𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋𝐒

𝐗𝐈|𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐀: 𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐋 𝐈𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐄

They are two songs in and Jughead has her pressed up against the wall. Her legs are wrapped around his hips and her arms around his neck. His face is glued to the crook of her neck as his hands hold her up from under her thighs. Her skirt has ridden up indecently high and if Jughead could manage to pry his head away and look down he would be getting a sight to behold. She wants to ask him to get out of here. She knows he lives up the road. He has a bed with their name on it, all she has to do is say the word. A small bout of nerves hold her tongue. What if he tells her no again? She doesn't think she could handle that. He needs to ask. He needs to be as weak as her. She won't deny him again. Not anything. If he unzipped his pants right now and slid her panties to the side just the slightest he could.... No Veronica. She chastises herself to calm down, but she would honestly maybe let him. It's just like that time in the hospital. Something about the combination of Jughead and alcohol seems to make her an exhibitionist. His hands hold her steady, digging into her flesh as she grinds against him. Her hands trace his face. The face that has only the faintest discoloration of the bruises she had traced a few weeks ago. She finds it such a shame he doesn't know. She's starting to forget why she chose to keep this secret. Why she basically begged Archie and Betty to keep this secret. It was supposed to benefit them, all of them. It has not benefited them, any of them. She couldn't save Archie and Jughead's relationship. She couldn't save her and Archie's relationship. She can't stop herself from destroying Betty and Jughead's relationship. Her and Betty will not survive this. And if Jughead ever remembers...ouch...that will be bad. Jughead won't be happy she lied. She could lose him before he's ever even hers. She can only imagine what it would feel like to know every single person you care about has been lying to you. She can only cross that bridge if it ever presents itself in her path. She can only hope he won't hate her. Just another one of her sins. She prays Jughead has a high tolerance for forgiveness, the same kind of tolerance she used to think Archie possessed.

The song shifts to Post Malone and Veronica thinks she's happy Val took over and that the adults are a little too far gone to reclaim the music. Veronica has no idea where any of her friends are, but she hopes they're having as much fun as she is. She hopes Toni is keeping Cheryl preoccupied. She doesn't want to be disturbed at this particular moment. Her feet hit the floor again as Jughead's hands travel up into her flannel shirt. His hands grip the bare skin of her sides. The song changes into some slow Usher song and their movements change with the music. His hands find her waist again and her arms wrap tighter around his neck as they slow dance. He's unbelievably tall, she likes the contrast between them. They dance in such a comfortable rhythm just embracing the opportunity to be so close. It's borderline romantic as the initial flames of desire tamper down. It's a breath of fresh air. The most soothing form of human contact she's had in so long. The Jones men and their kind touches. She thinks whoever is Jughead's mom, she's missing out on this wonderful boy. How could someone have chosen to leave this family?

"You're not such a bad dancer." She says in his ear.

"Not good enough to impress you though." He whispers back.

"You've already impressed me in all the ways that matter Jughead." She tells him. "You've always impressed me."

Jughead leans down and peppers kisses along her jaw. She slips her hands up under his shirt and drags her hands along his bare chest. She wants to wrap herself in his skin. She wants to pull his beautiful soul into hers and let it overwhelm her demons. She wants to commit every sin with him in hopes that he alone would make those sins pure. Everything about him screams temptation and freedom. So she kisses him back. Every inch of his face, only avoiding the press of the lips she wants so badly against hers. She dances that very fine line. She runs her hands down his back and pulls him even closer to her. He's so warm and so close and so everything she's been wanting. She needs him so bad. He feels like a promise to have back the little bit of light that she gave up when she sat in her father's office and was shown the full plan to take over the Southside. She knows she agreed to help destroy the very boy that she wants to let save her. Her excuses won't hold up for long, not even the ones she tells herself. She wouldn't be able to look anyone in this town in the eyes. She just has to bide her time and build a way out. He makes her be braver. She won't forget that. If Hiram couldn't touch her? That would mean everything. Her father is physically stronger than her, she will never be able to change that, but that isn't the only way to fight back. Jughead was right she will have to accept help in that field. Jughead could possibly make sure her father was never physically close enough again. If the Serpents are as fully prepared as they look as one gang to stop her father. They had the numbers. She could have a wall at her back. Here on the Southside. She would just have to make her own way here. As much as she wishes Jughead could just fix this all, sometimes the princess has to climb out of her own castle. Can she get rid of Archie? Do it painlessly? And Betty? How could she not lose them both without denying her wants?