Chapter Text
Betty, Veronica, Archie, Kevin, and Cheryl have all been best friends for as long as they could remember. Since their families were founding families of Riverdale, everybody knew and respected them on the Northside.
Their friendship started to drift apart in the summer before senior year. Things were changing in their lives.
Betty and Veronica both had a crush on Archie since middle school, but they wouldn't let him tear them apart. Or so they thought.
Betty only saw Archie and no one else. It was always him and her.
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They never spoke about the Southside, the only thing they knew was they were bad people and not to interact with the people from the South or cross the boarder to go there.
So when Kevin told Betty and the whole gang that his boyfriend he met over summer break had invited him and his friends over to the Southside to come to a party a week before school starts, Betty kept trying to prevent any of her friends from going, while they all agreed to go.
"Come on guys, you know we are not allowed to go to the Southside!" Betty exclaimed.
"Oh my god, Betty live a little! It's just a party." Cheryl said with an roll of an eye.
Betty turned to Archie and Veronica, who were barely paying attention, and flirting with eachother.
"Archie? V? Are you guys really agreeing to this?!" She said looking between the two, with a hint of suspicion.
"Betty we're seniors now, we need to let loose a little." Archie said before returning his attention back to Veronica.
"Yeah, besides how are we supposed to know if the Southside is actually bad or it's just our parents being over dramatic." Veronica said without moving her eyes away from Archie.
Betty look at the two questionly. "Is there something you two want to tell us?" Betty said getting nervous and jealous as she put two and two together.
"What are you talking about, B?" Veronica said looking as though she was trying to hide something.
"Oh come on, Veronica we all can you two flirting your asses off. Did something happen over summer?" Cheryl was never afraid to say what was on her mind.
"Oh. My. God. Spill!" Kevin exclaimed clasping his hands together.
"Okay fine some stuff might have happened over summer between us." Betty's heart sank, the one thing she was wishing for not to happen, happened. She couldn't even hear the rest of the conversation as she got lost in her thoughts. Her heart broke hear the news, but she knew she had to be happy for her bestfriends.
Betty put on the famous fake Cooper smile and went along with their conversation, forgetting about the party.
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They stayed a little while longer before they all got ready to leave when the bell chimed, meaning there were new visitors at the diner. It was a group a kids that looked as though they were from the Southside. With their clothes all dirty and were a dark shade, no one from the North wore dark it was always preppy bright colors. But the one thing that gave it away was all their jackets, leather with a giant green snake embroidered on the back that read "Southside Serpents."
Archie stiffened, knowing well that you do not mess around with Southside residents. He was about to approach them before Pop Tate bursted out of the kitchen grinning ear to ear, looking directly at the so-call-"Serpents."
"Jughead Jones, what a pleasure it is to see you here. What brings you to this side of the town." Pop happily says, walking over to them and hugging one which was wearing a gray what looks like crown shape beanie, he was tall, and had black hair. His back was facing Betty so she couldn't see how he actually looked.
"It's nice to finally see you too, Pop. I've been craving one of your burgers, and had to show these numbskulls-" he gestured to what looks to be his friends, "-how delicious your food is."
Jughead then looked around the diner to see every Northsider staring at them, his eyes locked with Betty's before turn back to Pop then the Northsiders.
"We aren't here to harm you all, just going to grab some food like the rest of you, please stay calm." Jughead finally says grinning. The group starts to break into fits of laughter.
The group takes a seat at a booth and Pop takes their orders before leaving back to the cooking area.
"Betty, Betty, BETTY!!!" Kevin yells, waving his hand in front of Betty's face to get her attention.
"Huh... What?" Breaking her from her train of thoughts.
"As I was saying we never did end the conversation about the party that my boyfriend invited me to. Speaking of my boyfriend, he is sitting in that group. Looks like you guys can meet him early. C'mon." Before she can process what he just said, Kevin was dragging her across the diner along with the others.
Once they got to the booth they all stared in questioning looks except one, which Betty was guess was him, the boyfriend. He had long slicked back hair, green eyes, tann-ish skin.
"Joaquin! These are my friends I was telling you about: Betty, Cheryl, Archie, and Veronica!" They all just waved akwardly except Archie he look pissed.
"Are you fucking kidding me, Kevin! What the fuck were you thinking, dating a Southsider and he's a fucking Serpent!" He was angry.
"Archie chill, you don't even know him." Cheryl said trying to calm him down. Cheryl grabbed Archie's hand and pulled him outside the diner with the rest of them except Betty who stayed behind to apologize.
"I'm sorry that Archie's being a dick. He's not usually like that." She looked around the booth to all them nodding to her.
"It's fine, we're used to it... Jughead." He reached out his hand to shake hers. She stared at it for a second before taking it.
"Betty." Once they let go, she missed the warmth it bought. "I should probably stop them fighting outside... See you guys later maybe?" Jughead nodded before she headed out to see all of them arguing. Kevin and Archie in a heated argument with Cheryl and Veronica trying to stop them.
"STOP!" Betty screams, trying to stop her nails from digging into her palms. They all get startled a look at her. "We're going to that party on Friday, Archie whether you like it or not. Kevin can date whoever the fuck he wants, if he gets hurt it's his fault. Okay? So please stop fighting and go home." She failed trying to stop her nails from breaking her skin.They nodded and got into Archie's white Jeep.
"Sorry" Archie murmured that she barely heard him.
They drove in silence the whole ride. Once he dropped off everybody at their house, Archie started to drive to their street.
"You need to apologize to Kevin." Betty said sternly.
"What?! Why?!"
"Because he didn't do anything wrong!"
"Okay" he mumbled.
Betty got out of the car and said, "Pick me up at 10 on Friday. Be there." He just nodded and got out of the car to his house.
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It was 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Betty, Cheryl, Veronica, and Kevin were getting ready for the party at Veronica's house.
"So, Betty what made you change your mind, going to the party?" Kevin asked.
"Archie was being a bitch and maybe I can find a special someone for me. Plus when I was talking to them back at the diner they seemed pretty chill."
"Oh. My. God. Betty Cooper wants to get laid!" Cheryl said excitedly.
"Is it that serpent that came into the diner the other day, that you were drooling over." Kevin said clapping his hands.
"What? No! Im just saying maybe while you guy all have someone, I don't. I want to have fun, live a little like you guys said."
"Hey! I don't have anyone to be with, you could hang with me." Cheryl said applying a thick coat of red lipstick.
"No offence, Cheryl but everytime we go to a party you always disappear."
"Whatever." She dramatically flipped her hair to the side.
There was a knock at the door. "Guys are you ready? It takes half an hour to get to the place." It was Archie.
"We are coming in 5 minutes!" Veronica chimed.
Twenty minutes later the girls(and Kevin) burst out of the room in grunge looks. Archie's eyes widen after looking at their outfits.
"What? We have to fit in." Cheryl says walking downstairs. She was wearing black leather pants with a lowcut V-neck black shirt.
Veronica followed behind with a black and white striped tube top with a pair of denim booty shorts.
The rest of them went running after them to Archie's Jeep.
Betty sat in the back with Cheryl and Kevin. She was wearing a black tanktop and flannel top, and black denim shorts, showing off her long legs.
Kevin was wearing black jeans and a navy blue t-shirt.
Archie wore his normal clothes without his jacket.
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They arrived to the party ten minutes later. It was a old abandoned warehouse. The place was blasting with music and reeking of alcohol.
"Let's get some drinks." Cheryl said taking Betty's hand and dragging her to find some booze.
Cheryl handed Betty a odd drink, it was forest green and smelt strong. Betty stared at it for a good second before taking a huge gulp of it. She actually liked the taste, she finished it and got another.
"Wow, Betty, didn't know you could drink!" Kevin came yelling, dragging someone's hand. It was his boyfriend, Joaquin.
"Kevin! Joaquin! Hey!" Whatever Betty just drank was strong and was kicking in. She pulled them into hugs.
"Someone's drunk" Cheryl laughed.
"C'mon let's dance!" Kevin said taking Betty, Joaquin, and Cheryl to the dance floor.
"Where's V and Arch?" Betty asked.
"They went somewhere in the corner."
"Let's dance!" The music started playing a up beat song and everybody went wild.
After awhile Betty got tired. "I'm gonna get another drink." Her words were slurred.
"Betty are you okay? I think that's enough for tonight you don't looks good." Cheryl said. Kevin and Joaquin left a bit before.
"I'll be fine. Plus you guys did say 'live a little' so I am. Go flirt with someone or something."
"Okay just don't get too out of hand."
"See you later, Cher." Betty went back to the bar for a refill.
As Betty went back to go sit down she bumped into a hard muscular body spilling her drink on him.
"Hey watch where you're go-" she looked up to see the guy from the diner, her eyes locked with his piercing green eyes, what was his name again? Junkhead? Yeah that was totally it, she thought.
"Oh hey... Junkhead?"
"Jughead."
"Jughead. Sorry." Betty started to walk away when a large hand grabbed her elbow. "What the fu-"
"Where did you think you were going dressing like that?" Jughead said, his voice dark.
"What? Is it too preppy for your liking?" She shot back.
"No, its actually too dark for my liking, but anyways that's not the point. The point is you are at a Southside party. Okay?"
"Okay?"
He sighed. "You can't dress like that to a Southside party. It's too much skin and you're already drunk. So who knows what drunk guy can do to you. It's not safe to be on the Southside for a Northsider, Betty." He remembered, Betty thought.
"You remembered my name?" Of course he did dumbass that's why he said it, Betty thought.
"Is that all you got from that? Seriously, you need to go home."
"Im not going home right now, I just got here." She said pouting.
"Yes you are." Jughead stated firmly.
"No I am not. You can't tell me what to do. You don't even know me." She started to walk away again, but he stopped her.
"I guess we're going to have to do it the hard way." He sighed, hauling her up so she was hanging from his shoulder.
"Let me go!" Her words were slurred as she weakly slapped his back.
"Now where are your friends." He started skimming the crowd trying to find her group of friends from the diner.
"Cheryl! Kevin! Veronica! Archie!" She started screaming through the loud swarm of people.
"I don't think they're here." He said as he took her to the exit.
Once they got outside and it was less crowded, he put her down.
"Where do you think your friends might be?"
"They're probably all in some hidden room fucking the other."
"Then I'll take you home."
"Uh... Okay I guess. Since you aren't going to let me back inside, right?" Betty knew there was no point in fighting because he was gonna win.
"Nope." He popped the 'p'. "C'mon let's get to my car." They got to his car, it was a black Audi R8.
"Okay so where is your house?"
"Um... Well I'm actually not supposed to be at my house. I'm supposed to be at Veronica's house having a sleepover, so i can't go back to my house, because my mom's gonna know I went to a party." Betty said her face flushed.
"Okay so where do I take you?"
"I don't know, why do you let me back inside to the party where, I'm supposed to be so I can go back to Veronica's afterwards."
"No can do, if I let you back in your going to drink and get even more drunk than you already are." Jughead said nodding his head.
"Okay, why are you exactly doing this to me? I don't even know you."
He sighed, "Because you can get hurt."
"Since when do you care about me?"
"Why are you asking so many questions?" Jughead shot back, not wanting to answer her last question.
"Okay, I have an idea. How about if you let me back in, you could watch me and I won't drink. Swear." She said, her eyes wide.
"Fine. But you better not step a foot close to the bar."
"Whatever." Betty walked out of the car with Jughead following behind.
Betty got inside and grabbed Jughead's hand. He looked at her questionly.
"Dance with me!"
"Sorry, blondie but I don't dance."
"Well now you do." She tugged him to the dance floor and swayed to the music. Jughead smiled, she was so adorable.
"What?" Betty asked.
"What?"
"Nevermind. Come on, Juggie dance!" His heart warmed at the use of the nickname. His mom used to call him Juggie, before she skipped town and took Jellybean with her. Jughead pushed the memory aside and start to follow Betty's lead, jumping to the music.
If any of his Serpent friends saw him they'd laugh their asses off, but since it's late into the party they're either fucking someone or drunk as hell. He would never dance in public, it was like Betty cast a spell on him.
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They danced for awhile before both got tired and went to sit.
"Your 'friends' didn't text you yet, it's getting late." Emphasis on friends.
"Hey they are my friends!"
"Yeah friends who bail on you the first minute you enter."
"I don't see you with your so called friends either." She shot back smirking.
"Nah, I bailed on them. Don't like to see them drunk."
"What's your deal on not liking drunk people anyways." He shrugged.
"That's a 3rd date thing." He said smirking
"Oh so this a date now?"
"Totally!" Suddenly her phone rang.
"It's Veronica, probably asking where I am. Hey V, where are you, I've been looking for you."
"Um well about that... Can you like get a Uber or something. Me and Archie are going to stay a little longer than expected..." Betty sighed getting somewhat angry.
"Are serious right now?! Where am I going to go. Let me remind you that I'm supposed to stay at your place and I don't even know where Kevin or Cheryl are either."
"It's okay, B. Calm down, I'm sure you'll figure it out." Before Betty can answer back Veronica quickly ends the call. Betty sighed for what felt like the thousandth time today.
"They bailed on me, what great friends they are." She rolled her eyes.
"Told you!" Betty glared at him. "Sorry, not a good time. Okay well I can take you back to my place, if you have nowhere to go." He added quickly not to sound perverted.
"Sure, why not. It's not like I could go anywhere else. But what about your parents won't they be mad if tou bring a girl over?"
"Yeah well about that, my dad has his girlfriend over like every night, so I don't really like to stay at home. And thats exactly why I'm here, this is not my scene." Jughead said scratching his neck.
"Well then where do you sleep?" Betty asked confusion written all over her face.
"The Whyte Wyrm." He said a matter of factly. Betty still looked confused. "Oh right, you're from the Northside. The Whyte Wyrm is a bar on the Southside that my dad owns since he's the Serpent King or whatever. They have rooms upstairs so that's where I basically go."
"Oh okay. Then I guess let's go there."
"Okay." At that moment Betty's phone buzzed. It was a text from Cheryl.
Met someone. Staying at their place tonight
"Well now I know all my 'friends' not only bailed on me but are all sucking someone's face." Jughead laughed, it was the first time she heard him laugh, she liked it.
"Well it's getting late, we better start heading back to my place." They got inside of his Audi and he sped the opposite way from the Northside. They'd make small talk the whole way to his place, what they liked to do for fun, their hobbies, and what they were planning after high school. Turns out they had a lot in common.