CROWNED

      And just like that he had been caught between the momentary jaws of veronica lodge. Now hold on !!  this was not a sudden death sorta thing —– if he played his cards right, and he almost always did, he could escape without as much as a scratch … but who knows if lady luck had been in his favor.  Veronica could be Reggie Mantle if she wanted to, oh, he’s heard the rumors drudged up by the masses and masses of drama hungry teens at Riverdale high —- normally he wouldn’t give a passing thought but BOY …  if he hadn’t gotten to know her semi well, it would be  a different story. But it wasn’t. IT WAS THE SAME OL’ SAME OL’.

               “  Nothing, really. “ 

But he wasn’t going to give in to anyone’s satisfaction —- not even his own. Not her, unwavering curiosity or even his ,feigned effervescent demeanor he had about zero point five seconds ago. He was just spacing out; how much he wanted to emphasize that not everything had been about her.  

           “ So .. did you hear roger klotz is in detention and by the looks of it, it looks like a solid two weeks ? wonder what HE did. “  it was a lame attempt at trying his hand at gossip, but if it wasn’t obvious , he was talking about reggie mantle. 

            “ Oh, roger klotz is the bully from doug, you know that 90′s cartoon. He was green to emphasize his jealousy,  and had a leather jacket on, well, you know what they say about having to explain a joke … “ 

    ❝ regardless, it looks like you’re SUFFERING like you’re trying to find a balance between eat, write, and love.❞ she takes the plastic bag before grabbing some of the empty bottles, a VACANT sign of partygoers getting too TURNT. then there’s a SMALL laugh at his mention of not cleaning up everything. ❝ he’s definitely not getting a FREE pass. go hard on him for me. i approve of this message.❞ she TAUNTS back before standing still waiting for answer to her question. she’s RELIEVED that jughead has her back, a little SURPRISED even that he would go that far for her. veronica decides it SPEAKS volumes of where they were at, before they were just two passing TRAINS & now the both of them were more than just acquaintances. they were FRIENDS. ❝ thank you. i appreciate it.❞ nimble fingers grab discarded plastic cups now as if the andrews household were hit by a TORNADO of fraternity brothers. 

   veronica observes as he decides to help himself to cake, she decides jughead is GLUTTONY in disguise. ❝ speaking of last night, how are things with you and b? i can’t presume things were easy for you.❞

    “  Uh huh --------- “   he all but mumbles to the former statement. It’s not that he didn’t want to talk to Veronica, but he wasn’t up for listening right now --- not to be rude.  “ Don’t worry about it, I get it. “  he adds on ;  it was her secret, not to be known by the masses and masses of  drama hungry teens;  who would be the next carrie white in this indefinite series of unfortunate events ?  Last night, it sort of felt like he’d been carrie white; with a party he didn’t ask for and all of riverdale high’s eyes on him // but that was a different story and what that was well past it’s date, one he never wanted to happen again and surely, after today, it wouldn’t. But see, that’s when the guilt would set in for him ... maybe betty was trying to help and be nice and he just // it was a never ending cycle of battling his own feelings and did they matter ?  once you question the importance of your own emotion, you know the answer; of course it matters.  Betty ---- somehow they breached this conversation, maybe veronica was as in tune to him as she claimed. 

   “  I’ve never seen breakfast at tiffany’s and I don’t plan on it. “  a statement, though he’s heard from their friends it was one of her favorite movies and as a movie consumer himself, he thought to make the comment.

    despite her walk of definite SHAME, so she tries not to look too happy like her face is GLOWING, but she definitely is. veronica eyes the beanie loving boy before raising a BROW, a little too SURPRISED that she was caught. he didn’t seem too pleased with the whole clean up duty. so, she decides to EXTEND a helping hand for a little while because she still has to deal with her father’s mess. it seemed like they were both good at cleansing other people’s PROBLEMS. ❝ jughead.❞ she says abruptly, affirming that he’s indeed here. ❝who signed you up for CLEAN up duty? you look like you’re being SENTENCED to unfair community service. let me help. ❞ veronica is quick to take hold of the situation, setting her pair of heels down by the stairs & her faux fur coat on the banister. ❝hand me a bag.❞ she starts of a LITTLE awkwardly trying to make sure that some damage control is dealt with. this time veronica doesn’t feel an OUNCE of guilt.

    ❝so about last night, you won’t say anything will you?❞ she doesn’t want to deal with betty again. although, that’s another topic she needs to ask jughead about. veronica will ease into that.

    “ I assigned myself. Doesn’t seem fair to leave the house like this. “  grabbing a free bag, he extends his arm to her to hand it over. All the while, makes a bee line to the kitchen. “ Don’t clean everything up, I need a  conversation piece of sorts tomorrow when Archie wakes up..plus he isn’t getting out of helping. What, he thinks just because he partied too hard he’s out of clean up crew? “  the last part was teasing,  and he knew Veronica knew that --- to some extent.  But about last night.... when she says that, the warm nature seemed to have melted away from him, and he relieves how he spent his night.  “ Don’t worry, I won’t say anything. It’s not anyone’s business but your guys’ .. “ a shrug.  He can see where Veronica’s worry lies ---- which is sort of the main reason why you don’t date in friend groups. 

   “ Sheriff Keller -- “   Now, Jughead would never willingly step foot in a police station, for some reason they’d always given him .. bad vibes. Like he needed to know the exit before entering. But he was here for a different reason.  “  I was wondering if you could help me with a... writing assignment,  if you can of course. “

   He ends up  back tracking  a bit with his hands tightly wound around his backpack straps. Right until he’s standing in front of the BLUE AND GOLD door.  Why was she even here anyways? He clears his throat. 

   “ I haven’t seen you around the blue and gold which begs the question why you’re poking around.. I mean I don’t own the room but.. “ his murderboard ! 

         ❛   This is your first draft?   ❜   The room has all but cleared out; Thursday afternoon is one step closer to Friday, bringing with it the big game and the freedom that the weekend has to offer. Yet one of her bright-eyed (a small stretch in this case) students remained behind, at no surprise to Sidney. While she doesn’t pretend to understand Jughead’s place on the social ladder of the high school food chain, she’s glad to offer him a space where he feels comfortable enough to share his work—even if she’s the only member of his audience. For now.   ❛   Your pacing is excellent so far. If you keep this up, you’re going to have a strong piece to fine-tune in the editing stages.   ❜

CO-STARRING: @typesfast !

    “ You do realize you’re the only adult here right ? “   So he spotted his dad standing there and for the longest time he’s been trying to figure out if this was his dad trying hard, or if there were ulterior motives.  and he knows not to think of his dad like that, but he can’t help tonight; everyone was trying to PROVE A POINT. 

   “ Aside from you hanging out with kevin’s boyfriend. “  he doesn’t say his  name , because he doesn’t want to.  “ That’s cool. “ 

   “ Is he here or not. “   deadpan stare,  tired expression; Fp -- his dad, wasn’t at the trailer and he needed to talk to him. So  Whyte Wyrm  it was.. except the only thing Jughead  hated  more than the smell of booze was  the serpents..  it seemed like dear ol’ dad was around them more than his own family. 

a garbage bag in one hand and  effortless shoveling of discarded bottles in another, Jughead was inwardly about to explode. Archie was who know’s where and his dad was supposed to come back tomorrow. Jughead WAS NOT upset at Archie in any way... he was just upset where this night went.  Then he saw the dark haired girl he seemingly lost earlier in the night. 

    “ Hey Veronica, “   not that he was sticking around for a conversation; there was still so much to get rid of. 

     He’s in that weird garage thing at Archie’s house trying to  breathe  a little.  Hearing footsteps, he stands up in a quick manner, only to see reggie mantle.  

     “ The party’s inside, “  his party ... though the thought leaves him as quick as it came.