Chapter 1

We used to play hide and seek. I used to stare at her genuine face all day, make her laugh at my silliest jokes, wipe her tears when she cries, listen to her soft angelic voice when she talks and sings, and play with her natural blonde locks like it's the most precious thing in the world. That is Betty Cooper, the love of my life.

Betty and Jason were my best friends. Cheryl too, although she and Betty didn't really get along that well. We had a great childhood years together, and I decided to let that go. Then I met Archie, he became my new best friend. He would let me stay at his place whenever something bad happens at home, for example when my parents divorced, and my mom left with my little sister, leaving me with my dad. It took me long enough to accept the fact that I have a broken family. I never talked to Archie about how I felt though, how stupid and useless I actually felt. Betty was that one person I wanted to let it all out, but she was already dating Jason at that time.

"You gonna stop staring at her or not?" Archie would tease me whenever he catches me staring at the blonde girl sitting across us at the cafeteria. "If you've got something to say to her, tell her. I bet ya she's creeped out. Your glares are murderous."

I would just laugh about it, half agreeing and half disagreeing at his statement which kind of makes sense. "It's called gazing," I would correct him, "lovingly."

Archie would often call me the sweetest weirdo in Riverdale High, and that he was just the sweetest weirdo's best friend. Archie doesn't know how many girls want him though, all because of his music. He isn't as popular as Jason, and obviously, Jason and his gang liked to tease Archie and I.

Betty would normally ignore us when her boyfriend and his friends come to bully me and Archie. There was only that one time when she actually came up to me to ask if I was okay after getting hit by Jason, who also used to be my best friend. That moment was very... very special but it was also wrong. At least that's how I felt it was. That it was wrong to talk to her. To answer her. To touch her. To even look at her or listen to her voice.

"Are you okay, Juggy?" Again with that nickname. Her voice still soft and fragile. The genuinely worried expression. Her eyes watery. I remember looking into her eyes with longing, forbidden longing. I remember immediately looking away from her in shame, unable to find the words to say even as I mentally tried. I remember bumping into her and running off in panic. I remember her calling my name, and how I managed to ignore her pleas to stop me from walking away from her. I remember everything about her. Every single thing about Betty Cooper and how she makes me feel.

It was at the summer camp off Riverdale High when an incident changed everyone's view of the town. It was when Betty went missing and three dead bodies of students were found buried in the woods. Betty was missing. While everyone was so busy worrying about their own kids and wondering about who killed and buried those bodies, I was going crazy about Betty's whereabouts. Where could she be? Could she be hurt? What if the murderer is out there after her? What if she is hurt? What if something worse happened to her? What if she's dead? I thought fearfully.

Six months had passed since she went missing, the search for her had stopped. Some people think she might have eloped with someone, some people think she's dead. Her family doesn't seem to have moved on, but they were better than before. It's like they've finally accepted that Betty wasn't coming back to them.

And I didn't want that.

I had a bad feeling about it.

"To Betty. I'm gonna find her," I told my dad when he asked me where I was heading on a weekend. Dad stood up hastily, blocking the doorway with a disapproving look on his face.

"No, you're not. You're staying here," he commanded. Guess I shouldn't have told him that. Guess I should've lied.

"Dad-"

"Didn't we already talk about this, Jughead? The FBIs have already stopped searching for her. They can't find any leads as to where she could have ran off to. There is nothing at all. Which means she could have eloped with her shitty Blossom boyfriend or she's dead!" He said out loud.

"No! Betty is not dead!" I raised my voice, anger fueling me up. "And she's not the type of person to leave her family behind! You know her, dad. We both know that family is always first for her!"

"Well, how sure are you about that? You guys are not even friends anymore - "

"I love Betty, dad." I confessed, glaring at my dad and hoping he'd make way for me, because he usually does when it's about me following my heart. Instead, he fell silent. "I've been in love with her," I continued though with slight hesitation. "That's why we stopped being friends. I... I wanted it to stop."

"Jughead, I respect that but-"

"It won't stop, dad. I never stopped loving her and if I don't find her, if I never find out what happened or where she ran off to, or if she really eloped, then I'm gonna go crazy."

"I'd rather you go crazy than risk your life for a girl who doesn't even care about you."

What happened next was unpredictable, even for me. I really wanted to go so bad, so I did. I ended the conversation by punching him on his face really hard, making him stumble back as I took the opportunity to take his truck and drive. It was crazy. It was selfish. It was stupid and I know I'd get punished when I get home unsuccessful. I could already feel my fist swelling up.

"Betty... where are you?"