The Plan(s) {Betty Cooper} {Bughead}

Tryouts Part 1

Cheryl decided to hold tryouts outside on the practice field since the football team was practicing on the main field. As the group passed by the football players towards the field, Archie noticed a familiar blond ponytail. No! he thought. This can't be happening. He asked to take a break under the guise of needed to call to check in with his dad. Just be quick his coach replied. Archie ran to his bag to get his phone and quickly typed in Jug's number.

"What do you want?" Jug said when he picked up.

"Dude get down to the school. Betty is trying out for cheerleading and you know what that means." Archie replied.

"Shit. I'll be there in a minute but some of my guys are with me and they are going to want to come too." Jug stated.

"Bring them but be sure they know the deal. Maybe they can help scare some of the guys around here. Plus it's time you told Betty the truth anyways." Archie said.

"You just want me to tell her the truth in the hopes that she will be mad and ditch me the way you did." Jug spat out.

"Maybe but it doesn't look like you have much of a choice now." Archie replied cheerfully. Archie found out recently that Jughead's father F.P. was the leader of the Southside Serpents and that Jug was not only a member but planning on taking over leadership when he turned 18. This knowledge along with the fact that both boys knew that the other had a crush on Betty had put more of a strain on their already strained friendship.

"Archie hurry up!" shouted his coach.

"Just hurry up and get here. We will have to do damage control. There are already tons of kids in the practice field bleachers and coach is letting the football team out early to watch tryouts." Archie said and hung up the phone. He ran over to his team and resumed practice.

After walking to the practice field, Cheryl explained that after everyone did the routine in pairs, they would each have to do a 2 minute dance that they made up themselves. She played the music that they had to dance to and told them that they had 30 minutes to come up with a routine that would "wow" her. Betty recognized the song as something she and Cheryl would dance to every sleep over and already knew what dance she was going to do. After running through it once she was helping Veronica with her routine when she heard the sound of motorcycles approaching. She looked up just in time to see one of her best friends pull into the school parking lot with three other bikes. Betty ran over to Jug and was startled to see a Southside Serpents jacket on him. He looked into her big green eyes with concern and gave a weak smile. Betty laughed and gave him a big hug.

"It's about time you came clean with her" Cheryl said as she walked over.

Betty explained, " My mom told us everything after she and my dad split. She was worried that he was going to do something to me or Cheryl so she told us that your dad was the Serpent leader and we should go to them if we ever got in trouble. She said that F.P. and the Serpents owed her and they would protect us."

"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Jug.

"Why didn't you?' Retorted Betty.

"I was afraid that you would think less of me, the way Archie does." he whispered.

Betty frowned "I know who you are. No jacket or title could change that and I'm disappointed in Archie". Jug smirked.

"Is this the girl?' one of the other bikers asked and Jug frowned at him.

"Huh?" asked Betty and Cheryl looking confused.

Jug shook his head and said "Nevermind. What's this I hear about you trying out for cheerleading? I thought you said that you didn't want to."

Cheryl frowned and said "Shut up! I've been trying to get her to join for years. Don't you dare ruin this."

Jug and Betty laughed and Jug introduced his friends. Sweet Pea had hair as dark as Jugs but it was slicked back. He was tall and muscular with a sharp look in his eye but his face softened as soon as he shook Betty's hand. Toni was a beautiful tough looking yet small girl with brown and pink hair. She was quick to return Bettys smile though. Fangs was another dark hair muscular guy but his face was so sweet you could hardly believe that he was in a gang. Betty and Cheryl were happy to meet them all.

"We got to go, Betts. Tryouts start in a few." Cheryl said.

"Are you staying for tryouts? How did you find out I was trying out in the first place? I didn't know myself until an hour ago." B asked.

"Archie called. He knew that I wouldn't want to miss our favorite person trying out for cheerleading." Jug responded.

Betty groaned. "I just hope that I don't embarrass myself."

"You will do great" Jug said with a smile. That's just what I'm afraid of he thought as he watched her jog away.

"Alright. Now that you met her, you know the plan. She is off limits to everyone." Jug said to his crew

"Even us?" asked Sweet Pea as Toni said "Yeah, can we try?"

"Especially you" Jug responded "You can be friends with her but nothing more. Archie and I will never allow someone who's not worthy of her to hurt her."

"Who is 'worthy' of her?" questioned Fangs.

"No one so far" responded Jug.

"Don't you think that this is bs? She is old enough to take care of herself and make her own decisions." Toni replied.

Jug looked at her and said " Betty is the sweetest and kindest soul any of us are ever going to know. Would you sit by and let her get hurt?"

Toni looked at him and said "First of all, I would trust her judgement and secondly, that's not really why you are doing this, is it?"

"Just do it." he growled back. He pondered her words though as they walked up the bleachers to find a seat.