Their innocence brought them together in the most spectacular way. Through the years they were all known as the three musketeers, swarming through the halls with arms locked through and through. As they grew older more events started to prosper, making it harder for them to communicate. Jughead moved to another part of Riverdale, making it harder for any of them to contact him. Even at school he somewhat distanced himself from them, especially from Archie. Betty tells Archie to this day that it wasn't his fault, that he couldn't do anything about Jughead's family issues, but they both knew that was a lie, because even though she was busy twenty four seven with her responsibilities,
Betty went to visit Jughead to make him feel better and try to cheer him up. Archie didn't.
It didn't matter anymore though, because Archie had his own problems, and he didn't have time for friends. It definitely drifted himself from Betty, but it was hard to avoid her when she lived next door. He made it his goal to personally not get Betty involved with his troubles, so he purposefully made sure she was nowhere in sight. Eventually he gained new friends like Reggie and Moose, making it so he was more popular in the eyes of other girls. Every weekend was filled messing around or just anything involving his family when it came to the divorce. He was emotionally broken, but he hid it underneath a smile and a laugh. No one even knew what was going on with him, because he never shared it. All these thoughts led him up to becoming unreliable and most of all, broken.
Betty was in shambles. She had lost Jughead first of all, but now Archie was distancing himself? How could she live with herself knowing she had to talk to her parents about her problems, which she usually couldn't, and now that Polly was gone, that she had to bottle up all her feelings? She heavily relied on studying as a way to calm her mind and didn't care about what anyone thought of her, especially since she didn't care for her appearance. This time was definitely a cleanser for her appearance, though she did have dark rings around her eyes most of the time. Nobody would ask her out on dates or invite her to parties because of her attitude towards school, and the clean no-makeup act she was putting on. Her soul was darkened for the longest time without her friends.
Jughead was hit the hardest, heading into years of bullying and torment from Archie's new so-called "friends". To begin with, he was lucky Archie and Betty wanted to be his friends in the first place, making him feel more welcomed and needed than he's ever felt. He had changed physically and mentally when they headed into high school, becoming more aloof and self aware of his dark appearance to other people. He didn't care nor did he need any friends. By this point, his few of friendship was very dark indeed. The only memory he had stored from his childhood was the first day he'd met Archie and Betty. He had been an outsider then, and he forever is now. He was just lucky he was moderately smart in that department.
High school was the matching point for everyone. Beforehand Betty and Archie decided to talk once again after Archie came back from the summer, definitely making Betty eccentric. All their time apart reminded her that nobody could take his place, and that she indeed, had a crush on him. Her only hope was that he still had a crush on her, from way back. Her hopes were definitely high, but she knew deep in her heart it wasn't true. At least, that is what she's witnessed.
But fate had a weird twist on the Riverdale community when the murder of Jason Blossom was released on July 4th, eventually suspecting he actually died on July 11th. Not only did it bring the Three Musketeers back together, but it started a quizzical relationship with none other than Jughead and Betty. Shockingly Betty didn't realize at the start, but she had found her soulmate. Now she was finally happy that Archie rejected her, and she exceptionally happy that Jughead now had more friends than ever, though he didn't see it that way.
Archie thought the idea was great too. Them working together and becoming a pair was making both of them happy, both happy to be living. Both happy that it wasn't them who were murdered.
But where did that leave him?
"Hey Jug, dad's made us the usual. You might want to hurry up before it's all gone!" I yelled, hitting Jughead on the arm as he wriggled out of bed. He gave me a murderous yet sleepy look before yawning. "Okay, just give me a minute." He replied.
I could tell by his expression that he felt a little bit awkward living at our house, even though he constantly said he could live with his dad or at Riverdale High. Though he might feel a bit pitiful, I couldn't let my best friend stay in a dumpy closet in the one place he probably would rather not be. Our house might be a constant reminder to him that this isn't his family and that my dad isn't his. I don't know how long we're able to house him, but I hope it can at least last until the end of the year.
Jughead is a little skeptical about our friendship though, at least what happened in the past.
"Morning Jughead" My dad greeted, waving his hand at the door while looking down to read his newspaper. Jughead quietly greeted him back and silently sat down and ate. He still ate at a large pace, but more delicately. It only took him about two minutes to gulp down his drink and food before standing up and putting on his jacket.
"I'm going out" He announced heading to the front door. "Oh okay, I'll come with you!" I said, grabbing a plain grey t-shirt. I felt kind of nervous whenever having my shirt off around Jughead considering our stance, but he didn't seem to care. I should've been more careful if I was around Kevin.
Jughead gave me a quizzical glance but nodded and strolled out the door. His usual getup wasn't entirely special; blue jeans, his hoodie, and the usual beanie crown, but his raven haired locks seemed more in control. "Jughead Jones, did you brush your hair properly today?" I joked, pushing his back with my elbow as we walked towards Betty's house. I looked at Jughead and he just grinned sheepishly. "Well I wanted to look somewhat presentable during our.. outing."
I nodded and grinned. He was so easy to read.
When we reached Betty's house, I went on ahead and went up to the front door to knock. Jughead jumped in front of me. "Idiot, you'll wake her parents. Here, I'll get her." He started climbing up the walls leading up to Betty's closed-off window and knocked. I looked up at Jughead and saw Betty poking her head out. I could see her smiling ear to ear as she climbed down. She was already dressed.
"Morning Juliet, you ready to head out on our wonderful chariot to the king's court?" Jughead asked, bowing to Betty. Betty smiled brightly and replied, "Of course Romeo, where else would I go if not thou with you?" She giggled and took his hand. I watched from the sidelines awkwardly.
"Well.. let's go!"