Rivals and Roses Betty X Jughead

Jughead POV

I could feel me tense up, I knew it wasn't time.

"Homecoming dance!" I blurted out, and immediately regretted.

"What?" She said while nervous laughing.
I tried to pull it off as best as I could.

"Uh, yeah would you want to go to homecoming with me?"

"As like friends?"

"No, as like a date." I say regaining my cool.

"Uh, Jug I'm not rejecting you but, what do you want me to say? I'm already going with Trev, I thought that was VERY clear during lunch."

"Yeah, I was but I just wanted to give you some options." I said smirking.

She giggled and started to head out the door.

"Hey Betty" I call, and she turns her head back to me.

"No matter who you pick, save me a dance, ok?"

"Of course."

"Also, where are you headed, the register?"

"Uh Yeah." She said looking a little embarrassed.

"I'll come too."

We arrive at the register and when we walked in we saw Betty's mom staring at a board with multiple suspects on it.

"Mom?" Betty asked suspiciously. "What is this? What happened to our old story?"

"That story wasn't intriguing enough. We need something that everyone can talk about."

"And that is?" I ask.

"Kids, we are catching Jason's killer."

"W-What?!" I ask shocked and quite upset.

"Mom are you out of your mind?! We can't do a paper on Jason's murderer!" Betty said, sounding just as upset as I was.

"And why not? This will get all sorts of attention."

"Mom, we're looking for a good story, not a riot."

I'm really glad Betty's on my side because if she wasn't I would've been screwed.

"It's already been decided."

"Uh fine!" Betty says frustrated.

"Perfect! I have some more suspects, I'll run home and print some copies."

Betty nodded, and Alice left.

"What's the real reason you don't want to do it." I ask trying to hide the panic in my voice.

"I just think it's, I don't know, cruel. Exposing this one person and yes what they did was unspeakable but that's basically telling the whole town to go and attack him. You don't know, maybe he's changed for the better. I don't believe in fighting violence with violence."

That was the moment I knew I loved her. The fact that she doesn't even know it's my dad, but still believes in him is so inspiring.

"You know, journalists have to deal with this stuff all the time. Controversy after controversy, it's not an easy job."

"I think that's just the universe telling me I'm not cut out to be a journalist."