"Archie…I'd like to…" Cheryl began talking before she knew what she was doing. Betty had run ahead, places to be, apparently.

She wondered if she was two-timing Jughead for Sweet Pea. It seemed that this is what they were trying to convince Nick of. No offense, but if you were cheating, Cheryl considered, weren't you supposed to choose something better or at least different? Sweet Pea and Jughead were like Pepsi and Diet Pepsi. Which one was the diet flavor changed in her mind daily based on how much they were annoying her or not (Normal Pepsi was the inferior one, by the way).

Sweet Pea peeled off somewhere else, leaving her walking away with Kevin. But Archie was near the locker room entrance, and she hadn't meant to talk, but her lips started for her. Kevin raised an eyebrow and raised his hands, lagging behind.

"Not now, Cheryl," Archie growled, "I'm not interested in talking to you right now." He glanced at the doors. Maybe he was walking Betty home. How…quaint?

"I think you'll see I did you a favor soon." Cheryl said snappishly, "You're so much better than you were before."

"I was perfectly fine without all of this bullshit," Archie rubbed his forehead, "And look, I don't know what you did, but-" Before he could say much else, his phone rang, "I need to answer this."

He turned, expecting Cheryl to take a hint and go, but she was stubborn and she was going to get at least an apology out of him, if not a full-on 'thank you' for the generous favor her family bestowed upon him.

"No, no! We just need a simple, non-descript cake, Ethyl. Nothing too flashy."

Cheryl raised an eyebrow. What business did Archie have talking to Ethyl Muggs? And what about a cake?

She crept back so that she could listen in. Archie turned, and he should have been able to sense Cheryl was still around, but his attention was elsewhere. He was still learning as a Grimm after all.

"Okay, great. Chip bags…no, it doesn't matter what. I guess Jughead likes Lays. And some cups. Yeah, red-solo is fine."

Cheryl almost gasped. There was basically only one thing red solo cups meant. A party.

A party she, for some unthinkable reason, was not invited to.

"Just bring them to my place. Yeah, yep. I'll be there soon. Thanks, you're a life-saver."

Archie hung up and Cheryl pressed herself to the stone wall, out of reach.

Well, it was clear she had to ruin whatever this little party was.

The door to the locker room opened. She crept around, expecting Archie to be gone.

And he was, but Chuck Clayton was now outside, fishing his phone out of his bag.

"Chuck! Great practice; hey, do you have plans tonight?"

"Why?" Chuck asked, sizing her up, nervous. He had every right to be on any other occasion.

"It seems that my current arch-nemesis, Andrews, is throwing a party tonight. Seems like it might be a birthday party. Your arch-nemesis will be there too since if I'm able to piece things together, it's Jughead's birthday." She said, things starting to click in her brain, "Want to destroy what seems like it will be a perfectly fun night?"

Chuck gave a wicked grin.

"Count me the hell in."

XXX

"You look stunning, Elizabeth."

"Yuck, no one except my mom calls me that," Betty shuddered, "Please, call me Betty. Or, rather, nothing at all." She added with a huff.

With Nick coming back to Betty's house, Archie insisted on walking them there, to make sure that she was safe. It was a sweet gesture, but Betty was pretty sure a vampire could kick Archie's ass, newly powered or not.

"Sweet Pea will surely love it."

Betty spared a quick glance backward and saw Archie's confused face. He kept quiet, realizing there was information he didn't know. She hoped that Nick took Archie's look of confusion to be his normal expression.

"Yes, well, it is for him," Betty said, trying to cut off this conversation entirely, "Oh, thank god, here we are."

"Oh…how…picturesque," Nick said, but from his tone, it was clear he found it barf-worthy. Which, most of the time, Betty did too.

"Well, let's get this over with," She sighed, taking the steps to the door two at a time. Archie followed dutifully and they dropped their shoes and light jackets in the front hall. Except for Nick, who stood just outside the door.

"You must invite me in."

"Hmm, right." Betty hesitated, "Am I going to regret this, Nick?" She asked. If Sweet Pea were here, he would be saying that yes, she would, and no, he shouldn't be inside. But how else was he going to check on Jason? And right now, having a half-dead unknown sorta-vampire in her house was worse than an old slightly pervy perpetual teen one.

"Nick, pretty please come into my house," Betty said, deadpanned.

Nick stepped over the threshold, "Ahh. Thank you. Now…to where?"

Betty pointed upwards.

As they were on the steps, her mother came by, phone to her ear and resting on her collarbone. As she did, she did a double-take.

"Elizabeth!" She hissed, motioning.

"Take him to the portal." Betty said, having shown Arhice the portal painting yesterday, "I'll be right there."

As soon as they were upstairs, Betty leaned over the railing.

"What, mother?"

"Why is there a vampire in our house?"

Betty scrunched her nose, "You can tell?" She asked.

"His scent is godawful. I can't believe you don't smell that," Alice waved her hand near her nose, "Who is that?"

"A business transaction. Don't worry about it."

"I worry!" Alice huffed, "I need to call Dolores now. We need to re-sanitize the house's wards…" She huffed, "He'd better be gone quickly."

"Trust me, I don't want him hanging around longer than you do," Betty assured.

By the time she opened her bedroom door, there was no one standing around, meaning they were inside. Good; she was sure she missed whatever ass-ish comments Nick made about her bedroom. His bedroom couldn't be much better. She laughed to herself imagining him sleeping in a literal tomb or concrete box.

Once she caught up to them, Nick was staring down at Jason's supine body, frowning deeply.

"I will admit I do not know what has happened," Nick said, "Most curious."

"So?"

"I think I have a way to investigate," Nick said, "I can go inside of his mind and try to locate his thoughts. Perhaps he just is not ready to wake up."

"Tell him that he has two kids on the way. He can't get cold feet now." Betty said, throwing out her arms.

"It might take a while," Nick warned.

"Will anything happen if I leave you in here?" Betty asked, letting her fingers search for magic, just in case.

"Once again, I forget how new you are to this. Even if I wished to try to do you harm, this portal would not allow me. This is your ancestral magic, and they'd sooner turn me to ash before I get a chance to try something. My magic can only be used for non-offensive tactics in here." He said.

"Good. Right, of course," Betty crossed her arms, "Just making sure that…you knew…of course…" She trailed off, "Do you need anything?"

"Just quiet." He snapped.

"Fine by me. C'mon, Arch." Betty said.

Archie was silent all the way back to her bedroom. Once on her bed, Betty turned the painting backward, pushing it against the wall. She didn't really want Nick wandering around her house and she was fairly sure this would keep someone stuck in there if need be.

"What did he mean about Sweet Pea?" Archie's brow was furrowed, "You're one of my best friends, but Jughead is my other, and if you're cheating on him-,"

"No, never!" Betty's eyes widened, "Look, Nick likes to collect people. And me, a witch, is…something important, though I'm still fuzzy why. So Sweet Pea 'claimed' me. Got Nick off my back." She touched Archie's arm, "I'm not cheating on Jughead. I promise."

"Oh," Archie frowned, "Nick does seem skeevy to me." He said after a moment, "You know if you hurt Jughead…"

Before he could finish, Betty just smiled. "You're a good friend to him, Archie. He needs that now more than ever."

XX

There were times Betty was absolutely sure that the world was having one big laugh at her expense. She was positive she was in a version of The Truman Show. She would bet her life that whatever deity was real out there decided that he - or she - just really liked making her life miserable.

Why?

Oh, well, just take a look at the two titles they were seeing at the Double Feature; American Werewolf in London and Animal House.

She hadn't asked what movies were on tonight. It didn't matter. This was for Jughead's birthday, so whatever he wanted to do, she had to say yes. Plus, she liked older movies and generally didn't have any she didn't want to see.

Okay, okay. They both were by John Landis. So, not totally random, but did it have to be these two?

As Betty stood under the lights of the marquee, she was biting her lip and just thinking about how it felt unreal. Unreal in the sort of way that whatever book an English class was reading in a movie suddenly was very pertinent to real life. Like that.

"Betty?" Jughead said, squinting as he approached, "Aw, shit. Archie told you, huh?

"I'm an investigative journalist. I would have found out eventually. And imagine how angry I would have been if you didn't tell me." Betty poked his chest, "You also can't tell me you'd rather see these movies with Archie instead of me. Your girlfriend. Snuggled up to your chest?" She teased, leaning in for a kiss.

"Well, when you put it like that," Jughead sighed, "We're not making a big deal out if, though, okay?" He threatened.

Betty had the fleeting thought that perhaps she should cancel his birthday. But it was just a party he would be present at on his birthday. Big difference.

"Not at all." She said.

They got their popcorn and drinks and went to sit.

"I was going to call you after, actually. Kevin told me that you and Chuck had some scene in the cafeteria yesterday?" He scratched his head.

"It wasn't a big deal," Betty said, swallowing hard.

"Betty…what happened that night?" Jughead asked hesitantly, "You can tell me, right. I'm your boyfriend."

Betty almost did. Had she not recalled her mother's warning. And she remembered where they were…very much in public.

"He had some comments about Polly. I…wasn't happy about it. Everything else, well, I don't know if it's my story to be telling." Whose was it? Veronica's? Sweet Pea's? Chuck's? She was unsure, but it was an easy way out.

"It just sounded like you were really upset," Jughead said, concerned.

"Not really," Betty forced a smile, "What did make me upset was finding out your birthday from Sweet Pea, actually. Archie just confirmed it."

"That bastard," Jughead grouched, "He was also totally trying to steal my free Birthday Happy Meal coupon."

"What a jerk." Betty agreed with a giggle. It was something she could totally see him doing.

"Hmm." Jughead finally said, staring at her curiously. Betty was worried she had lipstick smeared all over or something because he was looking at her so curiously.

"What?"

"I just…when we first met, I would have never guessed you were this sort of girl. The sort of girl who would like American Werewolf ."

Betty tried to hold in laughter, "Oh, Juggie. I'm all for American Werewolves. They're my favorite actually. I have to say…I'm sorta all about the beast within."

XXX

"Dude. You didn't tell me this was Jughead's birthday."

"Does it matter?" Kevin looked at Joaquin strangely, tugging him inside, "It will be fun. We both need to relax." He wasn't sure why his boyfriend looked so torn, but he figured it wasn't worth digging in and ruining a good party about, "Archie! I brought taco dip!"

"Awesome, sweet! Right over there, my man," Archie said, pointing to a folding table, "Joaquin! Great to see you too."

Kevin saw his boyfriend smile uneasily, looking like he wanted to make a quick exit.

"Ooh! Taco dip!" Sweet Pea said, crossing the room.

"Not yet! We can't start eating until the man the hour arrives," Ethyl chastised, swatting Sweet Pea's hand away, protectively standing in front of the food.

"She's right, man," Archie shrugged. He checked his watch.

"Do I have time to go to the bathroom?" Ethyl asked, "And can someone watch the food table while I'm gone?"

"Me!" Sweet Pea raised a hand.

"Watch it from him," Ethyl narrowed her eyes.

"Uhm, they should be home soon. The second feature just ended at 8:30." Archie checked his watch, "Oh! Someone's coming up! Everyone, positions!" He demanded like a drill sergeant.

Everyone hid. Kevin pulled Joaquin behind a couch. Joaquin looked nervous and twitchy.

What the heck?

"Surprise!"

Everyone jumped up to see a shocked-looking Veronica, who also looked like she'd been crying, in the doorframe. She sniffled, a fit of quick and irrational anger replacing her misty-eyed look.

"What about my feminine figure coming up the sidewalk said Jughead?" She snapped, stalking into the room.

"Sorry, I got excited," Archie said, wincing.

"Right," Veronica said, though she looked a thousand miles away from here right now.

Kevin turned around to have Joaquin meet Veronica, but his werewolf boyfriend was missing in action. He better go find him, before Jughead really arrived.

XXX

"Why is Ethyl here? And him?" Veronica crossed her arms, whispering so Ethyl didn't hear but spoke in earshot of Sweet Pea.

"Aww, you say the sweetest things," Sweet Pea said, clutching his heart.

"I know you don't like him, but Jughead does…I think." Archie frowned, "It's not about us, right." He paused, trying to find the right wording, "Are you sure you're okay to be here tonight?" He pulled Veronica to the kitchen.

"I just…found out some shitty things about my parents," Veronica said cautiously, "And then I get home to be bombarded by my dad's lawyer. They want me to testify on behalf of my dad but fuck that, you know? And now I wonder if he's involved in Jason's murder. They're really badgering me; Mr. Sowerberry told me if I don't testify, it all falls on my mom and then they'd start looking into her and revealing her dark past. Like I don't already know she's not a saint." Something about the vitriol in Veronica's voice startled Archie. He imagined that maybe she had some gambling debts, but from Veronica's tone, it seemed like…more. "She's just a…bloodsucker. A leech. Both of them." She spat.

Archie swallowed. He remembered Betty mentioning that the Lodges were vampires. How much did she know? Was this just very unfortunate word choice?

"They basically all but threatened me at the end of it," Veronica said.

"Is that even legal?" Archie asked, confused.

"Like they care. Forcing someone to testify under duress is hardly the worst on their long list of sins, Andrews," Veronica gave a hard sigh, leaning against the counter, "I don't want to end up like that. But I feel like I have to beat them."

"Beat them? They're your parents, Veronica," Archie said, confused.

"And they're really bad people. Just trust me on that." Veronica said in a serious tone, "I'm just in a foul mood. I hoped this party would brighten it."

Before Archie could offer an apology, or maybe a drink, Sweet Pea hollered from the living room.

"It's real this time!"

"Hey…wait, erm, maybe we shouldn't hide?" Archie said, something firing in his brain, "I mean, it's his birthday, but not his birthday party. So let's just turn on the music, say 'happy birthday', and then get over it."

Everyone looked at each other, shrugging, having no reason to fight him.

So Veronica slipped away to turn on a party mix that Pitbull had apparently curated specifically for her. By the time the pair of lovebirds opened the front door, it seemed like an ordinary party.

"What's this?" Jughead asked, apprehensive, like a feral cat, ready to make a run for it.

"A party, Jug," Betty said with a sweet smile.

"A birthday party?" Jughead asked suspiciously.

"Oh, shit. It's your birthday? I had no idea!" Sweet Pea said, trying to play the part.

"Ha. I'd believe that if I wasn't pretty sure you were hoarding like five coupons in the mail that are mine," Jughead said, but Sweet Pea's joke seemed to put him at ease.

"Naw, man," Archie said, patting his back, "It's just a party. There might be a cake for you, but you're like…a side-show after-thought," He said with a wink, punching Jughead's shoulder.

"I feel special," Jughead said, and though it was played off with sarcasm, Archie saw the real, genuine relief spread across his face.

"Happy birthday! That's the only time I'll say anything," Kevin said, "Have you ever met Joaquin, my boyfriend, before?"

"Well, uhm, we both live in Sunnyside. But honestly, I don't think I've had a conversation with him since he stole my Tonka Truck when we were eight." Jughead said.

"Well, then, let me introduce you to-," Kevin waved to open, empty space next to him, "Goddammit! He's real, I swear! He keeps disappearing, and I'm not sure why." Kevin sucked in air through his teeth, "You'll meet him sometime tonight, promise."

"You don't have to keep that promise," Jughead said. Archie knew he hated making awkward small talk.

"It's the matter of it." Kevin sighed, "Now I got to go find him. He's showing terrible manners right now…"

"Let's get a drink and some chips." Betty said, taking off Jughead's coat and patting his shoulders, "And want to play me in a round of Mario Kart?"

Archie watched Jughead's eyes light up, "You think you'll beat me?"

"No, but I hope you'll go easy on your poor girlfriend," Betty said with puppy-dog eyes.

"Oof, that's a hard one…"

Archie let out a sigh of relief as they wandered off.

Yeah, the party was already a hit. Thank god.

Maybe he could turn Veronica's night around too.

XXX

Someone had put wine out. Maybe for her, maybe it had been dying to be used, or maybe it was a fluke.

Whatever the reason, there was wine as an option at the party.

And seeing that wine- fuck, it wasn't even red, it was white, was playing ping-pong with her emotions.

She saw Archie approaching and tried to quell her tears. It was Jughead's party and she was acting terrible right now. She should just leave if she was going to be a dramatic, sobbing mess the entire time.

"Veronica?"

She tried to put on a smile for Archie, but she knew she failed as soon as his expression grew concerned.

"Stuff with your dad?"

"And mom. I don't want to talk about it," She said, unsure how one would even begin. How she could say more than she already had without revealing too much. She hoped Archie understood that distinction, though who could blame him, as she was saying something totally different.

"Okay." He said carefully, "You want a drink?" He motioned to the keg.

She gave a watery smile, "Isn't the New York sophisticate supposed to corrupt the sweet small-town boy?" She teased. As Archie shot her a genuine smile and carefully wrote her name on a solo cup with his atrocious handwriting, she felt the dam start to break, "It's all so fucked right now. The trial, lies, family legacy…"

"I get a bit of that. That's why my dad's trying to talk to my mom." Archie said, and she realized she'd been so caught up in her own soap opera of a life she'd missed that clearly, something significant was going on with Archie.

"God, Archie…" She breathed, "I didn't…are you okay?"

Archie bit the inside of his cheek, "I don't know?" He answered honestly, "I'm in the thick of it. Ask me on the other side."

Veronica took a long beat, inhaling hard. Same, the same here.

There was a long silence, then, Veronica pressed her lips, saying a worry that had been nudging all along the side of her since she'd found out, since she'd talked to Nick, and even before then, "My parents have done awful things. They told me, though non-specific. But now I'm wondering if those awful things are…I'm wondering if my dad killed Jason."

XX

"So…" Betty bit her lip.

"Do you want a 'thank you'?" Jughead asked, raising an eyebrow, "I'll say this, Cooper. It's not the worst party I've ever been to. It's almost enjoyable."

"Oh, come on. Live a bit," Betty nudged him, "It's hardly even a birthday."

"We both know it is," Jughead said, wincing, "I guess the guest list is fine. But you know I'm not one for big groups."

"It feels small, though," Betty said, sitting on the couch with him, "Archie and Veronica are…I don't know where. We haven't seen Joaquin all night, so he basically doesn't count. Kevin is looking for him."

"That just leaves you, me, Sweet Pea, and Ethel," Jughead whispered under his breath, nodding to the wallflower near them, and Sweet Pea who was licking his lips at the chip table, "Lovely."

"Can't you just admit I did a good thing?" Betty urged, "And maybe it's not a total trainwreck?"

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions," Jughead said tonelessly, and Betty couldn't really be sure if he was serious or not.

Jughead knew he was on the verge of starting a fight he really didn't want to be in. If he tore down his walls and let people in, he would admit that yes, this was nice. It was one person away from being too much, and he thought it was weird Joaquin and Ethel was here, but Betty was right insomuch that most people were off doing their own thing.

He was just grouchy, for reasons he couldn't put his finger on. And while he was minorly annoyed that Betty had thrown him a party, even after making it clear he didn't like birthdays, he didn't think snapping would help.

But still.

"I'm going to grab a Sprite. Want something?" Jughead stood abruptly, needing to stretch his legs. Betty had won the last round of Super Mario Bros against him. Maybe that's what he was so bothered about. If he were in a good mood, he'd make a joke about Betty holding out on him with her fantastic video game skills.

"I'll come," Betty began but Jughead shook his head.

"Can you grab me some snacks? Before Sweet Pea eats the table too?"

"I heard that!" Sweet Pea said, shooting Jughead the finger.

"Good, you glutton!" Jughead yelled back.

Betty rolled her eyes at the pair, but grabbed a plate, setting herself to work.

Jughead rolled around to the kitchen, running smack-dab into someone as he did so.

"Sorry, bruh," Someone said, offering a hand to help him up off the ground.

"Ow! Damn it, that hurt," Jughead said, rubbing his forehead from where he'd collided with someone else, looking up.

He stumbled over his feet, breath increasing and pulse skyrocketing as he slid on the tiled floor.

He wasn't on the floor though. He was back in the woods. There was a smell of burning plastic and rubber. The sky was darkened by only a few pinpricks of stars.

He could hear snarling; a gigantic wolf.

But when he looked up it was just…Joaquin. Joaquin staring at him warily with his blue, piercing eyes, as though waiting for Jughead to freak.

And Jughead suddenly understood why.

Jughead managed to get to the sink right before he vomited.

"Woah, too much to drink birthday boy?" Joaquin asked, trying to play it off, also trying to edge out of the room.

"You," Jughead hissed, grasping Joaquin's arm and tugging him firmly outside, away from the noise and everyone inside, "You…you're…you…"

"Are you okay?"

"No! I'm not okay!" Jughead spun around, "You're the wolf that pinned me down, burned the car! No wonder you've been a ghost this entire time. You knew if we crossed paths I'd…"

He saw Joaquin pause; trying to decide what to do. In the end, a sort of despair overtook him, and with that, an acceptance. So he licked his lips and looked at Jughead, laughing, though he seemed close to breaking down himself.

"I had an idea you would," Joaquin said quietly, "Eyes are the windows to the soul."

"Awe, shit. I get why people are annoyed with my poetics now. That was terrible," Jughead said, crossing his arms, "So you're a…a…werewolf, aren't you?" He said, hoping, praying Joaquin would genuinely laugh him off or offer to send him to an insane asylum.

Instead, he was silent, which basically confirmed everything.

"Fuck." Jughead turned around, kicking a potted plant, "There's more of you, isn't there?"

"Uhm…"

"My dad's one."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement. It was knowledge. It was a simple truth, "And If I had to guess, that means all Southside Serpents are. Sweet Pea too." He tried to imagine Sweet Pea, the boy he knew he was almost starting to like as a friend, as a big, murderous wolf, and felt furious all over again.

"Your father was concerned. You're so bright. He's not dumb either though, because…"

Because you figured it out. Because he knew you could.

Jughead felt his knees weaken and he stumbled forward, sending a sharp glare at Joaquin as the boy stepped forward to help him.

He sat on the grass, trying to realign his entire world around this.

"You ever seen the movie '27 Dresses'?" He questioned.

"I…Toni made me watch it once," Joaquin answered slowly, sitting on the dewy grass beside Jughead, staring at him worriedly. Maybe insane asylum was still on the table.

"There's a quote…the main character says 'I feel like I just found out my favorite love song was written about a sandwich'," Jughead made a face, swallowing hard, "But I feel like I just found out that every love song has always been written about sandwiches. And also feel like everyone knew it was about sandwiches and no one thought I deserved to know that all those times I thought it was songs about two people. It was just a lie. You feel me?" Jughead asked.

"If it helps…it tore my world upside down when I came into my powers," Joaquin said, in a moment of kindness Jughead did not think he would be receiving from him. They had no reason to be friends.

"I imagine it would."

"We aren't warned before it happens. One day you just…turn. Well, not 'just'...that's not for right now. But the point being, it's scary. And painful. And sometimes traumatic. So yeah, I know what you mean." Joaquin said in agreement.

"I have so many questions," Jughead whispered quietly.

"How did you figure it out?" Instead of answering, Joaquin asked one of his own.

"I don't know. It was just a feeling. Which sounds really stupid, until you're right," Jughead said, "And then a lot of research that made me feel like an idiot."

Before Joaquin could say more, the porch door opened.

"There you are! Ah, Jughead, hope you two have become re-acquainted. Why are you sitting out here?" Kevin asked, frowning as he took in the scene in front of him.

Jughead narrowed his eyes. Would Kevin know? That his boyfriend was a werewolf? It didn't seem like something one just freely admits, but at the same time, he'd want to know. He'd want to know if Betty was a wolf. It just seems safe that way.

So, well, Kevin's gotta know…right?"

Apparently, his heavy scrutinization answered his question for him, because Kevin's eyes widened.

"Oh, hell no, Keen! You didn't-."

"He figured it out."

Before Jughead could interrogate Kevin as well, the doorbell rang. Jughead could hear it from outside. He wandered over to the open door.

"We expecting anyone else?"

"No, Betty was very firm on the guest list," Kevin said, making Jughead feel a bit better. He also felt like he should apologize. There were so many other bigger issues out there, like literal werewolves, than to be moody about a party your girlfriend put on in good faith.

"Pizza?"

"All the food's here," Joaquin said.

"Oh, would we put it past Sweet Pea to order something else?" Jughead asked, stepping inside. He was trying to get his bearings. Trying to talk about Sweet Pea without barfing again, trying to equate Joaquin and Sweet Pea and Toni and his dad to monstrous, furry beings.

"Rude," Sweet Pea muttered, poking his head into the kitchen.

Jughead wanted to scream. He wanted to throw something at Sweet Pea. All that time living together...and nothing? No hints? No help? Just lies?

He swallowed it back.

"Well, you sure did…" Jughead paused, considering if he wanted to play with fire tonight, but apparently, he did, just a bit, " wolf it down," He said empathetically, biting out the last phrase. He tried to keep it lighthearted, but it came out in a betrayed growl at the end. Sweet Pea was two seconds away from returning the volley, but apparently, Jughead's emphasis caught him off guard. Jughead had never seen him frightened before, but for some reason, the fact that Sweet Pea knew that Jughead knew was enough to cause actual emergent alarm.

His eyes widened, "Oh, fuck-,"

The door opened.

Jughead peered around to see a whole bunch of people crowded near the window, and his anxiety immediately spiked.

Veronica had opened the door to a devilish Cheryl, "Did you really think you could have a party without inviting moi?" She asked with a wicked grin.

"Or me?" Chuck asked, right behind her, "Archie, where do you want the kegs?"

There was a long, tense second where Jughead wasn't sure what was going to happen next. So he stepped in.

"Look, do whatever."

He had so many more problems than stupid high-school party drama. Plus, maybe the cover of more people would give him a chance to have a serious talk with Sweet Pea, Joaquin, and Kevin.

What had been said in the Great Gatsby? There's nothing more intimate than big parties.