It took five rings for Reggie to answer his phone. "Don't you know that people of our generation text, Jones?"
"Sorry, did I tear you away from gazing into the mirror?" Jughead retorted.
"Actually, no." Reggie's tone turned sour. "I was actually just fielding off gossip from the rest of the community service club that you scored Kevin because you're some sort of sex god. Everyone saw him in that sweatshirt and assumed that the two of you shagged, just like I did."
"Your commitment to the truth is admirable," Jughead commented.
"I don't want people to think Kevin is easily manipulated," Reggie growled. "If they do, they'll just try to manipulate him, and he already has enough to worry about."
"Then maybe you'll support my plan to help him relax." Jughead knew that if he wanted to get Reggie to help him, he had to phrase it as aid to Kevin rather than himself.
"You want me to help you get with Kevin?" Reggie did not sound impressed.
"I wanted you to take his younger sister Patty to her soccer game on Saturday so Kevin and I can go fishing," Jughead informed him. "Betty agreed to take his sister Denise to the mall to buy some dress for something, and Veronica agreed to lend a few maids over to help them clean their house."
"Why does their house need cleaning?" Reggie wondered. "Aren't his parents off screwing around somewhere else, like always?"
"I guess they must be visiting," Jughead said. "I suppose they might want to see their kids, you know."
"You're giving them too much credit." Reggie's tone dripped with disdain for Mr. and Mrs. Keller. "I bet they just want to check on the house to see what they should declare on their taxes."
"Talking to you is taxing me," Jughead grumbled. "Are you going to help Kevin, or what?"
"I will, but only because I know Kevin could do much worse than you," Reggie warned him. "I cannot emphasize enough how much I am not doing this to help you get laid.
Jughead rolled his eyes. "It's not about that."
Reggie snorted. "When is it not about that?" He hung up before Jughead could reply.
"Moron," Jughead muttered, but he couldn't hold back a grin when he said it. He had no doubt that across town, Reggie was referring to him the same way.
"So it's all arranged," Jughead told Kevin, trying to keep his voice casual. They were standing in the kitchen of the Keller's upscale home; Kevin was cooking dinner. "You can go on the fishing trip now. If you want to, I mean."
Kevin seemed astonished, but delighted. "You did that for me? Made all those arrangements, even begged Veronica for a favor, just so we could hang out?"
"Yeah." Jughead tried to gauge Kevin's reaction. "I wasn't trying to be some Machiavellian mastermind. I just wanted to make sure you could have some fun."
A smile formed on Kevin's face, and Jughead once again felt his pulse quicken at the sight.
"Thank you," Kevin said quietly. "To you and all of our friends. I don't know how I deserve any of you."
Jughead reached out and grasped one of Kevin's hands. "It's not a matter of you being worthy or not worthy. We just want to help."
A startled expression overcame Kevin's face at the action, and Jughead groaned internally, kicking himself for the gesture as he retracted his hand. His attempt at romance probably only made him look like some dumb soap opera protagonist.
"Well, I appreciate it." Kevin did not remark on Jughead's awkward maneuvers, and instead just gazed at him warmly.
Jughead's heart began pounding. "You definitely want to go fishing with me, then?"
"If you'll have me," Kevin said.
"Then it's a date!" Jughead said eagerly without thinking. His choice of words only crossed his mind when disbelief flitted across Kevin's features. "Um, uh, I didn't mean—"
"No, it's okay," Kevin reassured him. "I'd actually like it to be a date, if you don't mind."
The unexpected response sent Jughead reeling, but he also couldn't hold back a grin. "Seriously?"
This time, Kevin leaned forward and grasped Jughead's hands, the motion both joking and sincere. "Yes."
The beeping of the oven's timer interrupted them, and Kevin jumped up to pull out the garlic bread.
Jughead checked the time, delirious happiness surging through him. "I've got to get home. My parents will need some help getting our own dinner ready."
"Here." Kevin quickly sliced him some garlic bread for the road, and walked Jughead to the door. "So, Saturday?"
"Seven AM," Jughead confirmed as he walked outside. "Be ready to go." It didn't seem real, but Kevin Keller wanted to go on a date with him. Was going on a date with him.
"I was born ready," Kevin replied, leaning in the doorway. He was still smiling, just as happy as Jughead himself.
"See you." Jughead waved as Kevin closed the door, and once in the safety of his own car, victoriously pumped his fist in the air. For once in his life, he was looking forward to waking up early on a weekend.