The Exception to the Rule

Part 3

Veronica, Kevin and Betty were all buzzing about the night ahead of them.

Ronnie had snuck a bottle of Vodka from her mom's liquor cabinet and had been mixing it with root beer for the three of them. 

Finishing her second drink Betty examined her body in one of Veronica's full length mirrors. She looked good. Though she knew her costume wasn't very common or easy to guess, she knew Jughead would get it and that's all that mattered. Plus she felt sexy and smart in it, which was a rare combination to her.

She pulled her grey knee high socks up higher on her legs and tugged at her black skirt. Smoothing her hands over the front for her grey vest, she considered doing up the top 4 buttons of her white dress shirt underneath. Smirking to herself and feeling the warmth of Ronnie's drinks in her belly, she compromised with herself and did one extra button up.

"I liked it better before" Kevin quipped. Betty's snapped her eyes towards Kevin standing with his drink in hand, dressed like Prince Charming. 

"Jughead will too" He finished "Isn't that want you wanted tonight? To leave your good girl persona at home?"

Betty blushed, nodding and her smile growing larger. She looked back at the mirror, unclasping the button she'd just secured.

"Yes, B!! I. Love. It. Now, How do I look?" Veronica asked gliding into the room, clad in a curve hugging black leather body suit and sky high heels with tiny black cat ears atop her raven hair.

"You look amazing V! Archie is going to loose it!" Betty raved slipping her fake thick cat eye glasses on.

"Both those boys wont know what hit them, You ladies are stunning!" Kevin smiled as he clipped Betty's pocket watch to her vest, slipping it into her front pocket.

"Let's talk about Prince Charming for a moment, shall we?" Ronnie continued "Could you look any more dapper Kevin Keller?"

Kevin dusted his shoulders off playfully with a shrug "Perhaps" He finished in a fake English accent causing all three of them to burst into a fit of laughter.

"Ms.Lodge,  Archie and Jugg-Head are in the lobby, waiting" Smithers interrupted with a quick knock.

"Thank you Smithers, Tell them we'll be right down" With those words the older man disappeared the teens turning their attention back to their costumes, making sure they had everything they needed for the night.

Betty had told her parents that she was staying at Veronica's. Ronnie's mom had to go back to New York for the weekend to clear up a few things, leaving Ronnie the condo. Planning on returning after the party Betty left all her belongings behind taking only her phone, slipping it into her jacket. Veronica stuffed a few things in the pockets of Betty's trench coat claiming that "a coat or purse doesn't go with the outfit"

Betty smiled at her honest friend, happily carrying Cat Woman's house keys.

Jughead was pacing the lobby when the elevator doors opened. He turned to greet them and the first thing Betty noticed was the lack of his trade mark crown, and that his hair was combed back in a slick 1950s vibe. With a pair of aviator sun-glasses tucked into the neckline of his crisp white t-shirt, she tried to remember if she'd seen him in any bright colours and she didn't think she had, not since they were kids anyway. 

But there he was in a red leather motorcycle jacket, collar popped, hands tucked into light blue jeans and his own slouchy black boots on. She stood in the elevator with her mouth slightly gapping, as her 2 friends exited. Jughead looked better than she'd seen yet. Although the changes in his appearance were small, they were significant enough to make her stomach flip and send warmth up to into her cheeks.