"You're... you're what?" You asked, your face twisting in hurt and confusion.

"Engaged," Jughead repeated. "I'm going to be married."

In that moment, you swear you could hear your heart shatter.

"To who?" You said, so soft it could have been a whisper.

"Betty Cooper," Jughead said with a fond smile. "Remember her? We went to high school together."

"Yeah," you mumbled. "I remember her."

You sat in awkward silence until you finally said, "I didn't know you guys were dating."

"Yeah," Jughead said, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was kind of sudden, honestly. Only a few months ago."

"Only a few months and you're engaged?" You said it like it was a dirty word.

He shrugged. "We're in love. Better now than later, I figured."

What a Jughead answer. You'd laugh if you weren't so heartbroken.

On that note, Pop brought the two of you your usuals: burgers, fries, and shakes. "So good to see you kids after so long," he said. "You two finally dating?"

"No," Jughead said with a laugh. "Just friends, Pop. I'm with someone else."

Every time he said it was like a punch in the gut. You averted your eyes, concentrating on the neon signage outside.

"Oh, how disappointing," Pop said, frowning. "Well take care now." He returned to the kitchen.

"Why hasn't Pop seen you in a while?" You asked Jughead. He'd normally go to Pop's multiple times a week. You would have thought he'd marry a cheeseburger before marrying Betty Cooper.

"Now that I have a full time job it's hard to find the time to come in. Fred sometimes brings us to-go orders from here," Jughead said, stuffing some fries in his mouth. "Betty's dieting now for the wedding and forbids this stuff in the house anyways."

You raised an eyebrow. Betty keeping Jughead away from burgers? That's like keeping a fish out of the ocean.

He grinned. "Plus, this place just doesn't feel the same without you."

You tried to smile but it came off as a grimace. You looked down, pushing around the fries in the basket.

"So... there was something you wanted to tell me, right?" Jughead said. Your head snapped up.

"Um... I miss you," you offered, voice hollow. Well, it was kind of true.

"Oh, (Y/N), I miss you too," Jughead said, smiling tenderly. Your heart melted at the sight, and you cursed yourself internally.

While you hurt so badly inside, talking to Jughead distracted you from the pain that he had caused. Noticing your quietness, he supplied both sides of the conversation, giving you all the big updates of what had happened since you went away for school.

Archie and Veronica were attending school in New York–Archie for music performance and Veronica for business management, but they were both in town for wedding preparations as the best man and maid of honor. FP had finally joined Alcoholics Anonymous, determined to be sober for Jughead's wedding. There were even rumors of Jughead's mom coming back to town.

Your other classmates were off enjoying futures full of opportunity. The Pussycats (after years of arguments Josie finally agreed to make the band a group effort) were a huge hit on YouTube, and were planning to fly to LA to collaborate with other artists and video creators in the area for the summer. Kevin was attending state school and was enjoying the larger LGBTQ community there, making friends and dating around. Reggie was at that same school on football scholarship, and there was talk of a future in the professional league.

"What about Betty?" You asked. You didn't know much about the girl. Honestly, Jughead was your best and only friend from high school. Everything you'd heard of Betty was secondhand information.

"She didn't get into her top school, Yale," Jughead explained. "She's staying in town working for the Register and doing some volunteering to boost her application."

That explained it. Everyone had left Riverdale behind, except Jughead and Betty. She was there for Jughead when you weren't, and everything had fallen into place. Part of you wished you had stayed behind, too.

The two of you finished your meal and returned to Jughead's truck.

"You know, you can just drop me off at the motel," you said awkwardly. Your parents had moved to Florida to take care of your grandparents, and you had asked Jughead if you could stay at his place during your time in town. "I didn't know you and Betty were living together. I don't want to impose on your guys's wedding preparations."

"Don't worry about it, (Y/N)," Jughead said with a chuckle, putting the truck in gear. "You're my best friend. I'm sure she won't mind. She might even like another girl in the house. Finally someone she can bond with over wedding decorations."

You prayed to whatever god was up there that Betty Cooper did not make you help her plan her wedding to the love of her life.

Upon entering Jughead's apartment, it became apparent that Betty Cooper didn't need the help of anyone to plan a wedding.

The living room was filled floor-to-ceiling with samples of fabric, color swatches, models, and diagrams. It was like a pastel monster had thrown up all over the place. The bride-to-be sat criss-cross applesauce among the mess, methodically placing name stickers at a map of the reception tables.

"Hi, honey," Betty said with a grin, turning around. Her face fell, noticing your presence. "(Y/N)..."

"Hi, Betty," you said shyly.

"(Y/N)'s in town for a couple weeks, and I hope you don't mind that I invited her to stay with us," Jughead said.

"It's a little cramped in here," Betty said, gesturing to her project.

"Oh that's fine," you said quickly. "I can stay somewhere else–"

Jughead shushed you. "She's staying here," he said to Betty. "Maybe it'll be incentive for you to keep the place a little cleaner," he joked.

"Okay..." Betty said skeptically.

"Can you add her to the guest list?" Jughead asked, eyeing Betty's diagram.

"Sorry honey, I already finalized everything with the caterer," Betty said, though she didn't sound sorry. You internally cheered.

"Come on, Bets. She's my best friend. I'd choose her as my best man if I could. Don't tell Archie." He winked at you and you pressed your lips together to keep them from twisting into a smile.

"It's really fine," you insisted. "I don't want to put more stress on your... planning." You waved an arm at the pile of crepe paper and tulle.

"We can talk about it later, Jughead said. "You should get some rest, (Y/N). You've had a long day."

You don't know the half of it, buddy, you thought.

It was 1:00 AM and you got up from the couch to use the restroom. Tiptoeing through the hallway, you heard noise coming from Jughead and Betty's bedroom.

Oh God, you thought. Please tell me they're not fucking.

It wasn't the sound of sex, though. It was loud arguing. You couldn't help but lean into the door to have a listen.

"She can't stay here!" Betty's said. You could imagine her making exaggerated hand movements with every word.

"Why not?" Jughead replied.

"She's a girl, and she's your best friend," Betty said. "I don't need her here to tempt you."

"Come on, Betty," Jughead said, exasperated. "You know I would never do that! We're just friends. That's all."

"I want her out," Betty said again, raising her voice this time.

"She goes, I go," Jughead said through gritted teeth. His tone had an air of finality.

"...fine," Betty said. Her voice came out as barely a mumble.

"I love you, Bets," Jughead said. "But (Y/N)... our friendship is everything to me."

"Until the wedding," Betty reminded him. "Then you're vowing that our marriage is everything to you."

"Until the wedding, then. Until the wedding, you can't get between me and my best friend."

"Fine."

"Fine."

The light shut off in their room. You quietly shut the bathroom door behind you, hoping they didn't hear.

You stood there, pondering Jughead's words.

Until the wedding, you can't get between me and my best friend.

It can't be.

Maybe...

Just maybe...

You still had a chance.