Double line break means a change in POV
Jughead stood before the apartment, Archie and his friends, and suitcases around him. It was much more modern than the last place he had stayed in. And yet, it already seemed more welcoming. He really liked the idea of a brand new place like this.
Following Archie up to the flat, he walked in, and let his eyes sweep across the room. The first thing he realised was how much light was let in. Windows on either side allowed in more light than Jughead was comfortable with.
"I know it's smaller than your place in France, but-"
"It's perfect, Archibald," he said, smiling at Archie. Archie beamed back, beginning his tour of the flat. Jughead, however, was looking for any evidence that there had been a fight here before Archie had reached their destination. But he couldn't seem to find Archie's broken vase.
That was, until Archie opened the second bedroom door.
It wasn't so much a bedroom as much as a bedroom-cum-music studio. There was a microphone, three guitars, an amplifier, a stack of CDs and a player, along with two music stands scattered around the room. Not to mention the dusty stacks of sheet music lying everywhere. Jughead could see Archie's face go red with embarrassment.
"Oh, sorry, I just – I haven't opened this room since Val... um, you can sleep on the couch and I'll clean this mess up by tomorrow. Sorry about this, Jug."
"It's fine, Archie," Jughead said, smiling sympathetically and going back to the couch. He sat down there, grabbing the TV remote and flipping through the channels. He came to a stop on a Friends rerun. It was the episode with the drunk wedding. Immediately his mind flew back to memories.
Jughead drunkenly grinned at the bartender, his beanie askew atop his head as his new red-haired friend, Archibald Andrews, sat beside him. Motioning to the bartender, he turned to Archie and said, "I'm going to marry that girl someday."
"You're really in deep, huh," Archie said, smiling at him with amusement. "Let me help you out, Jones," he added and raised his hand as Jughead frantically tried to pull his hand down. The bartender wandered over, smiling at the two men.
"What can I get you?" She asked. Jughead smiled stupidly.
"Well, I'll have another beer and Jughead would really like to have your number," Archie said, nonchalantly. She nodded and walked away. Archie shrugged and Jughead groaned.
"You've ruined this, Archibald."
"Can't ruin something that doesn't exist, Jughead," he replied. As he said that, the bartender returned, holding a bottle of beer and a pen.
"One beer and," she grabbed Jughead's hand and scribbled down her number on his lower arm, "my number. Sorry, I assumed your friend would lose a piece of paper or napkin," she turned her attention back to Jughead and said, "Call me."
"Oh I love this episode!" A voice came from behind Jughead, making him jump. He turned around to see Betty Cooper standing there, a spoon of yogurt in her mouth. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights in her faded pink t-shirt, light blue jacket and matching blue shorts.
"Hello to you, too," Jughead said while Betty smiled guiltily.
"Sorry. I just – I was out of yogurt. But Archie loves yogurt and always has some so I-" she stopped when Archie walked out, struggling to pull a t-shirt on over his head. Jughead didn't have to try psychoanalysing her to know what she wanted when she saw his flatmate's abs.
"Don't worry about it," he muttered, turning back to watch the episode. Even back in France, after Archie left, she had kept asking if the "hot ginger" would be returning. He supposed now that he was living with the ginger in question, he would be subject to a lot more people blatantly ogling the person he spent time with.
"Oh, Betty, hey," Archie said, finally pulling his t-shirt down.
"Hey, I was just-"
"Getting some yogurt, I can see. It's good, right?" Archie asked and Jughead scoffed. With the tone he used, one would assume Archie had made the yogurt. However, while he had expected Betty to call Archie out on this, he instead heard her make a sound of agreement.
"Yeah, it's great. I didn't know you liked vanilla."
"Well I had never tasted vanilla so..." Archie replied and Jughead finally turned back around, his eyes widening when he saw the proximity between Archie and Betty. It was as if, when he spoke of vanilla, he was referring to her. Jughead wasn't sure whether or not that was a good thing. It was weird: they hadn't seemed like a couple back at the diner but here, with Archie standing so close to her and Betty clearly blushing, they looked like they were together.
They didn't fit together, but they definitely looked like they were.
"I'm glad you like it," Betty said, just loud enough for Jughead to hear. Honestly, had they forgotten that they weren't alone? He let out a fake sneeze to remind them of his presence and watched as the duo jumped apart, evidently embarrassed.
"Anyway, I should – I should go. I'll see you later. Bye, Jughead," she said, smiling at him. He gave an obligatory smile in response and Archie came back to the couch as Betty left via the fire escape. Giving him a teasing smile, Jughead said, "Well, you moved on from Valerie pretty quickly, didn't you?"
"What are you talking about?" Archie asked, frowning at Jughead – clearly upset that Jughead would even suggest such a thing. Jughead simply opened his mouth and then shut it. It didn't take a genius to realise what Archie was doing to Betty.
But apparently Archie had below average intelligence.
Sure it had only been a week since Jughead had arrived, but he fit the group like a glove. In fact, Betty hadn't realised that they had been missing someone with sardonic humour until he arrived with his dependence on sarcasm and made even the littlest things hilarious. And, along with the arrival of Jughead Jones, the rains came. As per Betty's calculations, it was only a matter of time before the power cuts followed. And then, finally, it happened.
The rain started around eight, and by nine the power was out - as Betty had predicted. Picking up her phone, the group message she had with Archie, Kevin, Jughead, and Veronica was going crazy.
Someone needs to go figure out the generator. -A
You had the idea, you get to go. -K
I would, but I can't! Jughead opened the window and now it won't close. We're trying to save everything in that room. -A
Excuses, Archiekins. -V
Guys, this is serious, we can't see shit. -J
It's almost as if we're all victim to the same power cut. -V
Ronnie, if you have nothing helpful to say, why don't you just say nothing? -A
Wow. Rude. And here I was actually considering going down and fixing the generator. -V
Bullshit. -K
Ugh. Whatever. -V
Her phone pinged again with a private message from Archie.
Betty, I see you reading all the messages. Can you please go down and do it? -A
Fuck no. I'm not going down there alone, Arch. -B
I can send Jughead down with you. He can hold the torch. -A
Betty's resolve began to slip already. After all, Archie had private messaged her instead of calling her out on the group. Sighing, she typed out her reply.
Okay. -B
You're a lifesaver, Betty. -A
I know – it's my worst quality. -B
Archie responded with a laughing emoji and the conversation ended there. Betty sighed and navigated her way to the dresser, took out a flashlight, and put on sneakers and a jacket before walking downstairs to Archie's flat.
It was odd going to the front door instead of going down the fire escape.
As she approached, a shadowed figure in a beanie and an oversized jacket was shutting the door. Jughead finished locking the door and turned around, hand flying up to hide his face, blinded by Betty's flashlight. Guiltily she pointed it to the ground as he let out a shout of pain.
"Sorry, I wasn't thinking," she mumbled and he blinked a few times before giving her a pained smile.
"It's alright. After you," he motioned down the staircase. She nodded and went ahead, hearing him in tow.
The basement had honestly never been scarier. While she descended, Betty began to have flashbacks of every horror movie she had ever watched. The fact that it doubled as a storage space didn't help – there were boxes everywhere. There were also piles of broken utensils – why don't people throw things out – and other such trash laying around. But the worst was when she reached the floor. The moment her shoe touched the floor, her body instantly recoiled but it was too late – her shoes were already soaked.
Apparently the storm outside meant the basement had water in it.
She felt Jughead's hands on her shoulders as he came up behind her, keeping her from falling over while she recoiled.
"Everything okay?"
"Sure. If disgusting basement water is your cup of tea."
"My, my, Miss Cooper, how did you know?" He replied dryly, drawing a chuckle from Betty.
She sighed and stated, "The fuse box is on the other side."
"Behind all the boxes?" Jughead tried to ask casually but Betty could sense the uneasiness in his tone.
"Mhm. Why? Are you scared?"
"... No," he hesitated while replying, and Betty laughed.
"It's fine. Nothing's going to jump out at you from the boxes."
"After you then, o brave one." She rolled her eyes at his comment, although she couldn't hold back a smile. It was actually worrying how quickly she was befriending Jughead.
Veronica doesn't agree, she thought with a smile.
"I don't see why we need to add someone to the group. There's four of us – that's such a wholesome number. We don't need a fifth," Veronica said, barging into Betty's room.
"Hello to you too, V," Betty muttered under her breath, taking another spoonful of yogurt.
"No, seriously, B. Don't you think four is enough? What's the need for a fifth member? And does it really have to be that snarky bastard? I mean he literally mocked me for living with Kevin. That right there – it's borderline homophobia. You know what? I bet he's closeted too. Archie better watch out – he's going to wake up one day and-"
"So when Jughead mocks you for befriending Kevin because of his orientation, it's borderline homophobia, but you insinuating that he's gay based on the false accusation that he's 'homophobic' isn't problematic in the least?" Betty interrupted, looking at Veronica incredulously. Veronica stopped pacing and stared at her for a few moments with her mouth open, basically asking for flies to enter.
"I mean... I guess," she stopped her sentence short and sat down on the bed as if all of her beliefs had just crumbled before her eyes.
"V, it's okay. Besides, Jughead doesn't care about Kevin being gay. He mocked you because when you told him the story of how you met Kevin, you included the bit where you said 'gay, thank god – let's be best friends,'" Betty explained, shrugging. Veronica scowled at her.
"Anyway, what do you think of Jughead? I still don't like him very much, but if you do, and think he's a good addition to the group, I can put my differences aside and try to get along with him."
"I... like him. I think he's pretty nice. He has a great taste in TV shows, definitely. When I went down to Archie's place he was watching Friends. But otherwise, I think he's nice too. We've only known him for a few hours, really, so I don't feel equipped to really judge him yet."
"Hmm... I guess so," Veronica replied, but Betty could tell that she remained unconvinced. She knew that a week later, if Veronica had asked her the same question, she would have given the same answer. Except she now felt equipped to really judge him.
"Ready to enter the belly of the beast?" Jughead brought her back to the present and she gave him a strained smile.
Betty gingerly stepped into the water, a wave of nausea washing over her as she feels the water soak into her shoes and her feet become soaked. Fighting the cringe, she lowered her second foot into the water, suppressing the second wave of repulsion. She stood for a few moments, allowing her feet to get accustomed to the temperature and feel of the water before she took a few steps forward and turned around.
"Your turn."
Betty had only seen people in cartoons prod the water before stepping in. And yet, right before her, the scene unfolded with Jughead putting the tip of his shoe into the water, allowing it to soak for a moment, before recoiling as a chill ran down his spine. Betty had to bite back a laugh. He was about to take off his shoes but Betty quickly stopped him-
"Don't! The floor here is kinda disgusting. And wet, well, it's going to be disgusting and slimy."
"Jesus Christ," he said, letting go of his shoe. Then, surprisingly quickly, he stepped into the water. Betty raised her eyebrows and smiled at him in salute. He gave a surprisingly bashful smile and, looking away, said, "It was the best thing I could think to do."
She nodded in approval, still smiling. Then she turned around and began wading towards the box, one hand holding the flashlight and the other outstretched to push boxes and other stuff out of the way.
"So what's the deal with you and Archie?" Jughead asked suddenly, making Betty jump and knock over a broken toaster. The clang of its fall was somewhat muffled by the water but was still jarring compared to the oppressive silence of the basement.
"What do you mean?" She asked, keeping her tone carefully even.
"Well, there's clearly something going on there."
"There's nothing," she said a little too hastily. She mentally kicked herself for using such a secretive tone and tried to rectify the situation, "I mean, we're just friends. Archie – well, he's only ever been single for a handful of months in his teenage years. He's flitted from partner to partner. But they've all been serious, unlike Veronica's partners."
"Really? What kind of people does Veronica date?"
"Right now she's dating Reggie Mantle."
"Reggie Mantle... isn't he-"
"My boss? Yeah. This means my job has primarily become picking out tablecloth patterns that Veronica would like."
"Does he only give her tablecloths?" He asked while Betty rolled her eyes.
"Very funny. What about you? Got anyone special in your life? Archie didn't really give much of an introduction," she returned.
"No. None. Been more of a lone wolf, I guess," he replied but Betty knew he was using the same even tone she had used previously.
"Very funny. What about you? Got anyone special in your life?" She inquired and her unexpected question startled him. There really couldn't have been a more clichéd moment to bond – in a dark basement, alone, wading to a fuse box.
"Wait, wait, wait," she said, sitting up, her legs pulling back on his lap, "you're telling me you've never been in a serious relationship?"
"That's not one hundred percent true. I did have a girlfriend. Eleanor."
"Ooo... Eleanor. Sounds British."
"Oh yeah – she adored tea. Of course, I haven't really spoken to her since the second grade so my word really isn't gospel," he said, a smile playing along his lips. Her eyes widened and she laughed while hitting him with a cushion.
"You bastard! I believed you!" She exclaimed while he laughed, lifting his arms up to protect himself from the cushion she was hitting him with.
"But seriously – you've never been with anyone long term?" She asked, incredulously. He shook his head, a smug smile playing along his lips. She leaned back into the sofa, shock evident on her face.
"You okay, T?"
"Yeah – I'm just. How do you know we will last if you've never done it before?"
"Because, the reason it didn't work previously was, in addition to the people I was with, I needed other people. When I'm with you, I don't need anyone else."
"No. None. Been more of a lone wolf I guess," he replied, knowing that he had spoken for too long. He couldn't see her face but he sensed her disbelief.
To his relief, she didn't question it.
They proceeded in silence for a bit, navigating the basement turned junkyard, when he realised she hadn't answered his question about Archie. Well, not honestly, anyway. All she had done was tell him about past loves. Well, if you could call them that. From what Archie had told him, the closest he'd come to love was when Valerie and him started going out. Val had also been his longest relationship – they had lasted almost a year before Cheryl swooped in and ruined everything.
Jughead would be lying if he said he wasn't hoping to meet this red-haired princess with claws that everyone seemed to love and hate simultaneously.
They finally reached the generator and Betty yanked it open. It seemed like some kid had decided it would be a hilarious idea to completely fuck with the wiring because Betty let out an annoyed sigh when she looked inside. Jughead, staring at the amalgamation of wires, realised how little he actually knew about this stuff in that moment.
"Can you just," she motioned to his flashlight and the wires. Nodding he quickly held it at an angle to ensure the entire inside was illuminated.
"Okay... so if I just... and this one... um here... why won't you... ah okay, you go here... red should go in red but... wait what?... okay yeah," were some of the less colourful phrases Betty used as she worked on the generator. Jughead watched in awe as she rearranged the entire thing four times before deciding on the final formula. Then she flipped the black switch beside the wires and the tube light in the basement flickered to life.
"You did it!" He exclaimed.
"I – I did it!" Betty reiterated with joy.
"Ha-ha!" He laughed and, on impulse, hugged her. The second he realised what he was doing, he pulled away.
"I'm – I'm sorry. I don't know-"
"It's alright. I think the situation warranted it. Now, let's get out before my toes fall off," she replied, a smile illuminating her face. Jughead grinned and motioned for her to lead the way as he already had several times that night.
