2 | Game of Survival [JUGHEAD JONES]

CHAPTER EIGHT

word count: 1,385

     BETTY COOPER GLANCED AROUND THE EMPTY DINER, her feet already hurting in the rollerblades she had donned. Granted they were cute, but not what the real waitresses wore daily. 

Ginny sat on the counter besides Jughead, bemused with the blonde's outfit. While Betty had desired a cute look with Pop's Diner shirt, Ginny wore her white apron with her hair pulled back into messy braids. There was no need to look cute while she worked. The humidity of the sweltering kitchen made the brunette's hair stick out like straw. Jughead looked adorable with his busboy outfit: white button-up shirt, white apron, and a black bowtie.

"No one's here. No one's coming," Betty turned to the couple, dismayed. She glanced between the pair and back to the front door, thinking a person was seconds away from entering. No one did enter.

"It's still early, okay?" Jughead reassured Betty. He turned to Ginny, wanting to reassure her too. Her job was at stake. He knew that this was her only source of income and he wanted to help her the most. 

"Mom," Betty groaned as her blonde mother entered the diner, glancing around at the dismal attendance. She batted away the colorful balloons that donned the entry. "What, did you come to gloat?"

"Oh, don't be so cynical, Elizabeth." Betty had her hands on her hips as defense, her mother was unwanted at this event. They didn't need a new story about Pop's Diner and its failures to be posted.

"I came to write my next story over one last root beer float. I'm calling it 'Requiem for Pop's'. Can I get a quote, dear?" No one knew if she was being serious or sarcastic. She sat down in an adjacent booth, pulling out her laptop from her purse. 

"You're a fiend, Mother, but this is one obituary that you're not gonna write," Ginny smirked. How the hell did Betty always find the perfect thing to say?

Some time went by and all was well at the diner. People from around town had started coming in. Ginny had started directing the volunteers on how to take orders and serve. Hey, Betty Cooper had never worked a day in her life at a restaurant. Thankfully, Pop and Ginny managed the situation while Betty served and Jughead bussed.

Even Veronica Lodge was participating and helping out. She wore the same costume Betty was wearing– supporting the diner. "All right, two strawberries, one vanilla, and one chocolate with extra malt."