//

At Pop's Ricky sat in a booth in front of Toni and Fangs with McKenzie right beside him.

"...So I'm sorry for how my brother. He's a giant idiot," Ricky stated.

"That we know," Fangs replied with a small chuckle.

"If I had known what he was doing, I'd have stopped him right away-"

"You don't need to apologize, Ricky," Toni cut him off. "You're not your brother."

"Still," Ricky sighed. "And the Riverdale Register isn't making things easier for you guys. They start the fight and you guys get blamed. It's bullshit."

"The Northside has been dumping on us for years," McKenzie told him.

"It's not right. Okay? People need to know that you guys aren't bad people."

"I hate to say it, Ricky but they're not going to listen to you," Fangs said.

"Yeah, remember what happened Betty's and my locker?" McKenzie asked. "She stood up for us and people trashed her. They'll do the same to you."

"I don't care. This is messed up. Doiley said you guys stabbed him. The idiot stabbed himself," Ricky nearly snapped.

"Tell us something we don't know," Toni stated. "But Northside has been dumping on the Southside for a long time. And that's probably never gonna change."

Ricky only sighed in frustration.

"But thanks for having our backs," Fangs added which made Ricky give him a small smile.

"Fangs, Toni, Mack, we gotta go," someone spoke and noticed Ricky sitting with them. Ricky saw it was Sweet Pea who still despised Ricky because he was a Northsider. "What's he's doing? Trying to get more dirt for the Register?"

"Pea, I told you he was cool," McKenzie stated, standing.

"You think he's cool. A Northsider is always looking to blame us for something," Sweet Pea said.

"He was trying to help us and apologizing for what his asshole of a brother caused," Fangs added before glancing at Ricky. "No offense."

"No, I agree with you," Ricky stated.

"Pea, just back off," Toni added. "He's the better one."

"You can kick the shit of my brother for all I care, Sweet Pea," Ricky told him.

Sweet Pea scoffed. "And have us get dragged in by the cops again? No thanks, Andrews."

"Hell, I'll even join in to help."

Ricky was trying with Sweet Pea. He even meant every word he said, he even thought maybe they could get along like he and Fangs do but the Serpent wasn't buying it.

"You know they might trust you, Andrews, because you're oh-so-willing to help us out, but I don't. There's something off about you and I will figure you out," Sweet Pea told him.

"Is it that or is it because you have a hard time trusting Northsiders in general?" Ricky questioned.

"It's the last one," Fangs answered for him.

"I'm watching you, Andrews," Sweet Pea only warned as he, Fangs and Toni left but McKenzie stayed behind.

"Wanna ride to school?" she asked, exiting Pop's with him.

"On that?" he questioned, pointing to her bike.

"Yeah," she answered, putting one leg over her bike and waiting. "I'll even teach you how to drive it."

"Uh..." Ricky hesitated.

"Fine, walk," she said although she didn't start up her bike.

"No, I could use a ride," he answered, hurrying over and climbing on the back as she handed him her helmet with a grin. Ricky pulled the helmet on with the visor lifted and asked, "Are you sure I can ride on the back?"

"You're lighter than me so it'd be easy to control this anyways," she said, glancing back at him, pulling the helmet visor down with a snap which made him flinch. "So hold on tight and we'll be at school quick."

Ricky latched onto the rail around the seat as McKenzie kicked her bike off the stand, making sure the cut-off switch is on, turning on the ignition and starting the engine.

"Ready?" McKenzie asked him over the loud engine.

Ricky gave her a thumbs-up before gripping onto the seat rail for life as closed the choke and open the throttle, letting them leave the parking lot.

***

Later, at school, Ricky walked into the student lounge with Betty and Archie right behind him.

"...We'd hop from club to club, go on these madcap adventures, stay up all night..." Veronica told Kevin as they all sat down.

"Who's this now?" Archie asked her.

Veronica turned to him. "Oh, Archiekins, don't be jelly, it's just a ghost from my bad girl past, Nick St. Clair, breezing into town for the Open House. You have nothing to worry about."

Betty gave a short smile to which Ricky placed his hand in hers. "Are you okay?" he asked her.

Betty hesitantly nodded with a much more sure smile now. "Yeah, I am," she answered, resting her head on Ricky's shoulder.

***

Ricky sat across from Jughead in the Andrews garage, both were sitting on the floor. "So a Serpent, huh?" Ricky asked his best friend.

"Yeah, first I gotta do the initiations," Jughead answered.

He told Ricky first because...well, Jughead read deeper into the notebook.

'It doesn't matter to me who you are or if you love me back or not, I'll always have your back when you want me to.'

And because Ricky was the less judgmental one of the group.

"And the first initiation is Hot Dog?" Ricky asked with a small laugh also rubbing the dog's tummy who was lying on his back, paws up, enjoying the attention.

Apparently, every new recruit has to take care of Hot Dog. It's kind of a tradition," Jughead answered.

"He's cute."

"He stinks and barks a lot. He's got no boundaries."

"That's how most dogs are, Jug," Ricky told him. "You got lucky. Hot Dog's adorable."

"Hot Dog III, actually," Jughead corrected. "This is getting borderline ridiculous."

"You mean kind of like Forsythe Pendleton Jones III?" Ricky teased earning a genuine chuckle from both of them.

"Shut up," Jughead replied.

"Just saying, you got no room to talk," Ricky stated.

***

A few days later at school, Ricky lied back on the floor in the music room, his guitar on his stomach while he lightly strummed the strings.

"Lacking inspiration?" someone asked. Ricky barely lifted his head to see Cheryl before dropping his head.

"Maybe a little," Ricky answered honestly.

"Penny for your thoughts, pretty boy?" Cheryl asked, sitting on a stool.

"Not much, just thinking about Betty," he answered.

"Of course..." Cheryl mumbled, she wasn't surprised.

"I think she's ignoring me," Ricky stated. "Archie, I get. But why her?"

"Betty Cooper alone is a mystery anyway I'm here to provide your inspiration," Cheryl stated with a smile. "What have you got so far? And is it Betty inspired?"

"Maybe," Ricky answered, sitting up.

"Let's hear it," Cheryl replied.

"It's short but..." Ricky stood up, putting the guitar down and walking over to the piano, motioning for Cheryl to sit beside him which she did so.

"Go," she told him.

Ricky began to play and hum. "Well, lately, I've been questioning my faith
Just one look at you is all it really takes..." He glanced at Cheryl.
"Oh, I always heard there was a heaven
I never knew if it was true
But darlin', ever since I met you
I know heaven is you..." He kept playing. "Heaven is you..." As he finished the song, he looked to the redhead. "What did you think?"

"Richard Andrews, you are a gem," Cheryl told him. "But you need to make the song longer."

"That's why I'm saying I've been lacking inspiration. I need your help," Ricky told her.

***

After school, he got a text from Betty to meet her at Pop's.

As she waited anxiously for Ricky's arrival, she kept drumming her fingers lightly against the table.

As she heard the bell to Pop's door ring, Ricky entered with a smile. "Betty Cooper," he spoke making the girl turn to look at him and smile, standing. "You are a sight for sore..." Betty grabbed his face, kissing him longingly before pulling back, their foreheads resting against one another's. "Eyes," he finished.

Betty pulled to sit across from her in the booth. "I missed you," she told him.

Sure, they went to the same school but lately, they haven't seen each other much, it felt like they lived in different parts of town.

"Me too, it feels like we've been busy with our own things, I don't see you that much anymore," Ricky admitted. "I also wanted to make sure you were still alive."

"What do you mean?" Betty asked with a confused expression.

"That expose that you published about your mom, that article," Ricky answered.

"Oh, um...That's a long story, but yeah, pretty intense."

Ricky nodded. "Well, I've been freaked out lately. This Black Hood stuff, these Serpents I try to get along with but they don't trust me and..." He sighed before speaking softly, placing his hand on hers, "I wish we could just go. Just leave Riverdale. Go someplace where there's no Northside, or Southside, or crazy brothers..."

Betty let out a light chuckle. "No...crazy moms, no Black Hoods." Her green eyes met Ricky's hazel ones as a small tear slipped down her. cheek "Like Romeo and Juliet, but we live happily ever after instead."

Ricky only stayed silent. He did want to ask if something was wrong or if she needed anything but he didn't want to push her into telling him.

***

The next day at school, Ricky was walking in the hall when someone called for him, "Ricky."

He turned to see it was Veronica, standing with Betty and Archie and...some unknown guy.

"Yeah?" Ricky asked her, approaching. "What's up?"

"My old friend Nick here is having a little soiree at his hotel tonight. Will you come?" Veronica asked, looping her arm in Ricky's. She turned to the guy. "Ricky is Archie's little brother and one of my best friends, the sweetest and the cutest," she said, giving Ricky's cheek a small pinch which Ricky scrunched his face in response.

"I can see the resemblance," the guy, Nick, said as he shook Ricky's hand, looking between Ricky and Archie. "I won't take no for an answer."

Ricky forced a smile. "Sure," he answered.

***

Veronica texted Ricky where Nick's room was. He only wore a white button-up shirt with a blue tie, black pants, and his dark Vans high tops.

As he sat beside Kevin and Cheryl, Nick spoke, "...And then, we walk into the Gilded Lily, and there's Gal! Again!"

Everyone chuckled but Archie asked, "'Gal'?"

"Gadot. Keep up, Archie," Cheryl told him.

Veronica handed Archie her glass. "Archiekins. A refill, s'il vous plait?"

'Forget the teetotaling. Let's move on to something with a little more kick," Nick stated, showing his inside jacket pocket. It looked like pixie sticks but Ricky wasn't fooled.

"Is that..." Cheryl began.

"Jinglejangle? Why, yes. It is."

"I hooked him up," Reggie spoke up.

"Tasters? Who's up first?" Nick asked.

"Dude, we told you, we're not..." Archie began.

"Archie, don't take this the wrong way, but you are an epic buzzkill," Nick told him before looking at Veronica. "Come on, Vee. Like back in the day. Aren't you supposed to be showing me a good time? Per Daddy's orders?"

"Down, Nicky, I'm just getting going. And now that you mention it, I, in fact, wouldn't mind a little sugar to spice up this party," Veronica said, earning a look from Archie. "What? Every other night, it's burgers and milkshakes. Can't we just cut loose and pretend we're normal, for once?"

"I'm in," Cheryl said, grabbing a stick.

"Me, too," Reggie added.

"Kevin?" Cheryl asked.

Kevin only smiled, clinking his glass with Cheryl's.

"Pussycats, care to partake?" Nick questioned to which they all nodded.

Nick looked at Ricky. "Little Andrews, you in?" he asked, waving the stick in front of his face.

Any other time, Ricky would've said hell no and left the place but-

"Sure," Ricky answered, grabbing the stick from him.

"Ricky, what are you-" Archie began.

"I got shot, big brother," Ricky reminded in a snappy tone. "Every since then, I don't get a decent amount of sleep, I've been all over the place with school and I always have to walk out of the house, worrying about my surroundings. I need this and you can't stop me."

He nearly forgot Betty was there because of how silent she was but she'd understand. She had to, right?

Veronica looked to the blond. "Betty?" she asked.

"No, thanks," Betty answered.

"Come on, it'll be fun."

"I said no, Vee," Betty answered, raising her voice.

Veronica chuckled. "Okay, relax, Betty, this is strictly voluntary."

Nick sat beside Veronica, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Perhaps we should decamp to the bedroom, so as not to corrupt the country mice."

Archie sat on the other side of Veronica quickly. "You know what? I changed my mind. I'm in."

"Bravo, Archie Andrews!" Nick cheered. "There's that good, strong Riverdale stock I've been jonesing for!"

Only minutes later, Nick was drinking away at the booze, Veronica and Archie were dancing, Josie was making out with Reggie while Ricky in between Kevin and Cheryl sat on the couch dancing.

Ricky had his eyes shut, mouth slightly parted, his tie was resting on his leg, and the shirt was unbuttoned completely, swaying to the music in a way that would look so enticing to anyone around him.

Betty, completely sober, only watched him before noticing Veronica approaching her. "Come on, Betty, don't be such a wallflower! Have some fun!" she said, grabbing Betty's hands.

Betty yanked her hands back. "Like you, you mean?" she asked her tone tense. "I was gonna say you're making a fool of yourself. Acting like some privileged, shallow, airhead party girl."

Veronica chuckled. "Excuse me?"

"Yeah," Betty stated much louder, standing up which caught the attention of everyone. "I mean, it's all recycled banter and plunging necklines and throwing shade to distract us all from the fact that there's really nothing going on underneath..."

"Betty, what the hell are you saying?" Archie asked her.

"What we're all thinking," Betty answered. "That the only reason Veronica hangs out with us is circumstance. She's not our friend. The minute someone from her trashy past shows up, she starts using us for drugs or music or distraction, and why should we be surprised? Like father, like daughter, right?"

"You better shut it down, Betty," Veronica told her.

"Or what, Veronica?" Betty asked, walking up to her. "You'll have your dad put a hit on me? Or maybe you'll do it yourself, because you may have fooled all of them, but not me. Try to reform all you want, but you're a bad person, Veronica. You'll always be a bad person."

"Why don't you just go, then, if I'm such a monster?" Veronica told her.

Betty did so, exiting. A dazed Ricky looked to Cheryl. "Should I check on her? Ask what's wrong?" he asked to which Cheryl only patted his arm, shaking her head.

"Veronica..." Archie spoke.

"I'm fine," Veronica answered. "Obviously, she's not." She looked to Ricky. "What? You wanna go after her, be my guest. But I'll be damned if I'm chasing Betty down after that...whatever it was. In fact, Reggie?" She turned to the jock. "Turn the music up, will you?"

Ricky stayed in place. He considered going after her and he should have but he didn't.

***

Betty sat on a bench very far from the hotel but she had some tears running down her cheeks, saddened but what she had done.

Her phone rang with the ringtone 'Lollipop' by the Chordettes and the words 'UNKNOWN' glaring at her.

She swiped the green icon before holding the phone to her ear. "I did it," she spoke in a soft voice. "But now I want my question, what will make you stop?"

"You," the Black Good answered on the other end. "As long as you continue showing me your devotion."

"I can't keep doing this..." Betty whispered.

"I'm sure you can," the Black Hood spoke. "Richard Andrews." Betty's eyes widened and she swore her heart broke into a million pieces. "The son of the adulterer and the boy who stands by and watched bad things happen."

"No. Not him, please," Betty pleaded, her voice cracking as more tears fell.

"He's not worthy of your love," the Black Hood told her. "Cut him out of your life...Or I will."

With that, Betty lowered her phone, sobbing.

She nearly lost him to death and now this? God, this was going to break her.

***

The next day at school, Archie went into the Blue and Gold office, looking to Betty.

"What the hell was that last night?" he asked her. She stayed silent. "Betty..."

"I lied to you," she spoke. "When you asked me if the Black Hood had called again. He did." She exhaled a small shaky breath. "And he told me to cut Veronica out of my life or he'd..." she trailed off. "And now he wants me to do the same with Ricky..."

"Betty, why didn't you tell me?" Archie asked.

"Because I knew you'd try to talk me out of it."

"You're right. It's my mistake," gee stated about to walk out, pulling out his phone and dialing Sheriff Keller.

"Archie, put the phone down!" Betty told him, standing and rushing up to him, grabbing his phone. "Put the phone down! Listen to me. He hasn't attacked or killed anyone since we started talking. I think this is distracting him."

"Betty, he's torturing you," Archie stated. "Making you hurt your mom, Veronica, and now my brother? He's been hurting and different but he doesn't deserve this. How are you gonna put him and yourself through that?"

Betty sniffled, tears pooling in her eyes. "I was hoping maybe you would do it."

"What?" Archie asked.

"Maybe you could tell him that we just need to stay away from each other for a while. Something, anything, to just keep him away..." Her voice cracked. "To appease the Black Hood."

"Betty."

"It doesn't have to be cruel, Archie, just enough to make Ricky believe it. We can walk it back later," she spoke softly.

"You mean, you hope we can," Archie tried to correct.

"No. We can," she stated. "And we will. Please, Archie. Don't quit on me now."

***

Meanwhile, at Sunnyside trailer park, Jughead and Ricky walked out of Jughead's trailer.

"So the final trial," Ricky spoke, his hands stuffed in his jean jacket pockets.

"Yeah, Toni said it was pretty gruesome," Jughead told him.

"Yikes. Second thoughts?"

"I had a few, yeah but I'm doing it today."

"And you're sure I can stay while it happens even though I'm far from a Serpent?" Ricky asked.

"I don't see why not," Jughead answered before changing the subject. "So you took jingle-jangle?"

"Yeah," Ricky answered with a sigh. "It was a one-time thing I'll never do again." He paused. "You know I only did it once, and it feels like my brain is already mush."

Jughead chuckled. "Is that you or your conscience talking?" he asked.

Ricky shrugged. "I don't know. Haven't heard that guy in a while," he answered honestly when he noticed his brother walking over. "Archie..."

"We gotta talk, Ricky," Archie stated.

"Uh..." Ricky looked to Jughead.

"Now is really not a good time," Jughead answered, expecting the Serpents to arrive at any minute. "You gotta go."

"Why, what's going on?" Archie asked.

"It's nothing. It's..." Ricky began.

"What the hell do we have here?" Sweet Pea spoke, rounding the corner with Serpents.

"Just leave him, all right, Sweet Pea?" Ricky said.

Archie's expression shifted into anger and shock. "Wait. You're friends with these thugs?"

"They're not thugs. Just leave them alone," Ricky replied.

"It's not what you think," Jughead added.

"Jug, are you joining the Serpents?" Archie asked.

"If he survives, and go ahead and call us thugs one more time," Sweet Pea hissed.

"Jughead, these are the guys who attacked me," Archie nearly snapped. "Who attacked Reggie, and Veronica and Dilton." He looked at Ricky. "Your friends too."

"I'm pretty sure you started it," Ricky told him defensively.

"Wait, is that why you're here? To warn us?" Jughead asked.

"No. I came for Ricky," Archie replied, looking at his little brother, now finding it easy to tell him. "I came here to tell you to stay away from Betty. She doesn't want to see you anymore."

Any emotion or defensiveness melted away, leaving him only having a sad expression. "What?" he asked quietly. "That doesn't make any sense, I just saw Betty yesterday..." he trailed off, now remembering how sad she looked. "She was fine."

"No, bro. She's been wanting to break up with you for weeks," Archie told him. "She's been agonizing over it. Since you turned into someone else, practically a monster, she couldn't bring herself to do it."

"So, she sent you?" Ricky asked, his tone still quiet. "Betty wouldn't-"

"If you don't believe me, then call her," Archie stated. "And feel free to tell her you're hanging with even more Serpents now, not just McKenzie. I bet she'll love that. She saw where you were headed, Ricky. Who you were turning into. We all did and she knows you can't be with them and with her. Come on, man. You know it, too."

Ricky only stared sadly at the ground letting Jughead place a firm hand on Ricky's shoulder. "Get out of here, Archie," Jughead told him.

Archie did so, turning and walking away.

"Dude...that was messed up," Fangs told Ricky. "Sorry."

Suddenly, Ricky looked up towards his brother's retreating form, his face and eyes were blank as if there was no humanity in them.

He quickly moved to pick up the empty beer bottles nearby, holding it by the neck tightly. "Hey, Archie," he called. As Archie turned to look back at him, Ricky threw the bottle at him to which the redhead quickly ducked in time as it smashed against the wall behind him, shattering very close to his head. As Archie watched his brother in shock as did Jughead, Ricky deadpanned, "Tell Betty I got the message."

As Archie hurriedly left the trailer park, Jughead turned back to the group of Serpents. "What? Did you enjoy the show?"

"The show hasn't even started yet," Sweet Pea stated before looking to Ricky. "You staying or what?"

"Um..." Ricky began.

"You don't have to watch if you don't want to," Fangs told him.

"...I need some air. Just start without me," Ricky whispered, still seething with anger but trying to hold it in as he walked back into Jughead's trailer.

"Damn, we should've had him join instead," Sweet Pea remarked.

***

The whole hour, Ricky sat in Jughead's trailer, sitting in the hallway with his back sunken against the wall.

He had a half-full beer bottle in his hand.

He was on the verge of crying. He felt like he brought this all on himself and God, maybe Jughead feared him too after what he saw Ricky do.

He had his eyes screwed shut, his thrown back against the wall until he heard the trailer door open and close.

He paid no mind to it and knew it was Jughead until he heard some shuffling and heard Toni say, "Welcome to the Serpents. Officially." Ricky's eyes shot open and climbed to stand up, beer bottle still in hand. "You're gonna have a hard time hiding that from your friends." Toni glanced back to see Ricky. "Except that one," she said, giving Ricky a smile.

Ricky saw Jughead and Toni sitting at the table. Jughead had an ice pack to his head as his face had cuts and bruises, his white tank top was now dirty with dirt and blood.

Jughead took a small glance at Ricky. "About that friends thing, I think it's a non-issue now," he told Toni.

"You okay?" Ricky asked Jughead. "Are you in?"

Jughead nodded. "Yeah, I'm in."

Ricky hummed. "Cool. I'm glad you're okay," he told him before walking back into the hall, into a room.

"You should talk to him," Toni said to Jughead. "You're his friend."

"There's not much I can say to him right now," Jughead stated.

"Try," she said. "He's probably just heartbroken." She stood up. "I'll give you guys some space."

As she left the trailer, Jughead stood up, placing the ice pack down, removing his dirty tank top and replacing it with the new 'S' shirt hanging on the edge of a chair and pulling his beanie on top of his head before walking into the hall, standing in the threshold of his room to see Ricky was sitting on the bed, legs crossed in front of him and his back flat against the headboard as he stared ahead.

"Where'd you get the beer?" Jughead asked.

Ricky glanced at him. "From your dad's closet. It was stashed all the way in the back," he answered. "It's my first one."

"Okay, well, put it down. I've never seen you drink, you're not starting now," Jughead stated.

"I need it right now, Jug," Ricky said, hugging the bottle to his chest.

"Ricky," Jughead spoke in a much stricter tone.

Ricky rolled his eyes. "Fine," he groaned, placing the bottle down to the side.

At this, Jughead walked deeper into the room, sitting on the bed beside Ricky only sunk into the pillow. "You all right?" Jughead asked softly.

"Let's see..." Ricky began. "In the past 24 hours, I took jingle-jangle, my girlfriend dumped me via my brother so..." He trailed off, scooting forward so he sunk into the pillow beside him. "I don't think I'm good."

Jughead patted his hand. "You'll bounce back. You're strong. Life hasn't been going well for me either." Ricky turned to look at him. "I mean, I'm pretty sure Archie hates me now too and Mack and I got in a fight so I'm pretty sure I'm single now."

"What'd you guys argue about?" Ricky asked.

"She thinks I'm only joining the Serpents for protection."

"Isn't that partly true?" Ricky questioned.

"Yeah but there's other reasons too," Jughead stated. "My dad was the only person that was keeping idiots like Sweet Pea in line. Someone needs to step up. To keep an all-out war from erupting. She thinks I'm a liar."

Ricky's eyes moved to all around the room, landing on something that was on the dresser. "I see you grabbed my notebook," he stated, out of the blue.

Jughead slightly sat up to see what he was talking about. "I...didn't read it-"

"Juggy, it's open on a certain page, you've been reading it from the beginning," Ricky stated. "I'm not mad, I saw you grab it when you were in my room."

"Wait," Jughead spoke, turning on his side to look at Ricky. "You saw me grab it and didn't say anything?" The boy nodded as he too turned on his side to face Jughead. "Why?"

"Because I did get shot," Ricky answered. "And I'm pretty sure my words were 'If I ever get shot one day and I'm dead or on the verge of death, you can read it then'." Ricky searched Jughead's face. "So are you creeped out by my crush on you?"

Jughead gave a small smile. "No. Kind of flattered, actually."

"Oh, you are?" Ricky questioned, returning the same smile.

"Yeah."

Ricky's eyes searched Jughead's face. "A part of me wonders if I let you read that before if things would've been different," he said in a low tone.

"Me too," Jughead whispered.

Jughead's eyes flickered to Ricky's lips for a small moment but only moved inches close to him.

It was Ricky who scooted closer, connecting their lips.

Jughead responded instantaneously to the pleasant pleasure of Ricky's lips on his as he pulled the Andrews boy closer by his neck until their chests pressed together and Ricky could feel his rattling heartbeat as there was no distance, no infinitesimal space between them. His lips and tongue were heavy and desperate, kissing with an unspoken surrender, and his chest was heaving unsteadily.

Kissing was strange. At least for kissing Jughead. It was wet but unexpectedly soft and a little bit messy. Unfamiliar yet very intimate...maybe even more intimate than when he kissed Betty.

Jughead pulls away the tiniest bit, their noses still bumping slightly (as if testing for his reaction) but Ricky kisses him again. Jughead's hands finding Ricky's waist as Ricky cups his jaw and he deepens the kiss. Both of his hands lower to Ricky's hips as the boy pulled him closer, their weight shifting as he does. Jughead's body now towered over the Andrews boy, making his back fall completely against the bed.

Ricky runs his hands through Jughead's hair as his gray beanie had fallen, the Jones's hands drop, moving Ricky's legs so they're on either side of him without breaking the kiss.

All Ricky could focus on was their breaths syncing up, and then he felt Jughead's cold hands scrambling to the hem of Ricky's shirt, ready to remove it. His heart kickstarted, movement shooting to his limbs, and his fingers trembled as he grasped tightly around Jughead's wrist, stilling his movements.

"Jug," Ricky spoke. "What are you-"

"Uh, removing this article of clothing from your body," Jughead said, in a 'duh' tone.

Last year or some other time before, Ricky would be eccentric this is happening but his mind was somewhere else.

"I don't know if I'm ready," Ricky whispered.

At that, Jughead halted his movements. "Do you want me to stop?" he asked.

Ricky hesitated, trying to think it over but his mind was everywhere. He couldn't think straight. All he could think about Jughead's touch being everywhere.

Ricky shook his head. "No," he whispered, his hands moving to remove Jughead's shirt.

The Jones boy did so before he had Ricky sit up so he could quickly remove his shirt, leaving him already half-naked to him before connecting their lips back together and Ricky's hands moved to undo Jughead's belt...

***

Hope you liked this chapter. Someone sent me some memes for this book and it just inspired me to keep writing.