One Week Later...
"B, are you sure about this? I mean, don't get me wrong, I am all for you and Jughead living happily ever after. But-," Veronica rambled as she paced back and forth at the foot of my bed while I packed things up for my initial move. I placed my hands on her shoulders to keep her in place and looked into her eyes. I could see that her nerves were getting the better of her already simply from the way she was attempting to burn a hole in my rug.
Understandable reaction? Yes, given the series of misfortunes that brought me back home in the first place but I knew this was what I wanted. I had never wanted anything more in my whole life.
"Ronnie... I know you're just trying to look out for me but I'm good. I'm actually better than good, to be honest. Promise," I gave her the best sincere smile I could muster up, needing to reassure her. Veronica hugged me, clinging to me as if her life depended on it. I knew this would be difficult for us both to adjust to, having been roommates for less than a year, but both of us knew it was the logical next step. For both of our relationships.
"Oh alright Betty, I promise not to mother hen you anymore," Veronica sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "I just don't want this to be because Reggie is wanting to move in with me. We can all live together as roomies if that is the only reason you want to leave."
"Oh God V, no! That has nothing to do with it, I swear!" I exclaimed. My poor sweet V, I hate that she thinks that this is about living with Reggie. I needed to make sure she knew that this was not about her, it was about me and Jughead and wanting to be together.
"Ronnie, this just feels... right, you know? It's like he is what I came home for. All this pain wasn't for nothing, it was to bring me to my soulmate," I smiled at the thought of my beautiful man and how much he cares about me. I really am just so lucky to have found him.
"Oh girl, you've got it bad! And what about your rebel without a cause? How does he feel about all this?" Veronica quirked her eyebrows and grinned, pulling me down to sit on the bed beside her.
"Well, if you must know V, it was kind of his idea. And he offered me a job so I could leave Pop's behind too. He actually wants me to work at the Wyrm and live their lifestyle," I paused for a moment to gather my thoughts, "I think he's the one. V. I have never felt like this before. Ever. And I know he feels the same way, I can see it in his eyes," I smiled dreamily, my cheeks glowing at all the sweet words he whispered to me that night.
"Oh my God, swoon! Well, who am I to stop my bestie from being with her one true love. I'm just gonna miss you so much!" Veronica cried, placing her hand over her heart and smiling through her tears.
"Geez Veronica, I'm moving to the Southside, not the South Pole. We will still see each other all the time and..." I grabbed her both of her hands and squeezed, "...this way you have an excuse to come to the Wyrm and have drinks on the weekends," as I pulled her into another long hug, I felt my phone vibrating.
Juggie: Hark, Princess!😉 Are you ready to come down from your ivory tower and ride off into the sunset?
Betts: Well hello Prince Charming, think you can come over and help me grab a few boxes? Then we can just get the rest this weekend before my shift at the Wyrm? 😘 💜
Juggie: Well that depends, love. Is Ronnie going to try to behead me for stealing you away? 😬
I snorted and showed the text to Veronica who could do nothing but glare at the message while I giggled. He already knows her so well... I thought.
Betts: Uh, hard to say. She may or may not go Maleficent on you, you'll just have to run that risk 😉 Well, that is if you want to rescue the princess 👸 Just be prepared to slay the mighty dragon if necessary lol. 🐉 ️🛡️
Juggie: On my way, fair maiden 😉 See you in 15, my love. 😘
God this man makes my heart melt. I didn't know what I ever did to deserve him, but I was so glad that I had him all to myself.
"Jug's on his way over, V. Please don't try to scare him. I think he is genuinely afraid of you," I chuckled.
Honestly, who is not afraid of Veronica in some form or fashion. She is a Lodge after all.
"What? Little ol' me? Surely not," Veronica said with a mischievous wink.
Before I could reply, we heard a knock at the front door.
"Juggie must have been closer than he thought," I ran to answer the door, expecting to see Jughead only to come face to face with the one person from my past I never wanted to see again.
Archie.
I felt the anger starting to rise from deep in my gut as I stared into his eyes. He looked me up and down, smirking at me.
How dare he show up like this, unannounced, and with a smile on his face of all things. I seethed.
"Hey there babe, did you miss me?" Archie staggered forward, trying to grab my hips but losing his footing instead. We slammed into the doorframe and I could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath.
The bile in my throat threatened to come out as I pushed him away, blocking his entry to the apartment. He just stared at me with a Cheshire grin, still trying to touch me.
"What in the actual fuck do you think you are doing here, Archie?! How the hell did you even know where I was or what apartment number was mine for that matter?" I whisper screamed at him. I was beyond enraged at this point but I was trying not to raise my voice too much to keep some semblance of privacy.
He laughed bitterly and gave me an incredulous look before I saw anger flickering in his eyes.
"What? Am I not allowed to know where my wife is living? You left in such a huff that you didn't even give me a forwarding address. So, naturally, I had my attorney track you down. We are still married after all Elizabeth and I wanted to see my girl," Archie stepped forward in an attempt to caress my face but I swatted his hand away and glared at him.
I could feel the bile building in my throat again and at this point, I didn't care if God and country could hear me, my rage was taking over and there was no way I was controlling it right now.
"Your... girl? Your girl? Archibald Fredrick Andrews, have you lost your fucking mind? Did you forget it was you who cheated, it was you who asked me for a divorce and kicked me out, and it was you who "supposedly" knocked up another woman? Just because that trashy bitch lied about being pregnant doesn't automatically make me your girl again," I crossed my arms over my chest and stood tall, showing him he had no power over me any longer.
"I am not your girl, I will never be your girl ever again and . . I'm someone else's girl now and there is nothing you could ever do to change that," I grinned smugly, giving him all the Alice Cooper glare I could summon.
As the words leave my mouth I see Archie's cocky grin transform into a scowl and he stepped closer, pinning me to the doorframe. That's when I knew he was about to get hostile. See, Archie never could handle his drink very well and since he was already a controlling asshole, adding liquor just meant he could flip on a dime. It used to terrify me but I won't back down, not this time. I am done being afraid of him, especially now.
I was actually happy for the first time in I couldn't say how long and I refused to let him and his possessive delusions ruin it.
"You. Are. WHAT!?" Archie screamed, balling up his fists and glaring at me. Suddenly, he grabbed my chin and forced me to look into his eyes. "What do you mean 'you are someone else's girl'? You are mine, Elizabeth! You hear me?!" Archie stayed inches from my face, dropping his hand from my chin to wrap it around my throat and squeezing. I wrapped my hand around his wrist, trying to get air but he wouldn't let up.
"Don't forget Elizabeth, I took your virginity. I defiled you, I'm the only man who has ever touched you. You belong to me. Who else would want you anyway?" I could feel my vision starting to fade when out of nowhere I heard the voice I had been praying to hear since I opened the door.
"Well, that would be me there, Red. And I suggest you take your filthy hands off my girl before I cut your fucking hand off," Jughead growled angrily, eyes blown black with rage. I gasped for air as Archie dropped his hand from my throat and stared at Jughead in recognition. Even with Jug's seemingly calm demeanor, I could tell he was struggling to keep calm by the way his jaw was tensed. He had one hand in his back pocket - where I knew he keeps his switchblade - the other was balled into a fist at his side.
Archie stumbled backward in disbelief as Jughead stepped in front of me protectively and gently stroked my throat. He opened his balled-up fist and intertwined our hands together, giving me a reassuring squeeze. Jughead looked me over quickly, his angry eyes checking for any other damage before he turned to face Archie. I knew this was not going to end well, at all. No one put hands on the people who Jughead loved, especially not on me and not by my sleazeball of an ex-husband.
"Jones?" Archie said in confusion, laughing spitefully. "Are you fucking kidding me, Betty? You are whoring yourself out to this snake?" The way Archie spat out the last word made me even more angry about him being here. He could do or say what he wanted to about me but how the hell did he think he had the right to say things like that to Jughead - or any other Serpent for that matter.
He doesn't even know Jughead.
Wait... Right?
"Karma's a bitch ain't she, Andrews?" Jughead grinned, baring his teeth like some sort of animal. The look of fear mixed with shock was unmistakable on Archie's face. It was a look I rarely ever saw on him.
"Oh, what's wrong, Red? Can't handle the fact that Betty found a real man to please her?" Jug smirked, licking his lips lasciviously before continuing, "You fucked it up, Archie, you threw away the best woman on this planet and now she is mine." Jughead flicked open his knife and stepped closer to Archie menacingly.
"And I will tell you this just once, back the fuck off what's mine. I don't share. You should know what happens when you cross me by now, Red."
What? What does he mean 'You should know what happens when you cross me'?
How do they even know each other and why didn't Jug ever mention it to me? He knew who I was married to this whole time but never said a word to me! I didn't know what the fuck was happening but I needed some answers right damn now.
"Wait! You two know each other? How?" I asked in a shaky voice, speaking more to Jughead but before he could answer Archie decided to interject his story instead.
"Oh don't you know? Jug and I here go way back, don't we Jones?" Archie was purposely pushing Jughead's buttons to get a rise out of him and I knew he was getting close to snapping.
"Shut the hell up, Andrews!" Jughead's nostrils flared and his shoulders tensed as he glowered at him.
"Hey Jones, how is Jellybean anyway? She miss me?" My jaw hit the floor and I knew bad shit was about to happen but I wasn't about to allow Jughead to catch a charge over Archie's bullshit.
I grabbed Jug's shoulders and pushed him behind me into the apartment, yelling for Veronica to handle him while I dealt with this ginger asshat. I turned around to Archie - who was grinning like the cat that got the canary - and scowled at him.
"Leave. Now. And I don't mean this building. I mean, leave Riverdale. Go back to New York, go to California, shit go to Hell for all I care. But the next time I see you within 20 miles of this town I won't hold him or any other Serpent back. You got that, Andrews?" My body vibrated in anger, feeling hot and cold at the same time as if there were fire and ice pumping through my veins just waiting for me to combust.
I heard the ding of the elevator and glanced to see Andre heading our way. Clearly, Veronica had called him to take out the garbage.
"Oh Betty, Betty, Betty. This isn't over. You know, I think I may stop in to see Jellybean. She is still around town correct?" Archie licked his lips and that was all it took. I saw red.
CRACK!
Before I knew what had happened, I see Andre dragging a stunned and bloody Archie away. He was screaming some nonsense at me and I could see the source of all the blood was his nose. All I could hear was the blood pulsing in my ears and I could faintly register a slight pain in my hand.
I looked down and noticed my knuckles were bloody and split open, a large bruise starting to form across them. I just stood there for another minute before realizing that the door to the apartment was opened that entire time. I spun around to see Jughead standing beside Veronica, both frozen in a state of shock.
It wasn't very clear to me yet but I guess I snapped and punched Archie. Damn, that felt good. Real good. I thought, smiling to myself. He had deserved that for so long but now was no time for me to revel in the pain I inflicted on Archie. I needed to know what the hell I was missing here because obviously my ex and my new love have a strange, sorted past with one another.
"Forsythe Pendleton Jones the Third, you wanna explain to me what the fuck just transpired between you and my ex-husband? Because I have told you everything about Archie and my past with him and this whole time you didn't say a fucking word about knowing him? What the fuck, Jughead?!" I pointed my 'non-bruised' finger in his face and began to tap my foot impatiently. I didn't like finding out I was being lied to or not given information about things that directly related to my life.
"Ooooh, you are in so much trouble, Mister. Betty pulled out the full name. You better spill your guts before she does it for you," Veronica quipped. I glared at her and she shrugged and stepped beside me to face Jughead.
"Ok, ok no need to eviscerate me just yet ladies, I will tell you the whole sorted story. As long as Betty lets me take care of that hand first. To make sure it's not broken or anything," Jughead replied gently, glancing at my hand. I hadn't even thought about my hand but when I curled my fist I visibly winced. I nodded and we headed to the living room.
While Veronica went to the kitchen to make us some tea, Jughead worked on my hand. He had been awfully quiet since the whole encounter with Archie and even though I was enraged about him keeping things from me, I still wondered what he was thinking. I knew he probably thought that all my anger was with him but honestly, right now, I was just angry at the whole situation. I just wanted all the facts before I directed my anger at anyone in particular.
It was Jug that finally broke the silence between us.
"Well, it's not broken. It will probably hurt like hell for a few days so you will need to watch it but it doesn't look too awful. Good to know my girl can throw a punch if the need arises," he flinched when he is done talking, realizing what he said. I think he was waiting for me to lose it and scream at him but I placed my hand on him to reassure him.
"Juggie, I am not mad at you. Well, not completely at least. Yes, you are keeping something from me and that makes me angry. Especially after knowing I opened up to you but I know you had to have had your reasons. And if they involve JB, I can't be angry with you. That's your sister, I know whatever happened was to protect her. Just tell me the truth now," Jughead looked at me like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
As Veronica returned and sat our drinks down, he sighed heavily and began his tale.
"Ok, yeah. I know Archie. I have known him for years. But you have to believe me when I say I didn't keep it from you to hurt you. I kept it to myself to protect you and to protect my sister. Archie was a demon from Jelly's past and I didn't want her upset or have her judge you because he was your husband," he lowered his head and raked his hands through his ebony hair, sending it into a wild mess of curls. I knew whatever Archie had done had tormented him deeply.
"Juggie..." I whispered. He looked up at me with glassy eyes and continued.
"Um, when I came back to Riverdale to work on dad's case, I met Archie. He and some of the other Bulldogs would come around to the Wyrm looking to score drugs or to pick up chicks that they thought might be easy. Something about points for some game they played. We were civil to each other, and he never gave me much trouble. Just chasing skirts and building up a rep for the 'one-night stand man'," his voice cracked in trepidation and he hesitated for a moment.
"It wasn't until a few years later that I found out that not all those one-nighters were 'consenting' adults. Shit, some weren't even adults yet. And I found out in the worst way possible. It was about two years after graduation and Archie come back home to Riverdale to visit on break," I vaguely recalled which break he was talking about.
It was Spring Break of our Sophomore year of college. We had planned to come back home together but then I ended up catching strep throat and was down for the count that whole week. He said he came home but never said what he did other than hanging out with the guys.
"He came into the Wyrm one night and that's when I noticed him eyeing Jellybean. Like a little too much for someone so much older than her. She was only a freshman in high school, for God's sake, but she loved the attention. It took a few days but he- he convinced her to let him take her virginity," There was an audible gasp from both Veronica and I, knowing that not only was she underage but that Archie and I were already dating at that point.
"Well, Jelly didn't know what to expect... she thought he really liked her. But he was really rough with her, actually- um, he tore her. But even when she told him it hurt, he didn't stop," I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Not only had Archie cheated on me multiple times but with a minor. A minor who he took advantage of. A minor who was the sister to the man I am in love with. How many other women - and girls - has he hurt?
"And the sick fuck told her that he was clean so they didn't need a condom. God... what 14-year-old needs to be told they have chlamydia? She was devastated. I'm just thankful that she was already on the pill or she could have gotten pregnant," Jughead was shaking uncontrollably and I could see that he was holding back tears, not wanting to cry in front of Veronica.
How could I have not seen this side of Archie? How could he have fooled me for so long? Am I just that naive? I felt so sick. I was married to a monster, a rapist, and I never even knew it.
Suddenly - like a ton of bricks - something hit me and I started to get angry again. What Jug said to Archie in the hall, 'Karma's a bitch ain't she, Andrews'...
No... No, he wouldn't-... He couldn't have meant-... Was I nothing more than cosmic retribution for Jughead. Or worse yet... Had he planned this whole thing out when he found me that night in the Wyrm? I could feel myself starting to tremble and my stomach lurched at the thought. Did he use me to get back at Archie for what he did to Jellybean?
"Jug, am I a revenge fuck?" I spat angrily with tears in my eyes. The voice that came out of me sounded so different from my own, it was smaller... and broken. Jughead eyes shot up from the floor to mine, panic setting into them.
"What?! No! Of course not! What would make you even think that Betts?" Tears fell freely down his cheeks now, the shame of crying in front of Veronica long gone. I could see he was terrified but I was just so angry, I needed to know if he had used me.
"You told Archie 'Karma's a bitch ain't she, Andrews'. Does that mean that I am nothing more than payback for what he did to your sister?" My lips wobbled as I tried desperately to keep the dam from bursting. Jughead grabbed me and pulled me into a crushing hug. The sobs racked through my chest and there was no holding them back anymore. He held me in his arms as I cried, rubbing my back soothingly.
"No baby, no. Don't ever think that. I just meant that he had all the luck before and now I do because I won your heart. Please don't cry. Shh, baby, please don't cry. I love you so much Betty," Jughead whispered into my hair before his hand froze on my back, realizing what he'd said to me. I leaned up slowly, my eyes shiny from the tears and I watched him. He looked afraid but almost hopeful.
"Jug, did you just say-," I started but Veronica interrupted before I could finish my question.
"I think I'm going to go see Reggie. Let me know when you are ready to leave, B. I will give you guys some privacy," she smiled and winked at me before walking out of the front door, locking it behind her. There was an awkward silence between us for the first time in our relationship and I didn't care for it.
"Juggie, did you just say you loved me?" Jughead looked at me with awe and devotion sparkling in his tears. Even if he never answered me I would have known that those were the words he spoke to me just from the look in his eyes.
"Yeah, I did. I do. I love you, Betty Cooper," his content smile made my breath catch. He loves me too! I am not crazy, he loves me too...
"I love you too, Jughead Jones. So much," I laughed as I launched myself at Juggie and began to kiss him, hard. There was so much need and urgency in the way we moved like we had to pour all our love into that one kiss. I swung my leg over him, straddling him and deepening the fevered kisses. I ran my hands into his hair and as he kisses my neck, moaning wildly when he found my hotspot.
He pulled back to remove my shirt, revealing my see-through black lace bralette. His primal groan sent shockwaves to my core and he bucked up against my heat, causing me to grind on him in response.
As soon as I feel his teeth graze my neck I knew I needed to have him - all of him - right here, right now. I tugged at the hem of his tee-shirt frenziedly and he responded by grabbing the back of his shirt and pulling it over his head, tossing it across the room.
After he tossed his shirt, my fingers traced the ridges and plains of his muscles - nails teasing them - causing him to flinch under my touch. He looked at me with hooded eyes, his mouth red and swollen from our heated kisses. He was the sexiest man I had ever seen and he was all mine. I wove my hands into his hair again, forcing him to look me directly in the eye.
"I love you so much, Juggie. More than I have ever loved anyone. You are it for me. You have my heart, my mind, my body, and my soul," I paused between each statement to kiss his face for emphasis. "Everything I have, I give to you. Forever," I whispered and with each peck to his face and jaw, his eyes grew softer and softer. I already knew he believed me. He didn't doubt how I felt about him.
"Now Juggie, how about we take this to my old room to have one last hoorah before I am officially shacking up with the Joneses?" I bit my lip suggestively, grinding my core against his length.
"You don't have to ask me twice, Princess. I hope that bedframe isn't expensive because it might not be standing after we are through with it," he said with a wink. I giggled as he lifted me up bridal style and we headed to my room.
Before he crossed the threshold he kissed my forehead and looked deep into my eyes, "Elizabeth Cooper, I love you more than life itself and I will spend the rest of my days showing you that. Tonight, tomorrow, every day until eternity ends, it will only ever be you."
"Do you think we should tell her, Betts?" Jughead's voice pulled me out of my trance. I sighed and glanced over at him briefly before looking out the window again. This is gonna be a tough decision.
"I mean, I think she deserves to know but do you think she can handle it, Juggie? It's just- he did her so wrong, Jug. He hurt her so badly, violated her in so many ways," I said sadly, still horrified by all I learned earlier in the day. I hate that this was something that even had to be talked about. Jellybean didn't deserve what happened to her and if she knew Archie was back, this could crush her. Then I realized that something else might crush her more...
"Jesus, does she even know he's my ex, Jug?" I said, beginning to panic at the thoughts. What if she hates me? What if she blames me for what he did, no matter how indirectly I was involved.
Sensing my fears, Jughead placed a hand on my knee and rubbed soothingly.
"Baby, first off, yes. I do think she can handle it. She is stronger than she looks. And yes, he hurt her physically and emotionally but that was a long time ago," he picked up my hand and kissed it gently.
"I know you had no idea what he was doing so don't worry. Jelly will know that too. I just thank God you didn't catch anything from him too. This is not your fault. Archie is to blame. He is scum. Jelly will understand that," he said. His words were reassuring but didn't dampen the fear of how she might react. Unfortunately, I knew what needed to be done.
"Guess there is only one way to find out," I whispered, taking a deep breath and squeezing his hand.
Once we arrived at the Wyrm, we unloaded the five or six boxes I packed and lugged them upstairs with the help of Sweet Pea, Fangs, and Joaquin. My nerves were already calming just from being back here with my little family. We had all gotten so close and I was so grateful for them.
But, leave it to Sweet Pea to be the first to notice something off about our behavior.
"Alright, what the hell's up? You two aren't being your normal, overly sickening, smoochie selves," he grunted, setting a box on the countertop and noticing my bandaged hand.
"What the fuck happened to Blondie's hand? Did something go down again? What's wrong Jug?" Sweet Pea pushed. Jughead looked at me and waited for me to nod before he replied.
"Ok, so you guys are going to find out soon enough and I need you to be on high alert in case he shows up here, but Betty's ex showed up at her old place tonight drunk and getting handsy... and violent," all three of the young Serpents just stood there, jaws clenching. Fangs broke the silence and spoke first.
"Did he hurt you, Betty? Is that why your hand is bandaged up?" Jughead's husky chuckle caused me to blush and my heart rate to quicken. He was so proud of the fact that I could protect myself if need be.
"Actually Fangs, she punched him. Punched him real good, you guys should be proud," he praised as they all grinned at me causing me to blush even more.
"Good on ya Coop, knew you were a firecracker. So, what? We need to bounce his sorry ass if he shows up?" Joaquin asked.
"Actually guys, I don't even want this guy in the bar at all. We have a history with him already. Pea, you actually met him once. His name is Archie," Sweet Pea looked at Jughead confused.
"Jug, only Archie I know is that red-headed piece of shit Northsider - no offense, Blondie - and his last name definitely ain't Cooper," my head dropping in embarrassment, knowing I had to admit my married name to them. Jughead gave me a sympathetic look and nudged my shoulder.
"Betts, tell 'em," he said as he grabbed my hand and squeezed to reassure me. The guys all looked at me even more confused. I lowered my head again and my voice came out as almost a squeaking sound.
"Um, Cooper is my maiden name. My married name is Betty... Andrews," Sweet Pea looked at me, his face twisting from confusion into one of hate and he stepped forward until we are toe to toe and he towered over me.
Jug moved to step in between us but I motioned with my hand to stop him. I lifted my chin up higher and stared Sweet Pea down. I will not back down when I did nothing wrong.
"Andrews!? As in Archie fucking Andrews?! You're married to that no good son of a bitch?! Did you know what he did? God, is this some sick fucking joke?" he spat at me, his deadly gaze burning into my soul. I clenched my fists, ignoring the pain shooting through my knuckles and narrowed my eyes at him.
"How can we trust that you aren't part of some new sick game he has, huh? You just show up here in a slutty little outfit one day and suddenly Jughead is fuc-," Jughead tried to interfere again but I wouldn't take this bullshit anymore.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" I screamed, my nostrils flaring. I could feel the heated anger radiating off of him but I would not let him intimidate me. Fuck that noise! I poked him in the ribs as I began to speak.
"Let's get a few things straight here, Sweets. First off, I had no idea who Archie really was before I married him. If I had, you can bet your ass I would've been hard-pressed not to kill him myself," I stepped closer and showed no fear, feeling all my pent up rage surfacing.
"Secondly, I am no longer married to him, even if the divorce is not final yet. That ship didn't just sail, the fucker went up in flames," I stated. My chest was heaving and I could feel my nails piercing my unbandaged hand but it wasn't enough to stop my rage.
"And as for me showing up here in 'my slutty outfits' and suddenly I'm banging the Serpent King? Well, Sweet Pea, I don't give a fuck if I'm just here to bounce on Jug's dick and look pretty, you will show me some fucking respect. Not because of who he is, but because of who I am." Jughead looked smugly at me while the other boys were completely speechless.
"I have just as much right to be here as anyone else in this bar. See, even if I wasn't Jug's girl, I am still a Serpent by blood. In fact, my mother was once - and still is - FP Jones' Queen. That in itself commands some damned common courtesy, you fucking tool," I spat.
Man, if the word flabbergasted had a face, it would be Sweet Pea's at this moment.
"Oh, and Sweet Pea? I know that Serpent Law says 'a Serpent shall never betray or harm his own' but that doesn't mean I can't knock you on your ass if you get in my damn face like that ever again. I'm fairly certain that I broke Archie's nose, I don't have any issues with attempting to break your jaw. So please, fucking try me 'cause I have a decade of pent up rage that is just screaming to come out!" I said with controlled seething, narrowing my eyes and staring Sweet Pea down until he held his hands up in surrender and backed down.
"Damn Jones, remind me to never piss off your old lady," Fangs laughed. My eyes snapped to him and I tilted my head to the side.
"Wanna repeat that Fangs?" I growled, shooting him a death glare that had him tripping over himself to backpedal.
"What'd I tell you, straight up firecracker," Joaquin laughed and smacked Jug.
"Tell me about it," Jughead smirked proudly. He cocked his head to the side and beckoned me over. Still seething, I walked into his waiting arms and instantly felt calmer.
"I'm so proud of you, Betts," he whispered, kissing my hair and lifting my chin to look him in the eyes, "Bounce on my dick, huh?" I smacked his chest and giggled.
"Hey, it just came out!" I stated, blushing at his grin.
"That's what she said!" Joaquin and Fangs said in unison.
"Lord, you guys are such dorks!" I picked up a dishtowel and threw it in their direction. We all had a good laugh, that was until we heard a voice behind us from the hall.
"Did you mean it, Betty?"
Fuck... I screwed my eyes shut. We all swung around to see Jellybean standing there, pale as a ghost and trembling. I heard Sweet Pea swearing under his breath from behind me and I panicked.
DOUBLE FUCK. Not how I wanted to tell her, I mentally smacked myself on the forehead at that thought. I looked up at JB and I could see she was waiting on my reply.
"Did I mean what, JB?" I asked in a hushed voice, slowly making my way towards her like she was a wounded animal.
"Did you mean it about not knowing what he was. And that you would have killed him had you known?" I could see the tears pricking the corners of her eyes and at that moment I had never wanted to hurt Archie more than I do right now.
"I promise you JB, if I had known, I would have kicked his ass and probably castrated him. I'm so sorry for what he did to you. Please believe me, I didn't know," Jellybean held her hand up.
"It's ok Betty, I believe you. He hurt you too," I pulled her into an embrace and we both cried.
"Jelly, I promise, I won't let him hurt you ever again. I may not be as big and scary as the boys here but-," Fangs snorted out a laugh and I turned my head to face them, my eyebrow raised.
"Well, you sure as hell fooled us, Blondie. I know I never wanna cross you after that speech," Sweet Pea added, his eyes flickering between me and Jellybean. Hmmm... That's interesting...
"Good. Now, if you see that fucking ginger lurking around, tell me. I already warned him and Betty Cooper doesn't warn twice," I said sternly. "JB, why don't you go lay down for a bit while me and Jug get my stuff unboxed? When you get up, we can order in. Sound good?"
Jellybean nodded and squeezed my torso one last time before disappearing into her room. I pinched the bridge of my nose with my thumb and forefinger, sighing heavily.
"Alright boys, you heard her: let's get these boxes to my room and then we need to have a security plan in place," Jughead kissed my temple before helping the guys take the boxes back to our room.
Watching them walk into the room, it hit me.
I want to be a Southside Serpent.