Opposites Attract | Bughead

Future

Jughead's POV

I was supposed to pick Toni up from the Pembrooke this morning and we were going to go to the Wyrm, but she called me on the telephone last night saying Sweet Pea would come pick her up so that they could have have some 'time' together.

I decided to pick up Betty and surprise her with flowers and then maybe bring some Pop's to Sweetwater River. "Oh, Jughead!" Veronica greeted cheerfully as she opened the door. "Hey. Is Betty ready?" I asked, hands in the front pockets of my jeans. "Yeah, um, Betty!" she called back. 

Betty came down the stairs with out seeing me, asking if it was her mom. "Actually, it's..." Veronica trailed as Betty came to the door and looked up. "Hey, baby," I said, pulling her into a side hug. She aimed her head up and kissed my jaw before we said our goodbyes to Veronica.

Once we were on, I mentioned that I'd forgot her helmet once more, but she just wrapped her arms around me and said, "That's okay, Juggie. I think I like it better without one," smiling at the end and laying her head on my shoulder.

---

When we got to Pop's, I just told her to wait on the motorcycle and that I would be right back, given I had ordered before I went to the Pembrooke. I came out seconds later and Betty had offered to hold everything in her bag. 

We were off again, heading to Sweetwater River, only she didn't know that. I could feel Betty holding up a smile, and I wondered if she ever got tired of wearing it on her face. I knew I was never tired of seeing it.

---

"Juggie, this is amazing!" Betty exclaimed, twirling around and seeing the little picnic setup I had planned. It was really just a blanket and some flowers, but she seemed to be excited. We walked over and sat down, her immediately indulging in the strawberry milkshake I'd picked up for her.

We talked and laughed and ate. She told me about her plans for the School Hop and even what she wanted to wear. "Ronnie said she'd get me the prettiest dress I ever did see," Betty gushed before taking another drink of her milkshake through her straw.

"Any dress is the prettiest when you're in it," I replied with an unintentional smirk. She froze at my remark and blushed down to her ankles. "Juggie, I only wish I was as beautiful as you tell me I am," she smiled.

"Well, I only wish I could tell you how beautiful you are." She was glowing by now. "You are far too kind, Mister Jones," she replied. "You are far too astounding, Mrs. Jones," I replied, this time, my smirk was on purpose. "It's Miss Cooper," Betty smiled, unable to lose the red glow of her blushing. 

"Well, what did I call you?"

"Mrs. Jones."

"And that's not your name?"

Now it was Betty's turn to smirk as she said, "Give it a few months." I knew what she meant by that. We'd wait until we graduated high school, which was only in about seven short months. I could wait. Betty reached her hand over to mine and looked me in the eyes.

"I wanna run away with you someday," she admitted. I was a bit shocked and confused. I urged her to continue. "After we graduate, maybe we can take the station wagon and leave. Leave Riverdale. Go somewhere where there's no Northside or Southside."

"And then we can get married..." I added onto our fantasy for the future. "...In an accepting town..." Bety smiled as I saw a tear leave her eye. I scooted closer to her and swiped it away. "Hey, hey. None of that. You're okay. We're gonna be okay. We'll be just fine," I said in a comforting tone, pulling her close.

Betty laid her head on my shoulder and sighed. "I hope you're right," she sniffled "We can raise a family of our own. One that allows and encourages diversity," Betty said before looking up and smiling at me. 

"I want to call my mom and ask if I can spend another night at Ronnie's," she sighed. "She said I'm always welcome and I just don't want to go home tonight." "Why not come stay with me and Toni?" I offered. Betty's head shot up and she said, "My mom would kill me!"

"Okay, okay, calm down. You don't have to," I coaxed. "Unless..." Betty trailed, gaining the deviant smile I saw her wear yesterday. "I can just tell her I'm with Veronica," she said, smiling. "My, my, Miss Betty, you've come a long way since we met at that Circle K," I remarked. 

She bit her lip and it drove me crazy, "Well," she said. "Opposites attract."