❝ SEASON ONE, EPISODE THIRTEEN ❞
🍒 The Sweet Hereafter 🍒

──────────❝ 🐍 ❞──────────

──────────❝ 🐍 ❞──────────

"I told her that I wouldn't do it. Not unless you both were up there," Betty told Jughead and Isabella who both smiled kindly at the blonde. Betty and Archie had been asked personally by Mayor McCoy to participate in the Jubilee; Archie to sing with the Pussycats while Betty gave a speech. But Mayor McCoy didn't want Jughead up there due to his father's arrest nor Isabella due to her recent loss putting her in a vulnerable state of mind. "I appreciate the righteous indignation, Betty, I do. But Jubilee's aren't my thing," Jughead told her while Isabella shrugged before speaking, "Besides... I wouldn't hold back on stage."

Betty grinned at Isabella knowing the brunette would speak her mind willingly without caring about how anyone reacted. "Jug, how's your dad? Did you get in to see him?" Archie asked Jughead wanting to know what was going on. "Here's the latest. Mayor McCoy wants my dad to name names in exchange for a lesser sentence," Jughead explained to the Breakfast Club group. "Sounds about right..." Isabella muttered to herself. "What? Whose names?" Betty asked. "The Serpents. Sheriff Keller thinks they're dealing the drugs that Clifford Blossom brought into town," Jughead answered her while Isabella shook her head.

"My dad says more and more drugs are hitting the streets," Kevin snapped up into the conversation in defense of his father. "Kev, relax," Isabella told him with a small smile assuring him that no one was against his father. "My dad says that they're not the ones dealing," Jughead added. "Of course not. While not all of them are innocent, I doubt the Serpents as a whole are doing work for a dead man. There are other people in the Southside than just the Serpents," Isabella added to the conversation. "Meanwhile, Mayor McCoy hasn't even said the words Clifford or Blossom in public," Betty said in slight annoyance.

"Of course not, Betty. It's always about the Serpents. Drugs, Serpents. Assault, Serpents. Violence, Serpents. They're the alleged villains of this town despite keeping to themselves and the Northside being the damn instigators of everything─" Isabella ranted while everyone watched her, "─And meanwhile, Northside gets everything while the Southside suffers. Because someone has to be the scapegoat and god forbid they punish a Northsider." Isabella looked up to see everyone looking at her and she sighed, "What? I'm a Southsider."

"Wait, what?" Kevin asked as Jughead smiled at her. "Uh, yeah. My dad was a Southsider and my mom was a Northsider. Technically, I'm half, or in other words; the sides don't matter to me. I just hate the stupid prejudice when both sides have good and bad," Isabella said with a shrug before she sipped her milkshake that she had skipped last class to get from Pops. "I should write an article about this. Not just for the Blue and Gold but for the Register. That's what I'm gonna do," Betty told everyone, she was inspired by Isabella's words.

"As long as the article doesn't include my dad," Jughead told Betty while Isabella watched the two of them. "No, it is gonna be about your dad, Jug. It doesn't matter how many Jubilees Mayor McCoy throws. This town's changed. That needs to be acknowledged. Why are people so afraid of the truth?" Betty asked no one in particular but Isabella was watching Jughead, she knew that he wanted to lessen the attention on him and his father but Betty had a point; the town had changed and people needed to face the truth.

"Speaking of the truth..." Veronica spoke slowly as she glanced at Archie before looking back at Betty, "...There's something I have to tell you." Archie looked at Veronica slightly panicked before looking at Betty, "We've kissed a couple of times." Isabella raised a brow before sharing a look with Kevin, the two waiting to see how Betty would react. "It's okay, V. I appreciate you being honest with me. But I'm fine with it," Betty told them. "Besides she got her eyes on someone," Kevin let slip before clearing his throat. "Noah, right?" Isabella asked with a small glint in her eye while Betty blushed lightly causing Isabella to laugh to herself.

"If you guys wanna be together, I'm happy for you," Betty reassured the two bringing a bright smile to Veronica's face. "Thanks, B," Veronica replied while Isabella rested her head on Jughead's shoulder. "Thanks, Betty," Archie added bringing a happy smile to Betty's face. Isabella visibly relaxed seeing her friends around her happy, even if it was just for a short moment; they all needed it. "Belle?" Betty spoke up after a beat of silence. "Yes, my dear," Isabella replied making her laugh. "Will you help me with the article and speech?" Betty asked with a hopeful grin. "Yeah, I can add my awesomeness to the page," Isabella answered making everyone laugh.

⊱ ──── {⋆🐍 ☠ 📓⋆} ──── ⊰

After working with Betty on the article, having it rejected by Alice who claimed the girls were favoring Jughead due to their connections to him; the two invited Veronica over for girl time. However, Veronica seemed to have had a strange encounter with Cheryl Blossom that left Isabella feeling concerned for the Red Queen despite her treatments in the past. "It was chilling, girls," Veronica told them with a freaked-out expression as she painted Betty's toenails, Isabella playing with Betty's hair. "I'm telling you, there are some dark goings-on at Thornhill," Veronica added as she looked between the two in front of her.

"Well, not just at Thornhill, town-wide. You can feel it," Betty expressed while Isabella rested her chin on Betty's shoulder. "Something wicked this way comes," Isabella said making the other smirk at her. "Yeah, yeah... I'm around Jughead a lot," Isabella commented quietly with a light blush as she realized she made a classic Jughead comment. "By the way, I loved your article," Veronica told Betty who grinned at Isabella, the brunette had made a few edits but it was mainly Betty's work. "Good, because I already posted it, on the Blue and Gold's website, with hardcopies in circulation tomorrow," Betty told her as she showed the article.

Isabella had convinced Betty to put her name down, she understood what Alice and Hal were saying about the town's anger so she wanted to make sure that Betty wasn't alone in this. They all shared a happy smile before Veronica leaned forward slightly, "Betty, now that it's just us girls, and at the risk of us failing the Bechdel test, are you legitimately cool with Archie and me?" Isabella looked between the two and she was glad that Archie and Veronica were making sure that Betty had completely moved on, they didn't want to risk what happened before and it made Isabella happy that they learned from their past mistakes.

"Swear on the September issue?" Veronica asked her making Isabella roll her eyes playfully while Betty smiled. "And on my copy of Forever by Judy Blume," Betty assured her making Veronica smile happily. "I'm not okay with it," Isabella spoke up causing Betty and Veronica to look at her confused. "How am I gonna win you over if you choose my cousin?" Isabella teased making Veronica shove her playfully. "Don't scare me like that," Veronica told her while Betty laughed at the two. "I couldn't help myself besides I am very happy with my writer," Isabella told them, and the two 'oohed' making her blush.

A knock on the door pulled their attention away only to see Polly standing in the doorway with a fond smile on her face. "Aw. I miss this," Polly began as she pointed to the trio, "Gossiping, doing homework, being a River Vixen. Basically, just going to school." Isabella smiled as Betty and Veronica let out quiet laughs. "Then come back," Betty told her. "Mom doesn't want me to," Polly replied to her. "Naturally, but what she doesn't know won't hurt her," Betty explained making Isabella grin at the rebellious plan. "I'd be happy to help however I can," Isabella added with Veronica nodding in agreement.

⊱ ──── {⋆🐍 ☠ 📓⋆} ──── ⊰

"Something about you behind bars just doesn't sit right with me," Isabella said as she walked towards FP's cell, she was thankful that Sheriff Keller allowed visitors during this time. "Well I've heard that the whole situation doesn't sit right with you," FP replied to her as she leaned against the bars. "Yeah, I guess so. I mean... It sucks and I wish there was more I could do to help," Isabella told him with a frown. "Hey, you keeping your promise?" FP asked her with a raised brow. "Of course. I'll always look out for Jughead," Isabella told him like it was the most obvious and easiest thing in the world.

"You know, even when he doubted me, he never failed to mention how much faith you had in me, in my innocence and it seemed to put doubts on his doubts," FP told her and she smiled at him before looking down. "I'm guessing you've heard from Archie about Jughead's foster family situation?" Isabella asked with a frown. "I did and like I told him. Jughead's a tough kid and he's gonna need all of you, especially you," FP answered her as he leaned through the bars. "I understand, FP. Archie might not but I do. The Serpents are family, I know they'll have our back," Isabella told him, she noticed the change in his face.

"You think Jug's gonna let you transfer to Southside High?" FP asked with a chuckle but Isabella stood defiant with her arms crossed. "Listen, Belle, we all know you're a fighter but you being at that school will only add to Jughead's shoulders. He'll need to find his own grounds, make his own choices but he won't be able to do that while worrying about you," FP told her, he held up his hand when she went to talk. "I know your promise, Belle. But you gotta remember that clinging to him, crowding him; it will drive him mad. Let him chase," FP added with a grin making Isabella roll her eyes.

She knew FP had a point with his words, she wanted to protect Jughead but she could only do so much before it becomes suffocating and she wouldn't want that for herself; she refused to do that to him. Isabella and FP spoke for a little bit longer before Isabella said goodbye and left to return to school. She decided that she would talk to Jughead and decide from there what the next move would be. If he agreed to let her transfer with him; then she would. But if he asked her to stay at Riverdale High, she would just visit as much as she could to assure that Jughead would be okay.

⊱ ──── {⋆🐍 ☠ 📓⋆} ──── ⊰

Isabella's eyes were wide as she stared at her locker, she swallowed carefully as she realized that the writing wasn't paint but blood; most likely, pig's blood. The crowd around her stepped back as Jughead pushed his way through, he and Veronica had just joined Kevin at Betty's locker when someone mentioned his girlfriend having something similar. Betty's message was different from Isabella's, hers was tame in his opinion. His heart clenched seeing what was written on her locker. Betty's locker had said 'Go to hell Serpent Slut!' with a bloodied doll hanging from a string and Veronica had moved to pull her away.

However, Isabella's message was targeted specifically at her, the bold sentence, 'Join your mom, Serpent Whore' was glaring up at Isabella. Isabella turned to the crowd that was taking pictures and videos, her heart was pounding and her head felt light. She clenched her hands into fists before turning and punching the wall next to it hard enough to leave a hole; dramatic but effective as everyone scurried back. "Whoever did this, they will pay," Isabella said with a dark tone before she stormed down the hallway, she needed to get out; she needed to escape.

Jughead followed after his girlfriend knowing that she wasn't in the right headspace, he wouldn't let her be alone through this; not when he blamed himself. Jughead found her near the car park leaning against a tree, he walked up to her and immediately pulled her into a hug that helped her relax instantly. "I'm sorry," Jughead whispered to her making Isabella retract from him. "Why are you apologizing?" Isabella asked him with a confused expression. "Because as long as you are with me, writing articles about me and my dad with Betty, trouble's gonna keep coming at you from all sides," Jughead answered.

"No, no... Jughead that was not your fault. It was just some jerk, some coward trying to scare me," Isabella replied to him as they began walking away from the school. "It's not just one jerk. It's Mayor McCoy, it's Sheriff Keller. It's Weatherbee, it's Social Services," Jughead expressed as they walked side by side. "It's the entire multiverse telling me I don't belong here. So, why don't I just do everyone─?" Jughead was cut off by Isabella hugging him. "Jug... no one is made to belong remember. It's not about Northside or Southside. It's about the people, remember?" Isabella asked as she leaned back and cupped his face.

"We're weirdos, outcasts, freaks..." Isabella told him with a grin, "We weren't born to fit in just one place. And I know right now it feels like you don't belong anywhere but I promise you that you belong here. With me, with Archie, Veronica, Betty and Kevin. Who cares about which side of the tracks we belong to because you and me are bigger than them. Better... okay?" Jughead looked into Isabella's eyes, he saw nothing but honesty and adoration. He didn't know what he did to deserve Isabella Larkin but her words were what he needed to hear. "Okay," Jughead whispered to her, she knew he had minor doubts but as she kissed him; she knew she'd help him fight them.

⊱ ──── {⋆🐍 ☠ 📓⋆} ──── ⊰

⊱ ──── {⋆🐍 ☠ 📓⋆} ──── ⊰

Rosemary Here!

Can I just say that I adore #Jugbella. If you couldn't tell.
How are you feeling about their relationship?

I obviously altered the canon conversation that happened between Jughead and Betty for Isabella's role. I personally felt like Betty tried too hard to "Northside" train Jughead rather than accepting his Southside potential. But 'cause Isabella is in a similar boat with the two sides, she's more understanding and willing to let Jughead choose for himself; she'd just support him and put him in place if needed.

Anyway, see you next chapter!
It will be the last chapter of Act One...