The Theory Of Chaotic Perfection |BUGHEAD|

Chapter VIII - The Queen Falls

"I got your queen stuck in the corner, there's no way out." 

She flinched when he applied his hand to her cheek. Of course, she wouldn't be able to hide it, not from him at least. Betty looked at him with innocent eyes and his were filled with worry and concern. 

"What happened to you?" Jughead asked, carefully rubbing his thumb against the sensitive skin. 

They were both at school and Betty was worried about what others would think if they see Jughead Jones caressing her cheek. She quickly took his hand off her cheek and smiled, trying to make nothing out of something. "I just fell in the bathtub okay, nothing to worry about." 

When she walked off, taking everything she needed out of her locker, he followed her. They were both silent, not feeling safe to talk in front of people. Everyone wasn't staring at Betty Cooper like they always did, they were staring at Jughead who was so close by her side. Betty felt anxious and guilty at the same time. What would her friends think? But at the same time, how dare she ignore Jughead who has been there for her? 

"Betty!" Veronica took her by the wrist and pulled her back. Jughead spun around to watch the scene unravel. 

Rolling her eyes Veronica forced herself to turn to him, "um, I don't know what you want from my best friend but I think you'd better leave." 

Jughead knitted his eyebrows together, more in pain than disgust, "I was just walking Betty to class." 

Veronica laughed, "you? Umm, I don't think she'd want that, right Betty?" 

This was her chance, she could reveal that Jughead was her friend and even more, but Betty didn't have that much courage in her, "please leave me alone," she said quietly, looking at Jughead. 

With a smile of victory on her face Veronica tilted her head to the side, "did you hear that? Leave my best friend alone, freak." 

He could have fought back, but what would he have said? He couldn't do anything, especially with Betty's innocent eyes looking helplessly into his. Swallowing his pride, Jughead turned around and started walking with nothing to say. He could still hear Veronica giggle at her victory and it irritated him to the bone. 

Veronica turned to Betty, "now that I saved you from him, how are you?" 

Instead of sharing in her friend's victory, Betty started walking, "I'm fine, I've been thinking a lot." 

"Thinking about what? Archie?" Veronica joked. It was evident that Betty liked him, sometimes she thought that even Archie himself knew, but he denied it because he didn't feel the same way. 

"If you have to know, no. I was not thinking of Archie," Betty spun back around and her pony tale hit her face. 

Veronica raised her eyebrows, "another young man in your life?" Then suddenly her best friend noticed her bruise, "oh my God, did he do that!?" She raised her voice.

Betty, shocked, pulled Veronica closer to quite her down, "no of course not! Jughead would never hurt me-"

"Jughead would never hurt you?" Veronica raised her eyebrows, "what is that supposed to mean? Also where were you yesterday! You left me with those brainless cheerleaders."

The thought of that made Betty smile, but she couldn't show it. Shaking her head she simply walked off. Veronica wouldn't understand her anyway. In class she scanned the room for a place to sit. Her usual spot next to Archie was opened, and another one next to Jughead. His crown beanie was noticeable out of the crowd. She looked into his kind, but hurt, eyes. Then she looked at Archie, who pulled out a chair for her and she sat down next to him. She looked back at Jughead, who was not looking at her. He was staring out onto the black board, clearly avoiding her gaze.