I was utterly mortified. This wasn't the exact scenario I imagined when I thought about being introduced to Jug's baby sister: half-naked with my tongue down his throat and my hand down his pants while he pinned me to their kitchen counter. I'm fairly certain the poor girl would never be able to unsee that image for the rest of her life. I knew it definitely hits in the top 10 of the most embarrassing things I had experienced in my lifetime. Knowing how much JB meant to Jughead, I really wanted to make a good impression with her but I guess you worked with what you got. Time to get the awkwardness out of the way.
While Jughead was busy in the bathroom, I found my bra and slipped it on before grabbing one of Jug's clean shirts to wear. I had at least had the forethought to leave some leggings here when I took all of my clothes to the Pembrooke to wash so I threw them on and pulled my hair up into a messy bun. It wasn't perfect but it would do.
I was doing some light makeup when I caught Jughead's reflection in the mirror watching me from the doorway to his bathroom. I giggled to myself when I saw what he was wearing: his pajama pants and a shirt that reads 'If you find me offensive then I suggest you quit finding me'. I had never in my life seen a tee-shirt that was more suited to my boyfriend's personality than that.
As I finished up with my lip gloss, I felt him wrapping his arms around my waist and trailing soft kisses up my neck. I leaned back to rest my head against his chest and sighed. I hadn't felt this close to someone in years and I didn't ever want it to end.
"You ready for this, Betts?" he asked as he continued to nuzzle my neck. I tilted my head, placing a soft kiss to his jaw before I turned around in his arms. His eyes sparkled in the morning sunlight, making the butterflies erupt in my belly as I stared into them.
"Absolutely," I whispered before kissing him one more time. He laughed and lead me out into the living room so he could try and coax Jellybean from her room.
"Hey Jelly, come out here a minute, I have someone I want you to meet." Jughead knocked on Jellybean's bedroom door without any reply.
I could hear her blasting 'Starman' by David Bowie, which made me smile easily. I couldn't help but think that she and I were going to get along just fine if her musical tastes were any indication.
"Come on Jellybean, please? I really want you to meet my girlfriend-," with that, the record she was listening to came screeching to a halt and the door flew open. I finally got to see her fully for the first time and she was breathtakingly beautiful. She had long straight black hair, the same oceanic eyes as her brother, and the exact same crooked smile. Almost like they were twins and not four years apart in age.
She was much shorter than Jughead and had a much smaller frame but you could see from the look in her eyes that she had the Jones' spunky personality. She almost had a punk-rock pixie look about her that I found very endearing. She wore black ripped jeans and a Led Zeppelin tee shirt with a flannel shirt tied around her waist.
Well, they definitely have the same fashion sense, I thought with a chuckle.
Just by seeing their similarities between the siblings, I could already tell they both heavily favored FP in the looks department. Jellybean wore a look of shock on her face at the statement Jughead just made but that quickly faded to a sarcastic grin.
"First off FP3, how many times I gotta tell you, it's JB now. I'm an adult and I don't need a name like Jellybean following me around my whole life," she said sternly as she narrowed her eyes at him. "Secondly, how did you manage to get anyone to agree to be your girlfriend? Have you looked in a mirror? Is she blind or stupid?" She asked, sticking out her tongue and smirking.
Jughead rolled his eyes and flipped her the bird but before he can react to her smart-ass remarks, I walked up and beat him to the punch. I knew she was teasing him so I decided to give her a taste of her own medicine.
"Hi JB, I'm Betty. It is very nice to meet you. I've heard a lot of good things about you from Juggie," I reached out and shook her hand firmly. "To clarify, I can assure you I am neither blind nor stupid. You have to know your brother is devastatingly handsome seeing as you guys favor each other so much. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting your mother but I can say for certain that the Jones DNA is strong."
I laughed and turned to Jughead with a big smile, placing my hand on his cheek and looking deep into his eyes. I gave him a devilish grin and cocked my eyebrow before spinning back to face JB. "Your brother really is the sweetest, most gentleman I have ever known. Oh! And he definitely gets extra credit points for giving me the best orgasms of my life. I can't really say I have ever screamed someone's name quite so loudly before. Especially last night, right Juggie?" I asked, giving her a wink and a smile before turning back to my boyfriend. Jug clasped his hand over his mouth to stop his outburst of laughter and JB looked like she wanted to vomit.
"Ok, ew. So much TMI, Blondie. But good to know my brother is, um, adequate in that department. Vomit," JB shuddered, the look of utter disgust on her face was priceless. "Anyway- seriously, I was just giving Jug a hard time because he's my brother and it's kind of in the job description to be a pain in his ass."
Jug pulled her into his side for a hug and kissed her hair and JB smiled, squeezing him around the waist. You could see from their body language just how much they loved each other and I felt so lucky that I got to be apart of this intimate moment between the two siblings. He practically raised her once he turned 18 so he felt like more than just her big brother, he was her protector. It was a beautiful thing to see and it made me miss Polly just a little bit more.
"I missed you, Jelly. I'm sorry I forgot that I was supposed to pick you up. I was- well, a bit distracted," Jug looked away as the color rose in his cheeks. It was so adorable watching him blush for a change.
"Again, ew. But it's cool, it wasn't too awful. Truthfully. I really am surprised he has a girlfriend though. Jug doesn't ever date, like ever. I honestly thought he was celibate or gay or something," JB jabbed his ribs with her elbow to remove his hold on her, grabbing my hand to drag me to the sofa.
Before I knew what was happening, we were spun into a game of 20 questions with me in the hot seat. She was trying to figure out where we met, how long we had been together, whether I knew what type of "work" he did, what type of work I do, and anything else she could think of. Jug just stood leaning against the island with an amused look on his face while rubbing his finger across his lips.
Guess this is payback for V's inquisition on him. Glad to see he is finding this so amusing, I thought.
Everything seemed to be going well until JB suddenly stopped and turned to look at Jug. I noticed his eyes grow wide as his face falls into a stoic expression and when she turned back I saw it. The look. She looked terrifying. Her look was ...pestilential. I flinched as she grabbed my wrist tightly and squeezed hard enough to bruise.
"Listen closely. I like you Blondie, but just so you know, you hurt him and they won't find anything left of you. And I don't mean because of the Serpents either. We have an understanding?" she spat viciously, pausing briefly as I nodded, "Good. I may not look like much size-wise but I'm a forensic science major and I know a guy in Greendale that owns a pig farm. They eat bone, Betty. Bone," Jellybean gave me a sinister grin and released her grip on my wrist, softly patting my cheek. I am so shocked I couldn't do anything but stare at with my mouth agape while I rubbed my sore wrist. What the hell does one even say in response to something like that?
"We good?" And just like that, JB had turned back from Miss Jekyll into Miss Jones. The abrupt switch left my head spinning. This little five-foot-nothing firecracker of a girl just flat out threatened to feed me to Wilbur down the street if I were to ever hurt Jug and I honestly didn't know whether to laugh or run for the hills. The glint in Jughead's eyes told me it was more of the former as opposed to the latter... Or at least that was the hope. I swallowed hard, still not sure what to say to her when JB turned back towards him and they both burst into fits of laughter. It took a second for me to register that they were having some little inside joke at my expense and I reluctantly relaxed.
"I'm sorry Betty, I just had to. Jug is always saying if I ever bring a guy home he is going to scare the crap outta them by threatening them with bodily harm or death. Figured I had to take my chance when I could," she smiled gently making me feel much better than before. "I can already tell you really like my brother and I know he must like you if he brought you into his world so quickly," Jellybean pulled me into a quick hug and then stood up.
"So since you weirdos decided to defile our kitchen and I'm starving, which one of you is buying me Pops?" She asked as she turned to grab her shoes, heading for the front door. She paused at the door and turned back to her brother, "I'll wait downstairs in the bar. Jug, try not to fuck her on the way down, k? What I walked in on this morning is already burned into my cornea, I don't need my ears to bleed too. I'm way too hungry to deal with that kind of trauma."
My face instantly burned crimson at her boldness but I suppose I asked for that with my little comments earlier. Jug walked up beside me and kissed my temple.
"Let's go get the child her food. Trust me, you won't like her when she is hangry," he chuckled.
As we parked the truck in front of Pop's, I broke out in a cold sweat and got this really awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. All the fear I had felt from the night before had started to creep its way back in and I could feel a panic attack trying to surface. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to breathe and begging for my mind to stop spinning.
I had been doing so well lately. I had only had one major panic attack since I left college and that was when Archie, well, pulled an Archie. My new therapist and I had been working together to help get my anxiety under control but I should have known that experiencing something so traumatic would cause things to bubble over. I hadn't told Jughead much about my issues, just that I would see a therapist a few times a month and he never pushed me or asked questions to know more. I really didn't want to have a meltdown in public but especially not in front of Jughead and Jellybean. I was terrified of what they would think of me and I wasn't sure if he was ready to hear about all of my past. About my darkness.
I was trembling uncontrollably, afraid that I wouldn't be able to stop the tears that threatened to form. I went through my grounding techniques: five things I could see, smell, feel, taste, and hear. I tried imagining myself in my happy place and blocking out the fears. I even tried the square breathing technique that my high school counselor had shown me. Nothing was helping.
It wasn't until I heard Jug's soft voice in my ear that I opened my eyes and noticed him holding my clenched hands in his. My whole body shuddered and my breathing was ragged. I looked around and noticed that JB must have been concerned and gone inside to give us some privacy. I could see her sitting down in a booth and giving us a small wave.
I could tell from the way his lip trembled that Jughead was really worried about what had just happened to me. I could feel the warm blood in my palms so there was no getting around this discussion anymore.
"Betts, baby? Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, continuing to gently cradle my hands and rubbing his thumbs along my knuckles.
Ok, Betty, you can do this. Don't be scared. This is what Dr. Jen said would need to be done if I started having episodes again. PTSD is a real thing. You are not crazy. I repeated the words of my therapist in my head, trying to find the courage to tell him her secret.
"Um, I think I... I think I'm comfortable enough with you that I can. And it's something you should know before you decide if you still want to be with me," I slowly opened my hands to reveal my gnarled, bloodstained palms to him. The gasp that escaped his mouth was almost deafening and on instinct, I tried to close my hands - trying to hide my shame - but he wouldn't let me and held them open instead.
"Oh babygirl, please don't hide this from me. I promise I won't judge you. Please... let me help you," he opened his glove compartment to retrieve a small first aid kit. I quirked my eyebrow at him in question. "You never know when you need one Betts, especially in my line of work."
He quietly cleaned the blood off my hands, disinfecting them and placing bandages over the wounds. I could see him struggle with wanting to ask me for more information - and I wanted to tell him - but maybe not in the parking lot of Pop's during the lunch rush while his sister waited for us.
"Juggie, I promise I will tell you everything but not here, okay? It may take a while to explain everything and I don't want to be out in public when I tell you about my... issues," I frowned, looking down at my freshly bandaged palms. He cupped my chin softly, lifting my face up and placed a tender kiss to my lips.
"Ok Princess, I'm okay with that. We can just go eat and then we can go back to the Wyrm and spend the day in bed, just the two of us. We can talk about as much or as little as you want baby, no pressure," He held my hands up and kissed my palms before leaning in to kiss my lips softly.
I didn't know how I ever got so lucky to find a guy like him, and I don't care that we have only known each other for a few months, I am completely, hopelessly, in love with him. One thing was very clear to me, I loved him and I needed him more than I had needed anyone before.
I'd spent so many years living with differing degrees of anxiety-induced fear that for the first time, I realized that I had never felt as safe as I did when I was with him. I needed him to be my safe place, to help protect me from the demons inside my mind. As he stepped out of the truck to make his way over to my door, I started to feel the panic creeping back up again and I felt frozen to my spot. I couldn't move, sheer terror holding me firmly to the seat.
"Juggie, I'm scared," my voice trembled and I chastised myself for sounding so weak. "Those men... What if they come back, Juggie? I-I don't know what I'll do if-," I choked, feeling Jug pulling me to my feet and wrapping me in his arms. Just him rubbing my back and holding me was already making my fear subside some as I melted into his chest.
"Betts, I promise I'll protect you. I won't let them hurt you anymore, okay? I swear to you, Princess. I will keep you safe," his voice came out as just a whisper but it was so strong, so sure of itself.
Deep down, I knew he was telling me the truth but I knew that when I had to be here alone while he was working that I wouldn't feel safe. He wouldn't be there if something happened and that scared the hell out of me.
Almost as if he could read my thoughts he asked me the one question I have been asking myself since last night, "Betty, do you think you're still going to be able to work for Pop? I mean... After everything that happened to you, do you think you'll feel safe here again?"
Truthfully, I didn't know what the answer to that question was. I loved working at Pop, and the diner had been a part of my life since the time I was old enough to gum a french fry, but just being here triggered my anxiety attacks and I didn't know if I could come back here for a while.
"I d-don't know what to do, Jug. I know it's just Pop's - same old diner I grew up going to - b-but I don't think I-I can go in there. Not for a little while at least. It's too much a-and I'm afraid I'll have another p-panic attack." I said shakily, looking down at my feet and took a deep breath to steady my nerves. "My therapist told me I needed to avoid my triggers as much as possible but I need to work. I have bills to pay, and attorney fees, and I-I-I..." I choked back a sob, feeling myself starting to spiral but Jughead was there to pull me back from the edge and kept me grounded.
"Shhh, we'll figure it out, Princess. I promise you. Listen, get back in the truck. I'm going to go talk to Pop, explain that you need some time off-," I tried to interrupt him but he placed his fingers to my lips and continued, "No arguing, Cooper. I will get us some food to go and see if Jelly is okay with hanging out with Toni at the bar for tonight. We'll get this all figured out, babygirl," he whispered into my hair, kissing my temple and closing my door.
I watched him as he walked inside and spoke to JB who nodded and gave him a hug before blowing me a kiss. He stood at the counter speaking to Pop Tate and while Pop looked sad, it was almost like he understood why I was not coming inside. Finally, Pop handed Jug our food and waved him off when he tried to pay and turned to smile at me through the window. I felt a little better now but I still felt like I was letting him down somehow.
Once Jughead got back to the truck, he handed me our bags with a smile and drove straight back to his place. It was strange really. The closer we got to the Whyte Wyrm, the safer I felt. Most Northsiders would have felt the exact opposite being on the Southside but I just felt at home here like I had always belonged here.
He parked the truck on the side of the building and ran around, offering me his arm as he opened my door, "Malady," he said in a cheesy accent, bowing as I exited the truck. I couldn't help but giggle at his silliness. His smile grew even bigger as he tucked me under his arm to lead me inside.
Once we got upstairs into his apartment, he continued to be goofy and tickled me to keep me laughing. It made me so happy to know that he was trying to make me feel better in the only way he knew how at the moment.
I placed our food on the counter and when I turned around his arms went around me like a vice, holding me to him like he was trying to keep me from crumbling. Like he wanted me to feel how much he cared about me. When he pulled back he kept me pinned to the countertop, kissing my nose and cheeks as I giggled. It was then that I noticed the lustful look that began clouding his eyes, causing me to shiver in anticipation of what was to come.
"Did you know that that's my favorite sound in the world, Princess? Your laugh is so beautiful. But I'll tell you a secret," he leaned in to breathe a whisper into my ear, "You screaming my name while you climax is definitely a close second." He nibbled on my earlobe and I felt my legs turn to jelly as he kissed his way down to my neck, the heat beginning to pool in my core.
"Jug- Juggie, I hope you're okay with eating your burgers cold," I whimpered as he continued his assault on my senses.
"Oh Princess, I don't mind at all. Besides, I have a feeling I'll be eating something nice and warm here in a few minutes," he said, wiggling his eyebrows at me and licking his lips. That was all it took and I was dragging him towards the bedroom. I needed to have him again.
He closed the bedroom door as I pulled my shirt off and unhooked my bra, letting it fall to the floor. His eyes darkened with desire and I knew he was about to pounce. I bit my lip and gave him a doe-eyed look before I spoke, knowing it drove him insanely wild.
"You know, I think you might be right, Jones. Good thing you have such a big appetite," and with those words, I allowed him to devour me.
"Juggie?" Jughead looked up at me lazily from where his head laid perched on my breast and smiled. He looked so young after we made love, sated and content. Like nothing bad could or would ever happen. I ran my hand through his curls and knew I was an absolute goner.
"Yeah, baby? You okay?" He scooted up higher on the bed so he could prop himself up on his elbow.
"Yeah Juggie, I'm better than okay. I actually think I'm ready to tell you what happened earlier at Pop's," I gnawed on my lip trying to figure out where to even start. "Well, I've had issues with anxiety and depression since high school, I mean I told you about how hard it was on me dealing with Alice all those years." I paused but he nodded for me to continue.
"Well, I have never told anyone what I'm about to tell you. All my life, it was so ingrained into me to be perfect until finally one day I just kind of snapped," I could feel the weight of all those years of darkness coming to the surface. I definitely needed to get this out.
"I have always had this... darkness. It has always been in the back of my mind telling me terrible things and that I needed to hurt myself," I said, the tears flowing freely now, "I couldn't take the pressure and halfway through my freshman year of college I had a nervous breakdown. My doctors said it was from the stress of years of being pushed to my limits and taking meds I didn't need," Jughead looked at me forlorn as he wiped my tears. He kissed my forehead before resting it against his.
"Betty, there is nothing wrong with having mental health issues. I'm glad you told me, baby, I want you to know that you're not alone in this. I want to help you - anyway I can." God, this man is more than I could ever hope to dream of.
"Well Juggie, right now I was just thinking maybe you could help me figure out what I'm going to do? You know for a job and everything?" I bit my lip, not really knowing why I was nervous to ask him any of this.
"Of course, Princess. Anything you need, I will help however I can. Truthfully, I was doing some thinking of my own after we left Pop's," He said, smiling gently as he tucked a stray hair behind my ear.
"I couldn't help thinking about how much I liked having you around and how much I want to protect you. So I was thinking, if you want, would you like to come work for me here at the Wyrm?" Jughead looked so nervous and I felt my heart fluttering at the sight.
"Really, Juggie? Are you sure? I don't really have any bar experience or anything," I asked. I really needed him to be sure about this, it was a big step.
"Yes, Princess. Besides, you already have waitressing experience and whatever you don't know than Toni or Fangs could teach you. What do ya say?" He turned on the puppy dog eyes and I couldn't resist any longer.
"Ok, I'll do it!" I squealed, so ecstatic I couldn't contain it.
"Really? You really want to see me - even more - every day and work for me and be around a bunch of bikers?" His eyes lit up as I nodded my reply. He planted kisses all over my face and sighed but then I noticed his smile faltered just a little.
"Betts, I also had another idea and I wanted to see what you thought about it. I know we're still pretty new in this relationship and I know you are already here like 90% of the time but I was thinking maybe, um- maybe you might want to, I don't know, stay here with me more often?" He asked, smiling hopefully but his eyes still show how frightened he was. I felt my heartbeat quickening at his question.
"Are- are you asking me to move in with you, Juggie?" I searched his eyes for any trace of doubt.
"I guess I am, Princess. I spent the better part of two decades losing time with you, I don't want to miss anything else," he caressed my face and I felt my heart melt. Yup, I am definitely a goner.
"I need to talk to Ronnie first but I'd love to move in with you, Juggie," his lips crashed into mine in an unrelenting kiss as his hands roamed my body. I could feel his growing desire pressed against my thigh and I shivered. When he finally broke free from our passionate kiss, he gave me a devilish grin.
"Well Princess, I guess this calls for a celebration, huh?" He wiggled his eyebrows before beginning his descent under the blankets, kissing and suckling on my skin.
Thank God JB was with Toni because it didn't take long before I was screaming his name again, over and over.