How Things Could Be

Jughead smiled to himself as he turned around the corner to the street Pop's was on. It was a good day in Riverdale; things were normal and he had a few bucks in his pocket for some burgers. It felt like people were listening to him today, which was a nice change. His parents finally took Jellybean out to the hiking camp she'd been begging to go on, which left him with the house to himself; and Reggie agreed to pay him back the ten dollars he 'forgot' about. Hell, earlier he'd even convinced Archie to take Betty on a date. Sure, it was only after Veronica had ditched him for Reggie, for the umpteenth time, but it still felt like a win. Although lately it seemed like just about every day the same things happened over and over. Nothing ever seemed to change, Veronica would always only care about who had the most money to take her out; Betty would always be chosen second; Reggie would always fight Archie for Veronica or steal kisses from Midge, which would always result in Moose beating him up, so on and so on. As he peered up the road at the small diner and the bubble-gum comic streets, Jughead couldn't help but wonder to himself:

"I wonder what it'd be like if something real and lasting actually happened here."

Jughead pushed the doors open to Pop's and froze. Things were different. No. Everything was different. He spun around, taking everything in, The diner was darker, richer and more solid looking. His stomach felt awful suddenly and he rushed into the bathroom.

Jughead splashed his face with water for a moment before looking in the mirror. He nearly threw up. Not only was his face different, but he looked... really strange. Gone was the comic-looking reality he was used to. His nose was correctly proportioned to his face, his jawline was sharp and he looked... handsome. His hands flew to the crown-beanie on his head and he sighed in relief knowing that his comfort blanket came to this strange world with him.

He took another moment to take in this new version of himself. He had long fingers, thick black hair, striking blue eyes, and a lean and muscled figure. Jughead couldn't help the small smile at his lips as he thought, "I wish the guys back home could see me now..."

As he thought of everyone else, his stomach dropped again. Where were they? Were they here? Did they look different too?

Jughead took a breath and stepped out of the bathroom into the light of the diner again. "Hey, Pop." He sat down in his usual bar stool, at least some things were the same. "I think I'll just have a milkshake toni..." as Pop turned around, Jughead felt his voice die in his throat. Pop was... black? There was nothing wrong with it, just... somehow his race changed completely. How does that even happen? "...ght." Jughead forced himself to finish his word, swallowing any shock he may have experienced. "Actually, you know, I'm not feeling too well, I think I'll just head home and go to bed; maybe take the night off and relax or something"

Pop quirked an eyebrow and gave a knowing smile, "Say hello to Betty for me."

Jughead didn't respond to that. He didn't know how to. What did that even mean? Maybe he assumed he'd go to Archie's and Betty would be there or something? He had no idea... absolutely no idea.

After wandering up and down the streets for a bit, a thought occurred to him; his house wasn't there. It didn't exist. He was on the street that it should be on, but the street had a different name and all the houses looked different.

"I hope Archie lives in the same place." Jughead started heading towards Archie's last known residence. "Hell," he muttered to himself, "I hope Archie exists."

Sure enough, Archie's house was there. He may not have recognized it if it weren't for the boy himself, sitting on the front porch, guitar in hand. He looked different, and as much as Jughead would've liked to take credit for instantly recognizing him, it was the football jersey labeled "Andrews" that cinched it. Archie wasn't wearing the jersey, just holding it up in one hand, almost comparing it to the guitar.

Jughead figured he'd better just act normal for now, "Band practice? Isn't a bit early in the season, Arch?"

Archie looked up at him with an expression on his face that was a mix between confusion and an 'are you an idiot?' look. So much for the idea of acting normal.

"Hey Jug," Archie muttered setting his shirt down beside him and turning to look at the sheet music sitting on his leg. "You're home early."

"I am?" Jughead scratched his head; it was a Saturday, "From where?"

"Blue and Gold. You have a deadline on monday." Archie chuckled slightly, "Betty will kill you if you've forgotten. Better get your ass down to the school." When Jughead didn't move, Archie looked up at him, "Why aren't you there? I mean, the two of you are rarely apart for more than two minutes. Did something happen?"

Jughead shook his head, his mind spinning. Nothing here makes sense. Sure, he's helped Betty out with the school paper before, but this sounded different than that. "I'll uh, I'll go there now... I guess."

"You'd better hurry." Archie shook his head and began strumming the guitar.

Jughead arrived in front of the school. It looked fairly similar to the one he was used to, but like everything else in this place it was drained of colour and dark. This whole world felt dark and mysterious. It wasn't the Riverdale he was used to.

Before he could even make it to the top of the steps, Betty opened the front door, her arms crossed and foot tapping.

Jughead froze. He thought this had to be Betty. Who else would be impatiently waiting to work at school on a Saturday, but... holy shit. This version of Betty was similar and different all at once. She was stunning. Her hair was pulled into a pony tail, like always; her lips were a deep pink and her eyebrow was quirked in a disapproving manner; yet an amused smile played on her lips. It was a look he'd never seen her have before. She looked menacing and... and... sexy. It felt wrong for him to think it, but there it was.

"Well?" Betty pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Uh," He scrambled for the correct response, remembering Archie's words he quickly replied, "Sorry I'm late."

Her expression instantly softened into a smile, and she held the door open, beckoning him inside the empty school.

Although he knew where the Blue and Gold room was back in his school, he stayed a step behind Betty just in case. She opened the familiar door and Jughead stepped inside.

"So, what article are we working on?" He turned around in time to see her close the door behind them and turn the little lock. He swallowed hard. When Betty turned around, she looked somewhat confused and somewhat amused.

"We finished it yesterday." Betty smiled and pulled the elastic out of her hair, shaking the curls loose. Her eyes were locked on his, and a predatory look came over her face.

"What are you doing, Betts?" His voice was rougher than he meant it, nervous energy pouring out of him. She didn't answer, instead giving him a small innocent smile, as if he'd said something really embarrassing.

Jughead didn't move, he couldn't and he didn't really want to. Every inch of his body was equally telling him to run and to stay. He was frozen in place as she slowly made her way up to him; her hips swaying tantalizingly with her skirt with each step. As she came up to him, she stepped into his personal space and placed a hand against his chest. Her palm felt like fire.

Jughead couldn't breathe. This was wrong. It was all so wrong. He'd just set her up with his best friend, this morning! He shouldn't be looking at her like this. He and Betty had never...

Well there was that one time she kissed him in the hallway for no discernible reason... he'd never figured that one out; and there was that one date he took her on that was an amazing day for each of them; and the time he'd told her that if he were ever going to kiss someone it'd be her... but those were just... moments. Besides, the day after each of those, things went back to normal, as if they'd never happened. Jughead swallowed hard again, his eyes drifting down to her lips. If he'd ever willingly kiss a girl... ever initiate a kiss... he felt himself lean forward despite every ounce of him screaming how wrong it was.

The second their lips touched, Betty's arms wrapped around his neck and her lips pried his open. Jughead couldn't keep back the groan that escaped as her tongue rubbed against his. This wasn't like any of the kisses he'd ever seen her and Archie share. Not that he'd paid too much attention, but those were generally chaste kisses over the lips and cheeks, leaving big lipstick marks across him. This was very different. He could taste her.

Jughead slid his arms around her waist, and she eagerly pressed herself against him, her fingers pulling into his hair, knocking his beanie to the floor. He didn't notice as he slanted his lips against hers, tasting all of her mouth he could reach. She was better than anything he could have imagined.

The next thing he knew, her fingers were trailing down his back and pulling his S-shirt over his head. With the kiss broken, and him standing shirtless in front of Betty, his mind began to clear.

"Woah Betty, it's me, Jughead!" He began backing up. "What are you doing?" The back of his legs hit the couch and he fell into a seated position. Betty following him with each step and sitting to straddle him.

"I know it's you." She whispered in his ear, "I'd never be like this with anyone but you." Betty placed a kiss on his neck and gave his ear a tug with her teeth before pulling back slightly to look at him. "Are you alright?"

She looked beautiful. Her lips were red, her lipstick almost completely smeared off and her hair was loose, framing her face. She adjusted herself in his lap, pressing intimately against him. Jughead took a sharp breath and nodded.

"I'm, uh... yeah Betts. I just.." He sighed, "I just don't understand why you're here with me." At that she gave a sad smile.

"Because you're my boyfriend, Juggie. And I..." Her eyes teared up slightly, "I love you. I love you so much Jughead..."

She looked like she was going to cry, and despite the speed in which his brain was trying to comprehend any of what just happened, Jughead did the only thing he could think of to help the situation. He kissed her.

Betty moaned into the kiss, molding her body against his, grinding herself into his lap. Her lips were soft and her face was tear-stained, but Jughead couldn't think about anything other than how good she felt around him. His hands moved up her legs, beneath her skirt to rest on her thighs. He couldn't believe the reactions she was pulling from him. There was a tightness in his jeans, his heart was pounding in his ears and he felt like he was being touched by fire. She was incredible. Her hands flew down his naked chest, and straight to his belt.

Jughead groaned into her mouth, his hands slipping higher, cupping her thong-clad ass and grinding her into his erection. Everything about this felt so wrong and yet he couldn't make himself stop, he didn't want to stop... ever.

Betty's delicate fingers undid his belt, pulling it off and immediately going for his button and zipper. As he felt the pressure of the jeans diminish against his hard on, he broke the kiss, looking at Betty. Her face was flushed and she had a devilish grin on her lips. She kept eye contact with him as she reached beneath his boxers and took hold of his hard cock.

Jughead choked. This world was so different from the place he'd been just hours ago. He never wanted to go back. This Betty had awakened something in him, a need for her, and he couldn't go back to a place where he'd never stand a chance.

Betty stood up for a moment, pulling Jughead back to the present. He moaned at the loss of her touch. She just smiled as she began slipping her panties off from underneath her skirt. His eyes were glued to the scene before him, cock twitching expectantly. She reached up and pulled her sweater off her back, followed by unlatching her bra and dropping it at her feet. The skirt quickly followed the rest of the discarded clothing. Jughead felt his breath hitch at the sight, Betty Cooper standing naked in front of him. She leaned forward and began pulling his pants and boxers down his thighs. Jughead helped her, pushing his pants down faster than he'd ever done anything before. As he did that, a thought crossed his mind.

"Betty." His voice was hardly more than a choked whisper. "We probably shouldn't... I mean, we can't..." The words wouldn't form on his tongue and he could hardly focus on anything beyond the fact that a naked Betty was crawling into his lap... his naked lap.

"You know I'm on the pill." Betty straddled him once more, rubbing herself along his hard length.

"That's not what I meant. I just..." Jughead bit back a moan, he wanted her so badly. Feeling her wetness trailing along him was almost too much, he wanted to be inside her. "Oh god, Betty." His head dropped backwards as she positioned herself above him, holding his dick to rub his tip against her clit. "We... we shouldn't do this." At this point he knew his plea was more than halfhearted. He wanted nothing more than to plunge up into her.

"What? Why?" She stilled above him. "It's not like we've never done this before..." Betty was too busy looking around the office to notice his jaw drop. "Is it the office? I locked the door. No one will come in."

Jughead couldn't argue anymore, his willpower had faded and become clouded with lust. They'd done this before... in whatever world this was, he was hers and she was his. They'd made love, he'd been inside her. It was too much for him to handle. "You're right." He nodded, "I need you Betts." She looked down at him and smiled, taking in his half-lidded lusting eyes and trembling hands.

He slowly reached up and cupped her breasts, they were so firm and tender. He rolled the nipples in his fingers, and she dropped her head back, still holding him in position beneath her. Finally she began to drop down onto him, enveloping him.

"Oh god." Jughead bit his cheek to keep from spilling into her right away. She was so tight and yet so wet he could feel it dripping down to the base of him. His hands continued to rub her nipples pulling delicate moans and sighs from her until she'd completely sheathed him. Before she could so much as bounce on him, Jughead reached around her back and flipped them, so that she was laying length-wise on the couch with him in between her legs.

He could barely control what he was doing. Jughead felt like he'd woken up. Perhaps, he thought, he was just as bad as Archie, always overlooking Betty. He had been the first one to tell Arch at every opportunity that Betty was the perfect woman and he shouldn't keep tossing her aside, but he'd never really thought beyond that. He'd never imagined going after Betty himself. Jughead pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind as he slipped out of her and back in.

"You're so wet for me." He whispered against her ear. Betty's arms and legs wrapped around Jughead, pulling him as deep into her as she possibly could. His body rubbed against her clit with every thrust of his hips.

"I'm always wet for you, Juggie." His name on her lips felt like honey.

As he plunged into her, his speed increasing with urgency, he couldn't hold back anymore.

"Oh Betts, god you're so beautiful." He pressed his lips against hers, slanting his mouth and tasting her tongue. "I've wanted you for so long." His voice was frantic between their kisses, almost drowned out by the vigorous slapping of their bodies meeting in a heated frenzy. "I may not have realized it, but I always wanted you, I've always needed you. Oh god, Betty. I'll always need you."

"Oh Juggie..." He voice was filled with lust and sounded like silk. "I love you so much."

"I love you Betty." He kissed her as hard as he could, feeling her walls begin to tighten around him. "Fuck, I love you. You're everything Betty, absolutely everything." He traced his hand between them and began circling his fingers around her clit. Her channel tightened around him, milking his cock for everything he had. "Holy shit, Betts, you're so tight. Cum for me." Jughead picked up his pace, hammering into Betty's wetness as fast as he could until he felt her body seize beneath him.

"Juggie!" As she screamed his name, it was too much for him and Jughead felt himself let go. He found every bit of himself, all the things he didn't know existed and all the feelings he'd never dared to recognize and he spilled it inside her.

He lay there for a moment, his still-hard dick pulsing into her cum-filled core before she spoke.

"Holy fuck, Jug; that was incredible. What's gotten into you today?" Her tone was playful and light as she flitted her fingers across his toned back.

"You." Jughead whispered so quietly that he was almost sure she wouldn't hear him. "I'm crazy about you Betty. I think... I think I always will be." He pulled himself out of her and looked her in the eyes. "You've gotten to me and I know that I'll never be the same. Nothing will ever be the same. You've gotten in my system and... and I've fallen so hard for you. Maybe I was already in love with you, but now I know. I will always love you. Only you." He couldn't bear to look at her after his confession. He wasn't even sure why he'd felt the need to let it out. But he did. And of all the places to make a huge embarrassing confession, it may as well be the place that may not exist.

Betty cupped his face, pulling him to her. "Juggie, I love you so much. I'm not going anywhere. You're my forever." She placed a kiss against his lips. Soft and tender at first, but turning more heated by the second. Jughead pulled her naked body against him, already feeling himself begin to harden at the contact.

A phone rang and Betty pulled away, reaching into her purse. "Oh shit, that's my Mum. She's stopping by to pick up the article. Quick! Get dressed!" She tossed his clothes at him and began pulling her own on.

Jughead did what he was told and just in time. The second he sat down, pulled his hat in place and tried to look comfortable, Alice Cooper swept in.

The exchange wasn't long before Alice had somewhere to be, letting Betty know that she had to be home by dinner. Alice regarded Jughead with a quick curt smile and he nodded back, unsure of what to do since this was far from the woman he knew back home.

"Betty?" Jughead turned to her not long after Alice had left, "What happened between you and Archie?" He felt like he shouldn't ask, but at the same time, he had to know.

"What do you mean?" She cocked her head to the side, "Nothing's ever really happened between us. Or do you mean with the whole dance thing where he and Veronica ended up making out in a closet and then he told me he didn't love me back." Jughead winced at the words and the bitterness in Betty's voice.

"Uh, yeah, that."

Betty shrugged, "Well honestly, the part about that, that upset me the most was that Veronica would betray me like that. And I put myself out on the line, laid everything out in the open and got my heart broken. But when I think back to it, I wasn't really in love with Archie. I just..." She sighed, meeting Jughead's curious gaze, "I just wanted someone to love me. To show me that I could be loved. I thought that Archie and I were meant to be, because I'd had a crush on him since we were in kindergarten. It was a silly crush that I'd made into more because I wanted more. I didn't know what it would be like to actually be in love with someone until you kissed me and woke me up. I'd been dreaming this romance with a guy who didn't even like me like that, hell, he had eyes for just about any other girl in town over me, even one's he barely knew anything about." Jughead shook his head at that, some things never change.

Betty continued: "When I think back to it, I really just wish that someone would've come up to me sooner and said 'Betty, you deserve more than this. Archie isn't the only guy out there.' I feel like I would've really responded to that because in my heart... I knew it was true. I deserved to be with someone who would actually pick me first for something and want to be with me rather than wish they were with someone else. I wish you'd been able to say that to me, and better yet, if you'd still wanted me back then then you could've added something about you being there for me when I need you and loving me... you know, the way you do." Her tone was light and playful again as she leaned in for a kiss.

As the evening continued on, Jughead walked Betty home so she wouldn't be late. In this place, her Mum didn't seem like someone to be trifled with. He found that his mind was still reeling from everything that had happened today and yet he couldn't imagine wanting it to be any different. When they arrived at her place, she invited him in quickly to give him some footnotes on the next article they'd be writing. Betty gave him a quick kiss, since her Mum was watching, and snuck a note into his palm.

As she closed the door, Jughead turned around and noticed that everything was different... again. It was around six at night and he was standing on Betty's porch in a bubble-gum comic coloured world. Jughead felt like his heart had stopped. He wanted nothing more than to go back to where he had been. He looked down at the note still in his fingers and he turned it over.

Jughead, Climb through my window tonight, 11pm. I love you. See you then. -Betty

He smiled, slipping the note into his back pocket as the door behind him opened. It was real. Somewhere out there, Betty Cooper loved him.

"Jughead?" He spun around quickly to see Betty, the Betty he was used to, standing there. This wasn't his Betty and that thought broke his heart.

"Hey Betts." He whispered, remembering the way her lips had felt against his, the way her body fit against him.

"Are you okay?" She stepped onto the porch with him, looking out at the empty street. "Is there something you want?"

Jughead was about to shake his head 'No' when he realized something, "Actually yes, I'd like to talk to you if that's alright."

"Of course." She smiled, it was the same smile no matter which Betty it was. "What would you like to talk about?"

"Well... it's about you and Archie. Betty, you deserve more than this." Jughead looked up to see that he had Betty's full and rapt attention. "Archie isn't the only guy out there..."

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The references to scenes in the comics are all old comic-canon.

Links to some references:

post/159451615393/from-to-sleep-perchance-to-dream-bettys-diary

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