Becoming Lodge

Birthday Party

Jughead stood dumbstruck looking around the birthday party Cheryl was throwing for Juniper and Dagwood's fifth birthday. "I swear your girl is trying to always one up Veronica. This is a little excessive don't you think?" Jughead demanded of Toni Topaz who shrugged at him. The house was decorated for a royalty party. In Jughead's mind it looked like the color red threw up everywhere. Lights and balloons hung throughout. It was incredibly gaudy, but surprisingly fit in well at Thistle house. "At least I know I look good." Jughead teased Toni who barely glanced at him. "Have you seen Veronica or Camila? She said she would meet me here and she's already an hour late." Toni shook her head, only halfway paying attention to him. Her focus on Cheryl across the courtyard who appeared upset.
"Excuse me Jughead I need to go talk to Cheryl it looks like she's having some sort of melt down. I probably should make sure that's she's alright. Or that she's not firing the staff." Toni hurried away from Jughead over to Cheryl. A plate went flying from Cheryl's hands at the caterers head. Cheryl's wordless yells echoing throughout the estate.
"Cheryl's always been a little bit of a lose cannon." Betty Cooper laughed coming up beside him watching the scene like Jughead was. "I think I'm under dressed. I guess I didn't realize this was a red carpet affair not a five year old's birthday." She laughed softly. Her laughter sweet sounding to Jughead's ears.
He couldn't help himself the nostalgia was coming back. Jughead laughed with her. "Yea she's always been like that over the top. At least that hasn't changed..But Veronica's worse." He finished laughing harder at the look on Betty's face. "She's a lot, but I love her...so I guess it comes with the territory.. weird.. crazy wild territory ..she.."Jughead paused noticing that Betty had stopped laughing with him. She appeared sadness. Jughead was unsure of why it did; but the look irritated him immediately.
   "Really Jughead? Did I hear you correctly? Did you just say that you.. Jughead Jones love Veronica? Like you're in love with Veronica? Do you guys have some insane romantic relationship that you are hiding from Archie? What is he a pawn in your guys crazy game of chess? What kind of business dealings are you guys involved in? Kevin and I have some ideas. Kevin said Veronica referred to you as her consigliere. Jughead is this true? Is it true about Veronica? I need to know the truth. The town needs to know the truth. What are you using Andrews construction for? You and Veronica are using Archie for something fucked up and he's too dense to see it. I won't let you guys hurt Archie. He loves Veronica and Camila. Are you guys using the child to hurt him? Is she even his child?" Betty fires questions in rapid succession barely taking a breath. She needed to understand what was going on. The not knowing was driving her insane. Betty had thought the evening they had together was special. Even though Jughead has told her it was only sex. Betty knew Jughead wasn't that kind of guy. At least she didn't remember him being that kind of guy. Maybe he had changed more then she thought.
   Jughead laughed sharply. "Fuck you Cooper. You better never let Veronica hear your questions regarding these things. I must have missed the memo about you being entitled to an opinion on my life. Just to clear up any possible misunderstanding here and now. In no way shape or form are you allowed to question any of my relationships. Not only can you never question them. But you are not allowed to have an opinion on them. Not now or ever, especially where Veronica is concerned. Veronica and her life are not your concern nor is it your business. In fact I would care to wager that You aren't concerned at all for Archie. It seems to me that perhaps it's more along the lines of jealousy. Yea I think that makes the most sense. You're nothing but a cheap whore who couldn't make a relationship with Andrews work. So now you are jealous of the fact that he's with Veronica again because she's getting what you wanted. Archie. She got Archie." Jughead watched Betty squirm at his words. "Damn I'm starting to feel bad for Andrews a little. Having to deal with you.. it's no wonder he couldn't get it up for you. Why would he want some cheap knock off when he can have the real deal? You do know that all men want a queen on their arm right? No one wants some pawn who flits around when it suits them. Loyalty isn't based on when I'm around. It's never been based on that. I know where Veronica's loyalty is whether I'm around or not. As Archie shouldn't either. Veronica won't cheat on him if he's "too busy" or not attentive enough. She's a real queen always protecting her king."
"WOW! Jughead Jones you seriously can't believe what you just said. You seriously think I'm jealous of Veronica Lodge? Haha that's laughable. I don't think so." Betty protested her anger rising. Her hands going to tighten the ponytail that was absent for the first time in a long time. "You can't honestly believe anything you just said. Deep down you know none of that is the truth. I'm not in love with Archie. I never was. Why in the hell are you trying to hurt me? I thought we agreed to be civil towards one another. Jughead.. look at me." Betty demanded grabbing his arm trying to make him look at her. "Are you seriously going to sit here and tell me that night meant nothing to you?"
"Yea I am. An open fucking vagina so I could get my rocks off." He snapped back at her watching her flinch at his words. Jughead hated saying them. Though he hated the words he  hated the implications that they were using Camila to hurt Archie more. Camila being around Archie was actually hurting Jughead not Archie.
"You've changed..you've never been so heartless Jughead. Sometimes a bit of an asshole, but never so heartless never so cruel. What happened to you? What did Veronica do to you?"
Jughead laughed evilly. Betty felt tears stinging her eyes. "What did Veronica do? What happened? Are you stupid? I thought you were more educated then that Miss Cooper." Jughead mocked. "Guess all those years with Archie took a few points off your IQ huh? Poor girl. Get over yourself Betty Cooper. You were just an easy lay. Why Cheryl even invited trash to this party is beyond me. Family isn't about blood Cooper. It's about loyalty so don't even try sitting here spewing to me about how the twins are your family. They are more Veronica's family then yours. So now if you are done trying to get more from me I will be leaving. Unless of course you want me to continue to rip your sense of self apart. Which I am more then willing to do, just say the words. It's fun for me. Otherwise I will be excusing myself. The queen needs me. Enjoy yourself." Jughead walked away before stopping abruptly. "And you're right; this isn't a tea party Betty you are bit under dressed. Maybe you should take pointers from Veronica. Dress and act like royalty and you become it." He snapped over his shoulder before continuing to where Veronica stood with Archie. Veronica was wearing a form fitted emerald dress with black lace overlay that had a full train behind it. She looked stunning her hair perfectly piled onto her head. The platinum crown sparkling in the sunlight making the emeralds almost blinding. Veronica Lodge stood perfectly poised as if she herself was royalty and everyone was her servants. Betty glanced down at the pale pink lace dress she wore. It was cute. Betty realized but not sexy and definitely not in Cheryl's theme. Which was becoming more evident when more and more people showed up. Betty was definitely underdressed like Jughead had accused. The twins birthday party was a red carpet affair. Betty realized seeing cameras flash from all angles. Cheryl, Toni and the twins joined Veronica, Archie, Jughead and Camila. The group posing for pictures their laughter filling the air. Betty felt tears stinging her eyes first Archie now Jughead. What was happening to her life? She lost both of the men she loved. Not only that but she lost out on friendships that she was beginning to realize as the days passed. Cheryl and Betty has never been close through highschool. They had always had issues but most were solved by senior year. Because of Veronica. Betty thought bitterly. Cheryl and Betty had become friendlier then. That was until the core four blew up and friendships were tested and lines drawn. Even being Betty's third cousin and the aunt to her sister Polly's twins. Cheryl had chosen Veronica. Everyone always chose Veronica. Cheryl and Veronica's friendship bloomed into now. Betty and Cheryl had somewhat patched their relationship up. Or so Betty had thought until Veronica came back to town. Cheryl started blowing Betty off, not letting her have the twins as much as she had the past few years. Cheryl seemed to be with Veronica a lot or Camila was over. There was always an excuse. Betty watched Cheryl and Veronica dancing and laughing reminding her of them in highschool. Jealousy began to blind her. Her eyes puddled with unshed tears upon seeing Jughead grab Veronica's arm and spin her around in the garden. Veronica's laughter floating through the estate. It's all Veronica, her whole mess of a life was because Veronica moved to Riverdale.