Honestly, I wrote this and the one part feels a little odd BUT Bughead and Varchie are endgame soooo I think it'll be ok.

Silence

Summary – Slight song-fic to T. Swift's The Way I Loved You. AU. Betty and Archie have been dating for two weeks. Everybody loves him but Betty misses the way she loved her ex of six months, Jughead Jones.

BPOV

From day one, we fought. We bickered. We poked fun at one another. But it was thrilling. My very soul hummed at the thought of fighting with him, with the beanie-wearing boy that haunts my dreams to this day. It's Veronica's fault, really, that I'm dating again anyway. I was perfectly content to wallow in self-pity until I built up the courage to try to win him back. And now because of Veronica, and maybe a little because of my mom, I have a date with my perfect new boyfriend tonight. Yes, everyone just looooves Archie Andrews, and I guess I do too. He's actually incredible. He's kind, respectful, and very attractive but he's not him. He's not…no, I can't even think like that. He'll be here promptly at six and if I let myself spiral, I won't be going anywhere tonight. I spare a glance at the clock as my roommate and best friend barges into my room.

"Ugh, I'm so jelly, B," she complains, plopping herself onto my bed. "He's just so perfect."

"Then why don't you date him?" I snap, annoyed that she would even say anything when it's her that got me into this in the first place.

"Sorry, Betty," she concedes. "You know I just wanted to see you on your feet again after that snake ruined you." I smile sadly, knowing that he completed me, not ruined me.

"It's as much my fault as it is his," I whisper.

"Now's not the time for that," Roni wraps her arm around my shoulders, squeezing gently. "Archie will be here any minute now."

"I know," I answer, trying my best to fake a smile. I hear a knock on the door and look back at the clock. Six. Exactly. I suppress a groan, moving to answer the door. I open it slowly, only to be greeted with flowers and a chaste kiss on the cheek. If it had been Jughead, it would be seven-thirty, with a knock on the window, and a passionate, demanding kiss.

"Archie, we need to talk," I blurt out, knowing it's not fair to string him along.

"Of course, Betty," he responds with a chipper smile. "We'll talk a lot at dinner."

"Not what I meant. Can you come in for a minute please?" I ask, walking backwards towards the couch. I can practically hear Veronica pressing her ear to her bedroom door.

"Okay," he follows me slowly, realizing now that it's something serious.

"I know it's only been a couple weeks, but it's just not working out," I tell him, quickly before losing my nerve. "I think V's really interested in you though and we didn't get that close, you and I, so there'd be no hard feelings if you don't want to waste your date night."

"Betty, I don't know if I'm comfortable taking your friend out after just getting broken up with," his red eyebrows are knitted with confusion and discomfort.

"I really think you guys would be good together and I really think we won't," I say, sternly.

"If you're sure, maybe we can just get coffee…" Archie trails off, still unsure so I stand from the couch and knock on V's door.

"Yes, my lovely best friend?" she asks, sharply. She's wearing a slight scowl and I know for sure now she was listening.

"You've been going on about how great he is for weeks. Just please go out with him. No hard feelings and I'm not trying to be a bitch or a martyr but I'm just not interested in Archie that way."

"If I really have your blessing," her dark eyes soften considerably and she turns to address Archie. "Coffee sounds lovely." I breathe a deep sigh of relief as they leave, pouring myself a glass of wine and thanking the heavens I turned twenty-one four months ago. I pick up my cellphone and stare at the name Juggie for a good fifteen minutes before finally hitting send. He picks up with a quiet 'hello' and I nearly melt at the sound of his voice.

"I miss you, Jug. I tried to stop but I can't. I miss the fighting and the kisses shared in downpours and I miss the way you said my name. I miss everything about you and the way you loved me, the way we loved each other. Maybe it wasn't always healthy but maybe we can work on that. I tried to move on," I choke on my words before clearly my throat and starting again. "I really, really tried but I just keep thinking that I miss the way you loved me and the way I loved you. Please, please can we put the past behind us and just try to work this out?" I know I sound like I'm begging but I can't bring myself to care until I'm greeted by silence for too long.

"Did you hang up on me?" I whisper, tears filling my eyes. I hear a shaky intake of breath that confirms he's still there.

"Are you home?" he finally asks, voice sounding tired.

"Yes," I breathe out. "And Veronica's not home." I'm shocked at myself for adding that little tidbit but I felt it was needed.

"I'll be over in twenty," he answers and the line goes dead. I pace around the apartment, sipping my wine. I let out a startled scream when a knock sounds on the door eighteen minutes later. My heart clenches in my chest. He came when he said he would, I realize with surprise. I fling it open and am enveloped in his strong, leather-clad arms. The familiar beanie is gone in a rare show of vulnerability and I'm taken aback by the slightly wild look in his eyes and hair. There are dark bags under his piercing blue eyes as he stares into my soul.

"I miss you, too, Betts," he grits out. I close my eyes and relish in the sound of my name on his lips and the feel of his arms around my waist. I open my eyes, green gazing into blue.

"You look so tired," I murmur, pushing his unruly hair back from his face.

"I haven't slept much since I lost you," he whispers, dropping his head to my shoulder and breathing me in like he did so many months ago.

"I don't want to let go of you ever again," I admit, stroking his cheek lovingly.

"Can that be a promise?" he backs us up until I fall onto the couch, him dropping to his knees before me and taking my hands.

"A promise of what, exactly?" I feel myself starting to put up walls again, to avoid the heartache that will follow if he lets go and I don't.

"That we won't let go of each other this time," he answers, softly, intently staring into my eyes. My walls that I started to build mere moments ago already began to crumble. "That we'll both do better and work on our problems instead of just pushing away."

"I promise," I mutter, softly, leaning down to capture his lips.

"I promise," Jughead sighs into my open mouth, standing up with me still attached to him. He carries me into my bedroom, kicking the door shut and sealing our promise with a night of raw passion.

Review please!