Young, Dumb And Broke

5.

Emilee finishes doing the dishes and she gives Hot Dog his dinner. She pours herself a glass of Iced Tea and sits. She doesn't approve of what is going on tonight, but she understands it's what has to be done.

Jughead heads out the door and closes it after saying bye to Emilee.

"Archie..."

"We gotta talk" Archie says

"Ugh now is not the time. You need to leave okay? You have to go."

"Why, whats going on?" Archie asks just as Sweet Pea and the others arrive, hearing Sweet Pea talking Emilee comes out and onto the porch.

"What do we have here?"

"Just leave him, alright?" Jug says.

"Wait. You're friends with these thugs?"

"It's not what you think."

"Are you joining the Serpents?"

"If he survives, and go ahead and call us thugs one more time." Sweets says, and emilee shakes her head at the scene unfolding before her eyes.

"Jughead, these are the guys who attacked me, who attacked Reggie, and Veronica and Dilton, your friends." He shakes his head.

"Wait, is that why you're here? To warn me?"

"No." He spits. "I came here to tell you to stay away from Betty. She doesn't want to see you anymore."

"What? Archie no she does." Archie shakes his head.

"Screw you, we just seen her yesterday she was fine." Emilee says.

"No dudes." Jugs bottom lip starts to quiver. "She's been wanting to break up with you for weeks."

"Alright Arch, enough." Emilee says seeing how upset Jug is getting. "please leave."

"No." He pushes Emilee out of his way and she loses her balance but catches herself. Sweet Pea almost loses his mind. Emilee shakes her head at Sweets to let him know she is fine.

"She's been agonizing over it. Since you crossed to the dark side," Emilees jaw drops. "She couldn't bring herself to do it."

"So she sent you? Betty would never do that!" Emilee says, Archie turns to face her.

"Shut the hell up, this isn't your business!"

"Hey! Don't talk to her like that asshole!" Sweet Pea says moving closer to Emilee reaching out for her.

"If you don't believe me call her." Archie returns his attention to Jughead. "And feel free to tell her you're a serpent now too. I bet she will love that. She seen where you were headed, Jughead. We all did. You can't be with her and with them."

"Lets go Jug, forget him."

"Tell Betty, I got her message."

Emilee watches as Archie leaves. She hugs her brother, kisses her boyfriend and watches them leave before going back inside.

*****

Emilee spent the next few days trying to get a hold of Betty, and once she finally does she lets her have it. It takes everything Emilee has to not yell at her more when she starts crying. Against her better judgement, Emilee agrees to meet up with Betty.

AT POPS Emilee drinks her milkshake waiting on Betty. "Hey Em." Betty says as she sits down in the booth across from her.

"Hi there. Lets just cuto to the Chase Blondie. What the Hang, Harry? What happened?"

Betty starts from the beginning telling Emilee everything. From what happened with Jason, and how he was murdered by his father, and after her and the scooby gang, broke through the case, the next day after the Mayors event, Archies dad got shot at POPS. Emilee cannot believe what she is hearing but continues to listen.

She tells Emilee that the very reason she sent Archie to break up with Jughead for her, is because she is talking to a serial killer on the regular.

"Wait. Why wouldn't you just tell me, or Jughead?" She asks.

"Because I am trying to protect him, protect everyone that I love."

"I understand. I just hope you both can come back from this once it is all over. You have my word that I will do whatever I can to help but it's not going to be easy." She smiles at her new found friend.

She doesn't quite understand the North side, Southside differences, and she has never been one to let someone else formulate her opinion. She can do that herself. She actually really likes Betty and she truly hopes that Jug and Betty can come back from this.