Flash of Red

Chapter 11

Jughead laughed, kissing Betty's forehead as she frowned. "It hurt my butt." She laughed even as tears fell from her eyes, Jughead clutching his sides as he fell backwards and continued to laugh. "That's not nice!" She hit his chest and he caught her hand, panting as he calmed down.

"You're adorable, you know that?" He wiped at the tears on her cheeks, sitting up. "I'm only laughing because I've done that at least fifty times, I'm not laughing because you're hurt."

"I know, I just feel like I'm going to have a bruise the size of jupiter on my ass for eleven years." He laughed again, Betty doing the same as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side, kissing the side of her head. She sniffled and wiped her face, Jughead standing up before helping her up. "It hurts."

He chuckled, picking her up bridal-style. She yelped in surprise, wrapping her arms around his neck. "As much as I love you, I don't want to listen to you complain about your butt all the way to the bedroom." She huffed and laughed a little as she threw her head back. "You know Archie comes next week, right?"

"I remember you mentioning it." He closed the front door and locked it, giving her an amused look. "Do you know when?"

"Nope, it's all up to him. It's whenever he can get off of work." She nodded along with his words, turning the light off for him as he walked past it on his way up the stairs. "You're still okay with it? You're fine with him staying with us?"

"Jug, it's your house, not mine."

"Yes, but Betts... if you want me to wait until you're gone-" She placed a finger over his mouth and he froze.

"You want me to meet him so I want to meet him. I'm fine with him being here." She brushed hair off of his forehead, giving him a large smile. "I mean it!"

"Okay, and if anything feels off while he's here, and I mean anything, you tell me, okay?" She gave him a nod, kissing him quickly. "Okay, butthurt, bedtime." She scoffed, Jughead laughing.

~

"Hey, I'll be back in like forty minutes, okay?" Betty looked up from her book, nodding.

He kissed her, turning away. "Wait, where are you going?"

"Town. I'll be back before you know it, trust me." She looked at him nervously, biting her lip. He walked back up the porch steps, cupping her chin. "Betts, this isn't your first time being here without me."

"Yeah, but you were, like, barely a mile away. If I screamed you would be able to hear me." He sighed, sitting down in the chair next to her. "Will you take my phone?" He furrowed his brows and she closed the book she was reading. "You know, so if I need you, I can call." She pulled it from her pocket, holding it out to him. He looked at it questionably then back to her with an almost confused look. "P-Please, Jug. Please."

"Nothings going to hurt you while I'm gone. This is one of the safest places you could be." He watched her as tears formed in her eyes, Betty now shoving the device into his hand.

"Please, Jug. Just... please." He cupped her cheek and she leaned into the touch, taking in a deep breath and letting her eyes fall closed, slowly opening them again. "It'll make me feel better if you have my phone."

He nodded, sighing. "Fine, just this once." She nodded thankfully, Jughead kissing her slowly until the fear on her mind was put on the backburner. "I love you, and I will be back." She gave him another nod, watching him walk away and drive off.

She walked inside after a few moments, locking the door before hurrying to the backdoor to make sure that one was locked as well. She grabbed the phone after, pacing with it in her hand as she listened for any random sounds.