Holding Back |~| A Bughead Story

Chapter 10

Betty's P.O.V: 

The next day I woke up feeling lighter than ever. I had just gotten the best sleep I've had in months. Of course the only factor that changed it was Jughead... I really need to get over him. Today is Sweet Pea's date with Veronica, as well as Toni and Cheryl are meeting. Devil and Christina have 'family game night' as their mother calls it, when really it's just them sitting at the table having awkward small talk while playing Monopoly. D and C's dad has been a little distant lately, at "work" but they don't seem too affected by it. And today Fangs would be hanging out with the heart-breaker. So with everyone busy it was going to be a Jughead and Betty day. At least after I help Veronica get ready. Only then would it be a Jughead and Betty day. My thoughts went back to my position, snuggled in Juggie's chest with his arms wrapped tightly around me. It feels so good to be back here, the silence and most comfortable spot ever. Jug stirred a little mumbling something along the lines of 'Good Morning'. I shifted my head a little and eyed Toni face first into Sweet Pea's chest, legs wrapped around his waist and hands against her chest with Pea's arms wrapped tightly around her small body. They were also asleep and unaware of how cute they looked. I started to shuffle a little, trying to get out of Juggie's grasp. My feet began to touch the carpet when he quickly pulled me back onto the couch with a trapping of his leg. I stifled a giggle and whispered, "I gotta call Ronnie, I'm supposed to help her remember?" "It's too early though," he mumbled with his eyes still closed. My eyes flicked up to the clock on the wall, "It's 10 o'clock Juggie." He mumbled a, "Still too early Betts." My stomach did a summersault at the nickname, "I can make breakfast," I cooed. A slight grin broke out on his face as his hold weakened. After a few more mind-changes and a promise for waffles I made my way into the kitchen. The natural feeling of it hurt my heart. This used to be a daily thing. Waking up together, one of us starving enough to get up and make breakfast. I'm happy school had been canceled this week. According to the notice that went out it was for 'renovations' but we all knew they caught someone with jingle jangle again and were doing a full sweep. I finished up the waffles as the bacon in the microwave dinged. I set up some plates and saw that Juggie was now sitting up on the couch. I moved out to the living room and set the plates down. Sweet Pea stirred, probably from the smell. I sat next to Jug and kicked my feet into his lap as he leaned back with his plate. It all seemed so normal and my heart clenched. "Good morning." Was mumbled behind me. "Morning Pea. T's still asleep." I turned my head to see him nod and slowly open his eyes. He looked down and a small smile graced his lips. He slowly sat up and Toni stirred. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled. Then as soon as it came it left. She snuggled further into his neck. He held her tighter. I set my half-finished food on the coffee table and made my way into the kitchen. By the time I had finished making their plates, Sweet Pea was sitting up on the bean-bag as Toni was sitting between his legs. I handed them their food and they happily took it. "So Sweets, are you excited?" He looked at me from his food. "A little." Came his reply as a slow smile spread across his face. "Uh, I think your more excited than that! You've been gushing over Veronica all week!" Toni chimed. I stifled a giggle as Sweet Pea glared at her. "What are your guy's plans today?" Toni asked. "I was thinking we could have a big horror movie marathon like we used to. I haven't seen scream in forever cause Fangs doesn't like horror." "That is a crime Betts," came from next to me. He leaned back from setting his empty plate on the table and smirked at me. God that smirk... "I know. Yet another reason we should watch it today." I smirked back at him. "I am perfectly fine watching horror movies with my bestie." My stomach flopped and my teeth clenched.

Jughead's P.O.V:

"I am perfectly fine watching horror movies with my bestie," I said. Betty's eye twitched and I could see something shift in them. She stiffened and her mouth clenched. All in one second I could tell I said something wrong. Before I could say something she got up and collected everyone's plates and headed to the kitchen. I turned to Toni and Sweet Pea with a raised eyebrow. Toni just smiled with a shaking head and Sweet Pea was stifling a laugh. Though I was confused something told me to just let it be. A few minutes later Sweet Pea was freaking out that he only had two hours 'till the date with Veronica. Toni was calming him down and Betty was gathering things to go get Veronica ready. With a rush Betty was out the door and Sweet Pea was in Toni's room. I sat on the couch for what felt like forever, flipping through channels when there was a knock on the door. "Jug can you get that?" Toni called from her room. "Sure." I called back. I walked over to the door and swung it open. Veronica stood there, the biggest smile on her face. "Hey J! Is Sweet Pea here?" She asked. "Uh, yeah he's still getting ready." She nodded and I opened the door a little more for her. She walked in. "Hey Pea, Ron's here." He walked out of Toni's room and stopped dead in his tracks. "Hey Ronnie." She blushed, "Hey Sweets." After a few moments of awkward shuffling they walked out and into the truck. A few minutes later, Betty walked in. She was wearing a tank top, and shorts; her hair up in a messy bun. She couldn't have looked prettier. Toni came out of her room and slipped on her jacket. "I'll be back in a few hours. You know the drill." She said. "Have fun!" Betty encouraged. "Hopefully this will bring some new fun into my life." Toni spouted and left. Betty turned to me giggling. "So popcorn or pizza first?" I smirked at her, "Popcorn. Then ice cream. Then we get a break and head to Pop's, and then we get more popcorn." She nodded, "Sounds like a plan." She moved into the kitchen and started up the popcorn. I picked out Scream from our horror movie pile and slipped it into the DVD player. I set up a bunch of pillows and blankets on the ground for us to sprawl out on. She came out with four bowls of popcorn and set two by each of us. I grabbed the remote and pressed play. An hour later we were sprawled out and effectively enthralled with the movie. Betty was cuddled into my side, as we had finished the popcorn a while ago. A jump scare came on screen and she jumped a little. I scoffed, "You never get scared with these! It's been way to long." She nodded in agreement. Almost another hour later we were eating ice cream and starting on Saw 1. By the middle of this movie, we were laid on the beanbag. Betty on top of me, while my arms engulfed her. We didn't make it to the end of the movie before we were headed to Pop's. She slipped on her sneakers and I did the same. We walked out hand in hand and in comfortable silence. She shivered a little and I put my jacket around her shoulders. She slipped her arms through it and giggled when it engulfed her frame. I smiled down at her and we continued to walk in silence. I led her to our normal booth and Pop gave us our usual. As we ate and debated on how a dog would wear pants, I couldn't help but feel like something was about to go wrong. We finished and walked out into the cool air. I laced my fingers through hers and led her the long way back. We'd pass by Fangs's trailer and if she wanted to stop in we could. Our debate changed to, if drinking half a five hour energy would give you 2.5 hours of energy or 5 hours of groggy energy. I laughed as we proved our points and she giggled with me. Before I knew it we were passing through the trailers. She was giggling a little and looking at the ground. She looked back up and stopped in her tracks. "Betts? C'mon." 

Betty's P.O.V:

There he was. Why hadn't I thought of that? Well I had, but I didn't want to believe it. "Betts? C'mon," sounded from next to me. Jug followed my line of sight and I could see his jaw clench. I swallowed the lump in my throat and walked forward. I let go of Jughead's hand as I did so. I could hear him calling after me, but I kept pushing forward. "Wow." I crossed my arms as Fangs stopped making out with the guy against his trailer wall. He pulled back a little and his neck flipped to me. He gasped, "B-Betty it's not what-" "Oh save me the bullshit Fangs." His eyes widened and he took a step towards me. "Betty. Baby. Please lets talk. We can work through this." I scoffed, "Really? Gonna pull the whole 'It's not you it's me' crap? I thought you were better than this." "Betts I really am!" My jaw dropped. I felt a weird pang at my chest. Pushing it down I felt tears well up in my eyes. "Fangs. Really? You couldn't have just told me?" I shrugged in enthusiasm, "Broken up with me? No. You just had to sneak around. What? It's more fun this way? More fun to hurt me? I really, really tried. I tried to push that thought away. I thought, 'Oh no he's to good for that. He'd never do that to me!' Guess I didn't know you as well as I thought." With that I stormed away. I felt a tear stream down, and they just kept coming. I put my head in my hands and let my legs guide me. 

Jughead's P.O.V:

"Guess I didn't know you as well as I thought." And she stomped away. I just stood there shocked. I scoffed, "Wow, dude. The least you could do was just end it before you cheat." I turned and started to jog after where Betty went to. After I passed through a few trailers I realized she wasn't going back to hers. My shoulders slumped, "Oh no." I muttered to myself. I picked up the speed and went towards the old tree house.

Betty's P.O.V:

Why did he do it? Was I not good enough for him? Not pretty enough for him? He didn't have to cheat on me. But he did. He did and I don't know why. It's not like it was revenge. I didn't cheat on him. Did I? I racked my brain for anytime it could seem like I was cheating. I couldn't find one. Maybe I stared at Jug too long. But I told him there was nothing between us. Which there isn't. So that wasn't a lie. Why though? Why did Fangs Fogarty cheat on Elizabeth Cooper? I looked up from my hands, and there it was. It all it's glory. My safe haven. The place I've gone when I need to be alone for 14 years. I climbed up the ladder and turned on the Christmas lights. I looked around the old place. We still used it, just less often. I had stopped crying, but my eyes were still blurry. I crawled over to the beanbags, not having enough strength to stand, and I collapsed on top. I let the tears start falling again, my self deprecation hurting worse than ever. I hadn't done it in while, there was no reason. Now it was back full force. 

Jughead's P.O.V:

I jogged through the trees, a path I knew by heart. In the distance a hue of Christmas lights illuminated from the tree. I ran faster, hoping to catch her before she did something stupid. As I neared the house I slowed. I could hear here sobbing, and she was putting everything through them. I climbed up the ladder and into the 4 walls of solitude I've had since I was 6. I looked to the beanbags and there she was. Her hair was tousled and her head was buried into the cushion. I sighed, "Betts-" "Go away." She tried. I shook my head and stood on the flooring. "I'm not going anyway Betts." She looked back to me, and I'm gonna be honest, she looked pretty rough. Her eyes were rimmed red and the little mascara she had on had run down her cheeks. Her lip was quivering as she reached her arms out to me. A small smile played on my mouth as I took the few steps toward her and grabbed her hands. I sat next to her and pulled her to me. She snuggled into my neck, and let go. I pulled the rest of body into my lap and rubbed her back. I rested my head on hers, and let a few of my own tears fall. I hated- hate seeing her like this. 

Betty's P.O.V: 

I couldn't stop them. The tears just kept coming and I don't even really know why. It's not like I loved him. Right? No. No I definitely didn't. I guess it just hurt that he cheated on me. That I wasn't enough. Was I enough? I couldn't have been if he cheated. Then it hit me. Nobody likes me. Sure they love me, but as friends or family. Jughead doesn't love me back. Fangs didn't even like me, apparently. So who else is there? My girls love me. As friends. Toni as family though. My guys love me. As friends. Sweet Pea as family of course. Nobody wants to date me. That's for sure. I guess I'll just die alone. It doesn't sound to bad to be honest. If I can't have Jughead I don't want anyone. Now ain't that a lonely thought?