#p005

LOCATION: mercedes’ apartment

DATE & TIME: march 19th, evening

TAGGED: @slickedskin & @sevanshq

NOTES: wine & whiskey, redux. nsfw. 

She didn’t remember falling asleep. She definitely remembered being jolted awake by her phone ringing a few hours later. Sighing, she answered, groggily. “I need you.” She admitted, not letting Billie say anything before. “What time do you get off work?” She asked, sitting up. She ran her hand through her hair.

“Yeah,” Archie replied and Jughead watched his eyes linger a little too long on the Serpents emblem emblazoned on the back of his jacket, so he kept a steady eye contact and a cool exterior. Archie dragged his eyes back to Jugheads’s, no judgement on his face but no acceptance either. They both were at a draw with each other, curious to enquire further but not trusting enough yet to just welcome each other in. “I wanted to ask how you were. I know the..guy was your friend,” Archie’s face pinched in what seemed like genuine concern but there was a part of Jughead that felt a white hot flash of irritation that Archie couldn’t say Ricky’s name. Ricky. The guy’s name was Ricky, and he was a human being.

Jughead didn’t snap, and he appreciated the fact that Archie had asked him. Ever since arriving at school today, there had been an even wider berth around the Serpents than when they first started there which had only been what, a week ago? Nobody wanted to look them in the eyes and every corner Jughead turned, he caught the tail ends of a whispered conversation that usually went like, “-is that him - why is he still wearing that jacket - yeah, I heard the dude had a drug deal gone wrong-” but they immediately quieted seeing the glare he shot them. The Southside Serpents were now even more removed from the community of Riverdale and the line had been drawn. Even at school.

“I’m okay,” Jughead answered honestly and he shifted his History textbook to his other hand. “All I need is the truth now. The truth will set you free, right?” He asked Archie sardonically and at Archie’s confused look, got the hint that sarcasm and Archie Andrews didn’t go well together. There’d be no innuendos and hints around this guy, he needed it straight and to the point. “But uh, thanks for asking man,” he continued and gave him a nod. “Have you seen Betty? I wanted to ask her something.”

Jughead hadn’t seen Betty since their little tryst by the river had gotten her busted by her mom. He didn’t know if her phone had been found yet, so he didn’t send her texts to it and the texts sent to the burner phone hadn’t been answered either but Jughead wasn’t offended. If he lived with Alice Cooper, he wouldn’t want to mess with his luck like that either. She seemed protective to the point of possessive over Betty and Jughead didn’t want Betty in trouble, so he waited patiently until today. And as him and Archie rounded a corner, Jughead’s question was answered by the sight of Betty and Veronica talking by a locker.

Jughead smirked as he saw her, the memories of how tightly she had clenched his arm when she came over his palm, and the ragged cry of Juggie she had emitted while doing so. How he felt about Betty today versus how he felt about her when they first met were vastly different, but he still couldn’t help the affection wash over him at just the mere sight of her. “Hey,” he greeted Betty, stopping and giving her a small smile. “Your mom let you out of the house, knowing I was gonna be here? I think she’s going soft on you.” He knew Archie and Veronica were still there, knew they were probably curious, but he just wanted to see Betty blush.