Veronica sat in the booth at pops barely hearing Betty's story about something she did with Kevin. Betty laughed with her story but Veronica didn't even hear it. She was staring at the table, using her tongue to play with the straw in her milkshake when something at the door caught her eye. Midnight hair and a leather jacket. She watched him walk in, never taking her eyes off until he stopped. The worst part, she didn't even notice the man following, her boyfriend.
Betty must have noticed her staring because before she knew what was happening they were at the table. Everything felt so familiar to that first night but also so damn different. That first night she didn't have that knowledge weighing on her every bone.
Jughead didn't sit next to her to both her relief and disappointment. He sat across from her neither one looking at the other.
They all were talking, Jughead making the least amount of comments, about anything and everything.
Veronica just started to zone out again when she heard her name in that sickly sweet voice only Betty Cooper possessed.
"Veronica you had to have some great restaurants back in New York City. Better than this I bet." Betty's smile was so wide Veronica thought she might burst.
"Well, it's definitely no Le Bernardin or Per Se. Those were a bit of a trek but so worth it." She got this look in her eye that just showed how much she missed New York City. She snapped out of it quickly though. "But you guys know I love this place it's got that charm no place in New York ever had."
Jughead laughed. Not a real laugh, more of a condescending huff. "Oh My God" He whispered it but everyone still heard it.
"What's so funny, Jones?" Veronica looked at him for the first time since she walked in. She crossed up her arms and turned to face him straight on.
"Why does no one else get to see the fun and nice Veronica I got to see weeks ago? I mean I'd take her over the New York socialite any day. Come on princess step down from your throne and join us normal folk for an afternoon." She knew he was trying to sound rude and intimidating but all she could think about was how he liked the secret Veronica she doesn't show to most. She couldn't let him know that though.
"I'll have you know-" she was cut off by Betty who sounded highly concerned.
"When did you get to see this 'other Veronica', Jug?." Oops. Betty didn't sound concerned she sounded jealous.
"Look I had to get away from my family for a little so-"
"So you went to Jughead?" it wasn't quite a yell but it was louder than normal conversation.
"No, I was just out walking and happened to go by the trailer park. It was cold so I stopped by to ask to warm up a little before heading home again. He wouldn't let me, saying something about me getting murdered and him going to jail so I stayed. B, it's not that big a deal." Veronica lied. That's not how it happened. It was a big deal. It started this chain reaction of her starting to care about Jughead and actually liking him as a person.
"Sorry I sounded crazy. I don't know why I got that way." She apologized
Archie was silent through the whole thing, either not caring or just not knowing what to say.
More talking and more laughs filled the diner until Betty and Archie decided to go be good small townsfolk and go home, leaving Veronica and Jughead alone together. Neither one left just awkwardly sitting together in silence.
After a while, Veronica decided to speak up. "So you like the Veronica you saw at your trailer that night?" She sounded shy for the first time ever.
Without even looking away from whatever it was he was staring at he responded flatly. "Better than the one everyone else gets to see."
"What's your problem Jughead. You can't even pretend to be nice for me. Your soulmate ?"
He turned to her sharply. "You, are not my soulmate. I don't care what my damn hip says." She wanted to scream.
"We're soulmates okay!? We're destined by God, the universe, what, or whoever to be together till death do us part and honestly, death is looking more appealing right now…" She was careful not to attract too much attention in such a public place.
"Okay..." He looked up at her through his lashes. "...Sorry" He was quiet and genuine.
She just smiled into her straw. They sat in silence for a while just finishing their food and shakes (or coffee). Eventually, Veronica got a text telling her to go home.
She bid him farewell and they both stood up together. They walked out, side by side. It all felt so natural for the both of them until they hit the sidewalk to part ways. Veronica, out of habit kissed his cheek before walking away.
She realized what she had done after she turned around. But she didn't dwell on it, couldn't dwell on it, so she just kept walking. Jughead couldn't do the same. His skin burned where her lips touched. He just stood in the same spot watching her walk away and didn't move again until she turned the corner out of sight.
Well... Yeah...
Some progress? Maybe? Who knows...
Just enjoy this pretty late chapter.
Sorry about that, college man its busy sometimes.