I hope you like it!
I have no rights to Riverdale or these characters.
Betty raced out of the classroom and down the hall. Completely missing the fact that Archie and Veronica had just witnessed her kiss Jughead. Although it hadn't been a true kiss. Not the kiss, she had frankly wanted to give him.
Jughead made her brain foggy, but in the best way. Leaning against the cool stall door, Betty took deep breathes; trying to steady herself.
"B," Veronica asked walking into the bathroom, "you, okay?"
Betty nodded, "yeah, V, I'm fine."
Opening the door, Betty looked at Veronica and saw that her friend didn't believe her; not even an ounce, "I promise, I'm fine."
Veronica just pulled Betty into a hug, "oh girl, you have it bad."
Jughead sat in the dark classroom until the bell rang. He knew having a skipped class wouldn't look good, but it was better than walking into a classroom and having everyone try and guess why he was late.
Walking down the hall, he passed Archie and Reggie, "I guess you really don't understand how things work here on the north side," Archie chided.
Stopping, "and what's that supposed to mean?" Jughead asked.
"You tainted Betty," Archie said coldly, "now she'll never be the same."
Scoffing, "wow, what an archaic way of thinking."
"What's archaic?" Reggie asked, looking confused.
Not able to hide his smirk, "it means old, Reggie, can you spell it?"
Reggie lunged at him. Archie grabbed him before any more punches were thrown, "you heard Weatherbee. No more fights," Archie explained pulling Reggie back, "plus he's not worth it. He'll be back at Southside by the end of week."
Rolling his eyes and walking away, Jughead ignored the calls after him, taunting about him about his name and being who he was.
He had heard it so many times before. Now it was just a part of everyday life. No, his name wasn't normal, but neither was his family. Who at 16 was in line to be leader of a motorcycle gang?
The rest of the school day passed without incident. Except for one thing, Jughead hadn't seen Betty since she had kissed his cheek in the empty classroom.
Thinking of it made him smile, "Jughead," Kevin said nervously.
Shutting his locker, he turned to look at the guy, "what's up?"
"You might want to warn Betty," Kevin said.
"Why would I need to warn her?" Jughead asked quietly.
Kevin took a deep breath, "Archie saw the two of you in that classroom after lunch. He has pictures."
"Nothing happened."
"That's not what he is saying."
Snorting, "of course he's not."
"Look you don't know Betty's mom, but she will flip when she hears what Archie is saying about Betty and what she and you did."
"Thanks for letting me know."
"It was the least I could after you stood up for Betty."
Nodding, "Kevin, why does she let him treat her like this?" Jughead wanted to know, there had be a reason someone as sweet as Betty put up with red.
"Like I said they are neighbors," Kevin started, "Archie and his dad have helped Betty and her mom a lot since her dad…"
"Since her dad what?" Jughead asked raising his eyebrows. Kevin had stopped mid-sentence.
"That's nothing you to concern yourself with Serpent," Archie said, "Kevin here spoke out of turn."
Kevin paled as Archie put his arm over his shoulders and led him down the hall.
Closing his eyes and shaking his head, Jughead walked towards the gym. The only place in the school that still seemed to have people in it.
Walking into the gym and slipping up onto the bleachers. Jughead walked across the top row and took a seat near the wall. Watching the River Vixen's practice.
Pulling his laptop out of his messenger bag, he opened it and began to type. Looking up anything he could about Betty Cooper. Most of what came up were her articles for the Blue and Gold.
Betty's brain wasn't at practice. It was wandering the halls of Riverdale High, wondering where Jughead was.
Looking up, Betty lost her balance and her count and knocked into the Vixen next to her, "Betty!" Cheryl snapped, "What the hell?!"
"Sorry, Cheryl," Betty apologized, "I…"
"What?!" Cheryl demanded, "lost your count? Again?"
Betty bawled her fist until she felt her nails cut into her palms, "why in the world did I ever agree to make you a Vixen?" Cheryl asked coming to stand in front of her, "God, you are not Vixen material."
Digging her nails in deeper, Betty chanced a glance at Jughead, who was watching the exchange with rampant attention.
Jughead sat up in the bleachers. He didn't know the red headed girl, but he had heard the rumors all day. She was the Head Bitch.
Cheryl spun around and followed Betty's eyes, "Hobos aren't allowed at my practices!" she taunted waving her arm towards the door, "now leave!" she demanded when Jughead didn't move.
Betty's eyes pleaded with him to leave, but he couldn't. She was upset and he wanted to help.
Spinning on her Vixen, "go make your hobo boyfriend leave, now," Cheryl seethed, "or you're off the Vixens!"
Swallowing hard, Betty climbed the bleachers and stood in front of Jughead. He had already put his laptop in his bag, "please," she pleaded.
Leaning forward, Jughead gently grasped Betty's hips and pulled her closer, "what's wrong with your hands?" he whispered, not paying attention to Cheryl who was glaring daggers at him.
"Nothing," Betty snapped pulling back and almost losing her balance.
Jughead caught her and brought her close to his chest, "Betty."
Betty looked up at him, "please," she pleaded again.
"Betty Cooper get that hobo out of here!" Cheryl threatened, "you have 1 minute!"
Looking at Betty and seeing the panic in her eyes, Jughead squeezed her hips, "I'll be in the student lounge, meet me after practice," he said, "okay?"
"Okay," Betty agreed.
Nodding Jughead leaned forward and kissed her softly on the cheek. Feeling her cheek heat, he smirked and pulled away.
Walking down the bleachers, Jughead smirked and shook his head as he left the gym. Riverdale High was so much worse than Southside High.
Betty scurried down the bleachers and back to her spot. Her eyes never leaving the floor in front of her.
Cheryl was pissed. Walking over, "I don't care if you want to slum it with the hobo," she started putting her finger under Betty's chin, "but it will not interrupt my practice," she promised, "understand?"
Betty nodded.
The rest of practice didn't go much better. Betty couldn't keep her head on the count. Cheryl thank goodness ended practice a few minutes early. Putting her out of her misery.
Jughead sat in the student lounge. He was working on his English Lit assignment. He was behind since he transferred mid semester.
Betty stood in the doorway and watched him type away. She still couldn't put her finger on what it was about him that made him so desirable to her. Maybe it was his cockiness. The leather Serpent jacket. His beanie. The suspenders. Maybe the flannel tied around his waist. Or maybe just maybe it was the fact that Jughead Jones made her feel like she could be herself.
Walking over, Betty sat down. The cushions shifting slightly under her.
Looking up, "how long have you been there?" Jughead asked hitting save.
Smiling, "I was in the doorway for a minute or so. I just sat down."
Nodding, "so…"
"Jughead…"
Both just stared at each other, "go ahead," Betty said waving her hand.
Looking at her hand, Jughead noticed the blood on her palm. Betty noticed his eyes and withdrew her hand, but not quick enough.
Tugging her closer, Jughead turned Betty's hand over. There were small indentions in her palm. All of them slightly bloody.
"Betty," he breathed reaching for her other hand.
Letting him take her other hand, Betty looked down at her shorts. He was never supposed to find out about this.
"Why?" he asked gently folding her hands and holding them in his.
Betty coughed in surprise, "I'm supposed to be perfect," she whispered, "well guess what I'm human, so that's not possible."
Jughead gently rubbed her knuckles, watching her struggle to explain, "There is something wrong with me," she admitted, "I can't explain what it is though."
Nodding, he gently brought her hands up to his mouth. Softly kissing her hands, Jughead looked at Betty. There were quiet tears coursing down her cheeks.
Not over thinking herself, Betty shifted and swiftly straddled Jughead on the couch. Wrapping her arms around his neck as she settled.
Jughead leaned back as Betty settled herself on his lap. Wrapping his arms around her back, he held her close and let her cry.
Archie stood in the doorway and glared. Taking out his phone he took several shots. He already had some of Jughead holding Betty's hands. But now she was straddling him in her noticeably short River Vixen shorts.
Alice Cooper was going to be pissed when she found out. And Archie was going to make sure she did.
How do you like it so far?
