Slowly Giving Up ~Bughead~

Chapter 13

          Jughead's POV: She was standing in front of me, closer than ever before. She kept looking at my hands, noticing that they were shaking, and trembling. I'd never been this close, and it gave me a chance to see her up close. She was perfect. In every single way.
"What?" She said. I took a breath, and took one step closer. Once again, her scent took over what it seemed like, the whole entire room. I looked down at her pink lips, and I saw her glance down at mine. I took one last step...
"Betty! Are you awake?"
We both jumped back at the sound of Mrs.Cooper opening the door. "Breakfast is ready!" Said Mrs.Cooper. Betty looked at me, and walked out of her door. "Well, are you coming?" Mrs.Cooper asked me. I shook my head, and followed Betty downstairs.
Betty's POV: After breakfast, I made my way back up to my bedroom and put my hair in a ponytail, put on a sweater, and covered it by a grey coat. Before walking out, I tightened my hair one more time, and walked out of my bedroom.
Jughead was waiting outside for me, with a flannel around his waist and his denim jacket on. The rain was still lightly falling, but the sky was even darker than before.
"So, where are we going exactly?" I asked. "Pop's. Where else?" He laughed. "I guess it's going to be like this every day, now?" I asked jokingly. "Yep. It's not the worst thing that could happen, but pretty bad." He joked. "Shut up." I said.
When we arrived at Pop's Diner, we sat in our original booth. It was weird without anyone sitting across from me and Jughead, because Archie and Veronica are always by our side.
Us being alone shot my thoughts back to this morning...before my mom walked in. What was it? What would have happened if my mom hadn't walked in? Did...Jughead like me? "Hey, you ok? You look a little pale." He said. "Yeah! I'm fine, just thinking." I said. Over in the corner, I saw Chuck Clayton watching me and Jughead like a hawk. I clenched my fists, but nothing cut. Again, Jughead did something wise.
We ordered our original milkshakes, and we talked. It seemed like we were sitting in that booth forever. Maybe even days...but, time can take you by surprise. I looked down at my watch, and I remembered something. I have to go to the Serpent bar.
"Hey, Jughead?" I said. He looked over to me. "Yeah?" He asked. "Can you wait here for a minute? I just have to run somewhere really fast. I'll be back in 10 minutes!" I said. He smiled. "Ten minutes. Go." He said while smiling. I smiled, and then started running. Running for something I actually wanted. Something I actually cared about.
When I arrived at the Serpent Bar, there were tons of bikes parked around the whole building. And there were a few Serpents coming in and out of the bar, coming and going. "I can do this." I whispered to myself. I calmed myself down, then went into the doors I thought I'd never have the guts to go through.
There were Serpents everywhere, but none of them were FP. I would have asked another Serpent, if they weren't all drinking. And...I'm scared.
          Suddenly, I reached a staircase leading to somewhere above the main part of the bar. FP was walking down, step by step. "So, you came. Another reason why I had faith in you." He said. "Well, what'd I come here for? I have to get back to my friend before he gets impatient." I said quickly. "Who's this friend?" He asked. "Do I really have to name him?" I asked. "You're part of the Serpents now. Go on, tell me." He said. "Jughead. Now, what's today for?" I asked again. "Did you tell this Jughead where you were headed off to?" He asked. "No! But he'll know if we don't hurry!" I said. "Alright." He said. He turned around, and looked at a Serpent. "Hey, Mustang! Here she is." He said. Mustang walked over, and he would make any little kid run away. But I couldn't be scared. "Where's the thing I asked you to get?" He asked Mustang. Mustang walked over to the bar, and picked up what looked like a Serpent jacket. When he got closer, he handed the jacket to me. "This is...for me?" I asked. Mustang shook his head, and walked away nodding his head as a goodbye. "It's all yours." I unfolded the jacket, and saw the green snake on the back. At the top of the snake it said,"South Side Serpents". And then there was the very top. It had a "B" that stood for Betty. My name. Not anyone else's, but mine. As I rubbed my fingers over the letter, it felt like snake skin. "Thank you, FP." I said. He gave me a slight smile, and started to walk away. I stopped him. "FP, why'd you really take me in?" I asked. "Your mom was a fighter. I saw the way you punched that kid. Your a young Alice Cooper, and one day, you'll be better than she is." He said. I smiled, and then went to walk away. "Come here any day you want. We could use some help whenever." He said from behind me. And then, I walked out with the biggest smile I've ever had on my face. He was right. You feel like you belong, and you feel like you're a part of something great...that must stay a secret.
          I had 3 minutes left, so I had to run to my house and back to the diner. I quickly put my new jacket in my closet where no one could find it, and ran to the diner.
          Jughead was still in the same spot he was in when I left, and I was out of breath, with rain running down my face and hair. "Jeez, where'd you go?" He asked me while watching me sit. "Wonderland." I joked. For the rest of the night, we had fun at Pop's. that is, until Archie and Veronica showed up. "Jughead!" We heard from behind our heads. Archie was holding Veronica's hand, while having an angry look on his face. "What, Archie? What's wrong?" Asked Jughead. "You. You're the problem!" He said. "That's a little too far, Arch." Said Veronica. "Betty! Did you know Jughead's dad is a Serpent?" Archie asked me. I looked at Jughead in disbelief. "Juggie, is that true?" I asked. He looked disappointed in himself, and his eyes shifted to the table. "Juggie." I said. "Of course it's true." Archie said. "Fine. It is." Said Jughead. Jughead looked at me with tears forming in his eyes, and I wanted to comfort him. But something was stopping me. And that was Veronica pulling on my hand, telling me she needs my help. Veronica pulled my hand to where I was out of the booth, and soon heading for the door. But, the whole time I was walking, hand in hand with Veronica pulling me, I was looking back at Jughead. And he was looking back at me. Until I was out the door. Gone.
          Jughead's POV: All I wanted to do in that moment was say, "I'm sorry." But, truth is, I wasn't sorry. I wasn't sorry that my dad was a Serpent. And I definitely wouldn't act like it, either. But I was sorry for one thing. And that was lying to Betty Cooper.
          I had no idea where Veronica was taking her, but I couldn't find her. I walked every sidewalk possible, but she wasn't there. Finally, I went back home without Betty Cooper by my side. My partner in crime.
          When I walked inside, Betty's parents weren't home yet, thankfully. I went to her room, and started typing. I typed until my fingers were telling me to stop. I typed until my head was cleared, and I thought. And then, I heard it. The doorbell. I heard Betty Cooper.
          When I opened the door, there she was.
          She went to her room, and I followed.
          "Betty, I am so sorry." I said. And there they were. Even more words that were lies. "Can I change before we talk, Juggie?" She asked. I shook my head, and off she went to the bathroom. She came back out with pink pajamas, and her hair up in another bun. She sat down by me on her bed. "So. Wanna talk?" She asked. "I thought you were mad at me." I said. "Of course I'm not. Everyone has secrets." She stated. "Thank you, Betts." I said. She smiled, not showing my teeth. "So are we ok?" I asked. "We're ok." She said. I smirked, and she laughed. "There is...another thing, though." She said. "What?" I asked. "This morning. What...was it?" She asked. I looked at her, and stared straight into her eyes. "I don't know." I said.
Betty's POV: I stood up, and walked over to my vanity. When Jughead stood up, he took his jacket off. And his beanie. He never took it off. I turned around to face him, and I noticed how wavy his hair is. His eyes were now triple the droop, and he looked like he had black eyes, but a little lighter. When I turned around, he was closer than I thought he was. I looked up into his eyes. They were filled with pain, and they looked like a cry for help. He was tearing up a little, and I noticed he inched closer. One step, then two. Our faces were close, and my eyes wandered to his lips. Out of the blue, I felt his hands on my cheeks. His thumbs were wiping away the tears that suddenly found there way out of my eyes. "Betty Cooper." He whispered. I almost opened my mouth to speak, but before I could he took his last step. And he kissed me. My hands were in his hair, while his were still on my cheeks.
But it was only the beginning.