#ive already got chapter two writen

[sherlollyandspoilers]

A taste of home

So, I missed Bughead Appreciation week ( @bugheadcentral ) but here is the start to my first ever Bughead fic - its a coffee shop au. Hope you enjoy!

Betty Cooper has always loved the idea of having a coffee shop, so instead of heading off to college like all of her classmates, she used her tuition money to open a café. With summer just around the corner, all of her college workers are headed home and she is in desperate need of a new employee. Jughead Jones has left home for the first time and is struggling to finish his book. On his own, he is in need of an easy job to help him stay on his feet while he sorts out the mess that is his manuscript.

Betty can't help but get wrapped up in the enigma of who Jughead is, all the while dealing with her own darkness that she thought she had dealt with years ago.

Chapter One

“Wait, what?” Betty snapped her attention to the conversation happening in front of her. “You’re not going to be here this summer?”

“I know I said that I would help out at the shop, but it’s the summer before my senior year and I want to have some fun!” Polly bounced as she talked.

“You’re acting like this is your senior year of high school all over again…you’re going to be graduating with your bachelors soon, getting a real job…you can’t just go gallivanting off acting like a teenager!” Betty threw her hands out in frustration.

“I would say you sound like mom right now, but she seems happy for me.” Polly gestured across the table.

“I am happy for you.” Alice smiled. “Betty, your sister is intitled to a little fun after all of the hard work she has put in.”

Betty huffed and crossed her arms. What was she going to do now? All of her regular help was heading home for the summer and Polly had been her only backup.

“Betty, be happy for me – I found someone who really cares for me.” Polly leaned across the table, placing her hand on Betty’s arm.

“I am happy for you,” she sighed in resignation and grabbed Polly’s hand, squeezing it. “I can tell Jason really makes you happy.”

“He does!” She smiled brightly. Betty tried to smile back at her, but her concern took over and she knew it came off as more of a grimace. “What?”

“Its just…” her eyebrows pinched in concern, “Poll, are you sure you want to go back to Riverdale?”

“I’ll be fine, Betty.” Polly rolled her eyes and turned her attention to her mom, making plans for the trip.

Betty ignored them both and started working around in her head how she was going to run a coffee shop with only two employees, one of which was only available part time.

That night at dinner with Archie and Veronica, she shared her frustrations and concerns. The café had been open for less than two years; she knew they were still making their impression on the city and was worried how something like this was going to affect that.

“Don’t worry Betty! I know the perfect person to help you out!” Archie beamed at her.

--

Betty stood behind the counter and clicked her tongue as she looked at the man who was sitting in a booth, waiting to be interviewed. He had a flannel tied around his waist and wore a leather jacket, with his hair messily tucked into a beanie.

She raised an eyebrow after staring at him a moment longer and turned to Archie. “Why would someone like him want to work at a coffee shop?”

Archie smirked and shook his head. “Listen, I’ve known Jughead – ”

“Jughead?” she asked skeptically.

“I’ve known him for a long time…he’s just looking for something to help him get by for a few months. He’s a good guy and the hard biker exterior is not an honest reflection.” He picked up his mostly cold coffee and threw back the rest. “I’ve got to get going.” He stood up and slid his jacket on. “Just, give him a chance, will you?”

Betty sighed and looked at him, slightly exasperated, before finally nodding. “Yeah, yeah.”

“Thanks!” Archie grinned as he picked up his guitar case and walked over to the man. “Jug – dinner?”

“Yeah, seven o’clock, right?” Jug reached out his hand and Archie slapped.

Archie nodded, “See ya then!” And then he was out the door and the man, Jughead, was looking at her.

She sighed and straightened her apron before walking around the counter.

“Betty Cooper, I presume,” he said, giving her a very self-assured smile.

“Jughead?” she asked, sitting down in the booth across from him.

“Last name’s Jones.” He held his hand out to her.

She looked at his hand and slowly reached up to shake it. “Jughead your legal first name?”

“I never reveal my secret identity on a first date.” He winked.

Betty scoffed, “This is far from a date.”

“You never know.” His smile turned into a very self-satisfied grin.  

She shook her head, smiling, and relaxed back into the booth. “So, any experience working in a café?”

“Does spending a lot of time in coffee shops drinking a ton of caffeine count?” he asked with sarcastic wondering.

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling again, annoyed that his sarcastic charm was working on her so quickly.

“Sorry,” he chuckled quietly before sighing. “Uhh, no. I’ve never worked at a café before, but I am a quick study and a hard worker.”

She nodded. “Are you currently working?”

“Not at the moment.” He shifted in his seat.

“Where did you work last?”

“I’ve done some odd jobs here or there…” He shifted in his seat again, this time seeming uncomfortable. “Uhh, Archie didn’t tell you much about me, did he?”  

She squinted at him. “What do you mean?”

Jughead shook his head. “Nothing…listen, I’m gonna be honest, I don’t sound great on paper, but I promise that in real life, I’m worth the chance.”

Betty leaned forward and crossed her arms on the table. “Alright, Jones,” she said after a moment as she stood up, “show me what you got.”

--

Betty was pleasantly surprised to see just how quickly Jughead caught on. Sure, he needed to be shown the basics, such as where the coffee grounds were and which blender you had to hold the lid down on if you didn’t want the drink to go everywhere, but after watching her make a drink once he was able to reproduce it quickly. He was also ridiculously good with the customers.

“Have a good day.” He waved to a smiling older couple as they left.

Betty leaned on the counter next to him, “I have never seen either of them smile before.”

“Some people just have the magic touch.” He smirked at her and started cleaning the counter.

Smiling to herself she straightened up and watched him clean a moment longer. “Well,” she said as she put her hands on her hips, “I guess if I want you to keep showing up to work, I should probably make sure you get paid.” Jug looked at her, an eyebrow raised. “The jobs yours if you want it.” She held out her hand.

“Sold!” He grinned and shook her hand tightly.

She giggled quietly and shook her head. “Katy will help you get all the paperwork filled out.”

--

The first week of the university’s summer break was slow. There were no classes for students to rush to, no exams to stay up late studying for, and no term papers that required hours of work. When this happened the year before, Betty had been nervous. They opened just as classes were starting and business came steadily but as soon as summer break was upon them, the customers dropped off. But by the next week, the locals seemed to have emerged from their hiding places during the semester and they were back up and running as usual.

This year she took the time to do inventory, make minor repairs that had only been slightly inconvenient (but left for much longer could have been disastrous), and get to know Jughead Jones. She realized Archie had been right when he said that the biker cliché was not a reflection of who Jug really was. He always seemed to be filling the quiet space that had developed at the lack of college students and she quickly realized that he was funny, sarcastic, and kind.

As business started to pick back up, Betty also got to see a different side of Jug, the serious, pensive, and sometimes incredibly self-deprecating side that would appear when the café was full, and he thought no one was looking. It made her wonder if the space that he filled when it was quiet was fueled by something deeper than wanting to make her laugh.  

He told her about his dad and his drinking problem when Jug was younger but that he had turned his act around and got sober to keep their family together. He had shared with her that despite his dad’s change his mom ended up leaving anyways. He explained that she had tried to take his sister, Jellybean, with her but that his dad took her to court and got full custody of them both, which was for the best as his mom ran off and started running drugs. He told her about the South Side Serpents and how as king, his dad had turned them around, setting them straight and making sure they weren’t dealing in anything “too illegal”.

“Wait a minute!” she interrupted by grabbing his forearm. “South Side Serpents…as in Riverdale’s Serpents?”

“You know of any other Serpents?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, a smug look on his face.

She stared at him a moment longer, realization finally dawning on her.

“Oh my gosh! You’re Forsythe!” She tossed her hands up in triumph, wondering why he had always seemed familiar to her.

“I was wondering how long it was going to take you to put all the pieces together!” he laughed.

“Wait!” She cocked her head and put her hands on her hips, “Did you tell Archie not to say anything?”

“Possibly.” He smirked. “I figured you would eventually get there.”

He told her about his novel that he was working on and that he had spent the time since graduating high school working on it. He had taken a few English and Writing courses over the last two years, but none of them seemed to make much of a difference for him. He explained that he had been working on this book since he was a freshman and had started sending it to publishers at his dad’s urging, but they all told him the same thing: “This is fantastic! But the ending is just missing something…you fix that ending and you’ve got yourself a deal!” But for the last six months, he hadn’t been able to come up with anything new.

“Which is how I ended up here.” He gestured around the coffee shop. “I helped my dad run the serpents when I graduated, and we did a lot of good around Riverdale. He appreciated the help and supported me with my writing the whole time…but after my last rejection letter” he leaned on the counter, looking slightly ashamed, “I uhh, I started sleeping a lot and staying at home all the time. He told me I needed a change of pace, just to see if anything shakes loose.” He threw his voice, imitating his father. “When I told Arch he said I could stay with him over the summer.”

“Can I read it?” she asked hopefully, a strong desire to consume his written words blooming in her chest.

“Uhh, no.” He shook his head and straightened up, grabbing a rag to go wipe down the booths.

“And why not?” She followed him. “A different perspective could help.”

“The only other people to have read my book so far have told me that the ending is trash…I think I will pass on the judgement from my boss, thanks,” he snarked. “Besides, I’ve been pouring my heart out over here, telling you my life story with no reciprocation.”

She looked at him for a moment thinking. Most people who knew the story behind her life usually ended up putting distance between them and her, running away, afraid of what she might do. But then again, Jug had lived in Riverdale, there was no way he didn’t already know her family’s past. So, she told him.

She shared that up till she was 8 years old, she thought her family was perfectly normal. That her parents were perfectly normal, that her sister was perfectly normal, that she was perfectly normal. That was until her mom found her dad with a dead body stuffed in the trunk of their car. Her mom had taken her and Polly to see a movie, but her sister ended up getting sick not even five minutes into the previews and they had to go home. She told him that she remembered the look of pure terror on her father’s face when they pulled into the garage and that he had become furious with them for being home early and ushered them inside quickly.

She recounted her experience of her father’s arrest and how scared she and Polly had been. It wasn’t until the next day that her mother sat them down and explained what he had been doing. Over the next few months as the investigation went on, it was revealed that he had killed four other people as well. Once that news broke, her mother had packed them up quickly and left Riverdale.

“I was at Archie’s house that day, when you guys left.” He looked up at her. “I remember thinking that it wasn’t fair that you guys had to leave just because of what your dad had done.

Betty shrugged. “Moving wasn’t all that bad.” She smiled remembering the years after the move. “The three of us got really close actually…I always wonder how things between us would have changed had dad still been in our lives.”

“I don’t want to think what could have happened to you had he been there.” His voice was low and his eyes dark, sparking something inside of her that she tried to ignore.

“Yea,” she turned away, “maybe you’re right.”

She was surprised to find herself so easily telling him about her father’s death and how it had affected her. She had been 15 when he was stabbed by another inmate, and it had hit her hard…so hard that her mother ended up taking her to therapy after finding scars from her nails on her palms.

“JB and I went to therapy for a short time after my parents split…I liked it.” He gave her an understanding smile and for the first time Betty was actually glad she had shared this with someone.

[themansmansblog]

Draft day (Chapter 1)

Crystal pov

" Come on Crystal it's draft day your going to be drafted for sure I mean you held the nxt title for basically a year you where unstoppable " Bayley said jumping up and down pulling me inside the performance center.

Bayleys been my best friend sense I've been in developmental, we where pretty close. It was funny in my opinion becasue to most people they see her as the happy and joyful one then they see me and I'm well I'm me.. not as joyful but to her I'm doing my best okay? She always tells me that I look tough i guess thats my resting bitch face acting up. But what's hard is getting me to open up, i have trust issuse after all the stuff ive been through in my life.

"Yea I was champ in tell you beat me" I said walking inside with her as she held on to my arm making sure i didn't walk away from her.

" Hey we agreed that wasn't personal, and beside we hugged after. Keep making stuff up ,but your going to be on the biggest stage there is :and I'll be your biggest fan " Bayley said as we walked to where there was a bunch of seats and the whole nxt locker room was out there sitting down as Monday Night Raw started.

"Carmella tell Crystal she'll be drafted tonight. Or im just gonna go crazy. "Bayley said as we sat down next to Carmella.

"Oh my god you are most definitely being drafted that's not even a question girl. How could raw or Smackdown not invest in the longest reigning NXT womens champion. Its stupid if I say if they dont." Carmella said I nodded my head cracking a small smile at Bayley and Carmella. As I took a deep breath and watched the tv screen.

" I'm so nervous" I mumbled

"Don't be, hey Finn!" Bayley said as Finn Bálor aproched us well Bayley's friend. I've never talked to Finn really. Seen him a bunch of times. How could i not have seen him. Have you seen that mans body?!

"Hello ladies. Ready for the draft?" Finn asked looking at Bayley and glancing at me every now and then smiling polity.

"Hell Yea I can't wait to see this one get drafted after me telling her 100 times already today that she well. And your going to be drafted too leaving me friends less.."Bayley said putting her arm around my neck pulling me close to her as she frowns at her disapproval of being along.

"Love you to Bayley ,but by any chance can you let go of me ?" I asked and I hread a light laugh coming from Finn

"Nah Crystal has a better change then I do" Finn said making me blush at the fact he knew my name.

" Don't say that your going to be the first to go for sure! Who wouldnt want the demon on their team" Bayley said letting her grip on me go. She hit Finn on the arm with him moving back a little protending to be hit hard.

"Haha! Ok well I'm going to sit down have a good time ladies!" Finn said looking over at me smiling. I still had a pinkish color to my cheeks .

"Awe your blushing!! Wait.... do you like Finn?!" Bayley whispered to me.

"Well I can't say I don't find him attractive ,but I don't know about like... you know me and guys.. it just seems to never work.. and besides I don't think I can do it... you know what happend to me" I said bring my hand to my mouth bitting my nails like I always do when i dont know what to say.

"Yea... but Finns different he's the digest dork " Bayley said laughing a little

"I don't know Bay..." I said calling her by her nickname I call her

"Ok. I won't push it ,but if he asks you on a date I swear to god I'll beat the living shit out of you if you say no to him. Hes so a sweet man he needs a chance" Bayley said glancing at me with daggers in her eyes.

"If... key word if" I said rolling my eyes with a slight smile on my face.

"Hey-" Bayley began but I got her off right away.

"Shh it's starting " I said making her stop and we watched as Seth Rollins got drafted to Raw then Dean Amdrose to Smackdown and so forth

"with an eye for the future or next pick comes from NXT " Mick Foley began ,and Bayley was jumping out of her seat excided to learn who it was.

"Finn Bálor" Mick said loudly.

" I knew it !" Bayley said smiling and hugging Finn. He was sitting behind us so I turned around to say my thoughts.

"Congratulations Finn " I said to him smiling.

" Thank you " Finn said smiling and taking a raw shirt that was handed him. We quieted down as Smackdown picked there person again

"Me and Mick both said that our goal was to have a strong woman divison so our next pick comes from nxt too ,and she is the two time nxt women's champion and the longest reigning nxt champion, the most badass bitch in locker room Crystal! " Stephanie said and I sat there shocked as Bayley jumped up bouncing up and down so I stood up hugging her back as i cryed happy tears.

The roster was clapping as Bayley let go of me and of course I was blushing as I got handed a Raw T-shirt.

" Can we get a picture of you and Finn Bálor sense you two where both the frist nxt superstars to be drafted to raw?" A camera person asked pulling us to the side for the photos.

"Uh.. Yea of course" I said hugging Bayley one last time walking acroos the row to get to finn for the picture

"Be nice ok " Bayley calls out giggling.

"Yea yeah " I said putting the t-shirt on moving my hair ,and fixing it a little getting into the ring with Finn standing in the middle with Finn.

"Hey I didn't really ever get to meet you before. I've seen you around and well I'm Finn Bálor " Finn said sticking out his hand for me to shack with I gladly shook

"Crystal. Crystal Foster " I said shacking his hand.

"Nice to properly meet you. " Finn said smiling at me and I gave him a small smile.

" Ok we just want a picture of the two of you i dont really care what pose " the lady said holding up a phone for a picture.

"Just this then" Finn said putting his arm around my shoulder as i put mine around his torso. We smiled the picture was to taken. I got out of the ring going back to Bayley who was smiling at me.

"What?" I asked looking down at my red shirt

"you like him..." she said with that kids like smile on her face.

"Shut up do not!" I said glaring at her as Smakdown picked Alexa Bliss then Raw went back and forth intell we all knew who was going to at Raw and Smakdowns show.

I was a nervous werk. I mean like who dosnt stop and stare when Finn Bálor walks by hes well a very beaftuil man and i got to say i still look at him every now and again.

"Okay people don't get confused we still have a show tommarow night! So go get back to your guys hotel rest. Lets get ready for takeover ,and lets just all give the people who got drafted today a big huge round of Applause. Ill miss you guys and the NXT superstars and universe well sure miss you too" Matt said starting to clapping i smiling waving at everyone clapping as well for the other people who got drafted.

'I cant believe your leaving me " Bayley said frowning ,but hugs me holding me tightly.

"Just means you have to get on my leavl again. Plus, im hungry lets go get somethibg to eat before we head back to the hot to crash" i say smiling

"I have an idea. Lets invite everyone who got drafed to a dinner tonight.. Like we use to do when it was late after a show. Just hit up a diner and have no last dinner. Itllbe a goodbye dinner!" Bayley said smiling with enjoyment.

"Yeah sounds good ill go talk to the girls then you can go ask the guys sense you have better moves then i do" I told her as we go our separate ways

"So like olds time right ?" Nia askes smiling when i got over to the group. Well my close net group was pretty much Bayley and Sasha. With Carmella, Nia and Alexa being a very close friends too

"Yes exactly so im here asking you guys if you would come as i dont ask a lot of you ,but god it would be nice to have like a far well dinner before i have to beat you back up" i said laughing at my joke looking at my friend group that i love dearly.

Nia and Alixa look at each then back at me " We're in meet you guys there" Nia said smiling as her and Alixa make there way outside.  I already talked to Carmella and let me just say i don't know who was happier her getting invited or Bayley coming up with the idea.

"So like old times then? " Sasha asks wrapping her arm around my neck as we meet back up with Bayley.

"So all the guys well be there and Finn" Bayley said nagging me with her eldow expecting to get a reaction out of me.

"Oooo she like Finn?!" Sasha asks smiling glancing at me. "Why didnt you tell me?" Sasha asked shooked.

"Well bayley pryde it out of me not like I was expecting to tell her" I say bitting my nails like I always do.

"Okay okay i dont agree with that! It was writen all over your face that you liked Finn" Bayley says as we all headed to the car to meet up for dinner with everyone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~