Jughead Jones was always Riverdale's resident weirdo. He wore a crown shaped beanie most of his childhood. Serving as his safety blanket, it was nearly always on his head. When he turned 18 and joined the serpents he replaced the need for a knitted metaphorical safety blanket with a leather jacket that provided its own degree of safety. He was born and raised on the southside of town with a drunk father and a mother who had a knack for disappearing for days at a time. That is until one day she didn't come back. When his mother quietly made her mass exodus from his life, she took his child sister with her. No official goodbye ever came from either of them and he hadn't heard anything in over 6 years from them. He was 22 years old and leading a gang. Many would say the lifestyle was meant for him and he was born into it. Unless you knew Jughead, it would seem it was all a natural progression. But his closest friends would tell you otherwise. They would tell you Jug wound up in this life out of obligation to his imprisoned father and the gang that looked after him growing up. They would say he was a serpent out of loyalty and not choice.
Jughead had a small group of friends growing up. Sweet Pea and Toni were friends he had met though the serpents and Betty and Archie were his childhood friends. Before his dad spiraled, FP had been friends with Archie's father and Betty had been their neighbor. They all grew up together but as they all got older they drifted father apart. In middle school their playdates went from weekly to every other week and in high school, they nearly ceased to exist. Save for the few nights FP was raging drunk and Jug wound up on Archie's doorstep, their comradery had come to a near halt. But on those nights when home was too rough for him and the drive in wasn't deserted, he had to find a bed to sleep in and Archie was always more than willing. Archie never asked too many questions and instead allowed Jug to drown himself in soda and pizza while they played the latest video game and avoided talking about anything serious.
This concept of willful ignorance was the basis of their friendship. Jug didn't open up to him and Archie didn't pry, the dynamic worked for them and Jughead was grateful for the reprieve from reality.
Jughead and Betty drifted further as they grew up and wound up settling somewhere between friends and acquaintances over the years. They always seemed to circle around each other and maintain their niceties while never actually connecting on a deeper level as adults. Jughead's defenses were impenetrable in his younger years and the only thing to ever truly knew his struggles was his keyboard. He wrote constantly at a young age and even ran the Southside High newspaper when he attended school there.
Writing was always an escape for Jughead so when his novel was published at the young age of 19, he found himself shocked at the response he received. It was published under F. Jones and he was sure no one would ever pinpoint his involvement. His checks were discreetly cashed and his agent maintained his anonymity anytime he received an interview request.
Publishing his book had been a dream come true for Jughead. The same kid who couldn't even afford to feed himself at a young age was now wealthier than his parents had ever been. He had been living off his royalties for the last few years and had yet to publish another book.
Jughead's soft spot for the southside shone through when he saved the Whyte Wyrm from closing down by purchasing the deed and taking over ownership. No one questioned his explanation of a distant relative and an inheritance and the respect he earned from his men was gratitude enough for him. The bar basically ran itself while he looked over it for the last two years.
On this particular night, Jughead found himself downstairs mingling with the members and trying to garner inspiration for his next book in the bar he had called home off and on for more years than he'd like to admit. He was also nervously watching the door waiting for an old friend to show.
Archie was in town for a break between tours and his moderately successful band earned him a bit of celebrity status in Riverdale. So, when he walked into the Wyrm, not alone as planned, the women's eyes naturally trailed to him while Jughead's gaze was fixed upon the bright blonde beside him.
Jughead felt like all of the air left his lungs when he spotted none other than Betty Cooper with her arm wrapped around Archie's bicep laughing at something he had said. Archie spotted Jug and veered past the encroaching women to drag himself and Betty over to Jughead. Before Jug knew it, he was engulfed in a lung crushing hug by Archie. When they separated Betty peeked out from behind him with a small timid wave. Jughead unconsciously rubbed the back of his neck and gathered his thoughts as he greeted them.
"Hey Arch! I didn't realize you were with someone tonight." Jughead said nervously.
"Yeah! I was just leaving when I ran into Betty and invited her along. I thought it would be fun for the three of us to catch up. It's been years, man!" Archie said as if it was no big deal.
When in fact, it was a huge deal to Jughead. While him and Betty had always maintained proximity to each other, Jughead distanced himself when she began to date Trev. Just as Jughead was becoming interested in the opposite sex, Betty was entering into a long-term relationship. Betty and Trev were the golden couple in high school and even though Jughead had nursed a crush on her the majority of his life, he always thought that if she was happy, he was happy for her. In his mind, she was also so unattainable. She was sunshine and he was rain. She was perfect grades and he was in a gang. She was bright and he was dark. These contrasts kept him at a distance and only helped him disconnect when their friendly meetings became less and less.
When Jug joined the gang, he effectively cut off communication with his friends. It was easy then, they were already at different schools and were all planning on venturing off to go to college while his future remained firmly rooted in Riverdale. It was for the best he kept telling himself back then. He occasionally looked her up on social media but never dared to message her. Betty's picture perfect social media presence was another sign he had done the right thing in distancing himself. It was full of aesthetically pleasing pictures of landscapes, inspirational quotes, and endless photos of her and Trev throughout the years.
"I'm going to go grab a drink, what do you guys want?" Her voice broke him from his thoughts and brought him back to the ray of sunshine that was Betty Cooper. He couldn't help but laugh at the juxtaposition of his picture of perfection in this dingy bar. He suddenly wished he had put more effort into updating the interior when he purchased the place and quickly dismissed the idea as nonsensical. Betty Cooper had been there five minutes and Jughead was already preoccupied with guilt over the condition of his bar. It was like he was transported back to the scrawny kid who didn't have clothes that fit him properly and didn't know where his next meal was coming from.
Thankfully Archie piped up and ordered them both whiskey and cokes as Betty sauntered off to the bar. Jughead took the opportunity to casually ask Archie how she wound up with him tonight.
"Strangest thing man, I hadn't seen her since she and Trev came to my show in New York last year and she was just sitting on her porch when I was leaving tonight. It was kind of spur of the moment. Sorry for the surprise, I know you hate surprises." Archie said earnestly.
Jug took the opportunity to casually ask, "Where's Trev?"
Archie gave him a sideways look before opening his mouth but was cut off by drinks being set in front of them on the table.
"Here ya go!" She casually chirped while sipping on what appeared to be a long island. Knowing Toni, the bartender, that drink was likely stronger than Betty thought based on the rate she was slurping it down already.
"Slow down thee Betts!" Jughead casually said before the realization hit him that he had used nickname. A nickname that tasted stale in his mouth from years of disuse.
"I'm a big girl Juggie. I think I would know if I couldn't handle something." She said challenging him with a small smirk playing at her lips.
He was enthralled by her confidence and the woman she had grown into. Gone was the taught ponytail, replaced by soft waves around her face. Gone were the pastel sweaters and embellished collars he had become so accustomed to. Tonight, they were replaced by a pair of jean short and a basic black tank top. She had grown into a woman Jughead barely recognized but he was more intrigued than ever by her sass.
Jughead threw his hands up in defense and simply said "Okay, when you're three sheets to the wind later don't say I didn't warn ya."
They all laughed and fell into a comfortable conversation. Archie asked the question Jughead had been dying to ask her all night. When the words "Where's Trev?" left his mouth, he noticed her posture stiffen for a brief second before her natural instinct to remain stoic took over.
"We decided to go our separate ways. That's why I'm in Riverdale" She stated, as if the mere sentence didn't just tock his entire world. If she noticed the change in his demeanor, she was merciful enough not to mention it.
"Oh, well as long as you're happy." Archie replied. At that moment, one of the admirers from earlier decided to take her chances and approach him.
"HI! I'm Amanda and you are GORGEOUS. Are you Archie Andrews?" She asked while batting her eyelashes.
"Why yes, I sure am Amanda." Archie said back flirtatiously.
In that moment, Jughead risked looking at Betty only to find her staring back at him with the same bemused expression he was sure was gracing his face at the same time. She covered her mouth and giggled and Jughead was lost in the pure vision that was Betty Cooper.
Archie wound up escorting the admirer to the bar where they appeared to be settling in for a short while. Betty was almost done with her drink and without thinking Jughead raised his hand at Toni signaling they would need another round.
When their next round came, Betty clinked her glass against Jughead's and started work on her second drink of the night.
"It's been a long time Juggie." Betty said as she looked at him with the emerald eyes that always fascinated him. "I'm surprised you're still in Riverdale. I always thought you'd wind up in New York with the rest of us."
"My future was always here Betty." Jughead says more seriously than he intended and Betty's eyebrows furrow at the statement. "The big city's glitz and glamour has nothing on this tarnished walls of the Wyrm." He said attempting to lighten the mood.
The serious look was still on her face when he reached forward and placed his hand on her forearm. "Hey, I knew I wasn't destined to get out. I like the way my life is going here."
"You were never destined to be restrained Jughead Jones. You were always such a talented writer. I can't believe you didn't do anything with it. Talent like that is hard to come by." The honesty shining in Betty's eyes when she said that caught Jughead off guard. Maybe it was the two drinks he'd consumed so quickly or maybe it was merely Betty's presence but for the first time in his adult life, he wanted to tell someone of his personal success. He was never a braggart but felt he wanted to ease her mind. Reassure her that he was, in fact, using his talents.
Instead of saying any of that aloud, they were greeted by a much more intoxicated Archie with Amanda hanging off his side. "I'm going to get out of here guys but I'm in town for a few weeks, let's get together like old times at my dad's house soon."
Both of them nodded in the affirmative and said their goodbyes. The air suddenly thick with tension neither one of them could quite place. Betty was looking around the bar when she suddenly said, "Want to get out of here?"
Without even a second thought Jughead got up and grabbed her hand. "I know a spot that's quieter if the crowd is too much." She nodded as he made his way through the crowd and up the stairs to a door. Pushing through the door Betty realized they were on an upper deck on top of the bar. It looked barren with a single chair and an ashtray standing next to it.
"I come here sometimes when it's too much down there. It's private and quiet but still close enough for me to keep an eye on everything." He assured her noticing the hesitance in her step as she walked around the deck.
"Won't the owner mind?" She inquired.
Jughead laughed and Betty couldn't figure out what was so funny.
"No, I don't mind at all."
"What?! You own the bar now? That's great Jug and here I was thinking you were just out for a drink." She was laughing now too.
"Shoot, I should have gotten a refill before we came up here." Betty says staring at her now empty second glass.
"I got it." He said before disappearing back through the door.
She was slightly buzzed but liberated at the same time. She never really drank around Trev and had been so restrained all the time it felt great to let loose a little and see where the wind took her. The fact that she wound up in her old friend's bar that night was not lost on Betty either. When she walked in and saw him standing in the corner she was surprised. Jughead had never really been fit in high school and not what you would typically call handsome. She always thought he was attractive but Trev was her whole world in high school. She always felt guilty about losing touch but decided maybe going their separate ways and coming back together like this was a sign. It surely wasn't merely happenstance and she couldn't ignore the flutter she felt when he winked at her earlier.
Betty had no experience dating beyond Trev. He was her first everything, so when she felt the flutter earlier she didn't know how to deal with it. Lubricating her mind with alcohol was surely the best option at the moment and the weight that lifted off her chest after each drink helped her open up to him in a way she's not sure she would have if she was sober.
He returned with their third round of drinks and they fell into comfortable conversation. She asked how he wound up as the owner of the bar and was none to surprised when he said he bought it to keep it afloat. She didn't ask where the money came from and she wasn't sure she really wanted to know. She had known he was involved in the Serpents after high school and she wasn't sure how much wealth could have been accumulated over that time. Maybe it was enough to buy a bar.
Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't realize she was shivering until Jughead placed his leather jacket around her shoulders. "Here ya go Betts, the wind can make it kind of cold up here sometimes and we don't want you getting sick." He said while pointing a finger at her with an air of authority.
"Thanks" She simply stated. Looking into his eyes she felt that flutter again and found herself wanting to tell him about herself. "You know, it's good to be back home but I've really felt lost lately Jug. Trev proposed to me last night."
He looked shocked and she could see him stiffen again, whether consciously or unconsciously she wasn't sure. She bit her lip before continuing, "I said no. In front of his family and my family. It should have been this happy post-graduation dinner and I ruined it." She looked at her feet and felt his hand lightly squeeze her shoulder. When their eyes met again Jughead's lips had quirked up into a small smile.
"Ruined is a strong word Betty, you just veered off the planned path. That's all. There's nothing wrong with that."
Betty reached up and covered his hand with hers. "Thanks Jug. I just feel like a balloon floating around in the air with no real destination. For the first time in my life, I feel aimless." she breathed, quieter than she intended.
Jughead wrapped his strong arms around her tiny frame and she tried to ignore how perfectly she fit into his arms. She was taken back to all the hugs they had shared over the years. He was never one for physical affection with people but Betty got her fair share of hugs. When she scraped her knee in elementary school, when she got her first B in middle school, and on nights when her parents were fighting and she wound up in the treehouse with Jug and Archie. It was always Jughead who would wrap his arms around her and comfort her. Lost in the moment, Betty returned the hug with equal fervor.
"I just wish I didn't have to go home and face my mom. I was sitting on the front porch avoiding her when Archie invited me and it just feels so weird being back at her house. I know she's being supportive but I can't shake the feeling that she's judging me for saying no to Trev. Saying no to this perfectly planned out life in Florida with a white picket fence and 2.5 kids. She always told me I was so lucky but I'm not sure I ever really believed her."
When Betty looks up after her spiel, still in his arms, she realizes that Jughead is focused on her eyes. He's looking right at her, seeing her in a way she doesn't feel anyone else ever has.
"Perfect was never your word if I remember correctly Cooper." There's a lilt to his voice she can't help but be grateful for. She laughs and realizes she's just unloaded her baggage on an old fried without even a second thought. She was never so open with Trev and it startles her how easy their lines of communication seemed to be.
"Thanks Jug. You always did know what to say. I'm really glad I ran into you tonight." She states honestly. They break away from their hug, the implications heavy on both of their minds and put a little distance between them.
Out of nowhere, Jughead nonchalantly says, "You know, I have an extra apartment on the second floor you could stay in if you want."
"Here?! At the Wyrm, yeah I want to see the look on Alice Cooper's face when I tell her I'm crashing at a bar on the southside." She laughs at the sentiment before realizing Jughead was serious.
"Really, Betts. You're going through a lot and it's not fun to feel like you're under a microscope. I get it, I really don't mind. It's just sitting empty, I wouldn't even charge you rent." He's looking at her again and she can't help but feel like she really wants to accept his offer. Not simply because it will get her out of her mom's house but also because she's fascinated by this grown up version of her childhood friend. Inexplicably drawn to him in a way she had never felt before.
Before she can overthink it too much, she nods. "Okay, Jug. I will take you up on that. But there's no way I'm staying here rent free. It'll only be for a few nights so how about I pay you when I leave. I have some savings and I'm more than happy to do it. You're really helping me out more than you know."
"Nonsense Betty, please don't pay me. Like I said, it's just sitting empty. It's no big deal." Not trusting her voice Betty just nods.
"Would it be alright if I crashed there tonight? My mom has probably mixed her wine and Ambien by now so she won't even notice I'm gone."
"Of.. Of course," Jughead is caught off guard by the acceptance to his offer and stumbles over his words as he tries to think though his next move. "Let me show it to you."
She follows him inside and sees two matching doors, one on each side of the hallway. He turns toward the left door and opens it slowly to reveal a basic apartment. No more than a few hundred feet with a small kitchenette, a bed, and a sofa. There's a bathroom through the door on the far wall and a closet next to it.
"It's perfect Jug. Thank you." She turns to meet his eyes and sees that he's looking through the open door.
"No problem, I just should probably mention that's my apartment over there across the hall. So, if you need anything, just let me know. If I'm not there I'm normally on the deck or downstairs." He still hasn't met his eyes and isn't sure if he trusts himself to look at her without breaking his façade. Inside he's alight with anticipation, excitement, and nerves.
"I finished my last drink, how do you feel about shots?" Jughead turns around anyway and raises his eyebrows at her latest question. Sensing his hesitance, she quickly adds, "I want to get drunk tonight Jug. There's been so much pressure on me for so long that now I'm finally free I just want to enjoy it." She's looking at him in a way that makes his mind wander to ways he could ensure she'd enjoy her night but is broken from his reverie when she begins walking to the door.
"Yeah, sure. We can do shots. Don't worry about going down there though. Just pick your poison and I'll bring us up a bottle." He assures.
"Whiskey." She answers without hesitation.
When she concedes to staying in the apartment while he grabs the liquor, she can't help but wonder if his apartment is the same as this one. Curiosity gets the better of her and she finds herself wandering across the hall. Just as she's about to see if the door is unlocked she hears him climbing the steps once more.
"Sorry, I was just curious if your apartment was like mine. I didn't mean to intrude. I wasn't going to go in there without you. I don't even know if someone's in there right now. I—" Sensing her rambling, he puts his hand on top of hers on the doorknob and turns it causing her to fall silent.
"It's no big deal Betts. I don't think that apartment has any glass ware anyway. Come on in." He leads her into his home and finds himself amused by her reaction. She carefully looks around soaking up every inch of the space that is so quintessentially him.
He's amused by her reaction but feels the need to address a portion of her rant, "No one would be here by the way Betty. I've always lived alone. You know me, resident loner weirdo."
This earns him a genuine laugh and he can't help but wonder, what if? What if she was in his apartment under any other circumstance. As he tries to veer his thoughts back to the situation at hand she grabs the bottle of liquor.
She starts pouring them shots in the high ball glasses she finds in the cupboard and decided to respond to his self-deprecation. "You were always a loner by choice Jughead. Not by circumstance, girls always liked you in school so I was just guessing someone had snagged you up in the last few years." She can't bring herself to look at him, suddenly embarrassed by her words.
He laughs and she turns around anyway. She's caught off guard by how close he is to her. She's leaning against the counter as he casually reaches for the glass behind her, motioning her to do the same. She picks up the glass and clinks them together before downing the whole thing in one gulp.
"I've had my fair share of girls Betty, don't you worry." He winks at her and she flushes instantly. "But never for the long term, it's never been special enough to warrant more than a few weeks here or there. No one's every really kept my interest for too long." It's true, being a Serpent had put numerous girls in his path over the years and he wasn't a saint. None of them had been serious, but it was never their fault. Jughead wasn't one to open up to anyone and no woman wants to be shut out of their significant others' life. For that reason, he tells himself, and that reason alone, he had never settled down. In the back of his mind though he knows, he's always been unavailable.
They find themselves on the couch, Netflix cued up on the TV and liquor bottle on the table. As the hours tick by, Betty shifts closer and closer to Jughead. Each time she gets up, she sits back down just a little bit closer. Every time he reaches forward for the bottle he settles just a little closer, too. He's sure she can feel the electricity passing through them both as the pretense of the night washes away and they shift their bodies magnetically closer.
A part of him wants to throw his arm around the back of the couch and pull her to him. He longs for it, a part of him has always liked her and having her in his apartment while he's been downing whiskey at a rapid rate is doing things to his reasoning he can't quite comprehend. A larger part of him knows though, that is a terrible idea. She's fresh out of a six-year relationship he tells himself repeatedly. She's not interested in you, she's just not used to being alone. His internal monologue goes on and on as the episodes play through. Before he knows it, she's asleep on his shoulder and he can't bring himself to wake her. She looks beautiful. Peacefully sleeping and he knows he's gotten himself into trouble.
As a kid, it's easy to contain your hormones when the object of your affection is dating someone already and you know realistically you never had a chance to start with. Girls like Betty Cooper don't end up with guys like Jughead Jones. That's what he keeps telling himself as she shifts a little closer in her sleep.
Somewhere in between episodes 4 and 5 of Stranger Things, Jughead doses off. The weight of Betty's head heavy and warm on his shoulder lulls him into a deep sleep.
He wakes up to the sound of the doors being shut and locked downstairs in the bar. He's disoriented at first, certainly still inebriated from the sheer volume of alcohol they had consumed. Then it all comes back to him when he looks down at a sleeping Betty Cooper on his shoulder. Her arms have worked their way around his waist and he basks in the closeness while he can. He suddenly gets the urge to lean down and kiss her hair, so he does it. She shifts a little bit and catches him off guard when she looks up wish a clear emotion in her eyes. Desire. He's seen it before but never on her face. Never when she's looked at him and he finds himself dumbfounded. Before he knows what's happening she reaches up and touches his cheek so lightly he can barely feel it. He clamps his hand on top of hers and turns his head to kiss her knuckles.
"Thank you Juggie." She sleepily says before leaning her head back down and falling asleep once more.
Why did he kiss her hands? Why did he kiss her hair? The answer seems simple, but he's not ready to admit it. Because he wanted to kiss her, that's why. But Jughead can't kiss her. She's broken, she's venerable, and he can't take advantage of her current state. He would never forgive himself.
He decides it's much too late for her to be sleeping on the couch and picks her up slowly attempting to let her continue sleeping. As he's headed to his door, he realizes he never put sheets or pillows on the bed next door. He decides to let her take the bed tonight and he'll take the couch, but nothing ever seems to go according to plan in Jughead's life. As he lays her on the bed and attempts to cover her up, she grips tighter around his neck and pulls him down to her.
"I mean it, thank you Jug." It comes out barely above a whisper right in the shell of his ear. He feels her face turn as she places a kiss on his cheek. He's still recovering when he feels her place another one along his jaw and begin trailing kisses down his face. In an instant, his primal urges take over and he finds himself turning her face until their eyes connect. He can see her looking between his lips and his eyes and he swears his head might explode in that exact minute.
Betty trails her hand across his face where her mouth just was and says, "Let me thank you Jug" as she's pulling his lips to connect with hers. It's electric when their lips touch and he moans into the kiss. He hovers over her unsure as she pulls him into the bed with her. They're both on their sides as his hands cup her face and his finger pushes her chin up to grant him access to the expanse of skin on her neck.
As soon as her mouth is free Betty breathes, "God that feels so good Juggie."
Her verbal acknowledgement of the events catches him off guard and he finds himself separating his lips from her neck. He lightly nips at the skin on her collarbone and weaves his hands though her hair. Suddenly Jughead pulls back and seems to realize the situation they're in. Betty looks confused as he pulls away and she feels his absence.
He looks away from her still on the bed. "Betty, you just got out of a six-year relationship last night and this is a terrible idea."
Betty reaches forward and turns his head back towards hers, it's definitely the alcohol that has given her the strength to say this she muses. "I haven't had sex in three years Jughead and I need something. This doesn't have to be anything serious. Indulge me." The last part is said breathier than she expects but it appears to do the job as he crushes his lips against hers.
He's sure he'll regret this in the morning but while her mouth is moving in time with his, he can't find it in himself to care right then. High on the reality that Betty Cooper was wrapped in his arms after a whirlwind welcome back and she seemed to want this just as much as he did.