Author's note: I was so, so sick this weekend, but decided in between dying that I would write this chapter. I don't know if it was a good idea because this is kind of trash.

Jughead stopped outside in the hallway at school. He had gone to the restroom and was coming back the Blue and Gold room to help Betty finish up, but instead found himself listening to the exchange between Veronica and Betty.

"The last time you gave me pastries, you kissed Archie," Betty said, chuckling, and that's when Jughead walked away.

Veronica and Archie had done a lot more than kiss last night, and for some reason, Veronica didn't tell Betty what had really happened. And that's what worried Jughead. Yeah, Veronica and Archie both asked Jughead to keep last night a secret, but that was different. Betty told Veronica about her and Jughead when he'd first kissed her. Best friends tell each other their secrets. Maybe this was different, though. Archie and Veronica slept together, but that didn't mean they were a couple. There were still figuring things out, and he could understand why they wanted to keep it to themselves for a little while.

But he was also worried that Veronica was trying to spare Betty's feelings because deep down, Veronica knew Betty still loved Archie.

He took a lap through the hallways of school, and with every step, he told himself there was nothing to worry about. Betty loved him. Everything had been resolved, but there was still this voice inside his head, reminding him that he would never be good enough for her. He turned the corner to go outside, but as he did, he ran into Veronica.

"Jug!" she said. "Fancy meeting you here. Are you here to help B with the Blue and Gold?" He nodded. "You're a good boyfriend." She patted him on the shoulder.

"Why don't you want me to say anything about you and Archie?" he blurted out, completely off topic.

Veronica looked taken aback for a moment, but then answered. "Because Archie and I haven't discussed what it means ourselves. Until we do, I don't want it to be public knowledge. And there's this girl code. You don't date your best friend's former crush."

"Even if said best friend has moved on and is in love with her new boyfriend?"

"Well, yes, of course! Betty loves you, but she liked Archie once, not that long ago, so I kind of feel like a jerk for sleeping with him without discussing it with her, even though she's with you now."

"I get it," he said. "I felt like a stabbed Archie in the back when I kissed Betty for the first time."

"And Archie was jealous for you two, even though he didn't want to be with Betty. I think it goes back to the fact that you three have been best friends your entire life. All this coupling up changes your dynamic."

Jughead nodded. "You're right. I never thought of it that way." He paused to look at her. "You're different than I thought you would be. Smart, nice, a good friend."

"Thanks. . . I guess," she said, smiling. "You're different than I thought you'd be, too." She paused. "But don't ever freak out on Betty like you did last night again. Talk to her. Be honest about your insecurities. Don't put them on her."

"I won't," Jughead replied. "And we worked thing out."

"Good. And ask her to homecoming."

"Already did."

"Goodie! We can double to the dance! Well, Archie hasn't asked me yet, but I'm sure he will. Or I'll ask him!" She pulled him in for a hug. He went stiff in her arms, still uneasy with her openness, but after a moment, he hugged her back before she turned and left him.

Betty was where he had left her, hunkered down over her laptop. "This article is really good, Jug," she said, not looking up from her work.

"Yeah, my story on the atrocities of the new cafeteria menu is riveting," he said.

She frowned at him. "No, I really mean it. Everything you write is just brilliant. You made an article about tater tots interesting."

"Thanks," he said, ducking his head, but accepting the compliment.

She stood up, rounded the table, and came to him. "I'm all done with editing."

"What should we do now?" he asked.

"Well," she said, taking his hands in hers. "I did want to go down to Sweetwater River, but then Veronica stopped by. She wants to help with our investigation, by the way."

"Okay, that's fine. The more, the merrier," he said.

"Well, Veronica stopped by, and while we talked about investigating her dad, she also said she was going to the dance with Archie and we all should go together, and then I realized I don't have a dress yet. So. . ." she said, going up on her tiptoes and placing both her hands on his shoulders. "What do you say you continue to be the best boyfriend in all the world and take to the mall?" She nuzzled her lips against his neck. "Then we can go down to Sweetwater River and. . ." Her hand sipped under the front of her shirt. "I can repay you for helping me out today."

"I did a lot of heavy lifting," Jughead said. "And I dealt with a lot of pink tissue paper."

She reached her hand downwards, and for a moment, he got excited by the fact that they were going to have sex again on the table in the Blue and Gold room, but she only pilfered his keys from his front pocket.

She held them up in front of him. "Can I drive?" she asked.

"Sure, but you're only going to have to repay more of my kindness."

She squealed with delight, knowing he was agreeing. "With pleasure."

She turned on her heels, her ponytail swinging to the side as she did so. He followed her out to the truck, all the while still telling himself that there was nothing to worry about when it came to homecoming and the double date with Archie and Veronica. It'd be just like any other time the four of them were together. Except for the fact that Betty would see them together and figure out that they were a couple.

Betty climbed into the driver's side and leaned over the seat to unlock his door for him. He was so distracted by his own thoughts that it took him a moment to realize she'd opened the door for him.

"What's wrong, Juggie?" Betty asked.

Jughead snapped his seat belt into place and looked at her. He thought for a moment. He promised he wouldn't say anything. Jughead Jones was the keeper of secrets, but Betty was his girlfriend. She knew something was off with him. He didn't like hiding things from her. It only lead to heartache for both of them.

"It's nothing, Betts. I promise. Just my own insecurities."

"About what?" she asked.

He sighed, not wanting to admit it to her, but knowing he needed to. "I know we've talked about this to death, but I still worry that I'm not enough for you."

"Juggie," she said, leaning across the seat and kissing him gently on the lips. "We both have our own insecurities, and that's okay, but let's always say something." He nodded. "Know I love you, and that won't change."

"People always say that, though. They make promises, say they'll love you forever, and then one day, they're just gone."

"Are you talking about me or your mom?" she asked, sitting back, but keeping ahold of his hands.

"Oh," he said. She was right. For someone as self-realized as Jughead, he was surprised he hadn't seen the source of his self-doubt before. The only other woman in his life besides Betty was him mom. She had sworn to protect and love him forever had left him. "Maybe I am projecting my mommy issues onto you. Thanks for pointing that out, Dr. Phil."

She chuckled. "I get it, Jug. I really do. So anytime you worry, let me know, and I'll make sure you know exactly how I feel."

"And how do you feel?" he asked, a mischievous grin on his lips. He pulled her toward him, lifted her up, and roughly brought her down onto his lap. Her kiss was greedy, not asking permission, unabashedly taking everything he offered her. She started unbuttoning his shirt, and he began to consider the logistics of getting her jeans off in the cab of his dad's truck, but before they could accomplish either, there was a honk. They both froze, and in unison, turned to see Veronica hanging her head out the passenger side of a town car that Smithers was driving.

"Just an FYI," Veronica said. "Sheriff Keller's squad car is just around the corner, and last I checked, it's technically illegal to forenicate in an open public area. I'd hate for our Betty's spotless record to be tarnish for public nudity."

Betty climbed off his lap and nervously tucked her behind her ear. Veronica just sat there smiling at him while he buttoned up his shirt "Um. Thanks for the warning," Jughead said.

"Tootles!" Veronica blew them a kiss as Smithers drove away.

"We'll, that was a little embarrassing," Betty said.

"Nah, I'm sure Smithers has seen a lot worse."

Betty laughed as she put the truck into drive. They pulled out of the lot and made their way to the mall. He followed her through the department store, and whenever she'd hold up a dress for his approval, he gave her a thumbs up.

"You've said yes to every dress," Betty said with a sigh.

"Because I know they'd all look good on you," he replied. "You are beautiful in everything." She rolled her eyes and tossed a dress at him. He caught it and put it back on the rack. "What? I'm serious. That's not just lip service."

"You're just trying to get lucky on homecoming night."

"Well, yeah, but that's a given."

She giggled and then lead him over to a chair next to the three-way mirror, and pushed him down into it. "I'm going to try these on," she said. "I'll come out and show them to you." She leaned over and kissed him, and then disappeared into the dressing room.

For a Sunday afternoon, the department store was almost empty. There was no one in the dress department. In fact, he barely saw anyone in the entire mall. Most of Riverdale was be at church on this fine Sabbath day.

I need help. Betty texted him.

With what? He replied.

When she didn't reply, he poked his head into the hallway that lead to the dressing room. "Betty?" he called out. He hesitated, not wanting to make anyone uncomfortable by barging into a woman's dressing room.

"Last door on the left. I'm all alone."

He smiled to himself. As he walked through the doorway, he noticed a sign hanging on chain on the door jam that said "dressing room closed". He pulled it across the doorway as he came into the dressing rooms. Inside the small room, her back was turned to him and she was facing the mirror.

"I can't reach the zipper," she said, looking over her shoulder.

The dress was the color of Sweetwater River in the moonlight, smooth, liquid silver. It was off the shoulders, fitted around her bodice, and swelling around her hips. The back of it was unzipped, her slender spine showing. She was a goddess, too good for this earth, and certainly too good for a mere mortal like Jughead Jones.

He locked eyes on hers in the mirror as he came near her. He brushed her ponytail aside and kissed the back of her neck, and leaning over, his mouth brushed past the curls at her nape. His fingertips trailed down her spine, and instead of helping her dress like she'd asked, he unzipped it all the way. She drew her arms out of the short sleeves and let the bodice fall forward.

He watched her in the mirror, watching him, as his hand snaked around her body and palmed her breast, remolding it. Her eyes closed and her head fell back onto his shoulder when her nipples beaded beneath his touch.

"Juggie, we really shouldn't," she said, but her voice was husky and insincere.

She arched back, seeking his lips, and he gave them to her, plunging his tongue deep into the softness of her mouth. Her hand reached back to grip his neck, to keep him involved in the kiss while his hands never stopped moving. They went to her rips, to her hips and then starting at her knee, he gathered up the hem of the dress, and moved it up her thighs and over her waist. His hand brushed across her stomach and slipped into the front of her panties. She was warm and wet, and ready for him.

His fingers glided into her and she bucked backwards, rubbing her backside into his ever hardening erection. But it wasn't enough. He pushed her panties down over her hips and she stepped out of them wordlessly. She started to remove her dress, but he placed his hand over hers, stopping her.

"No, leave it," he said.

He had to posses her, right then, right there. It didn't matter that they weren't really alone or that she was wearing her homecoming dress. It made it all the more exciting. Her heavily lidded eyes looked at him as she bit her lip and then smiled. She reached around herself and somehow managed to undo the button of his jeans. He did the rest.

He bent her forward until she had to brace herself by placing a hand on the mirror. He gently kicked her legs a little farther apart. Then he tilted her pelvis, angeling her towards him, and in one solid move, slipped into her silky folds. Her breath caught and she let out some sort of involuntary sound in between a sigh and whimper.

She eagerly met his slow, deep thrusts as his gifted fingers went to the hood of her already swollen and sensitive sex. He could feel the current of her orgasm course through her entire body. His arms wrapped around her waist, and his body pressed into her as he came, too.

Their chests heaved as they met each other's gaze in the mirror. They shared a slightly embarrassed chuckle as he moved away from her. She hung the dress back on the hanger and then she pulled up her panties and reached for another one of the dresses.

"You don't need to try on anymore dresses. I guess we better buy that one," Jughead said. "You looked amazing in it and we already broke it in."