Arranged

2

    "So...this is new." Jughead says as he and Betty walk down the street.
    Betty gulps. "Did your dad get back to you on whether or not he was the one who set everything up?"
    "No, it was your parents."
    Betty nods. They look over at Ethel and Chuck who are screaming at each other in his truck. Veronica and Sweetpea were making out up against the school wall, Cheryl and Toni were talking l, finally, Josie and Archie were sitting silently in his car.
    "I uh, I have a truck. If you wanna..." Jughead starts.
    "Ya, sure."
    They get in Jughead's truck, guiding him to her house. She walks in the front door and her older sister Polly squeals. Her husband, Jason, smiles over at her. Charles sits at the kitchen table with his wife, Nancy, playing a game of cards. Their daughter, Jane, plays with Polly and Jasons twins, Juniper and Dagwood.
    "Who is she with?" Alice calls out to Polly.
    Charles looks over and laughs. "A Jones."
    Alice gasps, walking to the front of the house and seeing Jughead standing next to Betty in the entrance.
    "The Jones's are the best matches. Something people don't know." Alice smiles.
    "Uh...huh." Betty stares at her mother confused.
    "Well, come in, come in. Your father will be home from work soon. Have you two decided on anything yet? I'll have to show you my wedding plan. Now, you two will be married in two days and you can move in on your wedding night. Have you decided on children.? You two would have adorable children."
    "Mom, let them breathe. Jeez." Charles says, placing down a card, causing Nancy to sigh.
    "Um, no. We don't even really know each other." Betty says.
    Everyone looks up at them.
    "What?" Polly gasps.
    "We only uh, we only met once a few years ago." Jughead explains.
    "No matter, you two are compatible. You will grow to love one another. Maybe one of you already has feelings the other is unaware of." Alice winks at Jughead.
    "Ignore her." Betty whispers to him and he nods.
    They sit at the table with Charles and Nancy, Polly soon follows. "So, how did you two meet?" Polly asks.
    "Oh, uh. Some guys we're bugging me and he told them to leave me alone." Betty says, in almost a whisper.
    "At least he respects you." Nancy smiles and Charles rolls his eyes at her, jokingly.
    "I did respect you."
    "Uhuh, sure."
    He leans across the table and kisses her. Polly laughs and Jason lifts her up, stealing her seat and placing her in his lap.
    "And did you have a crush on him after?" Polly asks Betty.
    "I didn't really think about it much. I mean, I thought he was sweet and everything but I never really saw him again."
    Jughead sits awkwardly (he kinda ✨uncomfy✨...sorry, too much Tiktok for tonight😳) next to Betty, hoping the attention wouldn't shift to him.
    "So, Jughead. Did you like Betty? Is that why you stood up for her?" Charles asks, looking up from his cards.
    "I mean, I thought she was beautiful and sweet, but I just hate people bringing other people down. I didn't want her to feel bad about herself."
    "Awwwww." Polly and Nancy say in unison.
    "Do you kids want anything to eat?" Alice asks from the kitchen.
    "No, thank you, Mrs. Cooper."
    "Please, call me Alice." She smiles.
    "Mom, could you please get me a glass of chocolate milk?" Betty asks.
    "Of course." Alice walks back into the kitchen before returning with a glass of chocolate milk.
    The front door opens and Hal walks in, holding his briefcase in one hand and a coffee in the other. "Hey, Betty, baby. Who's the lucky guy?" He calls from the other room, before walking in. "Oh, a Jones." His smile drops.
    "Ignore him too." Betty whispers to Jughead, getting up and hugging her dad. "Dad, this is Jughead. He's super sweet, don't worry."
    Hal sighs and shrugs, sitting at the table with the rest of the family, the kids soon join.
    "So, " Alice begins, dropping a large binder on the table, making Betty and Jughead flinch. "This is the wedding we have planned, just so there are no surprises."
    After going through the whole book Betty smiles. "So, my dress...did you get that?"
    "Yes, it's the same on Polly wore because you loved it so much. I just didn't show you because jugheads here and I didn't want to spoil the surprise. I've invited Jugheads family over for a couple of nights until the wedding so that you can both get to know each other with familiar people around. Sound good?" Betty nods. "Okay, you can take Jughead up to your room, but no...funny business."
    "Ew, mom. Stop." Betty cringes and Jughead chuckles a bit.
    "You invited Fp over?" Hal whispers to Alice.
    "It's not a big deal." She whispers back.
    "Yes, it is and you know it."
    "What are you guys talking about?" Polly asks.
    "Nothing." Hal sighs, walking up to his and Alices' bedroom.