A/N: I've edited this myself so I apologize for any errors.

This chapter gets musical! I figured since the show is musical and if I don't feature music in my fics my brain will leak out my ears, it was time to incorporate music. The two songs featured in this chapter are 'Samson' by Regina Spektor and 'More Than This' by Roxy Music if you would like to listen along.

I also want to mention a possible trigger warning for abuse. It's very minor but I wanted to mention it.

I'm also going to try to aim to have a new chapter posted every Saturday. Including commute, I'm at work 55 hours a week so I'm gonna work hard to post one a week but from time to time it may not happen.

Thank you to everyone who is reviewing and favouriting and following. It makes my day to see your incredible reviews.

Enjoy!

Jughead could see Betty's knee bouncing as she read her book. She was restless or nervous or both and she was letting it show. She was late again that day but didn't give him a reason why. She said she lost track of time and then changed the subject to the newest episode of Bob's Burgers.

He had been playing Metallica all week and he knew it was getting on her last nerve.

She let the second book in the Gone series, Hunger, fall against her legs as she looked over at him. "Please let me play something, anything else. Please, I can't take anymore Metallica." She pleaded.

"And I can't take any Taylor Swift, so no." He was trying to suppress a grin.

Betty shook her head. "Nope, no, that's enough," she stood, throwing her book on the counter and grabbing her phone. "I get one playlist, it's fifteen songs and you are going to let me play it."

Jughead rose blocking the player. "You are not going to get pass me, I'm bigger than you. I spend all my time listening to the crap Veronica listens to at home and this is my sanctuary, I cannot abide."

Betty approached him trying to decided the best course of action to get past him. She was rocking from side to side and leaned farther to the right making Jughead think she was going that way. When he moved right, she moved left. Betty managed to get by him just enough to make a grab for his phone.

"No!" He shouted trying to wedge his body in-between her and the counter.

Betty anchored herself and jutted out her hip to keep him away while she worked. She managed to get his phone unplugged.

"Oh my god, why are you so strong?" He exclaimed grabbing her hips and trying to pull her away from the counter.

Betty plugged her phone into the AUX jack. "I'm a cheerleader, I've been throwing girls up in the air for the past four years. They might look small but they ain't light." She explained as she began scrolling through her playlists, holding her arm out as far as she could.

"Betty, come on." Jughead started pleading realizing he had underestimated his opponent. He had one arm wrapped around her waist and the other was reaching up her arm in vain to try and get the phone. "You don't understand, music isn't something that's on in the background, it's a way of life. It's all I have sometimes." He was leaning forward, his lips were right by her ear as his spoke.

She pushed play and instead of pop music like Jughead was expecting, he heard an electric guitar. He let her go and Betty spun around to face him, his arms on either side of her, keeping her from going anywhere. "Is this Pearl Jam?" He asked dumbfounded.

She nodded her head. "I've been in a grunge phase since we've started hanging out."

He looked down at her and realized she was wearing a plaid button down with a Siouxsie and the Banshees t-shirt underneath. He mentally hit himself for missing something like that. "How do you know what Pearl Jam is?" He asked still confused.

"Well, the internet exists and I'm able to access everything on it. After I find the music, my ears take in the sound and the frequencies bounce off my ear drums-" She explained as he watched her.

"No, I know how, I mean, you aren't supposed to know this music. You listen to Arianna Grande and Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. You don't listen to grunge rock."

"I like a lot of music and you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. You know nothing about me, Jughead. I know exactly what its like to feel like music is all you have." Her eyes bore into him as her breathing became shallow. "When you're feeling lonely, there is nothing better than putting on a pair of headphones and hanging out with your friends." She pointed to her phone.

A slow smile spread across his face looking down at her. "Easy there, Penny Lane." He said picking up on her Almost Famous reference. He stepped away from her so she could return to his seat.

"I've also been playing piano since I was four." She informed picking up her book and sitting down, propping her feet up on the counter.

"What?" Jughead closed his eyes and laughed in disbelief. "Are you serious? Can you be more perfect?"

Betty frowned. "I hate that word." She took a deep breath in. "I'm not perfect, far from it."

Jughead looked away from her feeling guilty his words caused the reaction they had. "Sorry, it just seems like you have everything together is all. It's the impression you give."

They were silent for a while as they read at separate corners behind the counter.

"I know how I come across but a lot of what you see isn't me, not the real me anyway." Betty whispered.

"Who is the real you?" He asked looking over at her.

"I don't know." She answered truthfully changing the subject as quickly as she could. "Can you walk me home tonight? Archie is obviously not coming to pick me up and my parents are busy."

"Yeah, I can do that."

Betty nodded. "Thanks."

They spent most of their shift reading quietly and helped the two people who came in. Jughead was impressed by the playlist which featured Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Blind Melon and Soundgarden.

They locked up and headed towards Betty's modest two story home four blocks away from the library.

"How did you become friends with Veronica and Kevin?" Betty asked watching her feet as they walked.

"Kevin was teased and bullied like I was and we ended up hiding in a closet together freshman year. It turns out we had things in common and we found comfort in each other." He took a breath and continued. "As for Ronnie, she had come into town from New York and she decided she was done with the popular crowd." He shot Betty a side glance. "Your crowd and took a liking to Kevin and then to me. Kevin was the one who brought us all together."

Betty smiled. "That's a nice story, it's so organic. None of you forced anything, it must be so nice not to question the loyalties of your friends all the time."

"Why did want to fall into that crowd? If you never know if someone is actually your friend, if you are fighting with your boyfriend all the time, why even bother?" He asked as they rounded the corner onto her street.

"The popular group was the group that everyone wanted to be a part of." She justified. "And my mother wanted me to be a part of that crowd. Being smart, a gift musician and on every extra curricular wasn't enough. I needed to be a cheerleader, girlfriend of the quarterback and the prom queen. I did as I was told." She finished stopping in front of her house.

"I don't know what's worse, having a parent pressuring you that much or having a parent that doesn't care about you at all." Jughead wondered.

"You wanna come in?" Betty asked pulling at the edge of her jacket, not making eye contact with him. "My parents aren't home and I-" She trailed off deciding whether to continue with her sentence. "I don't want to be alone."

Jughead nodded. "I can come in."

Betty smiled leading the way as they made their way to the front door and they stepped into the eerily quiet house. The interior was impersonally decorated. Everything was white, creme or light grey and their were very few candid photos, only posed portraits. Jughead wondered if this had been the home set up her whole life. He imagined Betty as a toddler being told to sit and be still, to never touch anything, to never run, to be seen and not heard.

"Would you like something to drink?" Betty asked taking off her coat and hanging it in the closet.

"Water?" He asked shoving his hands in his pockets uncomfortably.

Betty disappeared and came back with a tall glass. "Is that okay?" She asked.

Jughead took it. "It's fine." He reassured.

"Okay, lets go." Betty turned and headed up the stairs while Jughead remained in place. "Are you coming?" She asked when she realized he wasn't following her.

"We're hanging out in your room?" He asked feeling nervous suddenly.

Betty laughed. "Yeah, that's where all my stuff lives. Come on." She nodded her head towards the upstairs.

Jughead took a deep breath and followed her. He had no idea what to expect. He imagined pastel pinks, off-whites and creme colours. He imagined an immaculately organized space. Perfectly made bed, nothing on the floor and everything folded and tucked away.

He followed her to the farthest door on the left and found out how wrong he was. Her room was medium sized and from floor to ceiling it was covered in music posters. Jughead couldn't tell you what the colour the walls were because there wasn't a square inch uncovered. He could tell which bands and artists were favorite based on the frequency they appeared on her wall. Nine Inch Nails, Frank Ocean, Kate Bush, Lady Gaga, James Blake, Ben Folds, Coldplay and Kendrick Lamar were featured countless times.

One small book shelf sat in the corner beside the window that would have looked into Archie's old bedroom if he still lived there. The shelves were filled with young adult novels and children's books. A vanity littered with makeup was pushed against the far wall and against the other wall, in-between her nightstand and bay window was a desk. Textbooks, novels and paper cluttered the desk and the area around it. Her laptop teetered on top of the mess.

In the final corner sat a shelf filled with CD's, vinyl records, a record player and an iPod player. In front of that was a keyboard with a small seat. Sheet music was piled everywhere and large headphones sat on the piano.

Betty moved to smooth out her unmade bed. The comforter was black and underneath was red plaid flannel sheets. "You can sit there if you want." She pointed at the bed as she took off her button down, throwing it at the overflowing hamper. She pulled the elastic out of her hair and let her blonde curls hang around her shoulders.

She hooked up her phone to the player and the newest Ed Sheeran song started to play. It was a song Jughead secretly liked but would never admit to liking. Betty began bobbing her head as she looked around at her things making sure Jughead couldn't spot anything embarrassing.

"So this is my room." Betty stopped in the middle of the space and tugged on the hem of her shirt.

"It is nothing like I imagined it would be." Jughead said in utter disbelief placing his glass on her bedside table.

"What were you thinking? Pink, lace and organization?" She smirked.

"Kinda, yeah," he laughed continuing to look around. "Bets, look at your room. You let me go on for hours about music."

"You seemed so happy when you talked about it and my knowledge doesn't trump your love for music. There's a technical side to it but the feeling part is just as important." She smiled reassuringly.

"Why didn't you say anything when I was talking?" He asked.

She shrugged. "Most of the time people don't care what I think. I guess I'm not used to speaking up for myself."

"You gotta work on that, Cooper."

"I know." She nodded in agreement.

"What's your favorite band?' He asked.

"Nine Inch Nails, if I have to pick."

"And your favourite song?"

"'More Than This' by Roxy Music, it makes me feel happy but it's also kind of sad and it makes me feel sexy and carefree. I love it. Have you heard it?" Betty asked taking a step towards the bed.

Jughead shook his head.

"What's your favourite band and song?"

"Radiohead and 'Hallelujah' by Jeff Buckley. I know it's not cool to not like the original Leonard Cohen version but there is something about Buckley's voice."

"I know what you mean, 'Lover You Should Have Come Over' is so beautiful and Radiohead is incredible. Those are two great choices.

"Do you talk to Cheryl and Archie about music and how you play the piano?" Jughead asked.

Betty shook her head. "We talk about football, cheerleading, who's sleeping with who and when we are going to the mall. I don't have that kind of relationship with them, we don't talk about that kind of stuff."

"You mean your thoughts and feelings and interests?" There was an air of sarcasm in his voice.

"My mother wanted me to play the piano but she told me it was a nerdy thing to do and I should keep it to myself. I don't talk about it." She shrugged again, tugging at the hem of her shirt.

The were silent for a few moments, the way they usually were when they wanted to say something but were afraid they would cross a line. "Where are your parents?" He asked. He never imagined Alice and Hal Cooper to be absentee parents. You didn't get a kid like Betty being absent from their life.

"My dad is most likely drinking himself into a stupor at his office or he's drinking at Al's if he feels like being social." She looked over at him gaging his reaction, she was looking for judgement in his eyes. She found none. "Owning his own paper seemed like a great idea at the time but now he realizes that he can't report on anything. There's no crime here. All the residents are hicks. He has nothing of value to say and he knows it. He feels like he is wasting his life here and wants to leave." She took another step towards Jughead. "And my mom doesn't want to leave because her boyfriend lives two towns over."

"Boyfriend?" Jughead perked up not being able to hide the shock in his voice.

Betty nodded. "I noticed she was gone at odd hours and it was happening more and more as my father became more absent. When I started working at the library and with Polly gone, she had no one to dote on so she would leave every night. One night I followed her to a motel where I watched her kiss a strange man. I could only assume what they were doing." She swallowed hard. "I've never told anyone that, not even Polly."

"Does it upset you that your mom is cheating on your dad?" Jughead asked moving over as Betty sat down beside him.

She thought for moment even though she already knew the answer. "No," she answered bluntly. "My parents aren't happy and if one of them can find happiness with someone else then I would much prefer that. I just wish they went about it a different way. I really hope they aren't staying together for me or Polly. In five months, I'm out of here and after twenty years its time they started thinking about themselves."

"Do you like your parents?" Jughead asked watching her intently as she picked at her cuticles.

"I love them but I have no idea who my dad is. He's like a roommate that works night and I work during the day. We pass each other, make small talk but we really don't know who the other is." She sighed. "And I'm fucking terrified of my mother."

"I feel the same way about my dad." Jughead admitted.

"I saw the way you reacted during The Breakfast Club and-" she turned to him. "Jug, does he hit you?" She asked showing true concern.

Jughead rubbed his face in frustration and Betty regretting asking. He answered even though she could tell he didn't want to. "No, I mean, he did once but it was an accident. He was drunk and he threw our coffee table and it hit me in the head. It was years ago, when I was eleven. I had a sizeable welt but that was the only time it was psychical. Believe me, I would have rather taken a punch over the things he's said to me."

"I'm so sorry, Jug." Betty grabbed his hand and started stroking his thumb. "Where's your mom?"

"She took my sister to go live with my grandmother in a small town outside Portland."

"Why didn't you go with her?"

"I had a year of school left in a town near New York where I want to go when I graduate. I have Kevin and Ronnie and the devil I know is better than the devil I don't. My dad needs someone to look after him. After everything, I still love him but I can't be around him. I go around the house three or four times a week when I know he's at work. I clean up the place, leave money where I know he'll find it. I just can't live with him anymore. He told me I was the worst thing that ever happened to him." Jughead looked away from her.

"I'm really glad you found a place with Veronica. She cares about you, Kevin cares about you. I'm happy you have that." Betty looked back down at their hands and continue to stroke his thumb.

Jughead looked at her realizing that she had no one. She couldn't rely on her parents, Archie was a disaster, Cheryl was out for herself and Polly was living her own life. He had said to her early that evening that sometimes music was all he had but it was true for Betty; the music was all she had.

"Can you play me something?" He asked timidly hoping he wasn't out of line.

She went rigid and stared at him with wide eyes. "What?"

"Can you play me something? A song or something? Can you sing?" He asked.

"No," she answered quickly and then shook her head. "I mean, kind of. I can carry a tune but I'm no Adele."

"You don't have to be." He assured, raising his eyebrows in anticipation of his answer.

"Sure, I guess." Betty stood and made her way over to the keyboard. "I don't write my own songs, I don't have that in me but I've been practicing a few." She sat down turning on the keyboard. "It's a lot harder than it looks, to sing and play at the same time."

"I can imagine."

She sat perfectly still except for her fingers grazing the keys. "I've never played for anyone that wasn't my teacher." She looked up at him with fear in her eyes. "You aren't going make fun of me are you?"

"I promise you Betty, I'm not going to make fun of you." He made a cross motion over his heart .

She took a deep breath and positioned her hands. The music and the words started at the same time.

You are my sweetest downfall/I loved you first, I loved you first/Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth/I have to go, I have to go/Your hair was long when we first met

Samson went back to bed/Not much hair left on his head/He ate a slice of wonder bread and went right back to bed/And history books forgot about us and the bible didn't mention us/And the bible didn't mention us, not even once

Jughead felt like he couldn't breathe. The room seemed like it had shrunk and everything had become so intimate. He was so wrong about Betty Copper and it felt like he was seeing her for the first time. She was not the girl he thought she was. She wasn't the blonde ponytail, the pom poms, the straight A student and the catty, gossipy, mean girl she put forth. She loved music, she had an amazing talent she was forced to hide and she was one of the most untidy people he had ever met. She was a dreamer, she was sad, she was lonely and she had no one to turn to. Jughead had never met anyone so much like himself while still being so different.

You are my sweetest downfall/I loved you first, I loved you first/Beneath the stars came fallin' on our heads/But they're just old light, they're just old light/Your hair was long when we first met

Her voice wasn't perfect but it was her; sweet, hopeful with and undertone of sadness and a streak of anger running through it.

Samson came to my bed/Told me that my hair was red/Told me I was beautiful and came into my bed/Oh I cut his hair myself one night/A pair of dull scissors in the yellow light/And he told me that I'd done alright/And kissed me 'til the mornin' light, the mornin' light/And he kissed me 'til the mornin' light

Her hair was wild and messy around her head and she looked comfortable in the worn concert t-shirt. It was the first time he had seen this type of passion in her eyes. Gone was the wilting flower he had seen hide behind Archie so many times. She had blossomed into her own person behind the piano, in love and confident with what she was doing.

Samson went back to bed/Not much hair left on his head/Ate a slice of wonderbread and went right back to bed/Oh, we couldn't bring the columns down/Yeah we couldn't destroy a single one/And history books forgot about us/And the bible didn't mention us, not even once

You are my sweetest downfall/I loved you first

Betty removed her hands from the keys and stared at the corner of the room, Jughead in her peripheral.

"Betty that was beautiful."

Her eyes darted towards him. "It's the only thing I've been forced to do that I actually like. I love it actually." She smiled sadly. "This week Juilliard sends out letters informing applicants if they received a live audition or not. I've been going home after school to make sure my parents don't see it and today it came. I have a live audition at the end of February."

"Betty, that's incredible," he smiled and wanted to get up to hug her but stayed in place.

"I needed a moment with it and I lost track of time and that's why I was late today. I couldn't celebrate with anyone because none of my friends know and my mom doesn't think this is a viable path for me. It's an Ivy League school or nothing." Betty stood and rubbed her forehead.

"I applied for a writing work shop with Neil Gaiman, he's my hero." Jughead blurted out. "People of all ages that have applied, people with way more experience than me. They only take fifty people so the likelihood of getting in is slim. I really want it though."

"I didn't know you wrote." Betty said.

"I've been writing for the Blue and Gold since freshman year." He informed her.

"I never read it. I'll try and find some back issues." She promised.

"They are all in the school library." Jughead let her know.

"I hope you get in Jug, I really do." She smiled at him warmly.

"What about Polly?" Jughead asked.

"What about her?" Betty questioned.

"Did she undergo what your mother puts you through? The never ending pressure to be perfect." He scratched his face.

Betty shook her head. "According to my mom, Polly was a lost cause from the start. Never listened, never had an interest in school, never sat still, never wanted to do what she was told. So my mom gave up on her and focused on me. I listened, I sat still, I liked school, I did what I was told. Betty don't gain a pound over one-ten, no one likes a fatty. Betty moisturize your face, no one will pay attention to an old lady. Always smile because no one likes a frown. Don't drink, don't smoke, don't have sex unless it with a man who can benefit your future. Cross your legs, be a lady, go to Harvard, marry Archie, have a bunch of kids, do as your told." Betty was hyperventilating now, her nails digging into her palms.

Jughead didn't know what to do. Her panic attack had come one so suddenly and all he could think do to do was distract her. "Betty, can you play me your favorite song?" Her asked with an encouraging smile.

Betty furrowed her brow as her fists clenched and unclenched.

"I really want to hear it, can you please play it?" He was trying to keep her attention him hoping it would keep her calm.

She walked over to her record player and scanned her records. She pulled one out and put the vinyl disc on the player. She did it with the expertise of someone who had been listening to music this way for a long time.

Melody broke the silence as Betty made her way back over to the bed. She sat down so her thigh was pushed up against Jughead's. Her fists rested on her knees as she continued to clench and un-clench them.

The song was from the late 70's or early 80's based on the synthesized sounds. It was airy and etherial and made him feel hazy. It wasn't what he expected.

Jughead looked over at Betty and placed his hand on her wrist. He extended his fingers so they were resting them on the lower part of her palm. She looked down at his hand on hers and moved her fingers so they were resting on top of his. She laid her head on his shoulder as they listened to her favorite song.

He breathed loudly, taking deep steady breathes and waited for her breathing to sync with his. She took a deep breath in and let it out when it seemed whatever panic she was going through had ended.

"Betty?" Jughead said and she lifted her head to look at him. They stared at each other, his eyes scanning her face, taking in all her features, his gaze landing on her lips. "Betty?"

"Yeah?" She whispered looking at his mouth, her heart now racing for a different reason.

"Betty?!" Another voice sounded from the bottom floor causing both of them to look at her bedroom door. It effectively ruined whatever moment they were having.

"Mom?" The blonde's eyes went wide as they both stood. She looked at Jughead. "You need to hide." She whispered.

Jughead looked around and realized there was no where to hide. Under her bed was cluttered with even more cd's and her closet was over flowing with clothes. He couldn't remain quiet if he tried to balance in there. Just as Alice Cooper opened the door Jughead slipped behind it, making himself as flat as possible.

"Hey, Mom." Betty smiled wringing her hands together.

"Were you talking to someone?" Alice asked suspiciously.

Betty shook her head. "Nope, just listening to some music."

"Did you get all your homework done?" She asked leaning some of her weight against the door which was getting too close to Jughead.

"Yep, I'm actually ahead in most of my classes."

"Good and the piano, did you practice?"

"Yes."

Alice took another step into the room so that Jughead could see the back of her head, her blonde hair the same length as Betty's. She took her daughter's chin between her thumb and index finger and moved her head from side to side. "Have you been sleeping properly?" She asked. "You look tired."

"I've been sleeping the normal amount, seven hours." Betty was straining her neck trying to break free of her mothers grasp.

"You should go to bed early tonight. No one thinks a tired girl is beautiful, Betty, and no one likes an ugly girl." She leaned forward and kissed her daughter on the cheek. "Good night." Alice turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Jughead relaxed and moved towards Betty. "That had a real Mommie Dearest vibe to it." She glanced up to him and he smiled. "You don't look tired by the way."

"You should probably go." She said swallowing hard and shaking her head. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

"Bets, it's fine. Really, but how I'm gonna get out of here? Can I go out the front door?"

She raised an eyebrow and shook her head.

He laughed. "The window it is, can I go out the window?"

"There is a lattice on the side of the house. You can go out that window and climb down."

"Am I going to hurt myself?" He asked shimming towards the bay window.

"Polly and I do it all the time, I think you'll be fine." She smiled. "Thank you for calming me down, Jug." She looked up at him and took his hand, pulling him towards her, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Jughead hesitated but put his arms around her shoulders, keeping the hug casual at first before tightening his hold on her. He dropped his head into the crook of her neck and inhaled, deciding he didn't care if she thought it was weird. Her hair smelled like strawberries and the lotion she used made her skin smell like vanilla. He felt they had been too honest with each other that night for her to care.

They parted, still so close it should have been uncomfortable but it wasn't. Jughead wanted to kiss her but he didn't want to pressure her in any way. He also didn't want her to feel guilty, he wasn't sure what was going on with her and Archie. He didn't want her to feel like she was cheating. If anything was going to happen he was going to let her make the first move.

'Thank you for coming over tonight, Jug." She took a step away from him.

"I had a good time and our next shift together you get to pick the playlist." He smiled playfully.

"I'll make sure it's a good one." She opened the window and watched as he climbed through it. "It'll have so much Iggy Azalea on it." She grinned mischievously.

"You'll be the death of me, Cooper." He said shaking his head.

"Be safe." Betty wished as he gaged what was the best to go down the lattice.

She moved to her other window and watched him descend. He stepped on the cold, hard ground and looked up at her as she leaned out the window. "Good night, Juliet." He smirked.

"Oh god." Betty rolled her eyes and covered half her face with her hand.

"I'm sorry I had to." He placed his hand over her heart as he took a step backwards.

"Good night, Romeo." She smiled watching him walk towards the sidewalk and in the direction of the Lodge mansion.

Betty turned and looked around at her room trying to suppress the excitement that was bubbled in her chest. She put her hands on her flushed cheeks which were rounded from smiling. Her body was tightening with elation as squeals of joy escaped her lips.

She stopped dead in the middle of the room and realized what she was doing. "Shit." She muttered to herself, annoyed with all the feelings that were to come.

For Betty Cooper had a crush on Jughead Jones.

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