BUGHEAD: Betty vs. Tony - A Riverdale Story

Two: Jughead and Tony

When the bell finally rang for lunch, Betty couldn't believe how relieved she was. She dropped her things off in her locker and headed to the lunch room, kids she didn't know bumping into her on purpose and calling her names. It bothered her, but not enough to ruin the excitement of seeing her boyfriend – well, ex-boyfriend in a way. But they weren't really broken up, they were just taking a bit of a break until the Black Hood situation was sorted out, then everything would be fine again. Juggy would understand why all of this had to happen.

Betty felt a small smile, the first one in weeks, twitch at her lips as she pushed past the doors of the cafeteria. Her eyes searched the room for Jughead, not even bothering to think about eating. And then she spotted him, her heart thundering in her chest. He was sitting with a table full of Serpents, his friend Tony sitting next to him, their backs to Betty. They were all laughing and joking around and looked like they were having fun.

That's nice that he has Tony around while there is a divide between him and the Norrths- i mean him and his friends, Betty thought as she walked towards the table. I'm glad that he at least has one friend here and is not completely alone in this. Other than her pure hatred for Northsiders, Tony is a really nice girl. She reminds me a lot of Jughead, very intelligent, rough around the edges. Maybe I can talk to her, see how Jug has been doing –

Betty stopped in her tracks a few feet away from the table. Jughead wrapped his arm around Tony and then pulled her in close, locking lips for a long, passionate kiss.

The world around Betty began to spin. Was she dreaming? Was this a nightmare?

Betty pinched her arm, hard. Enough to draw a little blood. The room came back into focus. She wasn't dreaming. This was real. Jughead and Tony were kissing right in front of her. Everything was wrong, so wrong. Her fists shook at her sides as her nails dug into the soft flesh of her palm. Hot tears welled in her eyes as her breath became shallow.

"Is that a Northsider?" One of the serpents from the lunch table called out. Everyone turned to look at crying Betty.

Jughead laughed and began to turn his head, along side Tony. "There's no way a Northsider would show their-" His mouth dropped open when he saw Betty.

"Betty?" he cried out. A look of shock splashed across his face. Tony matched the same pale color. "What are you doing here?" he quickly fumbled to his feet. His tone was not anger, but pure surprise.

Betty stood frozen in the silent cafeteria, every eye of her peer on her. She wiped away a single tear that rolled down her cheek.

"I go to school here now," she said quietly. The serpent table erupted into a fit of laughter.

"You're joking," Jughead said, his face serious and pale.

"Does it look like I'm joking Jug?" He slowly moved toward her and she held her ground, sucking back a wave of tears.

"How? Why? This doesn't make any sense?"

"Well, it does to me." She forced herself to breath. "The lunchroom looks full in here, I think I'm going to eat somewhere else," she said coldly and left Jughead with his mouth hanging open.