Bughead One Shots

Lovebirds

"Which table, Jug?" Betty looked tightened her ponytail as her and her boyfriend entered the iconic Pop's Chock'Lit Shoppe.

Jughead smiled at Pop and then to Betty as he neared an empty booth.

"There's crumbs on there." Betty laughed.

"Good thing I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty."

Jughead grabbed a napkin out of it's holder which had definitely seen better days and brushed all the crumbs onto the tiled floor of the diner.

Betty smiled and slid into her seat. She tried to settle the butterflies in her stomach as Jughead did the same. Betty smiled awkwardly for a few moments before managing a soft, sweet little laugh and looked down at her hands which she had resting on the table.

The sound of Pop's voice lured her out of her little bubble as he asked what they'd like to drink.

"Could I please have a Strawberry Vanilla Milkshake?" Betty asked in her usual, sweet tone.

"And for you, young man?"

"I'll take the Cookies and Cream, if you will."

Pop smiles. "I guess some things never change. I'll bring out those shakes right away, lovebirds."

At that Betty, the perfect pink girl next door who was programmed to follow along felt something else. Something different. Lovebirds. What the hell? Why did that sound so weird? Maybe because of what she pictured. She had always thought of lovebirds as a young, fragile bird dove the wing on a protective significant other, but with Jughead she just saw two beautiful, colorful parrots without one being better or more significant than the other. It felt weird because it felt right.

She shifted in her seat. "Lovebirds."

"What, are we like, not, not a, couple or something?" Jughead eyes widened and his gaze didn't meet Betty's eyes as he asked the question apprehensively.

Realizing what she had made Jug feel, she quickly grabbed his hands and looked him in the eyes. "Of course we are, Jug! I guess I just had this brief moment of visualization, and instead of imagining me how I did with Archie, I thought of us, not a weak little girl and big strong man but instead two equal beings who love each other."

"Damn, Betty Cooper. You can be really deep when you want to be."

"I mean, I guess so." She laughed, squeezing Jughead's hands.

Pop walked back over to their table and set down two ice cold glasses filled with creamy milkshakes that were just asking to be drank. The milkshakes that had made Pop's famous.

Betty moved her straw towards her mouth and took a sip, letting the sweet fruity taste engulf her and make her crave for more. With every sip, she remembered all the special moments she had spent in this very food joint - grabbing a quick bite to eat after ballet practices, grilled cheese sandwiches with her neighbor Archie on the last day of summer break, and even meeting Veronica. Now, she was making more memories, this time with the love of her life.

They ordered an appetizer of onion rings while they thought of what main courses they should order. Chicken tenders, burgers, fries, so good they could even make Vegan's mouths begin to water.

"I think I'm going to get two juicy double layer cheeseburgers with an extra large side of fries and some pickles." Jughead stated. "You?"

"Probably just the usual I guess."

"Pop's Burger with no mayo and tomatoes on the side, tomato soup and then steal some of my fries?" Jughead recited smiling.

"Like I don't realize you sipping my milkshake whenever I leave to use the bathroom."

"Sometimes I need a bit of strawberry kick."

"Sometimes you need to get kicked."

They laughed longer than they should have as Betty gently kicked his leg under the table. Now, acting as if they were no more than two seven year olds left unattended, were trying to see who could pin down the other's foot the longest - still smiling and giggling. And in that moment of raw, genuine contentment, she saw it again: two beautiful parrots in a world of doves and hawks, and she wouldn't change a thing.

Lovebirds.