When A Snake Bites (JugheadXReader)

•4• Slow Burning

I paused for a moment. Thinking about my response before I could say it. He raised an eyebrow,getting impatient. "I've just been thinking about things." I lied again. This time it was believable. "About what things?" He asked. "Just that-" before I could finish Archie came into the room. "Is everything okay?" He asked. "Was I interrupting anything?" He repeated. "No,Arch." I responded as Jughead faced Archie. "Why did you come here? Is something up?" I asked him. "No,You guys have just been in here for a while." He responded. Archie was acting strange around Jug when he was with me. "Archie,is everything okay?" I asked walking over to him,tilting my head. "Yeah. I was just making sure you guys were okay." He shot a nervous smile before leaving. I turned and raised a brow at Jug. "What's up with him?" I asked,walking to the table he was leaning up against. "No idea. With Archie it could be anything." He responded,shaking his head and turning to one of the computers. I was stuck in a thought for a moment. Does Archie like me? Is that why he's acting so weird when I'm around Jughead? Maybe he came in here because he thought we were doing something? I was snapped out of my thoughts when Jughead stepped in front of my gaze. I looked up at him. "I have a theory." I said. "What's your theory?" He asked. "He acts so strange but only when I'm around you. Signs point to-" he cut me off. "Crush." He said before looking up at the ceiling. "Why else would he come in here apparently just wanting to 'check in'" I said with air quotes. Jughead was the skeptical type who liked to prove things. That's one of the things I like about him. I knew he would help me figure this out. "Do you think you can help me find out?" I asked. He shot his gaze down from the ceiling to me. "How exactly?" He asks as he picks up an old newspaper. "I don't know. Just ask him if he likes anyone. Take it from there." I said. "(Y/n). I'm not a teenage girl. We don't talk about that stuff like you guys do." He chuckled with a smirk. I rolled my eyes. "Can you try? Please." I said before he sighed. "Fine but what do I get out of this?" He crosses his arms. "Free Pop's." I said. His eyes lit up. "I'll do it." I laughed before we both walked back outside to the lunch table.
Everyone was talking until we sat down. "What were you guys talking about?" Veronica asked curiously. "Just school stuff." I said before glancing at Jughead who was smirking. I leaned to the side and whispered. "Text me when you get the answer." I leaned back when I saw him nod.
A few hours pass by and I'm at home. I was reading until I heard my mom call me from downstairs. "(Y/n)!!! Someone's here for you!" She called. I raised my eyebrow and shut my book,calling back. "Coming!" I ran downstairs and saw her talking to Jughead. "Jug?" I asked with a confused face. He walked in and looked at me. "Upstairs." I said pointing at the stairs. He started to walk up and I tried to follow but my mom pulled my arm. "What?" I whispered. "You're not doing what I think you're doing right?" She whispered worriedly. "Mom. He's a friend." I said before walking upstairs to him standing in my doorway. "Is this your room?" He asked. "Yeah. You can go in." I said before he walked in,sitting on my desk chair. I shut the door and sat on the bed. "I'm assuming you have news for me." I laughed softly. He smiled. "I do,in fact." He responded to me. "Well?" I said leaning forward,eyebrows raised. "He didn't say your name directly but he did mention that he liked a childhood friend." I cut him off. "That could be Betty." I said. "You didn't let me finish. I was going to say that when I suggested your name,he got all flustered and said no but it was an obvious lie." He said. I face palmed. "Poor Arch. He's my best friend. I love him like a brother." I said before looking down. "He'll be heart broken to hear I like someone else." My eyes widened when I realized what I had just said. Jughead shot up. "Who?" He asked. Now he seemed weird. "I-uh." I mumbled. He cocked his head to the side slightly. "I can't say that." I said with a nervous giggle. "You can tell me anything." He said before walking over and sitting next to me. He seemed like he really wanted to know. "I'll let you know later. Okay? I have to make sure I like him." I giggled trying to stall. He smirked. "Fine." He stood up. "Wanna head to Pop's?" He asked. "Oh right,your free food." I laughed softly. He nodded and I shook my head,rolling my eyes playfully. "Let's go then." I stood up and followed him downstairs.
     My mom shot a dirty look at me but I just ignored her as we walked out. We made our way to Pop's generating a conversation. "How did you meet Archie anyways?" He asked as we walked. "Well,funny story actually. We were like five and we were both at Pop's with our parents. Him and I bumped into each other on the way to the bathroom. And then we became best friends." I smiled. "I'm surprised I've never met you before. I know Archie's talked about you but I never met you." He said. "I don't know either. Arch and I were inseparable." I laughed. "So you grew up in Riverdale?" He asked. "Yep. Moved to Greendale when I was ten for my dad's job opportunity." I said looking at the ground. "I see." He chuckled. "I was devastated when we had to move even though Greendale is just across Sweet-water River." I said laughing. "It's kinda stupid when I think about it now." I smiled. I looked up at Jughead who was just listening to my words intently. I smiled at his concentration until we went into Pop's.
       We slid in a booth across from each other. "What's your usual here?" He asked,crossing his arms and kicking his feet up beside me on the chair. "Classic Vanilla milkshake,The Pop's burger and onion rings." I shot out since it was practically engraved in my memory. "Mine is so close to that only it's a Chocolate milkshake." He smirked. "Wow no way." I laughed and he smiled. Pop came over. "What can I get for you kids?" He smiled. "Our usuals,Pop." Jughead said with a smile. "Oh! It's (y/n)! I haven't seen you in ages! If memory serves me correctly,Burger,onion rings and a vanilla milkshake." He said. "You still got it Pop." I laughed and he chuckled before walking away. "How often did you come here?" Jughead asked,chuckling. "3 days a week." I smiled and looked at his hands for a quick moment. I got distracted and he knocked me out of it by snapping in front of my face. "What are you thinking about?" I looked up,blushing. "Nothing,Just zoning out." How many times am I gonna lie to this boy? I was thinking about him. His hands on my body. I couldn't help it. For some reason that's all I could think about. Him. I was falling for him even though we haven't known each other for very long. I knew I couldn't tell him because the way Jughead was,he wouldn't like me. Again,he snapped me out of my thoughts. "Is something wrong?" He asked. "No,I just keep thinking about things. Stupid brain." I let out a nervous giggle. He raised his eyebrow slightly. Just then Pop came over and gave us our food. Saved by the bell. What would he have said? Enough thinking. Focus on the moment. I picked up an onion ring and took a bite of it. He started to chow down quickly. "Jeez slow down." I laughed and he chuckled setting it down. "I'm hungry." He responded. "You're always hungry." I laughed. "You're not wrong." He pointed at me before taking another bite along with me. The rest of the night was filled with laughter and stupid jokes.
    I woke up to my loud ass alarm blaring in my ears. I groaned and turned it off before sitting up. I got up and got changed,brushing my hair and teeth before going downstairs to breakfast. "Hey honey,I made you some breakfast." My mom smiled. "Thanks mom." I walked over and grabbed some pancakes and walked to the table,eating. A few minutes later my doorbell rang. "I'll get it." I said before standing up and walking to the door. I opened it only to see the beanie wearing boy smiling at me. "Walk you to school?" He asked with a smile. I smiled and nodded. I quickly got my shoes on and grabbed my bag,walking out the door. "I'll see you after school mom." I called before shutting the door. I walked along side of Jughead until we came up to Archie and Betty's house. We decided to invite them with us. We walked up to Archie's door and he answered. His face dropped slightly when he saw me with Jug. I threw my head to the side,motioning to come with. He grabbed his bag and walked with us to Betty's house. She came out too and we all walked together. We were all laughing and joking until we made it to the lounge room where Kevin and Veronica were waiting. "All of you walked to school together?" Veronica asked. "Yeah." I responded before sitting on one of the chairs. Jug sat next to me. Archie and Betty sat on the couch across from us and Veronica was sitting on the arm of the chair Kevin was sitting on. "Anything exciting happening today?" Veronica asked looking at all of us and sipping her coffee. "Not that I know of." Betty said with a smile. Archie was just staring at me and Jug. I gave him a confused look. He stood up. "(Y/n),can I talk to you in privacy really quick?" He said. I gave a nervous look to Jughead. He nodded before I walked into an empty classroom with him. "What's up?" I asked quietly,leaning against a desk. "I have to get something off my chest." He responded. I could feel my heartbeat in my ears loudly drumming. "Go on." I said calmly. "I've liked you since we were little. I always have. I fell in love with you." He said. My heart broke at the fact that I didn't feel the same. "Arch.." I said. "And I know I just told you this but I really hope we could-" I piped up. "Archie!" He stopped talking and looked me in the eye. "I can't. I love you,but not in that way. And I hate to break your heart but I can't make myself love you in that way." I said sadly. He nodded slowly. "I understand. I love you." He said. "..as a best friend." He smiled. I smiled at him and hugged him. "I love you too,Arch." I responded. We both were cool with each other. We actually walked into the room laughing and joking. Jughead looked confused. When I sat down,he leaned over to me. "What happened?" He asked. "We're cool. I explained to him." I said keeping my gaze on the others. He just nodded. The bell rang and Jug and I made our way to the Blue and Gold room. I sat on one of the chairs as he closed the door. "What exactly happened between you two?" He asked before sitting next to me. "I told you. I just told him I can't love him like that." I responded. He looked down at his feet. "What's wrong?" I tilted my head. "Nothing. I was just thinking." He said. "I know what that means." I said. "What are you thinking about?" I followed up. "Just Archie. He might feel bad. I'll have to talk to him. He hides things easily." Jughead said. I knew he was lying but I didn't want to push him anymore. "Jug we hugged it out." I responded anyways. "You hugged?" He asked. "Yes." I said. He seemed worried but I didn't want to say anything. He just nodded before walking to one of the desks,writing.