I'm random

The lights shine like a beacon

Jughead had just left the trailer. He enjoyed looking at the Christmas lights on the north side of town. He enjoyed walking thru Sunny Side trailer park and seeing if anybody attempted Christmas lights. They reminded him of hope, of better times.

As he was walking, he thought of Jellybean. How happy she'd get if he put a string of lights around their bedroom door. He'd take a few branches and attempt to glue them to a base to say they had their tree in their room—the safe tree with the yellow construction paper star. He missed her, especially at this time of year. They never had a lot of money, but that never stopped them.

He walked by the library, where they had white frosted windows. He remembered when he and Jelly would go in and read the stories and do the arts and crafts. They also gave you hot cocoa and cookies. Maybe he should volunteer there when he isn't working.

He reaches his destination, the park that's full of festive, colorful lights. He finds a bench and sits there. His shoes have holes, and he has no gloves. His jacket isn't warm, but that's all he has. So, he makes due. The trailer bills need to be paid. So paying the heating bill is more critical than new shoes (boots), gloves and a jacket.

He sees the reindeer with the red nose lights flicker every time his head moves. Like the lights follow his motion. The polar bear has pretty white lights. Jughead likes the prism icicle lights. He got so distracted by them he didn't realize tears were falling from his face. Until a light finger was on his skin, wiping one away.

"Jug" was so soft he hadn't seen Betty in a while. They were avoiding each other since she dumped him via Archie. He figured it best to give her that wish and stay out of her life.

He looked into her greenish-blue eyes, "yeah,"?

"Your nose is red, your hands are in your pockets"

Jughead was about to get defensive.

"I won't ask you why you were crying, but you look cold Jughead"

He laughed a quiet little laugh, "yeah"

Betty sat even closer put her arm around him, "Jug."

"I'm sorry Betty, I just wanted to see the lights, I love the lights"

He got up and walked away.

Betty was shocked. She figured his dad was doing god knows what, and Jughead was taking on the world by himself again. Betty realized what she had done too late. They were talking; she missed that. She embraced him; she couldn't just comfort him not anymore. She gave that right up. She broke up with him. The dumbest mistake, Betty wished she could take it back, explain it. Yet, he's been avoiding her and Archie. Betty can't blame him for that. She probably would too. He was never really friends with Kevin or Veronica. That left Ethel mainly. Good ole Ethel.

As Betty walked back home, she remembered what Jughead had said, "I'm sorry Betty, I just wanted to see the lights; I love the lights."

Why was he apologizing for that? She didn't own the lights. She held the moment, though. She was slowly trying to pry as to why he was crying, to putting her arm around him without thinking.

A memory came flashing like a light about to flicker out

Betty was 7, and Jughead had to be about 6 1/2. He was holding his sister's hand, who was probably three at the time. Betty was cold, shivering, hoping the red-haired boy next to Jughead would notice her. He was too busy eating a candy cane.

Jughead's blue eyes sparkled with the twinkling lights on the tree in the park; he said, "My name is Jughead, and this is my sister Jelly; Archie is my new friend, so Archie's dad invited us to come to see the lights."

He looked at her, shivering, "you look cold" before she could respond, he took off his jacket and put it on Betty, "use mine Jelly's got her snow outfit on so she won't need it, and well, I got my trusted old Beanie and my sweater" he smiled this toothy smile. She realized one of his front teeth was missing.

She giggled. The boy she didn't even know saw that she was cold. Her best friend couldn't care. Her best friend did realize that his friend was no longer wearing a coat. Her mother also noticed. Her mom said nothing until it was time to go home. She made sure he got it back. He just smiled that same toothy grin.

She found herself looking over at the sparkling town lights as she walked back home. Jughead was the one. Never Archie. She wanted it to be Archie for so long; she overlooked who it truly was, always coming to her aide and her defense.

She hurt him. What he said stayed in her mind, "I'm sorry Betty, I just wanted to see the lights, I love the lights"

the lights he went to every year. A lot of the time with his sister. His sister is not here. His mom just up and took her and left Jughead with his dad.

"I'm sorry, Betty, I just wanted to see the lights; I love the lights" oh, Jughead will be sorry for apologizing to see the lights when he will catch a cold. His jacket is not a winter jacket that will be Veronica's gift. He needs a new pair of shoes. Cheryl owes him, so that will be her gift. He needs a new pair of boots that can be Archie and Fred's gift. Ethel can buy him some nice gloves. Betty, well, she's just going to give him his Christmas lights.

It was Christmas Eve, and Betty found out from Ethel that Jughead would be working at the gas station. Betty didn't realize that he was working two jobs, volunteering at the library, the food shelf, and keeping his A average. She hoped he didn't give up writing his novel.

So Betty, Archie, Ethel, and Veronica go to the Jones trailer. She learned from her mom how Jughead and Jelly always made their tree in their room. Glady's told her Jug would work so hard on it. So, they put a little tree in Jug's room and strung some Jelly Beans and popcorn.

They also cut down a regular size Christmas tree and put it in the living room. They added popcorn, tinsel, multi-colored lights, Betty's gingerbread ornaments, and a handmade ice cream ornament. They also added hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza ornaments. Jug loved food. The tree was coming together nicely. They put all the gifts under the tree. She added a stocking and hung it up by his mini heater. They left. Veronica was ecstatic that he would love it; however, he should move in with her and her mom. He saved them from the evil clutches of her father. She remembered when Jug told her to talk to him. When he told her what he believed her father was doing, she didn't want to consider it. He was right, though, about all of it. He's back in jail, where he belongs. She and Jughead may not see eye to eye, but he's passionate, and when he cares for something, he fights for it.

The words still sting, "Sorry Betty, I just wanted to see the lights; I love the lights." he was cold. He was probably crying because he missed Jellybean. He probably had his memories. Instead of yelling at her, he gave up his lights and let her have them.

At first, Jughead thought his house was on Fire. It was lit up. He had no idea as to why and he thought maybe his dad was drunk and going to blow up the trailer. When he opened the door, nobody was there. Presents we're under the tree. Tears began to fall. He knew who cared enough to bring the lights to him. Yet, she didn't want him anymore. She didn't love him anymore. However, maybe they can be friends? He's unsure if he can, but he's willing to try.

It was Christmas day when she heard a faint knock on her door. She figured it might have been Kevin, maybe even Veronica, but she wasn't expecting him. She smiled. She was overwhelmed with happiness almost giddy.

She saw his feet shuffle clearly he hadn't opened the gifts yet, "I ah, I wanted to thank you!"

Usually, she'd tease and say for what, but she couldn't this time. Maybe she felt joking wasn't Christmassy. She nodded her head, "You're welcome"

He rubbed his neck, "why did you break into my house? I love the lights, Betty, I do but I don't like people just coming in"

Her face turned red. She was guilty of doing just that. With two people who had done it before, and even if they felt it was justified, it was still wrong. They couldn't lie and say F.P. did it, and Jug had removed the spare from the frog thanks to Archie. What hurt the most though, was he was calling her Betty not Bets. She missed how that rolled off his tongue.

Betty saw his conflicting emotions. She couldn't blame him. She couldn't. They did break-in. He did say thank you, and he did come over.

His blue eyes were smiling as a tear fell, "Anyway, I have a present for you too. I didn't open your gifts yet. I wanted to wait for my dad. We are supposed to have dinner. I called Jelly and told her what you all did but especially you. She said, 'I have a great friend.' I guess I do."

Betty heard the distress and the hope of his dad spending Christmas with him how he opened up just a little but not a lot. Let her in on a piece of his conversation with Jellybean, and those are always so important to him. She saw him take off his beanie and pull it down again. Betty knew Jughead only did this when he was genuinely nervous.

"Maybe we can still be friends. Archie said to stay away but after what you did Betty it's kind of hard to want to just act like nothing happened you gave me my Christmas lights! You gave me a lovely memory back so thank you."

It was subtle. It was quaint what he had said. Almost like he didn't deserve the gifts, the gratitude, and why had Archie told him to stay away? My God! She thought he did love her. He loved her enough to grant her what she had needed at his own expense. Now she got why Ethel was so hesitant she didn't want Jug to hurt anymore. Good ole Ethel.

She moved in close to the cagey Jug, "Jug, what I did was incredibly stupid. I was trying to protect you, but in the end, I ended up hurting us both. "

She looked into his crystal blue eyes, dancing to meet hers, "I love you, Jughead Jones, and I was stupid, and I thought you wouldn't give me another chance, but you are the beacon guiding me to the light. I need you in my life Jug, I'd rather it be more than friends, but if that's all I get. I'll take it."

Next thing she knows, his thumb is on her lip, his hand is holding her face, and they are kissing a slow, loving kiss. She missed these.

He looks at her as he lets her go, "Okay, Betts. Okay, but let's go slow."

She had the biggest grin, "I can be gone for an hour. Do you want to get hot cocoa and look at the Christmas lights with me?"

He nodded, "I would love that, Betts."

She put the present he gave her into her room as she grabbed her jacket. She would not scold him for not wearing his gifts, but tomorrow if he's not wearing them, he'll get an ear full. Until she remembered we are going slow, he needs that, and I can't blame him. At least he is mine again. She thinks as she runs down the stairs.

Later that night as Jughead opened his gifts alone because his dad was passed out drunk. He saw two gifts one from Cheryl, he opened it, "I already got you a present hobo but, in case you need something besides Betty's gift to write your stories and plus mine you can do homework on unlike my cousin's. Merry Christmas Hobo. It was a brand new Apple computer with all the functions. Maybe she did approve of him writing about her brother after all.

He sent her a text thanking her for the computer and the shoes.

He opened up Betty's. It was a box. Inside it was a typewriter, "be the light Jug always keep writing," he cried tears of joy. He always wanted a typewriter-like they had in the black and white movies.

Betty was up in her room alone when she opened Jughead's gift.

"Thank you for showing me the lights." Inside was the book Beloved signed. Oh Jughead, how did you know? Of course, he would. To think she was going to let her stubborn pride let him go. She smiled and said, "whichever Christmas spirit brought me over to Jughead Jones on the bench, thank you. I will not regret this Christmas wish."

She smiled at him, "Hey, it's cold out here. Do you need a ride home?" She saw his azure eyes looking directly at her. She saw him play with the threads on his sweater. She saw him get up and shuffle his feet. It was then she saw his Converse were worn through.

His black wavy hair how she'd love to run her hand through it. To the jacket, he must have been sitting on it. It was a Southside Jacket; he was from the Southside Serpents or maybe not because the emblem was old, and she has never seen that symbol with the Southside gang. Yet it was a Serpent coiled ready to strike. She liked the design, especially the red eyes that looked like rubies.

She asked again, "Hey, do you want a ride? My car is right there" she pointed to it. "I've got auto-start, so it's already nice and toasty in there. It's getting chilly out."

He finally looked at her, taking in her blonde hair to her blue sweater and blue jeans to her white ked shoes. Her emerald eyes sparkled, and he wanted to say yes. She was pretty. So he nodded his head.

She said, "okay, just tell me where to drop you off!" she touched his hand. "Oh... Your hands are so cold!"

He got in the car, waiting for her to drive, but; instead, a conversation started. He felt like he hadn't talked in ages he missed this.

He smiled at her; she thought he had the most endearing smile. She wanted him to smile for her forever; it made her warm, and God, she felt like she was glowing.

"So, what is your name?"

He put his hand through his hair, and his voice was husky like he hadn't used it in a while, "Forsythe, but I go by Jughead Jones."

The name sung to her. She kept thinking in her head, "Mrs. Betty Jones," she loved the ring; she even liked Betty and Jughead.

She almost missed it when he said, "and yours?"

"Oh sorry, Jughead, where are my manners? " she chuckled, "My name is Betty, Betty Cooper."

Betty was, heading for the southside figuring with the jacket and the worn-out clothes that's probably where he lived. She was just happy he was in her car and that maybe he'd be warm for a little while. She hoped his place had heat. She wondered if he liked hot cocoa. When she looked at him, he gave his smile the one she was beginning to love, the ones she wanted to kiss when Betty noticed his lips were blue. Betty's heart sank when she heard the words.

"Well, Betts, just let me out here; I can walk home. It's safer for me this way."

Betty smiled at the nickname of Betts; she loved it. Betty had never been called that before, and it warmed her whole body. "But Juggie," she liked the ring to it, and she hoped he didn't mind the nickname, "You are so cold, just let me take you home."

"No," he growled, "thank you, but I must get out here" she figured he was 3 minutes from the trailer park where she hoped he lived. Because when she looked up, they were on the border between north and south de at Riverdale Cemetery.

She gave in on one condition that he took her beanie. He agreed and put it on his head, "Well, Jughead Jones, you can be my king for the night." his face looked sad. As he got out of the car, "goodbye, Betts."

He waited until she left. Waving as the car turned around, heading back towards the north side. He walked into the Riverdale Cemetery went to his grave with the hat on his head. Yet, he knew she'd want it back, so he wrote on his dusty gravestone, Thanks Betts - Juggie

The next day Betty told Archie in History class about Jughead Jones when Cheryl spoke up, "You met ghost boy?"

Betty whipped her head around so fast, "What are you talking about, Cheryl?"

"Well, cousin, there is an Urban Legend that a young teen about our age is seen walking home Oct. 2nd; the time always differs. It's said he was leaving the Library when he got killed."

Betty was shocked Jughead, who she had just met was a ghost? She started backtracking, blue lips, ripped clothes, old clothes, so cold, the name of Forsythe, the old Southside emblem could he be dead?

She went to the library again after school and looked at the obituaries on Oct. 2, 1965. Forsythe 'Jughead' Jones was walking home when he was killed; the case went cold; it's still unsolved. He had just turned Sixteen; it was also his birthday.

She drove to Riverdale Cemetery and looked for his gravestone, and on top of his grave laid her beanie. She cried. Yet there was always next year to pick him up again.

She wrote her own note

Juggie,

I'll keep your crown for you until next year

Betts

Betty was tired of being herself. She wanted to step out of her skin. If it were even for a night, she would take it. Tonight at Cheryl's Halloween party, she'd show up oh she would show up alright!

She went to the bathroom and put on blood-red lipstick and put on the white makeup for clowns, vampires, etc. Betty looked good. Betty moved onto her eyes. Her right eye, she put purple eyeshadow with green glitter. On her left, she put green eye shadow and purple glitter. On her right eye, she put on green mascara and the left purple mascara. She said screw the eyeliner. Her green eyes stood out like diamonds. She looked fabulous. Betty was going to kill it this Halloween!

Betty figured her nails would look sweet done. So, she used purple and green every other one—a pattern. Once Betty's nails were dried, it was time for her costume.

She looked back in the mirror as she clipped on her wig. It was green and long. Enough for someone to tug it and not have it come off. Someone else could put their hand through it, and it would feel so real.

"Betty, do we have to go to this Halloween party? I'm tired, baby."

Betty smiled wickedly as she held her toy gun. She walked out of the bathroom. "What was that, Jug?"

She looked at him, and his mouth was drooling. "Um Betts"

She purred as she walked up to him in her green corset, green booty shorts, with her purple fishnet tights, green high heels, plus green fishnet gloves with a purple suit jacket. She walked around him and put the gun around his ear and slowly licked his ear afterward and purred, "what were you saying, Jug?"

He looked drunk; he had a goofy-looking smile. "Cats got your tongue, hmm? Well, baby, Daddy's got your clothes over there and be a good little monster and put them on."

She spun around and waved him off, "oh and Jug, I will be doing your makeup, and baby, you will look so hot. Even Cheryl will turn her head at my baby boy."

Jughead shook his head. What the hell just happened? Who was that? Why did he want to be submissive all of a sudden? Did he like gunplay? Usually, he ignored guns at all costs. Yet there was his girl Betts, and he wanted it. Betty could do whatever she wanted; he wanted her.

He went to where Betty said his clothes were. A white shirt with red and blue lettering that read, Daddy's Little Monster, but with a Betty twist, it had an 'S.' under it, and on top of the 'S' was a crown. His signature and Betts knew that. So, I guess he was typically Betty's little serpent monster! He smiled at that thought. Only she would want to be called Daddy. He had mom issues, so he preferred it this way. He slipped on the jacket next left side was blue right side was red.

He looked at his pants, and he heard himself whimper. When he did that, he saw Betty walking sexy with that damn gun again, "put them on, Forsythe."

Where did she come from? Gah! She just appeared!

"Now, I will not ask you again." Her eyebrows raising

He didn't particularly like skinny jeans, and she knew this. He put them on. The pants match his jacket. His girl went all out with this costume. He saw the shoes one red converse high top and one blue with shoelaces with the card symbols ♥️ ♣️ ♦️ ♠

She got closer, and she now had scissors; she held him and started ripping his shirt. It looked like he got in a fight. She put some fake blood on his skin where the rips were. She kissed him hard.

"Now that your wardrobe is done besides your baseball bat that says 'Goodnight,' no, you can not hit Reggie or Sweet Pea with it" she saw Jug pouting and almost laughed. Her boy, wasn't done yet.

She took him to the bathroom, "Sit, pet!" He just sat like a good little boy. She liked this. Betty loved that Jug was playing along with her.

She started with the jewelry on his left hand. She put a coiled serpent with emerald eyes on his middle finger. On his right, she had cuffed rings it had the chain link and everything on the first ring it said P U on the second ring it said D D on the third ring it said I N on the forth ring it was the ♥♦♣♠ very detailed. It looked good against his olive skin. On his right hand, she put on a pyramid bracelet with spikes on his left handcuffs. She put both cuffs on his left. She considered leaving one-off but figured someone might try to steal her man. At the party, she figured she might like one hanging loose, though, especially with that bat in his hand and the fake bloody knife in his pocket. Right now, it was a mere fashion statement.

She moved on to his neck in green and purple rhinestones. She put on a choker that said Betty's. It fit perfectly there. Like it was meant to be there and might have to stay after the Halloween party. He is hers, nobody else's. She hopes she doesn't have to get animalistic and piss on him to prove that point.

Now his nails his left side was red and blue his right side red and black in a stencil she drew ♥♣ those were her favorites. Of course. After his nail polish and waiting for Jug's nails to dry, Betty put on his left side red eyeliner with deep blue eyeshadow. On his right side, Betty used blue eyeliner with crimson eye shadow. Under his right eye, she put his signature crown.

She pulled out the blood she put on his skin earlier, "take a swig and swish it around, then spit it out like the good boy you are," Jug did as she said, and blood ran down his lips and his chin. Even onto his shirt. Betty was clapping. She was beyond excited. She slowly put on his red sparkly lip gloss and put that and the fake blood in a freezer sandwich bag and moved it to her green purse. She decided he needed mascara and she decided that the green would make his blue eyes pop so she put it on him. God, he looked beautiful like a killer doll.

Betty tapped him on the shoulder and clapped her hands, she sang, "wig time" she got out this super short wig one side was blue the other side red. She clapped as she put it on, "Oh Jughead you handsome devil you!" Betty's voice getting all high pitched with the excitement

Betty grabbed his hands, "up, up, you go my love the last piece of your outfit awaits" in her hands she had a belt. It had pyramid studs on it but the buckle had his crown with his buttons on it and the little 'S' under it.

His girl went all out on this belt. He smiled goofily; he was so happy. His eyes were shining so bright he could have been a flashlight.

Betty thought she did that. Betty was ecstatic she could make her boyfriend glow like that!

Jughead looked at himself. He didn't recognize himself. It was like he was a completely different person. He had transformed. He still wasn't in the mindset for parties, but he wanted to make Betty happy he could pretend for one night. He could do that much.

When they got to the car is when Betty showed him his fake play knife with Halloween blood along with the famous goodnight bat.

By the time they got to Cheryl's party, it was 8:30. Betty winked at Jughead and shoved him out of the car. "It's showtime!"

Jughead grabbed the bat and followed her cute little butt inside.

As soon as he entered, Betty grabbed his hand he put the bat over his right shoulder. Jughead grinned. He was not used to being in the center of attention unless he was being bullied or the serpents had an issue and couldn't take it up with FP. Jughead would rather not be in the gang, but it was his blood right. Therefore, he was the prince of snakes.

All eyes followed Betty and Jughead. He saw his girlfriend. She was eating it up. She deserved this, though. They were straight out of college, and they all came back to help save the town. Jughead had like three jobs, and it was beginning to wane on him. Betty had one critical position, but she wouldn't tell him what it was; it was a secret. Jughead was just happy their high school romance lasted over two different schools and two different states; they never lost that love; in fact, he thinks it became much more vital.

Cheryl waltzed up to them wearing Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas; she wore her costume and makeup well. She grabbed Jughead's left hand, "my hobo, you sure do show your true colors now, don't you?"

Before Betty could say anything, Toni wearing Jack's costume, smiled at Betty to ease tension and took Cheryl's other hand, not the one gripping onto Jughead. "Jones, you look hot in that outfit. You wore it better than me; oh, Cheryl here is clearly jealous you beat her in best dressed out of their element."

Jughead looked at Betty. She just shrugged her shoulders. She didn't want to let Jughead know the Joker was her element, where Harley was only Jug if someone came for somebody he loved.

Cheryl hissed at Toni and let go of Jughead, "I want a picture hobo you and me!" His pleading blue eyes were looking at Toni and Betty. Cheryl would claw him to death. She'd never let him live this down. Instead, they both took out their cell phones and took pictures. After that, they took a few group pictures. The only one never leaving the camera flash was him.

Jughead found his voice and said, "I'm hungry I'm going to find the food"

Cheryl taunted, "of course you are"

Toni looked at Betty when Jughead walked away, "when did he get those abs and that tight little butt?"

In high school, this would get Betty mad, but she knew Jughead rejected Toni, and she also knew that Toni and Cheryl were serious. It was more a friend complimenting her.

Betty wiggled her eyebrows, "He's always had the butt; he just never shows it, he has always been toned, but College made the abs."

"Jones, wow, look at you, man," he heard from his right.

He turned to face who it was, "hey, fangs." Of course, it was Fangs in a Vampire costume. Jughead figured it fit his namesake, but he thought Fangs was more the werewolf type.

"Love that look bro if you were bi and not with Betty, i'd so take you home" Fangs thought he saw Jughead blush but it quickly vanished.

Jughead was laughing, "so you could suck my blood and make me yours?"

Fangs was blushing now as Jughead was eating the Chips. He was tempted to try the Bats but wasn't sure what Cheryl put in those. So he felt safe eating the chips, Chex Mix, and Skittles. He did have water with skull ice cubes which were pretty cool.

"I'm surprised Betty wanted to show off your assets" As Fangs finished saying this, Jughead almost choked on a skittle. Fangs was right; he didn't realize how much he was on display.

Sweet pea looked at Fangs, looked at Jughead, "I'm not. She's got him all collared like a boy toy." He traced the choker that said Betty's to the handcuffs that were locked. He gulped. "She claimed him; he's off-limits. So, she's free to show him off."

Betty appeared from thin air in Jughead's mind, "That's right, Sweets, don't touch my things."

Sweet Pea whimpered, "Can't we both play with him, Betty? He'd be so sexy, gagged, and tied up!"

Fangs looked at Sweet Pea, "I never knew you felt that way, man."

"Me either tell I saw Jones in this outfit Damn Betty please?"

Betty purred, "Oh, Sweets, you ask so nicely maybe next time, but tonight, he's all mine off limits."

Jughead starred at the both of them, "What the fuck? I am a person you know? Sweet Pea that will never happen."

Sweet pea winked at him as Betty laughed, "We'll see Jones" Sweet pea was wearing a Mike Myers get up that fit him well, the crazed man.

Betty's phone went off, and she knew she had to take this. She had to find Veronica or Archie to babysit her Lil' monster until she could get back to him. After Fang's display, Sweet Peas drool fest, and Cheryl's jealousy, she knew he needed to be watched. Toni and Kevin would be going with her, so clearly, they couldn't protect her man. She was glad Kevin hadn't seen him yet; he might not leave with her.

She found Veronica dancing with a mobster she presumed was Reggie. She knew Reggie hadn't always been friendly to Jughead, but with Veronica on watch, he would be. She took Veronica's hand. She was dressed up as the green power puff girl.

"Veronica, I need you"

Veronica looks at Betty, "Did he come in his pants"

Betty smiled, "no, but almost I stopped it before that happened"

"Oh, you tease!" She looked at Betty's expression, a sense of dread on her face, "you got the call?"

Betty whispered, "I got the call"

"Go get Kevin and Toni, Reggie and I will make sure nothing happens to Jughead Jones the 3rd."

Reggie nods, "Yeah, we'll take care of Wednesday for yah"

She snarled at Reggie, "Maybe, I should let him use that baseball bat on you!"

She looked at Veronica, "If he's going to be like that, keep him away from Jug. He doesn't need that right now!"

"Reggie, you will be eating those words when you see him. I hope Veronica gets a picture of it."

At that, she walks off to collect Toni and Kevin......