Trapped in Silk

0.6

Archie sat facing Jughead in their regular booth at Pop's. He saw the light from the neon sign light up the dark parking lot outside, reflecting the red and blue hues onto their Jughead's pale face. They'd been talking since school ended, neither had noticed that darkness had fallen. 

"Jug, you sure you don't want anything to eat. I haven't seen you eat anything all day", Archie questioned sceptically, "If its a money thing-", he continued in a more gentle tone,

"No, no nothing like that, you need to stop worrying about me arch, I'm fine. just not that hungry. Archie shot back a dubious glare before turning back to his milkshake.

Archie gasped suddenly, pouting theatrically, "but if you've lost you're ability to destroy enough burgers for a small army, then who'll be there to challenge me? I'd be nothing without my mentor",  he continued solemnly. "Unless...", a devious grin spreading across his face, " does this now make me the master?"

"You will never be the master", Jughead deadpanned, softly shaking his head.

"But we haven't done it in ages", Archie whined, "What if Pop can no longer make a living, what if he goes bankrupt. Where will we go then, huh? You do realise that our whole relationship would fall apart, I would literally resent you for the rest of time itself".

"Figuratively", Jughead interjected.

"I hate it when you do that".

"maybe I'm just your Henry Higgins", he  said with a smirk.

"My what now?" Archie questioned with an eyebrow raised.

"Your patron of redemption", Archie continued to stare blankly, "Making you Eliza Doolittle", Jughead prompted. 

"Is this from one of you fancy, old timey books", Archie sighed, trying, and failing, to hide his smile. He'd missed times like these, Jug had kept more and more to himself lately, Archie had missed him.

"Old timey, seriously? You're reducing hundreds of years worth of breath taking literature to, and I quote, fancy, old timey books. Wow", he sighed, waving his hands rhythmically in front of Archie's  face.

"Yep", Archie nodded with a breathy laugh. Jughead continued to stare at Archie expectantly,

"Oh my god its My Fair Lady", he shouted, causing the few people left in the diner to turn their heads quizzically  before rolling their eyes and returning to the conversations. Jughead buried his head deep into his folded arms trying dismally to hide the crimson blush that spread across his cheeks. Archie burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter which wasn't aided by the groan that emanated from the blushing boy in front of him. All that stuck up above to mass of sleeves was the tatterd grey beanie and a few black curls hanging over his forehead and arms. His hair was slightly overgrown but Archie thought is kind of suited him, not that he paid too much attention to other boy's appearances.

Catching is breath and leaning down towards Jughead who was still trying to make himself disappear, Archie pocked the other boys forehead. Then again, and again. He kept going until Jughead leapt up, grabbing Archie's finger with his whole hand. With a devilish smile Jughead began to bend the red head's finger backwards playfully causing a mixture of giggles and protests from the other. 

"Oh sorry, am I- am I hurting you, am I being annoying", Jughead teased, his eyes wide and innocent, forehead brought with lines of "concern". 

"Okay okay I'm sorry", Jughead didn't move, he just kept smiling, like an idiot. Archie saw that the only solution was to retaliate. He quickly grabbed the pinky finger of Jug's other hand earning a look of shear surprise.

"Touché", Jughead whispered. Their faces were only inched apart. Both being to stubborn to give in first, they remained as they were, eyes glaring at one another, smiles shrouded by set jaws. Jughead could feel Archie's warm breath against his cheeks. He wondered how hard it would be to get a little bit closer. 

The moment was broken by Pop emerging to clear away their glasses, both boys retreated to their side of the table trying to style it out. But both still grinning from ear to ear. "Anything else I can get for you?", Pop asked warmly.

"Yeah actually, there is. Can I please get two burgers, ooh and fries - and another milkshake", Archie answered excitedly, Jughead thought that he looked like a child in a sweet shop, but in a cute way . Pop just chuckled as he walked back into the kitchen.

"Wow, two burgers, really?" Jughead mocked.

"Obviously there not both for me", Archie sneered playfully, shaking his head,"You can't just watch me eat". Jughead thought about it for a moment. One burger couldn't make that much of a difference, maybe just this once. So he didn't protest, or come up with a lame excuse, just simply enjoyed the best food, and company, under the neon lights of Pop's.