Our Lustful Summer

Chapter Two: Secrets Bite Hard

(Jughead's P.O.V.)

I ran out of the halls as fast as I could, and made my way to the bleachers, where I could just be alone. I had a shit ton to process.

I couldn't believe what I just witnessed.

Archie.

Making out.

With.

Miss.

Grundy.

I kept repeating to myself, almost like a chant: "How could he kiss her?, why would he do that?"

I kept trying to come with a logical explanation; an excuse that would pull me out from this ocean depth of emotions in which I had been submerged in.

But nothing.

I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. I thought Archie and I had something special.

But at the same time, I didn't know why I was sad; we ended things on friendly terms.

"Jug, let's keep this a summer thing; just between us, okay?"

"Okay, Arch, that sounds good to me," I said as he pulled me back in for another long, amorous embrace.

As he kissed my lips softly, he added, "Jug, I think I'm falling for you."

My heart practically leapt out of my chest.

I adjust myself to make eye contact with him.

"I'm way ahead of you, pal." I say with a smile, which makes Archie giggle slightly and kiss my neck as if it were the most delectable fruit in the world.

Thinking about it made me smile with pure happiness. But since I saw what I saw, it also tore me up a little bit inside every time.

I just wanted to know if what we had was actually real.

But I should probably just shrug it off in my classic Jughead fashion. All I needed a little, good ole time cry, and then I asked myself, "Why do I have to love him? Why?"

As I was thinking about this, I heard footsteps that made my head immediately shoot up, and then saw Betty walking towards me. Oh great.

She was hesitant to approach me at first, as if I looked as if I were about to snap and fly off the handle, which probably wasn't too far off the mark; I did feel as if I were about to lose my cool for a while, but I maintained it. Although, it wouldn't have been the first time I went full on psychotic at school, but details, details, and long stories, so maybe you'll hear it later; if you're lucky.

"Jug? Are you okay?" Betty asked cautiously as she worked up the nerve to say something to me.

Now, this could have gone one of two ways.

I either could have broken down and told her the truth, and nothing but the truth, and hope that her reaction to it wouldn't be too disheartening to her self-esteem.

Or I could just deny that there's a problem and be on my merry way, with me possibly messing up along the way.

Guess which option I went with.

After a few seconds of her question lingering in the air, I opened my mouth to respond.

"Hey Betty," I said casually. "To answer your question, yes, I am okay. Everything's a-okay!"

She replied with heavy skepticism in her voice.

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yep, I am perfectly sure!" I said with a fake reassuring smile.