Betty spun around her eyes feeling like a deer in headlights as they fell on his dark green eyes, still finding it hard to differentiate the color form his black pupils. She sucked in a sharp breath taking him in, He stood not far behind her leaning against the wall arms crossed over his broad chest, pulling against the unforgiving leather that wrapped around his biceps, his black hair messily slicked back leaving that lazy curl hanging on his forehead. Her heart started beating uncontrollably in her ear,.
"Jug," she squeaked nodding at him trying not to show the quiver that ran down her spine as his eyes darkened at her voice. She looked past him seeing three other serpents joking and laughing loudly recognizing one of them as Sweet Pea. Aubrey finally made her way out stopping short at the register staring at them her jaw dropping involuntarily as she noted the close proximity of Jughead and Betty, she met Betty's eyes raising her eyebrows discreetly. Betty lifted her shoulders in an innocent shrug her body feeling hot like she had just gotten caught doing something wrong. Aubs seemed to at least half understand and raised her chin confidently.
"Samples?" She asked her voice dripping sweetly from her lips as she shifted her eyes between the boys, who all nodded making their way to her as she handed out the small white cups, smirking as Sweet Pea stayed a little too long at the register, his long tattooed arm reaching too far over the register to grab another white cup out of her hand and winking. Betty Turned her attention back to Jughead.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered to him her ears burning at the tips, he took a step closer to her smiling wickedly.
"I caught wind there was a pretty little blonde who worked here," He bit his bottom lip confidently before licking where his teeth just were making Betty gulp uncomfortably. "And once my merry band of misfits heard ice cream they wouldn't accept no," He shrugged.
"Um, well, did you need samples?" Betty asked trying to be casual, he looked at her deeply his eyes still impossibly dark as he took another step closer.
"No," He started sharply "I already got a sample, I know what I want."
Her lips parted slightly as she let out a shaky breath feeling Aubrey's eyes still burning into her as she watched them. The front door chimed again and she heard the girl at the register suck in a sharp gasp. Betty looked past the serpent in front of her and watched in slow motion as a tall redhead in a Bulldogs varsity Jacket sauntered through the door. Archie. Everything stopped for a second even her breathing as she fought of the overwhelming feeling of wanting to pass out. Archie Walked in waving warmly at Aubrey who still stood completely still her eyes impossibly wide. His eyes moved to her and he looked at her warmly before noticing the tall figure that stood hovering over her, his eyebrows scrunching in confusion.
"Babe?" He asked walking over to her having no idea what he had just walked into probably only seeing the large green snake on all of their Jackets a protective tone seeping into his voice "Everything okay?" But as he stepped closer Jughead stiffened his body going rigid before visibly straining to relax as he faced the football teams captain. Their eyes met and Betty held her breath having no real idea what was going to happen. But as recognition dawned on her Ginger boyfriend he smiled causing her to finally exhale a breath that she didn't realize she was holding.
"Jughead!" He said brightly before sticking his hand out to shake his old friends, Jughead glared down out his had his jaw clenching and unclenching as he pressed his teeth hard together, but he didn't wait too long before shaking Archie's hand a little too rough. Archie still completely oblivious to the feeling in the room, leaned over and kissed Betty unexpectedly. She blinked in shock but her eyes were still watching Jug as he visibly scowled, a dark look crossing his eyes. Archie took his spot next to Betty as he finally started catching on to the tension in the room "What are you guys up to?" He asked only slightly sounding apprehensive, his eyes flashed behind him realizing the store was still filled with other serpents, and he stiffened a little.
"Don't worry Andrews, we don't mean any harm," Jughead lifted his chin menacingly before letting his harsh gaze land on Betty "Just fighting off a sweet tooth," He mocked sarcastically. Archie looked at Betty searching her face and it took everything in her to wipe any kind of look off her face and smile innocently.
"So when did this become a thing" Jughead motioned to them reaching up and pulling his black curl and twisting it mindlessly between his index finger and his thumb. But his eyes bore into Betty not letting her look away from him. Archie shifted visibly uncomfortable by the interaction.
"Uh about a week, but it's been a long time coming," He said proudly wrapping his arm around his petite blonde girlfriend making her jump.
"Oh so it was after she showed up at the Whyte Wyrm last weekend," He growled more of a statement than a question, his eyes still never leaving Betty's whose entire body went cold. Archie's head whipped around at an alarming pace and she stood there both boys glaring what felt like holes into her skull. She looked between both of them her body shaking with anger and fear but her voice was caught in her throat and she couldn't seem to find any words. She looked to Aubrey who was still standing at the register her mouth open in shock, she met Betty's eyes who was looking at her helplessly. Archie finally cleared his throat.
"What were you doing there?" He asked his shifting to jughead suspiciously who smiled back a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"I, uh.." Betty finally started finding her voice but still not a good excuse "it's kinda private," she finally choked out. Archie raised his eyebrows angrily.
"You went to an extremely dangerous bar on the southside and its private?" Archie raised his voice growing more frustrated. Betty could feel jughead watching them a dark and amused look on his face, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his presence.
"It was for kevin," Aubrey finally blurted out nodding her head. And looking pointedly at Betty, she continued "isn't he dating one of the serpents?" Archie looked at her his face clearly not buying it and Jughead just sat back watching as Archie returned his attention to Betty who was nodding innocently. The other boys had heard the slight bit of commotion and had started returning to their leader's side.
"It's true Arch, Kevin just wanted to see his new beau," Betty said putting her hand reassuringly on Archie's chest giving jughead the strongest daggers she could muster, but when she went to meet his eyes he wasn't look into hers, his gaze was fixed on where her hand was resting in Archie, and the way his nostrils flared made her instinctively drop her hand to her side. Archie still was looking skeptically at the small blonde at his side and as if on queue one of the serpents stepped forward his eyes full of hurt and anger.
"He told you?" Joaquin said in a quiet defeated voice, it seemed like everyone stilled for a minute just looking at one another. Joaquin stood there his big brown eyes pointing to the floor as his wavy shoulder length hair fell into his face. Betty had seen him before on several occasions, he was one of the few serpents who would make his way to the north side to eat and hang out at pops, he seemed younger than the others but she wasn't sure of his age. She looked from him to jughead whose jaw had now fallen open in shock pretty much mimicking everyone else's face at that moment.
"File out boys," jug finally barked and they all shifted uncomfortably before obeying silently, the front door chiming again as they all walked outside. Jughead looked back one more time looking at Betty sighing exhaustedly as he burned his eyes into hers and the then turned on his heel and left. Betty let out a deep exhale closing her eyes suddenly feeling exhausted herself. She turned her attention to Archie who was still fixated in the door.
"Why were they here betts?" He questioned finally turning towards her, she looked at him innocently and shook her head.
"I don't know, probably just looking to cause trouble. This is the Southside, they think they run this place," she said shrugging her shoulders, and returning to the tables she still had to wipe down. Archie trailed behind her mindlessly.
"Well anyways we won the game," he beamed and she smiled over her shoulder at him "the guys are gonna go celebrate.. are you sure you have to stay?" He gave her puppy dog eyes but she looked over to the now empty counter knowing Aubrey was probably already getting her stuff ready to leave.
"I can't, I have to work, I'm sorry arch," she apologized honestly knowing she wouldn't have wanted to go but still feeling bad she was letting him down. He sighed knowing she wouldn't budge. He pulled her to him and kissed her deeply making her cheeks burn red.
"It's okay if I go?" He asked respectfully and she nodded feeling even more guilty. "Will you still come over when you're done?" His eyes burned into her and she shifted feeling uncomfortable that it wasn't just a text she could ignore.
"I won't be off until midnight but I'll call you if I'm not too tired," she smiled brightly hiding the conflicted feelings that welled inside of her.
"Okay I'll accept that," he smiled back, he kissed her one more time then headed to the door. Betty made her way to the back and before she went through the door Archie's voice rang out again. " and Betty? Be safe." She nodded silently and watched him walk out the door before finding shelter in the back of house. Aubrey stood there her purse already slung over her shoulder.
"You sure you're okay if I leave?" She asked eyeballing Betty suspiciously. "You wanna talk about it?" The blonde walked to the computer watching the cameras and pretending to be enamoured with nothing.
"No, I'll be fine you can go," she grabbed a pen and flipped it mindlessly in her hand. "It was nothing I swear, probably just jughead trying to scare me into knowing he is in charge after I ran into him."
"You failed to mention you ran into him that night," Aubrey stated suspiciously "and judging by the way he looked at you I feel like you failed to mention some other details," she said raising her eyebrows knowingly.
"Yeah, I guess I did… but I'm sure it was nothing, just him flexing his southside muscles," Betty tried to laugh but it came out forced and she sighed knowing she hadn't really hidden anything "i promise I'll be fine, we can talk later," Betty said realizing she just wanted to be alone. Aubrey seemed to agree and get the hint because she said her goodbyes making Betty promise they'd talk soon. And then finally the store was completely still and Betty was completely alone. She walked around the store aimlessly finding small work to do to pass the time, she knew she should do some homework but she couldn't find the willpower to focus, so she spent the next few hours cleaning and replaying the scene that had occurred in her head constantly. She had felt so much when jughead had walked in it was difficult to pinpoint exactly which feeling was stronger, the fear, the lust, or the anger. And then Archie… she couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if he hadn't showed up, but he had and he had kissed in front of jughead which she knew should have been fine, but she couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't fine and she would face those consequences at some point, but why did she feel bad about her boyfriend kissing her.. and poor Joaquin, she sighed audibly looking at the clock and realizing she had to close in half an hour. She tried to push all her thoughts away and focusing on getting store in shape to close, luckily no other customers had come in and she was going to have a fairly easy time getting out of there.