Betty, Interrupted - Bughead

0.3

Jughead watched her pink sneakers pounding the pavement as she headed off at break neck pace. "She didn't even wait for us!" Archie grumbled in his ear.  He had to admit it was odd, his normally reliable and consistent girlfriend taking off without a word. He couldn't even remember the last time they worked on Jason Blossom's murder together, as she just kept repeating "Maybe it's a dead end Juggy. We'll just have to leave it up to the police." 

He didn't argue. There was only so much 2 sixteen year old teens could do, but he missed the long hours beside her, breathing in the sweet scent of lavender off her clothes and cuddling beside her at the Blue & Gold office. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and answer Archie "I'm sure all the preening with Veronica will take a while. We got a long wait ahead of us." And with that he settled in on the bed for another round of their video game.

Betty had forgotten what a process getting ready with Veronica was. Lots of contouring, plucking, waxing, and probably more drinking than intended – Betty didn't think she would ever forget the look on Veronica's face when she arrived with rum bottle in hand. She nearly fell over in shock. "I was just thinking we could have a glass of wine but this looks like much more fun! Dark Betty I hardly knew ye!" Veronica shouted. 

They laughed excitedly, and for the first time in weeks, Betty felt genuinely giddy. She couldn't wait to forget the last few awful weeks, even if the chance to forget came in a glass bottle. Everything seemed funny 3 shots later when their hair and make up was finally finished. Betty barely recognized herself. Cherry lips and black lined smokey eyes suited her but she couldn't help but feel she didn't look anything like normal. More mature. Less broken and less like a little girl waiting for her mother to scold her.

"You know when we took the first shot, I thought it tasted awful. But now I think it tastes like fun in a bottle. A little like good times, you know?" Betty pondered. Veronica laughed at Betty's deep musings. "I'm glad we managed to pull ourselves together to put on our make up and outfits. Jughead is going to die when he sees how hot you look!" Veronica approved and Betty stood back to admire herself in the mirror. The tight fitting black dress Veronica loaned her seemed to show curves she didn't even know she had but the insecure part of her thought about how no one would notice her next to her stunning best friend in a red dress. Veronica just seemed to ooze confidence and sex appeal.

"I'm ready for another shot." She admitted and headed into the kitchen. Veronica chased after her. "Whoa! Slow your roll! Our handsome boys are supposed to be here any moment." In spite of her friends advice, Betty finished pouring herself another shot. Just as she raised the shot glass to her mouth, Veronica grabbed her hand.

" Hey! Ronnie, he'll just think I'm fun for once. Don't you want me to be fun?" Betty insisted but Veronica was not to be deterred. "Yes, but I also want you to be able to walk!" Before they had a chance to argue about it any further, the doorbell was ringing. "Speak of the devil- devils, I guess." She walked over to the door while Betty prepared herself for her shot.

"Liquid courage" She whispered to herself, although she no longer remembered what she needed that courage for. Just as Veronica opened the door to Jughead and Archie, she swallowed the shot. As much as she tried to hide it, she coughed and shuddered at the taste.

'She's absolutely gorgeous.' Jughead couldn't help but think she looked thinner though, her collarbones more prominent and her arms and legs toned. He tried to tell himself that it might be the lighting or the circumstance. As far back as he remembered, he had never seen her drink, or even heard her talk about alcohol but here she was in Veronica's kitchen swaying lightly to the music and smiling at him like he hung the moon.

"Betts girl – I told you to slow it down. We have a whole night ahead of us!" Veronica called to her. "How much has she had to drink?" Archie asked the exact question on Jughead's mind. "That would be her fourth shot, Dads! Here to spoil the evening?" 

"Where did you guys get.. Rum?" Jughead asked. "Rum indeed. And Betty brought it over. I was thinking this was more of a wine and cheese thing but it seems Betty has gone full Gone Girl on us. There's been no convincing her to slow down." Veronica said as she cast a glance at her best friend. He could barely keep her eyes off her as she spun in circles smiling to herself. In her own world, she barely seemed aware of him.

"You guys shouldn't have been drinking at all." Archie lectured. Veronica couldn't keep from rolling her eyes as him. "What did you suggest Arch? That I tell her to take her rum somewhere else? Because something about the way she's been lately tells me it would have been all too easy for her to down that bottle by herself." 

Jughead could barely focus on their arguing. He was completely transfixed by the drunk blonde girl laughing to herself in the kitchen while she danced. Even though the girl before him was the same Elizabeth Cooper, she looked like an entirely different person. 

Carefree instead of careful. Thirsty for all life had to offer her outside of this tiny town. Dancing like she couldn't be bothered by what anyone thought of her and the crafted image her family presented. She looked too good for this place, even standing in one of the most expensive apartments in Riverdale. Her spirit couldn't be contained to such a small place.

She walked over to the door, and he couldn't imagine being any luckier when she grabbed his hand and whispered "Dance with me Juggy." She pulled him into the kitchen with her. He could see Veronica and Archie behind him, clearly at odds with how to handle their intoxicated friend but Betty didn't even seem to notice as she wrapped her arms around him and placed her head on his shoulder.

"Betts? You okay?" he asked. "I'm just having fun. I want to be fun. And happy again." She mumbled into his chest. His heart sank at her sad blue eyes. He tilted her face up to him. "What's making you so sad blondie?"

"Everything." She laughed "Mostly I just hate the way I can't breathe when you're not around. Like the whole world is an ocean dragging me down. But then there's you, lifting me up, the only way I can feel safe anymore." Where she looked bubbly before her mood turned serious and worried. Before she had a chance to convince herself not to say it, the words come rushing out "I just love you so damn much, Juggy. I would be lost without you."

She pulled out of his arms, looking so helpless and scared at that moment, and at the idea that she may have said the wrong thing. Biting those cherry red lips and avoiding his eyes. Jughead reached for her waist and pulled her in, silencing her doubt with a kiss. "You know I love you too, right? I love you Betty"

She pressed two fingers to her lips afterwards, willing herself to remember this kiss that felt more real than all the others. This time felt different, more meaning because he loved her. And she loved him. She could barely wipe the huge smile off her face. Betty looked up at him "You really mean it, don't you Jughead Jones?"

He smirked at her. "What can I say? I'm a sucker for those bright blue eyes and that smile that doesn't come often enough!" Veronica seemed to materialize into the room, Archie trailing behind her. "Okay lovebirds, as much as we could stand here all night, we have a party to get too!"

Betty couldn't help but feel eager to be a regular teenage girl tonight, with her boyfriends arm around her and her best friends beside her, there was nothing the night could bring except for good times.