Betty's POV

I flipped up the kickstand on my bike and took off before Jug could say another word. Noah called me three or four times. But I was too lost in my thoughts to even realize my phone was ringing. I was so frustrated and angry with Jug and myself. What had we become? While we watched Riverdale burn to the ground, we didn't even realize our relationship was turning to ashes right in front of us. I drove further and further into the woods and away from town. I just needed to be alone. My hands began to shake as I remembered the first time I took this road last year. Jug and I had just been through so much...after Archie came to tell me not to join the Serpents I took off for the woods in a fit of rage. That's where I met Malachai for the very first time. The first time I realized that there was true power in my darkness.

I pulled over as I approached the exact spot where he pulled his switchblade on me. I bent the blade back with my hand. He looked at me shocked and nothing had ever felt more gratifying. Jug held me in his arms that night like he was never going to let me go...he was never going to let this go. Another lie...I looked up at the sky. It was turning black as thunderclouds approached.

"Right back where we started...huh Jug." I sighed to myself as I got off the bike and stood there. I stared up at the sky waiting for it to rain. I needed to feel it on my skin, at this point I needed to feel something...anything to know I was alive.

"Betty!" I heard a faint scream in the distance. Did he follow me? I thought to myself confused at the fact there was even a small possibility that he still cared. I took off on my bike again. The voice continued screaming until I could make out of who it was.

"Noah?" I said back confused letting go of the clutch as I sped through the mud. The bike's back wheel got stuck in the sludge and threw me into the stream I was attempting to cross. I thought it was a stream but it was much deeper than I thought. The lace of sneaker had caught the gas pedal pulling the bike on top of me as I fought to the surface of the water.

"Betty!" I heard his voice again in the distance.

"No...ah.." I bobbed up and down as it began to downpour. It was coming down so hard, the rush of the water was pushing me under. I scrapped up my legs and arms on the rocks, gripping to anything I could to keep my head above water. The second my bike slide completely into the water, it began to pull me deeper and deeper. I kept fighting...but it was no use. I remembered my switchblade. Trying to pull it off my leg, I dripped my garter and I got it free. I began trying to cut the lace until it frayed enough for me to pull free. I pushed myself to the top and that's when Noah jumped in. I watched his shadow running back in forth as I fought to free myself. He grabbed me and carried me to the grass, laying me down on his jacket.

"What the hell Betty!" Noah screamed as he stared at me. His soaking wet hair fell over his face as I sat up.

"I...." stuttering as I attempted to think of a responsible answer to his question. I looked at his lips in silent awe.

"Fuck it come here." His aggressive tone only turned me on more as he pulled me into his lap as kissed me. "What were you thinking....trying to get yourself killed..." Noah whispered in between his kisses, I bit his lip to shut him up.

"I wanted some alone time to think. And I guess...I went about it the wrong way." I sighed as Noah helped me up.

"We'll talk after we get you cleaned up Serpent queen. " Noah smirked as he threw me over his shoulder. I playfully punched his back knowing he wouldn't let me go. In fact if Noah had anything to say about it, he'd probably never let me go again.

"Okay...Noah...it's really not that bad though. I mea. My bike's trashed but..." He stopped me as he gave me a once over. Running his hand over the cuts on my arms, bending down to get a closer look at the once's on my leg. As he stood up he took his finger and ran it over the clean scratch on my cheek.

"Yeah Elizabeth it's not but it looks like you had a fight with a brick wall and lost." He sighed as he handed me a helmet.

"Are we just going to leave my bike here?" I asked.

"Well you're certainly not riding it back." Noah scolded me. I guess he hadn't learned I didn't like being told what to do. I rolled my eyes at him as I tossed the helmet back.

"Is that a challenge...because now I'm invested in proving you wrong." I walked back towards the water and step into it again. This time fully aware of how deep it was. I pulled the bike free and rolled it it of the water. "Good as new." I sneered at him. He sighed in frustration.

"You are quite a challenge Elizabeth..." Noah's eyes filled with worry and intrigue as I got on the bike.

"Does it scare you?" I asked as I attempted to start the bike. The engine was flooded so it was going to take a few seconds to come back to life.

"It does...and can I be completely honest?" Noah looked at me as I finally got the bike to start.

"Of course. I expect honesty always." His hand graced my shoulder causing a sudden chill to run through my whole body. He was the only thing standing between my bike and the open wooded path in front of me.

"I think you should consider another chance at love. I'm not saying right now or tomorrow or next week. But don't give up on the idea that I'm right here. I'm not trying to cage you...I'm protective sure. But I'll never stop you. I'm sure I'll keep trying but I'll always let you have your way. Elizabeth...I see a future with you. In fact till I met you I didn't even see much of a future for myself. But I see it all now." Noah's hand moved from my shoulder to my cheek. The constant downpour didn't stop us from this moment. In fact it made it even more intense.

"Noah I...I want to move on. I want to...I'm so scared. You have to understand. I don't want to let anymore people hurt me the way Jughead did. I can't emotionally take it. I'm not strong enough anymore." Tears were pouring down my face, the only evidence I was crying was the mascara drip. But it was pouring hard enough where I could get away with blaming the rain for that too if I wanted.

"You will when you're ready. And trust me Elizabeth Cooper you are much stronger than you even realize. Let's get you back to base...I'm sure the Serpents have already arranged a search party for their queen. We'll put a pin in this conversation for now. We can revisit it when you're entirely ready. You're already everything to me, I'm just waiting for you to let me put a label on us." Noah leaned over my handle bars and kissed me.

"Noah Rider...you're slowly becoming the best part of me.The only part of me that's pumping enough blood to live at this point." I said as I kissed him back. Leaning into him with every word that left my mouth.

"Let's get you home Betty. The rain's finally letting up." Noah smiled at me as headed back towards his bike and lead the way back through the forest, with me behind him.

At that moment I couldn't help but wish the rain had never let up. I wanted to live in this moment with him forever. Maybe it was my broken heart talking but I could see Noah and I creating something stable. Something worth dying for. Something that Jughead and I were supposed to have. Now all I could see were these thunderclouds.