Bughead Oneshots // Compilation

"Goodbye, Jughead."

Song: "Sign of the Times" by Harry Styles

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|| J. JONES ||

Today is the day when I will leave everything behind.

I threw the last 'S' t-shirt I owned into my luggage, letting it join the pile of clothes I could quickly grab from the closet on the wall parallel my bed. I bent down and zipped the luggage close, pressing down on it hardly to compress my clothes. The bus leaves in an hour and a half, heading to Toledo, where I am going to be leaving with my mother and Jellybean.

This wasn't supposed to happen. We weren't supposed to get caught—Betty and I were so distracted with each other that we forgot everything around us, and by everything around us, I meant parking the truck in a place concealed enough from Betty's parents.

***

As soon as the engine died down, Betty turned to face me, a smile on her face. "It's so good to finally spend time with you again, Juggie."She spoke, reaching over to hold my hand, our fingers intertwining together. It had been a month since Betty and I saw each other in person—we have been so understanding of each other, which was one thing I am proud about in our relationship. I've transferred into Southside High, and even though I rejected being a Serpent after talking it through with Betty, I still am the center of attention there, which is physically threatening, in my opinion. Betty, on the other hand, being the best and brightest of Riverdale High, is the center of everything—the bridge to every club and everyone.

We have been communicating through Face Time and phone calls and texting, and it actually hurts just seeing her beautiful face through a screen. Her parents have never approved of us, so they were happy that I was finally physically separated from their daughter. And so whenever we talk on the phone or video chat or even just text each other, we would still have to hide and talked in hushed tones, even whenever her parents aren't around because well...who knows? They might be there all this time, waiting for the perfect time to ruin our moment.

"I know, Betts."I replied, grinning as I shifted on the driver's seat of the truck. Here we are, in the middle of the night in the corner of the parking lot of Pop's, sneaking in a date since for the first time in a while, both of Betty's parents have gone out for a journalism congress for the weekend. Betty and I really planned this moment, it's so well thought out it's crazy.

We're both crazy. Even if Betty's parents are out of town, it still is a risk doing this date. But I'm willing to take it just to see my girl. My Juliet.

"I missed you so much."I whispered as I pulled her closer to me, wrapping my arms around her, burying my face into the crook of her neck as she wrapped her arms around my torso. "I missed this so much..."I muttered, a smile forming on my face. "Me too, Juggie. If only you didn't have to go...I just want to be with you."She said, pulling away from me slightly. She pressed her lips against mine, a smile on her lips even until after she pulled away. We were like that for the rest of the night—talking, holding each other in each other's arms, laughing, kissing every now and then.

Soon enough a hand slammed on the hood of the car, immediately interrupting Betty and I. We both jumped in shock, our eyes widening as we stared out at the window, meeting the steely, cold glares of Alice and Hal Cooper.

"Elizabeth, get out of that car now!"Alice yelled at her, demanding for the door to be unlocked. Betty turned to face me, her eyes pleading. She had tears in ehr eyes, while I remained frozen on my seat, not wanting to move as Mrs. Cooper continued banging her fist on the car. "Just do it, Jughead."She spoke in defeat, looking down helplessly. And I did, I unlocked the door, which immediately swung wide open, Mrs. Cooper dragging her daughter out.

"How many times did I tell you to stay away from him, Elizabeth?"Her mother screamed at her as Betty cried, her father looking at her in disappointment. "God knows what you've been doing with this freak! I won't be surprised if he's knocked you up, is that why you're sneaking out with him? Just like Polly did with Jason?"I wanted to defend Betty, but I couldn't speak. All I could see was Betty, who was crying indefinitely right now. "I just wanted to see him! What's so wrong with that?"She screamed at her mother.

"Everything!"Her father soon stepped in, looking at his daughter with disgust. "We're taking you to the Sisters. To where you belong!"He yelled, grabbing his daughter's hand, dragging her to their car. Betty was screaming, struggling out of his grasp. Mrs. Cooper followed them, and I jumped out of the truck, running to Betty. I couldn't bear this anymore.

"Stop!"I yelled, grabbing Betty, freeing her from his grasp effortlessly without knowing how I did it. The Sisters would hurt Betty—I can't let that happen. As long as I'm here, Betty isn't safe. I held Betty in my arms, her face buried into my chest. Her parents were furious, stomping towards us, ready to pry Betty away from me.

"What if I left?"I asked, negotiating with her father, who scoffed. "You left, remember? But now, you've returned. I'm not buying your lies."He said, stopping in his tracks. I shook my head, looking down at Betty, who's eyes were staring up at me. "Juggie, no...please don't..."She understood what I meant.

"No, I mean it this time. If I leave town and stay away from Betty, will you guarantee that she'll remain unharmed, untouched by any sort of danger?"I asked, despite Betty's silent protests. Her parents seemed to have thought about it since their eyes were glued on me, studying me carefully, their eyes narrowed. "You will leave town and Betty will stay here. She'll be safe, but then you'll also cut all forms of communication with her."

"If that's what it takes to keep Betty safe, then deal."

***

What we didn't plan on that night was everything going so wrong.

I tapped lightly on Betty's window, looking around to see if someone was watching. Betty stood up from her bed, dressed up in her night gown, pushing the window up. From where I stood I could see her eyes red and puffy from crying, and it broke my heart. I climbed into her room, and immediately she jumped into my arms, sobbing softly. "You can't do this to me, Juggie."She cried. My arms were wrapped around her, pressing her as close to me as I could.

"I'll come back, Betty. I promise...I'll come back for you."I said, pulling away from her, looking down at her, caressing her cheek gently with my hand as she stared up at me. "I promise, Betty. On your eighteenth birthday I'll come back to get you. And then we're free...we'll run away from everything, start a new life together."I smiled down at her, and she smiled slightly up at me. "You promise?"

"With all my heart, mind and soul, Elizabeth Cooper."I spoke, enveloping her hands in mine, bringing them up to my lips, placing a kiss on it before leaning forward to press my lips against hers. Our lips brushed against each other before it molded together perfectly, moving in sync as my hands soon cupped her cheeks. For a while, we were lost in ourselves, in our little but memorable moment.

"I love you, Betty Cooper. Don't you ever forget that."I whispered softly, staring deeply into her eyes, mesmerized by them. "I love you too, Jughead Jones."She replied, smiling up at me, placing one last kiss on my lips before I stared walking back to the window. She stood where she was, watching me, and with every step I took, my heart cracked, bursting into pieces.

"Goodbye, Jughead."She called out before I disappeared down into the ladder, just in time to stop me from climbing down further. I could still see her beautiful face, giving her a sly smile. "I'll see you when we're eighteen, Juliet."I said with a light chuckle. I'll do whatever it takes to get her back—she's my girl, my soulmate, my Juliet, my Betty.

"Don't keep me waiting too long, Romeo."