THE LOUD MUSIC played over them as Jughead pulled them deeper into the crowd.

"Hey Nia, want to dance?" Smiling at Jughead Athena nodded holding his hand. Laughing at Jughead who was awkwardly dancing Athena grabbed his hand.

"You don't have to jug" she moved closer to him. "I want to, for you." Feeling her heart flatter Athena lend on her tippy toes and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

Jughead smiled and lend in wanting to kiss Athena but then Betty appeared breaking their moment. "Jug I'm sorry"

She looked at Athena smiling sadly. "I didn't know my mom would pull that off back at pop's." Shrugging Jughead looked at her. "Its fine, what matters is right now."

"Excuse me for a moments my ladies I am going to go grab some snacks forbid." Jughead said walking away. "Have you seen Archie or Veronica?"

Shaking her head Athena opened her mouth to speak but instead motioned towards the door as they entered the school.

Betty turned and frown as they went up to her mother. "What are they doing with your mom?" Athena asked but Betty didn't answer as Veronica made eye contact with Betty. Then it hit her as Archie went up to Jughead.

Feeling angry at Archie, her best friend for betraying Jughead she stormed up to him but Betty grabbed her softly as Veronica also walked to Archie.

Jughead noticed Athena's face and instantly grabbed her with a confused face. "Where were you guys?" Athena asked glaring.

"We stopped... We stopped at Pop's." Archie explained. "Funny because thats where we came from." Archie frown at Athena but Betty spoke up.

"And what were you just talking to my mom about?"

" Betty..." Veronica started to say but Archie interrupted her."Guys, can we table this? We gotta get ready. Come on."

Watching them walk away Athena looked to Betty, her eyes begging her to tell Jughead but Betty just shook her head.

Mayor McCoy  walked up stage with a smile. "Friends, students and alumni. I hope you brought your dancing shoes. Please join me in welcoming to the stageRiverdale High's very own Archie Andrews and Veronica Lodge!" Everyone started cheering as Archie and Veronica as they headed up stage.

Athena scoffed as everyone around her started jumping and singing along with them. Even the parents were in. After the song was over she saw Archie motion at her to out go so  Athena moved from Jughead "I'll be back Jug"

"Betty let's go" She pulled Betty to an empty hallway where Veronica and Archie were waiting.

"Before you get mad, let me explain." Veronica said as they approached her and Archie.

"Explain what? That you're working with my mom behind my back?" Betty asked angrily. "And you behind Jughead's back?" Athena snapped at Archie.

"I'm sorry, Bee, but you know FP had some kind of arrangement with my dad. I had to make sure it wasn't about Jason Blossom." Veronica said making Athena roll her eyes.

"And what's your excuse?" Betty asked Archie.

"I was looking out for Jughead in case FP was doing shady stuff. To protect him."

"Protect him? Funny." Archie looked down as Veronica got in. "Blame me, Betty, Thea. I asked Archie to help me."

"Help you do what? What did you two do?" Betty asked looking concern.

"Guys... Nia..." Jughead said walking from around the corner.  "What's going on? Why do I feel like I'm suddenly left out?"

"Do you want to tell him or should I?" Athena said glaring at Archie and Veronica.

"Tell me what?" Jughead stopped walking instead he stared.  "We went to your dad's trailer to.. To search it, Jughead." Archie and Veronica explained walking towards him.

"Why would you guys do that?" Jughead looked so betrayed breaking Athena's heart.

"My mom put them up to it. She was convinced he was hiding something about Jason." Betty answered looking guilty.

"We were wrong. All of us. We didn't find anything." Veronica said trying to make him feel better. Archie also explained. "And Jug, we were only doing it to prove that..."

"That my dad wasn't a murderer?" Jughead said shaking his head. " You went behind my back, Archie?"

" Jug..."

"How did you...When did you guys know to go to my dad's trailer?" Jughead asked moving away.

"We knew he'd be at dinner with..." Veronica started to say but Athena interrupted. "With me. That's why you called me and asked what time I was leaving. And why Alice came up to me."

Jughead turned to Athena with broken eyes. "You knew?" Athena walked towards him reaching out.

"Jug i-" She stopped when he moved away from her touch. "Did you know what Alice was planning? Yes or no"

"I didn't think she would do anything." Athena whispered tears forming in her eyes. "Did she ask you to do something?" Jughead asked.

"I-i yes. She told me to take you and FP out to pop's but I swear that was after you asked me. I didn't kn-"

"Seriously!" Jughead scoffed "That's why you accepted? To take my dad away from home? He trusted you Athena!" Athena flinched when he said her name. He only called her Athena when he was mad or hurt.

"Juggie please"

"No...it wasn't her fault okay? My mom used Athena to get to your dad. That's why she-"

"That's why your mom magically appeared at pop's when  my dad and I took Athena to dinner? So these two could break into my his trailer while she interrogated him?"

"No, I didn't know what they were doing. But yes, that is why she went to pop's. To distract you two."

"Jug listen to me. I didn't know they were planning this okay? I would never hurt you or FP. He's like a father to me Jug. Please. I just wanted to go out and eat with you two as our first day as girlfriend and boyfriend." Athena whispered touching his cheek.

"I never asked you to be my girlfriend." Flinching at his words Athena dropped her hands backing away. "This is what I get for trusting people."

"To think I was gonna pass on moving to Toledo with my family for you." Jughead muttered causing Athena to let out a soft sob. "What?"

"I dropped everything for you Athena. I broke up with Betty because I knew you were the one for me and this is how  you repay me? You know I don't trust easily so why didn't you tell me."

"I didn't... I wanted to stop her but Betty told me she would handle so I trusted her. Please Jug."

"You could've told me, you could've warned me about this." Jughead snapped back

"I asked her not to tell you Jug. I didn't want you to hate me for what my mom was doing." Betty explained trying to help Athena.

He looked at Betty shaking his head before turning to Athena "So instead you lied?"

"You all lied to me?" He looked at everyone.

"There they are." Kevin's voice caused them all to turn to see Archie, Veronica, and Betty's mom's plus Fred.

" Betty. Thank God..." Alice said but Betty interrupted her.  " Mom, don't..."

"No, you have to listen. All of you."

"My dad just told Mayor McCoy about your dad, Jughead." Kevin said out of breath.

"What about my dad?" Jughead asked walking up to him.

"He was just arrested. For the murder of Jason Blossom." Athena gasped clutching her stomach as tears fell down her face as Fred explained.

"Jug!" Athena ran after Jughead as he started running. She could hear footsteps behind her but she didn't care, all she cared about was getting to Jughead.

"Jughead!" She opened the door and stopped on the stairs watching Jughead run down the street. She held a sob as he disappeared. Turning around she glared at Archie before walking away. She knew where she would find Jughead.

- ♚ -

WIPING HER TEARS Athena touched the doorknob of FP's trailer.

Taking a deep breath she opened the door. She gasp when she saw Jughead on the ground crying. The trailer was a big mess.

Instantly she dropped down touching his shoulder. "Jug-"

"What are you doing here? Leave!" Flinching at his tone Athena frown. "Jug no, I'm here for you"

"Just like you were there for Alice? My dad?"

Shaking her head as tears fell down her eyes Athena looked at him. "I didn't help her I swear Jughead. I wish I could go back in time but I can't. I'm sorry. I-"

"Its too late for that. My dad is in jail for Jason's murder. Shouldn't you hate him? He killed Jason. Your friend." Jughead was testing Athena but she wasn't falling for it.

"FP would never kill anyone. I refuse to believe. Jug I don't believe FP killed Jason. He couldn't."

Laughing Jughead moved away from her. "Its pathetic to think that when there is evidence against my dad."

"Why are you here Athena? Can't you see that you're just making things worse for me?"

Deciding to finally confess her feelings Athena faced him. "Jughead, I love you. That's why I'm here. I want to help"

Suddenly Jughead chuckled lowly. "No you don't."

Athena stared in disbelief. "You don't love me Athena. Noe get out."

"Jughead stop!" Tears fell from her eyes as she spoke. "You always do this. You always push me away when things get bad. Why?! I'm just trying to help you. I'm tried of always being the only one who tries to save our relationship. For once fight back, fight to save us." Athena sobbed.

Jughead stared blankly at her. "Get out"

Clutching her stomach Athena nodded as tears fell down her cheeks. "When you come to your sense come look for me. But don't take to long because I might not be there anymore."

Opening the door Athena ran out. Wiping her tears she walked home. She frown angrily when she saw Archie, Veronica, and Betty standing outside her house.

"Get the fuck away from me." She glared at Archie and Veronica but grabbed Betty's hand to pull her inside her house.

"Wait Thea!" Athena angrily turned to Archie. "Why the fuck would you do that Andrews!" She let go of Betty and walked towards Archie. "You were his best friend. Why?!"

"Now he's alone" She whimpered. "He doesn't even want to see me."

Archie had tears formed in his eyes but Athena pushed him when he tried to hug her. "No, you did this just to please your little crush." She muttered so Betty couldn't hear but Veronica could.

"Stay the hell away from me. Both of you"

"Athena wait" Betty said softly. "They have something important to say" Softenly at Betty's face she nodded facing Veronica. "What" she said harshly.

"Kevin called me. And he said his dad found a gun, the gun that killed Jason, in a lockbox in FP's closet." Veronica paused before continuing. "But Thea, we searched FP's trailer. We looked through that closet. And there was no lockbox."

"Someone put it there after we left. He's being framed." Archie finished causing Athena to let out a silent gasp.

Outfit of the chapter