and fumed. Betty was between the Serpents legs and he; he had his hands on her thighs. And. And they were in a way to friendly manner. He had been stroking them.
Letting out a low growl, Archie didn't care that his girlfriend was standing beside him. Betty had kissed the Serpent. She was tainted now.
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