I hope you're still with me!

I have no rights to Riverdale or these characters.


Sitting in the student lounge, Jughead typed away on his laptop. This time it wasn't schoolwork. No, this time, it was his novel. Something he hadn't told anyone about, not even Betty.

Betty watched Jughead type away. He was engrossed he didn't even hear her call his name. It was lunch. Jughead never missed lunch.

Walking up behind him, Betty put her hands over his eyes, careful not to touch his bruised one.

"What the?" Jughead sputtered.

Slinking her arms around his shoulders, "I had to get your attention somehow," Betty whispered kissing his cheek softly.

Jughead turned and looked at her. She was smirking.

"You definitely got it," he said closing his laptop.

Betty came around and sat beside him, "Jug…"

"When is homecoming?" he asked.

"You'll go?"

"Only for you Betty Cooper."

Clapping happily, Betty leaned over and pulled him into a kiss.

Jughead laid his hands on Betty's waist, "hey you two," Kevin teased, "we're still in school."

Betty pulled away and blushed.

Jughead shook his head and took Betty's hand, "are they still serving lunch," he asked Kevin.

"Yeah, for a bit longer, I think."

"Come on, Betts," he said standing up, "I'm starving."

"You're always hungry," Betty teased, poised to follow him.

"Betty," Kevin interrupted, "can I talk to you?"

Jughead nodded and made his way to the cafeteria.

"Kev," Betty said sitting back down.

"I'm such an idiot," Kevin said quickly.

"No, you're not."

"I am," he argued, "I didn't think."

"Kevin," Betty said looking at him, "it's okay. I know you didn't mean anything by it."

Kevin nodded, "I'm just happy for you."

Betty smiled, "me too," she whispered.

Jughead walked into the cafeteria and headed towards and empty table. Passing Cheryl, who was selling homecoming tickets.

"Homecoming tickets," she called, "get them here. Come as someone you aren't," she chanted.

Sitting down, Jughead just watched her. Had he really just agreed to go homecoming.

"Uh-oh," Betty said as she sat down beside him, "I can see the regret on your face already," she teased.

"Come as someone you aren't?" he questioned, "is that even a theme?"

Betty smiled, "for Cheryl, yes."

"Then who should we go as?" he asked, knowing Betty wanted to go.

"Our parents," she said, proudly.

Jughead looked at her, "Betty, my dad is Serpent King, I'm Serpent Prince, I think that defeats the purpose."

"Not in high school. Your dad was Mr. BMOC," Betty explained, "my mom told me."

"So, you're saying, that for one night we switch places," he said catching on, "I'll come in a lettermen's and you'll be the Serpent."

Stealing a fry, "exactly," Betty stated, "no one will expect it."

"Especially not our parents."

Laughing, "I think my mom will have me committed once I tell her."

"Does she still have her Serpent jacket?" Jughead asked.

"Yes, I found it. It was hidden in the back of her closet."

Jughead nodded, "I don't even know if my dad still has his lettermen's."

"Why don't we ask him after school?" Betty suggested, "cause we are going to have to figure out how to tame this beanie hair you have going on."

Growling at her, "the beanie stays."

"Jug," she pleaded, pouting her lips.

"At least you didn't bite it this time," he said finish his burger.

Leaning close, "you still haven't told me what that does to you," she whispered, her breath tickling his ear.

Jughead stared at her. His minx was coming out.

Walking into the trailer, Jughead smiled as Betty settled on the floor in front of the couch. He loved how comfortable she was here. The sight of her in his space.

"Betts, do you want something to drink?" he asked from the kitchen.

"No, I'm good."

Betty sat on the floor and began unpacking her backpack. She had brought some old Riverdale High yearbooks home. The ones that had their parents in them.

Flipping through she found her mom. Big hair, thick eye liner and her Serpent jacket.

Not able to hide her grin, she left one yearbook open to FP's picture. Hair slicked back, cocky smirk, one just like Jughead's and his lettermen's.

"Seriously?" Jughead asked sitting on the couch, "you want to dress like that?"

Betty smiled, "yes."

Jughead grimaced as he picked up the yearbook. How in the world was he supposed to look like his dad for a night? He was not a prep. Hell; he couldn't believe his dad had been one.

FP walked into the trailer and stopped. Betty and Jughead were bent over, yearbooks, "what are you two looking at?" he asked, hoping he was wrong.

"Your old high school yearbooks," Jughead stated, smirking, "do the Serpents know you used to be Mr. BMOC?"

Betty laughed, "I can't believe you actually said it."

FP grinned, "boy."

Jughead smirked, "actually there is a reason we have the yearbooks."

Sitting down in the armchair and grabbing a yearbook, "oh god, these are bad."

"They don't get any better," Betty agreed handing him a different one.

Looking at her, "you're not wrong, Betty."

Jughead smiled watching his dad and his girl interact like they had known each other for much longer than a few weeks.

"Dad," he started.

FP looked at his son, "what?" he asked, nervous.

Betty squeezed his hand, "do you still have your old letterman's?" Jughead ground out.

Smirking, "why?"

Betty jumped in, "the theme of homecoming is 'come as someone you're not."

"Homecoming?" FP questioned, looking at his son.

Jughead shrugged, "I asked him to come with me," Betty said quietly.

Pulling her ponytail, Jughead kissed her, "I want to go. How bad can it be?"

Watching the two, "I think it's a good thing you're going," FP agreed.

"You do?" Jughead asked, confused.

"Yeah," FP didn't elaborate, "and yes my letterman's is in my closet."

Betty happy clapped, "now to talk to my mom."

Jughead laughed, "glad you'll be in the hot seat for that one," he teased.

Swatting his arm, Betty grinned. She was happy.

Finding her mom sitting at the kitchen island, "Mom," Betty said quietly.

"Betty," Alice gasped, "where have you been?" she asked looking her daughter over.

"At Jughead's."

"Betty."

"Mom, stop," Betty snapped, "I'm not going to stop seeing Jughead."

Alice huffed, "if you insist on seeing Jughead, then I want to meet him."

Staring at her mom, "you what?"

"I want to meet him," Alice explained, "invite him to dinner."

"Mom, no."

"Elizabeth Cooper if you want to continue to see him, you will invite him to dinner," Alice retorted.

"Then I'm going to homecoming wearing your Southside Serpents jacket and looking the part," Betty announced.

Alice stared at her daughter, "you're what?" she demanded.

Standing her ground, "I'm going to homecoming dressed as you when you were in high school."

"Over my dead body."

"Mom, that's the theme."

"What?" Alice snapped, "give mothers a heart attack?"

Rolling her eyes, "no, 'come as someone you're not'."

Alice stared at her daughter, "I'm not comfortable with that," she admitted.

"Mom, Jughead is going looking like FP. I'm going looking like you," Betty explained, "I don't plan on joining the Serpents."

"What if Jughead asks you to?" Alice whispered.

"Mom."

"It's not an easy initiation."

Rolling her eyes again, "Mom, I'm not becoming a real Serpent for homecoming," Betty argued, "it's a school dance. Not a life decision."

Alice nodded, "I will help you, but I want Jughead and FP to come here for dinner before the dance."

Grimacing, "Mom."

"Those are my terms, Betty."

"I'll talk to Jughead."

"You do that," Alice stated, "and we'll go shopping for an appropriate top this weekend."

"What happened to my mother," Betty muttered as her mom went about getting dinner ready.

Alice ignored her daughter's comment and started thinking of what to make for that homecoming dinner. She was going in close proximity to FP Jones again. It had been years.

FP came out to the living room with a garment bag, "Jughead," he said, startling his son, "have you told Betty you want to be a writer?"

"No," Jughead admitted, looking at the garment bag, "what is that?"

"My letterman's," FP answered unzipping the bag, "let's see if this thing will fit you."

Jughead stood up, "you're enjoying this," he said, looking at his dad.

FP couldn't hide his smirk, "maybe a little."

"Why?"

Taking a deep breath as Jughead slipped his old letterman's on, "because I didn't want to become my old man and yet here I am, a Serpent," he explained, "I want more for you. I want you to get out of this godforsaken town and be something."

Jughead stared at his dad. He had never heard him say anything against the Serpents, "dad."

"I know Jug," FP laughed, "you're proud to be a Serpent."

"I am."

"The fact that you don't have a prison record is what I'm proud of," FP teased, "it looks good. Betty will be proud."

Jughead rolled his shoulders, letting the letterman's settle, "I can't believe I'm doing this."

"She doesn't give up, does she?"

Smirking, "no," Jughead agreed.

Alice stood in the hallway outside her daughter's room, holding her Southside Serpents jacket. She didn't want Betty to get involved with that life, but her going to a dance seemed innocent enough.

"Betty," she said knocking on her door frame.

"What's up?" Betty asked looking up.

Holding out her jacket, "I think you should try this on, just we can get an idea of what we'll need this weekend."

Betty stood up and took the jacket. Spinning it over her head, she let it fall down her arms. The leather was smooth and fit her like a glove.

Alice held her breath. Betty looked just like her in high school.

"Mom, are you okay?" Betty asked.

Alice just nodded.

"What do you think?"

Coughing, "we'll need some darker lipstick, thick eye liner and a black lace top."

"Black lace?" Betty reiterated.

"Yes, to sell the look," Alice stated, "I have some jeans from back then, we'll need to find some fish nets that you can…"

"I was thinking of wearing a leather skirt," Betty interrupted.

Alice stopped and looked at her, "a skirt?" she questioned.

Betty nodded, "I bought this last month with Veronica," she explained, pulling out a simple black leather skirt with a zipper up the front.

"Betty, are you…" Alice started, "I mean are you…"

"Mom, I'm not going to have sex with Jughead on homecoming night," Betty exclaimed, "how clique would that be?"

Alice closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "I…"

Betty looked at her mom, "you really think that we're having sex?" she questioned, "we just started dating."

"Betty," Alice began, "those pictures…"

"Oh my god! Let them go!" Betty screamed, "Archie was being an ass."

"I understand that" Alice continued, "but you looked…"

"I looked what, mom?" Betty asked.

"You looked comfortable."

"I was. I am," Betty admitted, "why is that a bad thing?"

Alice shook her head, "forget I said anything," she said, "so we need a matching set."

"A what?"

"A top and underwear that match."

Betty's eyes bugged, "why?"

Alice held up the skirt, "because this leaves little to nothing to the imagination. And I would like you to be covered, just in case."

"Whatever you say mom."

Nodding, Alice walked out of Betty's room.

Jughead climbed the ladder. Knocking on the window he smiled when Betty came out of her bathroom.

"Jug," she whispered opening her window, "what are you doing here?"

Climbing through, "I wanted to see you," he whispered, pulling her close.

Cupping his cheeks, Betty kissed him softly, "my mom is crazy."

"So is my dad."

"She's not having a conniption that I want to wear her Serpent jacket to homecoming or the fact that I want to look the part."

Jughead smiled, "my dad is happy I'm going."

"Are you?" Betty asked sitting on her bed.

Jughead sat down beside her, "I'm happy to be going with you," he admitted, "because if not for you and whatever we are, then I would not be going."

Betty smiled, "so I'm guessing you didn't go to dances at South Side High?"

"No," Jughead said, "I was usually hanging out at the Whyte Wyrm."

"What's that?"

"The home base, you could call it of the Serpents."

"Is that where?"

Jughead looked at Betty, "Yeah."

"Was it with…" Betty began, "um…"

"Toni," he supplied, "yeah once."

"Oh."

Pulling her to him, "Betty, I don't expect anything from you. Not until you're ready."

"I know, I just…"

"I'm not going anywhere."

Betty gnawed on her lip, "Betty," Jughead warned, "you really need to stop that."

Cupping her cheeks, Jughead pressed his lips to hers. Tracing her bottom lip for permission.

Sighing into the kiss, Betty wrapped her arms around Jughead's neck as his tongue slipped into her mouth.

"Uh huh," Alice Cooper coughed, "Jughead, I presume."

Losing his balance, Jughead almost fell off her bed, "yes," he answered standing up quickly, "I should go."

"Yes, you should," Alice agreed, watching him go through the window.

"Night Betty," he said, shrugging at her.

"Night, Jug," she said, biting her lip.

"Stop that," he mouthed.

Climbing down the ladder, Jughead walked quickly to his bike. Looking up he smiled at Betty who was closing her window.

"And you don't see why I'm worried?" Alice demanded to know. Looking at her daughter.

"Nothing happened," Betty argued. Not able to wipe the smile off her face.

"Betty!"

"Mom!"

The two Cooper women glared at each other. Neither willing to give an ich.

"I'm going to bed," Alice said leaving the room, "Good night, Elizabeth."

"Good night, mom," Betty said climbing into bed.

Walking into school the next day, Betty was still smiling, "girl that smile," Veronica said, "what is going on?"

"Jughead and I are going to homecoming," she gushed.

"He said yes," Veronica assumed, "B!"

Jughead walked up, "good morning," he said pulling Betty close.

"Awe, such a boyfriend move," Veronica spouted.

Jughead stiffened, "oh my god, it's just a word," Veronica assured him, "it doesn't change anything."

Betty looked at Jughead, "we don't have to…"

"I'm okay with it," he admitted, tightening his arm around her shoulders, "I just haven't been in this situation before."

"Neither have I," Betty admitted.

"EEE!" Veronica squealed, "you two are so going to win homecoming king and queen.

"V, don't!"

"Too late," Kevin said coming to join them.

Closing his eyes, Jughead took a deep breath, "stop gnawing on your lip," he whispered to Betty when he opened his eyes.

Betty looked at him, "I didn't…"

"It's okay," he whispered, "it'll be fine."

"Oh!" Betty exclaimed, "about homecoming."

Jughead looked nervous, "my mom wants to 'meet' you," she started, "so she is inviting you and your dad to dinner before the dance."

"But they know each other," he stated.

"I know."

Kissing her head, "what time?"

"6."

"We'll be there. Do we need to bring anything?" he asked as they walked to class.

"Just yourselves," Betty answered taking his hand.

Archie watched them walk down the hallway. No way was he going to let them win homecoming king and queen.

"Archiekins?" Veronica asked, noticing her boyfriend watching Betty, "seriously?"

"What?" he snapped.

"Why are you so jealous?" she asked.

"I'm not!" he seethed, "but that Serpent shouldn't be here."

Rolling her eyes, "let it go. Betty likes him and she's not going to let him go."

"We'll see about that."

Veronica watched Archie stalk down the hall. Something was bothering her boyfriend.

"Did you really nominate Betty and the hobo for homecoming king and queen?" Cheryl asked coming to stand beside her.

"Yes!" Veronica retorted, "they deserve it. Especially after everything that has happened. What's your problem with it?"

Cheryl snorted, "no one is allowed to wear leather better than me," she said walking away.


So Jughead is going as FP and Betty is going as Alice. Sounds like homecoming will be one to remember. What did you think?