One less kiss

Finally sitting down.

Betty:

I had put off dinner with Veronica and Jughead for as long as I could, that was until I came home from work one day to see them on the sofa staring at me. "Betty, finally! Come and join us, we're just about to order food." Veronica smiled. "Sure, let me just grab a drink." I stated as confident and cooly as I could. I poured myself a glass of wine and plopped myself down on a separate chair. "What would you two like to eat?" Jughead asked. "Chinese." Veronica and I said at once before bursting into a fit of laughter.

I kept my cool and managed to have a few quick conversations with Jughead, although avoiding his gaze for the majority. There was a knock on the door and I quickly jumped up  to answer it. "Thank you," I said as I handed the man the money and grabbed the bag of food. "Betty," Veronica called as she wandered over with her purse and Jughead at her heels. "You paid?" She asked when she realised the door was closed and I had the bag in my hand. "Yeah," I shrugged walking into the kitchen. "You didn't have to do that, I could have given you some money," Jughead chimed in and I politely smiled. "I promised Veronica dinner so it's the least I could do," I said as I began to unbox everything.

We ate our food in silence as a crappy film of Veronica's choice played. "Thank you, Betty." I heard Jughead say as I took a swig of wine. "You're welcome." I told him with a smile. "How's work, B?" Veronica questioned and I visibly rolled my eyes. "Crap. I'm looking for a new job." I told her and she sat up a little straighter. "Really?" She said with an excited grin. "Yes Ronnie but don't make it a big deal yet." I warned her and I saw Jughead looking at us questioningly. "So, Jughead - what do you do?" I asked, "I'm a photographer," he answered and I paused. "That sounds like - like it would be fun. Have you got any pictures I could see?" I asked and he pulled out his phone. "It's mainly landscape, I've done a few weddings..." he said as he passed me his phone. I scrolled through the images in awe, the different colours alerting my senses and I suddenly wished I could be apart of the photographs. "You're very talented," I whispered. "Yeah well, apparently not talented enough..." he replied quietly. "What do you mean?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "I don't get hired often, like I said, I've only been requested for a few weddings," he told me. "Have you thought about broadening your advertisement? Magazines, social media, newspapers for that matter?" I questioned. "Well I have social media, I wouldn't even know where to begin to get advertised in magazines." He admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "I can help out with that," Veronica jumped in wrapping her arm around Jughead's side. "You'd be willing to do that?" He asked, and she nodded with a wink.

"I think I'm going to head to bed." I said as I placed down my wine glass and began to stand up. "Really?" Veronica asked and I wiped my hands down my sides. "Yeah, it's getting pretty late and I'm tired. I'll leave you two to it," I smiled. I took my glass to the kitchen first and washed it. I was about to walk out when I overheard a snippet of conversation. "You need to make more of an effort, Jughead - she's my bestfriend, I'd hate if you didn't get along." I heard Veronica say and I closed my eyes running my hand through my hair. God Veronica had to go and say that. "Please V, don't try and force a friendship between us. I don't think she is very comfortable around me," I heard Jughead reply and I sighed. "Of course she is! I know Betty, she warmed to you straight away!" Veronica said her voice going a slight tone higher. She thought that? Is that really the impression I gave off? I heard feet patter against the floor and I went to move out of the kitchen when Veronica walked in.

"You're still up?" She questioned. "Yeah, just heading off now," I told her not meeting her eyes. "B, be honest with me..." she began and my stomach twisted. "Go on?" I said. "Are you okay around Jughead? You don't feel uncomfortable around him do you?" She asked quietly. "No! No, no, of course not!" I said as I wrapped my brain for an excuse, "I just need to get to know him better." I told her. Fuck! Why did I say that? That meant I would have to spend more time with them, more time with him.