Prologue

"Are you going to talk to me about this?"

Betty sat across from Jughead, her eyes watering. So, it was true? Everything Archie had told her… She couldn't bring herself to believe it. Currently Jughead was sitting beside her, his head in his hands, he was frustrated, and probably angry that Archie had told her the truth. The truth he had wanted to hide so desperately from her.

"Jug?" Betty said. "You need to explain this, why? Why would you think joining the serpents was a good idea?"

"Betty can you lay off a little?" Jughead questioned. "This is exactly why I didn't tell you! I knew you'd make a big deal out of it."

"The serpents Jughead!" she exclaimed. "Why? You know how dangerous they are!"

"Come on Betty, you know I'm not like them" Jughead said. "You really think I would be okay with doing the things they do? The stupid things they do."

Betty shook her head, disbelieving the whole thing, despite the tattoo of a coiled-up snake on his arm. She hated it.

"Your going to get hurt" she said. "Your going to end up dead Jug." Her eyes were watering now, and she was trying to do everything she could to hold them back. "Please you've gotta get out of this now while you can."

"There is no getting out" Jughead said adamantly. "Once you're in a gang you're in it for life."

Betty took his hand and looked into his eyes, her expression completely serious, though her blue eyes were alight with tears.

"What you did was stupid Jug" she said. "But I'm with you… I love you."

Jughead was taken by surprise at her comment and then his expression softened and he kissed her, taking her face in his hands tenderly. "I love you too" he replied. When he pulled away he then sat back, now more relaxed, and held her close, the two of them in one another's arms.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you" Jughead stated. "But know that this isn't going to change things, especially how I feel about you."

"And what about Archie?" Betty asked worriedly. "Are you ever going to patch things up with him?"

Jughead searched his mind for the right words. Archie had caused problems for him, calling Sherriff Keller had thrown his right into the crossfire. He was mad he'd told Betty too, after he'd begged him not to. In fact, it seemed like almost all his problems originated from him. But he was his best friend.

"I'm sure everything will be fine" Jughead replied. "We've known each other for forever pretty much, it'll take a lot more than what's happened to break us up for good."

Betty smiled and leaned into him, lying her head against his chest as she breathed him in. Being with him, it was the one place she felt safe. Safe from the world outside, and specifically, safe from the Black Hood. She knew he could protect her, and she trusted him with that. Because when Jughead Jones loved, it was with his whole heart, and she believed that one hundred percent.

"I'm glad we met" she said. "Everything changed that day."

But it wouldn't be long before Betty regretted those words. It wouldn't be long before the danger found her again. Little did she know her seemingly apple pie life would soon come crashing down all around her.