Chapter Text
"Honey, I'm home!"
Betty Cooper barely turned her head to see her eager roommate, Veronica, waltz through the front door of their shared upscale apartment in LA. She merely grunted in response, turning her focus to the computer perched on her lap. She didn't even notice Veronica come sit next to her on the sleek leather sofa as her fingers tapped the keyboard at record speed.
"Wrapping up a piece for the times, I presume?" Veronica asked leaning over Betty's shoulder. Betty spent most of her time interning for the local paper, the Los Angeles Times. While she loved to write she absolutely hated the internship. They treat her like she's worthless and give her the absolute worst pieces to write. "Must... meet... deadline- AHA!" Betty said with a satisfying click, leaning back on the couch with relief. "I had been working on that for three and a half hours before you came through that door. It was an interview with a local nobody actress and was so dull. I'm just glad I got it over with." Betty sighed to Veronica.
"B, you seriously have to quit that internship. You hate it there and they treat you like shit." Veronica said, brushing a piece of golden blonde hair behind her best friend's ear. Betty rolled her eyes and perched up beside Veronica. "You say that every time I complain. Only six more months." Betty closed her eyes and sighed yet again. Six more months, she thought. Six more months of absolute hell.
Veronica checked her phone and grinned. "I have something that might make you feel better!" Veronica cheered, pulling her best friend into her luxurious bedroom. "If it's not chipotle and Netflix then it probably won't do much." Betty said. She had a sneaking suspicion she knew what Veronica's special remedy was- more like what it always is. Her suspicions were confirmed when Veronica began pulling clothes out of her color coded closet and handed them to Betty. "Archie is coming over tonight with his new roommate, and I figured maybe you could get some action. Win him over with your stellar cooking skills. And, if everything goes well, some of your other skills..." Veronica trailed off and waggled her eyebrows causing Betty to roll her eyes in response. If she knew anything she knew not to say no to Veronica Lodge.
"Gross, V. I'm not falling into bed with a stranger. That's not really my deal and you know that." Betty said, pulling on a baby pink sweater and some of Veronica's designer jeans. "I know, but I kind of don't know what your deal is. You haven't really been out in a while. Perfect!" Veronica added a chunky necklace and simple silver flats with scalloped detailing. "And I know there's a very valid reason for not getting out, but B, don't you think it's time?" She said, watching Betty pull her hair up into her signature sleek ponytail.
She doesn't get it, Betty thought. She put a small smile on her face and shrugged curling her fingers into her palms. "You're probably right. But still, stop trying to set me up with Archie's roommate." Betty said, walking to the kitchen with Veronica hot on her trail. She flipped through her recipe book but was interrupted by the shrill ring of her cell phone. Betty peered down at the name and flinched as Veronica squealed excitedly. "Betty get ready, they're heeere!"
"One sec V." Betty heard the flirtatious tone of her best friend greeting Archie as she stepped out on the patio and pressed the accept call button.
"Hi Mom." She said cheerfully, sitting down on the modern white patio furniture Veronica had put out when they first moved in.
"Elizabeth, why haven't you been answering my calls? It's been three weeks since I've last spoken to you." Even though they were miles away, Alice Cooper's cold tone made Betty shiver.
"I've been super busy with the paper, and-"
"Have you been taking your medicine? Watching what you're eating? Diet is extremely important especially as you get older." Her mother said. Betty curled her free hand into a tight fist and sighed. "I'm an adult, Mom. A responsible one at that. I can deal with myself." She could feel the anger rising in her chest and let herself continue. "And please, could you only call when you actually care? Not because you feel like pestering me and breathing down my neck?" Betty stopped herself and took a deep breath before continuing. "Now if you'll excuse me I have some guests I need to greet. I know how important being a good hostess is to you. Goodbye, Mother." Betty spit that last part out with an extra dose of sarcasm and fiercely hit the end call button.
Every call her mother made to her was the same thing, so after a while Betty just stopped answering them all together. It wasn't until her mother had started contacting the paper when she realized she should just get the dreaded phone calls over with before they turn into something worse. Betty turned to go back into her apartment when she caught a pair of dark eyes watching her from the other side of the glass door. That must be Archie's roommate, Betty thought, catching his curious gaze. The first thing she noticed was how captivating he was. He was handsome and generally pretty skinny but with some defined muscle. His black locks were hidden under an unusual gray beanie in the shape of a crown, with a few stray curls falling out of the front. She dropped his gaze and walked back in the apartment only to see Veronica pretty much on top of Archie in the velour chair beside their couch. They had been a thing for a couple weeks now and pretty much the only thing on Veronica's mind. Knowing Archie for a while, Betty knows that his treatment of girls hadn't been the greatest in the past, but she could already tell he felt differently about her best friend. Jughead looked awkward on the couch and shot her a knowing, small smile.
"Hey Arch." Betty said with a smile, catching the attention of her star crossed best friends. "Oh hey Betty. What's for dinner? It's been a long day at work so I'm starved." Archie asked. Betty and Archie have been close friends ever since high school and they've been lucky enough to stay in touch throughout the passing years. Archie came out to LA about a year ago to pursue his passion as a musical performance and songwriting instructor, and his career out here had flourished. If only Betty was that lucky.
"What else is new? You always have an appetite." Veronica said with a wink. Betty watched Archie's roommate dramatically suppress an eye roll, eliciting a laugh from Betty. "I know the feeling." Betty said receiving another small smile from the mysterious roommate. "I'm Betty," She said, taking his hand and shaking it politely. "Jughead." He said. He waited for her response and watched as Betty raised her eyebrows slightly. "A weird name for a weird guy. It's quite fitting, actually." Jughead said. Betty laughed slightly, noticing the deep tone of his voice. "Well, I'm off to the kitchen. Can I get you guys anything to drink?" Betty said a little louder in hopes of catching the attention of Archie and Veronica but failing.
"Archie probably wants a beer of some sort. Here, I'll help." Jughead followed Betty into the modern kitchen. "It's alright Jughead, I can deal with it. You can sit back down if you want." She said, pouring herself a heaping glass of red wine. "I don't know if that would be in my best interest." Jughead said, clearing his throat and nodding in the general direction of the living room. Betty followed his gaze only to see Veronica and Archie making out on the chair. "You're probably right." Betty laughed and took a nice long sip of her wine.
Jughead grabbed a Coke out of the fridge and stood awkwardly while Betty began to mix different things together. He watched her long legs move swiftly around the kitchen and her blonde ponytail bounce with her every move. "Do you like tacos?" Betty turned her head away from the pot of what Jughead guessed was taco meat and he caught a glimpse of her striking green eyes. She truly was beautiful.
"I'm up for anything. I always have an appetite." Jughead cringed and Betty laughed, both of them realizing the double meaning that Veronica had heavily emphasized to Archie earlier. "I promise you, that was not intentional." He said as he watched Betty stir the simmering pot.
Jughead leaned back on the counter and tried to block out the sounds coming from the living room. He checked the clock and sighed as he realized it was only 6:53 and had to endure this awkward situation for a couple more hours at least. While he was used to awkward situations, especially dealing with his family, it didn't mean he managed them well.
"Shit. I don't have any taco shells." Betty said. She flipped the dial on the stove to off and turned abruptly to face Jughead. "You up for a quick car ride to the store?"
"Anything to escape them." Jughead said, following Betty out the door of her elegant apartment.