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Between her incessant community service projects, her work at the Blue and Gold, and the everyday trials and tribulations at Riverdale High, Betty Cooper had found herself quite isolated from her friends the past two months.
After her and Archie’s… split over spring break, it seemed like it forced their friends to pick sides. Archie had tried once, in the beginning, to be cordial. He invited her and Jughead over for their usual Friday-night-game-night. Just the three of them, like the old days.
If she’s being honest, she wasn’t very mature that night either. She was bitter and still very fragile around Archie, so when he’d beat her at a round, while Jughead was off replenishing snacks, she got unnecessarily upset. Like, genuinely mad and sad and she started crying.
Jughead was very confused when he came back with two bags of chips and a few soda pops. He hadn’t been able to say a word before Betty was rushing out of the house, her face buried in her hands.
It took a lot of comforting from her mother, but eventually she’d calmed down. The subsequent talk with her mom helped her realize that it was just too soon to be around Archie so casually. The way they were both trying to act like nothing was wrong just twisted the knife deeper. Made the realization that it was all over sink deeper and deeper into her gut until all she wanted to do was scream until her throat was raw.
So she avoided her oldest friends as much as possible for the next two months. She felt embarrassed around Jughead and Archie after the way she behaved that night and she knew she wasn’t ready to be around Archie like that. Not yet.
It’s not as though she avoided them all together. Kinda hard to do when you go to the same school and share all the same classes. She just didn’t talk much, unless it was about an assignment, never met with them at Pop’s after school or accepted any invitations to go to anyone’s house to study.
Isolation. Just her: alone.
Letting out a deep sigh, Betty crossed her bedroom to the window, pushing it up with a little extra effort. The warm summer breeze wafted through the room, hitting her face first.
She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes.
And then immediately jumped as someone called out her name.
“Betty!”
Her eyes snapped open and she looked around a moment, before they lowered and landed on the signature crown-clad boy on the lawn below her window. He had both hands on his hips as he squinted up at her. “Jughead?! What are you doing here?” She called out in surprise,
He was wearing his silly “S” shirt and light blue jeans with converse, a blue flannel tied around his waist. Not a very summery outfit, but one that was very much Jughead Jones. Unorthodox.
“Trying to get you to come down here and go to a movie with me!” He called back up.
Betty groaned. “Jug, I’m not really in the mood to go sit in a stuffy theater-“
“Well, it’s a good thing it’s at the Twilight drive-in then!“ He retorted happily. “C’mon! You aren’t gonna make your old pal Jughead go see a horror movie by himself are you?”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile that made its way onto her face. He loved scary movies, and even though she would probably be watching the film through the gaps in her fingers, she didn’t immediately want to dismiss the idea.
The boy below waited patiently while she glanced back at her bedroom door. It was almost 11, that would put her out past curfew by the time the movie was over. Like, at least two hours over it.
Her mom was… not controlling per se. Just protective and had a tendency to hover in every aspect of Betty’s life.
Then again… it was summer. And her mother wasn’t always unreasonable. She’d be upset that Betty broke her curfew, for sure. But it’s not like she was going out partying either. And it was with Jughead of all people. He wasn’t one to get drunk or put her in a dangerous situation.
She bit her lip, looking back down at him. “Is anyone else coming with you?” She not so subtly glanced nervously at the Andrews’ household next door.
Jughead shook his head quickly. “Nah. Tonight’s just about Betty and Jughead. Kicking it back, eating some glorious concession snacks, and watching bloody zombie parts fly.”
Betty laughed. She still wasn’t sure it would make her feel better, but the idea of hanging out with Jughead did sound nice. He’d tried to coax her out of her house a few times the last few months, but she’d always had an excuse. Homework, writing club duties, Blue & Gold stuff, volunteer work. But now, with the summer holiday here, she knew she couldn’t use those as excuses anymore.
And Jughead was always Archie’s best friend, so she didn’t want to take that away from him, as upset as she was with the redheaded boy. Betty herself had always been better at being alone than he was. Archie needed people around him, he thrived off of it.
Just do it, Betty. Stop hiding away in here and missing out on your childhood.
“Okay. Let me grab a light jacket and my wallet.” She called down, feeling some glimmer of happiness thanks to the smile that graced her friends’ face.
She swept around her room, finding the things she needed and stuffing them into the pocket of her jacket before making her way back to the window. “Coming down.”
Jughead stepped backwards as she began climbing the wooden terrace that scaled up the entire side of the house. When she reached the bottom, she hopped down the last bit of space, her sneakers hitting the grass with a light thump.
She dusted her hands off on her pants and started walking, Jughead stepping in line with her. “Sooo…” He started, knocking shoulders with her lightly.
Betty stuffed her hands into her pockets. “Hmm?”
She had a feeling where this was going, but she didn’t want to be the one to bring it up.
“How are you doing? You’ve been so busy lately, we haven’t had any time to hang out. Seems like all you did those last few weeks at school was study at home.” Jughead explained, looking straight ahead.
She nodded slowly. “Yeah, part of it was because I was obsessing over finals and stuff. But also I just- I needed space. I needed to work through some things by myself.”
It was a little unfortunate that their breakup happened so close to the end of the year. She could’ve used her friends during those last few stressful weeks.
He nodded once, “Makes sense. Sometimes I need space too. How are you feeling now?”
“I’m getting better.” She told him honestly. “I think this summer is really going to give me the fresh start I need. Next year, it’s going to be a whole new Betty Cooper.”
Jughead chuckled. “Can’t wait to meet her.”
And that was that.
Things with Jughead had always been easier than it was with everyone else. He just had an air of comfort and simplicity to his interactions with people. He was chill, for lack of a better term. He didn’t push, he never pressured her.
And there was no chance for anything romantic, so she never felt like he had ulterior motives for wanting to be her friend. He was just a good friend that was unwaveringly loyal, and that was rare.
The walk to the drive-in was peaceful. And comfortable. Riverdale was quiet right now, very few cars on the road and almost no one walking around. Just a light breeze and their footsteps on the pavement. Jughead would hum occasionally, looking around at things as they passed by them.
Things got louder as they approached their destination, and Betty felt a ridiculous wave of anxiety.
When Betty tried to pay for her own ticket at the box office, Jughead swatted her hand away lightly. “My treat.” He told her, passing her ticket to her as they crossed into the grassy area.
One section had people in their cars, tops down and air conditioning going. The other part had people resting on the cool grass, either on blankets or just in the grass and dirt itself.
Seeing as neither she nor Jughead had a car, they turned right towards the grass-only section. “Soon as we find a good spot, I’m headed for the concessions stand. Anything sound good to you?”
“Maybe just some m&m’s? And a water.” She asked softly, nodding to a couple girls in their class, Valerie Smith and Melody Valentine. Two of the three members of Riverdale’s very own Josie and the Pussycats.
They were giggling about something as they stood near the restrooms, grinning widely at her as she and Jughead passed by.
Jughead clicked his tongue. “Peanut?” At her nod of approval, he beamed. “The best kind! I’m going to be getting a feast, so I might be a few minutes.” He warned, eyes glazing over as he probably started imagining what snacks he was going to buy.
She giggled and nodded.
“Out of our way, plebs.”
Betty was nearly shoved over completely when Cheryl Blossom came barreling past them, ridiculous high heels clicking against the sidewalk.
She stalked off towards concessions without another glance while Jughead raised an eyebrow at her retreating back.
“Sorry.” Toni Topaz pat Betty’s shoulder as she jogged after the redhead. “She’s hangry!” She called back just as she disappeared into the slowly thinning crowd.
“I know how that is.” Jughead muttered, rubbing his belly.
“Can’t believe Toni is still chasing after her like that.” Betty sighed, watching the spot the two girls had disappeared.
Jughead raised an eyebrow as they continued to walk through the crowd of people. “Like, literally or figuratively?”
She snorted. “Both. Toni is way too good for Cheryl. It just doesn’t make any sense, why she would be interested in someone like that.”
Betty could still remember freshman year, when Cheryl had first transferred to Riverdale High, mid-year, from Pembrooke Academy. The way she pursued Archie, and the flippant way she threw him aside once she got him to like her still made her blood boil. All the insults, all the schemes she threw her way, and she just tossed him away as soon as she got bored.
Neither Cheryl nor her brother Jason had been nice to her in the past.
She knew that one day, Cheryl do the same to Toni. Good, sweet, kind Toni. Who was a great person, and an even more loyal friend. Who would drop everything at a moments notice to help someone else.
Dating the she-devil herself.
Jughead sighed dramatically, throwing an arm around Betty’s shoulder and jostling her a little. “Dear Betty, love doesn’t make sense. If I’ve learned anything from watching all of you the past few years, it’s that.”
Betty smiled at his silliness, even though he was kind of spot on. Despite how much she and Archie had hurt each other, she loved him. It was stupid and made no sense, but she still did.
“As for Toni and Cheryl… maybe she’s different with Toni. You have to admit Cheryl has calmed down quite a bit since she and Toni started seeing each other last year. Kinda like how Moose and Midge are total opposites. She’s super smart and sweet, and he’s a bit of a daft bully sometimes. They balance each other out.”
Betty stopped at the first open spot they’d reached, poking Jughead’s side. “You know, for a guy that isn’t into romance, you’re pretty knowledgeable about it.”
He stretched and cracked his back. “Nah. I’m just super smart and observant.” Betty chuckled. “Now, food. I’ll be right back. Get comfortable.” He saluted her and then stalked off, a spring in his step at the prospect of filling that giant void in his stomach.
She watched him go, shaking her head. She had to admit, she did feel better after getting out of her room and being around people other than her mother and father. Feeling the warm, fresh air on her skin. The smell of popcorn and freshly cut grass wafting in the air. It was a nice break from her bedroom.
She settled onto the grass and sighed, the palms of her hands digging into the dirt and grass as she looked ahead and watched the previews on the screen. It was showing some rom-com that were playing next week. As the boy and girl onscreen kissed dramatically, she tore her gaze away.
She looked to her left and saw Chuck Clayton and Nancy Woods snuggled up on a blanket, happier than ever, even years later. She smiled at them. She was never really close with them, but they were very sweet and polite to her any time they’d interacted. And as far as she knew, they were the only two people in their class that had stayed together since middle school.
Turning her head a little further, she spotted Sabrina Spellman and Harvey Kinkle also cuddled up. She was surprised they were here all the way from Greendale just to watch a film here. They too, looked happy and stress free.
As it should be during summer vacation.
It seemed everyone was partnered up, romance and couples everywhere. Unlike Jughead, she had an ache deep inside her that made her want that. Desperately. And despite feeling a brief feeling of peace a moment ago, she was suddenly hit with a staggering wave of sadness.
Why was she still so upset by this? Breakups happened all the time, why had this basically socially crippled her? Why couldn’t she just get over it?
Because he wasn’t just your boyfriend. He was your best friend. Someone you thought knew you better than anyone. Someone you trusted to never hurt you, since you were young kids.
She knew she was staring off into space now, letting her internal voice take over and guide her thoughts.
That inner voice was right though. She lost her best friend that day, not just someone she was dating for a few months. Not only that, but all the confidence she had in herself too.
And she had no idea how to get herself out of this rut.
“Hey, Cooper.” Toni’s voice appeared from behind her, and she turned to see the short haired pinkette, holding a hot dog and a cola. “You wanna come watch the movie with us? We still have some room in Cheryl’s car.”
Betty played with her fingers, not knowing how to decline without seeming rude. “I don’t know…”
Lowering her voice a little, Toni spoke reassuringly. “Archie isn’t here, I promise. As far as I know, he’s went fishing with his dad this weekend.”
She let out a breath at that. She’d forgotten all about Archie and his dads’ tradition of ringing in the summer season by spending a weekend camping a fishing together.
Toni interrupted her thoughts by continuing ti speak. “And I’m sorry for Cheryl’s rudeness earlier, she and Jason were going at it earlier and she’s all riled up.”
Betty refrained from scoffing. She was pretty sure that’s just how Cheryl was all the time. Toni just had love goggles on and refused to see it.
Because that was Cheryl: rude. But Betty didn’t bother pointing that out, knowing it wouldn’t do any good, so she just nodded. “It’s fine.” She placated. “Um, I don’t know what Jug wants to do, but-“
“He already said he’s cool with it if you are. He and Cheryl are still by concessions. Cheryl’s the one who offered, actually. After seeing how much he was ordering.” She snorted. “Always tryna one-up me. Jokes on him though, Cheryl and I just ate dinner half an hour ago so I’m mostly stuffed from that.” She was rambling, more to herself, and Betty couldn’t help but smile just a smidge.
Jughead and Toni being in constant battle about who could eat more was a never-ending, and amusing, battle that had started the summer after freshman year at Riverdale’s annual carnival. Or more specifically, at the cupcake eating contest there, where newcomer Toni had beaten out Jughead as the record holder for most cupcakes eaten. 32.
Betty felt her stomach roll at the thought. She didn’t know how they did it.
“Anyways, sorry for the tangent. What do you say, Cooper? The seats are nice and cushy, much better than the hard ground.” She smiled.
At that moment, Jughead approached them from behind as well, Cheryl at his side. They made such a starkly odd duo that Betty almost laughed at the sight. Jughead, dark hair a little messy with his signature grey crown, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. And Cheryl, bright red immaculately styled hair, red heels, and a skimpy dress.
“The movie is starting soon, my love. Let’s go.” Cheryl pouted dramatically, tugging on the sleeve of Toni’s long black t-shirt.
Toni shot the girl a little loving smile. “In a sec, babe. You would like Betty and Jughead to come join us too, wouldn’t you?”
The redhead looks pained for a minute, like agreeing with her girlfriend and being kind to someone might make her explode. Betty isn’t sure Toni was telling the truth when she said it was Cheryl’s idea. After a moment of her contorting her face into several different emotional states, she finally relents. Though, Betty suspects she only agrees because of Toni.
“Sure, why not. My car is much more comfortable and cleaner than this flea-infested grass.” The redhead rolled her eyes.
Toni beams at the statement, like she finds Cheryl’s snootiness cute rather than off-putting, and leans over to kiss the girls’ cheek. It makes the redhead visibly soften a little. “Sweet. C’mon you two. You can sit in the back with Trev.”
Jughead shrugs, not one to ever object to getting a more comfortable place to sit and relax. Betty gets back up and walks alongside Jughead, following the couple to their car.
“Oh, your m&m’s are in the pocket of my flannel.” The boy bites his lip, wiggling as if he’s going to try and grab it. But his arms are full of food. From what she can make out, there are three hot dogs, four soda cans, two bags of candy, her bottled water, all with an order of nachos perched on top of the tiny mountain.
She chuckles and bends down to reach into the pocket herself, retrieving the little bag of m&m’s and smiling gratefully at him. “Thanks, Jug.”
The movie starts just as they’re getting settled in the car. Betty smiles shyly at Trevor Smith, who is sitting to her left while Jughead munches on chips to her right. Jughead is a little gangly, so his knees press into the seat ahead of him. Trev too, looks a bit smashed against the inside of the car door.
The front and the back both have bench seats, but Cheryl and Toni are snuggled up in the front, leaving a wide space on Toni’s right. There’s room for one of them to sit there more comfortably, but none of them say anything because the two girls were kind enough to let them chill in their car rather than on the hard ground.
Well, Toni was nice enough, and Cheryl allowed it because Toni Topaz made her soft.
As she watches Cheryl pop a few pieces of popcorn into Toni’s mouth, she thinks a bit more about their relationship.
They’d caused quite a stir when they first started dating, Betty recalls, watching the way Toni nuzzles Cheryl cheek with her nose and then kisses it with butter stained lips to get the redhead to giggle.
Cheryl was known for being a huge bitch, but despite that major character flaw, all the boys still fell at her feet. She’d always played with their emotions, especially those of poor Dilton Doiley. Most of the girls hated Cheryl that first year. At the ripe old age of 14, stealing boyfriends and causing every male gaze to drift her way with the way she flaunted herself confidently.
And then Toni swept in the next year with her kindness and her honesty and toughness. She was the first person to actually stand up to Cheryl and tell her like it is. And then not immediately cave when Cheryl sent her brother to deal with anyone who was messing with his sister. They were a weird pair, the Blossom twins. She couldn’t imagine having such a tumultuous relationship with one’s own brother.
As for Cheryl and Toni, at first, they butted heads. Like a lot. Cheryl was a loudmouth and Toni didn’t like that very much. She thinks after a while that anger morphed into attraction. Or maybe the attraction was always there and the anger only fueled it in the form of passion.
Either way, something eventually broke and they had been inseparable since.
Despite her dislike of Cheryl as a person, Betty suspects that’s part of the reason their relationship works so well. The only person that could ever tame someone so wild and mean was someone else that was just as wild, but equally kind. The perfect balance, she has to begrudgingly admit.
Her and Archie used to balance each other out. He was clumsy, goofy, and lovable. But he was constantly forgetting things, constantly getting distracted. She was good at helping him remember and keeping him on track. But she could be controlling, like her mother.
She wonders if being with Archie changed her, and if that was the beginning of the end for them. Unlike with Cheryl and Toni, their own personal character flaws were to the detriment of their relationship.
She feels an elbow dig into her ribs gently and Jughead whisper to her. “Hey, you okay?”
He must’ve noticed her staring at the girls in front, so she shakes her head and smiles forcibly. “Yeah. Thanks for tonight, Juggie. It means a lot. I think I really needed this.”
He knocks their shoulders together lightly and then faces the screen again, shoving a handful of his chips and nacho cheese into his mouth. Its gross, if she’s being honest, but she’s gotten so used to Jughead that it doesn’t phase her anymore.
Beside her, Trev is watching the sight slightly disgusted, but then he catches her eye and the two of them smile fondly over the other boy.
She likes Trev.
He’s polite and easy going, much like Jughead.
He’s cute too, which she can easily admit. With his curly dark hair, always styled to perfection. His toned arms and the cute earring he has on right ear. His hands callused from the countless hours practicing his guitar. Sweet, with a mix of bad boy. Every girls’ dream, really.
But the thought of having something like that with anyone else right now seems impossible. She thinks it’s progress, maybe. That she’s even able to think about such things now.
She glances at Jughead, then she glances at Trev. She feels comfortable with them, not quite as suffocated as she thought she’d feel. And no one was making her breakup with Archie a big deal, hadn’t even mentioned it. Not even Cheryl.
Not that she regretted giving herself time alone, because she thinks that was needed too. In the end, what she’s really doing is grieving. Grieving a relationship, a friendship, perhaps even grieving a piece of herself that she lost the past few months.
Maybe all she’d needed to do this whole time was trust in her friends. And maybe that was the first step to trusting in herself again too.
She was tired of being alone.
“Hey, gimme one of those hotdogs.” Betty bumped Jughead playfully, reaching for the pile of food in his lap.
He slapped her hand then looked over at her amused, as the sound of a chainsaw could be heard in the movie playing in front of them. Then he quirked an eyebrow, studying her, before reaching for a hotdog himself and passing it to her.
She snatched it from him and Trev chuckled beside her, before she looked back to the screen and unwrapped the food.
As she bit into it and started chewing, she smiled genuinely while Jughead went back to crunching on his nachos.
She just had to take it one day at a time. Stop moping and being upset every time she saw another couple. Her happiness should never be tied to anyone else, let alone tied to other people’s relationships.
It was time to move on.