Jade Jones was a girl that grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. She was separated from her younger brother, partly by choice and partly not, when she left her old life behind and transferred to junior high on the Southside. She left everyone beh...
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Veronica, Archie and Jade sat downstairs at a table chatting about random things.
"Hi guys." They heard their blonde friend say as she and her dark haired boyfriend walked down the stairs.
Everyone at the table said a "Hey" or "Hi", not know really what to do because they didn't know if the two had broken up.
"Relax." Jughead said, "Everything's fine."
"Awesome. Because, you guys haven't tried my jalapeño margaritas." Veronica walked toward the kitchen, "Who wants one?"
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"I'd like to propose a toast, to the Lodges, to their hospitality and to putting the past behind us." Jughead said.
"Cheers." Veronica said and the six friends clinked their glasses together.
"So, your parents come up here a lot these days, Veronica?" Jughead asked.
"Not as much as they'd like." Veronica answered, "Daddy's such a workaholic, you know."
"On the SoDale project?" Jughead asked and Veronica nodded. "How's that going? Is that heating up? Is it getting intense?"
Jade and Archie shared a look, knowing that Jughead was asking to many questions and was certainly not doing this just for conversation.
"It is." Veronica said, "Luckily, Archie's dad is doing such a superb job of keeping everything on schedule."
"V, tell us more about your fancy neighbors." Betty tried to change the subject from Jughead's interrogation.
"Yeah, are they in the same business as your dad?"
"Jughead, I mean it." Betty whispered to the boy next to her.
"Guys, what's up?" Archie asked.
"Betty, I'm just making idle conversation." Jughead said, "I'm sorry, please continue."
"It's a hodgepodge, really. Some are in entertainment, some are in business, some are in real estate."
"You know what's weird? As we were driving up here, I noticed that none of the houses have mailboxes or numbers or anything on 'em. Why is that?"
"Shadow Lake is a pretty private community."
"Like their hiding something?"
"Jughead. Seriously, this isn't 20 questions."
"Toxic twin alert." Veronica whispered to Jade and Archie. Jade was to the left of Veronica and Archie was to Jade's left. "I knew things weren't kosher in the state of Bughead." Veronica cleared her throat then addressed the whole group, "Guys, I'm picking up some residual tension from, I'm guessing, Cheryl's random act of cruelty earlier."
"What? No." Betty said.
"Uh, no." Jughead also said.
"Which is understandable." Veronica ignored the two's words, "Fear you not though, I have just the antidote. Step one.. clothes off, swimsuits on."
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"I don't know about you guys, but I'm feeling better already." Veronica said as she took a seat in the jacuzzi.
"Okay, so, full disclosure time.. Clearly, Betty and Jughead are caught up in the after math. So to clear the air amongst us.. it would make more sense if Jade did this, but she's Jughead's sister so I think that would be weird.." Jade's head perked up at the sound of her name, not wanting to be anywhere near what Veronica was about to suggest. "I think.. Jughead and I, should kiss."
"What?" Betty said, "Veronica are you nuts?"
"Well, Wait a minute I don't know. Hold on.." Jughead said, "Veronica and I kissing might help to, uh.. what's the sports term Archie?" Jughead said, Archie looking up. This wasn't his fight anymore, he wasn't with Veronica anymore so he didn't want a part in what was about to happen.. "Level the playing field?"
"You're not upset though?" Betty said.
"No. No, really, I'm not upset."
"Right." Betty said, with a sarcastic tone.
"But, I am human. You know, what if a future me tried to use your kiss with Archie shading some future you? A Vughead kiss, right now, in the present might be precisely what it takes to save a future Bughead from imploding." Jughead said, now standing.
Veronica stood, "Jughead, don't freak out. Just trust me."
