The Theory Of Chaotic Perfection |BUGHEAD|

Chapter XXII - When Alice Finds Out

"well, ma'am, they're dating. Betty is dating Jughead."

Alice Cooper stared intensely at the card she found under her daughters bed. It was a card from the bar the South-side Serpents are in charge of. In fear for her daughters reputation, she shoved the card into the pocket of her cream colored khaki pants and rolled up her sleeves. Of course, Alice was going to confront her daughter about the discovery, but when the time is right. She was a bit worried about Betty, but mostly she was disappointed in her. Alice had a plan for her daughter, and a damn good one, that's what she thought. Betty was going to grow up, inherit the family political business, marry Archie Andrews. That's right, Archie Andrews, perhaps if Alice informed him of the trouble her daughter is in, he could help somehow making Betty realize that he is the only man in this world for her.

Putting on her white coat, Alice marched to the house next door, the house the Andrews lived in. She knocked on the door three times, even number made her nervous and uncomfortable. Once Fred Andrews opened the door, she gave him a big smile and he invited her in.

"Fred, is Archie around?" She asked, taking the cup of tea Fred Andrews managed to quickly brew while she took off her coat.

Fred thought for a moment, "I think he's still at football practice. Betty asking for him?" Fred was not as involved in his sons "wedding arrangements" as the Coopers were. All he knew was that Betty was a good girl, and the Coopers were a nice and trustworthy family.

"Oh you know how those two are, they're really close." Alice looked around the house hoping to spot Archie. He was gone, just like Fred said.

Mr. Andrews has known the Coopers for a very long time, so he trusted all of them and didn't doubt them or suspect ill intentions. The Coopers did the same with the Andrews.

"Well, Alice, I'd love to stay and chat, but I have to clean out the garage for my truck. You're free to stay here and wait for Archie if you like." Fred smiled and started making his way out of the kitchen, where they had their small conversation.

Alice nodded and told him she'd stay here and wait for Archie. She admired the kitchen, Fred and his team built the house a long time ago. Alice always admired Fred's work. His family was a good family to marry into. Just as she was looking at the wooden table that stood in the middle of the kitchen, Archie Andrews walked in. He threw his bag on the table and poured himself a cup of cold water, not noticing Alice Cooper sitting on a chair at the counter.

"Mrs. Cooper! I didn't see you there, I'm so sorry." He exclaimed, hoping she didn't find him rude a few seconds ago.

She smiled, putting down her cup of tea, "no need to apologize, Archie. I actually came to talk to you. It's about Betty."

Archie looked down nervously, after his encounter with Betty in the bar, he didn't know how to act around her or her parents anymore. "What about her?"

"I'm worried about her Archie. I feel like I don't know her anymore." Alice closed her eyes dramatically and forced tears out by digging her nails into the palms of her hands.

The red head could not keep it secret from her anymore, he knew that Betty was dating Jughead and he knew that Mrs. Cooper wanted to know everything. Sighing, and thinking twice if it was a good decision to spill Betty's secret, Archie parted his lips.

"Mrs. Cooper, you are right. Betty has not been herself lately. I think that it's all because of Jughead Jones, they have been-"

"Jughead Jones?" Alice interrupted him, "tell me more."

Archie sighed again, this was not a good idea, "well, ma'am, they're dating. Betty is dating Jughead."

Her face went pale. Of course, she had her suspicions, but Alice Cooper prayed and hoped they were just her fears. Looking at Archie with wide eyes, she grabbed the cup of tea she had recently as tightly as she could. The china that the cup was made of broke from Alice's tight grip and shattered onto the table.

Archie quickly started picking up the pieces until he felt her cold grip on his wrist.

~~~

She felt his hands run through her hair. Her mother never let anyone touch her hair, it had to be perfect and no one could ruin it. With every touch from Jughead, her hair lost its innocence, like her mother feared. Betty didn't mind, she loved letting it fly through the wind and not caging it in her hair tie. His fingers traced her ear and ran down to her neck. She squealed and turned to the boy who made the goosebumps on her arms stand up just from one glance.

"Why does everyone hate you?" Betty asked, cupping his pale face. To her Jughead was filled with so much more than his father reputation. He had his own personality and she wanted the world to see just how amazing he was.

Jughead shook his head, he didn't know much about what others felt, all he knew was that they were cruel. Always cruel. Except for Betty. She was never the one to kick someone when they were down. When they were kids, Jughead was the same rebellious little outcast, and she was the kind hearted perfect girl who wanted to make the world a better place. He made it his mission to observe her and make sure that nothing bad happened to her, but like always, the cruel touch of reality kicked in and Betty and Jughead grew up.

"I don't know why the world hates me, they're just small minded I guess," he turned away from her and lied down on his back. They were sitting in the middle of the Riverdale forest on a green blanket, having a small picnic.

Betty nuzzled up to him and wrapped her arms around his torso, "the world doesn't hate you, it's just this stupid small town."

"Then let's get out of this stupid little town, it's too small for us anyway," he whispered in her ear.

First Betty was scared, then she felt comfort. She wanted to leave this town, it did not let her be herself and it scared her to death of being forever caged in this place. Jughead she had only known for a while, but she felt like she knew him her whole life. She didn't know him in a cliche romantic kind of way, she knew him because despite never speaking to each other, they grew up together. He was always there under the shade of a tree, watching her and making sure she was alright.

Looking into his eyes, trying to forever keep the memory of his kind and scared eyes in her head, she smiled. "You know, this whole thing reminds me of a certain young man and woman in fair Verona."

"We're not Romeo and Juliet," Jughead laughed, "everything will be different Betty, you'll see."

Betty shook her head, "history repeats itself, Jughead."

He sat up, pulling her up with him, put his thumb on her lips and said, "they're fiction, Betty, history is little Betty Cooper running around the school during recess and little Jughead Jones promising himself he'll always protect her because she's too pure for this world."

"I knew I always felt you stare at me! And Jughead, I'm not as pure as you think," she put her hand on his.