Choosing Betty (Jughead x Reader)

When Jughead saw you walking down the hallway hand-in-hand with James, something about him changed.

It had been almost two months since you had built up the courage to tell your best friend, Jughead Jones, about your feelings for him. It had been almost two months since your attempted confession of love was interrupted by his excitedly announcing to you his new relationship with Elizabeth Cooper.

Likewise, it had been almost two months since you feigned happiness for him, and later relented to the romantic advances of James Tanner, a classmate and football player who made it no secret his attraction towards you. He was charming, somewhat kind, and handsome no doubt.

But he was no Jughead.

You smiled at everyone as you bounced down the hallway with your beau, showing off your new River Vixen uniform–James insisted that you join so you could spend more time together at the football games. When you noticed Jughead's fowl expression, your brow furrowed in confusion.

What is it? Your expression seemed to say.

Jughead turned away, shutting his locker. Never mind. Betty walked up to him in her own Vixen uniform, sweetly planting a kiss on his cheek. I don't care.

Your eyes narrowed, but he wasn't facing you to see. Fuck you, Jughead. You squeezed your boyfriend's hand and continued on your way.

Later on, you and James were sitting together in the student lounge, along with Jughead, Betty, Archie, Veronica, Kevin, and a few other of your classmates. The "Core Four" plus Kevin were huddled together, most likely avidly discussing a new town mystery.

You sat with your boyfriend as you both worked on the math homework–well, you worked on the math homework that he would most likely copy when you finished.

"Babe," you said sweetly, looking up from your homework. This seemed to get both the attention of James and Jughead, who was vaguely pretending to pay attention to his friends. You could feel Jughead's eyes on you, but fought the urge to meet them.

"What is it, babe?" James asked back, absentmindedly scrolling through his phone.

"I was wondering if you were coming to my poetry reading tonight," you said with a hopeful smile.

James sighed, putting down his phone. "Oh... that's tonight?"

You pouted. "Yes. I told you about it when I first signed up, and gave you a flyer, and put a reminder in your phone!" You sighed in exasperation.

James avoided your eyes. "Oh."

You regained your composure, replacing your sour expression with a sweet one. "Can you come? I would really appreciate if you could support me, you know how bad my stage fright is..."

James held your hand sympathetically. "Sorry babe, I already agreed to go out with the boys tonight, and you know how much I love my boys. And you know I'm not as smart as you. Poetry isn't really my thing." He shrugged in confusion. "I bet you'll be beautiful tonight." He offered a charming smile.

"Oh... well okay." Your expression fell and you held back tears.

You were about to return to your homework when Jughead scoffed from across the room, causing you, James, and Jughead's friends to fall into silence, staring at him.

"I can't believe (Y/N) would date such an arrogant, idiotic douche like you," Jughead sneered.

Your eyes widened. "Jughead!" you exclaimed, partly in disapproval and partly in surprise. Jughead had barely spoken to you since he started dating Betty; you didn't even know he remembered you existed.

James stood. "Those are fighting words, Jones. How about you mind your own business with your girlfriend and I'll mind mine?"

Jughead crossed his arms. "At least I listen to my girlfriend's business."

James looked like he was about to pummel a certain South Sider, so you had to intervene.

"Juggie," you said, trying to maintain composure. "Can we speak outside for a minute?"

You stood up, making a point to kiss James long and slow right in front of Jughead before grabbing his arm and dragging him from the room.

You took Jughead into the forest near the school, where you used to often venture during lunch period to examine the trees and tell stories.

"What is wrong with you?" You asked, glaring at your friend. "You can't just say things like that about me in front of the entire school!"

Jughead's expression was unreadable. "Why are you with him?"

"Because I like him," you said.

"Why?" Jughead asked.

"Well... I..." you stammered. "He likes me," you offered weakly. Well, it was the truth.

"He doesn't like one thing about you," Jughead spat out. "He doesn't like your poetry, he forced you to join the cheerleading team, he even made you change your appearance!" He gestured at you, referring to your new hairstyle and makeup.

You quirked an eyebrow in challenge. "You don't seem to have a problem with your girlfriend being a cheerleader and looking like this."

Jughead scoffed. "I didn't make her become one, she wanted to do it. I love her for who she is."

Jughead's mention of Betty hit a sore spot. Your voice grew quiet. "You don't think I don't know James changed me? That he doesn't love the real me?" You pointed at yourself. "I don't love the real me, Jughead. Not since you chose Betty."

Jughead's eyes widened. "...chose Betty?"

Your voice cracked. "I loved you, Jughead. And when you chose Betty, it ruined me."

You balled your hands into fists, focusing on the pom poms on your cheer shoes so not to start crying. "When you chose Betty, you gave up any say in who I date. So I choose James. At least he chose me." Your voice cracked at the last part, and you ran off back to the parking lot, eager to leave the school, and Jughead, behind.