Chapter 8 – Jughead

My throat was thick with anxiety, so I had to clear it before I said "Hello?"

"Is this Jughead Jones?" the voice on the other side asked, the emphasis he put on my name gave the impression that it left a sour taste in his mouth.

"Yes, who is asking?" I replied trying to keep my voice level and cool. Betty was still staring at me with huge, horrified eyes. Veronica and Archie were facing us frozen. I don't recall deciding to answer the phone, I just did.

The man on the other line completely ignored my inquiry and asked "Where is Betty?"

Betty's breath hitched as she heard the question. She blinked her eyes and gazed at my face. Maintaining my cool composure I replied "Um, Betty who?" I knew it was a stupid response, but I was supposed to be stupid in this situation, as far as Alex knew I hadn't heard from Betty in five years.

"Betty Cooper!" Alex barked, "Don't play me Jughead, I know you are with her, I know that slut ran back to you."

"Listen buddy, I haven't seen Betty Cooper in more than five years. I don't know how you got this number but I'd appreciate it if you didn't call it again" I retorted.

"Tell her I am looking for her, and I'm not going to stop until she is home." Alex threatened, his voice low and dark, and then the line went dead.

Tears had started to fall down Betty's face as she listened to the conversation. My arm was still resting on her shoulder so I wrapped her into a tight embrace as she began to sob. Seeing Betty Cooper cry holds the top spot in list of things I hate, coming in above wasted food and screaming children.

Ronnie moved from Archie to Betty and Betty left my arms to turn and hug her. I walked over to Archie and had a silent conversation with our eyes. We would be staying with the girls tonight.

Betty's sobbing had subsided and Ronnie was now wiping Betty's tear stained face and making her smile, I shot another glance at Archie as he stepped forward and said, "How about we watch a movie?"

"That sound's great! Doesn't it Betty? Just like old times!" Veronica said almost too cheerfully given the situation, but I was sure the cheer was for Betty's sake.

Betty gave a sheepish smile and mumbled "sure". Archie headed to the living room to rifle through Veronica's movie collection. Ronnie pulled Betty down the hall so they could change into "more comfortable clothes" and I moved to the kitchen to round up snacks.

I was taking a bag of popcorn out the microwave when I felt Betty's hand on my waist.

"Hi" she exhaled.

I shut the microwave and turned to face her, nose to nose. I thought that this would be weird, casually touching each other and being inside each other's space, I thought it would take some time to get used to again, but like everything has been since Betty returned to Riverdale, it was just… normal, it just felt right. Like this is how it was meant to be. I put my free hand on her cheek and looked deeply into her eyes. She was able to read the question from my eyes before I could form the words and she responded "I'm okay…. I'm scared, and betrayed by my parents…. but right here, with you, V and Arch, I'm okay." I nodded understanding that, that was her way of ending the conversation for the night. I moved my hand from her cheek and placed a light kiss where my hand had just been, and she dropped her arms from my waist. We gathered the rest of the snacks and headed to the living room where Veronica and Archie were already snuggled up on the couch.

Betty sat on the floor in front of the couch and I joined her. Of course Archie let Ronnie choose the movie so it was some sappy romantic comedy I had no interest in watching. So I spent the time throwing kernels of popcorn into the air and trying to catch them in my mouth or watching Betty's face move with emotion as she reacted to the movie, but mostly I thought about how I was going to protect Betty from this.

After about an hour both Veronica and Betty were fast asleep, which I swear happens every time we let Veronica choose the movie. I slowly stood up and quietly collected the remaining food while Archie tried to wiggle out of Veronica's embrace without waking her.

Once we both arrived to the kitchen Archie sat on the counter and faced me. "What are we going to do Jug?" his voice just above a whisper, not wanting to wake the girls.

"I don't know…." I knew exactly what I had to do, it was to protect Betty, at any and all costs. To make sure that here in Riverdale with me, she was safe and she knew she was safe. "Right now I think our best bet is to lay low like she said, Alice and Alex both just think she is in Riverdale, they don't have confirmation."

"So she's just going to stay locked in this apartment? For all we know he is on his way to Riverdale right now. It won't take him long to track down Ronnie and I will not have her brought into this Jughead." Archie's voice was angry, obviously there was risk for Ronnie too and I understood his need for action. I idly put away the remaining snacks as my mind ran through all of the options of keeping Betty safe.

"We will go to the sheriff's station tomorrow and file for a restraining order." I said, "and we will take turns having the girls stay with us and us with them"

"Well I guess that's something" Archie replied.

He hopped of the counter and we went back to the living room where the girls were still sound asleep. Archie bent down and scooped Veronica up into his arms, she stirred slightly as she settled into his chest and he proceeded to carry her to her room.

The commotion had woken Betty and she was looking at me with those big green eyes that were slightly heavy with sleep. I audibly sighed at the sight, overwhelmed with how she could look so breathtaking after napping on the floor for the last hour.

"Are you staying here?" Betty asked in a voice thick with sleep. I didn't know if that was a genuine question or if that was an invitation. Of course I wanted to stay but I didn't want to presume anything, she's only been back to two weeks and she was just engaged to another man.

Betty must have read my eyes like she always did, or does, because while I was having a war with myself she had made her way to me, she greeted me with a big smile and laced her fingers with mine and guided me down the hall to her bedroom.

Once inside she kicked the door shut behind us and without turning on the light she lead us to her bed. She released my hand as she climbed in and pulled herself under the covers. I pulled off my jeans and climb in next to her. We lay face-to-face, noses touching, she moved to lightly kiss my lips. With her kiss she pushed me onto my back, while she hovered above me. She removed her lips from mine and whispered "Goodnight Juggie" and she nestled her face into the crook of my neck and pressed her body against the side of mine.

"Goodnight" I sighed as I was lulled to sleep by the sound of her breath and the sweet scent that is Betty Cooper.