Back again with a new one. This is a slight continuation of the last one-shot.
The three kept it a secret from the private couple that they never saw them through the window. It wasn't like they were trying to keep it a secret but it was never the opportune time to bring it up.
Veronica knows that Betty and Jughead would both turn bright red, the latter trying to make scathing quips to get out of talking about it and Betty will be willfully ignorant until Veronica brings it up again when it was just the two of them.
For all she knows Kevin did in fact go to Ginger and Tina about the list. Ever since they fell out of favor with Cheryl, they've just been relegated to bitchy cheerleaders and nothing much else.
The only time Veronica could possibly entertain them was during Vixen practice. The two share and spread gossip in their corner of the locker room.
Betty and her always change next to each other near the middle. The blonde was in the middle of a horror retelling of what Alice Cooper did to her this morning. Veronica tried to pay attention but the two gossip queens wouldn't stop casting questioning glares her way.
"Alright, what do you two gossip stooges want? You've been glaring at me since Betty and I came in."
Tina opened her mouth to retort but Ginger shushed her. Betty's eyebrows raised watching the exchange.
A cracking clap broke the stalemate. "Vixens are permitted to take only 15 minutes to change. Chop chop let's move it." Cheryl ordered. Toni followed behind her.
Toni sensed the tension. "What's going on here?" She naturally aligned next to Betty.
Veronica crossed her arms after finishing putting on her yellow and white practice shirt. "Ginger and Tina seem to have a problem with me."
Cheryl sighed, she hated it when pettiness delayed or interfered with practice. "You two wannabes out with it."
"Kevin came to us this morning trying to move Jones up on the list and we just want to confirm with Lodge here that what he said was true." Ginger finally spilled.
Toni rolled her eyes, "Nobody cares about that stupid list."
"Sure whatever, move him up some spots." Veronica waved them off.
Tina tsked, "It doesn't just work like that. Kevin wants to move him to the top ten which is unheard of. We have to hear it from the source."
Betty had her hands out and took a step back, "Woah, what makes you two think I'd just share my private life with Jug?"
"Because Betty," Ginger sassed, "According to a Kevin Keller, Jones was on his knees for you in your bedroom."
Toni choked on her spit. "Betty what?!"
Betty whirled around, "V! You saw us?"
Veronica placed her hands on her elbows. "It was a complete accident. We were going to invite you to Pop's but then J came through the window."
"Details Cooper." Ginger pushed.
"No, I'm not describing anything for your stupid list. Jug keeps me satisfied, case closed."
Tina rolled her eyes, "Care to share your experience with the weirdo?" She addressed Toni.
"Jones and I didn't do anything like that."
It wasn't a secret that they hooked up once but everyone knew it didn't mean a damn thing.
"Enough of this boring foray. Move him up the insipid list already." Cheryl stomped her foot. She was slightly annoyed by her girlfriend's past being brought up.
"Don't tell me you think that weirdo is good enough Cheryl?" Ginger cocked an eyebrow and threw out her hip. "Unless your standards have fallen that low."
Tina snickered.
"Let me enlighten you, daft bimbos. It's no secret that Jughead Jones likes to eat and eat almost anything, of course, he would be very interested in tasting all that my dear cousin has to offer."
"Cheryl—" Betty's cheeks were red, she tried interrupting that train of thought. As much as she appreciated her girls for standing up for Jug, this wasn't the hill to die on.
Veronica raised her pointer finger, "He always has that pretentious toothpick in his mouth when he doesn't have a cigarette in it."
Cheryl tilted her head in acknowledgment.
"Long story short, Jones has an oral fixation. so obviously he really knows what he's doing." Toni concluded.
Veronica squeezed Betty to her side. The latter stunned into silence. "You girls should be congratulating Betty that she has someone that fully satisfies her needs. Not like the pair of you who don't have anyone."
Cheryl permanently shut down anything else with a snap and they all went to practice.
Ginger and Tina didn't say anything to them even after practice wrapped. Betty couldn't care less if they moved her boyfriend up or not. What was important to her was that he was hers. She almost forgot about the confrontation. That was until she got a surprise in her locker the next morning.
Printed to look like a diary entry, complete with a horrid loopy font, was the new Maple Mens List. She skimmed the preface seeing that Archie and Reggie maintained their usual first and second place respectively. That hasn't changed in well over eight months. Now what had her mouth drop open in shock was in capital letters the word NEW. Third place was Jughead Jones. The justification for such a ranking was the longest one on the list.
Jughead Jones while ranked 73 got the largest boost ever. This ladies is because of some eye-opening or shall we say panty dropping info. The ex-loner turned gang leader bad boy has an oral fixation. I know, I know you may be sus but everyone knows you can catch Jones at any hour at Pop's scarfing down at least two burgers. Need proof? Just watch his tongue constantly toy with the toothpick he keeps in his mouth. (We also have it on good authority that he is well-versed in the practice.) So ladies we can confidently say that Jones has the best oral game in Riverdale.
"I see you got it too." Veronica's voice came from behind her.
Betty jumped, smacking her elbow on the door. "Jeez V."
"Sorry B, I take it you read the new ranking of your bad beau?"
She opened her mouth then closed it, hesitant. "I didn't think they would actually do it."
Veronica shrugged her shoulder that was carrying all of her books, "Maybe no one will make a big deal about it, after all, everyone knows you guys are endgame."
She hoped her best friend was right, she didn't want to talk to anyone about her and Jug. She hated to think how uncomfortable he'd get when the attention is on him.
The next time Betty saw her boyfriend was in literature. It just so happens that the majority of the friend group has this class together. This was the only class Jughead allowed himself to sit in the front next to Betty. He didn't take note of the different seating arrangements around him. Ethel sat two chairs out of place to be closer to the front. Archie sent Veronica a confused expression when his normal seat was taken by a girl.
"What is happening?" He asked once he sat down in a new seat.
Veronica patted his arm, "I'll explain later."
Cheryl made her usual almost late entrance. Scowling, she took note of the desperate girls. "It smells of desperation and loneliness. Have some class sluts."
The Serpents in the back laughed. Fangs and Sweet Pea have already been filled in by Toni. Cheryl scared a girl out of her seat.
"Does our oh-so-fearless leader know?"
Toni shook her head amused, "Nope."
She smirked, "Oh well, I'm always in the mood for chaos."
The teacher began teaching, not caring that the numerous girls of the class were only paying attention to the beanie-clad boy at the front. Soon they were all given a worksheet and free to talk.
Jughead turned around to talk to Archie. His face scrunched in confusion at seeing the redhead several seats away and not in his normal seat behind him.
The girl that took his place noticed. Her hand came to perch under her chin. "What can I help you with Jughead?"
Other girls watched the exchange. Now Jughead was even more puzzled. He flicked his toothpick with his tongue to the other side of his mouth. The girl all but swooned.
"Uh...Betty?"
His girlfriend didn't look up from her work. "Ignore them Jug."
He made eye contact with Archie who returned his empty look. It was then peered around the classroom. He could feel the eyes on him, taking in his every move. He hated it. There was a reason he preferred being the wallflower. It's different with the Serpents, those are his people, his family, he knows them. These are just strangers to him, watching him like he's some kind of carnival attraction. Jughead scribbled some answers on the worksheet and abruptly stood, depositing it on the teacher's desk.
A girl that he offhandedly knows as Caroline asked him for his help on the paper. This started a chain reaction of other girls asking. His face contorting into a frown, he bypassed all of them to gather his stuff as quickly as possible and leave the class behind.
When the bell rang the three of them converged together.
"Okay, what the hell was that?" Archie finally asked.
Veronica and Betty traded a glance.
"As you're aware Archiekins, you are number one on the Maple Mens List but because of what we witnessed a week ago Jughead has become third."
Archie's eyes widened in alarm, "Kevin actually told them that we saw—" He side-eyed Betty, "—the thing that we weren't supposed to see." He finished lamely.
Betty glared, "More importantly we should find Jug."
"Good lick with that." Veronica scoffed, "He probably knows every inch of this school. We aren't finding him unless he wants found."
Betty knew she had a point but she had to try.
She checked the most obvious places first; the Blue & Gold, the empty classroom where they hold Serpents & Swords meetings, the library, and the cafeteria. She then found the closet he was living out of for three months. Nothing. Betty even pulled up his location on her phone. (They decided to mutually share their locations because too many times now they've both been kidnapped and or in a place they weren't supposed to be in.) His was still showing up at the school.
There was one last place for her to check. Right by the boys' locker room is an exit to the back of the building. The alarm was busted on it which allowed students to ditch undetected
They both had all used this exit numerous times. If they had serpent business or for investigations. A brick propped it open, tipping her off that someone was already out there. Jughead tensed at hearing the creak of the door.
"Hey, it's just me."
Jughead relaxed, dispelling a breath of smoke.
"I got overwhelmed." He shrugged and took another puff.
Betty leaned against the red brick wall beside him. He didn't move, just pressing his sole behind him into the wall.
"You obviously have been keeping something from me." His tone wasn't accusing or loud but it still held a slight sting.
Betty sighed, "I didn't think it was a big deal."
"What was it? Why is everyone staring at me like I'm a freak show from American Horror Story?"
She bit her lip, "Well, you know a week ago you came through my window?"
"Yeah? We had a great time didn't we?" His face was loosing color. "Unless we didn't...shit–"
Betty grabbed his face. "No Jug, It was amazing. It's just that Veronica, Kevin and Archie were in his room."
His eyes searched hers, putting the unsaid pieces together. He roughly jerked away, his own hands covering his rapidly red face. "Oh my god, oh my god!"
"I didn't know about it until Veronica told me yesterday before Vixen practice. And..."
"What? It can't possibly get any worse."
"Kevin went to Ginger and Tina to move you up on the Maple Men's List."
Jughead moaned into his hands. "Is that why girls won't leave me alone?"
"Yep," Betty blew out a breath, "You're officially number three."
Jughead's eyebrows furrowed, "So what? Everyone thinks I'm some sort of "sex god?" He quoted with his fingers.
"More like they're calling you the oral master but you get the point."
Jughead pinched the bridge of his nose. "Jesus Christ."
It took a couple of days for the novelty to wear off. Betty took some pleasure in watching Jughead squirm every time someone would congratulate her or tell her how lucky she was. She would give the same answer every time.
I know.