𝓳𝓪𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓼 𝓿𝓾 || JUGHEAD JONES ¹

• twenty •

~ROSE'S POV~

"Ladies, I need you to look around the room. Whoever is not in this room is on the table as a possible murder suspect. Including those Pussycats." Alice said.

"Mrs. Cooper, are you okay?" I asked.

"Oh, my God, Mom," Betty said.

"Now, let's talk about your father," she said to V.

"He has an epic grudge against the Blossoms, so yes. It's totally within the realm of possibility that he hired someone from jail to kill Jason and harm Rose. Maybe Jughead's dad." V said looking at Betty and I sympathetically.

"You really believe that?" Betty asked. "FP didn't do it," I said. "He would nev-"

"And Jason would never allow the playbook, right Rose?" Veronica said. "My dad paid Jughead's dad to trash the drive-in. Maybe he paid him to commit murder. And, for all we know, that gay Greaser Serpent is an accomplice."Alice said.

"And what are you basing that off of? That you saw FP and Joaquin talking?" Betty said.

"It didn't look like they were talking. It looked like they were conspiring," Alice said."Conspiring about what?" Betty asked.

"That's what I need you to find out," she said pointing towards me. "Either through Jughead or FP directly, without raising suspicion, of course. Which is why I have prepared a seemingly innocuous list of questions."

"No." I hissed.

"I already asked Jughead, point-blank, if he thought his father had anything to do with Jason's death, and he said no. And I believed him, and I still believe him." Betty said.

"I refuse to let you guys do anything to accuse him. Jughead told us that he doesn't think FP did it and I trust him. So leave it alone." I stood up and grabbed my bag and stomp out. I walked down the hallway anger radiating off of me until I feel a hand grab mine.

"Rose." Jug said as I turned around.

"Hey Jug." I say. "How's your dad doing?"

"Amazing." he said. "He shaved and cleaned the house. He is doing really good. I think I could even move back in."

"That's amazing, Juggie," I said.

"He even read what I had of my novel," Jug said.

"I'm so happy for you guys, Jug," I said. "I'm glad he is really doing this."

"I am too, Rose." he said as we walked down the halls of Riverdale High.

🌹

"Hey, Rose." Jug said as I sat down in the lunch table. "Do you want to the dance with me?"

Jughead Jones asking to go to the dance with him. THE DANCE. JUGHEAD JONES.

"Are you okay, Vanilla?" I asked with a fake worry. "Did your boss threatened to kill you if you don't sleep with me?" I said as I laughed.

"Haha. Enough of the stripper jokes." he said as he rolled his eyes. "So, do you want to go or not?"

"Of course, I want to go." I said as I quickly gave him a kiss on his lips.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I have an announcement to make," Cheryl said. "One that tangentially involves you, Betty."

"I'm bringing Polly to the dance as my date, and she, I and Rose are campaigning as co-queens of Homecoming Court."

"We are?" I asked in surprise. Why didn't I know? A few minutes ago I wasn't even sure I was going to have a date.

"Because why?" Betty asked.

"Because, Nightmare Smurfette, by all rights, it should've been Polly and Jason on that stage being crowned. This is the next best thing. Right, Rose?" she said. I didn't bother to answer, I was still mad at her because of what she did on Jug's birthday.

"Don't forget to vote, and I'll see everyone at my coronation!" Cheryl said. "Um-Our coronation." she said as she looked at me. She grabbed my hand and pulled me away from my lunch -boo- and my friends.

"Look, Rose, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have crushed your boyfriend's little party. I didn't think it meant so much to you."

"Whatever, Cheryl. It's okay. I forgive you because you're my sister but don't ever do something like that again." I said and she nodded.

"About drugs-"

"I don't anymore." I replied. She nodded and walked away. I turned back to the table and continued eating my lunch.

🌹

"How is Polly?" Betty asked.

"Sneaking around our house to prove MY parents killed JJ." I said. "So, okay, I guess."

"I'm sorry." she said.

"It's fine. She won't find anything anyways."

"Hey, Blossom." Jug said as he entered the room. "Hi, Betty. Why didn't you tell about the dinner?"

"What?" we both said at the same time.

"Your mom basically tackled me in the hall to invite my dad and I over before the dance." he said to Betty. "Did you not know?"

"No, no, of course, I've just, you know, got so many." she said clearing her throat. "Plates are spinning"

"Since when is there a dinner?" I asked Betty. "It's a dinner for Jughead and FP and us." she said.

"Why me?" I asked.

Did you not know?" he asked me.

"I was going to tell her when we got home," she said.

"Oh." she said.

"Yeah, it would be a family thing but since Rose is practically my family, because she is my best friend, your date and ,you know, Polly and Jason, it makes sense." she said."

Well, Rose, I think it's important for us." he said. "You know? I mean I know it can't be your real family, thanks God, but it's something." he said as kissed my cheek. What was Alice up too?