pest control TWO!!!!! heres the first one

adn heres the obligatory bonus bc i can't help myself :')

Songfic Day 14: If

Day 14: A song you’d love played at your wedding: If - Bread

Jughead and Betty throughout their wedding day

*****

If a picture paints a thousand words,

Then why can't I paint you?

The words will never show the you I've come to know.

  6:32 am - Betty

  “Good Morning Besties! Time to rise and shine, we have to get the blushing bride to the chapel on time and we’re already behind schedule,” Veronica sang, pulling back the curtains of the grande suite she’d rented for her best friend Betty’s wedding.

 “Christ Lodge, the sun is barely up, can you not?” Toni grumbled from one of the large king size beds that she and Cheryl had passed out the night before. Jellybean lay sprawled out on the sofa, snoring despite all the noise around her. 

 “No can do, Topaz. As maid of honor it is my duty to keep you bridesmaids on schedule while also making sure B has everything she needs and stays sane today. Last thing we need is Alice complaining that things are running behind,” she said, placing two lattes beside Toni.

 “V, it’s entirely too early to mention my mother. I need my coffee first before we can even go there. What time is it anyway?” Betty yawned, stretching as she spoke.  

  7:35 am - Jughead

  “Archie!” Jughead yelled across the apartment he shared with his best friend, Archie. After today, he would be moving in with his fiance -well wife- and he really couldn't wait.

 He and Betty have been together for 6 years now and he couldn't be happier with his life. They were both officially done with school and had just opened their own Private Investigation Firm. That way they could work together while also allowing Jughead to have time to work on his novel. 

 Life had been good to them and now they finally get to be man and wife. Jughead was trying not to be sappy about it all, but this was his ultimate dream come true.

 "What is it Jug? What time is it?" Archie asked, hair askew and wiping the sleep from his eyes.

 "It's almost 8, coffee’s in the pot. Have you seen my cufflinks? You know the ones Dad had made, the little silver crowns? I can't find them anywhere," Jughead was a bit worried when they weren’t on his dresser that morning. FP’d had them made for the wedding with an identical pendant made for Betty to wear as well. And his Dad didn't give him a lot of gifts growing up so these were very important to him. 

 "Yeah man, there in the box with mine and the groomsmen's in my bag ready to go to the church," Archie said in a calming voice, "Don't freak out man, as your best man it's my job to keep you calm and threaten to murder you or break your legs if you try to run."

 "I think death threats and acts of violence are a bit extreme, don't you Arch?" Jughead laughed.

 Archie rolled his eyes, grabbing a cup to pour them some coffee, "Tell that to Veronica."

  If a face could launch a thousand ships,

Then where am I to go?

  9:23 am - Betty

"V, I’m so glad you talked me into doing a massage and facial before our mani-pedis. This is literally heaven," Betty sighed, taking a sip of her mimosa while the manicurist massaged lotion onto her calves.

 "Only the best for my B. I wanted to make you feel as special your wedding day as everyday of my life has felt since you came into it," Veronica smiled, eyes glistening. Betty teared up at her best friends heartfelt words.

 "Oh, V. I love you so much," Betty pulled her into a crushing hug, being sure not to shift her lower half. She felt a tear roll down her cheek and whispered, "Thanks for always being there for me, no matter what. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you."

 Veronica pulled back, laughing through a sob, "Ok, enough of that. I may have gotten the best waterproof makeup money can buy, but we aren't trying to test that claim today."

 "Betty?" They both froze when they heard the voice calling from the hall. Betty let out an exasperated sigh.

 "In here, Mom."

  9:47 am - Jughead

  "Coming!" Jughead yelled, walking towards the front door. When he opened it, he was met with the smiling faces of his father and his other three best friends.

 "Congratulations, boy," FP stepped in, hugging his son tight, "I can't believe you're actually getting married."

 "Thanks Dad, what you you doing here so early? I didn't expect you for another hour at least," Jughead said, hugging and high-fiving his groomsmen -Sweet Pea, Fangs, and Kevin- as they entered the apartment.

 "You know Alice, she was itching to leave Riverdale at 6 this morning. I held her off as long as possible but that’s like fighting a grizzly bear and well, Archie wasn’t around for back up. Is JB here?" FP asked, looking around Jug's apartment for his daughter.

 "She decided to stay over at the hotel with the girls so they could all be together to get ready or whatever they plan on doing," Jughead said, shrugging his shoulders.

 "Looks Sweets will be disappointed. He was hoping to see her before we all had to get ready," FP nodded his head towards Sweet Pea who'd spent the entire time with his nose shoved in his phone, dopey grin plastered on his face.

 It honestly used to bother him Sweet Pea and Jellybean had started dating when she turned 18 but he got over that fairly quickly. Just seeing how good they were for each other eased Jughead's mind. Besides that, Sweets looked at Jelly the same way he looked at Betty, so he knew what they had was real.

  There's no one home but you,

You're all that's left me too.

  11:56 am - Betty

  "Stand up straight, Elizabeth. We still have to finish getting you in this corset or we will never get your dress on properly," Alice huffed, pulling on the fabric. Veronica had gone downstairs to handle a situation with the caterers and all the girls had stepped out to get drinks and snacks for the rest of the wedding party, leaving Betty alone with her mother for the first time all morning.  And frankly, she was about to her breaking point. 

 She loved her mother, she really did, and ever since she and FP had gotten better but as soon as the wedding planning started she had started to nitpick every little thing Betty did or choice she made. 

 With hips like yours, would a mermaid cut dress be appropriate? Elizabeth, just because Jughead wants a chocolate cake doesn't mean he should get it, it’s your special day. Is that really the font you chose for the invitations? You’re seriously going to have your bridesmaids and groomsmen mixed up on both sides?

 It has gotten so bad that Jughead and FP had to step in to tell her that it was enough and that she needed to back off. Which she did, that is, until she arrived this morning and thought she’d try to pack months of criticism into one morning. Betty didn’t need to deal with this today, of all days, so she grabbed her phone and sent an SOS text.

 SOS... Send reinforcements to slay the dragon and save the princess...

 “Mom, I'm sure it will be fine,” Betty tried to stop the discussion but Alice was having none of it and cut her off. 

 “Elizabeth, I just don’t want those extra pounds you’ve added these last few weeks to show through because you didn’t properly shinch your corset. Now- “ Alice was interrupted by a knock at the door. 

 “Hey Alice, Dad said he needs your help. Something about his tie or something?” Jellybean smiled sheepishly but winked at Betty once Alice turned her back. Betty smiled, mouthing her thanks to her future sister-in-law.

 “I swear, I have no idea how that man survived all those years on his own without me,” Alice scoffed as she marched out of the women’s dressing area. Betty was grateful when Veronica walked back in the room, an apologetic look on her face and holding two lattes.

 “I am so sorry, B. I swear I didn’t mean to leave you alone with her this morning,” Veronica apologized.

 “It’s ok Ronnie. Jug took care of it,” Betty smiled, sipping her cinnamon dulce white chocolate mocha.

  12:02 pm - Jughead

  Betty: SOS... Send reinforcements to slay the dragon and save the princess...

 “Dad, get your woman before I have Sweet Pea hogtie her and toss her in your truck,” Jughead groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose in his frustration.

 “Oh Lord, what’s she doing this time, boy?” FP asked. Jughead didn’t answer, just handed him his phone to show FP the text from Betty. “Alright, I’ll take care of this. JELLY!” he yelled.

 “Yeah Dad?” Jellybean said, walking in from the hallway where she and Sweet Pea were talking with the rest of the wedding party.

 “We have a code viper in Betty’s room, can you handle it for us please?” Jelly nodded, running out the door.

 “Code viper?” Jughead smirked. 

 FP simply shrugged and smiled at his son. “You’ve met that woman, right?”

  And when my love for life is running dry,

You come and pour yourself on me.

 2:00 pm - Betty

 “Betty, you look beautiful,” FP choked, grinning as he walked up to her at the front of the church. She beamed at FP, tears pricking her eyes.

 “Thanks FP, you clean up well yourself,” she chuckled. She was thankful to have FP in her life as her surrogate father. After everything that happened with her father and his death, she never thought she’d have a chance to be walked down the aisle properly. But after living with FP and Jellybean her senior year, he really became the father she no longer had and she was so grateful.

 “Are you nervous?” he asked. 

 Betty shook her head and smiled, “Not even a little bit.” 

 The music began and FP offered her his arm, “Let’s make you a Jones.” Betty placed her tiny hand in the crook of his arm and grinned. This was the moment she’d been waiting for all her life.

  2:00 pm - Jughead

  The doors opened slowly and Jughead lost his ability to breathe. At the end of the aisle, standing beside his father, was the most beautiful vision he had ever seen. Betty’s dress, form-fitting until just past her hips and flaring out at the bottom, made her look like a princess in a fairytale. Her veil had tiny diamonds that sparkled like the stars in the sky, catching the light with every step she took towards him. 

 When their eyes locked, Jughead could feel the tears dripping from his eyes despite the goofy grin that was plastered on his face. He could see that Betty was as much in the same boat as he was, her smile rivaling the sunshine and her hands gripping tighter to the bouquet of wildflowers in her hands.

 As his future stepped up to stand beside him, he knew that his life was finally complete. He had loved her for so many years that he couldn’t remember a time when he didn’t. His whole life had been leading to this moment and he was speechless. Betty placed her hand in his and squeezed, grinning at him.

 “Hi Juggie.”

  If a man could be two places at one time,

I'd be with you.

Tomorrow and today, beside you all the way.

 3:33 pm - Betty

  “I met Betty in my sophomore year of highschool when my family moved to Riverdale from the city. She was my tour guide at Riverdale High and the moment we met, I knew she would be my best friend. And even though we have had our ups and downs in the past, I have never regretted a moment that I have spent with her. My life would be incomplete without her,” Veronica paused to wipe a tear from her eyes, “Oh, and Jughead is ok too, I guess.” Everyone burst into a fit of laughter.

 “In all seriousness, I have been around Jughead and Betty throughout their entire relationship and I can safely say I have never seen two people more in love. Well except for my Archikins and I,” everyone chuckled again at the nickname, “Jughead, Betty, I wish you all the happiness in the world and I know that, without a doubt, there is not two people more suited for each other then you two. I love you guys, salud!” Veronica held up her glass as everyone chapped and sipped their champagne.

  3:35 pm - Jughead

  “Thanks everyone, um, I have known Betty and Jughead for my entire. We have all been friends since we were still in diapers and our parents would bathe us together,” Betty and Jughead blushed as people giggled, “Um, yeah but we have been through a lot together. I was actually really shocked when I first found out that they were dating, just simply for the fact that I never saw it coming. No one did really. But I remember seeing them one day outside Southside High and, with the help of Ronnie, I realized that they were soulmates. And I also realized that I wanted what they have with each other. I got lucky and found my soulmate too,” he paused to smile at Veronica, “Jughead, you have always been more like my brother than anything and I am so happy for you. You deserve to be with someone who will treat you like you are their whole world, and you’ve got that person beside you. Betty, you have been my rock since we were two years old. You helped me pass the second grade, you saved my life more than once when we were younger and I will always be thankful to have you in my life. You will always be my best friend and I am so happy that you and Jughead have found the happiness you both deserve together. I love you guys, cheers!”  

 If the world should stop revolving spinning slowly down to die,

I'd spend the end with you. 

And when the world was through,

  6:26 pm - Betty

  Betty was thankful she had decided to change into a more comfortable dress as she moved with Veronica on the dance floor, dancing to cringy Britney Spears songs just like they’d done so many times before. Betty bit her lip as she looked over her shoulder to see her husband standing off to the side, laughing and having a cigarette with Fangs and Toni, tie long gone along with his coat. 

 He had rolled up his sleeves earlier in the evening, showing off all the ink that he’d accumulated over the years that Betty loved to look at. His suspenders were hanging down around his hips in their usual place, his hair falling into his eyes and Betty couldn’t help but think of how sexy he was. And better still, how he was all hers. 

 She told Veronica she was taking a break and walked over to the bar for some bottled water. As she sipped her drink, she glanced back over to where Jughead was and caught him staring at her while taking a drag from his smoke. She winked at him, biting her lip and slowly walking towards one of the coat closets near the front of the reception hall. Just before opening the door to step inside she ran the tip of her tongue around the rim of the water bottle and grinned, knowing he wouldn’t be far behind.

   7:44 pm - Jughead

  “Mmm, Betty?” Jughead pulled away panting, lips bee stung from ravaging his wife in the tiny coat closet. Her breasts heaved as she tried to find her voice, “Yeah?” she said, latching her lips to his neck, sucking a dark bruise for everyone to see.

 “Do- um, do you think they’ve noticed we are missing yet?” Jughead asked, moaning loudly at the feeling of his wife's tongue on his bare skin. A loud banging at the door startled them both causing them to jump apart like two teenagers.

 “Yes, we know you’re missing and yes, the entire banquet does know what you are doing in here,” Veronica shouted through the door. Jughead’s face turned bright red as Betty burst into laughter and threw her arms around his neck.

 “Take me to our room, husband. I have plans for you,” Betty grinned. 

 “Don’t threaten me with a good time, wife,” She squealed with laughter as Jughead threw her over his shoulder and pushed the door open to make a mad dash for the elevators. 

  Then one by one the stars would all go out,

Then you and I would simply fly away

FP Jones imagine (2)

I was sat in a booth at Pop's diner Starring out of the window at my bike. It had been 17 years since I was last here. 17 years since I was happy and 17 years since I last saw my son and the love of my life.

"You OK there young lady?" Pop's asked as he came over.

"I'm OK thank you, I'm just watching the world go by." I smiled looking up at him. Pop's eyes widened for a second as he looked at me.

"Y/N Andrews, is that you?" He asked, a small, kind smiled on his face.

"In the flesh." I smiled up at him.

"Not seen you for a long time. How have you been?"

"Getting by." I shrugged.

"Well, it's good to have you back, What can I get you?"

"Burger, fried and one of you classic chocolate shakes?" I grinned.

"Coming up." he smiled as he turned to walk away but before he left he turned back and gave me a worried smile.

"The sheriff is here, just warning you." He told me before he walked away.

I shrugged and turned to see the Sheriff walking up to the diner, his hat hiding his face.

"Morning Pop's, can I get a coffee?" He spoke and my eyes widened. I knew that voice but it can't be. FP Jones wasn't the north side type.

Then my suspicions were confirmed when the Sheriff took of his hat and asked Pop's about the Strange bike parked outside.

Pop's nodded and pointed over to me. When FP looked my way his eyes widened and he froze. My eyes never left his as he walked towards me after gaining his composure.

"Hi." I asked looking up at the man I once loved.

"Y/N" he asked in disbelief

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see my family." I told him. It wasn't a lie, I was here to see My brother and his nephew but mostly I wanted to see FP.

"It's been 17 years, why now?" He grumbled.

"I missed everybody, I'm finally able to come back into town so here I am." I explained. He sighed and took a seat.

I looked over at FP as he sat in front of me.

"So, how is he?" I asked him. It had been so long since I had seen my brother.

"He's fine, joined the Serpents while I was locked away."

"He did what?" I asked confused. "Why the hell would he do that?"

"Don't be so surprised, his old man is one, his mother was one..."

"Wait...who?" I asked confused. My dad was never a Serpent.

"The kid." FP snapped as if I had done something wrong. "Our son?" My eyes widened and I shook my head.

"We...FP, our son died, 17 years ago. Your wife killed him." I growled. FP watched me confused as tears ran down my face.

"What?" I asked, wiping the tears away.

"Our son is not dead, he was brought up by Gladys and I after you left us high and dry." FP snapped. I shook my head, standing up and walking out.

"No, you're lying." I called behind me. FP stood and followed behind me, he grabbed my arm and pulled me to face him.

"Why?"

"Why, what?" I asked, a lump in my throat.

"why did you leave us." He asked me. I stayed silent, still not being able to bring myself to explain.

"Please, Y/N, I loved you, I thought you loved me but I came home from the bar and you were gone, Gladys was..."

"Gladys told me to go." I told him. He let out a hard laugh and shook his head.

"Bullshit." He scoffed.

"You wanna know?" I asked and he nodded.

"You should come sit down then." I sighed as I grabbed FP's hand and lead him back into Pop's. We passed a group of kids, one seemed to look up at me, his red hear making him unrecognisable. That was Archie, my brothers kid, he had to be. His friends watched as FP and I walked passed hand in hand.

I sat him down on the booth I was sat previously and I sat opposite him.

"So?" He asked, I took a deep breath and looked down at my hands, I could already feel the tears welling up.

"OK, so, I was home, looking after...well, I was calming Forsythe, when I heard a noise outside. I put him down, in his crib and I went outside. I thought maybe it was you getting home so I grabbed my jacket and went outside but you weren't there so I looked around for a second and when I went back in I saw blood everywhere, Forsythe was gone and I saw Gladys sat in your chair, holding a bloodied knife." I cried, tears running down my face.

"Why?" he asked me. I shrugged, it took me a second before I could get anything else out.

"A couple weeks before hand she had told me to go, if I didn't leave she was going to kill my brother and our kid. I didn't believe her and I stayed. Anyway, she made a huge deal about how she had warned me and that if I didn't go she would take Archie next." I told him. "I had to go FP, I couldn't face you when you found out our son was dead and I couldn't be the reason Fred lost Archie." I cried, tears streaming down my face.

"So she wasn't lying?" He mumbled.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Before she left she told him that she wasn't his mum, I mean I knew that but we were supposed to keep it from him, she told him she ran his mother out of town when he was a baby but I didn't believe her. I thought she was just trying to make a point." He told me.

"She didn't kill him?" I asked, FP Shook his head then turned around.

"Hey, Boy, come over here a second!" He called, turning to face the group of kids in the booth beside us. I tall looking kid with raven hair and a grey worn out beanie nodded and walked over, sitting beside his dad.

"What's up?" He asked, he eyed me curiously as he spoke.

"Jughead, this is Y/N Andrew's" FP introduced. I looked over the kid.

"Fred Andrew's sister?" he asked and I nodded smiling, looking at him made my heart skip a beat. He was tall, like his dad, he had his dad's looks but he had eyes like mine. "Yeah, Archie told me about you, you were..." He began but I interrupted "Banished from the family for getting knocked up."   "Yeah, you were Best friends with Alice cooper too right?" He wondered. I saw the kids behind him clearly listening in and I chuckled nodding. "She was Alice Smith back then but Yeah, how did you know that?" "Mrs Cooper had mentioned it to Betty and I. She said you disappeared not long after Betty was born." "Not that she cared, she was one of the many people who pushed me out of town" I told him. "My mum did that?" A blonde girl asked as she turned around to face the table. "You must be Betty?" I asked she nodded. Jug stood up and moved so the Betty could join us. "Well when you get knocked up by a Serpent, you get treated like one and in them days that was worse then being the local psychopath." I told her. My eyes never left Jughead for more than a second, he the same.

"You OK kid?" FP asked, noticing the looks between us both.

"That's her isn't it?" He asked his dad, still looking at me.

"Don't act like you weren't listening in boy." FP chuckled.

"were you telling the truth?" He asked, directing his attention to me.

"Every word." I nodded. "Who are you?" I asked him.

"Jughead."

"Yeah I got that bit."

"My name is Forsythe Pendelton Jones III." he told me. My eyes widened and I shook my head vigorously.

"No, you're not," I told him.

I didn't him reply, I just stood up and made my way the door.

"He's telling the truth Y/N, he really is our kid." FP called, grabbing the attention of the rest of the diner.

"No, because that would mean I left my son behind and...and I wouldn't do that, I couldn't do that." I told him as I left.

*A couple hours later*

I spent my time driving around until I finally got up the courage to visit my brother for the first time is 17 years.

I walked up the path and knocked on the door. It took a couple seconds but the door opened and there, in front of me, stood my big brother. He seemed to recognised me almost immediately as his eyes widened and he grabbed me, pulling me into a hug.

"Y/N, what are you doing here?" Fred asked as he pulled me into the house, a strange look on his face.

"Hi, Freddy." I smiled sadly at him. "How you been?"

"Good, I missed you kid." He smiled happily. His eyes wondered around, looking nervous.

"He told you didn't he?" I asked, knowing FP would have called him the second I left. He nodded then gestured back to the kitchen where I saw the red head from before.

"Come on, I want you to meet your nephew." He told me as he pulled me into the kitchen where the red head sat, drinking a soda.

"Archie, this is Y/N."

"Yeah, she was with FP before." He smiled nodding as he stood up.

"You're a good looking kid." I smiled at him, "You get that from your mum." I joked, Archie laughed and nodded.

"Don't I know it." He chuckled nudging his dad.  

"So, you're my Aunt?" He asked. I nodded and sat down at the table.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"So...." My brother spoke up after a couple minutes of silence.

"So?"

"Where you been?" he asked.

"Around, California mostly." I told him, looking down at my hands.

"I'm sorry Freddy, I had to go, I had..."

"I know kid, FP told me what happened." He assured me.

"Yeah?"

"You could have told us, or me at least." He offered but I shook my head.

"I couldn't, she told me if I told anybody why I left she'd kill you and Archie. She already killed my son, I could't lose you too." I explained, Fred looked a little surprised but Archie looked as through he was used to his life being threatened.

" Well, I thought she had killed him." I sighed.

"So is it true, is he really my kid?" I asked Fred who nodded.

"Yeah, FP came home the night you left and found Gladys sat in the trailer with Jug in her arms, she had a note the said you couldn't live there anymore and the you didn't want Jug and FP."

I nodded, sadly. If Fred was telling me this it most be the truth. He wouldn't lie to me about this. I looked over at Archie and smiled softly.

"So, what's he like, Jughead?" I asked him. Archie smiled a huge grin and shrugged.

"Juggy is my best friend. No body else like him." He told me, sitting by me. "He's a writer, he and Betty run the blue and gold, the newspaper at school."

"Yeah?" I asked surprised.

"A lot like you that kid." Fred added and I smiled.

"He's good at solving mysteries, we all solve the Jason Blossom murder case, the black hood case and the G'n'G case."

"Wow, do you guys even have a police crew down here?" I joked making Archie laughed. I noticed Fred had left us alone so we spoke for a while, Archie told me all about Jughead and the group, he told me about the rest of the town news and how FP was doing.

"...Jughead always thought he was missing someone you know. Like he had Gladys and Jellybean but FP wasn't happy with that." He told me.

"Yeah, I guess that was my fault." I sighed,

"Did you ever think about coming back?" He asked me. I sighed and shook my head.

"No, I couldn't, after I thought my son was dead I couldn't come back, it hurt to much." I explained. "That and If I came back I was putting you and you're dad in danger and I didn't want you two getting hurt." I explained.

I heard a knock at the door but ignored it, guessing Fred was gonna answer it, so I kept talking to Archie.  

"So why did you come back?" He asked me. "Not that I'm not glad you're here I just ment..."

"I know what you ment kid." I chuckled. "I got a letter, from Gladys, she told me she wasn't in Riverdale anymore and that there was somebody here who wanted to see me. I just assumed she met Fred...or FP." I shrugged.

That was when a figure came into view and in walked Jughead and Betty Cooper. I stood up, unable to speak and I turned ready to run, tears welling in my eyes.

"Stop!" Fred called. I froze in my place and I turned to face the group, the whole group watching me. I needed help in this situation and I was hoping Fred would step in.

"Freddy, help me?" I asked "I can;t do this on my own." I added and he nodded.

"Archie, take Betty to the garage." Fred ordered. Betty refused to move and I looked over at her as she glared at me. I let out a slight chuckle as Jughead gestured for her to leave. She nodded, kissed his head and followed Archie out the back door.

"She's sweet." I smiled sadly. Fred nodded and chuckled.

"Like her mother when we were that age." He told me. My eyes landed on Jughead and I watched as he watched me.

"Freddy, what do I do?" I asked, my eyes never leaving Jughead.

"Talk to him." he shrugged. "Jug, you wanna say something." Jughead nodded but stayed quiet.

"So....Archie tells me you like to write?" I asked. Jug nodded. I moved to sit back at the table, next to where Fred was stood.

"I wrote a book." I told him. He seemed to snap out of his frozen state.

"Yeah?" he asked seeming to be interested.

"Yeah, I wrote it a little while after I left. I dedicated it to you and your dad." I told him.

"She really told you I was dead?" He changed the subject. I nodded and let out a sigh.

"Look, kid, when I saw the blood in the crib and Gladys holding the knife, my world stopped. I couldn't even comprehend what she was saying, my mind was just stuck on what I thought was my baby's blood until she told me to leave." It was quiet for a second. Then I finished my explanation.

"I loved you and your dad, I still do and if I had known you were alive I would never have left."

"I'm sorry." He sighed.

"What for, it wasn't you're fault, I just had to do what I could to keep the people I lived safe." I explained, "You know it never occurred to me that she was lying and that you were still alive."

"Well, she was kinda twisted like that." He told me.

"You're telling me, we are the same age and we went to school together. She was crazy back then."

"I don't blame you you know?" Jughead told me, grabbing my hand in his. "You were lied to and you thought I was dead."

"Thanks." I smiled.

"So, are you back, for good?" He asked and I shrugged. "Because It'd be really cool if I got to know my mum." He smiled.

"I'd really like it too." A voice caught me of guard. I looked up to see FP stood by the door and Fred was gone.

"When did you get here?" Jughead asked, I looked up at the man who shrugged.

"About the time She told you she loved us." he smirked. I looked up at him and he winked.

"You suck." I told him as he laughed.  

"So, you gonna stay?" FP asked. I shrugged and nodded.

"I think I would. As long as you want me here that is.

"I have no objections." FP smiled. "Jughead?"

"I want to know you....What do I call you?" He asked looking between his dad and I. I shrugged

"Whatever you want I guess."

"Mum?" My eyes widened and I felt my heart skip a beat. I nodded.

"That's gonna take some getting used to huh?" I asked.

"You're telling me." Jughead chuckled.

"FP, Jughead, you guys staying for dinner?" Fred asked as he entered the room. The boys nodded and I smiled.

"You don't get a choice sis. You are staying here." He told me.

"Where am I going to stay?" I asked "You live in a two bedroom house Freddy."

"We have a spare room." Jughead spoke up. "Betty usually stays in my room anyway and..."

"You're welcome to it Y/N." FP added.

"You sure?" I asked.

"I have no objections, Jelly might be a little..."

"Jellybean lives in the basement anyway, she can stay down there is she doesn't like it." Jughead joked as he stood up.

"Great, so, where do you guys live?" I asked. FP and Fred looked at each other and then back at me smiling.

"We live next door." Jughead smiled as he walked out of the room, I'm assuming to tell Betty and Archie about my new living arrangements. . I let out a surprised laugh.

"FP Jones, living in the Northside, the sheriff of Riverdale and not longer the Serpent king, what the hell happened?" I laughed.

"I grew up." He smirked, walking over and sitting by my side.

"Well, I'm just gonna have to fix that." I smiled at him nudging his shoulder with mine making him let out a chuckle.

I let my mind wonder a little, thinking how happy I was gonna be here with Fred, Archie, Jughead and FP.

"What's on your mind?" Fred asked pulling me from my thoughts.

"Just glad to be back home"

"It's good to have you back."

Soft Spot

Request: Yes / no  Can you please please do a sweet pea x reader where the reader struggles with low iron and often gets dizzy spells and weakness. And show how sweet pea takes care of her and maybe there’s an incident where they are riding back to his trailer on his motorcycle and he feels her arms loosen from his waist and she ends up fainting???? Anon

Don’t be shy, request things! <3 Have a nice day/night 

Sweet Pea x Fem!Reader

Word count: 1935

Warnings: Blood and I think that’s it

Y/N: Your Name

Y/F/N: Your Full Name

A/N: There will be a part of Protection I just wanted to finish this since I started it last night!

PLEASE DO NOT STEAL MY WORK, I WORK HARD ON MY FICS AND IT’S NOT COOL TO STEAL SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK!

If you want to be on the tag list for anything (My series fics, specific character fics, or just all of them) All you have to do is send me an ask and I will add you!

Masterlist

(Not my photo, credit to whoever made it!)

I was born with anemia, which means my body doesn’t have enough iron which you need to make hemoglobin. It also means my body can’t get the amount of oxygen it needs. I have to take iron supplements to assist my body. It helps me with headaches and dizziness when I take it but sometimes I get so dizzy and forget to take them. Another symptom of anemia is that my hands and feet are pretty much always cold, my boyfriend got used to it after a while but at first, he hated it. Sometimes I scare him by putting my hands under his shirt and it's so funny to see him shriek and jump since he’s known as a tough bad boy. Speaking of my boyfriend, he always helped with it by having an extra pill bottle on him at all times.

“Sweet Pea!” I called over to my boyfriend from across the bar. We were currently hanging out at the Wyrm and he and Fangs were playing pool while Toni and I were at the bar talking.

“What’s up babe?” He called back.

“You want another drink?”

“Nah, we should leave after this game. It’s getting late!” I nodded and turned back to Toni.

“Wow, ever since you and Sweets started dating he hasn’t been staying out as late anymore.” She said cleaning a glass.

“I don’t know why, my parents let me stay out late.” I said with a shrug.

“I think he’s just worried that you could pass out any second.”

“I guess…” I said looking over at him having fun with Fangs.

“Don’t worry, it just means he cares about you a lot. That’s a first for him since he’s never actually loved a girl before.” I smiled and nodded at her.

“Yeah, I’m ruining his bad boy status.” I said and we both laughed.

An hour later Fangs walked over looking sad because he lost another game against Pea, while Sweets walked over with the biggest smirk on his face. Sweet Pea wrapped his arm around my shoulder and kissed my head.

“Don’t worry dude, I’m sure if I keep taking your money you get better.” Sweets laughed and Fangs glared at him.

“I’m never playing against you again!” Fangs said crossing his arms.

“You say that every time.” Toni said with a smirk and rolled her eyes.

“And you keep playing with him anyway.” I added. Fangs stuck his tongue out and we all laughed.

“Already baby, let’s get you home.” Sweet Pea said gently pulled me off the chair.

“See ya guys.” I said waving at our two friends. Sweet Pea and I got on his bike and he gave me his helmet. I put it on and hugged him from behind tightly. Sweets started the bike and we started to drive to the Northside.

We were halfway to my house when I started feeling weak and dizzy… Black spots started invading my vision and my grip on Sweet Pea’s waist loosened. I slipped off the back as my vision turned completely black…

Sweet Pea’s POV

Halfway to Y/N’s house and I felt her grip on me slipping which made me slow down a bit. I grabbed her hands with one of mine to pull her closer but she slipped out of my hand. I felt an absence of body heat and then a few thud sounds. I quickly stopped the bike and looked back on the road. Y/N was laying there and a trail of blood leading up to her… I ran over to her and rolled her on her back taking the helmet off her. She was still breathing but a shard of glass was in her stomach, it must have been on the road. I took out my phone and quickly called FP.

“Hello?” He answered, there were no loud noises so he must have been outside.

“FP...I need your help!” I said my voice wavering as tears threatened to spill.

“Sweet Pea? What’s wrong?” He asked concerned.

“Y/N...She fell off the back of my bike! I-I guess she didn’t have enough iron today…” I cried.

“Okay, okay calm down. Is she okay?” I heard a car door close and an engine start.

“S-she’s bleeding...a shard of glass was on the road I guess and it’s in her stomach…” My tears fell on her face.

“Okay, where are you?”

“Just over the Northside, hurry please!”

“I’m on my way, I’ll be there in a few minutes.” FP said and hung up. As promised he was here after a few minutes. He helped me put Y/N in the backseat and I got on my bike once she was safely in. We rushed to the hospital and once we got there I picked up Y/N. I rushed her inside and they took her from me once they saw her bleeding. FP called her parents and the two of us waited in the waiting room.

“Where is she? Where’s my baby?” Y/N’s mother cried rushing in with her husband.

“She’s in surgery…” I answered walking up to them.

“This is your fault! I told her not to date some Southside scum because she would get hurt and I was right! You know she passes out and you still take her out on that bike!” Her father shouted at me.

“He saved your daughter’s life!” FP said coming up behind me.

“No...he’s right…” I said stopping FP from saying any more.

“Sir?” A nurse said walking up to me.

“Y/N is out of surgery and awake.” She said smiling at me.

“We’re her parents.” Her father said pushing me out of the way.

“She’s in room 102.” The nurse said and walked away.

“You might as well go home, you are forbidden from seeing my daughter ever again!” Her father growled and walked off with his wife to Y/N’s room.

“Hey, you know she’ll ask for you so just wait it out.” FP said and sat me down.

Y/N’s POV

I had woken up in a hospital room and I was confused, why was I here? And why did my stomach hurt? I sat up and groaned grabbing my side.

“Oh good, you’re awake.” A nurse smiled holding my chart.

“What happened?” I coughed and she handed me a glass of water.

“You’re low on iron, you fainted and fell off the back of a motorcycle and landed on a large shard of glass. Two men brought you in, they’re both very worried.” She answered me with a smile.

“Can I see them?” She smiled and nodded.

“After a few test, I’ll go tell them you’re awake.” She did the test and it was a bit annoying to go through but nothing I could do. Just as promised, once she was done she walked out of the room to go tell Sweet Pea and whoever helped him.

“Oh my darling! You’re okay!” I looked over at the door and saw my parents walk in.

“Mom?”

“We’re so happy you’re okay!” My dad said as my mom hugged me.

“Where’s Sweet Pea?” I asked confused.

“Don’t worry about that scum, you won’t be seeing him again.” My father said annoyed.

“What?” I was so confused.

“Honey, he hurt you. You don’t need to worry about seeing him again.” My mother smiled.

“No he didn’t! Sweet Pea would never hurt me. Where is he? I want to see him!” I demanded.

“Darling don’t get so worked up, we’re just keeping you safe.” My dad said grabbing my hand. I ripped my hand out of his grip and pushed my parents away.

“Either you tell Sweet Pea to come in here or I will get out of this bed and go see him myself.” I said crossing my arms. My parents looked at each other then back at me.

“Sweetie, you need to realize he’s not good for you.” My father said.

“Fine.” I said and started taking out the needle that was in my arm.

“Y/F/N! Stop!” My mother shouted.

“We’ll go get him!” She added and I stopped. The two walked out of the room and a few minutes later Sweet Pea walked in.

“Sweets!” I smiled and he walked up to me and gently engulfed me in a hug.

“Are you okay?” He asked pulling away and looking me over.

“A little sore but I’m okay.” I smiled and cupped his cheek.

“He was really worried.” I looked behind him and FP was standing there with a smile.

“Big tough Sweet Pea, worried about a Northsider?” I teased and FP laughed, Sweet Pea just smiled.

“He was crying and everything.” FP said with a smirk.

“Hey!” Sweet Pea said glaring at him, I laughed and Sweets turned back at me.

“Guess I’m just your soft spot.” I winked.

“You’re definitely his soft underbelly.” FP said and patted his back.

“I’m glad your safe Y/N, but I gotta go.” I smiled and nodded.

“Thanks for helping me.” Sweets said.

“It’s what family does.” FP winked and walked out.

“What happened Y/N?” Pea asked gently caressing my face.

“I guess I just didn’t take enough iron supplements…” I said shrugging.

“I should have kept a better eye on you instead of playing a stupid game of pool…”

“It’s not your fault Pea, it just happens. Some days are worse than others.” I said putting my hand on his cheek. He sighed and I pulled him in for a kiss.

“I’m fine Pea, it was an accident.” I smiled and he gave me a small smile.

It’s been a month since I fell off the back of Pea’s bike and he and my parents wouldn’t let me ride on it anymore so my parents were driving me places or I would walk. Right now I was getting ready to go meet Sweets at his place and was just about to leave when someone knocked on the door. I walked over and opened it and there stood Sweet Pea.

“Hey, I thought we were hanging out at your place?” I asked confused.

“I have a surprise for you.” He smiled.

“Sweetie, who is it?” My father called from the living room.

“It’s Sweet Pea!” I called back then heard footsteps growing closer.

“What are you doing here?” My dad pretty much growled.

“Dad! He is still my boyfriend!” I said annoyed.

“What’s the surprise?” I asked Sweets and he stepped aside. I looked and there in front of my house was a pick-up truck, I looked around for Sweet Pea’s bike but it was nowhere to be seen.

“Is that yours?” I asked confused and he nodded.

“But where’s your bike?” I looked up at him.

“It’s at my place. FP helped me out with getting a truck.” He smiled.

“You bought a truck? Why?”

“Because if you pass out you won’t be able to fall out of a truck.” He said and his smile grew.

“You got a truck just for me?” He nodded.

“Sweet Pea!” I smiled and hugged him.

“You bought a truck just so you could drive my daughter around?” My father asked shocked.

“Yes, sir.”

“Well…” My father said looking at us.

“Have fun then darling.” He said with a smile and I smiled back at him.

“Thank you!” I said happily and hugged my dad.

“Come on! Let’s go!” I said pulling Sweet to his truck. The two of us got in and he started it up.

“Where do you wanna go baby?” He asked.

“Anywhere.” I smiled and we drove off.

Tag list: @les-bio-lie @tashy-bear @blueandgoldaus @staygoldsquatchling02 @wanderlust-and-poetry @hiighdeex3 @blueberry-lipgloss

Southside Showcase day 4: Fox Forest - Camping, Summer Vacations

Joaquin DeSantos + Camping, Joavin fanfic @buggiebreak

"Hey, can I bring someone?" Fangs, Toni and Sweet Pea turned around to eye Joaquin questioningly. They had been discussing their trip to Fox Forest when Joaquin had interrupted them. Sweet Pea was the first to say something, looking seriously puzzled: "Who do you know apart from Serpents?" Fangs and Toni both raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile slowly spreading across their faces. It was Fangs who asked: "So did he call you back?" Joaquin tried to stop himself from grinning madly and failed miserably. He nodded: "Yeah he did." Finally, Sweet Pea seemed to comprehend too: "Is this about Keller?" But the other three ignored him, Joaquin still shifting around nervously and Fangs and Toni both smiling brightly. "That's great! Of course, he can come to the campsite with us!" Toni said.

Joaquin finally looked over to his friends, relief written all over his face. He had dreaded to ask them, fearing that everyone would still be annoyed about Kevin's involvement in the riot against the Serpents. Sure Sweet Pea probably still was, but Joaquin had Fangs and Toni on his side, so Sweet Pea was outnumbered. It warmed Joaquin's heart to see Fangs and Toni looking at him like that, like proud parents, which was weird since he was the oldest of them, but it was also really sweet. He smiled back at them, grateful that his friends had reacted so well to his wish for him and Kevin to get back together. Joaquin had been unsure whether to contact Kevin or not when it had been clear that he would stay in Riverdale. His heart had screamed yes, but his mind had said no. He wanted nothing more than a second chance with Kevin, the boy he was still so hopelessly in love with. But was it fair towards Kevin? From what it looked like Kevin had moved on, and Joaquin didn't want to mess things up for Kevin by contacting him all of a sudden after all those months. Maybe Kevin was better off without him? But Joaquin couldn't stop thinking about him, about their time together, which had been the happiest months of Joaquin's life. And damn he wanted that back! He had picked up his phone a hundred times and typed some text intended for Kevin, but deleted it again before he could press the send button. He had been about to call Kevin countless times but then thrown his phone across the room to stop himself from doing it. In the end, it had been Fangs, who had helped Joaquin make up his mind and convinced him that he should just try his luck and talk to Kevin. "You will run into him anyways. Riverdale isn't that big. Just call him already and tell him everything. You have nothing to lose. Either he will listen and give you a chance, or you'll at least know for sure that you have to move on." And so Joaquin had sat down one evening, grabbed his phone with a shaky hand and called Kevin. His heart had been beating rapidly in his chest, and he had felt sick from worrying too much about the outcome of this phone call. Kevin had picked up after the third ring. "Joaquin?" Joaquin had inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. It had sent a shock through him to hear Kevin's voice again. And his mind screamed: "He still has your contact, he didn't delete it, that's a good sign!" "Yes, it's me. Hi Preppy." They had talked for over an hour, both a bit awkward and shy. Joaquin who usually wasn't the type for a lot of words had been surprised by the amount of words coming out of his mouth. He had talked and talked, telling Kevin everything. The whole truth this time, including all the bad stuff about helping FP with Jason's body, even about FP asking Joaquin to spy on Kevin's dad. And he had said sorry over and over again, not even daring to hope that Kevin would ever forgive him. But still, it had been a relief to say all of that out loud, to finally tell Kevin. Kevin had listened, and once Joaquin was finished, he had thanked him for being so honest. They had ended the call with Kevin promising to think about it and to call Joaquin back if he wanted to give them both another try. The next days had been hell for Joaquin. He had jumped anytime his phone made a sound, had checked excessively whether his phone was working when it hadn't made a noise for a few hours. But luckily on the third day, Kevin had called him back. Joaquin had been exhilarated but tried to stop himself from getting his hopes up too much. Maybe Kevin just called to tell him it was over for good. But that wasn't the case. Kevin said that he forgave Joaquin and that he wanted to give them a second chance. How about they meet up? And Joaquin had just blurted out: "Do you want to come camping with my friends and me?" There had been a short moment of silence, but then Kevin had agreed. And now it was really happening. The Serpents had packed their camping stuff and went to Fox Forest, where they always went camping in the summer, ever since they had been children. Joaquin had been nervous all day, not able to listen to a single word his friends said to him. Thoughts of Kevin running through his mind the whole time. How would Kevin react? Would it be weird to see him again after such a long time? Could they ever get back to being as close as they had been last fall? And how in hell was Joaquin supposed to greet Kevin? Hug him? Kiss him? Just say hi? What did you do in such a situation? He needn't have worried though, because once he saw Kevin, already waiting for them at the campsite, every coherent thought left Joaquin's mind anyway, and he just ran over to Kevin and pulled him into a tight hug. "I missed you so much, Preppy." Kevin hugged him back just as desperately, and for the first time in months, everything felt ok again. "I missed you too." It was so good to hear those words and to feel Kevin in his arms again. They clung to each other, neither wanting to let go first, until Sweet Pea bumped into them, mumbling something about needing help with the tents. Joaquin and Kevin moved apart reluctantly, both smiling. They helped the others prepare the campsite, making sure to place their tents right next to each other. Joaquin was very pleased to see that his friends tried to include Kevin in their little talks, giving him the feeling that he was welcome in their group. They spent the rest of the afternoon at the lake, swimming and lying in the sun, trying to get a tan. Kevin was by Joaquin's side the whole time. It was amazing how quickly they fell back into getting along really well. As if Joaquin had never been away. They still knew exactly what to say, to make the other laugh, still finished each other's sentences and still weren't able to keep from touching the other occasionally, a little brush of hands here, a light hug there. Joaquin was feeling lightheaded, and he guessed it wasn't just from the sun burning down on them. He was looking at Kevin, not able to stop the staring. Kevin hadn't changed since last fall, still every hair in place, still all preppy and still just as beautiful as Joaquin had remembered him. Kevin's eyes met his, and they both grinned knowingly. Joaquin was delighted to see that apparently, Kevin was staring at him just as much. In the evening, when the sun was slowly setting, their little group gathered around the campfire and ate together, sharing stories from their childhood adventures right here at this campsite. Kevin had some stories too because he used to go camping with his family also, though not in Fox Forest. Joaquin had edged closer to Kevin, inch by inch until their shoulders were brushing and he felt like he would die from joy when Kevin finally put a tentative arm around him. They sat like that for hours afterwards, Kevin's arm around Joaquin and Joaquin's head on Kevin's shoulder, listening to their friends' chatter, joining in on the conversation from time to time, but mostly lost in their own thoughts. Joaquin couldn't even remember when he had been this happy the last time. Probably when he and Kevin had still been boyfriends. He wondered what they were now. It was too soon to say he guessed, but he really hoped that they could get back together. But judging from the way Kevin held him, things were looking good. Once it got late, they decided to finally call it a night, getting ready for bed and everyone settled into their tents. Joaquin was lying in the semi-darkness, the light from the fire streaming in through the thin walls of the tent. He couldn't fall asleep, still too high from seeing Kevin again. He was so grateful for his friends to support him, for agreeing to invite Kevin along and for actually being nice to him today. And he was even more grateful for Kevin's willingness to give Joaquin a second chance. He was still deep in thought when a whisper carried to his hear: "Joaquin? Are you still awake?" Joaquin drew in a breath, his heart jumping up into his throat. Kevin! "Yes, I can't sleep." "Me neither. Um, can I come in?" "Of course, Preppy." Joaquin quickly opened the zipper of the tent, letting Kevin in. Kevin crawled into the tent, and they both lay down on Joaquin's mattress. It was strangely intimate to be here next to each other in this tiny space. Though they had spent the whole day within each other's reach and even in each other's arms at the campfire, this was somehow different. Maybe because they were alone now. At first, they just lay there, staring up at the ceiling, not saying a single word. But it was a comfortable silence they shared. Joaquin reached out his hand, searching for Kevin's and took it gently into his. Kevin shifted to his side, looking at him while biting his lip. It was something Joaquin always found so endearing, the lip biting. Kevin always did it, when he was about to say something daring. And Joaquin was right, it didn't take long for Kevin to speak up: "Thank you for inviting me. It's really nice to be here with you." Kevin's gaze shifted nervously from Joaquin's face to the mattress. He hesitated for a moment, but then added softly: "I just wanted to tell you that I never stopped thinking about you when you were away. I was so close to calling you several times. I missed you like crazy. Thank you so much for coming back to me." Joaquin had to blink several times, his mind not quite ready to take in what Kevin had just said. But his heart was already beating rapidly, understanding full well what his mind hadn't caught up to yet. Kevin was looking at him with big eyes, and Joaquin realized that he should probably say something in return. But he was overwhelmed, not knowing what to say, and so he just moved a bit closer and did the only thing that made sense right now: He kissed Kevin. And Kevin kissed him back without the slightest hesitation. They pulled apart after several minutes, both a bit breathless and grinning broadly. And Joaquin finally found his voice again: "Thank you for taking me back! And um Preppy...the last time you were the one to ask it, now it's my turn I think. So...do you want to be my boyfriend, again?" Now Joaquin was the one biting his lip, as he was waiting for Kevin's answer. Luckily he didn't have to wait for long. Kevin let out a quiet little laugh, before whispering: "Always."

This is my first fanfic. Usually, I just write down my headcanons in a few sentences and that’s it. So I am a bit nervous about posting something longer. I would really appreciate it if you let me know, whether you like it or if I should rather stick to my little headcanons. Thank you ❤

HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY TO MY WIFE AND PARTNER, @penelopeblosscm

This is probably crap and it went every which way. So many ways I didn’t think it would… but it’s all for you, Alexa. Enjoy.

I swear this is the one thing that probably won’t make you cry. 

whole thing under the cut or read on AO3 or ff.net

“Hal’s drunk,” Mary hisses in her ear.

Alice shrugs her shoulders up so Mary will take a step back. Her eyes dart quickly to the boy on her other side. His thumb is tucked into the waistband of her leather skirt and she’s torn between wanting him to dip it a little lower and wanting him to let go of her. They’ve been at the party all of thirty seconds and he somehow has a beer in his other hand already. Mary’s hiss was low compared to the music blasting, but FP’s ears still perk up. He turns to Mary.

“Oh thank God,” he shouts, each word a little louder than the last. He takes a long pull off his red cup before offering to her. She declines. “Coop is at his best when he’s plastered.”

He nudges Fred with his elbow, but Fred’s face stays stony. He has the same expression on he’s been wearing for the past six weeks now and Alice still isn’t sure who’s it’s more directed at - her or FP. He lets out a noise of acknowledgment, but doesn’t say a word. His lips are pursed in a very un-Fred like way and it creeps Alice out.

“You think I can get him to jump off the garage again?” FP asks. He downs the rest of his beer and starts looking around the room. “He could probably make it to the pool from there, right? He did it at -”

“Stop it.” Alice startles herself when she realizes the words came out of her own mouth. “Just stop. Don’t start anything tonight?”

FP looks down at her, amusement dropping from his face. “When do I ever start shit?” He rubs his thumb along her bare skin so she knows he’s just messing around, but she doesn’t like it. The action is far too intimate and it makes her skin crawl with goosebumps. Not in the way it was supposed to.  He digs his thumb out of her waistband when he sees her discomfort, but keeps his hand where it is. “You okay?”

She combs her long hair back with her finger and walks into Mary. “Maybe I do need a drink.”

He tilts his cup at her. “Grab me another beer too while you’re at it, babe.”

“Not your babe.” She grabs Mary by the arm and walks away without taking his cup.

“Hey.” FP grabs her arm and spins her back around. Alice lets go of Mary and glares at him. “What’s eating you?” She shrugs. “For real. What’s with you?”

“Nothing. Jesus.” She runs her hand through her hair. “I just don’t want to sit through a night of you being an asshole, that’s all.”

“Christ, Allie. It was a joke. Don’t get so bent out of shape. You want me to leave Coop alone, I’ll -”

“Don’t call him that!” Her voice comes out too loud and she gets a few looks. She grits her teeth. “You know his name, FP,” she says much calmer. “Don’t be a dick.”

His face drops. “I’m sorry, okay? I won’t mess with Hal. Can we just have a good time?”

Alice’s eyes dart to Fred and Mary, still standing right behind FP. Neither tries to hide their eavesdropping or disappointment. Alice wraps her arms around herself.

“Yeah, sure.” She forces a smile. “A good time.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Fred lets out a harsh laugh and shakes his head. “Mary, you mind taking these two home later? I think I’m heading out.”

Mary pouts. “You guys just got here.”

“Yep. And I’m already sick of being here. You’re a pal, Mare.”

Fred shoves his way between Alice and FP, forcing them to jump out of his way. He storms off towards the door and FP shoots Alice a curious look. She shrugs and takes off after him, FP on her heels.

“Fred!” she yells as he walks down Rick Mantle’s front lawn. Cars are parked haphazardly all down Miller Street and Alice gets an ache noticing Hal’s is right in front. Leave it to him to get to a party early. What was he even doing here by himself?

“Stop following me!” Fred yells over his shoulder. “I’m not talking to you guys!”

“What’s your problem?” Alice yells after him. She’s feeling a million emotions and the last thing she needs to add on top of her list of worries is Fred being mad at her. “You’re acting like a child!”

Fred stops his pace just as they get to the edge of the yard. He turns around and nearly runs right into FP. His lip pouts out as he shakes his finger at Alice. The only light comes from a streetlamp some twenty feet away, but Alice can still make out the tears glistening in his eyes.

“A child?” Fred asks, his voice cracking. “Are you fucking kidding me? You!” He points to Alice. “And you!” And then to FP. “You two are the fucking children here.”

“Freddy.” FP puts his hand on Fred’s shoulder and Fred smacks him away. “What’s going on with you?”

Fred lets out a laugh and throws both of his hands in his hair. “What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong? Now you ask?”

“Come on, man.” FP throws his arm over Fred’s shoulder. Fred tries to shove him away, but FP doesn’t budge. Just takes a few steps closer until they’re right in front of Alice. “Talk to us.”

Alice kicks her feet in the dirt uncomfortably. She feels all too much like they’re freshman again and Fred is feeling like a third wheel.

“Is this about Hermione?” FP finally asks. “Because if you’re really -”

“My dad is sick,” Fred blurts out. “My dad is sick and you two don’t even care.”

The sinking feeling returns to Alice’s stomach. “I mean, when you said sick we thought you meant -”

“Thought I meant what, Alice?” Fred shrugs FP off of him and crosses his arms. “That he had a cold? The fucking flu? No. You two didn’t even ask. Ever since we got back from spring break everything has been a fucking wreck.” He runs his hands through his hair. “He has cancer and it’s bad and neither of you have even asked about him since I told you.” Fred points at the house. “Mary there? She’s visited him three times already. And you two? Jesus. Last time I said I was feeling down you asked me if it was about Hermione!”

FP shoves his hands in his pockets. “I’m so sorry, Freddy. We’re sorry. We’ve just been -”

“Been what? Busy?” FP shrugs. “Busy ruining both of your lives, that’s what? Fucking around? Running with a gang? Fucking each other?”

Alice’s face grows red. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Fred shakes his head. “You two are a disaster together. Disaster. You don’t… you’re too goddamn similar. I love you guys, but you don’t work together. Alice, you’re only falling back on FP for comfort because you broke up with Hal over something stupid and you’re too proud to apologise. And FP, you’re only messing around with Alice because you’re afraid to commit to anyone else. Even when you could have your pick of the goddamn litter. Someone right - you’re both idiots.” He gestures between them. “Are you guys a couple? Are you dating?”

FP looks to her and she shrugs, eyes falling back to the ground.

“You guys don’t even know! That’s amazing. Thanks for proving my point.” Fred reaches into his pocket and pulls out the keys to the Volkswagen. “I’m leaving. I don’t need friends like you two, okay?”

“Freddy.” FP reaches out for him. Something flashes through Fred’s face and Alice is unsure if he’s going to cry or throw a punch.

He cries.

Fred collapses in FP’s arms. His weight takes FP by surprise and they both end up on their knees on the Mantle’s front lawn. Alice takes the few steps to them and throws herself onto Fred’s back. She meets FP’s eyes and he’s holding back tears too.

“I’m so sorry, Fred,” she whispers into the back of his head. “We’re shit friends.”

Fred lets out a wet snort. “You guys really are.”

“We’re the fucking worst,” FP agrees. He rocks Fred back and forth until his sobs turn into a chuckle. “You should trade us in for Hermione and Hiram. They’d probably be better friends than us.”

He lets out a real laugh that time. “How? Hermione still hasn’t talked to me or Hiram since the cabin.”

All three of them laugh at that. They sit there for a few moments. Three friends in a messy, wet hug on a classmate’s front lawn. No newcomers to the party pay them much mind. Dogpile on a front lawn was typical Saturday night behavior.

“I’m sorry I called you guys a disaster,” Fred finally says as he wipes his face clean. “If you guys are happy together, that’s your own business.”

Alice meets FP’s eyes. He has on his brave face - the same one she’s been able to read since they were kids - but his eyes are sad. He gives her a nod anyway and turns to Fred.

“We’re not together, Fred,” he says clapping him on the back. “In fact, I think Alice wants to go work things out with Coop. I mean,” he shoots her a smile through his hurt eyes, “Hal. She wants to go work things out with Hal.”

Alice bites the inside of her cheek. “I do?”

“Of course you do, Allie. You’re kind of a miserable bitch when you don’t have him to boss around.”

Fred howls at that one. “He’s not wrong.”

Alice picks up a small rock from the grass and flips it in her hands. “I don’t know. Hal’s been hanging around Penelope lately. I figured she was trying to move in on him.” She sighs with her entire body. “She’s probably here with him right now. He’d never come to a party alone.”

“Oh please.” FP lets out a hearty laugh. “Like that redheaded prude holds a candle to Alice fucking Smith?”

“As if Hal has ever looked at another girl besides you?” Fred asks. He gives her shoulder a playful punch. “Do you need our help, Alice?”

“I mean.” She finally looks up from her rock. “Would you guys?”

“Anything,” FP says earnestly. “We’ll do anything.”

“And tomorrow, we’ll come over, Fred,” she says. “We’ll see your dad. I swear.”

Fred wraps an arm around either of them. “Three musketeers. Lets do this.”

The room is spinning and Hal just wants to be home.

“Here. I brought you another beer.” Penelope presses a red plastic cup into his hand. She smiles brightly at him and he feels a pang in his chest. “You look like you can use a refill.”

“Thanks,” he mutters, taking it from her. He squeezes it a little too hard and a bit sloshes to the floor of the Mantle’s kitchen. “Fuck.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll grab some paper towels.” Penelope flounces away and Hiram clicks his teeth from two feet away. He places his hand delicately on Hal’s back.

“I think you’ve had enough, pal.” Hiram wraps his free hand around the brim of the cup and pulls, but Hal doesn’t let go. He raises it to his lips and gulps half the cup before taking another breath. Hiram tuts.

“How many is that now? Six? You’re going to be sick.”

“You’re the one who always tells me to loosen up. Have a good time.”

Hiram cranes his neck and looks out the kitchen door. “Well shit. I think any chance of you having a good time tonight just walked through the door.”

Hal gulps. “Who is it? Alice?”

“Don’t look, but -” Hal spins around, sloshing more beer to the tiled floor. “Real smooth. I said don’t look.”

He sees a flash of Alice’s curly blonde hair before it disappears past the doorway.

“She’s terrible,” Hiram insists, clapping his friend on the back again. “You don’t need a girl who’ll treat you that way. Cut your losses and run.”

“I can’t.” Hal pulls from his cup again, not even knowing how it’s nearly empty already. “You don’t understand.”

Hiram turns Hal around and puts a hand on either of his shoulders. He squeezes him gently, looking him straight in the eye.

“No, Hal. I don’t understand.” Hal’s eyes wander to the ground and Hiram gives him a little shake so he looks back at him. “Explain it to me?”

“I love her.”

The answer is so simple. So quick. Hiram gives him a look like he’s about to smack him, but instead he just sighs and loosens his grip on Hal a bit. He feeds him a sad smile.

“I know you love her, man. I know that. But I’m your friend and I need to be honest with you.” His eyes back to the doorway, as if Alice was going to pop back up. “I don’t think she loves you anymore. I think you need to move on.”

“I can’t. Alice is amazing. I love her, Hiram. Love her. She’s smart. Fearless. Talented. Not to mention the prettiest girl in school by miles.”

“Who’s the prettiest girl in school?”

Hiram jumps at the voice. Penelope’s back holding a brand new roll of paper towels, eyeing Hiram’s grip suspiciously. Hal notes the smile Hiram forces. He always told him Penelope wasn’t the ideal girl he had in mind for him. But, he assured him, if he had to get on top of one girl to get over another, might as well be her.

Hal had no interest in getting on top of another girl. Or getting over Alice.

“You of course, Penelope.” Hiram adjusts his grip and slings his arm over Hal’s shoulders. “Hal was just telling me how pretty he thinks you are.”

Penelope’s face flushes. “Oh? I don’t know. There are probably prettier out there.” She fiddles the roll of paper towels in her hand. “Do you really think that, Hal?”

Hal’s face falls, as well as the pit of his stomach. “Sure, Pen. Of course you’re pretty.”

“Thanks,” she says softly. She presses her lips together for a moment as she looks at him. Her eyes go back to the ground. “Oh, the beer. Let me.” Penelope starts unrolling paper towels and Hal takes them from her.

“I’ve got it. I made the mess.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

Hal doesn’t feel like getting to the floor, but once he’s down there it seems like a comfortable place to be. The room spins less from lower down.

“Penelope!” he hears a familiar voice call. “Are you in my history class?”

FP approaches them. Hal quickly looks up at Penelope and sees the sour look across her face. He’s hidden by the kitchen island and hopes FP doesn’t notice him.

“Depends.” Penelope crosses her arms over her chest. “Are you ever actually in class?”

Hiram kicks him lightly. When he looks up at him, he’s jutting his head towards the kitchen door.

“I’ll distract him,” Hiram mouths. “Go.”

He gives Hiram a thumbs up and abandons the spilled beer and wad of paper towels. Hiram hops on a stool and leans across the kitchen island.

“Hey, FP,” he says brightly, cutting Penelope off. “You know where I can score some coke? Alice around?”

Hal lets out a groan as he crawls away from them. Good old Hiram. Always well intentioned, even if incredibly misdirected.

“Hal!” A pair of beat up Converses greet him once he passes through the kitchen door. He looks up to see Fred grinning down at him. “What the hell are you doing down there?”

Hal sits back on his knees. “I dunno. Escaping. Also,” he closes his eyes, “ I drank a lot and I just don’t feel great.”

Fred takes his arm and gives him a pull. Fred’s not remotely strong enough to move him, but Hal gets up on his own away. He stumbles a bit and Fred grabs him.

“You know what you need, man?” Fred asks. “To lie down. Let me take you upstairs.”

Hal starts laughing. “Are you trying to seduce me, Fred?”

“You wish.”

Fred leads Him up the stairs, one hand on the small of his back, the other holding his arm.

“One at a time, bud. One at a time. Left foot, right foot. Left foot, right foot. Left foot, right -”

“Shut up,” Hal mutters. “You’re not even saying it in tune to our steps. How the hell do you have a band?”

Hal knows the words came out meaner than he intended, but Fred just laughs again.

“Since when are you a mean drunk?”

“I’m not drunk. I’m just really tired.”

“You’re really tired because you drank half a keg, dummy.”

They get to the top of the landing and Hal tries to pull his arm away from Fred, to no avail.

“I didn’t drink half a keg. Don’t be stupid.” He trips on the plush carpeting of the Mantle’s second floor and is thankful for a moment Fred hasn’t let him squirm away yet. “We’re drinking out of 16 ounce cups. There are 15 and a half gallons in a keg, which would be just under 2000 ounces. That’s roughly 125 beers. Half of -”

Fred pulls him to a stop and spins him around. Instead of grabbing his shoulders like Hiram, he grabs him firmly by each arm and shakes him. “Stop doing math! You’re drunk! Who does math when they’re drunk?”

Hal’s turning a lovely shade of green and Fred lets up with the shaking. His head wobbles a bit before stopping with the rest of his body.

“Was I right?” he finally asks.

Fred sighs. “The fuck if I know. I can hardly handle math as it is. Come on.” He takes Hal by the arm and starts leading him down the hallway. “Do you need to hurl?”

Hal grimances. “No. God, don’t talk like that. Then I’ll start thinking about it.” Hal covers his mouth with his arm and talks through it. “And if I think about it, I might have to do it.”

“We can stop by the bathroom if you have to.”

He shakes his head. “I just need to lie down.”

“No time for that. You’re a man on a mission.”

“I’m a what?” He uncovers his mouth as Fred examines a closed door.

“Don’t worry about it. You’ll find out soon enough.” Fred tilts his head at the door and finally shrugs. “This must be it.” He places his hand on Hal’s back again and turns the handle. “Good luck.”

“Good luck?” He takes a step towards the open doorway. It’s dark, cluttered. A closet. “Fred, what are you -”

Fred gives him one good shove and he stumbles into the closet. He reaches quickly behind him to grab the door, but Fred pulls it closed before he can. The light clicks on and when he spins back around, the pull-string from the overhead light dangles right in front of his face, making him dizzy. He closes his eyes and takes a step back so he’s up against the door, the knob digging into the small of his back.

“You miss me?” a voice asks softly. He knows its her before he even opens his eyes again. Her vanilla perfume fills the small room. It’s the cheap kind of perfume that comes from Riverdale Drugs and not Spiffy’s Department Store. She won’t let him buy her the real stuff and he learned not to fight it. “Hal?”

His eyes stay shut and he doesn’t let up until he feels her hand on his cheek. He opens one eye slowly and there she is in all her glory. Loose hair and leather skirt and white tank top. Wearing the earrings he got her for their anniversary.

Her voice is flirty, playful. Every kind of wrong for the situation. “You’re not dreaming, tiger.”

He tries to scoff, but it comes out more as a sputter. “Of course I’m not dreaming, Alice.” He wants to brush her hand away but he misses the feel of her hands on him. “Fred just shoved me in here.”

“Hal,” she whispers. She runs her hands around his neck and links them. Something in the act reminds him of Penelope in the front seat of his car last weekend and he tries his hardest to shake the thought out of his head. “Don’t be like this.” He turns his head away and fixes his eyes on a battered Candyland box on one of the shelves. “Didn’t you miss me, babe?”

“What are you doing, Alice?” he asks flatly.

Alice tugs his head down, but he keeps his neck straight. The closet is dim, but her blue eyes are shining. “I missed you, Hal.” She goes on her tiptoes so her mouth is hardly an inch from his. Her breath smells like cigarettes and spearmint chewing gum and just a little bit like lies. She moves closer and closer until it feels like she’s sucking the breath right out of him. “Tell me you miss me.”

He opens his mouth to tell her something - that he misses her, hates her, loves her, doesn’t know how to forgive her - but she closes the gap before he has a chance. Her lips meet his and he’s lost to her again.

Part of him wishes he hadn’t drank so much. Another part of him knows the lightheadedness has nothing to do with the beer and everything to do with the girl in front of him.

His hands fall to her waist. Her skirt is leather, so instead of pulling her in by the belt loops, he digs his nails into her and draws her against his body. She moans into his mouth in response, moving her hands from his neck to cup his face. Her holding him like that again is almost enough to make him forget what’s happened. Make him apologize to her even though she was the one who -

“No,” he says as he breaks apart from her and lets go of her hips. She grinds against his body and he’s embarrassed he’s already growing hard. She laughs and grabs his belt.

“Come on, Hal. You never say no to me.”

He puts his hands on her shoulders and presses her away. “No, Alice.”

She doesn’t fight against him. Just takes a step back and slumps her shoulders, mouth slack. “Why?”

“Why?” His laugh comes out like a bark. He steps away from the door and almost misses the pain of the doorknob against his back. “Are you serious? Why? How about because you’re here with your new boyfriend, huh? Or because he’d gladly use this as an excuse to kick my ass if he caught us together.” He buries his face in his hands. “Oh god, is that what this is? Fred shoves me in here and FP is going to come save you, right? All just some big set up to make me look like a fool. Like the bad guy.”

“Shut up.” He picks up his head. Alice’s arms are crossed and her features hardening. “Like you weren’t just downstairs with Penelope? You think I haven’t noticed her hanging all over you lately?”

“I knew you were doing a shitty job ignoring me.”

“You come here with her?”

“I gave her a ride, but -”

“So what, you’re dating Penelope fucking Bennet now?”

“I’m not dating Penelope!” He sighs and leans against a stack of plastic storage containers labeled XMAS. They were just level to sit on, but he didn’t want to take the chance of collapsing them. “She’s just a friend.”

“Hiram is just your friend. What the fuck do you need Penelope for?”

“She’s a good friend.”

“Ah. Well that makes sense because Hiram definitely isn’t a good friend. He’s the one who asked me to come to this stupid party because his stash is dry. And maybe to get you all riled up.”

“Is this why you wanted to get me alone? To belittle my friends? I can’t be happy because I’m not with you?”

She stiffens. “Are you? Happy I mean?” He shakes his head. “So what are you?”

“I’m fucking miserable without you, Alice,” he whispers. “Six weeks. You haven’t spoken to me for six whole weeks and I’m about to go out of my mind. It’s sick. It’s like I’m obsessed with you. You’re the first thing that pops into my head every morning and the last thing I think about when I go to sleep. Everytime I see you at school, I pray that it’s the day you’ll finally come back to me. The day you’ll apologize and -”

“Apologize?” Alice spits the word out like it left a bad taste in her mouth. She steps closer to him and waves her finger in his face. “You listen here. I am not apologizing.” Hal opens his mouth and she presses her finger to his. “And I’m not asking you to either,” she says softer. “No apologies. Isn’t love never having to say you’re sorry?”

“You hate that movie,” he mutters against her finger.

“But it’s true. We don’t need to talk about any of this. Not about that stupid article, not about anything. It’s over, it’s done. I don’t want to sit here and spill my guts and cry, okay? Not in a closet and especially not at Rick fucking Mantle’s party.”

“Alice.” She presses her finger harder against his lips and he finally takes her hand and pulls it away from his face. He holds her right hand in both of his and she stares down at their hands together until he speaks. “I want to talk about this. Get it out in the open. We don’t have to say sorry if that’s what you want, but we have to clear the air at least.”

“Babe,” she whispers and steps closer to him. She pulls her hand out of his grasp and touches his face again. He relaxes at her touch. “We don’t need this big show of everything, okay?” She presses her lips to his neck and watches as Hal lets his head rolls back, throaty sigh escaping him. Her teeth lightly dig into his skin and she presses against him with her body. “Just let me make you feel good,” she says against the collar of his polo shirt. She drops to her knees, hitting the carpet just a bit harder than she intended to. He catches her hand just as she’s unfastening his belt and, with one swift motion,  grabs her under her arms and pulls her to her feet.

“Hal!” she says too loudly, ruining any chance of setting a mood. “What the hell?”

He shakes his head. “God Alice. You’ll do anything to get out of saying sorry, huh?”

“Okay, Hal.” Anger seeps into her voice. “I am so sorry that you don’t want a blow job. Forgive me, please, for trying to do something nice for you.” She runs her hands through her hair. “What’s wrong with you? What kind of guy prefers an apology to getting their dick -”

“I do, okay? Is that so wrong?”

“It’s weird as hell. Why can’t this be enough for you? Why aren’t I enough for you?”

“You’re not enough for me? Are you kidding? You’re the one who broke up with me, Alice. You’re the one who wanted out of this relationship. The one who had a new boyfriend the next day!”

“I did not have a new boyfriend!”

“Fine!” Both their faces are red, flushed, their breathing far too heavy. “You got your old boyfriend back the next day. Is that better?”

“FP is not my boyfriend! He has never been my -”

“So what is he? Fuck buddy? Don’t even lie and tell me you’re not sleeping with him. I’ve seen you two around. Kissing. Holding hands.”

“Holding hands! How fucking romantic.” She presses her lips into a scowl. “FP is grandfathered in, okay? And you know what? I don’t need to explain jack shit to you. I wasn’t cheating on you. We weren’t together.”

Hal exhales through his nose. “Fine. You’re right. You broke up with me and got back together with him. None of my business.”

“I’m not with him!”

“You looked awfully cozy walking into the party together. And at school every goddamn day.”

Alice opens and closes her mouth a few times before the right words come to her. “Fine. We were having sex, but we’re not dating. Not by a long shot, okay? We’re not together.”

“Does he know that?”

She nods. “He does now. I made that clear. He was just there for me, you know?”

“No, I don’t know,” he whispers. His eyes travel back to the Candyland box on the shelf. “Because I’m supposed to be the one who’s there for you, but you dropped me. Said you never wanted to talk to me again.”

“Hal, I -”

“I’m sorry, Alice.” His eyes drop from Candyland and meet her blue eyes. “I am so sorry my dad wrote that article. He had no right. And my mom she, well she went along with it I guess. I can’t say I’m sorry enough for all of that. But you know I had nothing to do with it. I would have done everything in my power to stop them if i knew. Anything.” He looks down at his shoes. “You need to believe that, because the worst part of all of this, the very worst part, is the part where you really think I’d knowingly let any harm come to you, you know that? My dad slid a copy of that article under my door the morning it was printed. And by then half of Riverdale had already seen it. What was I supposed to do? Go back in time and -”

She grabs his face and cuts him off again with a kiss. Just as he makes to to pull back, she breaks away, still cupping his face.

“I’m sorry, Hal.” She keeps her nose lightly pressed against his. They breathe the same air again. “Okay? I am sorry. I don’t know how else to say it or do it, okay? So I’m just… I’m sorry. I know you had nothing to do with it and I shouldn’t have cut you out like that.”

“Uh huh.” The room - the closet - is spinning again and Hal knows this time it has nothing to do with drinking beer and everything to do with drinking her in. His hands find her hips again and he digs his nails into her. “That was all I wanted to hear.”

She strokes his cheek as their lips meet again. Quick this time. Hot. Fast. She coaxes his mouth open with her tongue and he knows his face is already stained by her lipstick.

For the second time, Penelope pops into his head. Last weekend. Her wiping her lipstick off his mouth with a pleased grin.

He brushes the guilt away and remembers the girl in front of him. The girl that makes him feel a way Penelope never could.

He runs his hands down her hips and picks her up. She breaks their kiss to let out a little squeal as he spins her around and sits her down on the plastic containers of Christmas decorations. They shift slightly, but stay put. Alice doesn’t weigh a hundred pounds soak and wet.

Alice grabs his collar and pulls him back in again, wrapping her legs around his midsection until her Doc Martens hit each other behind him. He leans his body against her as their faces meet. He rests his hands on her bare knees, happy she opted out of wearing jeans or fishnets, and slowly runs them up her thighs. She nods against him, letting go of his collar. He groans as he reaches the hem of her skirt.

“Fuck,” Hal mutters against her lips. She kisses him in between his words and her hands fall to his waist. “I don’t have anything on me.”

“Hmm?” Her hand snakes around to his back pockets.

“I don’t have a condom.”

She stops kissing him and laughs, rubbing her nose against him. “Course you do, dummy. You’re a goddamn boy scout.” She pulls his wallet out and flashes it open. “You always have one. See, right -”

“Alice!”

He reaches for his back pocket even though his wallet is clear as day in her hands. She unlinks her legs from them as she stares inside it. She flips through the cash and feels behind his license before looking back up at him.

“Who?” It’s only one word, but there is so much fire in her eyes, Hal takes a step back. “I asked you a question, Hal.”

“Alice, I didn’t -”

“Bullshit!” She closes the wallet and hits it against his chest hard. He grabs it before he falls to the floor and fumbles putting it back in his pocket. When he looks back at her, she has her face buried in her hands, her legs dangling off the stack of storage containers. “It was Penelope, wasn’t it?”

“Penelope and I -”

Angry tears are brimming in her eyes as she looks up at him. “Aren’t we past lying? The least you could do is be honest with me.”

Penelope flashes in his mind. How she kissed him in his car last weekend. How she climbed into his lap and whispered in his ear that she knew ways to make him feel better. That she didn’t mind, not for him. How maybe - just maybe - he considered it for a moment. And how glad he was that he tossed the condom in his wallet days earlier because it made him think of Alice whenever he looked at it.

How he dropped her off at home and she wiped the lipstick off his face and maybe she looked just a little let down, but didn’t say anything. He went home and felt like crap that he’d even considered taking advantage of a friend like that.

“God, I bet she was a virgin too, wasn’t she?” Alice’s voice brings him back to the present. Her arms are crossed and she’s glaring at him. “Was it worth it? Ruining what we had to pop that stuck-up bitch’s cherry? I always thought you were different, but you’re not.” She shakes her head and glares at him. “Just like every other guy, looking for a place to stick your dick.”

Hal puts his hands back on her knees and leans into her. Alice gasps at the action, but stops talking.

“Does it matter if I slept with her?” he asks. He hates lying, but he hates the double standard she sets even more.

“Of course it matters.”

“Why?” He leans in so their faces are only an inch apart and she slowly opens her legs so he can step closer to her. “We were broken up. Nothing either of us did was cheating, right?”

Her eyes go to the ceiling.. “I guess so.”

“No Alice. If I did wrong by sleeping with Penelope, you did wrong by sleeping with FP. There’s no difference. Okay?” Alice shrugs. Hal takes her chin in his hand and slowly tilts it down so they’re looking each other in the eyes. “Okay?”

Her bottom lip pouts out, but she nods. “Okay,” she says softly. “Okay. You slept with Penelope. That’s fine. That’s - that’s not my business. I mean, I wish you didn’t.” Her voice cracks at the end a tear rolls down her cheek.

“Hey,” he whispers. He wipes the tear away and pulls her into a hug. He considers telling her he’s lying. That maybe they almost, but they didn’t. They definitely didn’t. And maybe he thought about it, but he wouldn’t. Couldn’t. Not with a girl he didn’t think about that way. Even if she did offer. The words are on the tip of his tongue, itching to come out. To apologize for lying to her for even a minute.

But she sniffles against his chest and pulls back. She lets out a long breath and combs her hair away from her face. She forces a smile.

“This is okay. I’m not upset.” She puts her arms on his shoulders and pulls him against her. Her legs wrap around him again. “We’re even now. This is good. A little part of me always felt guilty I took your virginity. But now you have more experience and you don’t have to worry about only sleeping with one girl your whole life.”

“I never worried about that.” He kisses her as the words sink in. “Wait, whole life?”

She nods. Her hands slink around to the back of his neck and she runs her fingers through his short hair. “I’m not ruining things with you again, okay? You’re stuck with me.”

The smile that breaks out takes up most of his face. “Good. Good.”

“Lets pick up where he left off.” Her eyes dart down and he places his hands on her knees again with a sigh.

“We don’t have a condom.”

“Has that ever stopped us before?” Her voice is playful again. Flirty. She pushes his hands up until they’re at the hem of her skirt. He bites his lip. “Come on, Hal. I’m your girlfriend. I trust you. Plus,” she gives his hands another push and they make their way under her skirt, “we get to cross another house off our bucket list.”

Fifteen minutes later, they sneak back downstairs, hand in hand. Both disheveled with the faint stain of Alice’s lipstick on both of their mouths, they sneak from room to room, looking for one redhead and hoping not to run into another.

“Mary!” Alice yells as they find her in the basement with Hermione playing pool. Mary is bent over the table setting up her shot as Alice jumps on her back and hugs her. “I need Hal’s keys.”

She shoves Alice off without looking at her. “Not a chance.” She lines up her shot again as Hermione gives them a curious look.

“Mare,” Hermione says. Mary looks up and follows her gaze. Alice beams brightly as Hal looks sheepishly away. “What do we have here? Has the golden couple worked out their problems?”

Alice rolls her eyes but the smile doesn’t fade. She extends her open palm to Mary. “Keys please.”

“Hal?” Mary’s eyes don’t leave Alice. “You can’t drive.”

“Alice is driving.”

“I’m driving, Mary.”

Mary’s lips purse as she looks between the two of them. “You guys good? Like actually good?”

“Like Alice isn’t going to drive you guys into Sweetwater River, is she?” Hermione chimes in.

“We’re good, Mary,” Hal insists. “Great really.”

Hermione nudges Mary with her shoulder. “They totally just fucked.”

Mary rolls her eyes as she digs into the pockets of her shorts. “I’m not blind.”

Hal’s mouth falls open as he looks between the two girls. Hermione gestures to his mouth.

“You’re covered in lipstick, dummy. Better get out of here before someone else sees you.”

Mary pulls back the keys just as Alice is about to grab them. “Hal. I know you’ve already told Penelope you’re leaving without her, right?”

Hal looks down at his feet. “Actually, I was wondering if you could.”

“Hal!”

He sighs and meets Mary’s eyes. “Just give her a ride home? Tell her I had an emergency or something. I’ll call her tomorrow and explain. I swear.”

Alice snatches the keys from Mary. “Unless I should go tell her?”

“That would be cruel and you know it.” Mary sighs. “Fine. I’ll take her home. But don’t say I’ve never done you any favors.”

Alice links her arm through Hal’s and pulls him away. “We have the best friends.”

In With The Night

Pairing: Jughead / reader Word Count: 7,464 (sorry it’s long) Warnings: mentions of alcohol and blood, nsfw Summery: You opt against attending one of Betty’s parties, only to wake up to Jughead at your window. You’d be annoyed if he wasn’t drunk and bloodied up. You trust each other but aren’t sure how to handle the situation. Will drunken secrets come out? Will dicks come out? The answer is almost for sure yes. Song for the mood: Me -The 1975 A/N: this is the first fic i’ve writen in a while, i always appreciate feedback and suggestions, or requests, if you have them  ❤️ ❤️

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The school year had started and was progressing as normal. Annoying tests and jocks. Not so annoying mall visits and sneaking out with friends. It was your second year at Riverdale high school and you were still adjusting to things a bit. There wasn’t a whole lot to do in there, but you always found a way to bide your time, and somehow narrowly avoid trouble. Being adopted by Jugheads group of friends really had its perks. And after more than a few parties you’d gotten a good idea of the social order here. You spent most either alongside Veronica, smashed and dancing, playing some dumb party game, or huddled off in some corner or the back yard with Jughead, when he showed up. In fact, a party is what you and Betty had just gotten into your first scrap over. 

Your parents and hers had gone out of town on the same weekend and she wanted to have a party at your house for a change. You were too nervous, it was early in the year and you’d only had a few parties before. Betty threw a party at her house instead, but you could tell she wasn’t very happy about it. You didn’t feel super welcome and you were pretty tired when the time came, so you decided against going. You sent Jughead a text telling him this, since you wouldn’t be there to sit in a corner and made fun of people with him.

You were tired from a week of tests, and decided to call it an early night, passing out around 8. Your phone was silent on your nightstand. The next thing you knew, you were having this dream. It was summer again and it was just you and Jughead. Just the way you liked it, no stress, alone together. You were by the river, a place you hadn’t been to since you first got there. After the discovery of Jason's body, everyone silently avoided it and opted for pools instead. You and Jughead came down the path from the woods. He playfully jogged out in front of you towards the rivers edge. Slipping his jacket and shirt off leaving a trail of clothes behind him He slowly turned around to you.

“C’mon.” He beckoned, his hands slowly moving towards his jeans. His first button undone, and then, there was a bang. And another one. You snapped awake, your face hot with a blush and you had to catch your breath for a second. Embarrassed in the dark until another small noise came from the other side of the room. You realized it was Jughead tapping on your window. As you got up you checked your phone for the time. It was nearly 3 a.m. and you had 5 texts and 2 missed calls from Jughead. You felt awful. On your way to the window you put on the pajama shorts you’d discarded by your bed. You tried to gather your thoughts still heavy with sleep as you opened the window.

“You know you could have used the front door, my parents are gone.” You said, half helping Jughead climb in. In with him came the cool night air and on it was the scent of alcohol.

“Y-Yeah, I know, I guess, I just...forgot.” He said, stepping in with little grace. He leaned on you and you realized he reeked of alcohol. You closed the screen. As you helped him to your bed you couldn’t help but notice his slight limp. He sat down at the edge of your bed and you joined him. You glanced at his legs for an answer, and found it with the holes in his jeans at both knees, which were coated in nearly dried blood. You avoided turning on the light, the moon was bright enough and if he was drunk and beat up a bright light was probably the last thing he wanted to see.

“Jug, are you-?” You started but were cut off by your phone vibrating. It was Archie. You looked at Jughead but he was busy staring out the window he’d just climbed in. “Hello?” You answered your phone, trying not to sound distraught.

“Oh, thank god you picked up.” Archie said, almost sounding out of breath. “Jughead just left the party, he, he’s not doin’ so great (y/n). He’s smashed and I don’t know, I think something happened, Betty won’t talk to me right now. But he just bolted. I should have been watching him…” He trailed off a little. With your eyes still on Jughead you watched him turn his gaze to his hands. His knuckles were bloody as well and you felt your stomach drop a little.

“Well don’t worry Archiekins.” You tried to sound hopeful. Jughead looked up at you. “He’s here safe and sound.” You put a hand on his shoulder and gave a small smile.

“Okay, good. Oh man. I’m sorry, can you tell him I’m sorry? Does he want me to come get him? We can go home.” Archie started to sound a little drunk as well.

“No.” Jughead said, hearing Archie through your phone. He shook his head. “Tell him I’m fine.” You gave him a sympathetic look but he turned away, seeming determined. You didn’t want to make him do anything he didn’t want to.

“Jughead said he’s fine. He can spend the night here.” You said after a second. Both Archie and Jughead rang a ‘thanks’ at the same time.

“Watch after him. He kind of needs someone right now, and you-” Archie cut himself off a little. “Well, you’re a great friend to him.” He sighed a little. “And tell him he can come home whenever he wants.” He added. You thanked Archie for calling and promised to text him updates in the morning. He seemed satisfied with this and Jughead didn’t object, so you got off the phone. You turned your full attention back to Jughead, and the blood coagulating on him. It was quiet for a moment until he raised his head and looked at you with tears in his eyes.

“Oh Juggie.” You said, pulling him in for a hug. He buried his face in your shoulder as he hugged you tightly and sobbed for a second.

“I-I’m sorry.” Jughead said, loosening his arms around you. “I’m just, I’m a mess.” He pulled away so you could see his face. Then he got quiet. “I’m so drunk I’m, I’m, just like my dad.”

“Hey, hey.” You cooed, gently rubbing your fingers across his cheeks in an attempt to dry the tears that were still coming. “No you’re not. Getting smashed at a party doesn’t mean you’ll turn out like him. It’s what every teenager does.” You brushed his cheekbone with your thumb, resting your hand to cup his face. “And FP is getting better, you know that.” Jughead nodded a little. His tears slowed but they were still flowing. You were concerned about his knees and had a million questions, but you stayed silent. Giving him time to think and not wanting to push him right now.

“I’m sorry.” He said after a moment. “I’m sorry I showed up in the middle of the night, and I’m drunk and crying. I’m sorry.” Jughead sobbed and leaned back in to hug you. You ran a hand up and down his back as he allowed himself to rest his face on your shoulder. The air was still but his body was still tense.

“It’s fine Jug. It’s more than fine. This is what friends do.” You softly sympathized. It was silent for a moment while Jughead sniffled and collected his thoughts. You continued to run your fingers up and down his back, feeling his ribs move with each shallow breath. He pulled back, leaving your arms, and wiped his face with his sleeves. “So, do you want to tell me what happened?” You edged a little. Jughead rested his face in his hands, slowly pulling them away. His eyes were dry now but that didn’t mean the threat of tears was gone.

“Well.” He sighed. “I mean, it’s kind of a blur. Some parts I can’t even remember. Betty was busy running around. Archie disappeared with, whoever. And then Veronica swept me away to start this drinking game. It was actually fun for a while, I felt, like, normal or something. Just a bunch of teenagers sitting around coming up with elaborate ways to get drunk.” He shook his head a little. Then he’d leaned in, head hovering above your shoulder for a second then slowly returning to it. You put an arm around him and lightly rubbed his back, hoping it would be reassuring. “And then, I don’t know. I was so drunk, I’m still, so drunk.” He stopped for a minute, rubbing his face on your shoulder and sighing. “Sorry, I just, it’s hard, to collect my thoughts, right now. Ya know?” His voice muffled against you.

“Yeah.” You said, running your hand up his back to ruffle his hair a little. “You’re doing good though.” Jughead bit his lip and nodded hesitantly.

“Okay, so, I guess, at some point in the game I just, kinda, stopped having fun. I was just smashed, and it was hard to concentrate. I just, I wanted to go, but…” He trailed off, huffing out a breath. “It took a minute to like, signal to Veronica that I was out of the game, and she let me slip off, and that was fine. She gets it. Then I went to find Archie to leave. He has the key and, and I didn’t wanna go without him. Anyways, I found him making out with some girl in some closet, he was probably just as drunk as I was.” He stopped, taking another break from talking. He looked down at his hands, probably collecting his thoughts. Then he leaned forward, away from you, and rubbed at his eyes. “Then I just, said fuck it, ya know?” Jughead threw his hands up a little and looked over at you. “I went to the kitchen and started drinking like my life depended on it. I figured, alcohol seems to make other people feel better, so why won’t it work for me?” He let out a shaky sigh and shook his head at himself.

“I’m sorry buddy.” You said leaning forward and brushing his hair off his forehead. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.” You added, adjusting your position a little so you were facing him more.

“No, I want to. You’re the one I tell things to, so...” He nervously chewed at his lip and looked at you, then adjusted himself to mirror your position. “So, I got even more drunk. I don’t remember a whole lot, but I remember Betty came in, and she told me I should stop, but I didn’t want to. Then Reggie came in. I know he’s cool to you but he isn’t to me, (y/n). He’s been a jerk to me for a long time and he’s only been a little nicer recently because I hang out with Arch and all.” Jughead got defensive, moving around a bit.

“It’s okay, I believe you dude.” You reassured, taking one of his hands into yours. “Reggie’s not so great anyways.” You used this new position to look at his knuckles. Jughead squeezed your hand gently.

“Well, I punched him, hard. Twice. I don’t remember exactly what he said. Something about, how I need to stop drinking, and, something about how I’m going to be trash, and-” He stopped talking and squeezed your hand again. “And something about my dad. I don’t know. But I punched him, and, then he reeled back, and I don’t think he was going to hit me back, but, I couldn’t tell, I panicked and hit him again, and, he just fell to the ground.” The panic in his voice faded a bit, and he stopped squeezing your hand so tight. “I ran. He was okay, I saw him start to get back up but, but I was just gone after that. I know I jumped the fence in the backyard, but I blacked out after that.” Jughead looked up at you, his eyes a little misty.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that. You know you’re not trash, Jughead. You’re great. You’re smart and nice, and…” What were you going to say. You couldn’t tell him just how nice you really thought he was. “You’re probably the best person I know.” That sounded good enough. It got Jughead to actually smile though, which made you feel way better.

“Thanks.” Jughead sighed as he shifted around a little. “Coming from you it means a lot, and I almost believe it.” He said it like it was a joke but you both knew it wasn’t. He leaned his head to the side a little, almost like he expected your shoulder to be there again. He bit his lip and ran his thumb across your knuckles. “After that, I kinda, came to when I fell.” He gestured at his knees vaguely. “I was just, I remember being on the ground on the sidewalk on my hands and knees, and, my knees felt wet. Then I realized I was a block away from your house and I figured that’s where I must have been heading, so…” He shrugged a little, glancing at you then quickly away. “Sorry again that I showed up to your house super late all drunk and stuff.” He pulled his hand away from yours and examined his knuckles again.

“It’s fine, Jug. Like I said, what are friends for, if not a place to drunkenly crash.” You smiled, and Jughead did to a little. “Plus, I’m just glad you’re safe. I’m glad you can talk to me.” You said, genuinely.

“Yeah, me too.” Jughead half mumbled. His hand crept back up to yours on the bed, but he kept at fingers length. It was quiet for a second, you felt a strange tension building. It was silent and questions had been answered, making your mind drift to the dream you had earlier. You felt bad for having thought about him that way. Jughead trusted you, he sat on your bed and cried. But you couldn’t help but be thankful that it was dark so he couldn’t see your blush.

“I’m gonna get you some water.” You broke the silence after a second. You had to get away from this tension and your creeping urge to grab his hand again. You got off the bed and walked out of the room, glancing back at Jughead, whose head was now in his hands. As you walked down the stairs you tried to collect your thoughts. Jughead was still pretty drunk, not as drunk as when he fell in through your window, but he probably couldn’t walk that straight of a line. You grabbed a few bottles of water from the fridge and tried to shake off the weird feeling you had. You just had to be his friend right now, and that was enough for you.

When you walked back into your room Jughead was sat in the middle of your bed with his shoes on the floor. He looked up at you and gave a faint smile, but you saw the glimmer of tears in his eyes. You handed him a water as you sat on the bed across from him.

“Jug, what is it?” You asked, settling back onto your bed.

“I-I’m so sorry I just…” He shook his head and looked down at the bottle of water in his shaking hand.

“Jug.” You put a hand under his chin, lifting his head to look at you. “Everything is fine right now. Is it, about what happened?”

“No, no.” He said, moving his face away from your hand. He roughly wiped away a tear that managed to escape down his cheek. “But this, it isn’t about the party anymore.” He met your eyes for a second and looked away. Past the glimmer of tears you swore you saw guilt. “I just, um, I don’t think you’re gonna wanna be my friend after I tell you this. But I gotta tell you now or I don’t know if I ever will.” This worried you a little, but looking at him now you couldn’t possibly imagine he’d ever done anything wrong.

“There’s nothing you can say to me that would ever make me not want to be your friend.” You said, patting his leg a little. “I promise.” He looked up at you with a little hope. “Okay?”

“Okay.” Jughead echoed, assuredly. He adjusted himself a little as he took a drink of water. He let out a breath of air and looked up at you but then quickly back down again. “I, like you. A lot. Like as more than a friend. And I’m sorry that you came here to Riverdale, and spent so much time with me, it probably makes it creepy now. I’m sorry if this ruins things. I know I was the first person you hung out with. But, we can act like normal, we can forget this, I just wanted to tell you.” He was talking fast and it was a lot to take in. Another tear ran down his cheek. He paused for a second but added. “I can go back to Archie’s if you want. I understand completely if you don’t want me to spend the night.” He seemed a little calmer now, but his hands were still shaking. He looked up at you, green eyes meeting yours. “I just, I like you so much, (y/n). I’m sorry, this is weird.” He trailed off a little, waiting for your response.

You were baffled. At a loss for words. The guy you’d been literally dreaming about was sitting here telling you he liked you. Everything felt so still. You saw Jughead’s chest rise and fall. He wasn’t crying but the single tear stain was left on his cheek. You reached forward slowly and wiped it away with your hand. He closed his eyes as your hand touched his cheek. He leaned into it and you couldn’t bare to move your hand away.

“Jughead, I like you too. A lot, I mean. I’m pretty sure in the same way you like me.” You spoke softly. His eyes shot open and he looked at you in disbelief.

“Really?” He asked, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. You nodded and a real smile lit up his face. He placed a hand on your cheek, mimicking your position as he scanned your face. His eyes settled on your lips. Everything moved slowly when he leaned in towards you. You couldn’t help but lean in as well. And your lips touched. He was warm and soft and you felt light headed. But then you tasted beer and remembered how drunk Jughead was. You pulled away quickly, moving your hand away from his cheek. Leaving Jughead still in his position, hand holding empty air where your cheek was. His expression was shocked but it quickly turned apologetic.

“Sorry.” You said, before he could start to say anything. “You’re drunk Jug, I can’t do this right now.” He leaned back a little.

“But I…” Jughead mumbled a little. “I want..” He whispered just loud enough for you to hear. And god, you wanted him to, but you just couldn’t do that to him. He was still for a second and then nodded, understandingly. “Yeah, yeah, you’re right. Thank you (y/n).” He smiled a little at you and you thanked god he understood.

“In the future, trust me.” You said. “But you can still spend the night here, if you want.” You scooted over in bed to make room for him. He let out a light laugh.

“Okay, if you insist.” He said, starting to move to his hands and knees to crawl up next to you.

“Wait.” You said quickly. Jughead froze in place, eyes wide. “You’re kind of covered in blood, and I don’t want to have to explain bloody sheets to my mom.” He returned to his previous sitting position as you slipped off the edge of the bed. You turned on your bedside lamp and thankfully Jughead didn’t cringe too much at the light. “I’ll get some stuff to clean you up.” You said, walking out of you room and across the hall to the bathroom.

When you returned Jughead had, again, changed positions. He was sitting at the edge of your bed with his jacket and beanie removed, folded up next to him. He looked up at you as he took a drink of water. You set the supplies on your bedside table and kneeled down in front of him.

“Can you do you knuckles?” You asked, looking up at Jughead, who was staring down at you and caught off guard.

“Uh, y-yeah.” He said, reaching for the bottle of alcohol. You couldn’t help but smile as you watched him for a second. Then you turned your attention to his knees. The scraping itself wasn’t so bad, his jeans had protected him pretty well before they ripped. But there was a lot of blood, it coagulated, sticking the fabric to his skin. You peeled his jeans away from his leg and heard him make a displeased sound.

“Sorry,but this has to be done.” You said, dabbing away the blood with a damp washcloth.

“That’s alright.” Jughead mumbled, applying the alcohol to his knuckles. “I’m still kinda drunk, so, it’s not that bad.” He tried to laugh it off but he was still wincing. After a minute of trying to work through the holes in his jeans it was pretty clear they’d have to come off to make any real progress. You stopped working, which got his attention a little, and you looked up at him.

“Hey, I uh, I think I’m gonna need these bad boys to come off.” You said, nervously tugging at the edge of  one of the holes. He smiled and laughed, which eased the feeling in your stomach.

“Okay.” He said, starting to stand. You moved back and tried not to look at him as he basically stripped in front of you. “I guess I’m too drunk to kiss you but not too drunk for this.” He joked, and you both laughed but it was obvious he was just as nervous as you.

“Stop.” You giggled, hitting his shin as he sat back down. It was much easier to clean his knees this way. You tried to focused on that and not what kind of boxers Jughead was wearing. After a few minutes of trying not to make Jughead cry more, and trying not to blush too hard, you were done. You dried off his knees and allowed your eyes to trail up his body to look up at him. He stared back at you and you could swear anyone could cut the tension with a knife. “Let me see your hands.” You said, and he obliged, holding them out to you. His knuckles looked good, better now that they were cleaned up. They were still a little scabbed, and it was the same case with his knees.

“Good?” Jughead asked after a moment of silence.

“Good.” You affirmed, nodding. You stood up slowly, gathering what you’d brought in from the bathroom. You returned it quickly and made your way back. “So.” You said as you walked back into the room. “Are you going to spend the night here? My bed’s big enough so that it won’t be too weird. No pressure, but I did just get you to take your pants off.” You joked, and Jughead laughed but it was nervous.

“Yeah, but only if it’s okay with you.” He said, moving his jacket and hat onto the floor next to his shoes and pants.

“Of course it’s fine.” You walked over to the other side of your bed, pulling the blankets down.

“Thanks. I just, kinda don’t wanna go back and see Archie right now. Especially this late.” Jughead said, climbing onto your bed. You sat down next to him.

“I get it.” You sighed, pulling the covers up over your legs. Jughead cleared his throat a little.

“Uh, is it cool if I sleep like this?” He asked, gesturing to his legs. Meaning, ‘is it cool if I sleep next to you in my boxers?’

“Yeah, sure, if you’re comfortable like that.” You answered, turning away a little. “I don’t really have anything, I could maybe find some sweatpants, or?” You offered but he shook his head.

“No, this is fine.” He said, actually yawning. And it occurred to you that it was almost past 4 in the morning. Jughead turned off your bedside lamp and turned to you. It was dark but your eyes only took a second to adjust to his familiar face.

“It’s late.” You said in a quieter voice, as if you needed to be quiet now with the lights out. “We should get to sleep.”

“Yeah.” Jughead mimicked your softened voice. “We’ve both had quite the night.” He whispered, nestling down in your bed.

“Yeah.” You laughed a little as you snuggled under the covers. Everything was still and quiet. You stared at Jughead through the dark and he stared back.

“Goodnight, (y/n).” He whispered.

“Goodnight, Juggie.” You whispered back. You slowly let your eyes close and realized just how tired you actually were. There was still an anxiety in your stomach, would Jughead remember any of this in the morning? Your worry faded into the darkness. The slow sounds of Jugheads breathing turned into waves washing up on a beach. And you were dreaming.

 ~~~

The next morning, or afternoon rather, you woke to bright sunlight and a cold room. The bed, however, was warm. And filled with another person. Everything from last night came rushing back as you opened your eyes. Jugheads sleeping face was there, just the same as the night before. His dark eyelashes looked so soft against his pale cheeks. His lips were parted slightly as he let out slow tuffs of air. You couldn’t help but feel your stomach flutter when you thought back to how they felt against yours. You slowly turned from your side onto your back, trying not to move the bed too much. As you raised your hands to rub your eyes you felt Jughead start to move. You moved a hand away from your eye and squinted it open to watch Jughead rub at his eyes too.

“Morning.” You croaked. Jughead let out a groan.

“Morning.” He returned, his voice low with sleep. You laughed a little at his despair but hoped he wouldn’t notice you blushing already. But his cheeks were pink to, it was warm under the covers with him. At least that’s what you told yourself. He moved back in the bed away from you a little, closer to the edge.

“How’re you feeling?” You asked, returning to your side to look at him. He sighed, reaching for a water bottle from the nightstand while managing to keep the blanket up around his shoulders.

“Well.” He paused to take a drink. “Considering I got blackout drunk, hit a guy from the football team, walked a mile and my pants are stained with blood, I’d say pretty okay.” Jughead gave a nervous smile and took another drink.

“That’s good, I thought you might be crazy hung over and puke everywhere.” You joked and luckily he laughed.

“No, this isn’t going to turn into The Exorcist, but I do have a headache.” He sighed, nestling back down. He looked at you and chewed at his lip.

“Do you, remember what happened last night?” You asked, returning his gaze. He looked away.

“If you mean, do I remember telling you I have feelings for you and kissing you, then yes. I remember a lot of what happened last night.” Jughead looked back up to you and tugged the blanket up to cover his mouth.

“Well, hey, I admitted I have feelings for you to, so.” You shrugged. You couldn’t see his mouth but you could tell from the way his eyes scrunched that he smiled.

“You really meant that?” He asked, green eyes lighting up a little.

“Yeah, of course. I cleaned you up and let you sleep in my bed.” You gestured vaguely. He brought a hand out from under the blanket, examining his knuckles. They looked even better in the light of day.

“Thanks for, you know, everything.” Jughead mumbled, pulling his hand back under the covers and shifting around a little. “Really, that meant a lot. Plus the last thing I need right now is an infection.” He rolled his eyes a little, then closed them. “It’s bright in here.” He groaned.

“I’ll close the blinds.” You offered, slowly slipping out of bed. You regretted it a little once the cold air of the room hit you. And you realized you’d only shut the screen to the window last night, and not the actual window itself. You shut the window and closed the blinds, moving to the next window. You glanced over your shoulder to see Jughead curled up in your bed watching you move. He looked nervous, but that wasn’t a surprise. You shook a little as you walked across the room back to your bed. “It’s cold.” You shivered, trying to delicately get under the covers without letting the warmth out.

“I know.” Jughead said quietly, words muffled by the blanket still pulled over his mouth. You moved into bed closer to him.

“C’mere.” You said, moving even closer, touching his legs with yours and placing your hands on his chest. You wanted to snuggle up to him but he was so close to the edge of your bed and you didn’t want him falling off.

“I-I don’t know if I-” He stopped talking and you stopped squirming when your thigh pressed between his legs. He was hard, and as you moved your leg back to give him some space you swore you could feel him getting harder. “I’m sorry, god, I, I, it’s just, morning wood, and, I mean, it’s so warm and you’re so pretty, I’m sorry, I can-”

“No, no, it’s fine.” You cut him off. He was nearly out of breath and blushing hard. “I mean, is it fine?” You asked, moving a tiny bit closer and running a hand up his chest. Jughead looked you almost shocked, but then nodded.

“Yeah, it’s, it’s fine with me.” Jughead hesitantly inched forward a little.

“Then it’s fine with me.” You said, closing any gaps between your bodies. His eyes fluttered down to your lips, and just like last night he was kissing you again. His lips were warm and he was soft as he moved towards you. You moved your leg up and around his waist. He moved his hips closer and put a hand on your side. As the kiss deepened he slowly moved his hand down your hip to your leg, pulling it up more and angling you closer. Then he slowly started to move. He leaned you back and positioned himself so he was hovering over you. He was hard pressed against your thigh and you moved a little to rub against him. Jughead moved back and you thought you did something wrong before he started parting your legs. You moved easily and felt yourself getting wet.

“Is this, I mean, is this okay?” He asked, positioning himself between your legs but not quite touching you yet.

“Yeah, this is more than okay.” You said, wrapping your arms around his neck. He smiled at you and leaned back in for a kiss. It was sweet for a second until he pressed himself between your legs. You couldn’t help but meet his hips a little. He was subtle in his movements but he started moving his hips just slightly. You smiled against his lips as you thought of something.

You slowly started imitating Jugheads earlier movements of rolling over. In a second you were on top of him, and it didn’t seem like he was complaining. You continued kissing him, lost in the way his tongue felt against yours. He ran his hands up and down your back, keeping them just above your butt, even though you were grinding down on his dick. You pulled away, and he looked like he might be trying to think of something to say. But whatever it was was replaced by a light moan when you started kissing his neck. One of his hands moved to your hair, running through it as you bit down slightly. You felt him tense up at it and smiled against his neck. By now he was moving his hips up against yours with almost no hesitation. You could tell your teasing wasn’t doing anything to help how painfully hard he was, so you sat up.

You stared down at Jughead for a second, thrilled with what you were about to do. He rested his hands on your hips, squeezing a little. You hesitated a second, running your hands up your stomach, lifting your shirt a little, then back down. It must have seemed like teasing. So with a burst of confidence you slipped your shirt off and let it drop from your hand to the floor. Jugheads eyes were wide, slowly moving between your face and chest. The air was cold on you but his eyes were warm. He looked all the way down to where his hands were placed on you and took in a deep breath.

“Jesus. You’re so gorgeous.” He blushed, looking back into your eyes. You turned your head away, hiding your face and smile for a second. You couldn’t think of what to say or do next but you didn’t have to because Jughead was sitting up towards you. He adjusted himself a bit so you were easily straddling his lap. He wrapped his arms around you, warming you up as he started kissing your lips. You sat still for a moment, just taking in the way he felt against your bare skin and kissing him. You wrapped your arms around his neck and felt his bare hands creep up and down your back. His fingers felt a little rough and it made you shiver a little.

Jughead slowly started moving. He turned so your back was to the mattress and he laid you down with himself between your legs. He smiled down at you, giving you a kind of ‘is this okay’ look. You smiled back and kissed him again. You wrapped your legs around his waist, rubbing yourself against him a little. He took in a sharp breath. He was so hard. He moved his hips against you a little. You pulled away from his mouth to start kissing his neck again. Jughead let out a soft moan. His hands ran up and down your sides. You bit at his neck and he squeezed your hips, pressing himself against you harder. He slowly began running his hands further up your ribs, edging closer to your chest. His hands were gentle when he finally touched you. Squeezing you just slightly and rubbing his thumb around your nipple. You lost track of your mouth on his neck and tilted your head back a little. He bit his lip as he ran a hand down your stomach to your thigh. He didn’t mean to tease as his fingers slowly ran up the inside of your thigh. He looked at you for permission for a second before touching you through your panties. He rubbed you and his mouth fell open a little as he felt how soft and warm you were.

“Can, can I?” Jughead asked softly as his fingers slipped just under your waistband.

“Mhm.” You vocalized. “Please.” You added sweetly, just to tease him. He let out a shaky breath as his fingers slipped down your panties and ran over you. He rubbed between your lips and his mouth fell open. He leaned down and kissed your neck gently. Slowly, his finger moved around your entrance. It slipped in and you both let out a soft moan. Jughead worked his finger in and out, finding that spot inside you.

“Oh my god.” His voice almost sounded like a sob. “You’re so wet.” Jughead said, twisting his finger inside of you. He pulled it out, rubbing you before slipping two back in. Your head fell back in a moan. Underneath your own sound you heard a tiny moan come from him before he closed his mouth around your neck. He bit for a second, just enough to hurt, before kissing over the spot. He worked his fingers, pressing right up against that spot inside you. You squirmed a little and arched your back as he kissed down to your collarbone, biting again. His fingers felt so good inside you. They were rough but he moved so gently.

Your fingers tugged at his hair, making him let out a sound. Jughead rubbed at your clit with his thumb as his fingers slid in and out of you. He bit down hard where your shoulder meets your neck. You let out a loud moan echoed by him. It vibrated against your chest as he kissed his way down. You pulled hard at Jugheads hair as he kissed around your breasts. He looked up at you for approval but found it in the way you squirmed and pushed your chest out to him. You heard him laugh under his breath before he licked around your nipple and bit down lightly.

“God, Jug, I just, I need-” You half begged but couldn’t put the right words together. He pulled back to look at you and his fingers slowed. You almost regretted saying something until he started pulling down your panties. He was slow and raised his eyebrows at you. When you nodded he quickly tugged them down your legs and tossed them to the floor. He leaned back further to take his shirt off and you were almost just as in awe to see him shirtless as he was to see you shirtless. Almost. It was quiet for a minute while you took each other in. “Do you have something?” You whispered. He nodded quickly.

“Yeah.” Jughead said, slipping out of bed and crouching on the floor to dig in his pants for his wallet. “Arch gave me this.” He held up a condom wrapper. “I kinda scoffed when he did, but-” He slowly climbed back into bed. “He said better to be safe than sorry and,” He moved back between your legs. “I gotta say, he was right.” He laughed a little and you couldn’t help but laugh too. He bit his lip as he looked down at you for a second. Jughead ran a hand up your ribs as he leaned down to kiss you for a minute. His movements were slow and it was a nice change of pace from almost cumming a second ago.

Jughead leaned back and slowly inched down his boxers. You helped him slip them off and you tried not to seem overwhelmed by the fact that his cock was now right there. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to your neck before moving back and taking the condom out of its wrapper. You stared as he rolled it on. You should have known from how nice he was that his dick would be nice too. You smiled to yourself as you looked up to his face. He was blushing hard and looked more than a little nervous. You moved your face up a little and he seemed to get the idea, leaning back down to kiss you again. You felt how hard he was against your thigh and you moved your hips up a little, egging him on. He pulled back from the kiss, smiling and biting his lip. One of his hands crept down your stomach and between your thighs again. He rubbed you and slipped the tip of a finger in, making sure you were still as wet as you were a minute ago. Then he moved his hand to his cock, and slowly guided it towards you. He pressed the tip against your entrance and looked to you.

“Is this okay?” Jughead asked in a low voice. You nodded and placed a hand on his cheek.

“Yes.” You said simply. He smiled a little and kissed your palm. Then he pressed himself into you. The head slid in and you tilted your neck back a little. Jughead stopped moving and pressed a few kisses to your neck.

“Alright?” He asked. You nodded quickly, and he pushed in further. Easing himself into you. He felt so hot down there. Once he was fully inside you, you wrapped your legs around his waist. He moved his hips just slightly and you let out a small sound. After a second of him sighing and pressing small kisses to your shoulder he started rocking his hips slowly. You couldn’t help but scratch up and down Jugheads back, making him shudder and moan. He started thrusting his hips faster. He stretched you and started hitting deeper. The warm friction made it hard to move, but you were also having a hard time keeping your hips still.

“Are you okay?” Jughead asked, looking down into your eyes.

“Yeah.” You said, nodding. You scratched up his sides and chest to his neck. You dug your fingernails in a little as you brought his face down to yours to kiss you. His tongue in your mouth and cock in you. It felt good and full. His warm chest pressed down on yours and you were enveloped by him. The faint smell of cologne left over from last night. His soft hair between your fingers. You scratched at his back more with your free hand, seeing as how every time you did it he couldn’t help but moan in your mouth. One of his hands moved down your side to your leg. His rough fingertips kept your leg wrapping around him and positioned in just the right way. You had to pull away from the kiss to moan. And he did too, pressing his forehead to your shoulder and letting out a few moans that could have been mistaken for sobs. You bit down on his shoulder to stifle a few of your noises.

“I, I think I’m gonna cum.” Jughead moaned. “Oh god.” Your legs felt weak. It was hard to move except for your hands desperately grabbing at his side and hair.

“Me to, Jug.” You managed to choke out. Your back started arching and Jugheads hand gripping your thigh was the only thing holding it in place. Your mouth fell open as your head tilted back, and it felt warm. Everything felt bright, like a star was exploding inside you, you came.

“Fuck, (y/n), I, I-” Jughead cut himself off with a moan as he pressed down inside you. With you tightening down around him he came, shaking a little.

You swear everything went white for a moment. Jugheads breath was ragged, his head buried in your chest and half his weight on you. You ran a hand up his back and through his hair. He let out a long sigh. The only movement came from your lungs and your fingers running on Jugheads scalp. After a minute of catching your breaths Jughead raised his head and looked up at you.

“You…?” He asked, eyebrows raising slightly.

“Yeah.” You said, giggling a little. “I came.” You smiled and so did he. He moved his hips back, pulling out of you. He returned his face to your chest for a second before looking back up at you.

“Good, I thought so. I just, you know, wanted to make sure.” He said with a small laugh.

“Yeah.” Your voice sounded a little dreamy. “Good job.” You tried to make it sound like a joke but it was the truth.

“Thanks.” He, he pressed a kiss to your forehead. “You’re not so bad yourself.” You rolled your eyes at him. You both laid in an easy silence for a moment.

“Do you wanna get breakfast?” You asked as Jughead slowly re positioned himself.

“Geez.” He said, laying on his back. “I’m always down for food.” He sighed as you leaned over and placed a hand on his chest. “But, give me a minute.” He stared at the ceiling and looked serious for a second. “I kinda can’t feel my legs.”

sup, i have a request for a oneshot/fic that's kinda similar to that last gem you posted based on this dream i had two minutes ago. so basically it was all about fp being the number one bughead shipper and defending my little betty cooper. so can you write where fp has thugs break into his trailer and intimade fp and jug, and then betty rings jughead and so obviously her name pops up so the thugs go after her because she means a lot to fp and juggie. i feel like this doesn't really make sense :/

I tried my best! Hope you enjoy.

“Where’s themoney?!”

Jughead flinched atthe shouting, clenching his teeth. His dad, FP Jones, sat adjacent tohim in the small living room of their trailer, 4 rather brutish menstanding over them.

“Are ya deaf?”One guy asked, pointing a meaty finger at FP.

FP just smirked,staring at Jughead, an amusement in his eyes.  

A dirty hand camedown, striking Jughead’s jaw. Grinding his teeth, FP looked up atthe one who hit his son, a murderous glint forming quickly.

“I said,” dirtyhands reached out, grabbing FP’s chin and leaning his face close,“where is the fucking money?!”

“I don’t knowwhat money you’re talking about bud.” FP spat in his face. “Sowhy don’t you just pack up your shit, and get out of my house.”The guys chuckled around them, looking at each other.

Jughead coughed,biting his lip. Then his pocket started vibrating. 5 sets of eyeshoned in on the sound, the 4 brutes each donning a wicked smile.

“Well well. Whatdo you got here?” Meaty fingers reached down, visibly diggingthrough Jugheads pocket. Pulling out his phone, meaty fingers staredat it blankly. “Who’s Betts? Isn’t that a dogs name?” Jugheadkicked out violently, reaching for his phone. FP inhaled sharply.

“Give that back!”Jughead screamed at them, causing laughter to emit from the men.

“Seems like morethan just a dog.” One of the guys said, this one adorned with acowboy hat. Realization crossed his face, “Is is a girl?”

Jughead clenched histeeth hard, looking down. Another wave of laughter.

“What do you say?How about we go give her a visit?”

“You lay even afinger on the girl and the entire Southside Serpent gang’ll be onyour ass before you can even turn around.” FP shot out, glaring atthe guy holding Jugheads phone.

The phone rangagain, the guy holding Jugheads phone clicked talk, hovering it overJugheads ear. He nodded. “Hey. Yeah. I’m ok. Yea- NO! No don’tcome here. I’ll come to you. Our spot, 8pm?” Fear evident on hisface as he talked, FP watching carefully. The guys around kept quiet,sparing looks at one another. The call ended, and Jughead sighed.

“So here’s thedeal.” Meaty fingers stepped forward again, between Jughead and FP.“You tell us where the money is, and we leave. No bringing in thegirl, no hurting anyone else.”

“I already toldyou there is-”

A sickening slapechoed through the small trailer. Jughead’s head flew to the side,bracing the impact of meaty fingers’ hand assaulting his face.

“OR,we could beat it out of you.” A wicked smile played meaty fingers’lips, showing broken, rotting teeth. He reared his hand back tostrike once more when a knock silenced their laughter.

“FP!Hey! We heard shouting. Everything ok?” FP’s second in command,Marcus, hollered through theclosed door, pounding again.

“GETTHE GUYS!” FP shouted, ahand flying out to cover his mouth. The pounding continued, this timewith more force.

“Rus,we gotta get outta here!” Meaty fingers says to Dirty fingers, wholooked visibly shaken. Nodding to the others, he bolts for the backdoor. Cowboy hat rushes out, throwing Jugheads phone down in the way.

Aloud bang surfaced as the door flew open. A dozen guys clad inleather rushed in, weapons in hand. Marcus unties FP’s hands. FPrushed over to Jughead, lightly smacking his face till his eyesflutter open, dazed. Sighing with relief, he plops down on the floor,reaching for the discarded phone. Handing it over to his son, who wasstill trying to get his bearings, andshakes his head.

“Whathappened FP?” Marcus finally asks, sitting at the small table,cracking open a beer.

“Somethugs going on about some money. I don’t even have any money, so Idon’t know what the fuck they were on.” FPjust shakes his head, laying it in his hands. He turns to his son,shaking his leg. “Go see Betty. Make sure she’s safe.”

Jugheadjust nods, grabbing his serpent jacket, and heading out the door.

3weeks past since the incident.

Orthat’s what Jughead was calling it anyway. The day those brutesforced their way in, blabberingabout wanting money. After the fact, Betty was sick with worry.Taking care of Jughead every day till his bruises disappeared, and hedidn’t flinch at the sound of loud noises. His mental state wasn’tcompletely deteriorated, but the whole ordeal definitely left somemental bruises.

“Hey.” A softhand came up to his cheek, bringing him back to reality. Betty sat infront of him, legs crossed, watching him closely. “You ok?”

They were supposedto be doing homework, seated atop Betty’s pastel bed. He didn’trealize getting sucked into his inner world again – its beenhappening so frequently, Betty thinks he should seek help – untilBetty pulled him out. He smiled at her, laying down and resting hishead in her lap. She idly combed her fingers through his hair,reciting a bit from the book they had to read for English.

“Do you want tocome over for dinner?” Jughead blurted it out, face reddening atthe realization. “I just meant cause, since the thing happened..you haven’t come over. And my dad misses you.”

She smiled at himagain. “Of course I’ll come over.” She stood, and changed,having swapped to shorts and tank top when they got to her house.Appearing out of doorway from the bathroom, she laughed when Jugheadwolf whistled at her outfit. “C’mon, lets go.”

They walked down thestreet, hand in hand, laughing at jokes, an eerie feeling wascreeping up Jugheads spine. He kept looking around them, eyeingstrangers furiously as they walked past.

Till he saw them.

10 feet away,between them and the only path to his dad’s trailer, were the same4 guys who still haunt his nightmares. They still looked the same,albeit cuts and bruising still showing from the beating they got fromthe Serpents.

He stopped in histracks, pulling Betty behind him quickly.

“Call my dad,now.” He said quietly, not turning his head.

“What’s going onJuggie?” Her voice was nervous, hands shaking in his.

“Just do it. NowBetty.” She quickly grabbed her phone, dialing the number to FPJones’ cell. He answered after the second ring.

“Betty! Hey,dinner is almost ready. You guys almost here?”

“Uh, yeah. But um,Juggie who are they?” She tilted the phone away, asking herboyfriend. He just shook his head.

“Who is who? Issomething wrong?” FP’s voice rose in alarm, shuffling in thebackground.

“Some guys are inthe way is all. Jughead’s worried though.” She tried to askagain, but he just shushed her, taking a tentative step back. “Wait,Juggie. Are they those the guys- oh my god. FP its the guys from thatnight.”

“Shit! Ok, I’llbe right there. Just stay there.” FP ended the call, grabbing hisjacket and rushing out the door. Betty and Jughead were about 10minutes away. He hurried over to Marcus’s trailer, banging the doorrelentlessly. “Marcus, get the guys. Jug’s in trouble!” Hedidn’t wait around for his second to come out. He just took offdown the road.

15 minutes later, FPturned the corner and halted. Before him was his worst nightmare.

Meaty fingers andCowboy hat had Jughead by the arms, his boy flailing his arms,screaming out profanity.

A few feet away wasthe other two, one holding Betty’s arms, the other pulling his handback to hit her. From the looks of her clothes and bloody face, thiswouldn’t be the first time. A painful tug pulled on FP’s heart ashe lurched forward, going for the guys hitting Betty first. Hereached his hand out as Dirty fingers was inches away from Betty’sbruised face, causing the guy to gasp.

“I told you. Youtouch her, you got the whole Southside Serpents on your ass.” Dirtyfingers chuckled, cocking his head to the side. The guy holding Bettythrew her on the ground, and reached for FP.

But another handreached out and knocked him on his ass before he could make a sound.

“Hey boss, whichone should be pummel first?” Marcus’s voice broke through thetension, an array of voices behind him signaling the rest of theSerpents weren’t too far away.

FP smiled, pointed afinger at Dirty fingers, and head off towards Jughead. The two guysholding him let go instantly, fear eminent on their faces. Theyturned to flee, running face first into two more Serpents, both asize larger than them.

FP leaned down,patting his son on his back. He stood again, heading to Betty’slocation. She was on her knees, silent sobs wreaking havoc on hersmall frame. He leaned down on one knee, opening his arms. Shelaunched forward, he wrapped his arms around her back, pattinglightly. Jughead came over not long after, finally out of his ownhazy mindset. FP detaches himself from Betty, but not before leaninga hand on her cheek, “I will protect Bughead with my life. Ipromise you.”

Sometimes It's Not What It Seems - Chapter Three

Here is chapter 3! It continues straight from chapter two. I do have to say that this felt like a long one. I was worried that this would be to drawn out and that it might get boring or wordy especially since there's a lot of backstory left yet, but to properly showcase their relationship and how they progressed to where they are now, I feel like I need to do the backstory justice, to portray the relationship properly to get people on board or at least provide some kind of understanding. As usual please comment let me know your thoughts and thanks for reading ! ------------------------------------------------ It had been a week since Betty had broken down within the Jone’s trailer. The ache in her chest was still there, she could feel it squeeze her heart like a vice anytime something reminded her of Jughead. She still wasn’t doing great but she was doing okay, which is the most she could hope for right now as she tried to move past it. Doing the best she could with the situation she was dealt…really what other choice did she have? In the days since, she tried to keep busy by overloading herself with a strict To-Do List in typical Betty Cooper fashion. She started by going through items brought home from high school, putting what she wanted to keep carefully into boxes for safe storage. Then moved on to organizing things for her upcoming leave to NYU at the end of August. She even took on a part time waitressing job at Pop’s every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday afternoon. She left the hardest task for last, packing away anything that held a memory of her and Jughead’s relationship. The heartache ever so present as she did this, tears threatening to spill out as each item brought its happy moments swirling back. These things were special to her and painfully difficult to let go of, but she knew if she was going to move on, she couldn’t keep them here. She packed up photos, books, movies and mementos like theatre ticket stubs that she had kept, along with one of his old flannels and a t-shirt that she had stolen from him to sleep in. Putting them all in a box which she planned to deliver back to his family trailer today. She hadn’t seen Jughead’s father since she left last Saturday and wasn’t sure if he’d be home or not but she thought she’d take her chances. The faster she rid herself of these memories the better. She also had to deliver the care package she made him which held a few days’ worth of home cooked meals. She had remembered his comment about not knowing when a man would get his next one and even though she knew it was meant to be a joke, it held some truth for him. Betty, having grown up with family meals almost every night, couldn’t help but feel that everyone should get to enjoy the simple pleasure of a home cooked meal, at least once or twice a week. No one should have to live off of take out and frozen TV dinners. Plus, the food was another way of her saying thank you. Even though she had thanked him profusely before she left, she still felt like it wasn’t quite enough, that his kindness deserved a little something more than a few spoken gratuities. She knew that not just anyone would let some girl cry and snot all over him and then invade his home, especially for reasons that had nothing to do with him. That took someone with a big heart, which I'm sure he'd deny right up until his last breathe, but he wasn't fooling her, as much as he fought it, FP was a closet softy. *** Betty pulled up at the trailer right beside FP’s truck, slid out of her vehicle and went around to the passenger side to collect the box of reminders and the tote bag full of food. She carried it all to the door and set them down on the steps before knocking. She waited a minute for an answer before trying again. His truck was here but maybe he went somewhere on his bike or on foot. After another minute passed with no response, she debated her options. She didn't really want to take everything back home again and could always use the key she knew was hidden under the mat to let herself in…put the stuff on the table and in the fridge with a note, she’s pretty sure he wouldn’t mind. She chewed her bottom lip contemplating what to do when she heard a loud laugh from somewhere behind the trailer. She walked around the trailer following the noise and as she got closer to the back yard, she could hear male voices, snickering and talking along with some metallic clangs or bangs. Once she rounded the back of the trailer she stopped in her tracks at the sight of a group of guys spread out around an older truck. Some of the men were standing; others sprawled in old lawn chairs, lazily sipping on beers, and all of them appeared to be Serpents. She couldn't fathom how they could manage to still wear their leather jackets in this unrelenting heat. Looking back at the truck, she also saw a pair of legs poking out from under the it, which confirmed where the clangs were coming from. She couldn’t see who they belonged to but it was probably a safe bet to assume that he was also part of the gang. They hadn’t seen her yet and she wondered if she should just quietly head back to her vehicle and leave unnoticed. She was about to backtrack when she paused, as her thoughts made her feel slightly hypocritical. These were the people she stood up for, wrote an article on behalf of, but as much as she told herself that she wasn’t in any sort of danger, she couldn’t help the unease that involuntarily ran through her. Before she could make the choice to stay or go, one of the younger men noticed her standing there. She froze as he got up from his chair and slowly headed in her direction. He wore a smirk on his face as he made no attempt to hide the way he ran his eyes up and down her body, licking his lips as he took her in. She was now very aware of how little skin her yoga shorts and tank top covered and mentally kicked herself for not wearing something a little less revealing, but in her defence, she was only thinking of the sweltering sun outside that day when she chose her clothing. It didn't even occur to her as she got dressed, to take a moment to think about where she was headed. The Serpent stopped on the other side of the truck, about ten feet from her. And even though he made her feel like prey, she couldn't deny that he was attractive, with his styled light brown hair, intense grey eyes and chiseled jaw. He was the definition of roguishly handsome. “Hey Sweetie, you lost?” he asked pointing his beer bottle at her. “I…uh…I’m” she stammered looking down at her feet while tucking one of the stray sections of hair that came loose from her ponytail behind her ear. Upon hearing the exchange, the figure slid out from under the truck and got to his feet. Betty let out the whoosh of air that she didn’t realize she’d been holding as she recognized FP. He grabbed the rag off the hood, wiping the grease off his hands as he walked towards her. When he reached the other guy he clapped a hand on his shoulder, “At ease Ferrett, you’re scaring the girl” he told him with light authority before turning to Betty. “Elizabeth” he greeted with a welcoming smile, “what do I owe the pleasure?” The guy named ‘Ferrett’ looked at the older man with question before slinking back to join the rest of the group who were eagerly watching from the sidelines. “Hi, Mr. Jones…I mean FP” she blushed when she heard the others snickering. “Sorry if I'm interrupting, I just had a box of Jug’s things that I needed to bring here” she swallowed nervously, not wanting to get into detail or to have to explain any further. But from the look of sympathy that crossed FP’s face, she knew he understood. “It's fine Elizabeth, you're not interrupting. I was just working on Snake’s baby here” he gestured at the truck behind him “as far as for the rest of these menaces, I'm pretty sure they're just here to drink my beer” he quipped, which earned him a couple of ‘Hear, hears’ as the leather clad men raised their drinks. FP laughed and shook his head. “Ya, I noticed the truck, she's a beaut!” Betty gushed as she walked towards it, FP following behind. “1965 Ford F-100 right?” she asked as she ran her fingers along the hood. FP raised a brow, “yeah” he replied clearly impressed. Betty continued to walk around the model Ford, dragging her hand along the body like she was caressing it. “Twin-I-Beam front suspension, automatic transmission, whitewall tires, chrome trim and two-toned paint, in the original Rogue Red I bet” she cooed with obvious affection. She worked her way around the truck, and when she reached the open drivers window she peeked her head through to have a look at the two-toned interior that matched the outside, a soft “nice” escaping her lips in appreciation. “Does she still have the original 352 V-8 engine?” she inquired as she turned back to the group only to find them all staring at her with their mouths hanging open. “What?” Betty asked with wide innocent eyes. FP was the first to snap out of it, running his hand through his hair. “How….how do you know all that?” He asked dumbfounded. “The stuff about vehicles? I grew up working on old cars with my Dad. He taught me everything he knows and I taught myself whatever else I could over the years, it's become sort of a passion of mine” she shrugged. “Well, aren't you are just full of surprises Elizabeth Cooper” FP chuckled. “You know ‘FP’, you can call me Betty” she teased. “Wait!” one of the other Serpents piped up, “Betty Cooper? Like thee Betty Cooper that wrote the article defending the Serpents?” “The one and only” she laughed “Wow” said the older gentleman with long hair and a beard “That was really decent of you, meant a lot to a lot of people around the Southside” “It wasn't anything really, just the truth” Betty said humbly “anyway, now that you know who I am, do you mind if I ask your names?” “Oh shit! I'm sorry Betty” FP exclaimed then flinched realizing his use of language but she didn't seem fazed by it so he continued “this here is Snake” he waved a hand at the the older man who just spoke, “then Muskrat, Evan, Joaquin, Weasel and as you know, Ferrett” he said as he pointed to each of them. All stepping forward to eagerly shake her hand, with Ferrett’s grip lasting well into the uncomfortable stage, until FP cleared his throat causing him to release but not before giving her a wink. Trying to hide her blush, Betty turned to FP “sooooo what's wrong with her?” Snake answers before FP has the chance, “she's been misfiring and making a clunking sound sometimes. I know she's old but I could never give her up”. “Trust me I get it, do you mind if I have a look?” She asked eagerly. “Be my guest” FP waved towards to truck. Betty opened the door and popped the hood before diving right in. She rooted around, making “hmms” and “ahhs” completely oblivious to the men ogling her ass as she leaned halfway into the front end which made her small shorts ride up to the point where they left little to the imagination. At one point, she reached in deeper with one arm, resulting in her shorts on that side to slide up exposing the bottom curved cheek of her ass, which in turn had Ferrett openly groaning while adjusting his manhood through his jeans. Earning him a dirty look and quiet warning from FP to which Ferrett only smirked and shrugged. She popped back up not long after and reached out to grab the rag that FP was still holding to clean her hands. “Well I think I know what the issue is, I could help you fix it” she stated looking at FP, “with both of us working on it it wouldn't be out of service too long, what do ya say?” FP rubbed his jaw thinking “well sure Betty, I’d love your help but unfortunately I wouldn't be able to pay you. Any jobs I do for ‘family’, I offer my labor for free as long as they buy the parts” “Oh no that's fine, you don't need to pay me, I just want to help because I enjoy getting my hands dirty in an engine, it's like an escape….really you'd be doing me a favour and it would be good for right now I think” biting her bottom lip as she looked off into the distance not meeting his eyes. All the sudden a Lady Gaga song started playing from the front of Betty's hip where she had her cell tucked into her shorts. FP raised a brow as she whipped her phone from her shorts, mouthing “Sorry” to him as she walked further away from the truck to take the call. “Hi Kevin” she answered “no I didn't forget, yes I'll be on my way there shortly, I just got tied up with something. Ok….ok…..ya….mmhmm, see you in a bit, bye Kev.” “Sorry, I have to get going, I have plans, but thank you for letting me tinker around. If you don't mind FP, I'll just put the box of stuff in the spare room. Oh, and I almost forgot, I also brought you a care package per say” she continued as he raised a questioning brow at her “I remembered how much you enjoyed breakfast and what you said about home cooking, so as a thank you for the other night, I cooked a few things for you. Lasagna, roast and potatoes, fried chicken and a cherry pie, should last you a few days, more if you freeze some….” she trailed off growing more unsure of herself as she rambled on. “I…I hope that's okay?” She said softly looking at her feet. Noting her discomfort, FP stepped forward and gave her shoulder a squeeze, “That's very thoughtful Elizabeth” she looked up meeting his gaze, corners of her mouth lifting a little, “ it's appreciated but you didn't have to, as I'm pretty sure you’ve thanked me enough already. So how about we make another deal? You stop thanking me repeatedly” he grinned so she knew he was only half serious “and you can come by anytime to dig around in whatever vehicle I'm working on…but” he raised a finger, “you have to bring something delicious with you when you come, win win for both of us….deal?” He asked holding out his hand. She grabbed it, giving it one hard shake, “Deal!” she said enthusiastically “but now I really should get going. If it's okay with you, I'll bring the stuff inside and put the food away in the fridge before I leave. Is tomorrow around noon good to continue with the truck?” FP nodded “Perfect, I'll see you then” she said as she started walking backwards, giving a wave and a “nice to meet you all” to the rest of the group before turning on her heel and disappearing around the trailer. She was barely out of sight when Snake coughed “so you want to explain that?” he asked looking at FP. “What?” FP replied innocently “THAT!” Muskrat motioned to the front of the trailer where Betty had just waked around “I know she knows a bit about us through your boy but how did all of this happen and what exactly was she referring to about the other night?” FP stuck his hands in his pockets, “she came by a week ago, looking for Jug, not knowing yet that he had fled town. She was upset, didn't want to go home, I…uh..comforted her and she ended up crashing here for the night…” “DAMN! Nice work FP!” Weasel cheered He snapped his head towards the young Serpent and sneered “it’s not like that! Get your heads out of the gutter for once.” “Sorry man!” Weasel choked out, “no disrespect, honest”. “So let me get this straight, your boy, had THAT and he just up a left her behind??” Muskrat asked dumbfounded “In a nut shell, ya” FP confirmed rubbing his hands down his face. “What the Fuck is wrong with him!??” Muskrat spat incredulously, “did you drop that kid on his head as a baby?” FP couldn't help but laugh at his remark “I was wondering the same thing myself Muskrat” he said shaking his head. “All I know is that she's hurting and lonely and I can't help but feel a little guilty that my son was the one to do that to her” he grimaced. “Soooo….” Ferrett dragged out “you're saying she's single, lonely, likes Serpents and needs some comfortable companionship….I think I could help her out with all the above” he implied with a cocky quirk of his lips. “Back off, Ferrett!” FP growled “She’s going through a rough enough time as it is, she doesn't need you pawing after her” The younger Serpent backed away with his hands up in surrender but a sly smirk still on his face. “Well now that that's settled” Snake said slapping him on the back “can we get back to my truck please?” *** This routine carried on throughout the summer, much to her mothers dismay. Earning Betty many lectures about the dangers of the Southside and biker gangs. But their arguments always ended the same way, with Betty reminding her Mother that she was an adult now and as such, made her own decisions and would spend time with whoever she pleased. So, when Betty wasn't working at Pop’s or hanging out with friends, she'd be elbows deep in grease at FP’s, never ceasing to amaze him with how much she new. She became his best work hand and Sunnydale’s biggest attraction. There never seemed to be a lack of FP’s ‘friends’ showing up to watch them work. Hell, he wasn't stupid, he knew it had absolutely nothing to do with him. At first, this annoyed the hell outta him but Betty just took it all in stride. From the staring and whistles, the many questions and jokes and of course Ferrett’s blatant flirtations, which usually ended in Betty politely refusing his advances and Ferrett feigning heartbreak. FP never let anything get out of hand though and wouldn't tolerate any crudeness. There was only once or twice where he had to tell some guy to beat it. She even took it upon herself to get to know the men, what they did for work, for fun, all their interests. She even met their wives and played with their children, who now actively sought her out for hugs and cookies and songs or stories. And she was never short on food requests and of course, Betty being Betty, she usually obliged by making someone's favourite meal or dessert, often using FP’s kitchen to do so. But he worried that it was maybe too much for her, dealing with the guys with their families and requests, not to mention their daily antics. He brought it up one afternoon when they were alone, “Hey Elizabeth….you know, I can talk to the guys, tell them to take a hike if they're being overbearing or making you uncomfortable.” “Don't be silly FP” she waved away his concern “they don't bother me, it's all good natured, plus I like getting to know them and their families, I even consider a lot of them friends now” she reassured. So he let it be, with a promise from her that she would tell him if it ever became too much or if anything or anyone ever made her feel threatened or uneasy. As much as she fit in this was still the Southside and it had it's darkness. On top of any days that she would come over to work on a vehicle, Betty also came by every Friday evening with home cooked meals for his fridge and freezer. It didn't matter how much he protested, she still came religiously, arms full of goodies, which he honestly didn't know how she found the time to prepare with her busy schedule. He worried she was spreading herself too thin and had told her as much one Friday night. Said that a woman her age needed to relax more, enjoy life and her youth because lord knows it goes by far too quickly. She only chuckled, telling him the he was sweet to worry but insisted that she was fine, even though FP saw the marks on her palms she tried to hide. In the end, that's what broke his resolve and he stopped fighting their Friday visits. He realized that they provided her an escape and that it was those nights she seemed to be the most at ease. She would seem to let go and just be Betty, the real honest version of herself, not one of the many personas she tried so hard to uphold. And not that he could complain, he liked the way her presence lit up the lonely trailer and made it come alive. He found he enjoyed talking to someone about things that had nothing to do with gangs or turf wars and Christ, he appreciated the meals she brought, the woman could cook, that was for damn sure. Yep, he was lucky to have her friendship and there was definitely a few men that would kill to be privy to the sunlight that was Elizabeth Cooper. They'd eat and she'd tell him about her week and ask about his, they'd laugh as he told stories from back in the day or about something stupid one of the guys did. Sometimes they would just sit quietly, enjoying each other's company while she sang softly along to the radio in the background. The odd time they'd even watch TV or some movie that she couldn't believe he had never seen while enjoying whatever treat she brought with her that night, Come fall she had went off to college at NYU to study Journalism, but she would still spend most weekends in Riverdale, with his place still being her refuge on Fridays. Eventually their conversations grew deeper, more serious, she'd talk to him about her mother and her family. Confided in him about how, for the first time, she hated school. Journalism was her mothers dream for her while Betty’s passion was mechanics, which he already knew. She gushed about her part time after school job at a little garage not far from the apartment that she now shared with Archie Andrews, who she had started dating early into the school year and had now moved in with just after Thanksgiving. He was happy for her, glad that she was able to move on. Especially when Christmas came and went with still no word from Jughead. Even he was surprised and a little hurt that his son didn't reach out to him during the holidays. Then one weekend, when she was particularly stressed out about midterms, hands throbbing from the many times her nails had provided her release that week, Betty revealed the darkness that lingered within, red angry palms face up on her lap as she explained how she self harmed to cope, knowing he wouldn't judge her and he didn't. Instead he cleaned her wounds and bandaged her hands, affirming that she wasn't crazy and that it was normal to slip into the darkness sometimes, letting it take control, hell it happened to everyone at some point, no one is perfect. Still, he didn't like knowing that she hurt herself, so he made her swear that she would try and find other means to cope while letting her know that he would be here, in person or over the phone if she ever needed someone to pull her back from the ledge. As FP was all too familiar with that ledge and his own method of self harm. Betty saw it first hand one Friday in February when she was home. She arrived to find the trailer a mess and FP sitting on the floor, a bottle of Jack in his hands, face soaked with tears. Sure, she'd seen him drinking and even drunk before, especially after a hard week when the work of the gang had gotten to him, but it was never anything like this. And honestly, she assumed his drinking would get less once the feud ended and the town started to heal. Once the Serpents went legit and they didn't have to worry about cops and jail and watching their backs. She knelt down in front of him and put a hand to his face brushing away the tears with her thumb. “I thought you said no more tears” she said gently, which made a small chuckle escape from his lips. “I’m sorry” he slurred “you shouldn't be here, shouldn't have to to see me like this” he said as more tears fell. “Oh FP” she sighed taking the bottle from him, setting it aside. She sat down next to him against the wall and pulled him into her chest, resting her cheek on the top of his head while she stroked his back trying to bring comfort. “Do you want to tell me what happened?” He shook his head against her in response, “no” he managed, his voice raspy from crying “not right now”. “Ok” she soothed “but I'm here when you're ready” They sat like that until his breathing slowed and the tears disappeared, then she helped him to his room and into bed, slipping off his boots for him before pulling the blankets over his form. He was out as soon as his head hit the pillow. She went to the kitchen, grabbed him a bottle of water and some aspirin and set it on his nightstand knowing he'd need it in the morning. She looked at him asleep before her, concern etched on her face. He looked so broken lying there dishevelled with his face puffy and red. What had caused this strong man to break? Her heart hurt for him, her friend, her confidant. It was then she realized that he had become her best friend. He had been her rock, her constant, for almost a year now, listening to all her worries and problems, sitting patiently as she'd vent about whatever had pissed her off that week and she'd be damned if she wasn't going to be here for him when he needed her most. She called Arch and told him she wouldn't be back that night, that FP was going through something and was in a bad way and he needed someone. Archie never questioned her friendship with FP, he may not of understood it sometimes but he was always supportive and respectful of her decisions, that was just who he was. He even offered to come stay with her and help but she told him she'd be fine, plus she knew FP wouldn't open up with Archie there. Once they had said their goodbyes and hung up she padded down the hall to the spare room, found an old pair of Jug’s clothes to wear to bed and crawled under the sheets. It's funny she thought, how much she'd come since the first night she slept in this bed. Even though her thoughts still often turned to Jug, wondered about him, his old clothes and the memories didn't have the same crushing effect they once did. It took a lot of time and strength to get here but for the first time she was pretty sure that she'd be alright. *** In the morning she learned that FP’s biggest trigger was his family, especially his ex-wife, and that coupled together with his own self doubt was a dangerous combination. It was a call from Gladys that prompted his self destruction. It had been many years since she walked out, but she still held so much power over him. No one could remind him more of what a disappointment he was. How he failed at everything, being a husband, a father, at life itself and how he'd never amount to anything above Southside trash. Betty had never met Gladys Jones but in that moment she hated her. She didn't even realize she was clenching her fists as he talked until he reached over and uncurled her hands. She gave him a sheepish look, embarrassed at the action and at the fact that she let her get to her too. She breathed out her frustration, “I'm sorry, I'm just angry that she would say those things and that she has this effect on you. And that you actually believe her!” she huffed. “She's not wrong Elizabeth, I'm not blind, I'm aware that anyone I've ever loved has left me” he conceded “I know what I am” “No, I don't think you do!” she cried, taking him aback “you are not your past, you are not defined by your mistakes or the actions of other people! You want to know what I see? I see a man who has done the best he could with the hand he was dealt, yeah maybe you weren't the best husband or father but who is?? All that matters is that you tried! You were there when it mattered most and your intentions, while sometimes misplaced, were always good and came from a place of love” She grabbed his hands and squeezed, “you are strong FP, stronger than the darkness, you are driven and resilient and worthy of happiness” she said with conviction “you just have to let yourself believe it and decide what you want, what does FP want?” she asked studying his face. He pulled his hands from hers and dragged them through his hair. “I want to be the man you just described, I just don't know how” he admitted. “That's where you're wrong, you're already there, you just don't know it yet. So let's start with something simple, what's the dream?” “I've always wanted to own my own garage” he said quietly. “Okay, so, what's stopping you?” He scoffed, “Money, ability…..my vices…..my insecurity” he resigned. “Well I can't really help with the insecurities besides telling you that their unwarranted. As far as your ability, I don't think you have anything to worry about there, I've seen your work…but then again, it may benefit you to take a business class, learn the basics needed to run your own shop. You know the local college has a night class for people looking to start a business. It's only a 6 month course, not too expensive either and I believe they offer student loans if you're interested. That way you wouldn't have to have the money upfront and you wouldn't need to start paying it back until you were finished and even then you could make payments as opposed to paying off the whole amount. Also, being as it's a night class, you could still work during the day and on weekends, putting money away. I'm not saying it's going to be easy but it's doable.” He just nodded in response, letting the information sink in, not quite ready to let in the hope that threatened to bloom in his chest. She softened her gaze and her voice “But there is another thing we need to address FP” she bit her lip and continued, “the drinking, like last night, you need to do something about it” she held up a hand to stop him as he started to speak, “I'm not judging, I'm not lecturing but you know as well as I do that no one can run a successful business in that condition. I also know that no one can make that decision for you, this is going to have to be something you do for yourself. You're going to have to want it and be dedicated to it and I won't lie, it's going to be fucking hard! But I believe in you” she said placing an encouraging hand on his “and I will be here for you, supporting you, with whatever you need” she promised, her eyes searching his for some sort of reaction. He put his head back closing his eyes. Betty held her breathe as she waited for him to speak. Finally she heard a soft “Ok” “What?” she asked, wanting to make sure she heard him right. “Okay” he said louder “to all of it” “Really??!!” she shouted almost giddy, as she clapped her hands together in front of her. “Really. But I hope you know I'm going to hold you to that promise” he said pointing at her “I'm going to need someone who believes in me, who trusts me and who has the ‘balls’ per say, to kick my ass into shape when I need it and call me on my fuck ups, are you in Cooper?” “Oh I'm in FP, all the way, let's do this!” she exclaimed, slapping one hand against the table top. He leaned back tilting his chair on its legs and let out a genuine laugh. He's not sure who up there assigned Elizabeth Cooper to be his personal saviour but he sure as hell wasn't questioning it and he'd be damned if he was going to screw it up! He couldn't hold back the large smile that covered his face, because for the first time in his life he thought, things were looking up. *** End chapter