He sat in the same familiar diner, drinking the same familiar coffee. After all the years away, there was never quite the same feeling he got anywhere but Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe. It had been years since he’d been back home. In some respects, it felt like he never left. The “town with pep” had long since lost its pep. A decade later, he found himself home. The chime of the door broke his concentration. He looked up over the edge of his laptop, the same laptop he used to write his ‘Great American Novel’ that had since been completed and released to the world, with more success than he had ever dreamed.

“FP Jones,” he muttered, sipping his coffee. The man turned to face the young man sitting in the booth in the far corner of the diner. The look on his face was that of intrigue and slight confusion.

“What are you doing back here? I thought when you left, you’d never come back.” FP advanced toward the booth, taking a seat across from him. He closed his laptop and half-heartedly smiled.

“Well, Dad, I never thought I’d have to come back here, so imagine my surprise when I get a wedding invitation in the mail to attend Mr. Archie Andrew’s wedding to none other than Veronica Lodge.” He chuckled to himself. “I had to come back eventually, Dad.” He laughed to himself. He knew one day that he’d have to return to Riverdale, he just didn’t think this would be the reason.

“He’ll be happy to see you, Jug,” FP insisted. “You were best friends your entire lives.”

“Dad, we haven’t spoken in years. We kept in touch at first, but then, little by little, we lost contact. I never thought he’d even want me to be there. I’m not even sure how he found my address.”

“He doesn’t just want you there, Jug, he wants--” FP stopped talking. He didn’t want to ruin the surprise. Jughead had figured Archie didn’t even actually want him to come, it was simply an invitation because it was the right thing to do. Jughead felt the phone vibrate in his pocket. He dug into the front right pocket.

“Speak of the devil.” He excused himself from the table and sauntered outside of the diner. “Hey, Archie.”

“Jug, hey! I didn’t think you were gonna answer, you usually don’t. I have something I want to talk to you about. When are you gonna be back in Riverdale?” There was a distinct sound of excitement in his voice.

“As luck would have it, I’m back in town--got in this morning.” He adjusted his beanie nervously.

“Great! Can you meet me at Pop’s in an hour?”

“I’m already here. I figured I’d stop in before making my presence known to the town.”

“Great, see you soon.”

Jughead hung up the phone and smirked. He couldn’t believe he and Archie were just going to pick up where they left of ten years ago. His mind began to race:

What am I doing here? Archie doesn’t even want me to come to his wedding. I’m sure Fred made him invite me.. Why’d I come back? This was a mistake. No, Jug, don’t run away again. Hear him out. He’s the only friend you’ve ever truly had. That’s gotta mean something, right? He shook his head of these thoughts and went back inside to see FP standing at the counter with Pop Tate, who had not aged a day.

“I gotta run, Jug. I’ll catch up with you later,” FP stated in a way that didn’t seem like a request.

“Yeah, Dad, I’ll come by.” FP walked out of the diner, food in hand. Jughead returned to his laptop and reopened it. His mind was still filled with unanswered questions that he couldn’t just come out and ask Archie, as much as he wanted to. Without even thinking, he went to the search engine and looked up his old comrades to see if he could piece it together himself. He got lost in a rabbit hole. The bells chimed again and in walked the fire-haired man Jughead had once called his brother.

“Arch.” He said in a lower than normal tone. The feeling of slight embarrassment set in. He never realized just how terrible of a friend he had been to Archie over the years. Archie had been there for him, no questions asked. He smiled slightly at the friend he was too afraid to say he’s missed--who he’s needed over the years.

“Jughead Jones.” Archie chortled. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, brother.” Jughead felt the ends of his mouth turn up, without even meaning to. Brother, still? Wow. Jughead thought.

“Archie, I’m so--,” Archie cut him off, wrapping his arms around the now standing Jughead Jones. It had been so long since the two had seen each other. Jughead let out a sigh of relief and he hugged his long time best friend. The boys sat down in the red leather booth, Jughead shifting his stuff to the unused end of the table.

“You don’t need to apologize, Jug. You left here, made a name for yourself. You published your ‘Great American Novel’, just like you always said you would. I am so incredibly proud of you.” There was a sincerity in Archie’s voice that comforted him. “Jug, I’m getting married in a few weeks. I know it seems fast, but--” This time Jughead interrupted, drumming his fingers on his coffee mug.

“What happened, Arch. How did this even happen?” He raised an eyebrow at Archie.

“That’s a long story, you have some time?” He laughed to himself. Archie began to explain the unraveling of his relationship with Riverdale’s golden girl, Betty Cooper.

“Honestly, I think it was doomed from the start.” Archie said. Jughead furrowed his brow in slight confusion. “I don’t think she ever really wanted me . We had the picture perfect life planned. Childhood best friends, high school sweethearts, perfect wedding, beautiful children--the whole nine.” Jughead is now thoroughly confused. He always thought Betty to be head over heels for Archie--it was clear to anyone who saw them together. “We were going to be what other people strive for. I’ve been in love with Betty Cooper since we were five years old. I guess over the years her feeling changed, but she was too stubborn to admit it to herself, let alone me. Until one day, she was just gone. She took her stuff and just vanished. I haven’t heard from her in nearly five years. She left me a note, like it was going to somehow make it better.” Archie reached for his wallet in his back right pocket. He produced a worn piece of paper that seemed as if it had been opened and refolded thousands of times. He opened it again and slid it across the table to Jughead.

My Darling Archie,

I have loved you in many ways over the years. I thought things were going to be perfect--like they were written in the stars, just for us. But I’m afraid we were not meant to be together, dear Archie. You will always have a place in my heart and  I will always love you.

                                  I’m sorry,

                                                Betty

Jughead looked up from this letter and his jaw dropped. He didn’t know what to say. “Arch, I had no idea.” Jughead folded the letter back up and put it down on the table.

“I guess I can get rid of this letter now, huh? I’m marrying Veronica in a few weeks. You’d think I’d be over this already, right? Am I crazy?” Archie slouched in his seat, taking a sip of the water glass in front of him.

“You’re not crazy. You’ve been in love with Betty since kindergarten. We all thought it was kismet. The quintessential Riverdale love story. It is going to take some time. She will always be important to you. You will always love her in some way, how could you not.” Jughead tried to be comforting, but he was afraid that what he was saying was confusing him. “But,” he changed the subject, seeing Archie visibly confused. “how did things come to be with Veronica Lodge? Isn’t she Betty’s best friend?” Jughead bit the inside of his lip. He told himself he wouldn’t ask these questions, but there he was, prying. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to pry, man.”

Archie smiled. “Jughead, this isn’t prying. You’ve been my best friend almost my entire life. We’re catching up. Don’t sweat it, man,” He assured Jughead. “It’s kind of a funny story. Well, maybe not funny haha, but in retrospect, kind of funny. After graduation, Betty was away for the summer for an internship in California. Veronica came by looking for her, clearly distraught. I can’t remember why now, but next thing I knew, she had her legs around my waist. I’ll let you paint the rest of that picture. Betty still doesn’t know about what happened that night. We haven’t spoken of it, but it was an underlying tension between us from then on.” Archie continued on about how Veronica and he ended up beginning their relationship before Betty even left him. It was their little secret.

He cheated on Betty? How did she not know? Are she and Veronica still friends after all this? What a long time to keep up the charade. I wonder-- The chime of the diner door tore through Jughead’s inner monologue. He looked past Archie’s wild locks and there she stood. Jughead swallowed, but the knot in his throat persisted.  The infamous golden haired girl of Archie’s dreams--Betty Cooper, signature ponytail and all. Archie turned around to see his past staring him in the face.