Goodbye, good life | Bughead

05: Knowing the basics

"Jones!" Vicky shouted to the group of Jughead. "So you sent me away for a day and you are double dating, how great," she continued and looked angry. Jughead chuckled and shooked his head. But also, he was pissed. No one need to know this girl, she wasn't worth to introduce to his work buddies, it was more than enough they know he had a girlfriend. "They are from work, Joel, Carla and Betty," he showed the guys.

Vicky's face moved to look at Betty. At the same time, Betty was looking at her - blonde girl, with curly bob haircut, outfit was young and bohem, something what just over twenty year old would wear, Betty thought.

"Betty! She is the fucking one in Keller's photos, she is his bestie. And your ex-girlfriend. Fuck you, Jones," she yelled and turned around soon disappearing behind the buildings.

But the rest of them. They were in shock, each one in different reasons and ways.

"Fuck" Jughead said.

"She was adorable, your girlfriend I assume," Betty saw her time to rise above everything.

"Yeah, I was keeping her around but maybe it's time to let her go," Jughead laughed a little and everyone chuckled. They thought the same.

"But what she just said! Thank her for that! High school sweethearts, ladies and gentleman! I knew I sensed something big!" Joel clapped his hands together like he was giving an applause. Betty and Jughead looked at each others and either of them didn't know what to think but for once in a long time they had some mutual understanding for each others thoughts. "Like I said. Story for an another time," Jughead saved them and Betty gave him the first genuinely kind smile since they met yesterday. "I need to go now, Tempo waits!" she said and took a taxi right away. Jughead did the same.

At home Betty just focused on her cat, Tempo. She kept him in her lap and just listened his purr, it was her mindfullness. She didn't wanna think about this days events. Maybe tomorrow. It was so calming right there with Tempo and in the end Betty fell asleep on her couch. In the middle of the night, one o'clock she woke up. Her phone buzzed.

Jughead: You have really learned your lesson. Having fun with no strings attached, no ones getting hurt and you get to live your dream. I'm almost jealous of your life style. But wait, no I'm not, I'm an adult and I have some respect for people.

It wasn't the worst Betty had got from him. This was almost normal, but it did hurt her a little. She sighed, walked to her bedroom, changed her clothes and jumped to her bed. They always replied their texts. Otherwise the other one will win. She was tired, but this needed to be done.

Betty: Look who's talking, with the fifth girlfriend of this year.. I'm not familiar with the previous ones, but this latest. Well, it is just sad how much you need sex and how much you are willing to sacriface to getting that. Well, you loss, good luck with your Teen Model, looks and behavior match with the category.

Usually they stopped there. One for each. They had never had an actual conversation via texts, they didn't comment what the other one said. They just text something else but never fight back for any certain issues or defend theirselves. But many things have changed since Friday. And this texting. It had changed too.

When Betty woke up, she was staring her phone with shock. He continued.

Jughead: Oh Betts. Maybe you are just jealous. You can't do your strangers every week, and I know you go out with Ronnie only like once per month. You must be desperate and in need. To have some. Someone. Must be hard to see me again, there is so much about me you must be thinking now..

Betty blushed so badly. She was so pissed with this guy but what he just said. She wasn't going to talk about sex with him. And now she is thinking about that and him. And he was thinking about that too when he texted her to those words. Fuck!

In other part of the city, Jughead slept. Finally. He was up til early hours of the Sunday. He had too many thoughts in his head after their day. After learning new facts about Betty's life, after seeing Vicky in front of his collegues.. He texted to Fangs and they scheduled afterworks for Monday. He could try to dig something more about Betty.

Jughead enjoyed his Saturday. For his own surprise. He was amused of those moments when Betty lost her control, of course. But more than fun, it was just interesting. She wasn't boring girl to watch, she had a million sides in her, so many levels, so many points of view. And those new things he learned every single minute he spend with his ex-girlfriend.. he couldn't describe what he felt. There was no words.

For the start of this evening at his apartment, he tried to write his mind on the paper. But it was hard. There really was no words for this situation. How to feel about the fact that you met your ex girlfriend again. Who once was love of your life, then your friend and then the one you hate the most. Someone in his head was fighting back for this word 'hate'. Was it hate? Why had he been in touch with her for all these years? Why he had to text her every once in a while?

He didn't know the answers. He just knew that the day was okay. But Vicky. He really needed to do something for this one. He didn't need her. She was young and now he realized that more clearly. When she stood there in front of his collegues. When he'll have the energy, he'll take the key and delete her number. Someday soon..

When Jughead rolled around on his bed and didn't get any sleep, he texted to Betty. He didn't have that same drive like usually, there wasn't so much hate there, but he tried. When Betty answered, for the first time ever, he texted back. Kept the conversation on. She didn't answer on that night. But at the morning..

Betty: Could you just stop talking about sex! Or thinking about it. At least if you texting to me. There has to be something else in your head too?

Jughead: Same goes to you. Betts.

Betty: You just can't stop with that name?

Jughead: No. I invented that.

Why doesn't he stop, thought Betty. She needed to figure out something and she got the idea. He'll never succeed.

Betty: Okay. Well. Tell me five things about you and give me the reason why I would let you keep using that name.

Jughead thought what should he do about this. He could just push her a little. If he'd answer, he knew that Betty would freaked out and he knew that she didn't like him using the name. It was little painful for him too. But it was all about pissing Betty. And the answers. He was getting her the good ones. Truthful ones. She won't like them..

Jughead:
1. I'm the only one who knows your childhood good, bad and embarrassing stories (don't bring you mom or Polly into this)
2. I know your darkness and secrets
3. I'm the only person you have loved
4. In deep down you enjoy my humor and jokes
5. You have missed me

Betty didn't answer anymore. She was wiping the tears which fell on her cheeks. She was thinking if she would call Kevin or Veronica. He was right. And it didn't feel good. Not at all.

Jughead texted one more.

Jughead: I passed, didn't I? I want your five things too. It would be fair. So start thinking. See you tomorrow Betts!