The Exception to the Rule

Part 12

"Jug, can I ask you something?"

"Anything" He replied quickly.

Betty paused "I don't know how to phrase this...um, so, how come you've never had a girlfriend? What's changed? I mean, why now?" She mumbled, stumbling over her words.

Jughead sighed turning his body towards hers. He picked up her hands, feeding his fingers through hers before resting them in his lap. Jughead smiled as he looked into her eager green eyes

"Betts, my feelings for you didn't just happen overnight. I knew from the moment I met you that you were special and that you were important. Even as a kid, I knew you were different. You set the standard. No one else has ever compared." He paused, feeling liberated he continued

"I always thought you'd end up with Archie, and I thought I was ok with just being your friend. But, this past summer I realized, he didn't see you, like I do. He didn't care for you, like I do. After we saw Polly at the Sisters of Quiet Mercy, I was going to tell you how I've felt for all these years," He shifted his stare from Betty's eyes to her lips and back before continuing

"Instead, I thought I'd show you," Jughead waited a moment before he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. This kiss was tender, compassionate and kind. Very unlike the hard, needy ones they'd exchanged at lunch.

"And when you kissed me back," He paused again, smiling against her lips "I knew, no one else would ever do"

Betty's heart burst open, accompanied by a deep feeling of heavy regret. Pulling back, her eyes fluttered open to meet Jughead's clear blues.

"I feel like such a fool for chasing Archie like I did." She confessed with sadness. Jughead sat back slightly waiting for her to continue.

"I became what everyone thought I was. The perfect girl crushing on her life long friend, her childhood neighbour. The cheerleader and the quarterback. I always knew deep down we weren't right for each other. I'm not perfect Jughead, but Archie thinks I am. They all want me to be perfect, and I'm not. Everyone has always had these unattainable expectation of me, and for whatever reason I actually try to achieve them," Betty hesitated, expecting Jughead to chime in, but instead he just listened.

"You are the only person who's never forced me to be someone I'm not. You're the only person who has ever truly accepted me, just as I am, flaws and all. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize I'd been chasing after the wrong life long friend. You are one in a million, Jughead Jones. I just wish I wasn't blind for all those years" Betty finished brining her sweater covered wrist to dab the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Nah, Betts...don't do that. I'm sorry I didn't say or do something sooner. I should have, I was just so god damn scared. But we're here now and we won't waste any more time." Jughead leaned in pressing his forehead to Betty's, breathing with her for a moment.

"I think you're just the best fucking thing," He said trying to lift her spirits, achieving a light chuckle from Betty.

He raised his hands to cup her face running his thumbs over Betty's cheeks, collecting any escaped moisture. Betty leaned her body forward connecting her lips to Jughead's. She grabbed onto the collar of his green flannel, pulling him harder against her lips. Jughead hummed his approval as she grazed her tongue across his, pulling his lip in between her teeth lightly

"Should we get ice cream to-go?" Jughead asked with a sly grin.

With a similar smile Betty nodded enthusiastically "And take it back to your place?" She suggested.

Jughead smiled, thankful that the Andrews' home was empty.

"Sure, Betts"

The walk home only took a few short blocks. Monday nights were generally quiet, but tonight Riverdale lay almost silent as they walked up the Andrews steps. Once inside Jughead walked their dessert to the freezer before kicking off his shoes and shedding his sheep skin jacket.