The exception -- A bughead story

Chapter 8: Jughead - "Do you want to go to Pop's tonight?"

"That's the whole point." Cheryl states, turning on her heel. The redhead's hair whipping my face as she walks away. I turn around to check on Betty. To my surprise, she's smiling. I lower my eyebrows in confusion. "No one has ever cared about me that much." She shares. "No one's ever cared even a little bit about me before." I admit. Betty lifts my chin. "Hey, It's not like that any more. I care about you." A smile spreads across my face to match hers. "Jughead, I don't really know why I'm asking this, but are we dating?" Betty wonders out loud. My heart flips. "Uh, I mean... I'd like that." I manage to force the words out of my mouth. "Me too." Betty continues to grin. "Well, I have to get to class, but do you want to go to Pop's tonight?" I hold my breath. Betty's eyes flicker in excitement. "Sure! I'll meet you there at half five. My mom won't want me being late home." She replies. I wave goodbye and walk off to my first class.

I wait in Pop's. A waiter comes over to ask me if I want anything. I shake my head and look at the floral arrangement I had bought earlier that was resting on the table. At half five exactly, Betty saunters in. She sits down in our usual booth, opposite to me. "Flowers, Juggy? You shouldn't have!" She giggles. I flash a smile, "I wanted to." Betty looks so beautiful. Her make up is all neutral, a nude smoky eye with simple black mascara and a peach coloured lip gloss. When she smiles, I feel as if I would do anything to get her to smile again. A waiter bumbles over, "Would you like to order?" He asks. I look at Betty expectantly. "A vanilla milkshake, please." She decides. "What about you, Jughead?" The waiter turns to me. "Just a coffee, please." I answer. Betty looks mildly surprised. "Jughead, you love food!"
"Guess I just don't have an appetite today." I shrug. This wasn't a lie. I wanted to spend this time with Betty, not just eating. "Ok then. Have you finished your novel on Jason's murder yet?" She queries.
"No, not yet. It's a lot more complex than I first thought." I say, glad she's interested.

We chat about anything and everything until the waiter comes back with our drinks. "One vanilla milkshake and one coffee." He announces. I take a sip of my coffee whilst Betty attempts to tackle her milkshake. "Betty..." I start. "Yeah?" She tips her head to the side. "It's just- I just- I think-" I stutter. She stops me with a kiss. "Jughead Jones, I really like you." She says confidently.
"I- well I really like you too." I kiss her back, and my world falls to pieces.