The next morning Betty and Jughead walked to school together, which is something they had started doing in the past week on the days where their first class was the same, and it was becoming Betty’s favorite part of the day. They always had really interesting conversations on their walk and they were slowly getting to know each other very well.
“Hey so I was texting Archie last night, and I kind of brought up how we were thinking about visiting them in Springfield sometime soon and he invited us to come the weekend after next, and I was wondering if that worked for you?” he asked as they turned into their classroom.
“That sounds great, I can’t wait to see them!” she smiled excitedly and hugged Jughead as she practically bounced to their seats.
“Awesome, I’ll text Archie later to tell him”
The professor started the class and told them to pick a partner to proofread their essays in rough draft that were due at the end of the week. Obviously Betty and Jughead immediately looked at each other, smiled, and started shuffling through their bags to get their essays.
“Oh my gosh Jug, you are the most amazing writer I have ever met! How do you do it, even this stupid boring assignment is really interesting to read in your words.”
“Thanks” he said blushing “But you're one to talk, I don’t even think I’ve ever heard the word peregrinate, but it sounds cool, you have such a vast vocabulary”
“Thanks, I try” she said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice, but she was genuinely touched by his compliment nonetheless.
“It is so nice to be friends...I mean know.. Or hang out with or whatever with someone who appreciates writing like I do” he said not knowing what to call them. I mean they definitely were friends, but were they maybe more than that? It’s not like they had talked about it.
She gave him a look of sympathy knowing exactly his feeling, she had been a little pressured by Lex to put a label on them, but she didn’t really know what they were. Before she could say something, the professor started talking again and they had to pay attention to him instead of each other which was to Jughead’s great disappointment as he was hoping Betty would respond.
He decided he should ask her on a date and see how that goes, see what she says. That’s what you do when you are dating someone right? Maybe that would push them to the next level, or clear something up?
That day at work Jughead was very nervous and frantic because he had been trying to figure out how to ask Betty on a date all day and he had told her he would meet her at the coffee shop after work so they could walk home together when she was done with her shift. He eventually decided that he just needed to do it as soon as possible without too much overthinking so he wouldn’t have to keep worrying about it.
When he walked into the coffee shop after work, he sat down near the back, but still in view of the counter and ordered his usual black coffee. He pulled out his laptop and started editing his essay even though Betty had insisted that it was perfect, but he was just trying to keep busy for 30 minutes until Betty finished her shift, but it was becoming increasingly hard because he kept glancing up at Betty and realized that she was also trying to make secret glances at him, but it wasn’t really working that well because they kept glancing at the same time and ended up just smiling at each other and blushing.
“What's up with you two?” Lex asked, observing their glances
Betty was turned to the side from Lex making a latte and just shrugged, trying to hide her smile.
“Are you guys like..together?” Lex asked
“Not really...I mean kind of?” Betty replied
“Have you guys kissed?”
“Oh my gosh Lex you’re like 12 or something, I swear” Betty said brushing off the question.
Lex just raised her eyebrows at Betty, clearly still waiting for an answer.
“Ok fine, we have..” Betty said reluctantly
Lex just started jumping up and down while clapping excitedly.
“See, 12 year old” Betty said rolling her eyes
“I’m sorry but you guys are so cute. You know I’m rooting for you.” Lex said
“Yeah” Betty said sighing and smiling at the ground. “It’s just a weird stage, cause I don’t know what we really are, and we’re going on a little roadtrip in a couple weeks to see our friends, and I kind of don’t know what I will tell them we are”
“Then figure it out girl, it can’t be that hard” Lex said returning to the front counter to take someone’s order.
Betty finished her shift, and went over to Jughead’s table.
“Hey, shall we head home?” she asked
“Yup, I just finished” he said closing his laptop and standing up to head out. He opened the door for Betty and briefly put his hand on her back to guide her out. She noticed and blushed a little.
They began their walk home when Jughead took a deep breath before saying, “Betty, I was kind of wondering if.. you maybe....wanted to like go out to dinner tomorrow night?” he said looking a little flustered.
“Are you asking me on a date?” she asked
He stuttered a little before looking at her face and seeing the big smile that was spreading across it, a hopeful smile, and he responded with “Yeah” sounding satisfied
“That sounds great, I would love to” she said continuing to smile
He let out a sigh of relief before looking back to her, “That’s great Betty, I can’t wait”
They walked the rest of their way home and Jughead walked Betty to her door. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at 7” he said
“I can’t wait” she said before leaning up and giving him a quick kiss on the lips and closing the door before he had a chance to respond.
He just stood outside her door for a couple of moments before turning with a smile on his face and walking back down to his apartment.
Once Jughead got inside his apartment and popped a frozen pizza in the oven for dinner, he pulled out his phone to text Archie.
J: Hey, I asked Betty about visiting you guys the weekend after next and she said that sounds great.
A: Yayyyyyyyy!!!!!
A: Sorry I let Veronica see the text and she kinda grabbed my phone… Anyway, I’m really excited to see you guys, I miss you bro.
J: wow ur sappy, but ya I’m looking forward to spending some time as the four of us, it will be nice.
A: How are you and Betty? ;)
J: Uh good?
A: you know what I mean ;)
J: you’ll see when we visit
A: Ok ;)... sorry I’m just curious cause you guys are both my friends
J: Ya I get it :). See you guys soon.
A: See u soon
The next day Jughead woke up extra early so he could go get two coffees before he met Betty outside their building.
When Betty walked out of the building she walked up behind him and gave him a hug. He almost dropped their coffee but didn’t and turned around to greet her.
Betty gasped “I didn’t know you were holding coffee, did you spill any?”
“No, but you scared me a little. Here” he said handing her the coffee
“Thanks, your so thoughtful” she said taking it and smiling.
He put his arm around her shoulders and they walked to school. When their class together was over, they walked together out of the classroom and into the hallway.
“I’m really excited for our..date Juggie”
“Me too Betts, remember I’ll come get you at 7”
“Yup, I can’t wait” she said
He hugged her tightly and when they leaned back they stayed in each other arms, smiling at each other until someone walked by in the hall and bumped into Betty’s back, slamming her into Jughead. He caught her in his arms and yelled “Hey!” At the guy who was already down the other end of the hallway.
Betty just smiled at Jughead and raised one eyebrow at him.
He glanced down at her “Sorry, I just hate when people interupt...this…”
“What, our hug?”
“Yeah” He smiled and pulled her in for another hug.
Later that day, Betty was at home getting ready for her date with Jughead. She was really excited but also pretty nervous, she really liked Jughead and was really happy that he decided to take them to the next step, because she didn’t think she could wait that much longer for him. She was doing her hair and decided to leave it down instead of putting it in her usual ponytail because it was kinda cold outside. She put on a pair of nice jeans, black ankle boots, and black sweater with a tiny gold necklace. While she was putting on her perfume and about to grab her purse, there was a knock at her door.
When she opened the door she gasped. Jughead looked amazing, and he was holding a rose. He seemed to be thinking the same thing because they just stared at each other a while before saying anything.
“You look beautiful Betty” he finally said letting out a breath
“You look pretty amazing yourself” she replied
“This is for you” he said handing her the rose
“Thank you, It’s beautiful. Let me just put it in some water then we can go”
She walked out the door where he was still standing when he put his hand around her waist and they walked out together.
“So where are you taking me?” she asked as they were stepping into a taxi
“You’ll see” he said as he was showing the driver the directions.
They drove through downtown for about 20 minutes before the driver finally came to the destination. Jughead jumped out and went around the car so he could open the door for Betty. Once he paid the driver, Betty grabbed his arm and wrapped hers around it as they walked inside.
Once they sat down and ordered food, they could finally relax and enjoy their first official date.
“This is so nice Jughead, thanks for asking me out”
“To be honest I was so nervous the day I asked you out, but I’m glad I did”
“You are actually so romantic, I don’t think many people realize it, like wait ‘till I tell Archie, he won’t believe me”
Jughead smiled “I guess I just never had anyone that would appreciate that side of me until you”
Betty blushed “So do you see your dad often anymore?”
“About once a year around Christmas usually”
“Do you talk to Jellybean”
“Yeah I try, it’s hard though because my mom doesn’t really approve of her talking to me or dad.”
“That sucks, she’s lucky to have a big brother like you” Betty said
“Thanks. I can’t wait until she’s 18 and can come visit whenever she wants which will still be in a couple years”
“Yeah, I would like to meet her sometime”
“Do you still talk to you parents?” He asked
“Yeah, my Mom mostly because she texts me all the time to remind me to be taking my medicine, or ask if I’m exercising. It’s really annoying and controlling, I thought it would be better once I moved out but it really isn’t that much better. My dad doesn’t bother me much though so that’s nice”
“Your mom was always kinda like that, I remember even from the brief times I spent with you in highschool, I’m sorry. Do you still talk to Polly?”
“Yeah, all the time actually, we facetime at least once a week, I’m hoping I can visit her soon”
“That’s good” he said
They spent the date talking, flirting and smiling at each other.
Once they stepped back into their apartment building Betty decided she didn’t want their date to end.
“Hey, do you want to come over to my place and hang out for a while?” Betty asked
“Sure that sounds great” he said smiling
When they got up to Betty’s apartment, they both took off their jackets and shoes and Betty told Jughead to go sit on her couch. Betty brought over a couple of sodas and sat down herself.
“I’m so glad we finally went on a date” Betty said
“Me too, I didn’t want to ask too soon, but it was killing me”
“If you would have asked me the first week I moved in, I probably would have said yes. From the first time I saw you in the hallway, and when you offered to help us, I started liking you…” she said starting to feel kind of shy
Jughead just smiled and pulled Betty closer on the couch.
“I really like you” he whispered
“I really like you too” she whispered back, turning herself to be face to face with him.
She leaned towards him and kissed him. This time he had time to react and started kissing her back. It was slow and romantic, the way Betty had imagined it. After a while she leaned her head on his shoulder and he kissed her ear.
They watched a movie and cuddled on the couch for a couple hours. When the movie was over they were snuggled up together under a blanket.
“I don’t wanna move” he said putting his face in her hair
“Then don’t” she said
They laid there for another 10 minutes cuddled into each other.
“I should let you sleep, we both have class in the morning”
“Then sleep with me..right here” she said snuggling closer to him
“Ok” he said leaning into her again
They fell asleep together on the couch. The next thing he knew he opened his eyes to Betty gently shaking his arm. She was just out of the shower, and was dressed, but still had a towel on her hair.
“Hey you don’t want to be late for class” she said softly when he opened his eyes.
