jealous - a jeronica fanfic

Chapter Four

Betty and I walked out of the history classroom, arms linked. I had told Betty about the incident with the serpents, and she was livid.

"I can't believe Jughead said that.. that's so unlike him! I'm going to have to talk to him," Betty rambles, her voice trailing off as she fell into her own thoughts.

"It's fine, B. He was probably just joking around, no biggie," I assure her, placing my hand on her shoulder in an attempt to stress that it really was okay.

Betty sighs, "I just wanna be dating Jughead, you know? Not an Archie minion. Jughead. I know he is his own person, and he doesn't need Archie to be his leader, I just wish he would realize that."

I nod along as she talks, slowly tuning her out- I'd heard this all before. Truth is Jughead acts like Archie's follower so much I can hardly see the real Jughead I used to know. His marks in English are failing, something that he used to love, but I don't think Archie is really into the writing lovers.

"Veronica? Can we talk?" Jughead asks me, arriving at his locker.

"Sure. What's up?" I ask reluctantly.

"Is Betty mad at me?"

"To tell you the truth I think she is, sorry."

"What? Why? What did I do?" he stammers, his eyes widening with worry. I roll my eyes.

"Calm down, she just wants you to stop being so much like Archie."

"What's wrong with being like Archie? He's my friend, and he's cool."

"What I mean is that she's tired of you constantly defending his less than admirable actions, and not defending his victims," I say, giving him a look that says listen up.

"No one else stands against Archie, though. Why should I?"

"Because Betty wants you to be better than everyone else, Jughead. She thinks you are better than everyone else- and you're gonna have to be if you want to seem like you deserve her."

"I don't deserve her, Veronica," he sighs, running a hand through his dark hair.

I scoff, "Obviously. But maybe you can work to deserve her." I begin to walk into the cafeteria but Jughead follows me, taking a seat next to me when I sit down at my usual table.

"You don't get it. If I ever stood up to Archie, or told Mr. Weatherbee about the stuff he says and does, he would kick my ass," Jughead insists, and I scoff again.

"Jughead, have you send yourself? Fight back, for once in your life. You love Betty, and she loves you. But you need to start proving you're worthy of her love," I sigh, taking a bite of my apple.

"But..." he sighs, resting his head on his hand. "Do you have any idea what that would do to me? Moose, Sweet Pea, Reggie, Fangs. They don't hang out with me unless I'm with Archie. It's like he's their leader. It's like..."

"I get it. Archie's a shepherd- the other boys are like sheep. That's how it is in this world. But you need to prove to Betty that even though you aren't a shepherd, you can still stand up for yourself as a sheep."

"Too many metaphors. Explain again please," Jughead laughs, shaking his head as if to shake off the less than complicated lingo I used.

I smile, "You need to stand up for yourself! For Betty, and for your own dignity. There are other people you can hang out with at this school."

I get up to throw out my apple, and when I turn around, Jughead's gone. I sigh.

"Hopefully he isn't gone somewhere hanging out with Archie and completely ignoring what I just told him," I mutter to myself, before going to sit back down. Just as I sit back down I feel a strong hand pull my hair, and I let out a moan without meaning to. I hear a familiar laugh behind me, and rolling my eyes, I spin around to come face to face with Reggie Mantle.

"You liked that, didn't you Lodge!" he laughs, biting his lip as he smiles. I can't help but smile back at him, and I open my mouth as I search for the words to explain myself.

"You caught me off guard!" I insist, which isn't necessarily a lie.

"Mmm. Sure, Lodge. I know you like it rough," he smirks, and I roll my eyes.

"Fuck off Reggie," I say, walking away from the table to go freshen up my makeup. As I walk away he smacks my ass, and I turn around in shock.

"See ya around, Ronnie."

He smirks and I roll my eyes for what seems like the hundredth time in the past ten minutes, before walking away.