Bughead One Shots

Air Hockey

Based of a true story.

~

~General POV~

"Happy Birthday, Arch!" exclaims Betty, throwing her arms around the redhead's neck from behind. Archie, who was just trying to enjoy the turkey sandwich he had bought, yelped in surprise. The whole table began to laugh, with Archie joining in after he finished glaring at them all. Betty removed her arms from him and moved to the other side of the table to sit in her designated spot to sit next to her best friend, Jughead.

"Wow," said Jughead. "17 years of Archie Andrews and the world is still intact." Betty playfully slapped his arm, and then the table laughed together again. Even Archie.

"So, Archiekins, what's the plan for this weekend?" asked Veronica, pecking the redhead's cheek.

"Okay, so," Archie began, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table. "You know that 'fun center' down the street?" Archie started. The group nodded collectively. "There on Friday night. Bowling, laser tag, air hockey, arcade. The works. Then maybe the Bijou afterwards if we don't stay too late."

"That sounds really fun, Arch," said Betty. "Do you have teams picked yet?"

"Yep!" he exclaimed. "But...not telling 'till we get there." Betty mock gasped and slapped a hand over her heart, and the table laughed again.

Jughead gave Archie a look across the table, and Archie winked back. Jughead nodded and contentedly took a sip out of his water bottle. Jughead and Archie knew the real events of the party.

~

The group exited Archie's jalopy and walked toward the large building looming overhead of them. Archie and Jughead walked a bit ahead, while Betty and Veronica stayed back, deep in conversation. "Tonight's the night, Jug! Finally, you get your chance to get Betty. Even though there have been many opportunities you could have—" Archie was cut off by Jughead's fist jabbing is stomach. "Damn, man," Archie said breathily, having the wind knocked out of him. "Nerves got you?"

"Well what do you think?" Jughead snapped at Archie. "I'm about to show this girl, my best friend—"

"Hey!" Archie interviened, but Jughead kept talking.

"—that I like her. Hell, maybe even love her! So back off, man! I have no idea if she even feels the same way..."

"Please, Jug. I've seen the way she looks at you. You've got her already."

"I hope you're right for once."

"Hey!"

Meanwhile, Betty and Veronica were caught in a very similar conversation to their friends. "B! This is the perfect opportunity for you to show Jughead that you love him in more than a best friend way."

"V! I don't love him. I mean I do but like, not like—"

"Shut up!" Veronica moaned, cutting off Betty's yammering. "Yes you do, you liar. So stop denying it, and go get that man who is also head-over-heels in love with you."

Betty felt her face get warm. "You think so?" she asked.

Veronica cocked her head to the side and sighed. "B, I'm from New York. The epitome of celebrity couples and young and in love teenagers. I know real love when I see it. And it's in his eyes every time he sees or hears you. You've got it just as bad for him as he does for you." Betty smiled once again, feeling warmth wash over at the thought of him possibly loving her back. But, not all of her believed it was true.

The gang regrouped in the lobby inside and picked up their bowling shoes. They had two lanes down in the far corner. Two people to a lane.

"So, girls versus boys?" Betty asked, looking to Veronica. Veronica opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out. She turned to Archie, widening her eyes as a signal for Archie to step in.