Smokestacks - Jughead Jones [1] ✔

Chapter Nineteen

SMOKESTACKS

CHAPTER | NINETEEN

"Ta da!" Savannah sang as she pulled a victoria sponge from the oven. It was slightly browner around the edges but with a coat of icing, no one would notice.

"You're a life saver!" Betty cried out, looking like she could kiss her. "I'll make some icing."

"Okay." Savannah chuckled, attempting to coax the cake out of the tin without chopping off a large chunk. With a cry of success, she settled it on a cooling rack.

Kevin came skidding into the kitchen, sliding on the tiles. "Archie just texted, they're here!"

The two girls shared a look of utter horror as they glanced at the cake. Kevin hurried back into the living room where they were all setting up for Jughead's surprise.

"Go." Betty encouraged, holding up a bowl that she was mixing the icing in.

"Are you sure?" She eyed the bowl, the girl and then the cake, in worry.

"I'm sure I can decorate a cake without screwing up." Betty reassured her, lightly pushing her shoulder to encourage her.

"Okay." Savannah held up her hands and tossed down the oven mitts she still had on. "Good luck."

The girl could spot everyone in less than a heart beat, each of them awful at hiding. Ethel had hidden the doorframe, Kevin behind some balloons, whilst Veronica was helping herself to Fred Andrews' whisky.

The door opened just as Savannah had entered the room, leaving her directly in the middle. "Uh, surprise!" She cried out with the rest, the lights switching on as Archie and Jughead appeared around the door.

"Happy birthday!" Betty cried after the rest of them, bouncing into the room with icing powder on her cheek. She wrapped her arms around Jughead, who hugged her back.

"Hey, you really shouldn't have."

Savannah caught his eye over her shoulder and shrugged, holding up a plastic cup that Veronica had pushed into her hand. "Any excuse for a party, right?" She offered, to which he half-heartedly smiled.

Kevin appeared in front of Jughead, the latter murmuring a "Oh, it's Kevin.".

"Happy birthday, bud!" He beamed, hugging the boy who looked very uncomfortable. "This is my boyfriend, Joaquin."

"Hi!" Savannah butted in, allowing Jughead to breath. "I'm Savannah." She introduced herself to Kevin's boyfriend. "I'd say I've heard so much about you, but I don't listen."

Joaquin simply laughed.

"Nice to meet you." Jughead shook hands with Joaquin, before looking around and frowning. "Where did Betty go?"

He couldn't have timed his question better, just as the door to the kitchen opened and in came Betty again, this time holding a cake with many candles. She started singing Happy Birthday when Savannah slipped out into the cool air to see Veronica on the front steps.

"You okay?" She asked the dark haired girl, watching in concern as she tipped the amber liquid into her mouth.

"Rough day." Veronica replied bluntly. "Why aren't you in there?"

"Jughead is clearly uncomfortable." Savannah let out a sigh and handed Veronica her own cup full of whisky. "And singing without music makes me cringe."

"Poor Betty." Veronica half-laughed, "She was so excited for this."

"He didn't want it though." Savannah insisted, "This is only going to end in disaster."