Bad Things

When you came in, the air went out

And every shadow filled up with doubt

I don't know who you think you are

But before the night is through

I wanna do bad things with you

Bad Things - Jace Everett

September 2019 - Two Days After The Surprise Party

Betty collapsed onto Jughead's chest with a strangled cry, swooning from yet another orgasm and pulling his climax from him with her still quivering walls. They had just gone for a second round shortly after an already pretty intense lovemaking session so for the moment, they were content to lay together in complete euphoria.

Once they'd both started to regain their senses and were completely relaxed, Betty decided that it was probably as good a time as any to bring up the subject that had plagued her mind since the party a few nights ago.

"Juggie, can I ask you something?" she wondered.

"Always, baby," he replied, dropping a tender kiss to her hair.

"Um, how long are we going to keep doing this?" she asked quietly, raising up to see his face. She didn't want to ruin the beautiful moment they were sharing, but it was something that was eating at her. She enjoyed what they had together, but it was beginning to feel like things would never change between them.

Jughead groaned, pressing the heel of his palms into his eyes as he thought. He knew she wanted to come clean to everyone now, to finally be a real couple, as she'd once put it but it was never going to be that easy. He wanted to tell people too, but he was all too aware of what was going to happen when they went public. And, honestly, the thought scared him to death.

He was trying not to let his guilt, fears, and insecurities run his life, but he still felt like he was drowning in them. He hadn't been able to get over the guilt he carried with him, it just kept compounding and getting worse. Especially since that horrible night a few months ago when he tried to confess everything to Archie and their lives imploded with one single phone call...

March 2019 - Collapsing

Jughead paced back and forth in front of the picture window in his parent's house, his heart firmly lodged in his throat. He had been waiting all afternoon for Archie to get back from his study group so that they could finally have 'the talk'. He knew it wasn't going to be an easy topic, and Jughead was likely to end up with a shattered jaw, but he was getting tired of all the sneaking around.

He and Betty had been seeing each other in secret now for almost five months and Jughead had finally worked up the nerve to tell Archie. They had discussed it as a couple and both decided that with Fred and Mary on a business trip upstate and Betty doing whatever it was she and Veronica did on their all-girls NYC trips, this would be the best time to tell Archie the truth about their relationship.

The last six months had been the best of Jughead's life and he wanted to be able to share it with the world, starting with his family. He wanted to be able to take her out to dinner without worry, wanted to take her to the Whyte Wyrm to drink and shoot pool, and spend nights hanging out in his apartment for a change. He didn't want her to feel like he was ashamed to be with her. He was already half in love with her and he knew she was it for him.

"Hey, Jug. What are you doing here?" Archie asked as he walked in the front door, sitting his bag down by the stairs. Jughead swallowed around the lump in his throat and gathered up his courage to face the music. After this, everything was going to change and hopefully not for the worst.

"I, uh- I actually wanted to talk to you about something, it's kind of important to me. I thought maybe we could order pizza and have a guy's night? I really need to get something off my chest..."

"Okay, are you alright? You're kinda freaking me out, Jug."

"Yeah, it's just–" Jughead began but was interrupted by the shrill ringing of the house phone. He let out the breath he was holding as Archie held up his hand and motioned for him to hold on, stepping into the kitchen to answer the call.

"Hello– Oh, hey Mom... What? Mom– Mom? Slow down, I can't understand... Okay, Mom, just tell me what's wrong–" Jughead watched in horror as his brother's eyes grew large and all the color drained from Archie's face.

He dropped the receiver as his entire body went limp, barely giving Jughead time to catch him before they both hit the ground. Jughead could hear Mary's wails on the other end of the line, screaming something that wasn't discernible in the state she was in.

"Arch–? Archie, what's wrong? What happened?!" Jughead demanded, shaking Archie before giving up and grabbing the phone, bringing it to his ear. "Mom? Mom, what's going on? Archie just collapsed and I don't–"

"He's gone, son," she cried, her voice breaking, "Fred... H-He's gone..."

"Betts, you know how much I want to tell everyone about us too, but we've been through this. I'm not sure if Archie will mentally be able to handle it right now," he sat up, letting the sheets fall down around his waist while he ran his hand through his messy curls, "This year has been so hard on all of us already, but most especially on Archie."

"I mean, with Mom taking that job in Chicago right after we lost Fred and then that jackass Frank coming in and practically running Andrews Construction into the ground," Jughead growled, thinking back on the mess he and Archie were left to clean up after Jughead ran Fred's deadbeat brother out of Riverdale.

"He's been working non-stop just to get caught up. Hell, I am surprised he was even able to make it to his own surprise party. It's been so bad, I've even had to send Serpent crews out just to help keep the thing afloat. Couple that mess with trying to still go to school full-time... I'm honestly terrified that one more big event -like learning that his brother has been dating his high school sweetheart behind his back- just might be the linchpin that makes him go off. I know it's not exactly what we want to do, but I'm trying to protect him... and you too."

Betty sighed sadly, not wanting to concede but knowing Jughead had a valid point. She'd been there for them and could see just how hard Fred's passing was on the family.

And no matter how much she wanted to shout from the rooftops that she was hopelessly in love with Jughead Jones, she didn't want to do it at the risk of putting either he or Archie through anything else.

She knew the Andrews/Jones family had been through hell in the last few months and things were just now starting to get back to normal. Even the old Archie was starting to make an appearance again. It would be selfish of her to ruin that by demanding that Jughead tell him something knowing he'd meltdown over.

"You're absolutely right, Juggie. It was insensitive of me to bring it up so soon after... well, yeah. I'm sorry if I ruined our night by pressuring you. I know you're just looking out for your brother and I don't want to hurt Archie either–"

"Hey, hey... baby, no. It is not insensitive and you didn't ruin anything, you hear me? You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Elizabeth Cooper. And when the time is right, I'll take out a full-page article in the paper if you want," Jughead cupped her face, skimming his thumbs across the apples of her cheeks. He grinned down at her and whispered, "I hate you so much, Duchess..."

"I hate you more, Snake Boy," Betty bit back teasingly, "But I'm not suggesting that we put an announcement in the Register or anything. It's just that, well, we've been sneaking around for almost a year now, Jug. It would just be nice to be able to go on a real date without having to drive all the way to Seaside or Greendale to do it. I'm so happy with you that it's hard having to keep what we have hidden from everyone."

"I know, baby. I can't stand all this sneaking around either and I'm so fucking sorry that we've had to live like this for so long. Look, if this is something you think needs to be done now, for the betterment of our relationship, then I'll bite the bullet and tell Archie. I'll talk to Mom first though. Maybe she can help me soften the blow when I tell him. Hell, if it really is upsetting you that much, I'll call right now and tell him everything. I don't want you to ever think our relationship isn't important to me," Jughead said, holding her tighter, his thumbs still running along her flushed cheek.

"No, Juggie. You're right, it's not a good time yet. We can wait just a little longer. Maybe we could get past V's Halloween party and then tell him the truth? That way it will be after our anniversary and we can do it before the holidays?" Jughead nodded as Betty beamed, gazing into his eyes. She thought about what he said and added, "Also... I do know how important I am to you, Juggie. I can see it in your eyes every time you look at me. Just promise me, no matter what happens when he finds out, we'll be there for each other?"

"Of course. I will always have your back, Betts."

October 2018 - The Halloween That Started It All

Betty stepped into the dimly lit bar, self-conscious of the salacious costume she'd let Veronica talk her into wearing. Her heart was racing knowing that she was about to see Jughead for the first time since their hot and heavy session over the phone.

They'd both been super busy with classes and work but had been texting non-stop ever since that night. Things seemed okay over the phone, there was even some dirty talk and flirting between them, but she was worried about how things would be once they saw each other face to face.

Will he regret what happened? What if he decides it was a mistake? She couldn't keep her fears from running through her head as she scanned the room for her friends.

It also didn't help her nerves much that she would be seeing Archie again tonight after all that's happened. She'd just recently agreed to try the 'friends' thing with Archie since he and Veronica had gotten back together two weeks ago– at Betty's insistence. She wasn't going to be the reason that her friend couldn't be with the boy she liked, especially since she was clearly ready to move on as well.

But would he know what she and Jughead did?

God, would he pick up on the fact that she'd had her first-ever cybersex experience with a man he grew with his whole life just a few weeks before?

How was she supposed to look any of them in the eye now?

Would she even be able to look at Jughead without blushing and giving them away?

She didn't know the answer to any of those things, but she knew that she couldn't bail out now without causing suspicion. Besides, Betty was kind of excited to see what everyone else was forced to wear this year.

Since it was Veronica's party -and she paid a pretty penny to rent the Whyte Wyrm out for a private event- she'd insisted on it being themed. Everyone needed to be dressed as Golden Era Hollywood icons and Betty was genuinely curious to see what outfits the boys chose. Betty knew Veronica was dressing as Audrey Hepburn from Sabrina and she'd somehow let Veronica convince her to dress up as Marilyn Monroe from The Seven Year Itch .

Betty had styled her hair, curling and pinning it to be more like Marilyn's while keeping her makeup light– save for the cat eyes and ruby red lips. Even Betty had to admit, while the dress was a bit out of her comfort zone (the plunging neckline far more revealing than anything she'd ever worn before), she looked fucking amazing in it.

A sharp whistle cut through the air suddenly and she blushed, seeing Veronica come to greet her with a grin stretched across her face. She looked breathtaking in her strapless white gown with black floral embroidery and black trim along the hemline. Along with her long white satin gloves, Veronica really looked like she'd stepped right out of the silver screen.

"Damn, B! See, I told you that you'd make a killer Marilyn! I'm so glad I had Katy send me this dress for you. I mean it, you look gorgeous!" Veronica gushed excitedly, wrapping her in a fierce hug. Betty's face continued to flame, noticing all the eyes that were focused on them now that Veronica was with her.

"Thanks, V. I still feel a bit shy, but also weirdly confident if that's even a thing?" she laughed nervously, looking around for the others, "Are the guys here?"

Veronica waved her hand casually, "Oh yeah, Archie and Jughead are at the back table. Jug's being a pain and forcing us to guess his costume, but he keeps saying it's 'probably too obscure for us to understand'. I swear, sometimes that boy is such a hipster about things."

Betty giggled, knowing exactly what Veronica meant. Jughead liked to think of himself as a non-conformist (and to an extent, he was) but he also tended to be a bit cliche about the things he enjoyed. It was a quality that never really bothered Betty, however, she did get a kick out of teasing him about it.

As the ladies made their way to the table, laughing and giddy for the festivities that were planned, Betty looked up and noticed both boys' jaws were dragging the floor. She felt a sudden boldness flood her veins as she held Jughead's gaze, giving him a smirk when she reached their booth.

Betty took a moment to soak in Jughead's appreciative gaze before she spared Archie a second glance. She laughed internally when she saw that he seemed to be rendered mute. She smiled politely as she looked over his obvious Humphrey Bogart costume.

"Wow Archie, nice costume. And with that temporary hair color, you make the perfect Linus to V's Sabrina."

"Uh, thanks, Betty. You look, uh... you look nice too. You make a great Marilyn," Archie replied, coughing and trying not to actively stare at her chest.

"Thanks," she said politely, pausing to look around at the decorations covering the usually dingy bar, "You really outdid yourself with this party, V. Did Katy make your dress too?" Betty asked, smiling as Veronica nodded. She gracefully slid into the booth next to Jughead, giving him a shy smile before Archie cleared his throat loudly, pulling her eyes away from the boy beside her.

Jughead had yet to speak a word, completely dumbstruck at her beauty. All he could do was gaze at her in wonder, hoping that his brain would start to function properly before he made a fool of himself or Archie noticed.

He took in every inch of her as she listened to Archie and Veronica talk about the night's agenda, inhaling deeply at the smell of her lavender and sage shampoo that he had grown so fond of. It wasn't until he heard Archie say his name that the spell was broken.

"Sorry, what?" he asked, scowling at Betty's soft giggle. Archie gave a strange look but seemed to brush it off.

"I was saying maybe Betty could tell us who you're supposed to be before the night is through since neither of us could guess it," Archie joked.

"Well, it might be tough knowing Jughead, but I'll give it a go," Betty laughed, giving him a lingering once over, immediately figuring out who he was supposed to be. Just based on the way his hair was slicked back, the thick rim glasses framing his face, and his tweed jacket; it seemed obvious– at least to Betty.

I can't be the only one who got his costume... right? she wondered.

"Seriously, you guys really don't know? Are you kidding?" she snickered, turning to Jughead with a simper, "Arthur Miller, right? I dig it, Jug. Very well thought out."

"THANK YOU! Finally, someone who appreciates the uniqueness of my costume! He was only one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century," he exclaimed, feeling validated on his choice of costume for the first time that night.

"Yes, but you realize he was kind of a pretentious dickhead though, right?" Betty quipped, raising an eyebrow at him, just waiting for him to challenge her. Jughead was about to agree when Veronica spoke up.

"So, what you're saying is that this is the perfect costume for Jughead?" she taunted, causing everyone to burst into a fit of laughter.

"Haha, laugh it up," Jughead replied dryly. He nudged Betty with his elbow and smiled softly, "You really do make a perfect Marilyn, by the way." They started to get lost in each other's eyes until Veronica slammed her hand down on the table and gasped, making them nearly jump out of their skin.

"Wait just a minute! Did you guys plan this?" Veronica asked with a grin, narrowing her eyes and wiggling a finger between them. They both shook their heads in confusion, not entirely sure what Veronica was alluding to. The brunette rolled her eyes at the pair before laughing, "You guys do know that they were totally married, right? Marilyn and Arthur?"

Betty and Jughead both looked away, blushing profusely at her insinuation. She didn't make the connection at first but now it was all she could think about. When she finally regained her composure, Betty shrugged it off, "I mean, I knew they were but no... It was totally not planned. It was– "

"Kismet..." Jughead finished, her heart pounding as she felt him grab her hand dramatically, forcing her to look at him. He smiled softly and said, "What makes you so sad? I think you're the saddest girl I ever met..."

Betty ignored the sudden scowl on Archie's face and turned to face him completely while still holding his hands, continuing the quote in her most alluring Marilyn voice, "'You're the first man that ever said that. I'm usually told how happy I am."

"That's because you make a man feel happy," he breathed, the truth in his words hitting Betty firmly in the chest. Archie clenched his jaw and shifted awkwardly, not really enjoying the way the two were wrapped up in one another.

"What are you guys even talking about?" he questioned hastily, hoping to break whatever spell they seemed to be under. He didn't like the way Jughead was looking at her but before he could make another move, Veronica laughed and placed her hand on Archie's arm.

"Oh Archikins, calm yourself. They are just quoting Ms. Monroe's final film, the one Arthur Miller wrote. Beautifully, might I add," Veronica praised the pair with an excited clap.

"Thanks, V... You know, I love that movie but learning the story behind it just makes me kind of sad. Every time I watch it, I can't help but think about how truly devastated she must have felt knowing that her husband was so embarrassed by her," Betty said, her voice cracking slightly, "Also, I wonder just how horrible it must've been for her, knowing that the only man she ever loved never really loved her at all."

Betty was still fresh out of a broken heart herself (even if Jughead's presence was helping to mend that) so she believed she knew how the woman must have felt– at least in some small way. Jughead squeezed her hand and gave her a sad smile.

"I couldn't agree more," he replied, staring into her eyes intensely. Veronica watched Archie's jaw clench and she sensed that things were about to get awkward so she clapped her hands and changed the subject.

"Well, I think that's enough sadness for one evening, don't you all agree? Now, who wants a drink?"

~~2 hours later~~

Betty leaned over the railing of the second-floor balcony and sighed heavily. If she was being honest with herself, all she really wanted to do was leave and forget this night ever happened. She felt foolish for even being here. The night had started off well enough, with the four of them in a booth having drinks and chatting happily.

She was hoping to somehow spend most of the evening with Jughead, maybe find time to sneak off and talk about what was going on between them, but that idea was shattered the moment that his Serpent crew showed up and stole his attention. That had been two hours ago and he hadn't said another word to her since, let alone sparing her a second glance.

After the first hour of sitting alone in a booth and having drinks with her friends, Betty had enough of being the third wheel. So when Veronica and Archie started getting very handsy, she took that as her cue to make herself scarce.

She looked around for a few minutes, hoping to try and pull Jughead away from the party. She figured since Archie and Veronica were distracted, they could finally talk about his birthday and what they did.

She finally spotted him but there was one problem: the group of Serpent's currently surrounding the pool table with Jughead. She groaned as she watched them all cut up and joke around, wishing that she could be a part of their group.

She only really knew one of them, Joaquin, and that was only because he had been dating her friend since the summer before their senior year. He was a good guy, was always nice to her when he saw her around, or when she and Archie had been on double dates with him and Kevin, so she had no issues with him.

Unfortunately, none of the other Serpents really seemed to care much for Betty, though she wasn't quite sure why. She had never been cross or judgemental towards them in any way. Even still, they were always calling her names and picking on her in high school for being an uptight Northsider, even though she had only lived in Riverdale a few years and was never a part of the town's civil war.

And even though she knew that Jughead had always done his best to curb their comments and treatment towards her, she'd spent most of the last few years actively avoiding the Serpents as best she could. She tried not to worry about all the things she'd heard them saying about her behind her back when Jughead or Archie wasn't there, but things always got around to her anyway.

Like calling her 'Crazy Cooper' after Sweet Pea went through her bag when she wasn't looking and found her anxiety meds. Or spreading lies about her sexual activities, even going so far as to say she was the Bulldogs plaything.

She was pretty sure none of them copped to starting that one when Jughead had to keep Archie from killing all of them. Betty knew that the rumors they spread weren't true, that they only said them to be hurtful, but they didn't realize just how much damage those words caused to her already fragile psyche.

However, she knew that if she and Jughead were going to be together in any capacity, she would need to learn to forgive and forget– however difficult that may be. Betty swallowed the last of her drink quickly and let the liquid courage flow through her veins. She held her head high, giving off all the faux confidence that she was taught growing up.

Even though her stomach churned as she made her way towards them, her nerves kicked into overdrive but she wouldn't let that stop her. She shook them off and kept going, only faltering when she finally got a good look at the scene before her.

It wasn't the group of Serpents who were gathering around the pool area that stopped her, she was already prepared for that. What she didn't expect, however, was to be greeted with the sight of the busty blonde in a skimpy nurse's outfit perched leisurely on the table, leaning down to whisper something into Jughead's ear while he lined up his shot.

Her heart twisted, jealousy seeping into her bones as she looked away from Jughead and this other woman's intimate moment that seemed like it was the most natural thing in the world. Seeing this, Betty couldn't help but feel a bit foolish, wondering to herself if this girl was actually his type of girl. Or maybe she actually was his girl and he was just messing around the other night?

She didn't realize just how long she had been standing there, frozen in place, until a sharp voice cut through her, "Can we help you, Little Miss Sunshine?"

She shook her head slightly, sparing a brief glance at Jughead in time to see him pinning his lady friend against the table and leaning in as he spoke before finally turning around to look at Toni Topaz.

She was staring at Betty as if she had grown a second head, wondering why the hell she was even in their personal space. Betty forced a smile and cleared her throat, trying to hide the pain she felt that Jughead didn't even look at her.

He was several feet away -clearly too engrossed in his game with Joaquin to notice her presence- but when she glanced back, she noticed the girl was now sitting on a stool next to the table, glaring at Betty seemingly for just looking at the Serpent King.

"Oh, yeah, sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were all having a good time? Since Veronica is otherwise occupied at the moment," gesturing towards the booth where she had left the couple making out, "I figured I'd make sure all her guests were taken care of."

Betty knew it's a lame excuse for standing there and staring open-mouthed at them but she smiled tightly, hoping they believed her. All she wanted to do was get out of this situation with a sliver of her dignity intact.

...Suck it up. Cooper's don't show weakness, Elizabeth... Her nails threatened to sink into her palms as her mother's voice echoed in her mind.

"Yeah, we're just peachy-keen, Sandra Dee. Run along now, you won't find your Danny Zucko here," Sweet Pea scoffed, waving his hand in dismissal. She nodded curtly, her face turning several shades of red before she finally walked away, wandering upstairs to cry in solitude.

And that was where she'd spent the last hour, watching the party from the railing above with a heartbroken look on her face. She had gotten her tears out rather quickly and in silence, not wanting anyone to hear her and question what was wrong. She just wanted to get through the rest of the evening, go home, take a nice long shower, and forget that the last week ever happened...

To forget that Jughead Jones ever existed...

Betty wasn't upset about his friend's dismissive behavior towards her, she was used to that from them. No, she was mad at herself for being so stupid to believe that Jughead really wanted her in any capacity. She felt foolish for crushing on someone who seemed more than happy to come over to hang out at her apartment several times a week but barely spoke to her in public.

It seemed to her that not even the very intimate moment they'd shared just a few days prior did anything to change the way he acted towards her around his friends. It also didn't help that she kept hearing her mother's words in her head, making her feel inadequate.

...Real men don't like whores, Elizabeth...

...Why would they buy the cow if you already give them the milk for free...

"What makes you so sad? I think you're the saddest girl I ever met," Betty winced slightly, hearing his voice from behind her. She clenched her jaw but she refused to turn around. Instead, she rolled her eyes and scoffed in response to his statement, irritated that he'd even have the nerve to talk to her after that little PDA session downstairs with Nurse Ratched.

"Why do you care if I'm sad or not?" Betty responded without turning, her tone ice cold.

"Hey, Betts... What's wrong?" Jughead asked softly, worried about her change in attitude from a few hours before. When he left her with Archie and Veronica to play some pool she seemed fine, so what changed? Had Archie done something else to upset here tonight? If he did, Jughead was going to put his foot squarely in his ass for it.

"Come on, baby. Hey, tell me what's going on," he urged, stepping closer to trap her against the banister. Try as she might, she couldn't stop her heart from racing at his proximity.

Damn him for what he does to me...

"Why should I? You didn't seem to care before," she argued weakly, trying to get her pulse to slow.

"Betty, please talk to me. What's wrong? Did I do something–" Jughead dropped his head to her shoulder in realization and sighed heavily, "Shit... I'm sorry baby. I didn't mean to leave you alone with Audrey and Bogie all night. It's a shit excuse but I made this stupid bet with 'Quin and got wrapped up in playing. Please don't be mad. I swear, you're all I've been thinking about all night," he murmured against her ear, feeling like complete shit for not spending time with her.

"Yeah, right," she huffed.

"I have, baby. You've been driving me wild all night," he declared, gripping her hips and pulling her back against his growing erection, hoping to show her just what she did to him. His lips grazed her neck before he peppered light kisses onto her bare shoulder. The intimate action enraged Betty even more and she whirled around in his arms, scowling at him.

"Just leave me the hell alone, Snake Boy! Don't you have a slutty nurse to go play doctor with?" she spat hatefully, pushing him away and turning back to watch the crowd once again before he could even respond to her outburst.

Fuck, he cursed himself. Damn Candy and her single-mindedness... There would be hell to pay if that girl's lack of knowledge on the word ' no ' fucked this up for him...

"I think I understand now, Betts... I suppose you saw me and Candy Cane at the pool table?"

"For the love of Christ, Jones. Your girlfriend's name is Candy Cane? Wow, next you're going to tell me she's a stripper too..." Betty grumbled. She didn't really care if the girl was a stripper or not, she respected the sex work industry. But right now, she was just plain jealous of the other woman.

"Well, actually yeah, she is... She's one of our newer dancers on Tuesdays and Thursdays... but she's not my girlfriend, Betts," he paused, hoping he hadn't screwed this up already, "Look, I won't lie to you and say she and I haven't -you know- had a thing in the past but it was never like what we–"

"So, she's your ex then? Or was she just a friend with benefits?" Betty asked, genuinely curious.

"Yeah, the second one– sort of. It only lasted for a few weeks and it was over before you and I started talking, I swear. There's only one blonde I've been dreaming of playing doctor with and she's right here in front of me," he whispered, pulling her closer. Betty squirmed in his arms, not buying his excuse and trying to break free.

"If that's true, then what was that little scene down there, huh? I saw her, Jug! She was all over you, whispering God knows what in your ear, and next thing I know you have her pressed up against the table! Make it make sense to me! Why the hell would you let your ex -whatever- hang all over you like that, right in front of me, no less? Did you want to make me jealous? Is this a game to you?" she demanded, her eyes ablaze with rage as she finally faced him.

"Of course not, Betty! Although I gotta say, you do look mighty sexy when you're jealous," he teased, freezing when she leveled him with a glare. "Sorry, bad timing... Jokes are kinda my defense mechanism."

"Jughead, do you even get how much seeing that hurt me, after everything I just went through with Archie cheating on me? God, after–?" Betty choked out, her anger faltering as a tear slipped down her cheek. She wouldn't bring up her mother and all the terrible sins she'd committed against her own child... Not tonight anyway.

Jughead's heart dropped to his feet when he saw the broken look in her eyes. He felt like a total bastard for not even thinking about how he must have hurt her.

Candy was always doing stupid shit, trying anything to get to him to let her back into his bed. Granted, he'd told her to back the fuck off when he got in her face earlier, that he didn't want her anymore and never would, but he didn't think about how it might look to Betty if she saw the interaction.

He stepped forward, cradling her face gently in his palms while he brushed her tears away. He looked into her eyes and sighed heavily, his guilt eating at him.

"I'm so fucking sorry, baby... I swear to you, that whole thing with Candy wasn't what it looked like. She's been trying to get me back since the day I told her to kick rocks. And because of my rejection, she pulls stunts like tonight. Betty, I don't want her... I have never wanted her. Please believe me."

"I want to believe you, Jug... I really do... I'm– I just don't want to get hurt again..."

"Elizabeth Marie Cooper, look at me," he said, forcing her to meet his eyes, "I would never purposely hurt you. I would die first before I'd let that happen. If I'm being honest, Candy was just someone to help me forget about the girl I really wanted but couldn't have," he brushed more tears from her cheeks before kissing the tip of her nose gently.

"Do you mean that, Jug?" she asked quietly, desperately wanting to believe him. She could feel the heat from his hand licking her cheeks, his touch caressing her.

"Of course I do, baby. I told you, I've wanted you since the moment I first saw you. I meant that."

"I wanted you for so long too, Juggie. I still do..." she admitted, sighing softly and nuzzling into his touch.

He leaned in, kissing her forehead gently before pledging, "God, I'm so sorry, baby... Look, you can kick my ass if it'll make you feel better, but I promise you, that will never happen again. After tonight, she's banned from the bar and anything involving the Serpents'. You are much more important to me than she ever could be..."

"I believe you, Jug. And I don't want to seem like that kind of partner... but be warned: if I ever catch you fooling around with another girl, I'm gone– no second chances. Got it?" Betty stated firmly, fire reigniting in her eyes. She knew it sounded bad, her possessive side taking control for the moment, but she didn't share her man with anyone. It was non-negotiable.

"I swear on my life, that won't ever happen... I really am sorry, Duchess."

"It's alright. I forgive you, Juggie..." she smiled, believing him when he said there was nothing left between him and his ex. He grinned down at her, leaning in briefly before his face became more contemplative. "What is it, Jug?"

"Um, I don't know if I should bring it up now or not but I figured since we are talking about us that we should–" he paused.

"We should what, Jug?"

"Well, frankly, this is kind of a strange situation we're in here, Betts... and I was wondering if maybe we should consider keeping our relationship between us, just for right now. And it's not because I don't want anyone knowing, please don't think that–" he stammered. Betty lifted her hand to his face and smiled softly.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. Don't worry, I get it, Jug. Archie's your brother so we have to approach this as tactfully as possible, for his sake. Trust me, I don't want to be the reason your family breaks apart. Truthfully, I wasn't sure how I felt about everyone knowing about us yet anyway. I want us to have time to figure out our relationship without unnecessary drama," Betty admitted. She already suspected that when Archie found out he was probably going to have an aneurysm and she wanted to avoid that if at all possible.

"Oh, thank God!" he sighed, making her giggle, "Seriously, you have no idea how much that has been eating me alive. Thank you for understanding, baby. I was so afraid that if I told you I wanted to keep it between us for now, that you'd tell me to fuck off," he murmured, leaning his forehead on hers as he took uneven breaths.

Betty softened, cupping his cheeks and pulling their lips together. She kissed the breath out of him before backing away slowly, laying her head on his chest as his arms wrapped around her.

She understood his fears and his reluctance to tell anyone and she truly thought it would be better this way for a while. The entire situation was a bit more complex than most, even if Archie was the one who ended things, so they needed time to figure out how to tell people.

To say that Archie was oddly possessive over her, even now and especially when it came to his male friends, would be an understatement. So realistically, she knew if he found out about her and Jug right now, it would not bode well for either of them.

"I'm glad we're on the same page too, Juggie. Besides, it's not really anyone else's business what we do, so no one needs to know anything about us yet. We both know how well it'll go over when they do finally hear about it... Even still, seeing you with another girl all over you isn't really my idea of a good time and just might blow our cover. I'd hate to have to cut a bitch in front of all our friends..." she chuckled.

"Look, I'll be apologizing for it for the rest of my life, but I'm sorry about tonight. How about you let me make it up to you, baby? Let me show you how you make me feel," he offered, running his hands down her sides to squeeze her hips. His lips met her neck, his teeth nipping at the tender flesh and leaving a trail of goosebumps.

"Oh? And how exactly do you plan to do that, Jones?" she shivered, her fingers running into his hair and tugging roughly. She yelped as he suddenly spun her around, pinning her to the railing overlooking the bar. Her pulse quickened, the feeling of his hardened member pressing into her back making her wetter.

"How about I start by showing you exactly how torturous it's been for me to stay away from you tonight when you're wearing a dress like that?" he rasped, getting down onto his knees behind her, pulling her skirt over his head, and spreading her legs apart. "Christ, you're so fucking sexy, Elizabeth."

Jughead ran his hands up her calves unhurriedly, making his way up her thighs. When he finally reached her hips, he slipped his fingers into the sides of her panties and pulled them down her legs slowly before depositing them into his back pocket.

"J-Juggie," Betty whimpered, her heart hammering inside her chest, the sensation of his hot breath against her wet center making her tremble.

She honestly didn't know what to expect next, she'd never had anyone go down on her before and she was thrilled (if not a bit terrified). Archie always told her he wasn't into giving oral so she never pushed the subject, even though it was something she really wanted to try.

"Shhh, baby. You don't want everyone to know what we're doing up here, do you?" he teased, his voice thick with lust.

Betty had to stifle a moan when his tongue tentatively licked along her slit before moving to swirl around her clit, gently sucking it between his lips. She glanced down at the people below her, all of them going on about their business, none the wiser to what was happening right above them.

If they really paid any attention at all, they'd be able to see that the Northside Princess currently had none other than the face of the Southside Serpent King buried deep in her cunt. That thought alone drove her even wilder, pooling wetness at her core.

She shifted her hips, testing the waters and grinding down on his tongue as he dipped it inside her. Betty could feel the vibrations from his growls and hums against her swollen lower lips that sent shockwaves up her spine.

Fuck, he's really good at that... she mused.

Her hands gripped the railing tighter, her breath coming out in pants while he worked his mouth on her. She leaned over the railing further, gasping as she felt him slip a finger inside her, quickly followed by another. Betty didn't know how much longer she would last with how skilled his mouth was so when she felt his fingers curl inside her as he suckled her clit, she shattered completely.

She laid her head down on her forearm, covering her mouth in hopes to muffle her cries of pleasure. Jughead hungrily lapped at her core, drinking in her release even as she fought to stay upright. Once he managed to work her down from her high, he crawled out from underneath her and held her to his chest, his aching length pressed against her.

"Dammit Cooper, you taste better than I dreamed you would. Here, see for yourself," Jughead stated gruffly, turning her head to meet his in a searing kiss, the taste of her arousal still heavy on his tongue. She swallowed his moans, the demanding way his mouth moved over hers making her want him even more.

Betty turned fully, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him away from the balcony, down the dimly lit corridor. She pinned him against the wall, her hands running down his chest as her velvety tongue danced with his.

Without warning, Betty pulled away, smiling mischievously at Jughead's confused stare before she sank to her knees. Her hands expertly worked his belt open, pulling his zipper down quicker than he could register what was happening.

"Betts, you don't have–" Jughead choked on his words as she freed him of the confines of his trousers and popped him into her mouth without hesitation.

Betty took nearly his entire length, hitting the back of her throat before pulling up to twirl her tongue around his tip. He screwed his eyes shut when she repeated this action a few times before releasing him with a satisfying pop and dragged her tongue up the underside of his shaft.

"You were saying, Juggie?" Betty questioned playfully, one hand continuing to stroke his length, only stopping long enough to grab the fabric covering her chest to pull it aside so that her heavy breasts would be on display for him. Jughead was so mesmerized by the sexy vixen in front of him that all he could do was shake his head with a strangled, "Nothing..."

"Good boy," Betty simpered, looking pleased with the state she had left Jughead in. She took him back into her mouth, wasting no time in bobbing her head all the way down until she felt the hairs at his base tickle her nose. She pulled back slowly, hollowing out her cheeks, and repeating the action until he finally pulled her away.

She looked up at him through hooded eyes -her lips already swollen from his thickness- and whimpered. She could tell from his body language that he was holding back and that was the last thing she wanted.

She didn't want him to treat her like she was something fragile, she wanted him to be rough. She needed him to be dominant like he was on the phone and have his way with her.

"Jug?" she rasped, her voice low and sultry. He looked down on her and swallowed thickly. He released a haggard breath, watching her dainty fingers tugging roughly at her erect nipples. Jughead had never been with a girl who could render him speechless just from simply touching herself, but here he was staring at Betty Cooper like some virgin on prom night.

"Y-Yeah, Betts?" Jughead stammered, his moist cock bobbing in the cool air of the bar. He was fighting the urge to pick her up off the floor to bend her over the railing to fuck her from behind until she couldn't walk straight. It didn't matter who saw (and everyone else's feelings be damned).

"I'm gonna need you to do something for me," she answered, batting her eyelashes at him innocently. His heart hammered as she licked her lips, her eyes flickering to his length and then back up again.

"What's that, Duchess?" he mumbled, swiping his thumb across her lips. She preened under his attention, her back arching to show off her voluptuous breasts.

"I want you to fuck my mouth, Juggie..."

September 2019 - Four Weeks Until Halloween Party

"Fuck, I love being able to touch you like this, Betts..." Jughead breathed happily, running his fingers up Betty's naked spine. They'd been unofficially living together for just over a month now and he still couldn't believe this was really his life. That she was really his girl...

"Like what, Juggie?" she questioned with a smile, tilting her head playfully as she watched him.

"Like you're all mine... Like I'm the only person who's fortunate enough to be able to touch you this way..." he replied, feeling her shiver as he grazed the back of her neck.

"Well, that's because you are, Jug. And it's a good thing too...".

"Oh, and why is that?" he challenged with a smirk. She crawled closer to him and returned his smile.

"Because you're the only one I want to do any of this with, ever again," she replied lovingly, leaning up to kiss him lazily. It didn't take long before their kisses got heated and Betty was forced to come up for air, backing away reluctantly, "You know, Archie and V are supposed to be here soon and I still need a shower."

"Hmm, a shower, you say?" he replied, his dick twitching at the image of her naked and covered in suds. Betty bit her lip and nodded. "Well Duchess, I think we should conserve water and shower together... Besides, I need to make sure my dirty girl gets nice and clean."

"Mmmm... Race ya!" Betty squealed, her face splitting into a competitive grin as she jumped off the bed and sprinted towards the bathroom. However, before she could even reach the bedroom door, she felt his strong arms grab her from behind, spinning her around and slinging her over his shoulder.

"Forsythe Pendleton Jones the Third, that isn't fair!" Betty huffed in protest, kicking her legs defiantly, "Can't you let me win, at least once?"

Jughead snickered and swatted her bottom playfully as he responded, "Yeah, not a chance, Duchess."

Betty quivered as her back leaned against the cool tile, chills running through her body for an entirely different reason. Jughead was currently on his knees, working her to yet another orgasm as she gasped for air.

God, this boy and his tongue will be the death of me...

"Please don't stop, Juggie... I'm– I'm–" Betty begged. However, her pleas died on her tongue when the bathroom door flew open, startling them both and almost making her slip and fall. Betty placed her finger to her lips when she heard the familiar voice that entered the room.

"Sorry to barge in on you, my beautiful B, but Archikins and I finished early so we decided to head over now instead of killing time at Pop's. Hope that's okay! So, I was thinking about having Smithers pick up some pastries for tonight too but since neither you nor Jug answered any of my texts, I just figured I'd come on in and ask you what to get," Veronica explained, wiping off the mirror to check her makeup.

Jughead started to mumble some of his own requests for snacks but Betty continued to hold her finger to her lips while covering his mouth with her other hand. He nodded and slowly stood, wrapping his arms around her protectively. Instead of speaking, he tilted her head to the side, trailing his lips up along her elongated neck as Veronica continued.

"Which reminds me, have you heard from Jughead at all? He told Archie he'd meet us here to plan the Halloween party, but I assumed he would've been here already. He usually comes early, especially if there is food involved," she said.

Jughead had to stifle a laugh as Betty shot him a dirty look and shushed him. Suddenly, Jughead grinned at her mischievously, the look in his eyes telling her exactly what he was planning.

He leaned in to slowly place warm kisses along her shoulder, his teeth grazing her neck before he reached between down to lift her up by her thighs. Betty barely held in her moans as he slid inside her, pinning her to the wall. She slowed her breathing, trying desperately not to let her voice shake.

"Oh, yeah-h, I meant to tell you guys. Jug said he was gonna be a bit late, something about him having to take care of a situation before he c-comes by," Betty replied shakily, grunting softly as Jughead unhurriedly pushed himself into her tight heat repeatedly.

"Alright, well any idea what he would enjoy? I thought I'd get some of those chocolate-filled croissants you love so much and possibly some mini boston creme cakes? Or maybe eclairs? Do you happen to know if he likes creme-filled desserts? I asked Archie, but he was absolutely clueless. I swear, how can you not even know what your own brother likes to eat?" Jughead had to suppress another chuckle at Veronica's words, choosing instead to focus his efforts on making his lover fall apart.

Betty buried her face into Jughead's shoulder, trying not to whimper as he began to fuck her harder. "I-I'm not sure but you know Jug, he'll eat a-anything."

If Veronica had any idea what was happening behind the curtain, she didn't show it, "That's very true, that boy certainly knows how to eat. Okay, well, I'll just order a bunch of choices and have Smithers run get them while Archie and I wait in the living–"

"Actually, V. Do you guys mind going with him and getting me one of those amazing lattes? You know you're the only person who knows exactly how I like it and I've had a craving," Betty asked quickly, hoping to not be caught. Jughead stopped his movements long enough to give her pleading eyes at the mention of coffee.

"And maybe get a cup for Jughead, too? You know he's far more tolerable when he's caffeinated," Betty giggled slightly at the offended look he gave her. She winked playfully and gave him a sweet kiss, pushing the wet hairs from his forehead.

"Of course, B! We'll probably need all the coffee we can get to have this planning done tonight anyway. We'll be back in twenty, so finish up and get ready!" Veronica shouted, leaving the room. Betty and Jughead waited until they heard Veronica and Archie leave the apartment before promptly falling into a fit of laughter. After they were able to calm themselves, Jughead leaned in and captured her mouth in a heated kiss again.

"I guess I better do what I need to so I can come, huh?" he teased, pushing himself inside her to the hilt. Betty nodded quickly, finally releasing her moans while Jughead grinned smugly. He surged then, fucking her into the tile until they both fell apart and were able to finish their shower before their friends returned, neither suspecting a thing.