heartbeats ; bughead

09

betty;

The thing about Riverdale at night is

From a distance, it presents itself like so many other small towns all over the world. Safe. Decent. Innocent. 

Get closer, though, and you start seeing the shadows underneath. 

Anyways, I was walking back from Pop's, unfortunately, in heels. Time just flew by with Archie, you know? 

shit. shit. shit. What time is it?

I checked my watch. 

10 pm ALREADY? Mom would be raging. Sometimes, I imagine that my mom has this satanic cult with other moms where they plot about how to set fire to their daughters--

Betty. Focus. On. The road. Mom warned you about Riverdale at night. 

Each step I took, I felt this aching feeling inside of me. I wouldn't describe it as being afraid, but...dread. 

Water started to fall on my head, first tiny droplets, then before I could perceive the rain, in became a downpour. 

"DAMN YOU!" I yelled. "DAMN! YOU!" I stomped on the path to my house like an immature child--

The path? There's a path? Where's the path? 

Just. My. Luck. I forgot where the path was. Shivering, I took my phone out of my pocket, and tossed my blond hair, stringy from the rain, over my shoulder, and dialed Archie's number. 

"Hey, you've reached Archie. Sorry, I'm not--" I jammed the 'end call' button. 

"urrrrrgh..." Groaning, I walked to the nearest lit shop. Good. The door was open. I walked in--

"Shit!" A glass door. I rubbed my head, which was throbbing from the impact. 

I dialed Veronica nervously. "Vee?" 

"Betty, hey! What's wrong?" I heard voices in the background. 

"Hey, could you come get me? Sorry to call you so late, but--"

"Shoot. I can't right now, I'm at a thing with my mom. I'm so sorry!"

"No, it's-it's ok. Talk to you later." Shoving my phone into my pocket, I thought about my options. 

Pop's is too far. Archie's not answering. Veronica's busy. Mom's at a meeting. Dad's God knows where. The clouds are pissing on me. 

And I'm here. Alone. 

My gaze shifted to an alleyway, which looked dry enough. I could go there. 

But it looked dangerous. 

Shut UP, Betty! It's either that, or rain. Reluctantly, I ran towards the alleyway, afraid of...everything. When I had perceived that it was somewhat safe (NEVER trust an alleyway), I sunk down onto the ground, and hugged myself. 

Suddenly, I heard footsteps. Heavy footsteps. I immediately got up. 

"Who's there?" I whispered. 

I heard a gun click into place. "Hands up. Now!" I was too shocked to breathe. "I-"

"HANDS UP!" Trembling, I raised both my hands up. I breathed, "What do you-you want?" The man-boy-thing walked closer, and he held the gun up. 

"Wallet. Now!" The person's voice rang in my head. Haven't I heard that voice somewhere? 

Light started to seep through the alleyway, and gradually, the person's face came into view. He probably knew I saw him, because his hands started to shake. 

I stepped back, my hands touching the wall. The boy's face glinted with sweat. Then, before I knew what happened, he held out the gun to me. I touched my shoulders. 

"I can--" He stopped, and dropped the gun.

My face felt numb, and I felt like I was sinking into something which I didn't know. 

"Jughead?"

Well, that was fun. But THE HOLINESS THAT IS BUGHEAD WILL COME I PROMISE! Thanks for bearing with me, and I promise you will get your BUGHEAD FIX veryyy soon. *winks* I feel really Riverdaley today so...