Miss Atomic Bomb (Jughead Jones)

Part 1

"Just smile Mari!" Betty pleaded, "I can't hold this camera forever!"

Unwillingly, I flashed a half-hearted smile.

The camera made a clicking noise and Betty laughed loudly.

"Why do you even need to take a picture? It's not like this is some memorable moment." Jughead asked, rolling his eyes.

"Of course it's memorable! We're all here together." Archie jumped in.

Betty smiled, "Exactly."

I flopped down on the trampoline and Jughead followed suit.

"Can you believe that we're starting high-school in just one year?" I sighed.

Jughead raised an eyebrow, "I thought you would be more thrilled, you seem like you can't wait to grow up."

I thought about it for a minute.  Yeah, I wore a lot of makeup for a fourteen year old and I couldn't wait to go to college and get an apartment, but high-school just seemed so dark to me.

"Eh, I'm just not really feeling it, y'know?"

His eyes met mine and he smiled, "I guess so."

"Hey Marina, Archie and I have to go home." Betty said.

"OK, see ya."

I watched them walk off.  Betty looked at Archie's hand like she was dying to hold it.

Once they were out of earshot I sat up.

"Hey, Jug?" I asked.

"Yeah?"

"Why do you think Betty likes Archie so much.  I mean he's just a boy."

He rolled over onto his stomach, "I don't know.  It's kind of stupid."

"Yeah," I started to trail off, "Did you ever like anyone like that?"

"Not really. I wouldn't want to have to kiss them."

I raised an eyebrow, "Kiss someone? You've never wanted to kiss someone?"

He rolled over onto his back again, "I don't think so, I never have so I don't know if I would like it or not."

"I don't know if I would like it either."

Suddenly, I got an idea.

"Maybe, we could kiss?"

Jughead sat up with his eyes wide, "What!"

"It wouldn't mean anything!" I said quickly, "Just so we'd know what it was like."

He calmed down and thought about it.

"I guess, but we can't tell anyone, not even Archie and Betty."

I nodded my head quickly.

We moved closer together and barely made eye contact.

He looked at me, "So should I, or what should..."