#riverdale x grease au

[dream-a-little-bigger-x]

Greaser Serpents | Part 4

Pairing: Sweet Pea x OC (Luna Simmons) 

Words: 2408

Warnings: crying, language

Part one Part two Part three Part four Part five

“I have to talk to you,” Luna says before even greeting her best friend, and drags her into an empty classroom. A small flashback goes through her mind as she does that, thinking about what she and Sweet Pea had been doing the other day in empty classroom. 

“Good morning to you too,” Betty mutters while Luna shuts the door behind her. The girl seems agitated and stressed about something, causing worry to rise within Betty. She can’t stand watching her best friend be so upset about something. “Hey, what’s wrong?” she asks, placing a comforting hand on Luna’s shoulder. The girl licks her lips, her eyes darting away from her best friend as she tries her hardest not to cry. She raises her arms shortly in defeat whilst shaking her head as tears begin to run down her cheeks. 

“I’m in love with a Serpent, Betty,” she confesses, “But I can’t be with him because there’d be a target on my back. Other gangs will pick up on it and use me to spite him or the Serpents will annoy Sweet Pea for dating a Northsider. My father hates him and practically will ruin his life with this stupid plan of his and Hiram’s. But I can’t stop thinking about him, Bets. He’s just constantly on my mind and I can’t seem to forget about him. No matter what I do,” she explains, unloading her bucket of emotions with her best friend. “I don’t know what to do anymore,” she sniffles as Betty takes her in for a tight, comforting hug. “There’s one thing you can do,” the blondie says after a moment of pure sobs and crying from Luna. They pull away from each other, and while Luna wipes away her tears, Betty strokes a strand of her best friend’s hair behind her ear. “Please, tell me, I’ll pretty much do anything right now,” she mumbles, chuckling a little at how desperate she sounds. Toni, who happened to be passing the classroom where the two Northsiders were talking in, has heard everything and it makes her blood boil. That stupid Serpent friend of hers has made the Northsider girl cry. One of the few Northsiders she cares about. He will hear of this. And without listening to what else Betty has to say, she storms up to her two best friends in the student lounge.

“How dare you play with a girl’s feelings like that!” she yells at the tall guy, not even caring about who else could hear it. Jughead, Archie, Kevin and Veronica are sitting on the sofa, startled at the pink-haired lady’s anger. “Toni, keep it down, please,” Sweet Pea mutters, knowing she’s talking about Luna. “What the hell are you on about?” his voice is low, but that doesn’t stop Toni from yelling more. “I’m talking about how you hurt Luna’s feelings by doing God-knows-what when you know you can’t date her because it would put her in danger!” she hits him on the shoulder. Her yelling has attracted more of the students, including Cheryl, Josie and Reggie. Sweet Pea’s wide eyes dart around the room, finding everyone already staring at them. “Toni, she knew what she’d pulled herself into. She knew it would be strictly fooling around, no strings attached,” he explains, suddenly very self-conscious. Toni and Veronica both roll their eyes at how lame that excuse is. “Oh, so because she knows it’s no strings attached, it’s okay that you broke her heart?” she asks. The audience doesn’t make her shy away from saying what’s really on her mind. “She’s crying to Betty right now about how she doesn’t know what to do because of the feelings she has for you. She’s so lost, Sweet Pea. And you’re oblivious to that because you think you’re good because you warned her for it,” the girl doesn’t give off. “You’re such a dick, Sweet Pea, do you know that?!” she hits him on the back of his head. “Toni, please, stop,” a tearful, cold voice retracts the people’s attention from Sweet Pea and Toni to Luna. Her eyes are red and puffy, and her lipstick’s gone from biting and licking her lips nervously. “It’s none of their business. Neither is it yours, FYI,” she tells her Southside friend. Toni glances to the floor, ashamed of her outburst all of a sudden. Luna’s eyes glance over to Sweet Pea. He looks broken and lost. Almost as lost as she is. “Show’s over, kids. Get to class,” she orders all of them before turning around and leaving the student lounge. The Serpent boy who had broken her heart in a thousand pieces launches forward to run after her, but both Betty and Toni stop him. “It’s better if you leave her alone for now, Sweet Pea,” Betty tells him with a little smile, “She’ll come to you when she’s ready to talk about it,” the boy lets out a frustrated breath before grabbing his backpack and getting out of the lounge to get to class. “I don’t know what you heard, Toni,” Betty begins when everyone has left the class, “But we have to help her. We only need to convince her that it’s the only way to be with him,” Toni nods her head. She didn’t hear what the two talked about, but she knows what Betty is on about now. If Luna really wants it, the two of them can pull a few strings and make it happen. Luna looks in the mirror in the restrooms as she fixes her makeup and hair. When she woke up this morning, she didn’t expect to burst out into tears the way she did. She felt sad, but it wasn’t to the point of crying. It’s only when she really came face-to-face with her own feelings and really said them out loud to Betty, that’s when the waterworks really began. “Look at me, there has to be,” she sings the reprise softly as she stares at her reflection. “Something more than what they see Wholesome and pure Oh so scared and unsure A poor man’s Sandra Dee,” she sighs before reapplying her lipstick and then leaving the bathroom at once. The idea of Betty haunts her mind. The entire day, she can’t think of anything else but that. It might actually be the only way to be with Sweet Pea. Even if it means getting disowned and kicked out by her parents. “Are you okay?” Josie asks when she sits down next to Luna at lunch. That’s all Luna has been hearing today. That’s all everyone’s asking her. The others look at her, awaiting her answer, even though they’ve all asked her at one point that day. She angrily throws her burger on her plate, suddenly not hungry anymore. “Can everyone stop asking me that? I’m fine, okay? Just peachy,” the last bit comes out in a whisper as she realizes she’s lying to her friends and herself. “Sorry,” she then mutters while shaking her head and getting off the bench. Her friends watch her run out of the cafeteria, knowing she just needs some time. It’s still a touchy subject. They’re not even sure when it’s not going to be a touchy subject anymore. “No, Sweets, don’t!” Toni yells at Sweet Pea as he gets up from his seat and runs after Luna, completely ignoring his friend’s orders. He finds her in the student lounge on the sofa, trying to calm herself down a little. It breaks his heart seeing her like that, especially considering he’s the one who put her in that situation. “Hey, Luna,” he says softly as he walks in and comes into her view, cautiously. She looks up at him for a moment and wipes her tears as she offers him a small smile. “Can I sit?” he questions, pointing at the sofa. The girl simply shrugs, knowing that if she’d talk, fresh tears would run out. “I’m sorry, Luna,” he then says after a moment of complete silence. “You’ve got nothing to be sorry about, Sweets,” she tells him, glancing down at her wrists whilst playing with the bracelet she got from her father for her birthday last year. “I do though. I’m sorry I led you on and I’m sorry we can’t be together, but I thought you were okay with the no-strings-attached kind of thing,” he stares at the floor. Neither of them is sure what to do. They’d rather be kissing each other right now instead of talking. “I was,” she replies as fresh tears roll over her cheeks, “Sorry,” she whispers and gets up to get away from him again. She doesn’t want him to see her crying. Sweet Pea groans and runs after her again, grabbing her wrist to pull her back to him. “Stop running away from me, Luna. Please, let’s talk about this. I hate to see you hurt when I know I can do something about it.” Her tears abruptly stop at his words and she looks up at him. Her hand rises, her fingers softly stroking his jaw. “Oh, but you can’t do anything about it, Sweet Pea,” she whispers, “You can’t help it that I fell in love with you when I knew I shouldn’t. Hell, I can’t even help it. But it is what it is. And I know we can’t be together. My mother warned me about it and you did too,” her voice is soft, as if she’s telling him her biggest secret. “Your mother warned you?” he asks, confused about that part of the explanation. “She warned me about putting a target on my back if I ever dated a Serpent. Other gangs would use me to spite you and all that jazz,” she explains quickly, rolling her eyes at how silly that sounds. “But that’s not the point now, Sweets,” she shakes her head. “I can’t date a Northsider, Luna,” he tells her again, sounding defeated. “You don’t have to,” a smile tugs at her lips, “We’re kind of like Sandy and Danny in real life, aren’t we? I’m going to have to change for you to be able to be with you,” she says softly. Sweet Pea’s eyes widen at her insinuation. “You’re not joining the Serpents, Luna. I can’t let you join the Serpents,” he orders sternly, towering over her makes her more intimidated by him than she ever was. “Don’t flatter yourself, Sweets. I told you, I’m not like Sandy. I’m not going to join the Serpents just so we can be together. I’m not built that way,” she explains to him with a chuckle and a shake of her head. “I’ll figure out a way to get you out of my head. It’s going to be fine,” she reassures him. He grabs her by the waist at that, pulling her closer to him. “But Luna—” he begins, but her singing voice cuts him off. “Guess mine’s not the first heart broken My eyes are not the first to cry,” Her fingers push away the curl on his forehead as she sings to him. The song that sums up her feelings right about now. “I’m not the first to know there’s just no getting over you,” She turns around and walks away from him. Away from the safe place in his arms. Away from his beautiful bright eyes. She has to forget about him. Preferably now. “You know I'm just a fool who's willing To sit around and wait for you But baby can't you see there's nothing else for me to do I'm hopelessly devoted to you,” she walks down the hallway and back to the cafeteria where she halts at the door to watch her friends talk amongst each other. She even makes eye contact with Toni who gives her a small, sympathetic smile. “But now there's no way to hide Since you pushed my love aside I'm outta my head hopelessly devoted to you Hopelessly devoted to you Hopelessly devoted to you,” She walks back into the hallway where she finds Sweet Pea still standing at the lockers. His fist punches the metal, making it clang loudly and boom off the walls. This just isn’t how it’s supposed to go. This isn’t how either of them had imagined falling in love for the first time. It hurts harder than they thought it would. During the rest of the day, the two of them had tried to avoid one another. And if they did lock eyes, they’d give each other a sympathetic, acknowledging smile. Nothing more, nothing less. The only time they didn’t ignore one another is at rehearsals that night. “My head is saying, "Fool, forget him." My heart is saying, "Don't let go. Hold on till the end." And that's what I intend to do I'm hopelessly devoted to you” She sings her heart out on the stage this time, standing all by herself in the middle of the spotlight. The other cast members watch her tentatively, a little bit tensed as well. They know she means what she’s singing, and she’s singing it for Sweet Pea, who’s sitting at the end of the line. He’s watching her with an aching heart. “But now there's nowhere to hide Since you pushed my love aside I'm out of my head Hopelessly devoted to you Hopelessly devoted to you Hopelessly devoted to you” A single tear rolls down her face as a silence falls over the entire auditorium. Sweet Pea shakes his head and leaves. He can’t keep watching this. He can’t keep looking at Luna being hurt because of him. He’d rather run up that stage and hold her. There has to be another way. There has to be a way they can be together without her getting hurt. “Jughead,” Luna says from the stage, capturing the Serpent’s attention, “Could you pull a few strings with your dad for me, please?” she asks kindly. The boy looks at his girlfriend and his pink-haired friend. They had talked about this during lunch. He simply nods, giving the girl a smile and a new will to live. She normally would never change herself for someone else. But if her happiness depends on it, she might as well try something. It might even save Sweet Pea’s life. Just maybe she could convince her dad not to go through with his plans for Riverdale. Maybe, just maybe everything could be okay. 

Taglist: @iamaunicorn4704, @cvvlxx

[sweetesthaaze]

Just Friends // Sweet Pea x Reader // pt. 1

Prompt from anon:  Sweetpea x reader fic, acquaintances->friends->lovers, 5+1 fic "five times he meant I love you and the one time he actually said it". In riverdale, everythings normal lmao

A/N:  First I just want to apologize to the anon that requested this, it’s been much longer than I first anticipated that I would have this posted. Also, it’s not the whole thing. I decided to split it up because it’s taking so long for me to finish. I figured I’d better get up a part and see what you guys think, while I continue the rest. The next part should actually be up soon, so look out for it! (title is subject to change, because I’m really not sold on it, also Morgan, you have to tell me what you think of it before I make concrete decision, but I really wanted to get this part up, so here we are.)

Also, I want to thank @lilhemmo for her amazing help on this fic. She is the reason it’s not awkward and choppy and gives me the motivation to continue writing. Please check out part 1 of her Hades/Persephone AU!, the forbidden fruit, because it’s amazing.

Word count: 1.3k

Masterlist

                                                          ~~~

0.    A day like any other.

It was a day like any other. The summer before senior year and Sweet Pea was working at Riley’s Auto Shop, like he had done every summer before then since he was thirteen. Fangs usually worked the same shift as Sweet Pea, but he was off today, for his mother’s birthday. Sweet Pea was manning the shop alone, working on Toni’s bike that she’d brought it in earlier that day, complaining about her breaks, when she came in. Yes, it was a day like any other. Until it wasn’t.

She walked in… no, she burst into the shop, the bell attached to the door clanging around wildly causing Sweet Pea to jerk his head up and watch as the girl frantically looked around before spotting him through the walkway that lead from the lobby to the garage. She visibly relaxed and breathed out a huge sigh of relief. A tingle went down Sweet Pea’s spine, but he shrugged it off and picked up a rag to wipe his hands as he approached the girl.

“Everything alright?”

“Oh, yeah. Well-no, but yeah. I’m alright, but my car isn’t. Obviously, otherwise why would I be here? I-I was trying to get here before you guys closed, but it was a really long way from where my car broke down, so I ran the whole way…” The girl kept babbling on and Sweet Pea smirked.

“There was no need to rush,” Sweet Pea said, interrupting her before she ran out of breath. “We don’t close until six. It’s only three.”

“Huh?” The girl raised her left arm, squinting at the very nineties-esque watch strapped around her wrist. “Oh. Well I guess I don’t have to go to the gym tonight,” she said simply before collapsing in the recliner in the corner.

Sweet Pea smiled again and went to grab the tow truck keys hanging behind the desk in the lobby. He gave his hands another swipe with the rag, still not able to rid himself of most of the grease, but it was better than nothing, and started back to the garage. “I’ll bring the truck around. You can hop in and we’ll go get your car.”

The girl grinned, looking ridiculous slumped down in the chair and arms above her head on the arm rests. Fifteen minutes later, the girl’s, whose name he learned to be Y/N, car had been towed and Sweet Pea was now checking the engine to see what was wrong.

“So, what happened before the engine died?” he asked. He checked the oil tank, which was normal, and it also didn’t look like the car had overheated.

“Well, it started jerking,” Y/N balled her hands into fists in front of her chest, like she was holding a steering wheel, and moved them back and forth quickly. “It was like I was pressing the break, which I wasn’t. And then it was hard to control, so I got scared and pulled over. As soon as I stopped the engine died.”

“Ahhh,” Sweet Pea pushed the hood back down and let it click into place. He couldn’t help the smirk that formed on his lips as he grabbed a nearby red cannister, halfway filled with gasoline. “And when was the last time you put gas in?”

“Gas? Oh, it was only like…” Y/N’s voice drifted off, eyebrows furrowed together as she thought. “Oh… shit. Well, I always wondered what happens when you run out of gas.”

“You could have just looked it up,” Sweet Pea chuckled, tilting the spout into the open gas valve of Y/N’s Toyota Corolla. When he had filled it sufficiently, he snapped the door closed, setting the canister down and dusted imaginary dust off his hands. “Should be all good…”

His voice trailed off as he saw Y/N studying his Serpents jacket, hanging from a hook next to the open doorway. It looked out of place in the auto-shop - shiny black leather, sparkling metal buttons, and crisp green and red colors were a sharp contrast to the dirt and grease that coated every inch of the garage.

She was tracing over the serpent insignia on the back, her fingers floating over every line like she was trying to commit it to memory. “You’re a Serpent.” she said, finally breaking the silence. It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah.” He replied hesitantly, wary because he couldn’t decipher how she felt about it.

There didn’t seem to be anything resentful in her tone, which surprised him. Most people reacted that way when they learned he was a part of a gang. No, there was something else in the way she said it. Like she personally knew of the Serpents.

“You a new recruit or something?” he asked, testing the waters.

The Serpents were Sweet Pea’s family, since he didn’t have much of his real one around anymore, but during the summer, he was so preoccupied with working, he’d rarely frequent the Whyte Worm and usually didn’t meet any new Serpents that had gone through initiation until the summer was over and school started up again.

“Oh, no. But, uh, my father was. A long time ago.” The corner of her lips lifted into a soft smile. She dragged her pinky across the head of the serpent, going over every line and stitch. “I used to do this all the time when he wore his leather. He said it helped him fall asleep.”

Sweet Pea didn’t know what to say. He didn’t think Y/N wanted him to say anything, so he kept silent and let her stare at his jacket, captivated by the sad look in her eyes.

Y/N sighed and stepped back, her arm falling slowing from the black leather, like she didn’t want to be parted with it. She turned back to Sweet Pea and smiled again. He really liked her smile.

“So, how much is my stupidity going to cost me?” she asked, gnawing on her lower lip.

Sweet Pea blinked out of his trance and waved his hand in the air, “Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s not even worth paperwork up. Consider it a favor for a fellow Serpent,” he paused for a second as if to correct himself, “Well, Serpent adjacent.”

Y/N chuckled, and it was soft and breezy and Sweet Pea wanted to know how it sounded when she really and fully laughed. He’d bet his bike it was just as beautiful.

“Thank you, Sweet Pea,” she twirled her keys around her index finger, the clattering noise bouncing off the walls and she looked around, like she just realized it was empty and they were alone. “Do you always work by yourself?”

“Nah, Fangs is supposed to be here, but it’s his mom’s birthday today.”

“Fangs? Fangs Fogarty?” Y/N asked.

“Yeah. You know him?”

“I should hope so, he’s my cousin.” That surprised him. He knew Fangs had a cousin, but he didn’t like to talk about it or her – some old family feud that was never did get resolved. “That’s actually where I was headed before I ran out of gas.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize…” Sweet Pea started and then thought better then to pry. “Well, you better get going, you’re seriously late.”

Y/N glanced at her watch and looked puzzled. “It’s barely four?”

“Yeah and that party started at two.” Sweet Pea laughed when Y/N’s eyes widened and she scrambled to get her keys, which went flying out of her hand. He watched as she struggled to get her door open in her haste and laughed when she groaned in frustration.

“I always do this. I can never be on time to save my life!” She finally got the door open, a blush gracing her cheeks when she realized she didn’t unlock the door in the first place. “Thank you so much, Sweets. I’m sure I’ll see you around!”

Y/N smiled, and Sweet Pea felt a warmth spread through him at the sight. As she drove out of the garage, Sweet Pea found himself feeling like something had changed the moment she burst into the shop. The world around him felt different somehow and he didn’t know why.

[tallglassofsweetpea]

Little Darlin’: Chapter Eight

Sweet Pea x OC, 1950′s AU

Warnings (this chapter): language, sexual content/smut, angst

AN: OMG! Thank you all for being so so so patient for this chapter! I really can’t thank you enough for sticking it out with me. These past few months have been pretty hectic and I had virtually no time to just sit down and give this chapter the time it deserves. Shit starts to get real in this chapter, so hold on tight.

All previous chapters can be found in my masterlist on my blog. It’s also now available on AO3 under the username: sweepee

I hope you enjoy!!

(Please let me know if you’d like to be tagged for future chapters. Also feel free to message me if you have any general comments/questions/feedback! 

My ask is open :) Also I am always taking requests!!!)

Chapter Eight: Please Love Me Forever

Lily knew her mother was suspicious, suddenly Mrs. Greene took to knitting in the living room until she returned home. Lily would scramble for a weak excuse for her late return and run to her bedroom before she could be further pressed. Of course Mrs. Greene knew when her daughter was lying, as she had never been any good at it. She noted the way her hair, gold as her own, was tousled and untamed when she walked through the front door. She also noted the way her skin flushed pink, and the dark marks of a lover that she tried hiding beneath her locks. Night after night, Mrs. Green was faced with the reflection of her younger, more naive self.

**

Lily sat atop one of the large metal toolboxes that lined the walls of the garage, her bare legs swung back and forth as she watched her boyfriend work on a car. He was dressed in his signature white tee and a greasy pair of jeans, a cigarette tucked behind his ear. She loved watching him work, specifically the way his brow furrowed and his lips parted as he focused on each task. He seemed as though he was lost in thought. Plus, there was something about his large hands stained with grease that was inexplicably sexy to her.

Sweet Pea caught her checking him out and flashed her a cheeky grin. “See something you like, darlin’?”

She coyly smiled back. “I was just admiring your hands. I like them.”

“Yeah?” He wiped his hands on the rag he pulled from his back pocket and came to stand before her, letting his hands slide up to her knee. “I think they like you, too.”

Lily giggled, giving him a quick peck on the lips. “I’m glad the feeling is mutual.” She said, pushing his hair back. She nodded to the car he was working on. “It looks really nice.”

“Yeah. Hopefully she’ll run as good as she looks. I was thinking about taking her out for a drive later on if you’re interested in joining me. Maybe I could put these hands to good use in other ways.” He offered with a wink.

Lily bit her lip at the implications.

“Tempting…but I can’t stay out late. I think my mom is catching on to me.”

Sweet Pea’s smile fell. “Wouldn’t want that, now would we?” He stood up straight and went to move away, but not before Lily pulled back on his arm. She looked him in the eyes and offered him a sympathetic look.

“I wish I could just…tell them. But I can’t.”

He held her gaze momentarily before averting his eyes elsewhere. “Right. I get it.” He nodded curtly and went back to working on the car. She did want to tell her parents about them, about their relationship and how happy he made her. But she knew it could never be that simple. She had noticed it was something that bothered Sweet Pea more and more as time went on, and she felt badly about it.

Lily sighed. “I’ll go out for a little bit. But I can’t be late again.”

**

“Sweet Pea…” Lily sighed into his mouth. His hands bunched into the thin fabric of her dress as he pulled her body closer. Lily pulled away, only to be pulled back down into his lap and entangled in his warm embrace. “Pea, I’ve got to go.” Sweet Pea shook his head and tangled his hand in her curls. “Not yet.” He pulled her soft lips back to his and she easily melted right back into him. Lily felt his other hand grip her hip. “Sweets.”

Sweet Pea groaned against her lips, not yet ready to let her go. “A few more minutes, baby.”

Lily sighed and gently pushed back his shoulders. “I told you, my mother knows something is going on. I’ve been late every night this week. She sits at the table and waits for me, I have to rush to my room before she can interrogate me.”

“Wouldn’t be a problem if you just told her about-“

Lily shook her head. “You know I can’t do that.”

Sweet Pea ran his fingers back through his hair, frustrated. He leaned back against his seat, one hand still resting on her hip. “Look, if you’re ashamed of me-“

“No! That’s not it. Really, it isn’t.”

“Well what is it then?”

Sweet Pea threw his hands up in surrender at her lack of response and put the keys in the ignition. “You know what? Just forget it. Don’t tell them. We’ll be just like Trish and Fangs. That seems to be going swimmingly for them.”

Lily placed her hand against his arm. “Sweet Pea…”

“It’s fine, I get it.”

Lily rolled her eyes and sighed. “You’re stubborn as a mule, SP.”

“Oh I’m the stubborn one? Don’t make me laugh.” He retorted with a humorless chuckle.

“What is your issue lately? Why do you need everyone to know so badly? I thought you didn’t care what other people thought.”

“I don’t care, but you clearly do.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You’re too embarrassed, too worried of what other people will think of you if you told them I was your guy.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is true! Look, I think we both know I’m not the type of guy that girls bring home to their parents. But I…care about you.”

Lily’s eyes lowered and she sat quietly for a moment before she responded. “I’m sorry I haven’t told my parents. I’m just afraid that they won’t let me see you again.”

Sweet Pea tucked a strand of curls behind her ear. “We won’t let that happen.”

Lily smiled softly, her eyes running over the handsome young man in front of her. “I promise I’ll tell them soon.”

“I just want everyone to know you’re mine.” Sweet Pea pulled her in for a long kiss that left her head spinning. Lily leaned her forehead against his.

“I hate to ruin the moment…but I do have to get home.”

Sweet Pea groaned when she pulled back into her own seat, straightening out her dress and fixing her hair in the drop down mirror. Lily caught him looking at her.

“What is it? Is my makeup messy?”

Sweet Pea simply shook his head. “Just wondering how I got so lucky.” Sweet Pea smiled to himself before turning the keys in the ignition, bringing the car to life.

**

As soon as Lily walked through the door, she leaned up against it and closed her eyes. She let out a sigh and walked further into the house.

“Who is he?”

Lily yelped in surprise.

“What are you still doing up?”

Mrs. Greene sat in her bathrobe and curlers knitting in the corner of the living room in her chair. “Well, I was worried about you. I called Trish’s parents to see if you were over at their house but they said that they haven’t laid eyes on you in weeks?”

Lily stood in silence, chewing on her lip.

“Sit down.”

Lily swallowed hard and took a seat on the couch facing her mother.

“Who is this boy?” Her eyes never left the small scarf she was working on as she spoke.

“What boy?”

“Lilian I’m no fool, so why don’t you just tell me about him.” She pressed.

This was it, this was an opportunity to come clean about everything, to tell the truth about her whereabouts. To tell the truth about Sweet Pea, and how happy he made her. How her heart would beat out of her chest and her stomach flipped at the sight of him. How she thought she might be in love…The words were on the tip of her tongue but for some reason she couldn’t force them out.

“What’s his name?”

“His name is…I-I can’t tell you that, but-“

“And why not?”

“I-“

“What are you two doing up so late? Is everything alright?” A voice was heard coming from upstairs.

Lily let out a deep breath, her father saved the day.

“Nothing to worry about, we were just catching up sweetheart. Go on back to bed, I’ll be there shortly.”

“Alright. Goodnight, Lily-pad.”

“Goodnight, daddy.”

Mrs. Greene waited until she heard her husband close the bedroom door. “You’re lucky your father is blind to all of this.”

She rose to her feet and finally looked at her daughter. “We will continue this conversation soon.”

Lily’s shoulders sagged against the door to her bedroom once it was closed. This was going to be just as difficult as she had expected.

**

The final school bell rang, Lily and Trish eagerly made their way out of Riverdale High School. When the two rounded the corner outside, Lily felt a pair of hands on her waist and yelped. She turned around to see it was just Sweet Pea.

She swatted his chest playfully. “Pea! What are you doing here?”

“Came to pick you up, wanted to see if you wanted to eat before we go out later.”

Lily turned back to Trish. “Trish, Sweets and I are planning on going to the bowling alley tonight if you and Fangs are interested in joining.”

Trish’s smile faltered. “Actually, I think I’m gonna stay in tonight.”

Odd, Lily thought to herself. Trish was never one to pass up on a chance to get out of the house, especially if Fangs would be there. “Oh, okay. Then I’ll catch you at dance tomorrow?”

Trish gave her friend a curt nod before walking away from the couple over to her baby pink car.

Sweet Pea shook his head. “Fogarty’s been driving me up a wall, poor kid’s heartbroken.”

Lily quirked an eyebrow. “Heartbroken? What happened?” She was surprised Trish hadn’t mentioned anything.

“All I know is that they got into a big fight and she broke it off with him, from the sounds of it I think it’s for good.”

Lily’s brows knitted together. She wondered why Trish hadn’t told her anything about what happened between them. The last she knew, they were fine and Trish had planned on breaking it off with Archie. It was highly unlike Trish not to spill the beans, something was off.

**

Fangs was in the middle of eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when heard a knock on his front door. Behind it stood the redheaded girl who had broken his heart. Her mascara had trailed down her cheeks, leaving gray streaks on her porcelain skin.

“Trish?” She had been the last person he’d expected to show up to his doorstep. Especially after their fight earlier that week. Long story made short, Fangs found out she was still seeing Archie and told her she had to choose between the two of them. Needless to say, it hadn’t gone the way Fangs had hoped.

Trish softly whimpered, her hands now covered her face. “I need to talk to you.”

“Come in.” He held the door open for her, she leaned against the card table he was eating on and faced him but wouldn’t make eye contact.

“So…what do you need to talk about?”

“I’m sorry about what happened earlier this week. I-”

Fangs took a deep breath and crossed his arms. “Can I ask you something? And you’ve gotta promise you’ll tell me the truth.”

Trish wiped away a few tears and nodded her head, still not looking at him. “Okay.”

“Why do you keep going back to him?”

“Because I love him.” She replied meekly.

Fangs shook his head, unconvinced. “What’s the real reason?”

“What do you want me to say, Fangs? You can judge me if you’d like, you wouldn’t be the first or last person to do so. But I’m doing what is right, whether I like it or not.”

“Walking away from someone who loves you just because you’re afraid of what people think…that’s what’s right?”

She shook her head and scoffed. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Well then help me understand, Trish because right now I’m completely lost!”

“I have to protect us!”

Fangs’ eyes shot up to her face, he cocked an eyebrow. “Us?”

She swallowed hard, steadying her breath before continuing.

“I’m pregnant, Fangs.”

His mouth hung open in shock.

“Y-you’re pregnant?”

Trish sniffled and nodded her head in confirmation. Fangs blew out a heavy breath and ran his fingers through his inky hair. “Oh my god.” They weren’t always careful, they were known to give into impulsive desires on more than one occasion. But he had never expected this to happen to them.

Trish’s eyes welled up with tears again. “Fangs I’m so sorry…”

He pulled her into an embrace as she wept into the leather of his jacket. “Everything will be okay.”

They stood in the middle of the kitchen in silence until Fangs spoke up.

“Do you know if…” He worked himself up to ask him the question. “Is it mine?”

“I’m not sure.”

His face fell upon hearing her response. Once again, it wasn’t the outcome he had hoped for.

“Look…I know I don’t have much, but I’m a hard worker. We could make it work. Whether the baby is mine or…his, I’ll raise them just the same. I mean it, I-“

Trish pulled back from the Serpent, her arms wrapped around herself defensively.

“Fangs…I’m staying with Archie.”

His eyes nearly fell out of his skull. “What?”

“It’s my only option.”

“Trish, he hits you.”

“He won’t do it again. He promised me he would stop.”

“That’s what you keep telling everyone…but I see the bruises.” Trish pulled on the sleeves of her cardigan to cover her arms.

“Archie comes from a good family, they-“

“They have money.”

She let out an exasperated sigh. “It’s the our only chance at having a good life.”

Fangs shook his head in denial. “Look, I know I can’t offer you the finer things. If I could, you know that I would in a heartbeat. But I can take care of you, Trish. Both of you. I can love you. I do love you. I love you more than anything in the world.”

Crossed the room to kiss him on the cheek, her tears were cold against his skin. “I love you too, Fangs.” Her fingers traced the planes of his face.

He gave her a loving smile, looking deeply into her eyes. He swore he saw a glimmer of hope, but just as quickly as it had arrived, it was gone. The soft look on her face disappeared, as though someone had flicked a switch. Trish slowly backed away from him, her eyes scanning his face once more.

“I’m sorry, I really am. I hope one day you can forgive me.”

She walked past him, when she reached the door she heard Fangs reply softly.

“I’ll always forgive you.”

**

Trish crossed the street away from Sunnyside Trailer Park, tears now flooding her cheeks as she tried to catch her breath. Her heart had been completely shattered, and the worst of it was that it was all her own doing. She had convinced herself over and over again on her way to his trailer that this was the only way. She knew it would be difficult, but it hadn’t fully set in until the moment he all but begged her to stay with him. The hopeful look in his eye was enough to tear her heart in two. She got into her car and leaned her head against the steering wheel as she sobbed.

In the next lot over, two letterman-clad Bulldogs watched the redheaded girl’s pink car pull out of the deserted parking lot. A fuming Archie Andrews seethed from the driver’s seat.

“I knew it, man. I knew it! I can’t believe she cheated on me with that fucking Southside rat!”

Reggie shook his head in disbelief. “I’m sorry, man.”

“Rumor has it, Lily Greene’s been hanging around with that snake that jumped me that night at Pop’s.” Reggie shook his head, wincing at the memory. “What the hell is up with these Northside girls?”

“I don’t know, Reggie. All I know is that someone has got to teach those Southside scumbags to stick to their own.”

“Yeah, but how are we supposed to do that? Everyone knows they don’t fight fair in a fight. We’d probably get knifed up by one of them.”

“We don’t need to fight them…I think I have an idea.”

**

The bowling alley was fairly quiet since it was a weekday. Sweet Pea and Lily played a couple of games, every once in awhile he would give her a few pointers. Partially just so he could wrap his arms around her, but also to improve her swing. The two lovebirds handed back their bowling shoes to the boy at the counter and headed out to the parking lot hand in hand. Lily had Sweet Pea’s jacket draped over her shoulders, shielding her from the slight chill in the air.

“You hadn’t warned me you were so good at bowling. I don’t think that was a fair match.” She teased.

Sweet Pea shrugged his shoulders. “I used to come here every year on my birthday with my grandma. Me and Fangs try to carry on the tradition since she passed away.”

Lily squeezed his hand. “Maybe this year I could tag along too.”

Sweet Pea chuckled. “Actually, you just did.”

Lily halted in the middle of the lot and turned to face him. “Today is your birthday?!”

Sweet Pea slipped his hands in his jeans pockets and shrugged.

Lily crossed her arms and shot him a glare. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

“Cool it, it’s not a big deal baby.”

She gawked at him as though he had nine heads. “Not a big deal?! It’s your day.”

Sweet Pea shifted uncomfortably. “Seriously, it’s nothing.”

Lily rolled her eyes at him and grabbed his hand, dragging him along to the car. “Come on, the supermarket closes in a half an hour.”

“Supermarket? What the hell do we need to go there for?”

“Don’t ask questions, Pea. Just get in the car.”

“Alright, quit being so bossy. Although, I do kind of like it.” He sent a wink her way.

She laughed. “Get in.”

**

“I’m assuming you don’t have flour at home?”

Sweet Pea just looked at her with a blank expression. Lily nodded and placed the package of all purpose flour in the basket before taking off for the next item on her list.

“What is all of this shit for?”

“These ingredients are for your birthday cake.”

“Birthday cake?”

Lily nodded absentmindedly as she scanned the aisles, every once in awhile tossing another item into the basket.

“You don’t have to do all of this. Seriously.”

“I know that. But I want to.”

**

Sweet Pea pulled up outside of his trailer in Sunnyside. Truthfully, he was nervous about showing Lily where he grew up. He knew she would never judge him for it, or think badly about him. But there was something so personal and sort of scary about bringing someone new into his space. Especially Lily.

He grabbed the bags from the back of the car and unlocked the front door to his trailer, letting her enter before him. Once inside, he set the grocery bags on the kitchen counter and flicked on the lights.

“It’s nothing to brag about, but-“

“I like it. It’s very you.” Lily said with a warm smile as she walked around the living room, her eyes running over each item. Her eyes landed on a small black and white photo on the coffee table of a dark haired child with a toothy smile sitting in the lap of an older woman with a smile just as kind.

“Is this you?”

Sweet Pea nodded as he began unpacking the bags on the counter. “Me and my grandma.”

“You were a doll.”

“Were?” He playfully cocked an eyebrow.

Lily giggled. “Still are.” The noticed the frame next to it was a portrait of a handsome young man. He had the same striking dark eyes as Sweet Pea. He was dressed in an army uniform.

“My dad.”

“He was very handsome, I can see where you got that from.” Sweet Pea gave her a small smile.

“He was an army man?”

“Yeah, killed in action when I was a kid.”

“That must have been tough.”

SP shrugged his shoulders. “I was really young, didn’t get to know him that well. I just remember I was outside flying paper planes in the yard one day and this black car pulled up in the driveway and two men in uniform walked up to my mom and handed her a flag. Mom had a hard time dealing with it, probably why she went off the deep end.”

“But, enough of that boring stuff. I thought we were making a cake?”

**

“It’s almost done! Just a few more minutes and then we can put on the frosting. I doubt it will be the best birthday cake you’ve had but-“

“I’ve never had one before, so you’ve already won.”

Lily stopped to look at him.

“You’ve never had a birthday cake before?”

Sweet Pea shook his head. “No.”

She gave him a sad smile before quickly perking up. “Well...it’s a tradition for the birthday boy to lick the spoon clean.” She held up the spoon covered in leftover chocolate batter, taking a swipe with her finger and tasting it. She could feel Sweet Pea watching her with a discernible expression on his face.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Did I get cake batter on my face?” She reached up to wipe at her cheek, but Sweet Pea caught her hand in his own. His eyes were warm and gentle, his expression vulnerable. His eyes scanned her face, taking her in.

“I love you.”

She paused and held his gaze. “What?”

“I said,” he stood just inches away from her. “I love you.”

“I-I love you too.”

They stood looking at each other for a moment, before Lily reached up on her toes to plant a hard kiss to his lips. His arms encircled her waist, pulling her closer. Her tongue darted out, running along his bottom lip making him groan. He lifted her up by her waist and set her on the counter, standing between her legs as their kisses became more and more impassioned. Lily’s fingers twisted in the black t-shirt he wore. “Where is your room?” Sweet Pea pulled back and nodded his head over to the hallway. Lily slid off of the countertop, leaving Sweet Pea breathless. She held his hand in hers and pulled him down the hall.

**

“This is your room?”

“Uh, yeah.”

It was simply decorated, just a queen sized bed, an end table and a bureau against the opposite wall. A few pin-up girl posters hung around the room.

“I didn’t realize you held an interest in art.” Lily teased.

“Oh, uh…those are just...” he trailed off as he watched Lily sit on the edge of his bed facing him. She looked up at the y’all serpent through her long lashes. Her hands lifted to the top of her blouse.

“I’m sorry I didn’t have time to get you a proper birthday gift...but I think I can make due.”

She slowly began unbuttoning her blouse. Sweet Pea’s eyes were glued to her dainty hands as they deftly worked their way down, exposing her skin inch by inch until her body was on display. Lily set the shirt to the side before reaching behind her waist to unzip her skater skirt and letting it slide down her legs and onto the ground. She inhaled a shaky breath and locked eyes with Sweet Pea, who was leaning against the doorframe.

Sweet Pea cleared his throat and shrugged off his Serpent Jacket, tossing it to the side. He lifted his white cotton t-shirt over his head, his hair slightly ruffled from the movement. Lily’s green eyes raked over the toned muscles of his bare chest. She watched his hands lower to unfasten his belt, his jeans falling to the floor leaving him in just a pair of boxers and metal dog tags hanging from his neck.

She maintained eye contact with him as she reached behind herself again, this time to unclasp her bra. The lacy material was dropped to the floor. Sweet Pea absentmindedly wet his lips.

Blonde ringlets fell to her shoulders when she untied the pink ribbon from her ponytail.

Sweet Pea crossed the room, unsure of how much longer he could keep his hands to himself. He lowered to her, their lips joined in a slow, gentle kiss. Lily pulled back slightly in a whisper, “I love you.” her forehead rested against his. “And I love you.” Sweet Pea gently guided Lily back onto his bed. His strong body hovered over hers, their lips meeting again as he let his hands trail across the soft skin of her breasts. Lily sighed into him at the contact, the metal of his rings sending shivers up her spine. She felt his hand sweep down to caress the soft skin of her stomach and further down to her panties. He could feel her heart fluttering as he pulled back the fabric of her underwear, letting his hand slip inside. He slid over her heat, letting his fingers push into her and groaning at how wet she was. Lily softly moaned at the feeling of her walls stretching around his fingers. Her head fell back against the mattress with a gasp when he pulled out of her and began rubbing small, gentle circles over her most sensitive spot. Her fingernails pressed into Sweet Pea’s strong bicep as the pleasure took over her. He groaned watching her small body writhe underneath him as she released against his hand, his name falling off her lips.

He kissed her cheek as lay there catching her breath, eyes closed. He went to move next to her but not before she caught his jaw in her hand, pulling his face back to hers to look him in his warm brown eyes.

“I want you.”

Sweet Pea held her gaze, searching her eyes for any sign of uncertainty, but ultimately finding nothing but desire.

“Okay.” His eyes softened, she was his weakness. He kissed her softly but tenderly, slow at first but their breath soon grew heavy as their passion built up. Their hands ran over one another, caressing and groping. Lily’s hips gently ground against his, with nothing separating them but their underwear. Sweet Pea kissed and nipped at the length of her neck and moved further down her body. His hands moved down to her panties once again and pulled them down her toned legs, and dropping them to the floor of his bedroom. He stood at the end of the bed looking down at her laying back with her beautiful body on full display. She had a lustful look in her eyes but an incredibly angelic face. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever known.

He pushed his underwear down to join the rest of their clothes on the floor and went to grab something from the drawer of his nightstand and returned to the bed with protection on. He settled himself between her legs and hovered over her resting on his forearm. He cupped her cheek with his hand, his thumb running over her warm skin. She gave him a worried glance.

“Are you nervous?”

She answered honestly, her breath a little shaky. “A bit. I’ve never-” Sweet Pea kissed her on the forehead.

“I’ll be gentle. Don’t worry, baby.”

Lily nodded her head and took a deep breath. She did her best to relax, but the mix of excitement and nerves made her stomach do somersaults.

“I love you.” He said with a reassuring smile.

“I love you too.”

Sweet Pea took one of her hands in his and pinned it to the bed next to her head, lacing his fingers between hers. He lined himself at her entrance and looked into her wild green eyes, shining with anticipation. “Ready?”

Lily took a deep breath and nodded her head. Sweet Pea looked her in the eyes as he ran the tip against her wetness before gently pushing into her entrance. Lily’s eyes fell closed and she let out a gasp, squeezing his hand. The feeling of her walls wrapped tightly around him made Sweet Pea groan softly into her hair. He whispered in her ear. “Are you okay?” Lily nodded. He slowly pushed the rest of the way inside of her warmth until she fully enveloped him. She moaned at the feeling of his fullness inside of her. Sweet Pea placed gentle kisses along her neck, giving her a second to adjust to his size before he began to gently pull out and then back into her core. His movements built up a steady, tender rhythm. It was like nothing else Lily had ever felt, physically or emotionally. Their tongues tangled and fought for dominance as Sweet Pea’s hips rocked back and forth, Lily began meeting his thrusts with her hips. She needed to feel him, every inch of him all at once. Sweet Pea increased his pace as Lily’s moans and whimpers became louder and more frequent, her sounds alone were almost enough to send him over the edge. He buried his face to the space between her shoulder and her neck, her fingers dug into his strong shoulders. Their breathy moans filled the air as they both climbed higher and higher. She felt one of his hands reach between their sweat covered bodies, his fingers rolling her most sensitive spot between his fingers. She loudly moaned his name as the pleasure spread throughout her body from head to toe.

“Oh fuck, Lily.” He could feel her walls tighten around him as he continued to thrust in and out of her warmth, pushing him closer. A pink blush spread over her pale skin, her beautiful lips parted in pleasure. The base of his cock began to twitch. Lily dug her nails into his shoulder as she moaned out in pleasure. Her legs wrapped tightly around his hips “Oh, god. Sweet Pea, don’t stop.” Her eyes fell as she came close to reaching her peak.

“Look at me, Lily.”

She looked into her love’s eyes as the pleasure took her under, leaving them both a panting, moaning mess as they got lost in one another.

Sweet Pea rolled them over so she lay on top of him, her head rested against his chest as it rose and fell as his breath evened out. Trails of tingles were left behind as his calloused hands traced along the shape of her spine. They silently held their embrace for awhile, neither of them ready to pull themselves out of the dream-like state.

“We didn’t even eat the cake.”

Lily giggled against his chest and looked up at him lazily. “It’ll still be there in the morning.” She bit her lip playfully and lifted herself up to look him in the eye. The toothy grin she adored so much appeared with the simple cock of an eyebrow before she leant down to capture his lips once again.

**

Two Bulldogs shuffled around in the dark.

“Andrews, what if we get caught?”

“We won’t, the whole town goes to sleep by 8:00 at night. Besides, who would actually believe we did this?” Archie scoffed and went back to pouring the last bit of liquid just outside the building. He tossed the canister to the side once it was empty.

“I don’t know, man. This just seems a little extreme, my parents come here.”

“Look, do you want to get those Southside rats taken care of or not?”

“I do, but-“

“Then shut up and hand me the lighter.”

“Alright, Andrews. Jeez, don’t blow a gasket.” Reggie paused for a beat before reluctantly handing over the lighter to his friend…

Masterlist: @madaboutlili @chipster-21 @the-fifth-marauder-paws @ddeo-na-ji-ma  @periiscope  @mari-cross  @gswritings  @ajillathehun-blog  @charles11700  @jennyhetzel  @fandom-princess-forevermore  @salutetomeimurserpentqueen  @serpentsweetspea @ritis1996 @minddinosaur @pastelsweaters-and-bubble-t @wxntersoldxer16 @princesweetpea @hoeforshows @omgitstreeloo @we--are--infinite--2

[sketchygirls4lipstickboys]

If you want any headcannons/self inserts/imagines/etc for ANY 80′s movie I’m going to be taking requests till August 12th! 

I’ll also take requests for:

- literally any teen romcom ever

- Like, seriously. Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, a n y t h i n g

- any quentin tarantino film created

- any comic film created 

- marvel, dc, scott pilgrim vrs the world, x-men, etc.

- any bands/artists, such as; fall out boy, p!atd, mcr, the beatles, top, led zeppelin, elton john, queen, david bowie, etc.

- any celebrities; Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Molly Ringwald, etc

- any musicals; Hamilton, Heathers, Dear Evan Hanson, Be More Chill, etc.

- doctor who

- supernatural

- sherlock

- good omens

- harry potter

- fuckin, anything keanu reeves has done

- star wars

- the office

- it’s always sunny in Philadelphia

- friends 

- parks and rec

- baby driver

- la la land

- until dawn

- IT (2017 version, 1990 version, and book)

- stranger things

- life is strange

- that 70′s show

- breaking bad

- the walking dead

- merlin

- disney

- riverdale

- the umbrella academy

- my mad fat diary

- mr robot

- gilmore girls

- Hannibal

- anything by john green

if you don’t see one of your fandoms up here, dm me about it! maybe i’ll know it!

The only rules are:

- i wont be taking nsfw requests

- i’ll 100% take fluff requests and stuff like “if dallas winston was my s/o”. (i actually encourage requests like those!)

- i sadly won’t take any requests for Game of Thrones, Anime, or American Horror Story as i’m not really into them

- if you want a self insert hc/imagine or a “dating so & so” type of thing it would be extremely appreciated if you added on what you look like to your request! Just simple stuff like; gender, eye color, hair color, skin tone, and height. If you don’t want this information about you to be public, i’m totally fine with you privately dming me. I won’t post your request on my acc either, i’ll just send you the finished product privately if you so desire

- i will do crossovers! just please don’t send me stuff like “supernatural + ferris bueller + friends + 2017 it + outsiders + doctor who + good omens + marvel + etc etc etc”

- if you do want a crossover, please be specific! Like maybe you want post movie outsiders + grease. Which i’m totally cool with! Just add some info :)

- if you want a band/artist im not taking michael jackson. just putting it out there. hee hee on your own time

. . . 

I will do like literally anything. You want a modern recasting of the breakfast club? You got it. You want a Mean Girls! Outsiders Au? Dude yes. You want to be Daniel Larusso’s s/o? Cool. You want to date ferris bueller? sick. You want to date Sloan Peterson? even cooler. You want to be in the movie Dirty Dancing? Awesome. You want Andrew and Allison hcs from the breakfast club? i’ll give it to you. 

Don’t let this flop guys I’m so bored lmao

[assemblcd]

for the giggles...the blogs vesta has, could still pop onto, and has archived.

active or i at least poke them:

canon multi (marvel/mcu) - @assemblcd

canon/oc multi (vikings) - @norseblooded​

canon multi (game of thrones) - @fircandfury​

betty cooper (riverdale) - @perfectiontm​

jughead jones (riverdale) - @tenfoldhunger​

pansy parkinson (harry potter) - @parkinsiin​

sirius black (harry potter) - sideblog, under construction

wendy case (sons of anarchy) - @oldladyisms​

canon/oc multi (newsies) - @alodginghouse

not archived, but not that active:

selina kyle (batman returns) - @shrecksassistant

barbara kean (gotham) - @pcachykean

oc multi (fandomless) - @avestaproduction

solo oc (fandomless / vampire) - @vampirethief

harley quinn (pre-new52 - @revxurxharley

long susan hart (ripper street) - @lcngsusan

solo oc (game of thrones) - @drekiwulf

betty rizzo (grease) - @impurepink

alice cooper (au riverdale only) - @alwaysaserpent

walda bolton (game of thrones) - @wclda

cersei lannister (game of thrones) - @machinaticns

hilda spellman (chilling adventures of sabrina) - @auntiehildatm

archived: under a cut and for brevity i didn’t list the urls. if you wanted to know, feel free to ask.

solo oc blog (fandomless)

solo oc blog (fandomless / death)

multi oc blog (fandomless)

wendy case (sons of anarchy) 1, 2

esai alverez (sons of anarchy)

ima tite (sons of anarchy)

bellatrix lestrange (harry potter) 1, 2

canon multi (harry potter)

sansa stark (game of thrones) 1, 2, 3

ros (game of thrones)

cersei lannister (game of thrones)

solo oc blog (game of thrones)

torvi (vikings)

siggy (vikings)

multi oc blog (vikings)

harley quinn (pre-new52) 1, 2, 3

topaz (mcu)

miaka yuki (fushigi yuugi)

rogue (x-men)

betty rizzo (grease)

veronica mars (veronica mars)

sarah jacobs (newsies) 1, 2

[serpent-jugheadjones]

RUN!

Pairing: Jughead Jones x Reader 

Description: Riverdale AU x Supernatural 

Warnings: It’s a Halloween fic, need I say more?

Word count: 3551

A/N: Happy Halloween! This is and will forever be the only holiday I acknowledge :) Since Reggie has a thing for Midge in the comics, I wrote her in as his girlfriend because I didn’t wanna have to deal with a love triangle between her, Moose and Kevin. Y/A/C = Your Activity of Choice. This will have another part, but only on next year’s Halloween...

Y/N’s in her room getting ready for the Drive-In’s double feature and Cheryl’s costume party afterwards. A folded Register newspaper lays on her bed with a large headline on display. ‘Series of murders terrify Riverdale.’. The article contains some details Alice Cooper probably bribed out of someone. ‘Four parents have been found dead by authorities. The only ones present in the crime scene are their offspring, with bloody hands and Ouija board with a blood-red planchette in their rooms. It goes deeper than that as the teens who’ve been aprehended swear to have no memory of the happening.’. The girl brushes that out of her mind and takes one last look at her reflection in the mirror, sliding the small strap from her bag, which is filled with add-ons to her costume, her wallet and mints, across her chest. Her belly feels as if a thousand butterflies were flying inside her. The girl finally leaves, after her parents sermon on staying safe inside the car and enjoying her time sober. She tries not to look too weirdly amused as she arrives at her best friend’s house.

She’s greeted by the spitting image of Sandy Olsson. “You look amazing!” Y/N looks at her friend head to toe, the sweet image fitting her personality. “As do you.”, Betty hugs Y/N tightly and their ride honks in the driveway. To no surprise, Archie is dressed as Danny Zuko, with a funny black wig he probably got from Amazon for $1, still looking good, though. “Why, this car is Auto-matic. It’s System-matic. It’s Hyyyyydro-matic. Why, it’s Greased Lightning! “, the fake dark-haired boy sings and dances getting out of the car to open the passenger door for them, making Betty giggle. “Come on.”, the blonde instructs and they get in the truck he borrowed from Fred. FP lent his truck to Jughead, but since he works at the Twilight, Arch was kind enough to offer to drive Y/N there.

They enter the Drive-In, pay for their tickets, and Archie parks on the first empty spot he can find. Y/n thanks him for the ride and leaves to give the couple their privacy, but also in order to find her company for tonight. She waves at FP arriving in his Honda CB 550 and parking near the other Serpents bikes. He waves back with a smirk. His son and her have been friends forever and she also gets along with the man quite well as she loves hearing him reminisce about his High School days. 

On her way to the projection booth, she spots Veronica as Holly Golightly and Kevin as Kurt Hummel in his Warblers uniform. Cheryl and Jason as Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker, inappropriate as usual. Passing by the concession stand, she hears arguing and stops to make sure everything is alright. Storming out of a car comes Reggie. “Hey, Y/N...”, he says embarrassed she saw him get yelled at. “Sup, Reg?”, the girl asks sympathetically. “Midge wanted me to dress as Bob. But come on, from That 70′s Show I’m definitely a Michael, not a Bob.” The tall football player points at himself in a tight turtle neck and a rainbow vest. “Bob and Midge didn't have a good relationship, so best to do you, Reggie.”, Y/N supports his choice. “Yeah, try telling her that.” He points at the car and rolls his eyes. “Who are you supposed to be?”, the confused boy asks. “Mia Wallace.” She turns so he can have a full look since he’s so oblivious. “Right, I get it.” She knows he still doesn't. “Anyways, I better go get popcorn before she freaks out.” Reggie walks away with the empty bucket. “Good luck. See ya at Cheryl’s.” Y/N says.

The girl climbs the steps to the familiar projection booth and knocks at the door. Jug opens it with a smile as he knew it could only be her. “I’m just finishing up, then we can head down.”, the weirdly cheerful boy explains and continues putting the film roll in the projector. Y/N’s speechless at the sight of Jughead’s costume choice, Vincent Vega. The fact that they didn't plan to match dumbstrike her unexpectedly more. He only asked her out the previous night, so even if they wanted to, there wouldn’t be enough time to agree on something like that. However, seeing the boy beanieless for the first time, and with straightened hair to fit the character, leads her back to the butterflies-in-the-stomach state. She can’t help but biting the inside of her lips so she won’t sigh. That doesn't go unnoticed by Juggie, who’s now sporting the signature Jones’ smirk. 

The first movie begins and they leave the projection booth to the concession stand. Jughead orders them popcorn, sodas and gummy warms. “Perks of coming with an employee.” He laughs, as for him everything is free. Y/N carries their drinks while he takes the large bucket and pack of candy to FP’s truck. Jughead parked in the best spot, away from the building’s lights, in the middle of the field and close to the good stereos. He set up an air mattress, some blankets and one large pillow in the back, making them have to sit real close.

Y/N is using all her will power not to whisper every line from the movie, for Rocky Horror is one of her favorites. It’s not like he hasn't seen her doing it all the previous times she made the group watch it - somehow just the two of them seems different. Once Time Warp starts playing, the whole field begins to sing along like a huge choir. The costumed girl stands up on the truck and starts following the choreography, pulling Jug by his hand so she’s not doing it alone. The raven-haired boy never laughed so much at something before. This is precisely the reason he chose this film.

Although people could think two Tim Curry’s movies is overkill, IT got picked to make everybody cuddle as they get scared. Anyhow, the couple is already as close as possible and, to be honest, none of them is afraid of the movie. In fact, her one fear is that Jug disappears if she makes a single move, turning it all into nothing more than a dream. Jughead is fidgeting with the hem of his blazer, trying to work up the courage to wrap his arm around the girl. He finally does, using the old yawn trick, really smooth. His heart is pounding and he’s terrified of rejection, but she’s more than worth the risk. She simply rests her head on his chest, relieving him of all his worries, making him relax his grip on the hems and loosely hold her arm. “Jug...”, she starts. “Yeah?”, he questions. “Was the matching costume a coincidence?”, Y/N asks. “No... You told Betty your costume, she told Archie, who told me.”, he confesses shyly. “I knew it!”, she exclaims proudly. “In my defense, Tarantino is my favorite director. I just figured you choosing Mia was a hint of interest.”, Jughead says. “You guessed right, Jug.” She raises her face from his chest, looking at his blueish eyes, scenes from the neglected movies visible on them. He brushes his thumb across her red cheeks, taking her in, brain and beauty. Juggie leans in, slowly closing the distance between them, opening his mouth to meet hers in a kiss they have been jonesing about for ages.

Their moment ends as credits start to roll and car engines roar. Archie, now back to his original ginger locks probably because he couldn't stand the itchiness from the cheap wig, and Betty, showing a ‘I know what you did last summer’ look, come by just after they finish picking up the trash from the back of the truck. “Hey, guys. We’re going to Pop’s before Cheryl’s. Wanna join?”, the boy also dressed as a John Travolta character asks. “Absolutely. Just gotta close and we’ll meet you there.” Jug grabs Y/N’s hand, making Betty turn around and wink at her as they leave. They pack the film rolls back in their metal cases and put them on the shelves. Jughead stares intently at Y/N looking up the names on the other tins. “What?”, the girl asks when she catches his eyes locked on her. “You’re beautiful.”, he affirms and her skin flushes. “We should go, they’re waiting for us.”, she tries to deny the steam raising in the small room as Jug walks closer to her. “Let ‘em wait.” He pulls her firmly by the waist, making a quiet moan escape her lips before he smashes them together once more, in a heated kiss this time.

They lose track of time in that room. A couple tins fall from the shelves which he pushed Y/N against. After getting that out of their system they are ready to leave. Jughead drives away from the field and stops outside the tall gates to shut them with the chains and padlocks, not that it’s actually needed as that is Serpents territory. The car passes by kids trick-or-treating and they remember when FP would take them in a face-covered costume earlier and then run by the same houses in another costume and they’d get double the candy. “FP would always get the Skittles as his cut for being the master mind of the whole thing.”, Y/N says. “Those were the best of times until tonight...”, Jughead confesses. “Agreed.” the girl can help but grin.

The Chock'lit Shoppe is full. Families with their kids in cute costumes counting the candy they got. Adults imagining when they’ll have babies to dress up for the holiday and teens just enjoying themselves. Betty waves at them entering the diner and they sit in their regular booth. Y/N next to her cheerleader friend and Jug makes his football player friend move so he can sit by the window and in front of his date. Pop comes by with a smile, as those are his favorite customers, no doubt, to take their orders. “I'll have the Douglas Sirk steak.”, Jughead quotes. “What?” Pop is looking at his own menu, confused. “I'll have the Durwood Kirby burger, bloody, and a five-dollar shake. Martin and Lewis style, please.”, Y/N continues Jug’s acting, making the old man even more disoriented and the boy in front of her in awe. “Don’t mind their nonsense. They’re just being A-class nerds.”, Archie teases. “We’ll just have the usual, Pop.”, Betty laughs at her friends matching so perfectly.

The couples eat their delicious meal and share milkshakes. Jughead even lets Y/N have the cherry. He tries to get the check but she’s faster. They've been friends forever. She knows he doesn't earn much working at the Drive-In and won’t have his “manhood” hurt by the girl paying. Betty asks for them to be excused to the bathroom before leaving. Once there, Y/N unbuttons her shirt, exposing her bandeau top, grabbing spirit gum, a needlessness seringue to glue on her chest and fake blood to splatter over her. Then it’s Betty’s turn to transform her costume. Her blonde curls get styled in an 80′s updo with lots of bobby pins and hairspray. She darkens her makeup and slips in a shoulderless leather top, changing from her long skirt into high waisted skinny pants. Y/N can’t help but admire the accuracy of her friend’s costume. She’s innocent and sweet, but also dark and dangerous. Sandy represents her perfectly. The finishing touch to her new outfit is heels. “Had to watch a video on how to walk in these.” Both girls laugh at that. “Ready?”, the blood covered girl asks. “It’s now or never.” They hold hands and leave the bathroom.

They walk out confidently, all eyes on them as they stride through the crowded diner. Both John Travolta costumed boy’s mouth agaped, perplexed as the girls reach the table. “DAMN, Y/N/N!”, the ginger thinks out loud. “Archie!” Betty slaps his strong biceps. “Oh, yeah. You look awesome, babe.” He stands up to kiss her. Jughead is too hypnotized to even hear his friend’s comment. The Greese couple starts leaving. Jug stands up from his spot and Y/N walks in front of him. The boy gently leans in close to her ear. “This is undoubtedly the best Halloween ever.”, Jughead whispers, making Y/N blush uncontrollably. The freckled boy has to discipline himself to keep his eyes on the road.

The first spooky thing so far is arriving at Thornhill’s gates. A place so spine-chilling that doesn’t need decorations for the holiday. Y/N grabs Jug’s arm as he drives in and the temperature drops 100 degrees. They join Archie and Betty who just rang the doorbell, which seems futile giving the blasting music playing. However, the giant wooden door falls open shortly after. “If it isn't the Sad Breakfast Club. Come in.” Cheryl stares at both girls coming in from head to toe. “Just in time for our game. Follow me.”, Jason instructs and the group does as told, walking the ghostly halls of the Blossom’s mansion, filled with drunk teenagers dancing. They arrive at a wide room, lit only by a couple of candles on each corner, with the strong scent of incense and a circle of pillows on the floor, some already occupied. Reggie and Midge are still bickering over something so trivial as a Halloween costume. Chuck with Ginger and Tina at each side of him and his arms around them, the girls sporting an annoying smirk. The newcomers take their reserved seats by Veronica and Kevin. The Star Wars twins take their place in the two large red pillows at the edge of the circle. 

Cheryl pulls out a large thin-timber board with the alphabet, numbers from 1 to 0 and YES/NO written in. She enigmatically sets it in the center. “A Ouija board? Seriously? Have you not read the news?”, Kevin questions in panic. Everyone’s eyes fall on him, some mockingly, others in support. “If you’re scared, you’re welcome to leave.” Jason points at the exit. Midge looks like she wants to take the offer. “We just don’t believe in that crap.”, Veronica defends her GBF. “Then you’ll have no problem playing.”, Cheryl spits, even though secretly she’s hoping it works. The group remains seated. “Come one, what are we? Kids? Let’s play 7 minutes in heaven.”, Chuck suggests with an annoying smirk. “Can you even last 7 minutes, Clayton?”, Betty teases and the rest laugh. “Focus!”, red-haired cheerleader’s captain demands. “The rules are simple. Maintain contact at all times. Start on HELLO and wait for the planchette to move. Ask only yes or no questions. Don’t ask for physical signs. Don’t be disrespectful. And don’t move the planchette on purpose, Chuck... End connection on GOOD BYE.”, ginger Skywalker explains. “We need a mediator to ask the questions. I nominate moi. All in favor raise their hands.” Ginger Leia stares at the hands going up, too scared to disagree. “Shall we?” She pulls out a blood-red planchette and everyone's hands follow hers.

Soon the candlelight starts to flicker and the planchette moves frantically. Instinct makes Y/N want to take her hand off, but, almost as if Jug knew, he intertwines his pinky to hers, reassuring the girl everything will be OK, that this is just a distasteful joke. Everyone starts asking all kind of crap. “ENOUGH.”, Cheryl shouts. “Are you a good spirit?”, the ginger girl adds and the planchette finally moves - towards ‘NO’. Midge runs out of the room in tears. “This is fucked up, Cheryl.”, the blonde cheerleader curses, going after the girl with a fake-blonde wig. “I’m out of here too! Anyone wanna join me?”, Chuck says and both Ginger and Tina walk away behind him, making Cheryl death-stare at them all the way. “I have a question. Who’s rigging the game?”, Veronica challenges. “You’re not supposed to ask the questions, Lodge.”, Jason spits. The planchette moves again, spelling something slowly: Y. O. U. At that Ronnie stands up. “Let’s go, Kev. This is stupid.” The boy does as told, as he wished to do all along. “Laters.” Reggie is the next one to go. Y/N doesn't say anything. She just grabs Jughead’s hand and heads for the door. “Archie!”, Jug calls out for his friend, who’s apparently fine with the whole ordeal, also happy to follow them anyways. The ginger twins face is just as red as their hair now. 

The group is climbing down the stairs when there’s a blackout. Some unaware teens start screaming in joy of the new mood setting between them now that no eyes can fall on them. But the ones that were in that sinister room have a different reaction. Jughead pulls Y/N close to his chest. Archie and Reggie run down to find their girlfriends who left before them. “Should’ve played the game.”, both twins speak in a creepy voice. “Only those who play till the end survive.” They raise their hands in synchrony and all the doors in the house are closed shut. Both football players made it out in time, but the writer and the Y/A/C are locked in. 

It becomes obvious that those aren't Jason and Cheryl anymore. There’s something possessing them. Jug instinctively launches himself in front of Y/N, to shield her from harm. But, to their surprise, two men burst through the main door. One tall and moose-like, the other... not. Both with shotguns in hand. ”RUN!” They don’t even have to say twice before the crowd dissipates. Furniture’s flying everywhere, until the possessed twins remove their firearms from their grips. The not-moose one runs towards the Blossoms but he’s forcefully pulled against the wall by an invisible force before he can even reach the first steps. Y/N has to drag Jughead down the stairs as the boy’s most likely in shock and can’t move on his own. The taller one, with a longer dirty-blonde hair, uses their evac to his advantage as Jay-Jay and Cheryl are distracted with the running teens. He manages to slit their arms with an iron blade, and, as blood flows from the cuts, a transparent-white shape is forcefully released out of their bodies. The less tall one is released from something that was immobilizing him, running up the stairs to the room, salting the board and burning it along with the planchette, ending that once and for all. Y/N is flabbergasted, holding Jug’s hand, barely breathing, both trying to process everything that just happened. 

The twins are now back to their usual selves, which isn’t much different from the spirits as they angrily throw out their saviors. “Come on, Tarantino’s couple.” The men carry both the astound teens out with them, as they were the only witnesses. The one with shorter dark hair searches Jughead’s pocket, finding his car keys and tossing it to the taller one. “Ok, Sammy. You take the girl in the truck and I drive Travolta in the Impala.”, he instructs. “Where to, Dean?”, the moose asks, sitting the girl on the passengers seat. “That diner we passed by on the way here.”, the older one rapidly responds. “Of course.”, the hairy guy agrees with some cynicism.

The two Riverdale natives are led back to the Chock’lit Shoppe. They sit across from each other. Now that shock is almost completely worn off, the tallest man on Earth introduce themselves as Sam and Dean Winchester, hunters. “Wait, so you hunt... things, monsters?”, Y/N asks as Jughead chews his burger nervously. “Spirits, demons, vampires, werewolves... the list goes on. It’s a complex job.”, Sam explains while his brother is happily swallowing his milkshake. “Do you get dental with that?”, Y/N asks, as quoting 80′s movie lines is her way of coping with the world. “No.” Sammy laughs. “So, Cheryl and Jason were...”, Jug starts. “Possessed, yes. As those other kids who got arrested.”, Dean cuts him off, speaking with his mouth full. “We shouldn’t have played that stupid game.”, the girl says angrily. “Oh, no! The game is a hoax. In this case, it was because of a cursed object, casually the planchette.”, Sam explains. “All of the teens who were arrested were telling the truth then, when they said they didn’t do it.”, Jug concludes. “Unfortunately.”, Dean says in between chewing, like this is just another day for them. “This is the BEST burger ever!”, he now shouts to Pop, who smiles brightly. Juggie and him eat their burgers with side of fries and onion rings till the last crumble, downing every bite with a free round of milkshakes from Pop Tate for the compliment. Sam is just picking at a salad as Y/N simply watches, amazed at how much her date can eat, since they had dinner no more than an hour before. By the end of that meal, they all feel kinda glad for being alive, Jug and Y/N mostly, for the Winchesters give them their phone numbers in case something like that happens again.

Halloween is about to end for those involved with that particular planchette, teenagers who were too naive to understand the powers of natural and supernatural, twins who wished their parents were killed, two friends whose relationship just had a great development, and brothers whose job is to protect all of them. At the strike of twelve in a small town diner, a special couple starts to notice there’s way more to crime than what meets the eye. 

[folklore-musings]

Wheninriverdale’s Masterlist

Hello! Here is a list of everything I’ve ever written I’ve provided links to the stories on AO3 and here on Tumblr. I know it doesn’t look like much, but stories are constantly popping up in my head. This list is sure to grow rather quickly!

Oneshots

Wasted:  It's Betty's birthday and Jughead shows up out of blue, after not seeing him for years. She's still broken by the way things ended but still loves him just the same. Can they forget they're past for just one night and love each other they way they used to when they were in high school? Bughead smut.

Read on Tumblr       //       Read on AO3

Adventures In Babysitting: Betty persuades Jughead into babysitting with her so Polly can enjoy a night out - baby free. What starts out as an innocent babysitting date turns into Jughead imaging what the future holds for him and Betty.insp x

Read on Tumblr       //       Read on AO3

Litte Black Box: Betty’s had enough of the Southside Serpents. She wants Jughead to choose: the Serpents or her ?Bughead smut.

Read on Tumblr       //       Read on AO3

Playing With Fire:  Jughead and Betty are broken up, but that doesn't stop Jughead from going back for more.

Read on Tumblr       //      Read on AO3

Multi Chapter Fics (WIP)

Concrete Dreams:  Jughead is a lonely up and coming author. His first novel reached the National Best Seller’s List and his publisher is hounding him for more. He has six months to come up with a new and riveting story and all Jughead has to offer is a blank Word document. After another wasted night, Jughead searches to the stars for a solution to his writer’s block, but all he finds is the face of an angel leaning out her windowsill, seemingly lost and as lonely as he is. Betty Cooper is the muse Jughead didn’t know he needed, and he’ll soon realize becoming a best selling author isn’t the only dream worth living for.

Read on Tumblr: Part 1

Read on AO3

After School Special:  In an alternate universe where Jughead greases his hair more than Danny Zuko and Betty Cooper gives Sandy Olsson a run for her money at being the nicest girl in town. (No Danny Zuko and Sandy do make an appearance in this fic). Set in the early 1960s at Riverdale High. Slow burn leads to rapid fire (all the bughead smut you can imagine)

Read on Tumblr: Part 1  /  Part 2  /  Part 3  /  Part 4  /  Part 5  /  Part 6

Read on AO3

Camera Shy:  AU. Jughead is an aspiring photographer. His final project requires him to shoot nude photos of someone who inspires him. With no one else to ask Jughead asks Betty. Insecure of her body Betty is quick to shoot the idea down, until Jughead reminds her that she owes him.

Read on Tumblr: Part 1  / Part 2  /  Part 3  /  Part 4  /  Part 5  /  Part 6  /    Part 7  / Part 8  /  Part 9

Read on AO3

When The Curtain Falls:  AU. Jughead wins a scholarship to one of the most prestigious arts schools in the country. His dream is to be an award winning director, but to get there he must first try his hand at acting. He wins the lead role in the senior showcase alongside Betty Cooper, daughter of the infamous actress Alice Cooper. Will Betty and Jughead crumble under the pressure, or defeat the odds set against them? Slow Burn. It's Riverdale meets La La Land meets Step Up

Read on Tumblr: Prologue  /  Part 1  /  Part 2  /   Part 3

Read on AO3

If I Can’t Have You:  Very AU. Archie Andrews is dead. The only leading suspect is one of his oldest and dearest friends, Jughead Jones. Betty Cooper is forced on a mission to find Jughead and bring him in, getting herself kidnapped throughout the process. Everything is a lie and nothing is the truth in this twisted tale of love and death.

Read on Tumblr: Part 1  /  Part 2

Read on AO3

Stories to Come

The Treehouse Chronicles: A set of oneshots about the early days of Archie, Jughead, and Betty’s friendship. Whether searching for lost neighborhood pets or sleuthing around a graveyard at night, these three are there to witness it together.

Three’s A Crowd: Veronica and Archie’s relationship has plateaued. All Archie wants to do is play video games and all Veronica wants is a little bit of attention. In order to spice up their love life Veronica suggests a menage a trois with none other than Cheryl Blossom. Archie’s all for it, but he soon realizes Veronica would rather have Cheryl all to herself.

Fast Cars And Burger Bars: 1980s-esque bughead. Crazy style. Cool cars. 

[onceuponamirror]

heart rise above

///// CHAPTER 2

summary: It wasn’t an experiment with freedom borne of some Americana fantasy; rather, a road trip of purely logistical intentions. The plan was simple. Drive from Boston to Chicago for his sister’s college graduation. That’s it.

Or, he drives a Ford Pickup Named Desire.

Mechanic!AU

fandom: riverdale

ship: betty x jughead

words: 7.5k

chapters: 2/?

[read from the beginning] [read the latest]

I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills 'Til the landslide brought it down

.

.

.

.

Sailors tell stories of calms before hurricanes. The wind is mild, friendly even, tickling the sails with soft breezes. The waves are coaxing and gentle against the hull of the ship. The sun is bright and strong. And then—chaos.

These are the kinds of thing Betty thinks about in moments like this. Two screaming—or laughing? She’s never totally sure—children running circles around her, her hands too greasy to try to grab one of them, her hair falling in her face, the garage telephone ringing shrilly, and she just needs it all to stop.

“Kids!” She yells. “Guys, please! Aunt B needs to answer the phone!”

Her nephew jabs her forcefully in the knee. “No! Tag! You’re it!” Then her niece starts mimicking her brother and they both start chanting tag! tag! tag!

Trying to think of a reason why she ever agrees to babysit these two terrors, especially when she has to work, Betty tries to weave her way to the phone.

“Aunt B isn’t playing tag right now, Artie,” she sighs, quickly wiping her hands on the rag next to the big red telephone before making a grab for it. He pokes at her again just as she pulls the phone off the receiver. “Ow! Arthur, stop. Cooper Garage, Betty speaking.”

“How are the Terrible Two’s, then?” It’s Veronica, sounding far too smug for someone who spoils the twins just as much anyone. She and the twins’ other aunt, Cheryl, have been broken up for over a year, but given that it was an amicable split (or, as amicable as two girls equally prone to dramatics can be—hence, the breakup), Veronica has remained a strong presence in the kids’ lives all the same.

“Terrible,” Betty breathes. She wipes her hand across her forehead. “What’s up?”

“So, I should cover my mom’s shifts more often,” Veronica chirps, and Betty feels an inkling of frustration that she practically sprinted across the garage for another one of Veronica’s social calls.

“Oh?” Betty asks, using the moment to brush some loose locks of hair off her sweaty skin. “And why’s that, Ronnie?”

“Boys,” is Veronica’s simple response. “Riverdale is absolutely devoid of them—or any that I haven’t test driven yet—but I always forget that Pop’s gets a surprising number of people off the highway. Girls too, I’m sure, but tonight there were these—”

“Well, I’m sure Pop appreciates that business,” Betty interrupts distractedly, watching her niece wander dangerously close to a tool bench. “Rose! Don’t touch that. You know you don’t play with Aunt B’s tools. Can you go grab your brother and go play in my office, please? You can put on the tv.”

Rose shoots her an embarrassed, apologetic smile and pulls her brother to the back of the garage and into her office.

“Sorry,” Betty declares to Veronica, rubbing her forehead. “They got into my cookie stash again. They’re angels until they touch sugar. You were saying? Boys?”

“It’s fine,” Veronica replies in her typically amused voice. “I should probably get to the point. I know you’re closing soon, but I’m actually calling because I have a truck smoking in the parking lot of Pop’s, and I figure they might need a tow and an allen wrench, or something.”

Ah.

“Okay, don’t trust an allen wrench for anything other than IKEA. Hold on,” Betty chuckles, cradling the phone between her shoulder and neck to reach for her notepad. “Alright, I’m ready. Describe the situation for me.”

“Uh…it’s a truck. Looks kind of old. Actually a rather lovely sea foam color…might be the same palette Jil Sander used in her FW—”

Betty stops taking notes. “Veronica.”

“Right. Not relevant. Well, I saw these two guys get in the car, and after a few minutes, the whole engine started smoking. Seemed like maybe they were trying to get it started.” There’s a sound like blinds shuffling around, and she imagines Veronica is watching from the window. “One is waving smoke around like a maniac and the other has just been banging his head against his steering wheel for the past three minutes.”

Betty presses her lips together to suppress a giggle at the mental image. “It sounds like it overheated, but I won’t be able to diagnosis why without seeing it,” she concludes, glancing over her shoulder at the office window. “Hm. They probably need a tow to get it here, but I can’t leave the kids…or fit them, two guys, and me in the truck. And Jason and Polly have that thing tonight, or I’d make them come get them.”

“Why don’t you bring the kids and leave them with me? I’ll take them home, or bring them over to the garage at the end of my shift. Pop’s got enough colored pencils to keep them occupied.”

“That might work,” Betty muses. “Okay, sounds like a plan. Tell those guys not to touch anything, and that a tow is coming.”

“Sí,” Veronica replies. “And call me when you’re done with them, if I don’t see you first. I wanna talk about the boys, because one is trés cute. Try to find out if he’s single, would you?”

“If it comes up naturally, sure,” Betty sighs, thinking that Veronica gets more romantic mileage out of Betty’s livelihood than she herself does. “Alright, it’ll take me a minute to wrangle these demons. See you soon. Thanks, V.”

“De nada. Besitos!”

They both hang up, and Betty presses another number into the buttons. She’d call Polly, but she’s famously bad at answering her phone. Jason picks up after a ring. “Hello? Is everything okay?” Her brother-in-law sounds frantic. “Is anyone hurt?”

“Breathe, Jason,” she laughs. “Everyone is fine. I just have a little dilemma here at the garage. I need to go pick up a car at Pop’s, but can’t fit the kids with everyone in the tow truck on the way back. I’m gonna leave them with Veronica at the diner, and she’ll bring them home if this ends up going too long. That alright?”

“Oh. Sure, Betty. Sorry again for leaving them with you last minute. Wh—oh, sorry, I have to go, the charity auction is starting. Thanks for checking. Have a good night!” And then he’s gone. Betty sighs, and wipes her hands on her blue work jumpsuit. If the boys are as cute as Veronica said, she briefly wonders if she should put on a bit more mascara. But there’s not really time, and she’s got a job to do anyway. So she settles for retying her ponytail and washing any leftover grease from her face.

“Kids!” She calls, and they come scrambling out of her office. “Who wants to go for a ride in the tow truck?”

After a resounding chorus of “We do! We do!” and gathering all their things into their little backpacks, she corrals them into the truck and sets off for Pop’s. Like everything in Riverdale, it’s not a long drive, but Rose and Artie are shoving at each other and it’s distracting for the whole ride.

She exhales. She loves her family. She loves her family.

Pulling into the Pop’s parking lot, Betty immediately spots the purpose of her trip; a mint green Ford pickup is stalled in its spot, the remnants of smoke stacks lingering overhead. Veronica is leaning against a nearby car in a yellow Pop’s uniform, talking to a well-built redheaded guy, and there’s another person still sitting in the driver’s seat, his head slumped against the wheel.

At least he’s stopped hitting his head against it, Betty thinks. She parks right in front of him, so it’ll be easy to hook up later on.

She and the kids pile out of the tow truck, and they immediately race over to Veronica, who scoops up Rose in her arms. With the kids’ bright red hair next to the stranger’s own, they could be a little family themselves. She shakes her head and marches over to the Ford.

“Hi there!” She says, knocking lightly against the metal door frame. “Heard you needed a hand.”

The guy looks up, eyes narrowed. He has dark hair stuffed under a gray beanie, a handsome, angled face and a smattering of attractive freckles and moles. This must be the cute one, Betty thinks, though Veronica seems happily preoccupied with the other guy.

“So it would seem,” he says, after a long moment of sizing her up. “You the mechanic we were promised?”

If he’s going to be one of those guys who underestimates a blonde woman under the hood of a car, he doesn’t show it. “Yep,” she says brightly. “Mind if I take a look at what I’m working with?”

With an incredibly burdened sigh, he slips out of the driver’s seat. “Let’s get this over with,” he mutters darkly behind her. He doesn’t seem to be in the best mood, though it’s not like she can blame him. Then again, she rarely comes across a customer happy to get their car ripped apart to be fixed, so she’s used to the attitude.

“So is the truck yours? Wow, is this a F150 ‘76? Haven’t seen one of those in a while,” she says, trying to clear the air.

“’77,” He corrects, a bit defensively, though she’s not sure why. He shifts from one foot to another, looking uncomfortable. “She’s not much, but she’s mine. A dependable old girl. Usually.”

“She’s a beaut,” Betty assures him. Veronica was right; the color is very nice. She flashes him an excited and secretive kind of smile that he clearly looks like has no idea what to do with. “I always love the diagnosis period.”

She sticks her head under the popped hood. She makes a lot of hm's, and ah's, and oh's under her breath as she digs around the engine. There’s almost no compressor left on one of his cylinders, which is probably the source of the breakdown. It’s been almost fried completely through, but otherwise, the engine is in pretty good shape, though there are certainly a couple of dark spots on its horizon.

“You’ve taken pretty good care of this car,” she says, briefly poking her head around the hood.

The guy clears his throat, looking slightly pained. “Uh, that was mostly my dad. This was his truck and I think he still fiddles with it when I’m not looking. But probably hasn’t for…a while. I haven’t done much more than change the oil every now and then.”

Betty hums and turns back to the engine. “Well, he’s done a good job.” Then she straightens, and wipes her hands on the rag that hangs from her belt loop. “So are you a good news first, bad news second, kind of guy? Or a—”

“I’m a bad news first, more bad news inevitably second kind of guy,” he says wanly. “So level with me. How bad?”

“Honestly, it’s not!” She says quickly, though he looks suspicious. He passes a fleeting glance over at his friend, but he and Veronica are still talking a few cars away. The kids are running in circles around them. “Really. You’ve got no compression left on one of your cylinders, which is easy to fix. And your truck has got great bones. But…the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

He squints at her. “Are you making an Aristotle joke?”

“A bad one,” she sighs, smile fading. “Basically, I don’t have parts for a truck this old on hand right now. I just used up my last one a few days ago. And we’re the only garage in town. Now, I can order them, and they really shouldn’t take too long, but it could be a week before they arrive. Maybe sooner if my guy in Hudson hasn’t left for vacation yet. Once I get the part it’ll be done in a couple days. But…”

“But?”

Betty sighs. “But I don't know how far you’re planning on driving this car.”

He blinks. “We came from Boston, heading to Chicago and then back. Why?”

“I was worried you guys were on a road trip,” she says under her breath. “I'm not totally sure the truck can make it back from Chicago. It might, it definitely might, but you've got a couple of weak spots all over your engine that could cause another breakdown. Just a professional observation.”

The guy stares longingly at his truck. Something is working across his face.

“Some people might cut their losses here,” she wagers, taking a stab at what he’s thinking. He looks up sharply. “Might say that sinking money into a truck a over decade older than them is a waste.”

He doesn’t correct her, so Betty assumes she’s not far off. “But like I said, this truck has really great bones. It was built well before planned obsolescence, and all that. So I could do a quick fix of your compressor issue here and send you off, but honestly, your head gasket and one of your valves aren’t long for this world either. If I rebuilt about half your engine, it would run flawlessly for probably another ten years.”

The guy stares at her. “Don’t mechanics have a reputation for saying stuff just like that, to get you to spend more money?”

“Yes,” Betty agrees. “We do. But I know what I’m talking about. You can trust me.”

“That’s definitely what someone I couldn’t trust would say,” he murmurs apprehensively, running his tongue over his teeth. He blinks over at Pop’s, a sort of wistful look warring over his features. “I’m not saying yes, for the record. But let’s say, theoretically, I’m interested in my truck running for another ten years. Just how long would rebuilding an engine take?”

“Well, couple weeks, if I get the compressor within that window. I’ve got most of the things I’d need for the engine already. But I'd be able to get started right away.”

“So we’re talking, full picture, about three weeks,” he summarizes flatly. He appears thoughtful, rubbing his hand against his jaw. “That’s cutting it a little close. I have to be in Chicago in a month. And what the hell would we do for three weeks in some podunk farm town?”

Betty bristles; she’s not sure he meant to say that last part loud enough for her to hear it, but she sure as hell did.

“I’m sorry your truck broke down here, but I can assure you we have all the amenities of modern times here in Riverdale. Flushing water, even internet,” she says, in a perky voice that she knows belies her annoyance.

With the long day she’s had chasing two six year olds all over her garage and just the mounting exhaustion of the past year, she’s not in the mood to humor the snobbery of a stranger. And, maybe, just maybe, if she’s being honest with herself, she doesn’t disagree with him and it strikes a damn chord.

There isn’t much to do in Riverdale, a fact she’s been musing over her whole life. But it’s not like she has the option to leave, so she’s not really interested in sympathizing with his anguish over a three-week pit stop.

He seems to realize his mistake, as his ears redden. She adds pointedly, “We’re also on the MetroNorth line. So you can go down to New York City while I fix her up. Or you can head up the Hudson Valley. You’re not married to staying here.”

He looks embarrassed beyond his depth, but doesn’t apologize. He nibbles on his lips instead. “Yeah, okay. How much are we talking?”

She puts her hands on her hips and spares the engine another sigh. “Parts…hm, you don’t need everything…the head gasket is gonna run it up…compressors are about 120… So I’d say about 700 for all the parts. Labor for this kind of work is about 1500. I’ll bundle it and do it all for 2 grand.”

He pulls his hat from his head for the sole purpose of running his hands through his hair. She has a moment to appreciate his thick, dark curls before the hat is forcefully shoved back on. He looks frustrated, or maybe anguished, or maybe on the verge of a total mental breakdown. Or maybe all of the above.

He crosses his arms. “That seems low. What’s the catch?”

“It is low,” Betty exhales, half-forgiving him for his offense despite herself. She knows it’s not what her father would’ve done—but it’s her garage now. She can run it how she wants, including into the ground. Still, one of these days, she’d love to learn how to hold a grudge. “No catch. You just seem like you’re in a bit of a bind.”

He stares at her like she’s just touched down to Earth on a spaceship. Then, he shakes his head to clear his shocked expression, and thrusts his hand out. “Deal.”

She shakes his hand, and there’s a brief, but startling, moment where her skin sparks against his. It might just be static electricity, but he seems to notice it too, because he quickly pulls his hand away.

“Thanks, Betty,” he says quietly, much to her surprise. At her look, he gestures to the embroidered nametag over her heart. She glances down at it, having forgotten it was there. Forgot she was wearing this greasy, disgusting jumpsuit in the first place. “I’m Jughead, by the way. And no, that’s not the name on my driver’s license, which I guess you’ll see when I fill out whatever forms, so please just…call me Jughead.”

She raises an eyebrow, but it’s 2017 and she goes by Betty, so she’s not about to judge. “Gotcha. Okay, well I’m gonna load up your Ford to the tow. You’re my last call of the day, so how about I drop you at the local hotel and you can come by tomorrow to fill out the paperwork?”

Jughead opens his mouth, but Archie, Veronica, and the kids are making their way towards them and he promptly clams up.

“They’ve reminded me I promised them pie about fifty times now, so we’re going to head on in so I can deliver on that. A Lodge always keeps her word,” Veronica says, tossing her silky black hair over her shoulder.

Betty rolls her eyes, dropping into a squat so she’s eye-level with the twins. “Fine, but I’m not taking them back after you’ve pumped them with more sugar. Okay kiddos, say goodbye to me!”

“Bye!” They say in cheery unison, running into her open arms. They give her quick hugs and then dash into the diner, with Veronica crossing across the parking lot after them. She passes them a brief, delicate wave of her fingers and then disappears through Pop’s door.

Jughead’s friend stares after her like she’s water and he’s the desert. She isn’t surprised. Veronica tends to have that effect, even draped in polyester. Betty will have to double check which one her friend thinks is the cute one, because otherwise there might be tension on the horizon between the two boys.

But then, Betty realizes that Jughead hasn’t even spared Veronica a passing glance. Instead, he’s staring at his truck. He seems to sense her eyes on him, because then he looks her way, his face unreadable. 

“So what’s happening?” The redhead asks, forcing his gaze away. “Did you get it fixed?”

“As if it’d be that simple, Archie,” Jughead sighs. “No, we’re definitely stuck here. Or, the truck is. For a couple weeks, while Betty here licks the wounds we’ve inflicted.”

His friend, Archie, seems to realize Betty is here for the first time. He hastily makes his introductions and then turns back to Jughead. “A couple of weeks? Aw, man. I had all these plans for our road trip.”

“I don’t know what to tell you,” Jughead says, a bit tersely. “If you’d given me any time to prepare, I might’ve had the truck checked out before we left. Instead she didn’t even make it 400 miles.”

Archie frowns. “I’m sorry, dude, I just—”

But Jughead cuts him off with a noisy exhale, then shakes his head. “No, I’m sorry. I’m tired. Let’s just crash and figure it out in the morning.”

Betty slips away and starts unhooking her tow chains, deciding the two friends might need a moment to work it out. She’s a mechanic, but she often feels more like a bartender in a seedy TV procedural; the type of arguments she overhears picking people up from the side of the road could fill a book.

Archie and Jughead don’t seem as willing to fight, though there’s still clearly a bit of tension as she snaps the hood down and latches the Ford to her tow truck. While she’s fiddling under the carriage of Jughead’s truck, she overhears the last bit of their conversation.

“…just saying it might not be the worst place to stay for a little while,” Archie is murmuring wistfully, and Betty can imagine he’s staring after Veronica in the diner.

“I guess not,” Jughead replies, after a long, thoughtful moment. She can’t see his face, but there’s something markedly hidden in his voice. She inhales, unsure of the sudden prickling on her skin. “I guess not.”

.

.

.

.

.

[bettycooperthefirst]

Because I like to take things too far...

Betty Cooper was nervous. She had only been given two weeks notice that she was moving to a brand new town and the idea of starting over at a whole new high school was making her palms sweat. She had had a fantastic summer, and while she didn’t want to leave her hometown, she also knew that her amazing summer had nothing to do with anything that place could give her. That credit all went to a boy who she would never see again.

As she walked the steps of Riverdale High, she started to look for her old family friend. Their dads had been friends for years and he was the only person in Riverdale that she knew.

“Betty!” The blonde looked around and saw Kevin Keller waving from the schools double doors. “I haven’t seen you in years! Welcome to Riverdale.” Betty mustered up a smile. Summer was officially over. And she would never get it back.

•

Jughead Jones settled in at his usual lunch spot on the bleachers of the old football field. “Jug! Man I haven’t seen you all morning, the chicks have been all over me I can barely breathe.” Archie Andrews was an amazing friend but he was also the school player. With the girls not having excuses to see him everyday while school was out, they were all vying for his attention. Somehow he had gotten even more attractive over the summer.

Walking up with him was Reggie Mantle and Dilton Doiley and Jughead knew as soon as they made their way to him they would be demanding to know what crazy things he did over the summer while he was on vacation with his family. The only problem was he didn’t do anything crazy at all… Unless you count falling in love. And that was not how the T-Birds operated.

“How was the vacation man?” Archie asked, slapping Jughead on the back and dropping down next to him. “Any hot girls out there in Florida?” The boys looked at Jughead expectantly. He was their fearless leader and he always had to live up to their hype.

“Yeah. I hooked up with this girl on the beach.”

Archie burst out laughing and reached out for a high five. “Hope our little Jughead didn’t fall in looooove,” Reggie taunted.

“Of course not. The best thing about vacation hook ups is you never have to see them again.” Reggie slapped Jughead on the back and as the conversation shifted, the beanie-clad boy wished more than anything that he could be with her instead.

•

“I’ll introduce you to my friends.” Kevin said, leading Betty out of the lunch room to the outside tables. He led her towards a table where a raven haired girl sat with a pink jacket on and a redhead peeled a banana. “Veronica, this is Betty Cooper. She moved here from Florida.”

The dark-haired girl turned around and Betty was struck by how gorgeous she was. There was a meanness in her eyes, but when Betty looked closer she thought she could see that there was something hiding behind it. “Betty Cooper.” Veronica said. “Nice ponytail.” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

The redhead sitting next to her snickered.

“I’m Cheryl Blossom.”

“Don’t mind Ronnie,” Kevin told her gently nudging her arm, but Betty had a feeling that that wasn’t how things worked around here.

As she sat down across the table, she could feel Veronica sizing her up. “So, Florida.” Cheryl said, dropping her banana peel on her tray. “what are the boys like there?”

Veronica rolled her eyes. “Is that all you ever think about? Besides, look at her, she probably doesn’t even talk to boys.”

Betty looked down at her pale blue sweater and simple jeans. Veronica had a tight black top on with a matching black skirt.

“Actually,” Betty responded “I met really sweet guy over the summer. We had a great time.”

“Oh really?” Veronica raised an eyebrow. “And what did you have such a great time doing? A girl like you probably has a bed time.”

“We did a lot of things. It was nice,” Betty started falling into her memory. “He would hold me in his arms and it felt like the rest of the world fell away.”

Cheryl squealed “Tell me more!”

“Yes Betty,” Veronica said unenthusiastically, “tell us more.”

“He sounds amazing,” Kevin said supportively.

Veronica laughed. “He sounds like a drag. What was this losers name?”

“Jughead Jones.” Betty replied with a shy smile. Cheryl choked on her milk and this time, when Betty looked into Veronica’s eyes, all she saw was evil.

•

“Veronica has been awful all summer,” Archie told Jughead as they walked down to the place where everyone else ate.

Jughead didn’t care about Veronica Lodge and her bullshit, but Archie was attracted to her whether he wanted to admit it or not. They’d hooked up on more than one occasion.

“Speak of the devil.” Reggie muttered under his breath.

“Hey Jug.” The dark haired girl had that tone in her voice like she was up to something.

Jughead forced himself to look up at her.

“Veronica.”

These were the type of girls he had to deal with in Riverdale. He wished yet again that he could be back on the beach.

“I brought you a present.” Veronica looked smug and Cheryl pushed forward a beautiful blonde.

“Juggie?” the girl said, a big smile growing on her face.

Archie snickered. No one in Riverdale called him Juggie. In fact only one person ever called him that. A girl who was more than just a summer hookup. A girl he never thought he’d see again but couldn’t get out of his head. A girl who was now standing right in front of him as everyone waited to see what he would do. Betty Cooper.

catch me out here singing greased lightning on wednesday

is betty sandy? is veronica rizzo? these are the real questions

[onceuponamirror]

heart rise above

///// CHAPTER 3

summary: It wasn’t an experiment with freedom borne of some Americana fantasy; rather, a road trip of purely logistical intentions. The plan was simple. Drive from Boston to Chicago for his sister’s college graduation. That’s it.

Or, he drives a Ford Pickup Named Desire.

Mechanic!AU

fandom: riverdale

ship: betty x jughead

words: 11k

chapters: 3/?

[read from the beginning] [read the latest]

Oh, mirror in the sky What is love?

.

.

.

He and Archie settle in next to each other as the tow truck roars to life. The Barbie Grease Monkey behind the wheel flashes them a bright smile once they're buckled in and starts to turn out of the diner parking lot.

“So the hotel is actually really close by,” she says conversationally. “Riverdale is a good town to walk in.”

“Great, considering we don’t have any other options,” Jughead grumbles. He fidgets next to her, hyper aware of his knee bouncing dangerously close to her own. How the hell did he get stuck in the middle seat?

He thinks he hears Betty inhale sharply, but the rumbling of the truck masks it and he’s not sure. Regardless, he’s definitely pushed her buttons already. And normally he wouldn’t care, but given she went through the trouble to give him a good deal and what he suspects is a rush job, he feels a bit bad about his attitude. It’s an unfamiliar emotion.

(Though, speaking of the unfamiliar, he’s still stuck on figuring out why a perfect stranger would be so plainly altruistic.)

A few minutes later, they pull into a little motel that exudes the same wholesome nuclear family vacation atmosphere as the diner. It’s inexplicably called the Flamingo Inn, but for what purpose, he has no idea, as there isn’t a palm tree or even a lawn flamingo in sight.

Betty cuts the engine and looks over at them. She pulls a business card from her breast pocket and a pen from the truck console and flips it over, scribbling a phone number on the back. “Here’s the garage number and my personal one, in case you need anything. It’s mostly just me at the garage right now so I’m there a lot, but on the off chance I’m not around, you can always try my cell. I open at 7.”

She passes it to Jughead, and he takes it with nimble fingers. Last time he’d touched her, he’d gotten a bit of a static shock, and he still isn’t quite sure what to make of it.

“I’ll come by tomorrow morning to fill out the paperwork. Have a good night. Thanks,” he sighs, grabbing his bag and following Archie out of the tow truck. Betty waves at them from behind the wheel, and then disappears back onto the road. He stares after the Ford jangling off the back until it’s out of sight.

Archie nudges him in the ribs. “Dude, she’s totally into you.”

Besides the fact that he’s confident that he’s offended her twice over already, instincts tell him that’s highly unlikely. Jughead scoffs and readjusts his duffel over his shoulder. “Yeah, I’m a real catch. A drifter with a defunct truck and freshly out 2 grand.”

“She gave you her personal number,” Archie insists knowingly as they head towards the inn.

“Because I’m paying her to fix my truck,” Jughead replies, rolling his eyes. “You think every conversation with anyone of the female persuasion is a veiled flirtation. But, my man, a girl like that does not go for a guy like me.”

“A girl like that? So you like her.” Archie grins, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Jesus Christ, Arch.” Jughead exhales noisily. “Just because I can acknowledge that she’s pretty and it’s cool that she knows her shit doesn’t mean I’m out shopping for diamonds.”

“I didn’t say anything about diamonds,” Archie laughs. “We’re stuck here for a few weeks. Have a fling, buddy.”

Jughead doesn’t have anything to say to that, partially because he doesn’t feel like defending himself against their polar perspectives on relationships once again. While he wouldn’t be so disloyal as to call out Archie’s unsustainable dating habits to his face, it’s not the first time he’s silently reflected on the trouble it causes. More trouble than it’s worth, in Jughead’s opinion.

“Well, I’m going to get Veronica’s number, if we’re sticking around,” Archie says after a long moment, without much tactful dodging of implication. “Here for a good time, not a long time.”

“Ugh, which of Reggie’s tank tops did you steal that slogan from?” Jughead mutters, approaching the front desk. The benefit of a small town motel is how cheap it is, and they can afford their own rooms. He’s thankful he won’t have to spend the next three weeks trying to wax poetic over the cavemen snores of his best friend.

That is, if he’s actually able to get any writing done.

He and Archie bid each other goodnight, and then he throws his bag down on his bed. He flops along next to it a moment later, bouncing slightly on the springy mattress. He falls backwards and scrubs his hand over his face, the last hour of his life catching up to him.

He stares at the ceiling and tries not to think about his bank account.

Despite blaming his habit of penny-pinching his way through life for this current problem (too cheap for A/C, too cheap to get the truck checked out anytime recently) he’s also grateful for it in this moment, because it means he’s got the flexibility to cover the truck repairs—even if it feels like he’s signed a death certificate for his savings.

But he knows it’s the deep-set irrationality of a kid raised on food stamps, and tries to tell himself that he had a good year for royalties, and he’ll be okay.

And Betty gave him a deal. Maybe it was just out of pity, or maybe she’d actually overpriced the estimate in order to seem like she was being generous. History tells him that, nine times out of ten, people are swindlers and liars—and yet, she turned her big green eyes on him and the next thing he knew, he was agreeing to half a new engine.

Betty. He hears Archie’s teasing in his thoughts again and tries to force it away. He’d meant what he said—he’s not blind, she is pretty, and she did seem genuinely nice and, rarer still, just genuinely genuine.

And sharp, he adds thoughtfully. She definitely knows what she’s talking about. And that little streak of grease above her eyebrow was cute.

He catches himself. What is he doing? Who is he, Archie? “Snap out of it, you idiot,” he mutters to himself. He’s not here for a fling, whatever his friend might say.

He muses that also it’s a big leap to presume a girl as cool and pretty as her is single, and anyway, there were two small children with a resemblance running circles around her. What if she’s married and takes off her ring while she works? What if she’s a single mom? No one would pick him as a father figure by choice, and anyway, he’s leaving town in over a fortnight, so he decides it’s best to assume Betty is beyond an option.

Besides, the only reason he agreed to stick around this hole in the wall of a town is because he’d had the first inspiration in months sitting in that diner. Hopefully, something is in the water here, and he’ll actually make some headway on his sequel.

Sighing, he decides he’s no longer got any professional wiggle room to avoid his editor and reaches for his laptop. He shoots off a reply to her notes on his first few chapters (“Well written, JP, but where’s the poignancy from the first book? Why should we care? Needs more work.”), telling her that he’s planning on scrapping what he has and moving the setting to a small town.

Once that’s done, Jughead looks around, unsure what to do with himself. It’s still early by his standards, and he feels wide awake. He glances at the clock, deciding to call his sister, knowing that the whole Jones family shares the same night-hawkish tendencies and that she’s probably still up.

She answers after a few rings. “Josh and JB’s house, JB speaking,” she says.

He almost drops the phone. “Who the fuck is Josh?”

Not that he’s trying to be some sort of overbearing Freudian figure, but their one rule is that they don’t keep secrets from each other. If JB has been dating someone long enough to move in within them, he’s downright offended that she hasn’t mentioned it.

“This is my iPhone, dumbass, I’m kidding,” his sister says in a mocking tone that he recognizes well. “Not a house phone. There’s no Josh. It’s just me and Chad.”

He pauses, unsure if she’s making another joke. “Still kidding,” she says, when she realizes he’s waiting for her. “Like I’d date a Chad.”

“I don’t think either of us are in any place to judge romantic partners based on their given names, Forsythia,” he points out.

JB groans loudly over the speaker. “Sorry, I suddenly went deaf and didn’t hear that,” she replies coolly. “Anyway, what’s up? Where are you guys right now? How’s the road trip going? How’s Archie? Did you remember to bring the extra duffel?”

“Uh, yep, I did, I brought it. Archie’s…good. We’re in upstate New York now,” he says slowly.

“You’re using your ‘JB, the bunny went to live at a farm’ voice.”

“The truck sort of…died on us,” he admits, chewing on his lip. “We’re stuck in East of Jesus for now. Don’t worry,” he adds quickly. “I’m not gonna miss your graduation. I’ll take a plane if I have to. I’ll even personally blackmail Richard Branson for his jet if it comes down to it.”

There’s a pause over the line. “You’re getting the truck fixed though, right?” Her voice sounds oddly small. “That was our family car.”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t worry, JB. It’s in good hands. I found a mechanic who knows her game.” He tosses his hat across the bed and runs a hand through his hair while releasing a long breath. “We had some good times in that truck as kids. I’m not giving up on it that easily.”

“You’re such a sucker,” she says fondly. “But we did have some really good times, didn’t we? Hey, remember when Hot Dog took a shit on the blanket Dad kept in the back of the truck?”

He chuckles. “Of all the memories, that’s the first one you bring up?”

“Memory, from the latin root mem. As in: to remember—as in: memorable,” JB replies.

“So you did take my Latin dictionary.”

“Whatever, you’re getting it back when I move in. Anyway. I’m gonna try to actually get some sleep tonight. I’ve got a final tomorrow. Keep me posted, and call me when you’re Chicago bound. Love you.”

“Love you,” he echoes. “Good luck on your final,” he adds, but she’s already gone.

.

.

.

After getting off the phone with his sister, Jughead tosses restlessly for a few hours, mostly tortured by the childhood memories formed in the back of that truck. Their dad taking turns too wide, just to make them laugh as they swayed around in their seats. Camping out in the truck bed with their dog. The three of them driving JB to out Chicago to start college.

Of course, they haven’t all been together since.

With that thought, Jughead kicks off the sheets and angrily pulls on his pants, frustrated that he’d let his mind wander back there. JB is right; he is a sucker.

There are plenty of bad memories associated with that truck too. Taking the turns too wide was dangerous. They camped out in the truck the week the electricity was shut off and their dad tried to make it fun; convince them the stars were the only lights they needed.

And he hasn’t seen his father in over two years. It won’t do him any good to romanticize the past.

Besides, he’s getting the damn thing fixed. What else does he fucking have to do to appease this self-tormenting part of his personality?

It’s barely sunrise, but Jughead decides he’s going to go for a walk to try to clear his head. He throws his laptop in his saddle bag at the last minute, in case he gets another random burst of inspiration. He regrets not going for his laptop earlier, when he’d had the bug to write. If he’d pushed himself, he might’ve found his character’s missing motivation.

He ends up wandering back to the diner, which is already open. However, up close he realizes that it’s actually a 24-hour establishment. “Oh, you’re gonna hate me,” he says gleefully to himself, breaking for the door.

The same round-faced man from last night is behind the counter cleaning milkshake glasses with a white rag. He waves. “Hey! I remember you. Chips, pickles, and fries, right? Back for more?”

Jughead grins, and takes his pick of booths, as he’s quite literally the only person in the restaurant. It’s 5am, so he’s not shocked. A familiar-looking dark-haired and older woman appears to take his order and once she’s gone with instructions for pancakes, and as many as she can carry, he settles into his seat and stares out the window.

His eyes find the parking spot where his truck had met its maker and he thinks about how young JB had sounded when she thought it had been gone for good. It made him feel sixteen again, wrapping her up in his arms while she wailed and begged him once again to tell her why their mother didn’t come back.

Words he still doesn’t have die on his tongue.

He hadn’t realized the truck was important to her too. Betty promised it would run for another ten years with new parts, and while he does technically believe that’s what she thinks, he also just isn’t the type to put all his eggs in one basket. He should probably just try to learn how to fix the damn thing himself at some point.

Later, after he’s polished off as many pancakes as possible (and without a visitation from his muse), he decides there’s only so long he can sit twiddling his thumbs in the diner. Betty won’t open for another hour, but since he’s on foot, he might as well start to head over.

He pulls Betty’s business card from his pocket and enters the address into his phone. While he waits for it to load, he flips it over and stares at her number. He still thinks Archie is wrong about Betty’s intentions, but then again, his best friend does have a lot more experience in picking up women and he wonders if Archie understands something he doesn’t.

Not worth it, he thinks firmly, trying to dismiss the thought. Occam's Razor. The answer is always simpler than it seems. She's just fixing my damn truck. Google Maps hands him an arrow, and he distracts himself by following it.

The garage isn’t far from the diner, just over a mile, and the walk is surprisingly pleasant for a town the size of his neighborhood in Boston. He ambles his way towards the garage, unsure if he should prepare to be attacked by small children. Sure, it’s early morning in the middle of the week, but he’d been watching those two kids out of the corner of his eye last night, and they seem like the kind of perfect little hellions he has learned to avoid.

“Uh, hello?” He calls, when neither children nor Betty come into view. He’d expected to have to wait for her to open, but the doors are already rolled up and there’s soft music emanating across the garage, so he suspects Betty is in here somewhere.

“Be with you in a sec!” Her voice responds from—well, from somewhere, but Jughead has no idea. She sounds close by, but as he scans the garage, she’s nowhere in sight.

There’s a clanking of metal hitting the ground and the sound of wheels moving, and then Betty pops out from under the carriage of a nearby Volvo on a rolling dolly cart. She blinks up at him. “You’re here early.”

“So are you,” he counters, raising an eyebrow. It’s not even 6:30 yet.

“Well, birds and worms,” Betty sighs, pushing herself upright. He offers his hand to pull her up, which she takes. He doesn’t get the same static shock as before, but still has a moment to note the juxtaposition of calluses mixing with her soft skin.

Once she’s standing, she takes a moment to dust off her uniform. She’s wearing the big blue jumpsuit again and Jughead briefly wonders what she looks like under it. “Let me just change out of this blue teletubbie suit and I’ll be with you in a jiffy. Do you mind waiting for me in my office? It’s in the back, over there.” She points to a room with large windows overlooking the garage.

He nods, and she scurries off. He makes his way over the office, lingering momentarily in the doorway, as he’s unsure whether or not he should stand outside it. But Betty had said to wait in the office, so he crosses the threshold.

The room itself is somewhat small, or perhaps made to seem that way by all the framed photographs and children’s drawings plastered all over the wall. Jughead wanders over to her desk, where the collection only grows.

There’s one of her and Veronica, one of whom he assumes are Betty’s parents, and a large picture with what seems like all the redheads in the tri-state area. Betty stands next to the only other blonde woman in the photo, and he spots the children from last night, though they seem younger here.

“That’s my sister and the Weasley family she married into,” Betty says from the doorway. Jughead jumps back, realizing he’d been tracing a finger along the edge of the frame.

He looks at her, having gotten the answer to what Betty looks like under the uniform. She’s wearing blue jeans and a soft pink top that brings to mind the word fluttery, even though it’s just a cotton long-sleeved t-shirt. He can’t help but glance down at her hands—no ring.

He glances back at the photo; the other blonde woman is wrapped against a tall, redheaded man. Maybe the kids aren’t Betty’s after all. He clears his throat.

“So the two changelings from last night…”

She laughs, and he finds he likes the sound. “My sister’s kids. I was babysitting. I love them, but—never mind, I’m sure you don’t care. Have a seat,” she says, gesturing to the pair of armchairs in the back of the office. He pulls one up to her desk while she fiddles with a cabinet drawer, thinking perhaps that he needs to work on his attitude. He probably doesn’t care, but does she already think he’s that much of a dick?

But then she hands him a couple of forms and a pen, and he loses the train of thought as he sets to work. He puts them down as he finishes each one; he can feel her eyes on where he’s written his given name.

“Whatever you’re gonna say, please don’t,” he mutters, glancing up at the way she cranes her neck. She immediately looks embarrassed to have been caught. “It’s a dumb name.”

(Then again, he actively introduces himself as Jughead, so he’s never been quite sure what his glitch is.)

“I don’t think it’s dumb,” Betty says kindly. “I think it’s nice that you’re the third.”

“Well, it dies with me, that’s for sure,” he sighs, putting down the last piece of paper. He looks up expectantly; she’s watching him with a curious expression that he doesn’t know quite how to place. He wonders if he has something on his face. Or maybe he already did something wrong with the paperwork. “Anything else?”

“Oh,” she says, taking his papers and passing him a new one. “Nope, these look good. Here’s your written estimate.”

He takes it from her, waiting for a moment, as it seems like she’d like to say something else. But then she doesn’t, so he takes it as his cue to leave.

Jughead pauses in the doorway and swivels back to her, a thought occurring to him. “Hey, this is probably a stupid, inappropriate question with an answer I already know, but…” Her eyebrows raise high on her forehead, and he finds himself inexplicably flushing with color. “I really don’t want to find myself in this situation again. This truck is important to me and I realized I should probably know how to take care of it. Would it be possible for me to pop by when you’re doing the repairs, so I can learn for myself? Or at least learn what to look for?”

Betty leans back in her chair, seemingly appraising him. “Sure,” she says softly, surprised. She stands up. “Put your bag back down. We’ll start now.”

.

.

.

.