Chapter Twelve

Jughead

"Jug, this is a bad idea," Sweat Pea says. "Even I don't want to hit her."

Betty is standing on the other side of the line, stretching her arms and bouncing on her feet. If this were any other time I would think about the perfect curve of her body or how I would like to peel those tight black leggings off of her. But instead she is about to be beat up by a bunch of people I trust. I know Sweet Pea is right. This was a terrible idea but she wanted to do it. I have already told them not to break bones and not to go full on crazy mode like they did with me.

"Jug," Betty calls from the other side.

"What's up?"

"Let's go!"

I nod.

I stand at the end of the two lines. I am supposed to catch her and kiss her. Then she is officially a serpent queen and they'll all trust her. At least, that is what is supposed to happen. I hope it works that way.

"Jug, we are a lot bigger than she is," Sweet Pea says.

"Dude, I'm already scared. Cool it. Just don't hit her hard," I beg.

He nods and then rolls his shoulders back. That guy likes to punch a little too much. Toni is standing as the first person to Betty's right. I am not sure if I like that either. If Betty remembers how I was with her, it should really be her punching Toni. Either way it is time for me to start getting it together and letting them do what they always do. I look out to the crowd that has formed around us. All the serpents want to see this.

"Let's go!" Betty shouts again.

I look to Toni and give her a nod.

Betty steps forward in her all black tight bra and pants. She looks like she is going on a jog. I think about that as the first punch is delivered right into her stomach. She kneels over and holds onto it. She is knocked off of her feet. I lung forward to grab her. this is a bad idea. We shouldn't have done it.

Sweet Pea puts his arm around me and holds me back, making me look at him.

"You have to let her do this on her own, Jug," he says.

I nod, stepping away from the lines again. I watch as my strong, brave Betty stands up and turns to the next person with her shoulders back. He punches her in the side so she is knocked and stumbles on her feet. That's when the other kid hits her back and then Cherry grabs her. He punches her in the chest and she grabs onto it, gasping for breath. I take a step forward but Sweet Pea gives me a look.

Another punch to the chest, the stomach and then someone goes for her face. He punches right across her cheek and she holds onto it, falling onto the grass and gasping. I can hear her moaning with every breath from here.

"Come on, Bets," I beg. I need her to get through this. I need her to keep going or I am going to freak out.

"Come on! Let's go, Betty!" Sweet Pea shouts.

She looks up at his face with her hand still on her cheek. A bit of blood dribbles from her chin. Now I really want to grab her into my arms. I can't believe I am letting this happen to my girlfriend.

"Come on, Betty! Serpent Queen!" Toni shouts.

"Serpent Queen! Serpent Queen! Serpent Queen!" they all shout.

I give her a small smirk. She sees it and manages a nod. She pushes herself to her feet, stumbling but then catching herself upright. She turns to the next person in the line. Fangs punches her in her ribs and then she stumbles to the side where she gets another to her jaw. The next is to her face and then finally she is at the end of the line.

I watch as Sweet Pea hits her under her chin. She falls backwards on the ground with a thud. I reach for her but Sweet Pea puts his arm in my way again. I have to get to her. I have to make sure she is okay.

"Serpent Queen!" Toni shouts again. I remind myself to thank her later for that.

Betty rolls over onto her side and then pushes her shaking arms so that she is kneeling. They all chant again. She manages to get to her feet but I can see her legs wobbling from here. I want to grab her and pull her close to me. I want to save her.

She looks to Sweet Pea and spits blood on the ground.

"You call that a punch?" she asks with a smirk.

I reach out to grab her hand. Sweet Pea drops his arm. This part is all me. She takes it and pull her to my body. I wrap my arms around her waist and I feel her let me hold her up. If I were not holding her, she might actually just fall.

"I love you," she whispers.

I laugh, wiping the blood from her mouth and chin before I lean down to her ear, still lifting her entire body weight with my arms.

"I love you too."

"Kiss!" Fangs shouts.

I look to her and put my hand on the side of her face, kissing her lips as gently as I possibly can. I kiss her for a long second, making sure that she takes some pleasure in it after all of that terrible pain.

When I pull away, her eyes look wavering and her body is still shaking against my own. I try not to feel bad. I try to push away that fear so that there is nothing left. I can't do it. It still hurts no matter how hard I try.

When everyone is gone and she is officially my serpent queen, I pull her back to the trailer. I have to literally drag her or she won't move. She said one of them punched her hip. I don't remember it but I was trying really hard to be scared and angry the entire time. I pull her into the back room and sit her down on the bed. I grab a washcloth and some Band-Aids. She leans into my touch whenever I am there.

"It's okay, Jug," she promises. "I'm okay."

"They trust you," I say.

"I could tell."

Once her face is clean, I put two bandages on the cut under her eye and the one under her chin. I help her lay back in the bed and then sit beside her with my arms around her shaking body the entire time. I try my best not to feel like I am going to shake out of my own skin too. I know that she can tell.

"I almost stopped the whole thing the first punch," I admit.

"I know. I was hoping you wouldn't. But I knew that you would've wanted to," she says. I look down to see a smile on her face. I brush my hand down her cheek and then graze it over her arm.

"Does it hurt bad?" I ask, trying not to sound like a bitch but I know that my voice cracked with fear.

"Just my head from the eye punch. The rest is sore but it's alright. I'll be fine, Jug. They didn't do any real damage," she promises.

I try to believe her and kiss her forehead.

"I was scared to death, Bets," I admit.

"I know. I'm alright." She laughs then but then groans and holds onto her side. I grab her hand and let her squeeze me.

"What?" I ask.

"How the hell are you going to explain my black eye to Arch?"

I roll my eyes.

"Gauntlet part two for the Serpent King."