Young Gods || [Not Updating]

•9•

[chapter nine]

It's been so long since Veronica was last at the Sunnyside Trailer park that she almost forgot what it looked like.

It's not surprising that she forgot. She'd only ever been there a handful of times. None of them for good reasons.

What is surprising are the feelings it brings on. A sadness that's root she couldn't quite identify. A sad nostalgia that told her maybe she should remember it. She remembered Archie's house. Betty's too.

She tells herself that she's sad because of how people in the trailer park. Living their best lives with so little. It's easier than thinking too much about it.

Following Jughead up to the entrance of the trailer, Veronica stays back a couple of steps. He could change his mind at any minute. Take back his offer. She needed a clear exit if that happened.

But he doesn't. He just stands there in front of the door, hand hovering over the handle like it might burn him.

"Are you sure this is-" Veronica stops herself. "I should just go home."

Jughead opens the door and looks back at her. "You coming or not?"

It's like she's a vampire waiting on permission to enter his house. She hesitates slightly then nods and walks in, exuding the fake confidence she was taught to always have.

Jughead is at one of the kitchen counters, unpacking the food they'd picked up on their way to the trailer park. The smell it's overwhelmingly nice. Better than any of the freshly cooked meals Veronica should have been eating tonight.

"Where's your dad?" She asks, wiping at the sofa with the palm of her hand before sitting down.

"Does it matter?" Jughead asks, swallowing a mouthful of noodles. At her raised eyebrow, he rolls his eyes. "Working I guess. He said something about doing some night shifts somewhere. I didn't ask any more than that."

"Don't you get suspicious?"

"You're really asking me if I get suspicious?"

"OK, do you keep tabs on him?"

"This conversation is not exactly what I expected when I invited you over for dinner." Jughead says. "Not that I expected anything."

"Really? You didn't bring me here to fool around? I'm so shocked." Veronica knows she's being a bitch but the flush of red that floods his face makes her smile. "I mean, you did buy me dinner."

"I don't know what guys you've been hanging out with but dinner doesn't usually translate to sex."

She bites back a laugh. "Oh, innocent little Jughead. Dinner almost always translates to sex."

Jughead looks away and grabs two cups out of a cupboard. She considers offering to help but it's interesting to watch him try and carry everything over in one trip.

"So, do you keep tabs on your dad or not?"

A long, withering state later, Jughead finally starts to speak. "I used to. Not so much any more. Guess I trust him more now."

"Who else do you keep tabs on?" Veronica asks, twirling noodles around a plastic fork. "Betty?"

"Jesus Veronica." Jughead drags a hand down his face. "Are you seriously asking me if I stalk my ex-girlfriend? Because the answer is no."

"I wasn't judging," Veronica says. "Just asking."

"Do you keep tabs of Archie?"

"I get drunk and scroll through his Instagram sometimes." Veronica shrugs. "But that's only because I like punishing myself, so whatever right."

"What have you got to punish yourself for?"

"Were you not in that apartment today? I might not be my dad, but I'm still implicated in his actions. I still benefit from his crimes." Veronica puts down her food. "Anyway, I've got other stuff to answer for. I don't know if you heard, but I wasn't the nicest person before I came to Riverdale."

The atmosphere changes a little. Jughead puts his food down and lets out a deep breath.

"You're past doesn't define you. Not when you're trying to change and be better. You didn't kill anyone. You didn't commit the sort of crime that rips away your human rights. You're not irredeemable."

"For a pessimist, you're pretty optimistic Jughead Jones."

Jughead shakes his head, a small smile on his face. "It really is a curse."

"About earlier, you know I was only messing around right?" Veronica says. "I know you weren't trying to make a move on me. Like you'd ever stoop that low."

He shakes his head, slowly and sarcastically. It's a genuine concern of Veronica's that one day his eyes will roll right out of his head. It's like he has to be extra about everything. And, coming from the queen of extra, that's quite an accomplishment.

"For someone who loves themselves as much as you, you spend an awful lot of time insulting yourself."

Veronica laughs. The idea that she loves herself is the sad sort of funny. The sort that feels like sandpaper rubbing against her insides.

"Sorry, I forgot that self deprecating humour was your thing." She laughs again. "Oh god, maybe you're rubbing off on me."

They eat in comfortable silence, occasionally talking about things that really don't matter in the greater scheme of things. It's nice. Normal even.

"You know," Veronica says, deciding to push her luck. "We aren't Instagram official."

"Instagram official?" Jughead repeats.

"Come on, Jughead, are people even in a relationship nowadays if they don't make it official on Instagram?"

He's judging her, she can tell by the raised eyebrow and amused smile, but she's ready to die on this hill.

"What do you suggest?"

She smiles. "Take a selfie with me."

"You know you're a stereotype, right?"

"And you're a cliche, get over yourself."

An eye roll later he scoots closer to her and sits perfectly still.

"What are you doing?" Veronica asks, trying to stop herself from laughing.

"What? Not everyone is as photogenic as you."

Shaking her head, she moves closer to him so their legs are touching. If there's a line, she's definitely danced over it. Then, carefully, she moves his arm so it's around her.

"Trust me and smile, OK?" She says quietly, holding her phone out in front of them and pressing a kiss into his cheek. The line is a thousand miles behind her now but he hasn't burst into flames or stopped into her, so she's counting it as a win.

He even smiles convincingly enough to give them a good photo. Then, as soon as their finished, he moves back to his spot and shoots her a look.

"That good enough?"

Veronica isn't looking at him, she's too focused on putting the perfect filter on a photo that's way cuter than it deserves to be.

"Perfect." She says, hitting upload.