Falling For Mr. Jones

2

    "Miss Cooper, can I see you after class?" Mr. Jones asks and Betty nods.
    The class all leaves and Betty stays at her desk. "Did I do something wrong?" He asks.
    "No."
    "Then why have you been ignoring and avoiding me all week?" Mr. Jones pulls up a chair and sits at her desk.
    "I'm just really busy." She mumbles with her hair forming a curtain around her face.
    Mr. Jones nods, "are you sure? You don't regret anything that happened?"
    "No, of course not!" Betty whips her head to face him but quickly drops it back down to hide her face.
    "Miss Cooper, look at me."
    Betty shakes her head and Jughead turns her head to face him. He stares at a bruise on her cheek for a second before looking into her eyes.
    "What happened?" He asks.
    "Nothing, I have to go. My mom's gonna kill me." Betty stands up, rushing out of the room.
    Mr. Jones sighs, walking to the office.

Betty sits silently on the couch doing her homework with Polly and Charles nearby, playing with the twins. There is a knock on the door and Betty answers it.
    "Mr. Jones, what are you doing here?" She asks.
    "Who is it?" Alice shouts, walking into the room. "Who are you?"
    "I am Elizabeths English teacher."
    "What did you do this time?"
    "I don't-"
    "Go upstairs." Alice orders and Betty grabs her homework, speeding up the stairs without looking back at Mr. Jones. "What did she do?"
    "No-nothing. I just came to tell you that your daughter is very brilliant and I recommend some tutoring to..." He looks up and sees Betty staring at them. "To enhance her um, her writing and better prepare her for college."
    "And who would be tutoring her?"
    "I would be, Missus-"
    "Miss, my husband and I are separated."
    "Miss..."
    "Smith."
    "Uh, huh, but I recommend that she has me tutor her on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays."
    "Okay, fine. ELIZABETH, COME HERE. NOW." Alice shouts.
    Betty walks down the stairs silently and smiles at Mr. Jones. He notices a new bruise on her eye.
    "I was actually hoping I could tutor her today. She will be home by six."
    "Oh, it doesn't matter when she's home. As long as she's with you I know she's safe." Alice bats her eyes at Jughead.
    "Uh, right, okay. Miss Cooper, are you coming?" He turns to Betty who nods.
    They drive to Jughead's apartment and Betty sets her notes down on his kitchen table. She turns to him and notices the pity in his eyes.
    "What?"
    "Are you okay?"
    "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
    "Your face," he reaches out to touch the bruise on her cheek but she flinches away. "I would never hurt you, you know that, right?"
    Betty stays silent.
    "Miss Cooper-"
    "Betty."
    He smiles, "Betty, does your mother hurt you?"
    "I need to study," she turns to the kitchen table.
    "Betty, please, just talk to me."
    "Why?"
    "Because I care about you."
    "You don't need to worry about me. I'll be fine."
    "I don't think you will. Please, nothing you say will go any further than this kitchen table." They both sit down at the table and Betty stares at him.
    "Yeah, she hits me."
    "How often?"
    "When I don't get a good enough grade, when I'm late getting home, when I talk." Betty sighs.
    "I'm sorry," he brushes her hair behind her ear and rests his lips gently against hers.
    "It's not your fault."
    "Sometimes it is."
    "It's not ever your fault." She puts a hand on his cheek, kissing him.
    "Let me get you an apartment there is on for rent in this building and-"
    "Mr. Jones, I don't think-"
    "We're not in school, you can call me Jughead."
    Betty smiles, "Jughead, I don't think that is a good idea. If someone found out you were paying for my living space it could get you fired. I don't want that to happen."
    "They won't find out, besides if anyone found out I'll just tell them I'm a family friend. I just want you to be safe."
    "Alright," Betty smiles.
    "Great, I'll talk to the landlord tonight and get that set up for you."
    "Thank you," Betty throws herself into his arms.
    Jughead rubs her back kissing her head. "Of course."
    Betty kisses him, she moans softly into his lips and he grips her waist before pulling away.
    "Betty, we can't do this again. It's wrong."
    "You're so confusing sometimes, you know that, right?" She sighs.
    "I'm sorry, Betty, I want this too, but it's just not safe. Someone could see us."
    "Someone could see us right now, but you aren't worried about that."
    "I am, but we're hugging, there's nothing wrong with that."
    "Please, Juggie."
    Jughead smiles, "not right now."
    Betty sighs, returning to her seat.