Blossoming | Bughead AU

wicked game (part 2)

A week goes by. Nothing out of the ordinary happens - well, things are sort of already out of the ordinary, but at least pandemonium didn't happen, right? Archie stays away from Betty, unable to recover from their scene a few days ago. Alice and Betty still have not contacted each other, but her and her father become closer. Polly calls every now and then to discuss how healthy the babies are.

That Friday night, Jughead informs Betty that he's driving the both of them to New York City himself.

"Promise me you're a good driver," Betty begs.

He laughs. "Well, I don't know what your definition of a good driver is, so I can't promise that. But I will promise that I'm a safe driver, and I don't get into fits of road rage."

"That... somewhat relieved me," Betty giggled.

Jughead smiled, leaning over the table they sat at and kissed her forehead. "I promise it's going to be a great trip."

"I know it will, Juggie," Betty said. "I just think it'll be a little weird, because all my life it's been Harvard... Harvard... Harvard. Maybe this will be some fresh air for me."

"I get it, Betty. And trust me, you are most definitely apt for a Harvard-based education," Jughead replied, glancing out the window of Pop's. "I don't think Harvard is the type of school for you."

"I know," Betty smiled. "Harvard would have never made me happy. Maybe this school will."

"Can I tell you something, Betty?"

She nodded. "Of course."

"NYU has always been my dream school, ever since I was a kid and my mom went on and on about how she wished she had gone there," he admitted. "People around here don't see me as the college type, but I am. I just... I like learning."

"I know you do, Jughead. Trust me, I see you as the college type," Betty assured.

She placed her hand on top of his, giving him a cheerful smile. Jughead decided right then and there that Betty Cooper's smile was something to treasure forever.

"What if you don't like the school?" he asked softly.

"Juggie, I already like it just by the way you describe it," Betty said. "But if I truly don't, then I'll just have to go somewhere else and we'll just have to work a little harder."

He nodded, and on the inside, he made it a mission for Betty to absolutely love NYU.

"It's getting pretty late, Betts, I should walk you home," Jughead said, standing up. "We have to get up early."

"Jughead Jones getting up early on a Saturday morning? Is that even possible?" Betty teased.

"Oh, it's possible," Jughead winked.

When Betty got home, she went right upstairs to pack. Usually she would have done it earlier in the week, but she had gotten fed up with a few things and hadn't been able to. Just as she placed her pajamas in the bag, she heard a light tap on her door.

"Come in," Betty called, knowing it was her father.

Hal shot Betty a nervous smile as he closed the door behind him. "How's the packing going?"

"It's going," Betty shrugged. "Did you need anything?"

"Uh, actually, I wanted to talk to you about something," he said. "So, I'm aware that you and Jughead are going on this little trip without any adult supervision."

"Dad!" Betty exclaimed, becoming a little flustered. "Please don't have 'the talk' with me right now. Trust me, I know all about 'the talk' since I was thirteen and mom was all frantic about boys and hormones with Polly and I."