Chapter One

September 3rd

Betty POV

It was the first day of school and I was already behind. I sighed, rushing out the door. I knew I'd have to walk fast if I was going to be on time.

I glanced to Archie's house knowing he would have already left. He had let me know that he was driving to school with a few friends so I'd have to walk, which was fine.

Lately things haven't been so terrible with him. After that night a few months back he hasn't put his hands on me. We still bicker and argue but I think he realized what he was doing to me. That night he had left me with a black eye, a bloody nose, and bruises all over my torso and thighs. He spent the following week apologizing and trying to make it up to me. I had told him I just wanted to put it behind us and move on. This wasn't the Archie I knew. The Archie I knew was sweet and caring and soft. This was someone new…someone I didn't know.

I sighed thinking about how lucky we had been that my mom had been visiting relatives with the twins that week and I didn't have to make up any excuse for the bruises. I healed and Archie and I haven't spoken about it since. He still gets overly jealous but usually will just separate from me if he's mad, which is a much better alternative.

As I walked up to the school I couldn't help but notice a few people wearing leather Serpent jackets and had flashbacks to that night when I found myself outside the Whyte Wyrm. I didn't recognize any of these students from that night and quickly made my way past them into the school. I walked the halls to my locker and smiled, seeing Kevin.

"Oh my God, Betty. It's going to be an insane year." He told me and I laughed at his dramatics.

"Why do you say that?" I asked him and he gave me an incredulous look.

"Please don't tell me you've already forgotten! Southside High? It was shut down over the summer?" I felt my eyes go wide. Now the Serpents outside made sense.

"Betty how could you forget?! I've been in panic mode all summer. Then again, I did get a good look at the Serpent's leader and I'm starting to feel a lot better about it." He told me with a wink. I tried to smile at his antics but felt myself feeling nervous.

That meant the school aged Serpents would all be transferring here.

I got lost in thought until I felt him shaking my shoulder.

"There he is!" he whispered excitedly. I looked up to see the cold steely blue eyes from that night.

The same black hair.

The same crown beanie.

He walked with a glare to his locker, which was about 7 lockers away from my own. He tossed his bag inside and glanced up, meeting my eyes. He betrayed no emotion as he slammed the locker shut and turned to walk away, a notebook and pen in his hand. I felt Kevin grip onto my arm and let out a huge breath.

"Oh my God he practically smolders. Do you know him?! He looked at you like you do." He asked and I shook my head.

"Hey Kev, can I have a sec with Betty?" Archie asked, coming up beside me. Kevin nodded and gave us an excited goodbye, saying he would see me in English. I turned to Archie and gave him a warm smile.

"Hey!" I greeted happily but he didn't smile back.

"I want you to stay away from that snake. Understand?" he warned quietly and I nodded, smile falling from my face.

"Of course, Arch. I have no reason to be anywhere near him." He looked at me for a moment before opening his locker and tossing his bag in.

"You'd better not." He told me as he shut his locker. I looked down as a few of his football teammates came up clapping him on the back.

"We are going to KILL IT this year man!" Reggie told him and he grinned back, nodding. They began talking about the first football practice later this week and I tuned them out, grabbing my notebook and a pen for first period. I felt Archie kiss me on the cheek.

"Later, babe." He told me and I smiled back watching him walk away with his friends. I sighed, grabbing my water bottle and closing my locker, walking to first period chemistry.

By lunch all anyone could talk about was which classes they had with Serpents. I tuned them out as Kev, Veronica, and I walked to our picnic table. We walked past a table of Serpents and I accidentally made eye contact with him again. He gave me a cold glare and I averted my eyes quickly. I sat down at our table with Archie and a few of his football friends and greeted them with a smile.

"How's it feel to be dating our resident football superstar, Betty?" Reggie asked and I laughed, looking to Archie.

"Who, him?! Pfft…" I jokingly scoffed. Everyone laughed but when I looked back to Archie he had fixed me with a glare.

"Hey. I'm working really hard for that scholarship, Betty." He snapped and I felt my face twist into surprise.

"I know…you're doing an amazing job, Arch." I told him seriously, putting my hand on his. He snatched his hand away and his friends laughed.

"Oooooo she hit a nerve!" they joked and Archie stood up, angry.

"Fuck you guys." He snapped, grabbing his bag and started walking back towards the school. I shared a look with Kevin, his face confused. I got up and started jogging after Archie.

"Hey…it was just a joke…" I said, grabbing his arm. He spun around causing me to bump into him.

"You think you're funny?!" He demanded and I felt my face go blank, not quite believing he was being so loud. I could feel people starting to look at us and I opened and closed my mouth a few times.

"Archie…I didn't mean to upset you. I…I'm sorry." He chuckled without humor and rolled his eyes.

"You need to get away from me before I get angry." He told me in a quiet voice and I felt myself pull back a step, tears beginning to cloud my eyes. I fought the urge to let them fall and nodded. He turned on his heel and stormed back to the school, leaving me standing in the middle of the lawn with many eyes staring at me and whispers starting. I took a deep breath and turned back toward our table when I was stopped by a voice and a hand on my arm.

"Hey…" I turned to see the pink haired girl from a few months ago standing in front of the table of Serpents, all of them staring at me. All except the beanie guy, who was staring at Archie as he walked away.

"Hi." I replied quietly. She glanced to where Archie had disappeared and back to me.

"Are you ok?" she asked and I sniffled, having deja-vu, quickly wiping a tear from my cheek.

"Y-yeah…I'm fine." I told her unconvincingly. She gave me a look and stepped forward.

"You don't look fine." She insisted and I stepped back, forcing a smile.

"I'm good. But um…I'm going to go finish my lunch. Thank you, though." I told her politely and turned back to my table and walked away. I sat down and took a deep breath.

"Red's in a mood today." Reggie commented and I sighed.

"It's really my fault…he's been working so hard and I don't want to stress him out." I told them and they stayed silent. They had never seen that side of Archie before. He normally kept that side hidden away for closed doors. I had no idea what had gotten into him.

Archie was obsessed with being the perfect "power" couple. He was team captain and the quarterback, gearing up to earn a huge scholarship to Alabama. He insisted on me being the perfect cheerleader girlfriend with popular friends. He has always been popular and insistent on having a girlfriend that fit into that life.

He never would have threatened that reputation by fighting publicly like this. I sighed and looked to my untouched food, already having tuned out the conversation happening around me.

"Betty. Did you hear me? Earth to Betty!" I heard Kevin's voice and looked up to see everyone staring at me. I felt tears filling my eyes once again and grabbed my tray.

"I'm sorry I just…I have to go." I told them quietly and quickly stood and made my way back up to the school. I went straight to the Blue and Gold where I knew no one would think to bother me. I was just thankful that I had a free period after lunch so hopefully everyone will have forgotten about Archie's little outburst by biology. For right now, I could clear my head by immersing myself in an article.

Jughead POV

I watched for a few minutes from the door as she typed furiously into her laptop, too focused to even notice me. I had a free period after lunch and I went to see Weatherbee to let him know I'd accept his request (more like demand) that I join the school newspaper. I ran the Red and Black at Southside and he insisted I join here to keep myself "out of trouble". He told me that there was just one other person named Elizabeth Cooper working on the newspaper and that she had this period free also so I should check here for her to introduce myself.

Low and behold…I find Ponytail.

This girl really drew my attention, not that I'd ever admit it. I could remember her scared eyes that night and the tears falling down her face. The look of fear as the redhead pulled up and took her back to her Northside life. And here she was: pristine, no longer disheveled. Northside picture perfect.

Toni had bitched me out after she had gotten in his car that night.

"Jug. How could you just let her leave?" She scolded and I threw my hands in the air.

"What do you expect me to do, Toni? Keep her like a pet?" she slapped my arm and shot me a look.

"1. That's not funny. 2. Something isn't right. Why would she randomly show up here, crying and afraid…and then some guy finds her and demands she get in his car. She seemed scared of him…" she trailed off, looking to where the car had been. I sighed and put my hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sure she's fine, Toni. Some lovers spat…they will be making up within the hour." I told her and she gave me an unconvinced look. I led her back to the bar and tried to help her shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Every once in a while Toni would zone out and I could tell she was thinking about blondie and her boy toy. I didn't really give it much thought until today.

When I saw her in the hall this morning I recognized her and made a mental note that she was indeed still alive and looked every bit the part of the Northside Princess I suspected she was. At lunch today when I saw how he spoke to her in front of everyone I was disgusted but shrugged it off. So the star quarterback is a dick. Big surprise there. I cleared my throat, startling her.

"You Cooper?" I asked and she watched me hesitantly.

"Um…y-yes…" she stuttered and I smirked.

"Do you ever not stutter?" I asked harshly and she looked down at her hands and took a deep breath.

"I…I'm sorry you just…"

"Caught you off guard, Princess?" I supplied and she sighed, nodding hesitantly.

"Well. Seeing as this conversation is going nowhere I'd rather get to the point. Weatherbee is forcing me to work with you on the school paper so…here I am." I told her and she looked to me surprised.

"Oh…um…ok." She said in an uneasy manner and I smirked, walking over to her.

"What. Do I make you nervous, Ponytail?" I asked her and she glanced between me and the door, the same anxious look in her eyes that she had the night I saved her from Tallboy.

"Um…" she murmured and I stepped closer, standing in front of her. She watched me, wide-eyed as I invaded her personal space.

"I think I do." I told her quietly, enjoying fucking with her. She opened and closed her mouth a few times when I noticed her red tinged eyes…she had been crying. Quite a bit. I glanced to her still untouched food tray and back to her, her eyes still just as wide and anxious.

I felt my cockiness starting to fade as I realized she was in a bad way and felt slightly guilty picking on her. Not that I usually minded kicking someone when they were down but…something in her glassy green eyes took the fun out of it. I knew I couldn't show that though…I had a reputation to maintain, and this girl didn't know what pain was, so I wasn't about to feel bad for her.

I smirked at her and turned towards the door.

"See you around, Princess." I tossed over my shoulder but stopped when I heard her voice.

"It's…Betty." She interjected. I turned and saw her watching me, her eyes uneasy. I smirked.

"Jughead." I told her and she nodded and a nervous smile graced her face.

"That's…a weird name." she told me with a small laugh and I gave her a glare.

"See you around. Ponytail." I said and she looked down to her hands. I left the office and made my way back to my locker to see boy toy standing at her locker looking impatient. He looked up to meet my eyes and gave me a deep set glare. I shot one back and decided to stall at my locker, knowing the bell was minutes away.

After about a minute I noticed his body language shift and a blonde ponytail walk past me to greet him. I pretended to be distracted by my phone as I listened.

"Archie...hey. I'm really sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to-"

"Just save it, Betty. I'm going to be busy after school so I'm not taking you home." He told her in a hushed voice. She stayed silent for a moment before speaking.

"But…but we were going to go to Pop's…" she said, matching his volume and he sighed. I glanced in their direction and saw him rubbing his face in annoyance.

"So?" he asked and her head jerked in his direction confused.

"So…we haven't been out in like…two weeks. I was excited to get some time with you." She told him and he glared at her, leaning in.

"Maybe if you didn't piss me off so much I wouldn't have to cancel on you all the time. Find your own way home." He told her in a low voice. Her head dropped and she stared at her shoes as he glanced up to me and glared. He continued watching me as he put a half-hearted kiss to her head and walked away. I watched as she sighed, wiping her cheek and opened her locker. She grabbed a few books from inside and closed it, taking a deep breath before she walked away. I looked to where he had stalked off and shrugged to myself.

Trouble in paradise for Riverdale High's most annoying couple.

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