IMAGINES ▹ ROSS BUTLER

↳ swallowing his pride

( SWALLOWING HIS PRIDE )
by onemorefanaccount

Finally scrolling to the last page, your eyes dart across the screen as you take in the words. Finishing the last few sentences, you raise your head so you can meet your friend's gaze.

"Jughead," you trail off. "It's incredible."

"It's just a rough draft," he shrugs, his hands falling to his lap. "It's obviously nowhere near done yet but-"

"Quit your rambling," you interrupt with a smile, "and just accept the compliment."

Chuckling, he nods-his arms darting out to take hold the his laptop as you carefully push it across the table for him. Jughead closes the lid and takes a deep breath, "Thank you." Tucking his laptop away, you use the chance to take a small sip from your drink.

When you look back up, you find Jughead staring at you expectantly, causing you raise an eyebrow, "What?"

"Do you finally want to talk about?" he questions, having realised over an hour ago that you'd been avoiding the topic he was referring to-despite being the one to call him to meet up earlier in the night.

Shaking your head, a frown made its way on your face, "Not really," you admit apologetically.

In complete understanding, he nods his head and starts to change the topic-happy to keep your mind off Reggie for the time being. "Did you want anything else to eat?" he asks, gesturing to your empty plate.

"No thanks," you smile, leaning back in your seat. "I think I've have more than enough tonight."

A comfortable silence fell over you both, not having to fill the air with mindless chatter.

Even with your eyes closed, you could feel his eyes on you-as if trying to find any sign of what you were thinking. "Go ahead," you sigh, your eyes still closed-knowing what was running through his mind.

"You said you didn't want to talk about it," Jughead reminds you, quick to understand what you meant.

"You're not going to be at ease until you know," you tell him. "I know what you're like."

Jughead leans forward over the table, "You don't have to tell me," he insists. "I just want to know if you're okay," he continues softly, hating the idea of his closest friend being hurt.

You shrug, opening your eyes before mimicking his position. "I will be," you say, more to yourself than him. "I just," trailed off, you found yourself shaking your head.

"What?"

"I thought he was over it all," you answer, almost laughing at how you sound. "I figured by now he'd be able to see that he needs to think before he acts."

Jughead snorts, "Reggie? Think? Those two don't go together."

You reach an arm out to gently hit your friend, but can't help the smile that forms. "Don't be mean," you scold.

Your friend tries to hold back his laughter and fails, "Sorry, (Y/N)."

Jughead and Reggie have never gotten along-you understood that. You appreciate how they both tried to be civil, at least when you were around, but at times your boyfriend would push the limits.

Both boys meant the world to you, for very different reasons, and you didn't ever want to see either of them hurt.

"You should talk to him," Jughead suggests.