Jughead stood about a block away from Betty's work waiting patiently, he had instructed the rest of the crew to go back to the Wyrm but decided to stay behind. He wasn't completely sure why he had stayed but he knew he had to, just to talk to her, he had convinced himself it was so he could make sure that she had dropped her current quest to find out about Jason's death and the serpents alleged involvement in it, but he knew it was more than that. He inhaled his already lit cigarette taking a drag and checking his phone, there was a bunch of new texts from Joaquin probably explaining why he had kept his new relationship with Kevin Keller a secret but Jughead already knew, it wasn't that he was gay, they had all known that unsaid information for some time now, but to start romantically seeing the sheriff's son… Jug pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration the filter of his cigarette resting in the dip of his closed eyes, he pulled it back into his lips inhaling deeply. He heard keys rattle from the distance and his eyes snapped open, he looked down the street and saw her small figure leaning down and fiddling with the lock, the street was completely dark except the street light across the street from her creating an orange circle on the ground illuminating her and shining off her blonde hair that was in the most innocently sexy braids he had ever seen. He watched her throw her backpack over her shoulder after throwing her keys into it, he started his walk to her as she turned around and pulled the rubber bands out of her hair running her fingers through the intricate loops until her hair fell loosely around her shoulders in soft waves, he quickened his pace closing the distance between them. She must have sensed that someone was there because she turned around her eyes wide just as he got close enough to her. Their eyes met and he stopped walking searching her face but her fear seemed to evaporate as she realized who he was.
"Hey Betts," He smirked confidently and he saw her eyes trail down to his full lips making his smirk deepen. He raised an eyebrow pulling his cigarette back to his lips and taking a long drag before tossing it to the ground, her eyes followed the but and then back up to him.
"What are you still doing here Jug?" She asked her voice small and timid, nothing like the voice she had that night with all the whiskey in her system, he stepped closer making her shift uncomfortably.
"It's late, and you shouldn't be out here alone," He shrugged. "You got a ride?" she shook her head at his question and he suddenly felt angry that she was stupid enough to walk around the Southside alone at night but was even more angry that her supposed Boyfriend was nowhere to been seen, not protecting her at all and for the millionth time that night he wanted to punch the stupid jock until every bone in his face was broken.
"I should get home," she said flatly "Thank you for worrying but I will be fine," She turned on her heel and started to walk but Jughead reached out his long arm and grabbed her shoulder. She stilled but didn't turn around.
"Stay," was all he could seem to get out, not ready to see her walk away from him. Her body went stiff under his hand and he realized his command had come out harsher than he meant, sounding far too much like a threat. " Or at least let me give you a ride," he finally said in a much softer tone. She turned around slowly looking at his face probably trying to decide if she was in danger and his chest constricted still hating the way he clearly made her scared. But she surprised him by nodding, her eyes visibly heavy and he couldn't stop the weird anxiety that erupted in his stomach, which he assumed must be those ridiculous butterflies that everyone talked so much about. He took a huge risk by running his hand down her arm that was covered in a pink jacket and laced his fingers through hers, exhaling at the comfortable feeling of her fingers curling up around the back of his hand as she embraced his forward touch, she looked at him her eyebrows knitting together but she didn't let go of him. He silently started to walk pulling her along with him as he made his way back to where he had been waiting for her.
"Jug," She squeaked from behind him "I don't know how to ride on a motorcycle," her voice was so concerned and slightly embarrassed making him laugh out loud and he looked over his shoulder to find her cheeks burning a bright red and her eyes glaring at the back of his head.
"I don't have my bike, don't worry little one," he reassured her and her blush deepened at his new nickname for her. He took a mental note to call her that more, loving the way her pink cheeks made her eyes shine a brighter blue. They rounded the corner where he had parked, and he released her hand pulling his carabiner from his belt loop that held his keys. Her eyes raked over his Black car, her head adorably cocked to the side.
"Is that an Impala?" She asked her nose scrunching up into a smile. His lips twitched up impressed that she knew.
"'67" he said unlocking the passenger door for her.
"Baby," She smiled inwardly and he froze his eyes fixed on her clearly surprised by what she had said, she looked at him realizing his confusion. " Oh no, I meant the car," She laughed only adding to his confusion.
"My car is a baby?" He asked trying to make sense of her words, he opened the door for her and watched her slide in looking up at him, he waited to close the door raising his eyebrows in anticipation of her answer.
"No it's the car's name, or I guess it's Dean Winchester's name for it," she said nonchalantly as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.
"Who is Dean?" He asked carefully not sure yet if he should be jealous, his eyes narrowing making her laugh.
"Just the most infamous hunter there is," She said cryptically and his eyes narrowed even further making her laugh harder. "It's a character on a TV show," She finally explained and he let out the breath he was holding and glared at her, slamming the door and walking around to the driver's side, unlocking his door before climbing inside.
"that's not very funny," He said sternly putting his keys into the ignition but not turning the car on. She pulled her backpack closer to her chest and watched him.
"You've really never heard of Supernatural?" The name she gave the show seemed vaguely familiar but he couldn't say he had ever seen an episode, he used to be a huge TV buff but he couldn't remember the last time he had been relaxed enough to just watch something and it suddenly made him tired and sad. He shook his head closing his eyes and realizing her scent was invading his nose, the soft subtle vanilla and mint smell making his head spin and he fought back the urge to lean closer to her.
"So Baby huh?" He asked his eyes still closed, he heard her shift in her seat. "I guess it suits her," He chuckled lightly tapping his index finger on the steering wheel. He opened his eyes and looked over to her. They sat in silence after that for what felt like an eternity but Jughead couldn't seem to bring himself to turn the engine over and start driving. He wanted to say something, but he didn't know what, his lips kept itching to move but every time he opened his mouth nothing seemed to come to his mind.
"I'm sorry, Jug," She finally sighed breaking the tension filled air, he looked over at her confused his eyebrows pulling together.
"For?" He finally asked after he realized she wasn't going to continue talking. He watched her chest rise and fall as she took several deep breaths. She finally pushed her bag down by her feet and pulled her knee up shifting her body to face him, resting her elbow against the headrest as her hand found her cheek and propped her head up, making the light flooding through his windshield light up half her face but drowning the other side in a harsh shadow. His heart started pounding in his ear making his body hot as he shifted to face her too having absolutely no idea where this was going.
"Just the way everything happened that night, I put you in a clearly compromising position and if I could take it back, I would," She said earnestly her thumb mindlessly rubbing on her earlobe that had a small hoop piercing in it.
"Would you?" He responded sharply, feeling oddly hurt and remembering back to the way she had blindly trusted him, and followed him to a room, the way she had kissed him. He pulled his lips into an involuntary scowl.
"Yes," She said seemingly confused by his visible anger. "I accused you and your whole club of murder," she said raising her eyebrows.
"So that's all you would take back?" He asked through gritted teeth, turning his gaze out the window and watching the still night through the glass.
"Yes that's all I would take back," She whispered, he could feel her eyes watching him, and he let out a breath relaxing a little bit.
"So you weren't with Archie when you kissed me?" he asked not really even sure if he wanted the answer, she seemed to flinch at his words and her eyes dropped staring at her lap.
"No that happened after," She answered.
"Why?" He asked shortly.
"Why did I kiss you?" She asked looking back up at him.
"No," He clenched his jaw trying to figure out how to ask his next question. "Why did you pick him?"
"Pick him?" She started her tone becoming slightly annoyed " I'm sorry, I didn't realize there was a choice," Her eyes watched him narrowing slightly.
"Come on Betty, you didn't feel anything more that night?" He hated how weak he sounded, he hated that he was basically admitting that he had felt something more too.
"I felt a lot of things Jug," Her tone still filled with annoyance "I felt shock, I had just found out that I had thrown myself at a notorious gang leader, I felt anger that you hadn't told me sooner, I was embarrassed, and drunk. and you basically scolded me for even being there."
"It was dangerous, you know why I did that," He said willing her to understand his predicament.
"What do you want me to say? That I liked kissing you? That I want to do it again?" Her voice raising slightly before dropping back down to whisper "What would that change?" He watched her take a deep breath.
"I don't know," He finally laughed, more at himself than anything else. What did he expect, the perfect high school senior from the Upper Side of town to want him, what would that even look like. He didn't date girls, he didn't do commitment, having anyone close was a weakness that he couldn't afford. She was better off with a boy that fit better in her life and it was not lost on him that Archie was the perfect poster for everything that Betty probably needed. But he couldn't stop the jealousy that coursed through his veins, he knew he should have stayed away from her but having her sitting so closely to him on his vintage leather seats was something he couldn't bring himself to regret. She hadn't left his mind since that night and he had found himself fantasizing about her before he fell asleep more times than he could count. Every Fiber in him knew he should just drive her home and then let her go, never see her again, never speak to her but the thought made him panic slightly and he just sat there looking at her feeling like a small lost child. Something started Vibrating in the car but his phone in his pocket was still and he looked at her expectantly, she reached down into her backpack fishing around for her phone. She pulled it out and looked at the screen closing her eyes tightly, Jughead knew instinctively who was calling and he breathed out heavily through his nostrils fighting the urge to grab her phone and throw it out the window, she held the phone until it stopped vibrating and looked up at him.