1 | There's a Ghost [JUGHEAD JONES]

THIRTY ONE

word count: 1580

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE:

THE PLOT THICKENS

     AFTER GETTING SEPARATED FROM Jughead, Ginny instantly knew where Jughead would go to hide. The garage. She knew upstairs would immediately be occupied by couples commingling so she deduced that would become his safe haven for the evening.

"Jug," Ginny sighed as she walked into the garage and towards him, placing her hands on his shoulders. He sighed as well, looking up at her in disappointment as he sat on a chair in the middle of the room. Her hands curled around the back of his neck, playing at the base of his neck. "I'm sorry– I wanted to tell you, warn you–"

"Why didn't you?" Jughead asked, hurt evident in his tone.

"I don't know," Virginia shrugged, suddenly shy as she stood above her best friend. "I-I'm not your girlfriend and Betty is, she wanted to do something for you, I didn't want to stand in the way."

"But you know me, Gin." Jughead stood up from his sitting position and pulled Ginny into a hug. "You know me better than anyone."

"Exactly," Ginny joked, squeezing him tightly, her hands fisting the back of his shirt. "That's why I always second guess around you."

"Don't," Jughead replied. "You're my best friend I love you, you know that right?"

"N-No," Ginny told him honestly but her voice was shaky, hands sweaty at the confession.

"That's why I want to be with you."

Ginny breathed in sharply as their lips lingered close to one another. All she wanted to do was lean in and kiss him– it was what she craved but she couldn't– Jughead had a girlfriend still. Kissing him again would be a mistake– she didn't want to do that to Betty.

They were interrupted by Archie who burst into the room unannounced– yet again.

"Dude, Valerie just got here. You think she wants me back?" Archie slurred, beer in hand.

"Archie, as my blood-brother, it was your sole responsibility to ensure that something like this never happened on my birthday. And now we're here. In the middle of a Seth Rogen movie." Ginny had stayed quiet, both still extremely close as their friend stood in front of them.

"This was Betty's idea, okay? I just went along with it." Archie defended himself, raising his arms.

"It's so not me." Jughead said with a sigh.