TAG DROP # 1 : ooc . 

♡ jughead . 

[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{Another schoolyard classic. Taught that one to Jellybean and she sang it for hours.} 
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{I didn’t stick around long after the clock struck twelve. Figured I shouldn’t take my chances. But that doesn’t surprise me about Mel.}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{What, so you could walk me home and prove chivalry isn’t dead?}

SMS → DOUBLE J: _{Mhm, and protect you from all the scooby-doo ghoulies lurking out there obviously. Have you seen my gunshow? Softball does wonders.} 

♡ jughead . 

[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{The liar liar pants on fire song sticks with you.}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{I try not to make a habit of it.}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{I can think of a few things. But it’s always been about something else, not just … You and me.}

SMS → DOUBLE J: _{:P If that’s me, you’re the ‘I’m rubber, you’re glue’ song.} 
SMS → DOUBLE J: _{I know, I know. Honestly I’d have gone to find you at the party after but it just got so hectic after midnight, then Melody jumped into the pool and it was all over.} 

♡ jughead . 

[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{Neither do I.}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{I know you two aren’t together, otherwise we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. And as much as I hate the idea of lying to him …}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{I really hate it. But I don’t want him hurt either.}

SMS → DOUBLE J: _{I know, me too. I hate the idea of lying in general but… yeah.} 
SMS → DOUBLE J: _{Wow, I don’t remember having such a serious conversation with you in… forever. Not since middle school or something.} 

♡ jughead . 

[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{Ha. Not going to say told you so.}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{It took everything in me to not answer it with a joke.}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{( typing … )}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{I’m surprised. And have to point out the redheaded elephant in the room.}

SMS → DOUBLE J: _{I don’t want him to get hurt.} 
SMS → DOUBLE J: _{This is going to sound bad, but I don’t think he should know. I mean, this could be nothing. Why tell him if it turns out to be nothing? It could hurt him for nothing, and I really don’t want to hurt Archie.} 

♡ jughead . 

[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{Could be one of the few upsides to communicating through screens instead of face to face. I have a feeling you’d be blushing around now.}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{Because on some level … I just wanted to. I wasn’t thinking.}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{Well, maybe I was. There was just a moment there, and, I guess, if I’m going to participate in anything sanct or sanctimonious, it would be with you.}

SMS → DOUBLE J: _{You think you know me SO WELL. You’re not… wrong.} 
SMS → DOUBLE J: _{Huh. OK, that’s… That’s oddly sweet, Jug. It’s taking everything in my not to brush it off with a joke but… I’m glad you feel that way. I mean, I liked it so…} 
SMS → DOUBLE J: _{I kind of… want to try it again. Just to see. If it was a one-off or if there’s… I don’t know, something there?} 

♡ jughead . 

[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{On that we can agree. There’s something really wrong with that beast.}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{I don’t know. I don’t have a lot of experience with … Any of this. Is it supposed to be different? Did you want it to be?}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{Want is the wrong word. Expect, I mean.}

SMS → DOUBLE J: _{I don’t know. Not different just… I thought the next time we talked would be uncomfortable. But it’s not? I guess I just…} 
SMS → DOUBLE J: _{Can I just ask? Why did you kiss me? I know it’s not because you suddenly believe in the sanctity of NYE traditions} 

♡ jughead . 

[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{The proverbial frog, changed.} 
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{What hurts is joking about it at all. The hat stays, and you know it.}
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{If he tells Caramel we’re all goners. I don’t need to look up the etymology of ‘catty’ to piece that one together.}

SMS → DOUBLE J: _{Hey you leave my precious, darling, wholesome son out of this. He has never done a wrong thing in his life. The real threat here is Salem. I swear that cat can talk.} 
SMS → DOUBLE J: _{Hey, Jug. Is it weird that we’re able to be so… you know about this? It doesn’t feel like anything’s different.} 

♡ jughead . 

[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{Normal. Time to swap my hat for a baseball cap, is it? I’ve already got a cell phone so I’m that much closer to drowning in the mainstream.} 
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{No. Didn’t think you’d want that either. And who was I supposed to tell?}

SMS → DOUBLE J: _{One kiss and you’re already selling out? Hurts, Jones. It really does.} 
SMS → DOUBLE J: _{I don’t know, Hot Dog? He’s a HUGE gossip, you know.} 

♡ jughead . 

[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{You can’t even blame it on champagne.} 
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{No … That’s what makes it weird.} 
[ TEXT TO : BETTY COOPS ] ^{I don’t even buy into that New Years Eve social religion.} 

SMS → DOUBLE J: _Right?? 
SMS → DOUBLE J: _{I know you don’t, which is what confused me the most. I mean, that and how… normal it felt.} 
SMS → DOUBLE J: _{Did you tell anyone?}