Spill Your Guts (Bughead One Shot)
Anonymous: Hey! I was wondering if you were feeling interested you would write a fic dealing with how Archie realizes he has feelings for betty and being kinda obvious about it. So jug gets worried about what that means for him and betty? Some fluffy angsty bughead
Summary: When Archie confesses his newfound feelings for Betty, who will she choose? Archie or Jughead? (Contains Jealous!Jughead and Jealous!Archie)
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It was just a hand. Just a simple hand on a simple limb. But it wasn't that simple, was it? Archie Andrews' hand stroked up and down Betty Cooper's arm like it was the only thing he had ever worshipped. He stared at her like she was the only thing in the room. Like she was beautiful. And she was. But that was Jughead's job, and it made him feel sick to watch the red-haired boy fondling Jughead's perfect girlfriend.
"It's so soft." Archie smiled, running his hand up and down Betty's pink sweater. The simple motion made Jughead's stomach churn as he watched the two from across the lunch table. What was he doing sitting in his seat anyway? Granted they didn't write their names on each bench or anything, but there was a definite unspoken rule that Jughead sat next to Betty, and Archie sat with whoever else they were with. But earlier when Jughead had attempted to sit next to the blonde, Archie somehow raced past him and sat there instead. What the hell?
Betty giggled as Archie felt the sweater, his rub tickling her skin underneath the material. Her eye caught Jughead staring at the two, a cold look on his face, focused on the contacting limbs. She could sense he was uncomfortable, or even angry at something, but she wasn't quite sure what.
"Wanna feel, Jug?" The oblivious blonde asked, pulling her arm away from Archie and holding it towards Jughead. In return he just stared at it, before looking to Archie.
"No thanks, I've felt it many times before." He stated, staring into Archie's eyes rather than Betty's, both boy's faces looking territorial over something. However, Betty seemed confused and a look of hurt flashed over her face at her boyfriend's bluntness.
"Okay..." she spoke, frowning at the two and debating in her mind whether or not she was going to bring up the elephant in the room. She decided against it, continuing to chat to Archie for the rest of lunch and popping carrot sticks into her mouth.
The rest of the day seemed normal to Betty. This wasn't the case for Jughead. He couldn't help but notice the small touches or glances that Archie would give Betty whenever he had the chance. What the hell was this guy's problem? He rejected Betty, and now that she was with someone he decides to try fuck her relationship up? Who does he think he is? That's all that Jughead could think, the thoughts flying around his mind.
If he wasn't riled up enough, he soon would be as Archie invited himself to Betty and Jughead's Pop's date after school. It was a Friday, which meant that was their day for Pop's. Alone. Well, if Archie wasn't going to respect that then Jughead had no problem making his point.
He grabbed Betty's hand and pulled her in front of Archie so the red-headed boy was walking behind like an obvious third wheel. Jughead spent the entire time whispering funny things in her ear at an attempt to make her laugh, which succeeded. And he ignored the clenching of Archie's jaw behind him. Betty was Jughead's girl, not Archie's.
When they got to Pop's, Jughead was determined to slide in next to Betty before Archie. A plan which failed when Betty offered to order at the counter for everyone, meaning it was her choice who she sat with.
As Jughead and Archie stared each other down, opposite sides, Jughead began to doubt himself. Sure it was just a seat, but it seemed more than that to both of them. Betty had said she loved Archie before he rejected her, and he certainly wasn't rejecting her now. What if she wanted to get back with him and leave Jughead?
The boys watched as she returned with three milkshake and a plate of fries to share. Betty then moved towards Jughead's side of the table. Happiness and relief seemed to warm over Jughead as he noticed she'd chosen him. Well, his side. Archie also noticed this, which is why when he reached for his milkshake, he 'accidentally' knocked Jughead's onto the seat where Betty was going towards, spilling the sweet, sugary milk all over the seat and partly on Jughead.
"Oh, sorry man." Archie carelessly said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "I'll help you clean it up. Sit here Betty, I'll go get a towel or something."
Betty reluctantly sat in Archie's previous seat as he went to the counter to grab a wash cloth. She sighed when she saw Jughead's face matching the one he'd possessed at lunch.
"It was just an accident, Jughead." She quietly spoke, a reassuring look on her face. But Jughead knew the truth.
"No, Betty. It wasn't, was it?" Betty frowned at his sudden attitude. "The guy has been all over you all day. He clearly likes you now that we're together and he wants to take you from me."
"What are you-"
"Oh, come on Betts. He's been stuck to you like a limpet ever since he saw how happy we were. Little touches here and there, sitting next to you, 'accidentally' spilling my milkshake so you couldn't sit there. I'm not being paranoid. Can't you see it?" Jughead ranted, breathlessly.
Betty looked shocked as recognition plastered over her face. Now that she thought of it, the dots were slowly connecting.
Jughead suddenly panicked. Was she going to be angered by Jughead and not believe what he was saying? Would Betty get with Archie like she'd secretly wanted? Did she like the way Archie was with her?
Unexpectedly, Betty stood up, and Jughead sighed in defeat, thinking she was leaving him for good. But then he felt a warm hand wrap around his, pulling him up, careful of the milkshake.
"Come on." She grinned sweetly. "Let's head out of here."
Just then Archie joined the pair and caught them as they were leaving the booth.
"Where are you going?" He questioned the pair, eyes shifting and glaring between them.
"We just remembered we need to finish up an article for the Blue and Gold." Betty retorted, a calm look on her face. "Sorry Arch, we'll see you at school on Monday."
As they walked out of the diner, milkshakes long discarded, they could hear the scuff of Archie's shoes jogging to catch up with them.
"Wait," he grinned at Betty, "I'll come with you." The red head suddenly placed his hand on her waist.
"Sorry but we don't need a tag-along at the moment." Jughead glared, grabbing Archie's wrist and tugging it off of his girlfriend.
"Have we got a problem, bro?" Archie stepped closer to Jughead in a threatening way.
"I think you know we do, bro." The beanie-wearing boy mirrored his actions with a scowl.
"Stop." Betty stepped in between the two and faced Archie. "What's the matter with you? Don't think I haven't noticed how you've been acting. Why are you all of a sudden jealous?"
Archie seemed taken aback that Betty had full on confronted him about his feelings, especially in front of Jughead. But he hurriedly covered his face with a cheeky grin.
"Okay, you got me." He began. "Seeing you with him made me realise my true feelings for you. I really like you, Betty. You should be with me instead, we just make more sense. The night of the dance you told me you loved me. I know you still do. And I'm ready now." He grabbed her hand. "It can be like you wanted. The girl and the boy next door. The jock and the cheerleader. What do you say?"
Jughead watched as he stood behind Betty, feeling anger bubbling up in his very soul. Up until the last part of Archie's big speech. He couldn't help but think that Betty would want that. The perfect cheerleader and the perfect jock. Riverdale's power couple. And she had said that she loved him too. Hurt swarmed around Jughead's chest as he lingered behind, suddenly feeling like the outsider once again.
"No." Betty suddenly spoke. Archie frowned, taken aback at her answer. "I never loved you like that Archie. It was just a crush and I only thought that I did because I was confused and naive. I'm worth more than waiting for someone to decide they have feelings for me just when I get into a healthy relationship."
The blonde then grabbed Jughead's hand, looking towards him but still talking to Archie.
"You're my best friend Archie but I'm in love with Jughead." He smiled at her in relief and proudness. She then looked towards Archie again. "He's good for me, he makes me happy. I'm sorry, you're my friend and that's it."
And with that the pair walked away, leaving a dumbfounded and rejected Archie stood in the Pop's parking lot.
"I'm so sorry Jughead. I honestly didn't realise he was acting like that because he was jealous of us. I swear I would have never let him act like that if-" Her apologetic voice was cut off by Jughead's lips as he pulled her in for a kiss.
The kiss was fast and passionate at first, Jughead's hand resting on her cheek, the other on her waist. Betty tasted like strawberries, and Jughead tasted like a salty syrup. They were perfect for each other, the fitted balance of sweet and salty essence filling the air as it turned for slow and tender. He breathed in every part of her as she grinned into the kiss.
"I love you so much Betty Cooper." Her grin widened at his words, his face covered in affection and love.
"Rightfully so, Jughead Jones." She giggled, making him playfully roll his eyes.
The two continued walking, not really having a final destination, just taking it a step at a time. Betty linked her arm into his and placed her head on his shoulder comfortably, with Jughead stroking the material of her pink sweater. It felt softer than usual.
