artificial poisoning || J.J., C.S imagines

3 || jughead jones - pt.3

(this is the third and final part of the mini-series inspired by Seventeen by Peach Pit)

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Punch and first collapse
Drunk at winter dance
Looks in red dress
Oh, what an awful mess

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"come on, you'll love it!" Veronica squeals, voice covered in sweet maple, as she tries to get you to attempt one of her infamous beauty tricks.  "come on, it will look great! maybe you'll even find someone - as great as Archie - at the dance... who knows," she speaks as she covers Betty's porcelain cheeks in a dusty rose blush. 

Veronica Lodge is convincing, as that is why you and Betty (yes Betty) are sitting in her elegant room, on the day of Riverdales Winter Formal.

she had decided that the three of you (much to Your and Betty's dismay) would go to the Winter Formal as friends, not wanting to complicate anything. At the end of the day, you knew you were going to be leaning against one of the walls in the gym, drinking punch alone. While, of course, Veronica and Archie make out and Betty finds a date of her own to dance with.

Pre- breakup, you and Jughead would stand by and watch as your peers would grind on each other, in disgust. talking about the absurd gossip taking the school like wildfire.

"so, yes... I'm assuming," Veronica says breaking you from your thoughts. She then takes steps towards you, her heels clinking on her hard floor. You nod not knowing what she was referring too.

"okay I was thinking we could do a smoky eye, and a bitten berry lip?" She questions, soon grasping that she's talking about makeup you nod. Way back into planning, Veronica said that you would all wear your classic colors; Pink for Betty; and purple for Veronica. you, on the other hand, wanted to do the opposite so you went with white. She notably didn't like that but after careful consideration, she agreed. saying that since it was technically on the same scall as black (your iconic shade), that it was fine. 

Once finished with her whole treatment, we got changed. Betty in a tea-length, bubble gum pink dress, with a heart neckline; Ronnie in a mid-thigh, deep plum dress, with a high neckline making up for its short nature; and you in an ankle-length, white satin-y dress, with a straight neckline and spaghetti straps.

You tear your attention from the mirror and glance at the clock. it read 7:57 P.M.

"Hey Ronnie, what time are we supposed to leave?" You ask with slight fear.  looking around you spot her walking from the living room. "Oh yeah the boys are supposed to be here any minute," She says looking down at her phone. Your heart stops. The boys? you thought this would happen, but, not nearly this early on. 

You internally curse yourself for trusting the raven-haired vixen not to converse with the enemies. The enemies being the boys... obviously.

not even a minute later you hear the doorbell ring. You hear the snap of heals against a hard floor, then a light click signifying that the boys were here. You stay seated on the leather-backed couch in the lodge's grand parlor. Your black converse (you opted for converse as you had no one to impress) fusing to the cold floor.

It was now eight. The large clock in the hall dinging eight times, still you stay with your head down, not ready to face the males. 

Soon you feel a sharp tug on your arm pulling you from the large sofa, and next to the Veronica. She lightly pulls you over to the old pick up. You scooch to the side, and Veronica sits next to you. 

Once everyone is enveloped into conversation, you glance at Jughead. You hadn't seen him in a month. He looked... good. Nothing about him looked different. He looked like the Jughead that was your best friend. He looked like the Jughead that was the love of your life. He looked like the Jughead that broke you and your heart.