Chapter Text
Jughead Jones was Harvard bound. He was student body class president, head of the model UN, president of the debate club, captain of the Riverdale hockey and lacrosse teams and was the most popular guy in school. Jughead was just that type of person people were drawn to. He was a genuinely nice guy, didn’t subscribe to toxic masculinity and always tried to do the right thing. He volunteered at the Riverdale animal shelter, tutored elementary school kids and helped out at a soup kitchen when he could.
To add to his intelligence, kindness and athletic prowess, Jughead was also good looking. He was 6’1, broad shoulders with an athletic build from all the sports he played. He had a dazzling smile, sexy black hair with a slight curl and piercing blue eyes.
Every girl at Riverdale High had a crush on Jughead Jones. Every girl but one.
Betty Cooper was the student body treasurer, a member of the debate club and the model UN. She was sharp as a tack and the one Jughead was always competing against for top GPA. She spoke in clipped sentences and never attempted to make small talk but she could argue like nobodies business. He never caught her staring at him or making the googly eyes like the other girls would. Betty Cooper came to school, aced ever test and essay, attended every meeting of every club she committed to and then went home.
She didn’t have friends or people she sat with at lunch. She sat alone in the far corner of the cafeteria, reading whatever book she was checking off the 100 Greatest Books list that week, occasionally people watching if the mood struck her. Her sunny blonde hair which hung around her shoulders in waves and her vibrant green eyes should have given off a welcoming feeling but her permanent scowl kept people away. If that wasn’t enough Betty only wore black. Black Doc Martins, black ripped jeans, black t-shirts and tank tops and always her black leather jacket.
Betty was smart as hell, the most beautiful girl in most rooms and intimating as fuck and from what Jughead could tell, that was just the way she liked it.
Jughead didn’t know when his crush on her began but his heart raced every time she walked into their chemistry class or when she showed up for debate club. He always asked her to speak because he loved hearing her voice but never chose her to lead the team so no one would catch on. He started thinking about her all the time, when he was in school, when he volunteered, when he went to bed and even when he would pleasure himself. He told no one. It was a secret he had been carrying around for a long time.
Jughead had only seen her speak to one person at length and that was her neighbour and his friend, Archie Andrews. They walked to and from school every day and Jughead wondered if the reason Betty showed no interest in him was because she was with Archie. Jughead was quick to dismiss this theory because Archie was with a new girl everyday of the week. Betty didn’t seem like the type of person who would put up with that.
The first true interaction Jughead ever had with Betty outside of school was when he was at Archie’s house. He was helping the redhead study for an upcoming English exam.
“I don’t understand why we need to know anything about Macbeth and his dad and why you shouldn’t say Macbeth in the theatre. It’s all stupid.” Archie complained falling back on his bed clearly giving up.
“It’s to help your analytical skills.” Jughead explained.
Archie pushed up on his elbows, shirtless and in the dark jeans he had worn that day, and looked at the dark haired boy blankly.
Jughead sighed. “The teachers need to know if you understand what you’re reading.” He explained.
Archie sighed and stood. “Whatever, I’m gonna get some sodas and Pop Tarts. You want some?” He asked.
Jughead nodded and stood too, stretching his legs and straightening out his jeans and Under Armour t-shirt. He strolled around the room looking at all the posters and photos that hung from the walls before walking into a little nook with a window. He turned to look out it realizing it faced Betty’s bedroom. He knew it was Betty’s bedroom because she stood with her back to the window as she began to undress.
Jughead’s eyes widened as he made many movements at once, not knowing exactly what to do. He started to crouch which turned into him turning his back on the window which led to him walking out of the nook. This was the right thing to do, he should give her some privacy, it would make him a creep, a peeping Tom if he continued to watch her. These thoughts didn’t stop him from walking back and taking another look.
Her top was off now and the smooth, toned plains of her back moved as she bent down to remove her pants. His cheeks flushed when he saw the underside of her breast as she picked up the garment. This was when she turned, suddenly, and Jughead was given a full view of her chest but this meant Betty was able to see him as well.
Both of their eyes went wide and Betty quickly covered herself and started saying something Jughead couldn’t make out but she was clearly yelling. In a panic, he turned and walked right into the wall behind him, hitting his head before leaving the nook. He sat back down where Archie had left him.
His knee bounced and his hands shook as embarrassment took over him. This was okay, this was fine. He would just apologize when he saw her next and everything would be fine. She would continue not to speak to him and he could feel a wave of unease every time he looked at her.
“Here you go, man.” Archie said, entering the room handing him a Pepsi and a plate with two nearly burnt chocolate Pop Tarts.
Jughead bit into the pastry and at the exact moment he heard the door slam downstairs. “Jughead Jones!” Betty yelled.
He started choking on his food and he watched the door for her impending arrival, he could hear her flip flops clomping up the stairs.
“What did you do, bro?” Archie asked with a smirk.
She burst in the room and pointed at him with wild eyes. “You!” She accused, walking towards him. “You little pervert!” She was wearing a periwinkle blue t-shirt, white shorts and hot pink flip flops. He had never seen her in so much color it made her eyes even more green.
Jughead backed away from her and raised his hands in surrender. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to! I’m a teenage boy and you’re all soft and beautiful and-”
“If you see someone changing, you just walk away! You don’t stand there and watch!” She crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.
“It all happened so fast, I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” Jughead’s face was red and he was sweating.
Archie was killing himself laughing, rolling around on his bed. “Did Betty catch you checking out her goods? Dude, that’s so desperate, just ask her out like a regular person, you meatball!” He started laughing again.
“So how are we going to solve this?” Betty asked. “You’ve seen me, you got what you wanted, now what do I get from you?” She cocked an eyebrow.
Jughead’s eyes shifted from side to side. “Do you want to see my penis?” Jughead guessed and Betty huffed and rolled her eyes.
“No, Well,” she looked over to the side like she was pondering it but then shook the thought from her mind. “No, I want to be lead for the debate challenge next month.” Betty demanded.
“Yeah, okay. You are one of our best. You’re our lead.” Jughead sputtered out.
Betty smiled in satisfaction. “Good, well, I’ll see you around Arch.” She nodded curtly at her neighbour and glared at the boy on the floor. “Pervy McPervertson.” She turned and left the room.
Jughead took a breath and relaxed for the first time since he had been caught looking at her. He looked over at Archie who was still laughing.
“God, you are so pathetic, dude.” He wiped a tear away from his eye. “Do you have a thing for Betty?” He asked.
Jughead looked away from his friend. “Yeah, she intrigues me. She doesn’t seem to have the same motivations as everyone else.” He shrugged.
“Plus she’s super hot.” Archie pointed out.
“So hot.” Jughead agreed rubbing his face. “Did you ever go out with her?” He asked.
Archie shook his head. “We fooled around a couple of times but no. The spark wasn’t there so we gave up, no biggie. We’re just friends.” He took a deep breath. “But if you like her, just ask her out, you two make sense together. Give it a shot.” He suggested.
“After what I just did, I don’t think she’s ever going to talk to me again.” Jughead sighed.
“You never know until you try.” Archie pointed out while grabbing his book. “Let’s get this English nonsense over with. I want to play video games.”
Jughead nodded happy to do anything to take his mind off Betty Cooper.
The next day Jughead did whatever he could to avoid Betty. He took different hallways, ate in a different lounge and didn’t study in the library like he usually did during first period. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t skip the Chemistry class him Betty had together and he dreaded every step he took towards the classroom.
He sat as far away from her as possible and kept his head down making sure he didn’t make eye contact with the blonde.
“Okay so were going to have some fun. Today we are going to make foam.” The teacher announced with no enthusiasm. Mr. Townsend was usually hungover but he seemed particularly bad today. “All the things you need are in the back. Take one of these handouts, all the instructions are there and please be as quiet as possible.” He pleaded. “Oh, Cooper. Jones. Your lab partners are out sick today, so partner up.”
Betty and Jughead locked eyes from across the room.
“Fuck.” Jughead muttered as he gathered his things and took the vacant spot beside Betty. “Hey.” He said.
“Hello.” She responded before getting up to go get a handout.
Jughead let out a deep breath and closed his eyes in annoyance. When Betty returned she asked him to fetch all the ingredients while she set up everything at their station.
He put his goggles and apron on and started measuring things out.
“So did you like what you saw yesterday?” Betty asked with a nonchalance that threw him off. He spilt liquid all over the bench which caused her to snicker.
“W-what?” He stuttered.
“You saw the girls, what did you think?” She asked tilting her head to the side.
“Your breasts?” He questioned, immediately feeling stupid for doing so.
She nodded.
He put everything down and looked at her. “I mean they are perky and a good size. They fit your frame, more than a handful but not wasteful.”
“Why thank you. I love hearing the word wasteful associated with my boobs.” She started pouring the first ingredient into the beaker.
“I said not wasteful.” He pointed out. “You have a very nice body, you must know that.”
“I do. You’re just really cute when you’re flustered.” She grinned and picked up the instructions reading over them. “You have to pour that into that.” She explained pointing at a small tube and then at the large beaker.
Jughead smiled at her and blushed. She thought he was cute. He took the tube and poured the whole thing in.
At this point, every other group was ahead of them. The ingredients were measured so it would foam just slightly over the top and give everyone a laugh. The only problem was, Jughead didn’t measure out the second ingredient so when he poured all of it in the foam shot up to the ceiling.
“Oh, shit.” He exclaimed trying to think of a way to make it stop. He knew the chemicals weren’t lethal and wouldn’t hurt his exposed skin so he picked up the beaker and started running to the sink to try and rinse it away. He did just that and the foam stopped. He sighed in relief and turned to look at the rest of the class.
There was foam everywhere, all over the ceiling, the floor, some of their classmates and all over Betty.
“Cooper! Jones! To the principals office, now!” Mr. Townsend yelled.
The two of them looked at each other and Betty put her head down, trying to hide her smile.
They walked to the office after Betty stopped at the bathroom to clean herself up.
The punishment was swift and just. They had to stay after school to clean up the mess they had made. They both agreed with little to no talk back.
School was just letting out when they were excused and they headed back to the classroom, stopping at the janitors closet to pick up cleaning products.
They put their goggles and aprons away and got to it.
“How are we supposed to clean the ceiling?” Jughead asked looking over at Betty.
“Mop?” She suggested.
He shrugged, took the mop and clumsily tried to clean off the foam that stuck to the tiles.
Betty started laughing, doubling over as she watched him struggle. “Stop doing that, you pancake!” She said finally running over to stop him. “That’s not going to work.” She grabbed a cloth, climbed on the bench and reached up. She wiped the foam off easily.
Jughead watched her as the hem of her shirt lifted, her stomach showing.
“Can you please stop ogling me and start cleaning?” She teased with a grin not looking down at him.
Jughead nodded and started mopping up the floor until it looked cleaner than he had ever seen the floors at Riverdale High. They both moved onto the benches, even cleaning the ones that had nothing on them.
“High five, Jones!” She exclaimed walking up to him with an extended arm.
He high-fived her back with a smile. “Why are you being so nice to me today? You were furious with me yesterday.”
“I was embarrassed. Considering we didn’t really know each other, I thought it was weird that you were just staring at me.” She reasoned. “Why were you staring at me?”
“Other than the fact that you were naked?” He chuckled. “I guess I’ve always had a crush on you. You’re smart, mysterious and beautiful and you don’t seem to care about being popular or attracting a guy or partying all the time. You seem to live by the beat of your own drum and I really like that.”
He looked up and jumped when he realized she was standing right in front of him. She was smiling softly before she leaned in and kissed him. Her lips were soft against his and his hand went up to grab her waist without thinking, he pulled her flush against him. Betty wrapped her arms around his neck and they breathed each other in. They both smelled like cleaning products and cheap school soap.
They parted while Jughead fingering the ends of Betty’s hair. He had imagined his first kiss with Betty in a myriad of different ways but he never thought it would be in the back of their Chemistry class. It was sweet but hot, quick but felt like a lifetime to him in his head. The kissed dazed him and he couldn’t believe his dreams and fantasies were coming true.
Betty bit her lip seductively and looked up at him. “I’m gonna go home, get cleaned up and then you are going to pick me up at 8 and take me to Pop’s for dinner.” She instructed.
He nodded. “I’ll see you at 8.”
“You know where I live.” She gave him one last kiss and left the classroom without another word.