Episode 1x09: Jughead and FP have dinner.

I can always just turn around. Say I forgot or have homework.

Jughead was standing outside of Pop's at about 6:45 on the night he planned to have dinner with his father. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't stop thinking that things were going to be awful

I probably won't need an excuse anyway. He probably forgot or is already drinking his day away. All I have to do is turn around and walk away.

But Jughead didn't move. No matter how much he was dreading it, he couldn't make himself leave.

I told Betty I would try to make this work. I can't honestly say I did unless I walk into that diner and accept disappointment in whatever form it decides to come in.

Jughead took a deep breath as he ascended the small set of stairs in front of the diner. As he walked in, he reached into his bag to grab his laptop. Even if his father didn't show up, at least he could get some work done on his novel. If his dad disappointed him, he was prepared to pretend this was just like any other night.

He started to walk over to his favorite booth, preparing to order his usual coffee when he heard a voice behind him.

"Hey, Jughead!"

Jughead turned around to see his father already sitting in a booth closer to the other side of the diner. He looked as though he had been there for awhile, hard hat sitting next to him as he took a sip of his cup of coffee.

Not only on time, my dad is early?

Jughead shook his head, almost unable to comprehend this turn of events.

My dad is here, on time, and looking as though he hasn't had a drink all day at least.

He walked over to his father's booth, for some reason feeling more nervous than before.

"Hey, kid. Thanks for meeting with me." FP said, sliding out to stand next to his son.

He looks ok. It might have even been a few days since his last drink. Doesn't seem to be shaky and looks more tired than usual.

"No problem." Jughead said, trying to give his dad a chance since he actually seemed to be trying.

FP extended his arms briefly, as though he were considering hugging Jughead. Jughead unintentionally cringed, causing FP to back up a little. Instead, he patted Jughead briefly on the shoulder then shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Would you like this side of the booth?" FP asked, gesturing to the side he just vacated.

"Nah, I am ok over here." Jughead said, sitting on the opposite side of the booth.

"Good. Good." FP nodded as he slide back into his seat, glancing around. "Did you see the waitress when you walked in?"

Jughead shook his head, already incredibly uncomfortable.

"No, but it shift change right now. Someone should be out in a few minutes." he reassured his father.

FP looked at him curiously.

"You know when there is a shift change?" FP asked, his voice skeptical.

"I've spent a lot of time here." Jughead defended, though not quite sure why he felt so defensive about his dining habits.

FP didn't respond. The two of them looked in opposite directions.

I believe Norman Rockwell will be here any moment to illustrate this classic example of father/son bonding.

Minutes passed, neither of them so much as stealing a glance of the other one when the waitress at long last showed up to take their order.

"I'll have a cheeseburger, fries and a coke." Jughead ordered hurriedly.

"No shake dear?" the waitress asked, looking confused.

Jughead glanced at his dad who was staring at the menu, avoiding eye contact.

"Maybe later." Jughead told her, not sure if he wanted to stick around long enough for a shake after dinner.

The waitress then turned her attention to FP. "And for you?"

"Same, except I want a chocolate and banana shake." FP told her, smiling as he handed her the menu.

"Right away." the waitress smiled, writing down the order and walking back behind the counter.

Now that the waitress was gone, Jughead was beginning to feel the pressure. He felt like he should say something to his dad, but he wasn't sure what. He didn't really want to talk about himself and it seemed like an unnecessary low blow to bring up his mom and Jellybean. But it wasn't like he and his dad had any common interests. Maybe movies, but Jughead didn't exactly feel like striking up a conversation about which Godfather movie was the best. They had decided years ago the second one was, but even so it didn't seem right to bring up something so casual when their relationship was so broken.

But we can't just sit here like this forever. Jughead thought, as he looked out the window to the practically empty parking lot. One of us is gonna have to say something or else what was the point of even coming here tonight.

If someone is going to talk first, it should be me. I am the one who asked for this dinner. Jughead concluded, internally groaning.

Jughead cleared his throat and turned to face his dad, who was adjusting the cuffs on his jacket, still avoiding eye contact.

"So, how it work going?" Jughead asked.

Awkward, but it was the first thing that sprang to mind.

FP smiled, seeming glad that Jughead decided to speak first.

He looked up at Jughead and he seemed happy to talk about it.

"Things are going great, Jug." FP told him, sounding proud. "Which is no surprise to me but I am sure ol Freddy is floored."

Jughead nodded but felt his eyes narrow, glancing back out the window. He hated when his dad talked about Archie's dad like that. Like being a good person who followed the rules made you less than everyone else. At least Archie wasn't sitting in a booth in front of a stranger trying to make amends.

FP looked at Jughead, clearly realizing that Jughead hadn't enjoyed his response. He cleared his throat and seemed to want to try again.

"It's a huge project. I can't say I have ever been part of a more intense one. But it is decent job and I think this project could last us for at least 6 months."

Six months? Since when have you been able to see past six days, let alone months?

"Really?" Jughead asked, skepticism filling his tone. "And you're ok with that?"

FP smiled, leaning forward.

"Of course I am Jug." FP told him. "I've been working my ass off for the past couple weeks. My crew has never been this fortunate when it comes to work. Although God knows what we are actually building."

"So you don't know either?" Jughead asked. Fred had told them it was gonna be big, but he didn't go into the details of what it was. Archie assumed his dad just didn't know what he was building.

"Know? Hell, I doubt anyone knows except whoever owns it." FP supplied.

"Do you know who owns it?" Jughead asked, finding himself leaning closer to his dad, wanting to engage in this conversation.

FP looked at his son carefully, but then he backed away.

He knows. Jughead concluded. Somehow he knows when Archie's dad doesn't. But he can't or won't say anything.

Before Jughead could press his father further, the waitress showed up with their order.

"Thanks, Norma" Jughead said, nodding at the waitress and shoving some fries in his mouth.

FP took a bite of his cheeseburger, now staring at his plate.

Well at least we almost had a conversation. Jughead thought bitterly as he took a bite of his own burger.

FP then cleared his throat.

"Let's talk about you. How's school going?" FP asked, leaning back and taking a swig of his milkshake.

Jughead scowled at his father.

Of course. Why should we have a conversation about something that actually matters when we can focus on the banality of my daily life.

"Fine." Jughead said, trying to hide the bitterness that was threatening to swallow him.

FP smiled. The sudden change in his son's mood didn't seem to bother him.

"Actual fine or Jughead fine?" FP asked.

Jughead looked at his father questioningly.

"What's Jughead fine?" he questioned.

"Where you lie and tell me everything is going fine, but you're actually doing poorly in classes you could be doing alright in if you actually tried."

Jughead was shocked. His dad knew? He knew that Jughead would lie about doing well in school? Not once in the ten years that Jughead had been keeping track had he noticed FP even look at his report card.

Maybe he was paying attention, but in the least attentive way possible.

"I guess it is Jughead fine." Jughead conceded, though he was smiling. "Although, I don't care what you say, I could never be good at geometry."

"You could." FP said. "If you would sit down and study with me."

Jughead raised his eyebrows.

"You're good at geometry?" Jughead questioned. It never occurred to him to think about things his father might be good at.

FP laughed. It didn't seem as cruel or encumbered as his usual laugh. It seemed genuine and the thought of that made Jughead smile.

"I'm in the construction biz, aren't I? You think that Fred was the only brains of the operation back in the day?" FP joked, eating some more of his fries.

Jughead winced. The topic of Fred's betrayal was bound to bring out the darker side of his father.

I always knew it was a matter of time. FP Jones plus Time always leads to disaster.

"Or you could just work a little harder on your own." FP said, changing the direction of the conversation. "Maybe spend some of the time you are hanging out in this diner working on some actual homework."

Jughead grinned as he took a bite of his burger.

That almost felt paternal. Jughead thought, feeling grateful that he father hadn't gone to the dark side just yet.

Jughead felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a text message.

B: Thank you for being there today. I really needed a pep talk and you are surprising good at them. How are things going with your dad?

Jughead smiled despite himself. Even when she is dealing with a major family emotional crisis, she never hesitated to take time to think of him.

How is Betty capable of being as incredible as she is? How did I end up so lucky?

Jughead continued to smile at his phone as he took another bite of his burger.

Jughead looked up and noticed his father looking at him with a grin slapped across his face.

"So how's your girlfriend? Betty, was it?" FP asked, biting into his fry as though he had made a serious deduction.

Jughead nearly spit out his bite of burger. How on earth did his father know about Betty? He couldn't help the instant panic he felt.

We were so careful around him. We didn't touch, we didn't even really look at each other around him. How could he know?

"I never said she was my girlfriend." Jughead told his father, already defensive.

FP looked surprised by Jughead's reaction.

"Relax, kid. You didn't have to." FP told him, holding his hands up and leaning away from Jughead. "I saw the way you were together. At the Sheriff's station, in my trailer. The two of you don't exactly believe in personal space."

Jughead tried not to blush. He hadn't considered that. Jughead was usually super aware of people being in his personal space, but with Betty, he never seemed to notice how close she was. In fact, he would often find himself scooting closer to her if she felt too far away.

Ugh, I am one of those people. Jughead thought about his need to be closer to his girlfriend.

"Not to mention, that was a pretty epic kiss outside the trailer." FP smiled, sipping at his shake.

"You were watching us?" Jughead asked, feeling somehow more uncomfortable than he had before.

"Not watching. Just making sure you guys got off ok. Didn't know I was interrupting something." FP defended.

Jughead nodded. It seemed like an honest mistake but it was still incredibly embarrassing for him to think of his father watching him kiss his girlfriend.

"Hey, listen. There is nothing wrong or embarrassing about dating a girl. Or even a little PDA as long as you like her and you treat her right."

Ok. I kinda wish I was dead right now. Jughead thought, looking away from his dad and shoving some fries in his mouth. Maybe what killed Jason Blossom was the idea of talking to his parents about his relationship.

Jughead shuffled in his seat, scrambling to think of any way to change the topic of conversation.

"Are you?" FP asked, looking at his son curiously.

"Am I what?" Jughead replied, not sure if his father had said something while he was considering throwing himself out the window.

"Treating her right? Respect and appreciation and all that…" FP said, spinning his hand around in a circle.

And all that? No need to figure out where my attitude towards women comes from.

Despite how embarrassing this was, Jughead could see that his dad's question was a genuine one. Even though Jughead wanted to pull his beanie over his face, he could see that there was a concern there. Did FP worry that Jughead wasn't treating Betty the way she should be treated? Was he concerned that his influence over Jughead had ruined his chances of having a good relationship with a girl?

A shock to you and me both, believe me. Jughead thought bitterly. But at least you are concerned. At least you seem to care.

"I hadn't really thought about it." Jughead told his dad honestly. "I don't really treat her very differently than before we were dating. She's still Betty, she is just my girlfriend, Betty now."

My girlfriend, Betty. I just told my dad I have a girlfriend. How twisted does the world feel now?

"That's good, Jug." FP nodded approvingly. "Never forget that a woman is more than just the role she plays in your life."

Jughead nodded, wondering where this wisdom his dad was imparting on him was coming from. Did it come from him realizing his failings in his relationship with Jughead's mom? Was there something more to it?

They sat in silence for a few minutes after this, both focusing on finishing their meals. As much as Jughead appreciated his father's attention, he was desperate not to talk any more about his relationship.

"So how's it going at the school newspaper?" FP asked, seeming eager to start another conversation.

Jughead snapped his head up and stared at his dad. His dad knew he was on the paper?

"Archie said you were on the paper with Betty the last time we had dinner together." FP explained, as though reading Jughead's mind.

Right. The dinner where I spent the entire time internally cringing as you pretended to know me. Or at least pretended that you understood and approved of me.

Jughead nodded, suddenly feeling bitter again.

"Surprised you remember that dinner." Jughead remarked, not bothering to hide his sarcasm.

"You mean because of how hard I hit the bottle after it?" FP added, unashamedly.

One thing that could be said about my dad, he doesn't pretend to be something he isn't. He knows how much of a mess his is. Must be where I get it from.

Rather than answering, Jughead lifted his eyebrows in response. It didn't need saying.

"I'm sorry about that Jug. All of it." FP simply stated.

Jughead didn't need him to continue. It wasn't the first time in Jughead's life that FP apologized for drinking. It probably wouldn't be the last either. But at least he was doing more than apologizing this time. He was working, he was listening, he was engaging.

What more can I ask of him? He is actually trying to do better this time. And maybe, somehow, this could be the time it sticks.

"Yes. I am on the school paper. The Blue and Gold." Jughead told his father.

"I'm surprised. Never really thought journalism would be your thing." FP remarked.

"It's not." Jughead told him. "Not really. I am mostly just converting parts of my novel into articles."

FP sat up on his side of the booth again.

"Novel? You are writing a novel?" FP asked, sounding astonished.

Jughead felt immediately surprised by his father's interest. As much as he claimed to, FP had never cared about Jughead's literary pursuits.

"Yes. It is about Jason Blossom's murder."

FP's eyes got huge. He seemed floored and if Jughead was reading him correctly concerned.

"Nice going, kid. Tell me more about it." FP said, leaning back, drinking the last of his shake.

"Really? You actually want to know?" Jughead questioned, not sure he could believe his father's sudden interest.

FP took a deep breath, his face becoming neutral.

"Yes, Jughead. I actually want to know." FP confirmed.

"Well, I start it out on the 4th of July…" Jughead begins, feeling excited to share the concept of his novel with a new audience.

As Jughead explained the basic construction of his novel, he watched his father engage. He was asking questions, looking invested in the answers. Jughead could hardly believe how much his father seemed to care.

"I hope you will let me read it." FP told him. "Once you feel like you are ready for an audience."

"Well, it is not done yet. True crime doesn't really end til the murder is solved. But I can show you what I have."

FP was about to respond when the waitress walked back over to them.

"Can I get you guys anything else?" She asked, gathering the empty plates from the table.

"Yes. Another Chocolate and Banana shake for me." FP said, handing her the glass. He smiled over at Jughead as he said this.

"And I'll have the dark chocolate mocha shake." Jughead added, smiling.

And from there Jughead relaunched into an explanation of his novel, shocked with every passing second that his dad seemed to be paying attention.

While in the midst of discussing this, Jughead quickly typed out a message to Betty.

J: Everything is going great, Betts. I will call you later to tell you about it.

It surprised Jughead more than anything that this was true.

Maybe Betty was right. Maybe he can change and this time can be different.