Despite being on the football team together, Archie Andrews and Jughead Jones were never friends. Jughead grew up on the wrong side of the tracks – the south side – and Archie had a picturesque home and family on the north side. The north side didn't mix with the south side, and everyone was fine with that. But still, having to spend so much time together on the team made it difficult to avoid each other. They were always disagreeing and getting into fights. Coach threatened to bench them both if they didn't settle down. Jughead knew nothing would happen to Archie – coach was friendly with his dad and he was best friends with the coach's son, Chuck Clayton. He was untouchable.
Jughead on the other hand had an outlaw father and was in a biker gang, his skin marked with the Serpents' symbol.
Much like every Friday night, everyone went to Pop's after the game. The Southside Serpents chose to stay out front most of the time, leaning against their bikes and just taking a load off. They usually only went inside long enough to eat. Pop didn't give them any trouble – in fact the Serpents had helped him out on many occasions throughout the years – so things were usually pretty civil. Pop's was a safe middle ground between the north and south sides of town.
Sweet Pea was showing off his new tattoo when all their attention was averted by Betty Cooper storming out of Pop's, with Archie running after her. He was yelling at her to stop, to calm down. Looking at her face Jughead saw the tears, the despair in her big doe eyes. Archie didn't deserve her. She was the definition of kindness, perfection, and innocence. She stood frozen for a moment, as if she didn't know what to do, then suddenly she looked in the Serpent's direction, and rushed over.
"Toni, can you please give me a ride home?" She asked, ignoring everyone besides Toni. She was a tiny blonde cheerleader standing in the middle of a biker gang, but she was so upset that she didn't noticed. The guys were just as shocked as Jughead was, not knowing what to say or do about the situation.
"Of course," Toni said, wrapping an arm around Betty's shoulders and turning her in the direction of her bike. Toni and Betty were on The Blue and Gold together – the school newspaper – they weren't exactly friends, but as far as Jughead knew they were on good terms.
"Betty! What the hell?" Archie continued, halting as he neared Jughead's biker friends. He definitely wasn't oblivious to the fact that he was outnumbered.
Jughead stepped in his way, blocking him from getting any closer to his upset girlfriend. "Think you should turn back around and go inside, man."
"Think you should mind your own business, snake!" He spat.
Jughead smirked to himself, his temper rising. No wonder we get into so many fights. Jughead knew the others were already behind him; they had his back no matter what. They may be stupid hot heads sometimes, but they'd always be there for each other.
He looked back at Toni and Betty, "Take her home, make sure she's okay."
"Come on, Betty. It's okay." Toni told Betty as Jughead turned back to the ginger idiot.
"Get back inside." Jughead instructed coldly. He knew he couldn't knock him out, as much as he wanted to, they'd done this too many times – over the stupidest shit. He honestly wasn't in the mood to get into shit with coach again. He had a future in mind he wanted to stick to and getting expelled now would make things so much worse.
He could tell that Archie was debating his next move, taking a second to make his decision. "This has nothing to do with you, Jones." He retorted, turning to retreat into Pop's.
Jughead stood his ground until Archie was back inside, everyone's eyes still on them, the situation slowly winding down.
Jughead turned in time to see Toni's bike pulling out of the lot, Betty's eyes connecting with his for a split second. She looked so broken.
As the tension eased, Fangs suggested they go to The Whyte Wyrm – the Serpents headquarters and local bar. Everyone else would be there and the night was still young – plenty of hours left in the night to get wasted and laid.
Jughead told them he'd meet them there, deciding to follow Toni so she'd know where everyone was going. Or so he told himself.
He parked his bike behind Toni's when he reached Betty's house, only having to wait a few minutes before she walked out of the house and down the driveway.
"She alright?"
Toni narrowed her eyes at him, giving him one of her knowing stares before she answered, with a roll of her eyes, "She finally figured out he's been cheating on her."
It had been obvious to everyone but Betty – Archie Andrews was a sleaze.
"What are you doing here, Jughead?"
What was he going to tell her? The truth? That he was curious? Worried if Betty was okay? To him, she was perfection – a kind and beautiful person who he admired from afar.
"We're all going to the bar, you coming?"
Her smile widened, "You could have texted me..."
Jughead was getting irritated and she could tell, so thankfully she let it go. She knew his fuse was short.
"Actually, no, I have a date with a hot redhead."
This time Jughead raised his eyebrows at her, wondering whom she meant.
"Cheryl Blossom is an even bigger bombshell in the sheets than she is in heels." She mused, biting her lip. "Her parents are out of town for the weekend... So, don't expect to see me again until Monday morning, lover boy." She puckered her lips at him then smiled seductively.
He smirked as the images of Toni and Cheryl easily entered his mind, his jeans growing a little tighter. That would be beyond hot. "Send pictures?" He teased, but honestly he wouldn't mind some.
She laughed, "You'll have to use your imagination, you perv,"
She got on her bike and blew him another kiss before speeding away.
He exhaled in frustration and adjusted himself in his jeans, averting his attention back to Betty's house.
What the fuck am I doing here?
Not giving himself another moment to think about it, he sped off too, heading for The Wyrm. He needed a drink.
