Riverdale

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder?

Summary: The expression "Distance never separates two hearts that really care" has been constantly roaming in 18-year-old, Betty Cooper's, mind ever since graduation. Will that remain true for Betty and her boyfriend Jughead, who are attending separate colleges over 1,000 miles apart from each other?

August 16th, 2020

It was Jughead Jones's second to last day at home before leaving for college. He had spent the day saying goodbye to all his friends at a small party his girlfriend, Betty, his best friend, Archie (who he had just forgiven for kissing Betty months prior), his dad, and his dad's girlfriend/Betty's mom, Alice, threw for him. And yes before anyone else asks, he does think it's weird that his dad is dating his girlfriend's mom. Especially since he and Betty were in a serious relationship first, but he'd never tell them that. It was a fun day. He got to say goodbye to all of his best Serpent friends, including Toni and Cheryl who convinced the Pretty Poisons to join the Serpents, along with other good friends like Kevin Keller and Moose Mason (who had been able to come home from his current station for a few days to say goodbye to his friends before they left for college). Jughead and Betty who were the current Serpent leaders appointed Toni the new Serpent leader. Since they had a little time to kill before they planned to go to Pop's with their parents and Jughead's sister, Jellybean, Betty decided that it was finally time to go up to their shared bedroom and talk about her and Jughead's future together.

"Jug, I think it's time to have the discussion," Betty says after closing the door and having them sit down in the window.

"Do we have to?"

They had been dreading the conversation and pushed it aside for as long as possible.

"Jug, you leave the day after tomorrow. We've pushed it aside for as long as we can."

"I know," he said sighing. "How exactly do we start?"

"I'm scared, Jug. I've done my research on long-distance relationships and almost every high school couple that tries to go long distance at different colleges ends up breaking up within the first three months."

"Betty, I think it's well established that we aren't a normal high school couple."

"I know, but we are still going to be living over a thousand miles apart and it terrifies me."

"I know, but we can call or at the very least text each other every day, have weekly video chats, and if we both get jobs we could save up money to see each other in person maybe one weekend a month."

"I guess that's true. Are you not scared at all?"

"Maybe a little, but we've survived through way worse. I think that with everything we've been through, something as trivial as 1,074 miles should be no problem for us."

"I'd like to think so. I just don't want to lose you, Jug."

"I don't want to lose you either and with that said I think now is the perfect time to give you this."

And then, to Betty's surprise, Jughead pulled out a present from under the bed and handed it to her.

"What's this?"

"Consider it a belated graduation/early birthday present."

On the label, it said "To my amazing Serpent Queen" and inside is a pink Serpents jacket and a beanie exactly like Jugheads. Except it's pink instead of black, of course.

"I know that you said that your fine with one of the black jackets, but you deserve to have a special one and well the beanie just matches so perfectly."

"Oh, definitely. Thank you, Jug."

"You're welcome. That's not all though. Check the jacket's right pocket."

In the pocket, she found a velvet ring box.

"Oh, um Jug, I love you, but we are way too young to be getting married."

"It's not an engagement ring Betts. It's just a ring. I found it when I was looking at earrings for Jellybean. I thought you'd like it."

"Are those our birthstones?"

"Yeah, sapphire and tourmaline."

"It's beautiful, thank you. I just feel bad that I don't have anything for you."

"I already have you; I don't need anything else."

She couldn't tell you which came first, her blushing or her smiling, but she did know that happy tears began to fill her eyes upon hearing that.

"I love you so much Jug."

"I love you too Betty."

They gave each other a hug and a long kiss.

"I can't believe that after all this time, you still find ways to surprise me," she told Jughead before standing up and putting on the ring, jacket, and beanie.

"That's a good thing right."

"It's a great thing. Now I look like your Serpent Queen."

"You look perfect in any color, but pink is definitely your color Betty," he said standing up and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Thank you," she said wrapping her arms around his neck.

They were giving each other another kiss when they heard a knock on the door.

"Can I come in?" they heard Jellybean ask.

"Yeah," they answered together.

"What's up Jellybean?" Betty asked.

"Dad wanted me to ask you if you guys are ready to go."

"Yeah. Tell them to go ahead and we'll meet them there," Jughead said.

"Okay."

"Are you feeling better about things Betty?"

"I think so. If you believe we'll make it work then I do too. I mean we're still in this for the long haul right?"

"Right."

"Okay. Ready for your last dinner at Pop's till Christmas break?" Betty asked her boyfriend.

"Yeah."

"I'll meet you downstairs, I need to grab a few things."

"All right."

Jughead headed downstairs and a few minutes later Betty arrived ready to go.

"All set?" he asked with both motorcycle helmets in his hands.

"Yep," she replied taking her helmet.

They arrived at Pop's to see their parents and Jellybean sitting at the family's usual booth.

"There you guys are," Alice said.

"Pop is making our usuals," F.P. added.

Betty and Jughead slid in the booth next to Jellybean and the five of them began talking. They talked all throughout the meal, Betty and Jughead talked about how excited they were for college, Alice was talking about her new promotion at R.I.V.W., F.P. talked about Archie giving him his job back at Andrew's construction, and Jellybean talked about how excited she is about starting eighth grade. By the time dessert came around Betty was ready to share some interesting news.

"So, since this is the last night we are all going to be together for a while I need to share something."

"What is it Elizabeth?"

"Are you okay?" asked Jughead.

"I will be. Jug, do you remember when Veronica had temporarily changed her last name last year?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I've been talking to Ms. Andrews for a few days about doing the same thing."

"You want to change your last name?" F.P. asked.

"Yes. I can't get rid of the memories or the genes I inherited from him, but I can get rid of his name. It's the only thing left that I can actually do to be rid of him once and for all."

"So, you're going to change your last name to Smith as I did?"

"No mom. It wouldn't make much sense to get rid of the surname of one serial killer if I'm just going to be giving myself a surname of a different serial killer. I was planning to use grandma's maiden name. But I wasn't going to sign anything until I talked to you guys first. Mom, Jug what do you think?"

"I think if it will make you feel safer and happy then I support it 100%," Jughead expressed slinging his arm around her shoulders.

"Thanks, Jug. Mom, what about you?"

"I support this plan too."

"Thanks, Mom."

"So, your planning on changing your surname to Gracin then?" Alice asked.

"That's the plan until I get married and would probably change it again."

"Well, you won't have to worry about that for a while Elizabeth."

"Same with you boy," F.P. said.

"I know mom/dad," Jughead and Betty replied before rolling their eyes.

"Officially letting the Riverdale Cooper name die out is a great idea, Betty. I wonder if I could get the Cooper name off of Polly and the twins as well?"

"I'm sure Molly or Sierra could find a way to take "Cooper" off the twins, but in regard to Polly that's something she'd need to do herself since she's over 18."

After that, the family finished their desserts and went home. With her family and boyfriend's support, she finished signing the documents. Jughead sat on the bed while Betty set the papers on her desk.

"Is it all set?" Jughead asked.

"I think so. I'm going to give these to Mary tomorrow and hopefully, it will be official before I leave for New Haven. You should finish packing while I do that."

"I'm all done," Jughead said pointing to a single bag.

"That's it?" Betty asked confused.

"I was homeless, remember? I learned how to travel light. Besides, I couldn't bring that much more with me anyway. I'm going to be driving my motorcycle there."

"V and I are going to fly to New York together and then I'm going to take the train to New Haven," Betty said sitting next to her boyfriend.

"I thought Veronica was going to drive to New York in her new car?"

"Her dad hired someone to drive her car so there's more room for her stuff."

"That makes more sense."

"Do you have any specific plans for tomorrow?"

"I was actually thinking I would spend a good part of the day with Jellybean just the two of us and then we'll be back in time for the four of us to go to the swimming hole together as we planned."

"Have you heard from your mom at all?"

"Not since she barely made it to graduation. By the look on your face when you brought up Polly, I'm guessing you haven't heard from her."

"Not since Halloween. She didn't even bother to be there for graduation. I guess between her and Charles I just wasn't meant to have siblings."

"Well, there's always Jellybean and with her about to go into high school she's going to need you."

"Knowing both our mom's I'd say that's definitely true."

Betty got up and took her new jacket and beanie before turning to Jughead.

"It's the last night with the two of us alone for a little while, whatever shall we do?" she asked smirking at him.

"I might have a few ideas," he joked back before pulling her on top of him.

The rest of the night went by quickly after that.

The Next Afternoon

Betty stood in her driveway with Archie and Veronica waiting for Jughead and Jellybean to come back home.

"I thought you said he'd be back by 4:00," Archie said.

"Relax Archie. I just texted him. They'll be back any minute."

"Did you guys finally have the discussion?" Veronica asked.

"Yesterday, after the party. He told me that we are going to be fine and then he gave me a pink Southside Serpent jacket, a pink beanie, and this ring," she said showing the ring to Veronica.

"Oh my gosh, Betty. It's so pretty."

"I know."

"1,000 miles is a lot. Are you guys sure that you'll be fine?" Archie asked.

"We have faith."

A few minutes later the Jones siblings rolled up.

"I told you, Arch."

Jughead and Jellybean walked up to them with big smiles on their faces.

"Did you guys have fun?" Betty asked.

"Yeah. We went to The Bijou, Pickens Park, and then the Comic Book store," Jellybean responded.

"Alright kid. Grandpa's inside to watch you till dad or Ms. Smith comes home," Jughead said.

"I'm almost 14. I don't need a babysitter."

"In Riverdale you do," he told her gently pushing her towards the door.

"I'll be right back," he told his friends.

Within five minutes Jughead was back outside backpack in hand. The four of them pilled into Veronica's new Firebird and headed towards the swimming hole.

That night

After a few hours of swimming and sunbathing the four of them sat around the campfire roasting wieners and just chilling.

"Are you nervous about college, Jughead?" Archie asked.

"I'm actually kind of excited. I'll be around other authors and will hopefully be able to be academically challenged without the fear of my classmates trying to kill me this time."

"Let's hope," Archie said.

"What about you Archie? Do you have any plans?" Betty asked.

"With Jughead's dad looking after Andrew's construction and my uncle looking after the community center, I've decided to take my break from Riverdale by joining the Army. Basic training starts in a few weeks."

"Our town hero becomes our nation's hero," Jughead expressed.

"That's great Archie," Veronica said.

"Your dad would be very proud Arch," Betty added.

"Thanks. Are you ready for New Haven and being back in New York?" Archie asked the girls.

"I've been dreaming of Yale my whole life. I still don't know if I'm going to be majoring in Criminal Psychology or journalism yet."

"You'd be great at either B."

"I have passion for both. I'll just have to see where the college road will take me."

"I've always been set for business. Running Pop's and La Bonne Nuit is fun, I'm just not sure it's something I want to do for the rest of my life."

"You've got plenty of time to figure it out V."

"I know. In the meantime, I cannot wait for you to meet my girls from New York B. They're going to love you."

"Me too, but what I'm looking forward to the most is a fresh start."

"Oh, definitely. Someplace where you don't have to be suspicious of every person that you don't personally know," Veronica added.

"Being in an environment where you can be yourself without getting judged by everyone," Jughead said.

"Living in a town that's not clouded by cults, mob bosses, or psychopaths," said Archie.

"And someplace where most people aren't going to know about your sins or serial killer relatives," Betty finished.

"Let's make a toast for surviving this god-forsaken town and starting the next chapters of our lives," Veronica says raising up her root beer.

"Hear, hear," the three other teens responded.

And the four of them finished the night off strong making smores, sharing happy memories, and just being together.

The next afternoon

It was around 1:00 in the afternoon when Jughead and the people he's closest to gather around outside his and Betty's house getting ready to send him off.

"Good luck Jughead," Alice told him after giving him a quick hug.

"Thanks, Ms. Smith. Take care of my dad and Jellybean for me."

"I will."

"I'm proud of you, son. Have fun and go and own that town."

"Thanks, Dad. I'll try."

He then turned to Jellybean who had tears in her eyes.

"I'm not going to be gone forever, baby sis."

"I know. I just wish we got to spend more time together."

"Me too J.B., how about we make it a plan that every time I came home for a long visit we spend the day together just like we did yesterday."

"I'd like that."

He pulled his dad and sister into a hug before turning to Archie and his mom.

"Fred would be so happy for you Jughead. Just take care of yourself, okay?"

"I will. Thank you for everything you and Fred did for me, Ms. Andrews. I'll never be able to repay you."

"Just go out and live the best life you can, that's all we want," she told him also giving him a hug.

"Good luck in basic training," Jughead said to Archie.

"Good luck to you too," he responded before they also hugged.

Veronica just gave him a quick hug as well and also told him good luck. Finally, he got to Betty who had tears going down her face. Everybody stepped aside a little to give them a tiny bit of privacy.

"I'm not ready for this. I'm going to miss you so much," Betty told him.

"I know, I'm going to miss you too," he said before pulling her into a tight hug.

"Promise me you'll be careful. I'm not going to be able to handle a third almost death," she said after they pulled away from the hug.

"Everything's going to be fine Betty. We're going to be fine; I promise."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Call me as soon as you get there."

"I will."

He then cupped her face and kissed her. After a few minutes, they had to pull away from each other before things got heated. Alice and Veronica wrapped their arms around Betty and Jellybean wrapped her arms around her dad as Jughead put his bag on his back and sat on his motorcycle. Before putting his helmet on he told everybody that he loves them, and after he waved goodbye he drove off.

One Week Later

It's now August 25th the day that Betty Gracin and Veronica Lodge are leaving for New York. Just like with Jughead a week earlier almost everybody who's close to the girls was gathered outside to send them off.

"Have fun Betty," F.P. and Mary Andrews told her before they hugged her.

"I promise to come visit you," Betty and Kevin told each other before hugging each other as well.

"God-speed cousin. Take care of yourself," Cheryl told her before her and Toni both gave her quick hugs.

"Be careful, Archie. I need you in one piece."

"I know. I'll be fine, Betty," he told her giving her a hug.

"You can always count on me if you need some teenage girl advice," she told Jellybean.

"Thanks, Betty. I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you and Jughead."

"Water under the bridge. Just be careful and look after my mom, okay?"

"I promise," J.B. replied giving her a big hug.

Only her mom was left.

"Oh, Elizabeth," she said sounding like she's going to cry.

"Don't cry, mom. If you cry I'm going to cry."

"Enjoy these years, Betty. It goes by so fast and please be careful."

"I will. It will be fine."

"I love you."

"I love you too mom," she said also giving her a big hug.

"You ready B?"

"Yeah."

Betty and Veronica climbed into the car Veronica's mom, Hermione ordered for them, and waved goodbye to their families and friends. After B&V arrived in New York, it was their turn for a temporary goodbye.

"Do you have to leave for New Haven right now?"

"Yeah. Sorry V, but I'm exhausted. I just want to get settled in my dorm and take a nap."

"It's okay. We'll see each other two weekends a month right."

"That's the plan. I'll meet your New York crew next weekend."

"Okay. Be safe B."

"You too, V," Betty said before giving Veronica a hug and calling a cab to take her to the train station.

It was a three-hour train ride so as soon as she was settled into a seat she pulled out her favorite book The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. After an hour on the train, she heard her phone ring.

"Hey, Jug."

"Hey. Are you in New York yet?"

"I'm on the train heading to New Haven. How's the first week going?"

"Fine. I signed up for volunteering at the school's library also I got a gig tutoring English at the local middle school."

"Sounds like you've found a way to keep yourself busy."

"Yeah. I'm trying to immerse myself in the literary culture here. I even know what I want to write my next novel about."

"What?"

"Penelope Blossom. I wrote a short story about the Gargoyle King at Stonewall, but I didn't tell the full story. The only catch is that it would obviously include your family."

"I never said that you couldn't write it. I was just upset that you didn't talk to me about it first. Now you are so it's fine Jug."

"I'm almost done with the one about Stonewall. I'll give you a copy when I come up to see you. I was thinking about making the entirety of Penelope's story into a mini-series of novels staring Briana Carter & Jasper Johnson childhood friends who fell in love while figuring out the mysteries that made their small quiet town turn into a town out of a horror movie. Guest staring their best friends Aaron Anthony, Vanessa Logan, Kaleb Kenedy, and of course Cathryn Brooks."

"Gee, that story sounds so familiar. " Betty jokes.

"I know."

"What are our names in the Stonewall one?"

"Emily Candace, Jackson James, Violet Long, and Alex Armada."

"What would this mini-series be called?"

"I'm not sure yet. I'm still deciding how I'd break up "Princella Brooks's and Henry Carter's" stories up."

"I'm guessing Henry's my dad?"

"Yeah. The most difficult part would be that their stories are connected, but not connected at the same time."

"You don't have to remind me. I know my family history all too well. If anyone could figure out how to put it to paper, It would be you Jug."

"Thanks. Okay. I've got to go. I've got to get to the library before it closes."

"Okay. I love you."

"Love you too."

It was another two hours before Betty arrived in New Haven. She made a note of where the train station was and its schedule for when she visits Veronica and headed towards her school. Once she arrived at her dorm she texted her mom and Jughead to let them know that she had arrived safely. Once she unpacked her clothes she was so exhausted that she could barely keep her eyes open. She was asleep within a few minutes of her head hitting the pillow.

Two Weeks Later

Betty awoke bright and early with a wide smile on her face. Today was the first time she was going to see Jughead in person in over three weeks. They text every day and have video chatted every Friday since he's been gone, but god has she missed him. She had made a reservation at a restaurant near campus for dinner and made sure her roommate was staying someplace else so that they could have the room to themselves. After she got dressed and ate breakfast she did everything she could to keep herself busy. Cleaned up the room, did her laundry, and finally finished decorating her side of the dorm. She was standing in the lobby of her dorm hall reading a book when she got a text.

To: Betts

From: Juggie

Stopping for gas. I'll be there in a few minutes.

She hurried back into her room to put her book away. When she got back to the hall she saw her roommate walk up to her.

"Hey, Betty. I need to run up to our room really quick. Can I borrow your key?"

"Sure."

A few minutes later heard Jug's voice from ahead of her.

"Betty."

"Jughead!"

She ran up to him throwing her arms around him pulling him into a tight hug.

"I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, Betts."

After they pulled away heard her roommate behind her.

"Betty. Here's our key back."

"Thanks."

"You must be the famous Jughead. Betty talks about you all the time."

"Abby!"

"Roommate I'm assuming," Jug said amused.

"Yeah. Anyway, I'll head back over to Maya's now. Rooms all ours."

"Thank you. See you on Monday."

"See ya."

After Abby had left Betty lead Jughead to her room.

"She seems nice," Jughead said.

"Yeah. She works on the paper with me."

Once Betty and Jughead were back into her room, Betty locked the door and jumped into Jughead's arms. Things moved quickly after that as you would assume. It was around 2:00 after they had finished their second round and Betty figured they should get some food in them before they do anymore "catching up".

"There's a dining hall on campus for lunch and I made reservations at a restaurant named South Bay for dinner."

After getting dressed they left to go to the dining hall.

"How's the writer's workshop going?"

"Good. I like being in an environment where we can talk openly about our writing without being judged."

"So, you haven't met anymore Bret's then?"

"A couple, but the professor makes sure they keep their judgments to themselves. I finished my Stonewall novel a few days ago and already began working on my Penelope Blossom novel."

"That's great, Jug. I'm happy your finally at a place where you can actually connect with your peers."

"How's it going here?"

"Good. Besides working on the school paper, I also have a job at this little Café/Bookstore by campus."

"Any more thoughts on what you're going to major in?"

"If you would have asked me sophomore year I would have said that I wanted to be a journalist without any shadow of a doubt, but now I'm definitely leaning more towards criminal psych. I think I'd be a pretty good F.B.I. agent. "

"Oh, you definitely would Betts. I don't think that there isn't a person back home who'd disagree with that."

"I meet Veronica's New York friends last week."

"Oh yeah. How'd that go?"

"Good, yeah I liked them. Me, her, and her friend Katy spent the last day shopping. Katy and V said that I needed a more mature look. They basically picked out a whole new wardrobe for me."

"How mature are we talking here?"

"Basically, lots of dresses, skirts, crop tops, high boots. They call it relationship sexy. A wardrobe to make me feel sexy without making you feel uncomfortable."

"Interesting."

"It was fun. V showed me all of her favorite places and we went to this party where she got so drunk that she drunk dialed Archie, fell into the pool trying to dance half-naked on one of the tables, and got temporary colorblind."

"Sounds fun. Are you worried that she would fall too deep back into her partying ways?"

"I think once she starts understanding the reality of the workload that you have at college as well as beginning to date again I think she'll be fine."

Jughead nodded in agreement as he was finishing his food. Betty paid the bill and took Jughead on a quick tour around town before they headed back to the dorm. For the next five hours they cuddled while watching a couple of movies and after dinner, they took showers and cuddled watching another movie together before falling asleep in each other's arms. The next day after some more "catching up", Betty and Jughead prepare to say goodbye again.

"Can't you stay a little longer?"

"No, I can't. I'm sorry Betty. If I don't leave now I won't make it back before Monday classes."

"I know, this just sucks."

"I know," he said pulling her into a hug. "but these aren't forever goodbyes. They're more like see you laters."

She pulled away to look into his eyes and nodded in agreement.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Jug."

Jughead sat down on his motorcycle before giving her a long goodbye kiss. She watched him drive away with her heart aching. Is love enough to handle the pain of constantly having to say goodbye? She wasn't sure, but she did know that she was going to try her best not to give up.

...

So, is the expression "Distance never separates two hearts that really care" true? Maybe? It would depend on the couple. In Betty and Jughead's case between the long-distance and busy schedules, it was just too hard to continue trying to be in a relationship. They made the mutual choice to call it quits when they both returned home for Christmas and New Year's. After the New Year's Eve kiss, they went up to the bedroom to talk.

"I love you Jughead, but maybe this is just too hard. Every time we have to say goodbye my heart breaks."

"Mine too."

"So, I think it's time to let each other go and hope we find our way back to each other. Maybe after college, if your still single and I'm still single and we are both living in the same place again."

"Yeah. I think it's time too, it's what's best for both of us right now."

"Go out on one last round? For a while anyway," she said wrapping her arms around his neck. He smirked as unzipped her dress and smashed his lips against hers. After one last hurrah, for the time being, Jughead decided to stay over at Archie's.

"Jug?" she said as he was at the door.

"Yeah?"

"We are doing the right thing, aren't we?"

"Yeah, I think that with where we are in our lives right now this is the right thing to do."

And with one last kiss, Betty and Jughead officially were on a long pause. Their friendship never took a pause though even as they ended up in new relationships. In the back of everybody's minds, people knew that Betty and Jughead are meant to be together and eventually they'd find their way back to each other.

A.N.: Obviously the graduation episode didn't go anything like that, but this is what I believe should have happened. I'm so excited for the time jump and I really hope Bughead and Choni are endgame. Varchie too I guess, but mostly Bughead and Choni. R&R if you'd like and check out my other Riverdale One-Shots Define Serial Killer? and Please, Don't Leave Me.

Until Next Time

Toodles!