[ for archie, he's willing to risk it. not because he's a thrill seeker or the kind of person who lives dangerously. to jughead, life would be good with the friends he loves, a good book, and his laptop to write in. but that's not possible right now, not when their world came crashing down in the most literal of senses. now he's in a place where making brash decisions is the norm. he knows it's a bit soon for him and betty to be living together, but the thought of her being on her own had been too much for him. just as the thought of archie being on his own makes him clench the seat cushions of the couch.

and to top it all off, he knows archie is trying to push him ( and betty ) away. it's a tactic jughead recognizes well because it's what he does far too often. if what archie says is true about him and betty being broken up, it must've been because he'd pushed and betty hadn't resisted. it's a scary thought that he doesn't like acknowledging, but the truth is sitting right next to him.

heaving a sigh, he allows his shoulders to slump. his hands come up and adjust his beanie before he returns his gaze to archie, who is now looking at him. how can he explain that archie shouldn't push because he'll just push back and neither will want that to happen. ]

Is that how you really want it, Arch? Yeah, Betty's staying here but you can too. I couldn't leave her to fend for herself and I can't do that to you either. You gave me a home, remember? Those were some of the most awesome days of my life.

[ sharing a room with archie, hearing him breathe as he slept, staying up too late playing video games, and practically eating fred out of house and home. sometimes, jughead wishes they could go back to that. ]

I love you both too, dude. But if you really want to draw that line in the sand, I'll let you.