heartbeats ; bughead

11

veronica;

"YOU'RE INVITED...TO ARCHIE'S FOURTH OF JULY BASH! HOPE YOU'RE THERE!" is what the invitation said. Oh, and "P.S: BRING A PLUS ONE!" 

Not mine, of course. Betty's. Why would Archie invite me after what happened?

"Hey, Vee, did you get one?" Betty asked. 

"Um...haha...no. We're-uh-not on good terms right now." 

She wrinkled her nose. "Why?" 

Well, because me and Archie were making out at his house every night, and so he was cheating on you with your best friend. But you know, it's okay, because we stopped, so he's all yours!

"Well, because me and Archie had this project for Hi-history, and we weren't really...agreeing." 

She shook her head. "Well, we're gonna make up for that, 'kay? You're gonna be my plus one!"

Oh no. "No-no, that's all right, I have a thing. That's all-all right. But thanks for the off--" 

"Shush," She put a finger to my lips. "You're. Coming. You're his friend, and he'll always be there for you. So there's no talking me outta this one." I smiled, but my stomach flipped with the thought of seeing him again after what went down. 

"Thanks, Betts." 

2 Hours Later...

"Betty, do you like it?" I came out of my room, wearing the fifth dress in a row. Betty had insisted I look nice. 

She clapped her hands. "Oh, this is totally the one!" I smiled.

"Betty, your turn!" She ran into the room, and a few minutes later, she shyly walked out. "It's a bit simple," she murmured. 

I linked her arm in mine. "Archie's gonna love iiiitttt!" Laughing, she pushed me, and we got into my mom's car.

archie;

"Come ON, Dad. We do this every year. What's the point?"

He smiled. "Bud, it's the Fourth of July. And plus Jason Blossom died a year ago. Shouldn't we be honoring him by at least showing people we care about his death?" 

I rolled my eyes. It wasn't that. It was because Betty would be there. 

And spending a whole day knowing that I wasn't truly her boyfriend would make my heart hurt with guilt. She doesn't deserve a crappy person like you. 

Suddenly the doorbell rang. Vegas barked. Just like every Fourth of July. Normally, I would be excited. 

I opened the door, a fake smile plastered on my face. 

It faded away. "Betty! H-Hi." Shut up. You don't deserve her. 

She smiled, and ushered her plus one in. "Oh-um-Veronica. Hey." She nodded her head. 

I wanted to grab her waist and put my nose against hers, but I couldn't. You know you want it. She's so beautiful, with those cherry red lips, and eyes which sparkle when you hold her close to you, and her delicate shoulders and--

"Archie?" Betty shook my arm. 

"Yeah. Oh, sorry. Come in." I plastered my smile again. The other guests came in, along with them, some of them clapping me on the back, and some pinching my cheeks while they tell me how the last time they saw me was when I was in my diapers. 

forsythe;

Have I mentioned how much I DEPLORE parties? All the dancing, and all the PDA.

The only reason I was coming was because Archie was my childhood friend, and he's been there for me since my mother left. 

I was about to knock the door, when I heard the clicking of heels behind me. It could only be one person. 

"Good to see you, Forsythe." I rolled my eyes, and met the girl's gaze. 

"Hey Cheryl? Shouldn't you be at home, participating in whatever Satanic ritual goes on in that house of yours?" She smiled. 

"I wouldn't be saying anything if I were you, Jugface. You're nothing more than a street urchin who's still weeping because his father's wasted away his miserable life to fraternize with Serpent scum." 

"Why, you little piece of--" 

The door opened. "Jughead?"

"Oh-oh hello. Archie. I brought a gift. And--" Cheryl linked her arm with mine. 

"And I'm his plus one! Come on, move over Archie, Jugface and I have business to attend to." 

Archie raised an eyebrow as Cheryl pulled me into the house. I shook my head vigorously and mouthed, "Save me!" Archie grinned. 

When I finally managed to get rid of Cheryl, I walked through the stuffy house, when suddenly, I saw a familiar face, and that familiar face saw me. 

"Betty?" She tripped over to me, and grabbed my shoulders. 

"Jugshhead, good to seeee youuuuu againnn." I shook my head, trying not to smile.

She lost her grip on my shoulders, and out of reflex, I grabbed her waist. "Whoa. Careful."

"I think I'm drunnnkkk, Jugsshhead." I laughed. Then I fell silent. Dude, she just punched you. Why are you acting like a middle schooler? 

I understand how Archie felt. Betty wasn't easy to be mad at. 

"Come on, Betty. We gotta get you somewhere to sit." I put a protective arm around her small shoulders, and led her to Archie's bed. 

one hour later...

"Really? Oh my GOD!" I laughed. 

"I KNOW! And then Polly's like, "What even is 'givin' the D'? And I had to like, explain it. She would NEVER let me go."

I smiled. I had to be wary, because she was still drunk, but I couldn't help it. "But you know you love her." She smiled, her lips parting for the first time this evening. 

"Yeah, I do." We fell silent. 

Betty sighed. "I'm sorry, Jughead." I rubbed my neck. "I'm sorry for everything, for the-uh-incident, and also the--"

An impulse just told me to go for it. Our lips touched. And it seemed to last forever. 

We were in Archie's bedroom. We were--

The door opened. 

"Jughead? Betty?"

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't written in so long, there was a family thing, and I needed some time to process it. But I'm back so what's goOd? Anyways, I'll update as soon as possible and thanks so much for supporting this book, guys!

~mo :3