#hey have you guys ever heard that song 'would?' by alice in chains?

[crawlingpen]

"use commas" this "learn how to spell" that. you fools. the very core of linguistics is the change that you so despise on account of lacking any sort of knowledge or foresight. you imbeciles. we the linguists laugh at your little commas and dots that you throw around in your playpen. you think it matters? you think any of this matters? the only thing you should even slightly care about is if you can understand or interpret the core of the message. you hold up the punctuation system as you do the values of the past, thinking it sacred, much like a false idol. you will never be free if you dont stop policing the victimless crimes we've made up. you will never ascend.

[johannesviii]

Top 10 Personal Favorite Hit Songs from 2017

Not a very good year for hit songs. Still better than the next one, though.

And a very satisfying #1 that launched an entire infodump about a specific band. I’m not even sorry.

Disclaimers:

Keep in mind I’m using both the year-end top 100 lists from the US and from France while making these top 10 things. There’s songs in English that charted in my country way higher than they did in their home countries, or even earlier or later, so that might get surprising at times.

Of course there will be stuff in French. We suck. I know. It’s my list. Deal with it.

My musical tastes have always been terrible and I’m not a critic, just a listener and an idiot.

I have sound to color synesthesia which justifies nothing but might explain why I have trouble describing some songs in other terms than visual ones.

2017 might not sound super distant, but it’s already distant enough to analyse what started to happen to me that year with some clarity. This is when I started to lose some of my energy and motivation. A lot, in fact. Everything suddenly felt exhausting and this whole “what’s even the point of anything” mentality started to fall on my shoulders. And you know what, at first, while making these recaps, I had no idea what started it all. Was it that super rare infection I caught in early 2018 and almost made me lose a part of a finger? Was it both my grandfathers dying in mid 2018? Was it the general state of the world? But no, I did some digging and noticed this general exhaustion actually started right during summer 2017 and I was like what the f█ck happened in summer 2017? That summer was fine?

And then it clicked. I know exactly what kickstarted my spiral into about 18 months of depression, and it’s got nothing to do with health or family. It’s something that shouldn’t have affected my life in any way, and that I kinda tried to ignore at the time, and some of you might even find me overdramatic or cringy for letting it affect my life. But yeah, as I’ve realised while making these lists, Linkin Park was actually a super important part of my life, so it makes perfect sense: what started it all was Chester Bennington killing himself. Clearly, someone who had contributed so much to convince me that life was worth living and who suddenly decided it wasn’t worth it, that had a huge impact on me, whether I wanted it or not.

Aaaand now I’m crying again. Great.

Anyway. Uh. Important albums that year! Yeah so uh. Depeche Mode made Spirit and it wasn’t good, and so I kinda lost faith they would ever make a great album again, but I did realise one of my teenage dreams and saw them in concert in the Stade de France in July 2017 (it was huge. Going home after that felt like waking up from some sort of hypnotic trance. They even played Walking In My Shoes, one of my absolute favorite songs from them, along with a video featuring a trans person going to work and I started to bawl my eyes out in the middle of the f█cking crowd). Nine Inch Nails also made Add Violence and continued to be super good, and Indochine made 13, and while it wasn’t nearly as good as Black City Parade, it was also better than La République des Météors, so I was pretty happy about that. EDIT: Forgot about Under Your Spell by The Birthday Massacre, which blew my goddamn mind, but still not as much as the next album I'm gonna talk about.

But the defining album of the year, to me, was Mike Oldfield making a sequel to my favorite album from him, with Return to Ommadawn. Of course it’s not as good as Ommadawn. But still. If Ommadawn felt like discovering a new strange country full of weird folklore and forests and mysterious buildings, Return to Ommadawn feels like going back there half a century later and seeing things in ruins and wounded people, but still trying to seek beauty and joy in a partly destroyed landscape. It makes perfect sense considering the circumstances that surround the making of this thing, and it was the only way to make a good sequel to such a legendary album.

Unelligible songs that piss me off... uh, actually there’s only Cut to the Feeling by Carly Rae Jepsen. Why wasn’t it a huge hit. Come to think of it, why hasn’t any Carly Rae song been a huge hit since Good Times. This feels unfair.

Time for some honorable mentions, then.

Feels and also Slide (Calvin Harris and a lot of other people) - Got nothing to say about either of these songs, but they’re both pretty good.

Katchi (Ofenbach) - Nice little earworm.

No Roots (Alice Merton) - Super surprised this was a hit. Good.

OK (Robin Schulz ft James Blunt) - That’s a James Blunt song in the year of our lord 2017 and it sounds actually good??

What About Us (Pink) - Really caught my attention and made me wonder if I should listen to Pink again after a long streak of mediocre Pink songs.

Congratulations (Post Malone) - I find the song mostly boring but the guest verse ending with “uh, Malone... I gotta play on my phone...” is the stuff of legends and that got a chuckle out of me every time I heard it.

Glorious (Macklemore) - I’m glad this was a hit here but at the same time it’s not my favorite song from him. The music video is adorable, though.

Fly (Odyssey) - Nothing to say about that one.

XO Tour Life (Lil Uzi Vert) - The fact that I was regularly humming this is either a sign of quality or yet another sign I was depressed as shit.

Devil in Me (Purple Disco Machine) - What a great artist name.

Symphony (Clean Bandit) - Nothing to say here either, just good sound all around.

Attention (Charlie Puth) - 2017: The Year Charlie Puth Made A Great Song.

All Stars (Martin Solveig & Alma) - The last cut. It was on the list at some point. I really like it a lot, though.

And now, the list. The stuff I genuinely love starts at #6 and things that are still on my mp3 player to this day start at #4.

10 - Chained to the Rhythm (Katy Perry)

US: #73 / FR: #10

I just love the concept of a Katy Perry song about how Katy Perry songs are happy nonsense distracting you from actual issues. What can I say, I’m a sucker for meta stuff.

9 - Water Under The Bridge (Adele)

US: #88 / FR: Not on the list

An Adele song projecting actual positive energy!? That automatically goes on the list.

8 - Praying (Kesha)

US: #67 / FR: Not on the list

You know I mostly dislike slow emotional songs regardless of how good they actually are. I will, however, make an exception for this one even though I very rarely listen to it considering how emotionally taxing it is. That’s definitely a fantastic song, though.

7 - Viens On S’aime (Slimane)

US: Not on the list / FR: #53

“Listen, we love each other, f█ck it, f█ck their words and their decorum, listen, we love each other, f█ck it, f█ck their ideas and what they’re saying”. Well said, dude, well said.

6 - There’s Nothing Holding Me Back (Shawn Mendes)

US: #23 / FR: #91

That’s a very good song for running and that is becoming increasingly rarer, so I’ll take what I can get.

5 - Paris (The Chainsmokers)

US: #42 / FR: Not on the list (that’s irony for you)

Unlike Closer this is an unrelatable song about rich young people that can afford to live in Paris just “to get away from [their] parents” but honestly that’s the only negative thing I have to say against it. It sounds fantastic.

4 - Castle On The Hill (Ed Sheeran)

US: #40 / FR: #50

We’ve now entered the realm of songs that are still on my mp3 player to this day. This is the only Ed Sheeran song I’ve ever liked, and I love it. It sounds like a lost U2 song. Maybe from a strange dimension where U2 became more fragile and emotional instead of more pretentious.

I have no idea why this guy keeps making such boring stuff when he’s got that kind of song in him. I have no clue.

3 - Something Just Like This (Coldplay & The Chainsmokers)

US: #5 / FR: #19

Hey so Coldplay is still on my lists, apparently. It’s a bit too slow, some lyrics about superheros don’t make much sense, and the drop isn’t super good, but my god, that guitar near the end makes everything worth it. Just amazing colors and textures all around.

It’s not even my favorite song on that EP! I think Miracles (Someone Special) is even better, but eh, this one is a close second.

2 - 24k Magic (Bruno Mars)

US: #16 / FR: Not on the list (#13 in 2016 but I put it on the 2017 list instead)

Am I the only one to like this more than Uptown Funk? It’s so much fun to sing along to it. And unlike Uptown Funk, it’s making me feel nostalgic for an era I actually (vaguely) knew, the super colorful and ridiculous early 90s. My s.o loves it too and when it comes up on the radio or on our playlists you can bet we’re both going PUT YOUR. PINKY. RINGS UP. TO THE. MOOOOOOOON like two idiots.

This is the song I could have put on the previous list but elected to put on this list instead since it was elligible for both years, by the way! Since 2017 was less good than 2016, I thought it would be more interesting to save such a great song for later.

It would have topped the list too, if it wasn’t for something I didn’t expect to be elligible before reading the French year-end list.

Strap yourselves in, because I had no real opportunity to talk about this band at length in the posts made for the years when it was the most relevant in my life, so this is going to be quite long.

1 - La Vie Est Belle (Indochine)

US: Not on the list / FR: #44

As you already know if you remember some of my previous lists, Indochine is a band I started to love right in the middle of the absolute worst years of my life. These guys had been around since the 80s as a super successful new wave band, then became very unpopular and went underground for about twelve years in the entire 90s, then one of them died, then every member except the singer basically rotated, and then they suddenly re-emerged in 2002-2003 with Paradize, a monster of an album, full of energy, sinister themes and weird provocative songs, and an entire generation of angsty teenagers (me included as you can guess) embraced it wholeheartedly.

And all of a sudden Indochine was the favorite French mainstream band of local young punk/goths! So many kids with the Indochine logo in highschool. Nowadays the band is mocked and well-loved in equal doses by just about everyone, but I suspect it’s just because we’ve all grown up.

Placebo, Linkin Park and Indochine were the bands that ruled my entire world in 2003/2004. My mother hated all three of them, because of course she did, but especially Indochine, because according to her it was partly their fault if I was gender non-conforming. See, she used to say, they had put all kinds of bad ideas in my head and now I was all messed up.

...Holy shit, that’s a lot of blame to put on a ridiculous new wave band who’s first hit song from 1983 is just a long nonsensical list of shitty old Bob Morane pulp novels.

But here’s the problem. Even if Indochine kept having hit song after hit song, those were never the best songs on their albums. Here I am, 31, making these top ten lists since last December, and becoming more and more frustrated to see none of my favorite modern Indochine songs are elligible. My favorite Paradize singles were Mao Boy, Popstitute and especially Marilyn (god, this song rocked my entire year alongside Placebo’s The Bitter End. 2003 was such a fantastic year for dark energetic hit songs)? Too bad, the biggest hits were J’ai demandé à la lune and Le Grand Secret. Alice & June had four fantastic singles? Too bad, none of them is elligible! Same thing for the entirety of Black City Parade. Oh, but that song I hate from La Republique des Météors is elligible, I guess!

So we’re in summer 2017, and my life is completely different now, and Indochine releases La Vie Est Belle (I’m linking the album version and not the music video because it has some violent themes in it). I’m in my car doing some errands and the local radio goes “hey new song from Indochine” and I’m like “oh shit, gotta hear this” and then two minutes later “oh wow, that is super good. Won’t be a hit though”.

And yet, it was a hit! It became huge, even! And at that point I was already loving that song even though I thought it was just a super good but tragic love song about a significant other dying too young.

And then, about a month later, the wordplay of the first line finally hit me with the force of a semitruck. It’s not a love song. It’s a song about the singer’s dead twin. Who died in 1999.

It’s such a devastating, beautiful song, and yet it’s full of energy. I. adore. it. It’s exactly the kind of song you need to continue to fight and to live and to help other people in this day and age. “Life is beautiful and cruel, it looks like us sometimes” indeed. And it’s one of the best on the album, too!

So yes, 15 years after I first fell in love with this band and after they helped me during super dark times, finally, I can put one of their songs at the top of one of these lists, hands down, no debate whatsoever.

That probably sounds ridiculous but it’s genuinely making me feel extremely emotional.

Next up: I thought music sucked that year because I was depressed but I relistened to it and no it wasn’t just me

[the--blackdahlia]

This Life Chapter 19

Title: This Life Chapter 19

Summary:  Dean Winchester is the Vice President of the motorcycle club The Hunters. After almost 7 years in prison, he's free. But things have changed and Dean has to figure out how to put things back together.

Warnings: Language, violence

AN: Thank you to the wonderful @sams-serialkiller-fetish. The song for this chapter is Rooster by Alice in Chains.

Sam, Bobby, Gabriel, and Caleb all arrived back at the garage in the early evening. They were tired, but had stopped for some food in Austin before heading back to Wolfpine. They all got off their bikes and headed to meet with the others.

“So?” Jim asked as they came into the bar area.

“It was a bust.” Bobby told them. “There were fires, but looks like it was just a random nut job or something.”

“Sorry you wasted your time.” Andy said. Sam looked around, noticing someone wasn’t in their little group.

“Where’s Dean?” Sam asked, looking around. “He go back to his apartment?”

“He was just going for a beer run.” Cas said. He looked up at the clock on the wall. “But that’s been awhile ago.”

“Maybe he headed out to the canyon. He goes there to think.” Caleb pointed out. But Sam shook his head. He just had this feeling in his chest that Dean was in trouble. And he wasn’t going to sit by and let another member of his family be taken from him.

“Damn it Dean.” Sam growled. “I need you guys to go check the liquor store and some of the bars. See if you can find him. I need to run out to dad’s place and get something. If you find him before I get done, call me.” He held up his phone.

“Will do.” Caleb said. “Who needs sleep anyway?”

“We’ll help.” Ruby said. “We can cover more group if we pair up and head out.”

“Good idea.” Sam said. “Pick a partner and go. I’ll meet you guys in a bit.” Everyone nodded and headed off in different directions.

Caleb and Bobby went to the liquor store. Dean wasn’t the type to buy a bottle at the bar and take it to go. If he was going to a bar, he wanted to sit down and socialize, shoot some pool, and hit on women. If he wanted to take a drink to go, then he would go to the liquor store to get his fix.

“How can I...help...you.” The clerk said, seeing the vests for the Hunters.

“So, I’m assuming one of us has been in here today?” Bobby asked, leaning on the counter. The clerk nodded. “Did he cause any trouble?”

“N-no. He was a gentleman.” The clerk told them. “He paid for his beer but he left it and went after someone.”

“Who?” Caleb asked. “Who did he go after?”

“This guy on a red bike with a matching helmet.” They were told. “He was gone before I could tell him he forgot his beer.” Caleb and Bobby nodded.

“Thanks for the info.” Bobby said, patting the counter. They left the liquor store and Bobby pulled out his phone to call Sam.

****

It was quiet inside the old Winchester home. Ellen kept it clean and threw out anything that would possibly go bad, but they kept it for if Sam or Dean ever needed a home. The Wayward Sons hadn’t trashed the place, which was good. They had moved off to a hotel, since they felt wrong taking up the Winchester’s home. The house brought back so many memories as Sam unlocked the front door and made his way in. His steps echoed on the hardwood floor.

“I’m home.” Sam said, not that anybody was around to hear him. He shut the front door and walked around. The furniture was still there, a car magazine laying on the coffee table where John had left it. The house had a bit of a pine scent, but Sam was sure that was from any cleaning Ellen and Jo did. But that’s not what Sam cared about. He was here for something else. He made his way to the basement door and headed down to where the washer and dryer were.

John kept a few weapons down there, for an in case of emergency event. He taught Sam and Dean where they were, and he taught them how to use them. There was one that John mainly used as a threat, since it was big and scary looking. Sam needed that. He needed to feel like a threat, just like his dad did. And there she was, hanging on the wall, right where John had left her.

“Hello beautiful.” Sam said, grabbing the weapon from the hooks it hung on. A white ash bat with rusty barbed wire wrapped tightly around it. It was stained red in some spots. Just because John used it as more of a decoration to be scary, didn’t mean he didn’t actually use it. Sam had heard stories from the guys that John had once bashed someone’s head in with the bat, and had once swung it so hard it broke someone’s arm.

It was perfect.

Sam’s phone rang then. A real annoying ringtone, but he just took what was free. He looked down to see that Bobby was calling.

“Hello?” Sam answered, taking the bat and heading upstairs.

“Caleb and I just left the liquor store. Dean was there and took off after someone on a red bike.” Bobby relayed to Sam.

“One of the princes?” Sam asked.

“That’s my bet.” Bobby said. “I’m guessing Dean headed out past John’s place. Away from town.”

“I think I have an idea of where they went.” Sam said, stepping out onto the porch and looking out over farmland. “Come by dad’s place and meet me. We’ll go from there.” He hung up then and looked out over the landscape. He remembered running out here once or twice during a storm so he could watch the lightning in the distance. And Dean would always tell him to get his butt back inside before he caught a cold. And when the lightning got closer, Sam was always supposed to be inside to keep safe.

He was tired of being kept inside.

He wasn’t sure how long he had been standing there, but soon, Bobby and Caleb pulled into the driveway. Sam made his way down to them and they saw the bat.

“What are you planning to do with that?” Caleb asked. Sam looked him in the eye and for a moment, it wasn’t Sam looking back at him. It was John Winchester.

“Whatever I have to do.” Sam said. “There’s a lot of empty farms out here. People just couldn’t keep up. Let’s start there. I know that’s where Alastair used to hang out before they overthrew Cain and became the princes.”

“Okay, then let’s go.” Bobby said. Sam attached the bat to some holders on his bike and they took off, following Sam’s lead.

****

“Come on Dean.” Alastair said, punching Dean again. “You can do better than that. Where’s the little fighter?” But Dean didn’t say a word. “No sarcastic remarks? No movie quotes? Where did all the fight go?” A smirk appeared on his face. “Did it go away when I shot baby brother over and over again?”

“Just do it.” Dean said.

“What was that?” Alastair kicked Dean in the face then, knocking him to the ground. Sam’s bracelet was clenched tightly in his hand.

“Finish it.” He growled, holding his ribs.

“You know, you would’ve been the perfect student.” Alastair said, pulling Dean up by the front of his shirt. “But you just had to be the good little son, didn’t you? You could’ve had so much more. And what did this path get you? A set of dead parents and a dead brother? A club with no hope and no future?”

“Family.” Dean said through gasping breaths. “I had family.”

“Yeah. And family is leaving you here to die.” Alastair laughed. “They don’t care about you. Not your dad. Not your brother.” He kicked Dean in the ribs. “And now, you can join them.”

****

“There!” Caleb called out, pointing to the motorcycles that set on the land of an old abandoned farm. Sam pulled off the road to the farm. Caleb and Bobby followed suit and watched as Sam grabbed the bat. There was a fierce determination in his eyes that they only saw during speech competitions and soccer matches. Scratch that, those looks were nothing compared to the man that was standing before them. He wasn’t even going to wait for a plan. He just marched in.

And before him was Alastair, beating the shit out of his brother.

“Hey!” Sam called out, making Alastair drop Dean. Dean looked up at Sam and smile spread on his face.

“Well, well, well. Little Sammy Winchester.” Alastair laughed. “Come to stand in line so I can kill you next?”

“The only one dying here is you.” Sam said as he pointed the bat at Alastair. Alastair laughed.

“What are you going to do? Hit a homerun ball at me?” He asked.

“That’s the idea.” With that, Sam swung at Alastair, hitting him in the arm and making the other biker cry out in pain.

“You little bastard!” He screamed. Sam swung again, but this time, Alastair ducked and hit Sam’s hands, knocking the bat to the ground. “You? Kill me? That’s rich.” He swung at Sam’s face, connecting with his cheek. Dean laid on the ground, watching the fight. He gathered up his strength and drug himself over to the bat, picking it up.

“Sammy!” He called out. He tossed it to Sam, who caught it easily and started to hit Alastair with it over and over again. That’s what Bobby and Caleb walked in to, after scanning to make sure no more Horsemen were in hiding. A bloodied Alastair laying on the ground with Sam standing over him.

“Sam.” Bobby gasped. Sam looked at him, specks of blood on his face and clothes. “Dear lord son.”

“It had to be done.” Sam said. Caleb went to Dean, helping him sit up.

“We’ve got to get him to Robert.” Caleb said. Bobby nodded.

“Make the call.” He told him. “Tell him to meet us at the garage. I’m calling in some people to get these bikes out of here.” Bobby got on the phone to make the call. He knew that Dean wouldn’t be able to drive his bike back to the garage. He needed a car.

“Sammy.” Dean said. Sam looked over at Dean.

“I’m sorry.” Sam whispered. Dean reached out for him. He knew Sam was going to run. He hoped that by reaching for him, he could get him to stay. Sam could see that Dean was in pain and walked to him. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m proud of us.” Dean said, offering Sam a smile before his eyes fluttered closed.

“Dean?” Sam asked, looking down at his brother. “Dean?!”

Forever Tags: @anathewierdo @i-would-die-for-woodland-demars @dekahg @marvel-af @nanie5 @feelmyroarrrr @imboredsueme @gemini0410 @aiaranradnay @babypink224221 @mogaruke @xxwarhawk @strab0

Dean Winchester/Jensen Ackles Tags: @luciathewinchestergirl @sheris532 @bobasheebaby @bella-ca

This Life Tags: @soulslaststand @caplansteverogers @jamielea81 @becs-bunker @colie87

Supernatural Tags: @bandobsession98 @mrsdeanfuckingwinchester @fangirlsencyclopaediaofweirdness @ilovetardis @missihart23 @cloudyskylines @supernaturalwincestsblog @flamencodiva @sams-serialkiller-fetish

[90simaginesandfanfics]

Cradle Broken Glass - Chapter Forty

Chris raised his glass up in the air, nearly spilling its contents as he tried to act sober.

“To Layla, who will undoubtedly be the best assistant tour manager this world has ever seen, although no one will ever be as good a manager as my wife. TO LAYLA!” He finished and the whole bar erupted in cheers and shouts of agreement, although Chris’ speech was less than perfect. Layla sank back in her seat, not wanting to get too much attention. They were all sat in McFadden’s bar, the same place that she had first gone to with the former Mookie gang and where Mike thought he could get a discount purely for his supposed Irish heritage. But this time, it was Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains who were crowding the Irish pub. She had gotten a call earlier in the evening from Kelly Curtis, offering her the position and she was absolutely ecstatic. Because no matter how amazing it was going to be to go on tour with the guys and Eddie, she felt proud that she had gotten it on her own, and that it was down to her that she had been hired, even if Eddie was the one to suggest an interview.

“I hope you know, now that I’ve got the job, I’m going to be bossing you around all tour.” Layla said into Eddie’s ear as she leaned into his side. He got closer to her and quirked his eyebrow at her statement.

“Is that so?” He said, and Layla nodded smugly, while he leaned in and kissed the side of her mouth, making her giggle as he tried to dominate her movements.

“Hey Romeo, you mind not putting on that display, you’re making me puke.” Jerry shouted from the other end of the table and the couple broke away, met with Jerry’s laughter and shouts and wolf-whistles from the rest of the guys, making Layla blush profusely. Eddie put his middle finger up to him.

“Come on Jer, you’re just jealous you aren’t getting any action.” Came Stone’s remark from near the bar and Jerry gave him a harsh look, while everyone else erupted in laughter.

“You know what Stone, at least the ladies actually dig me. Unlike you, who has the voice of a chain-smoking rat.” He came back with and everyone looked at the two as tension rose in the air, until Mike made his way in between them.

“Well boys, you know how we should settle this?” He asked, barely even standing as the effects of alcohol were taking their toll on his system. Mike managed to point to the other side of the bar, where two older women were singing along to Tainted Love by Soft Cell. Karaoke style. The whole table erupted into shouts as everyone pushed Jerry and Stone over to the DJ, where they started to look through the song catalogue, fighting over what would be the best option.

Layla sat back in her seat, already enjoying the show before it even started. Eddie leaned down and placed a small kiss on her shoulder and she met his eyes, filled with sympathy and compassion, something she was still trying to get used to. She was still finding it hard to get her head around the fact that she was free, and that the one guy who had taken her freedom away from her was about to be put behind bars. But rather than dwell on the past, she picked up her beer and decided she was going to enjoy tonight.

The kiss that had started on her shoulder was soon moving to her neck, and she pushed Eddie’s body away from her as it became more intimate.

“Excuse you, sir, but we are in a public place.” Layla said in a jokey voice but was silently getting hotter the more Eddie’s body pushed up against hers.

“C’mon, babe, let’s just leave and go back to our place and have some fun.” Eddie whispered into her ear, and a shiver went down her spine. She could smell the alcohol on his breath, as he had been drinking like a donkey since they got to the bar, but she told herself to get a grip, and try to fend him off even in his hilariously drunken state.

“Eddie, we can go home later, but I wanna stay here right now.” She said and then stroked her hand down his cheek when he gave her a pout and whined.

“Pleaseee.” He said in a needy way and she laughed and pushed him back into his seat, even as he continued to play with her shirt and stroke her skin under it. But they were both distracted when they heard a commotion from the front of the bar.

Stone and Jerry had finally managed to get on stage for their turn and were preparing for their performance. The rest of the guys were standing near the stage and everyone let out shouts of laughter as the starting piano notes of Don’t Stop Believing by Journey started playing over the crappy amps in the bar.

Stone started off the performance, with a heart felt look towards Jerry, and started to swirl his hair around like he was in a shampoo advert. Jerry soon took over and started to use his hands and shake his hips sensually as he made his way around the stage. Wolf-whistles could be heard around the whole bar, mainly from Chris, Jeff and Mike Starr, who were all nearly pissing themselves laughing. Layla dragged Eddie over and the both of them started cheering the two idiots prancing around on stage, giving each other heated and steamy looks. At one point, Jerry grabbed Stone from behind, and while they belted out the chorus, started to embrace him from behind, like a couple. The song ended and their whole group went up in cheers, completely entertained by the homosexual display of affection that Stone and Jerry had just put on to the whole crowd. They got down from the stage and were greeted with pats on the back and hollering.

Soon after, everyone in the bar started to get up and perform, with Layne and Ben treating everyone to an awkwardly composed version of I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. Layla sat back and enjoyed the atmosphere, even while Eddie was snaking his hand up her thigh. She slapped him under the table subtly.

“Stop, not in front of everyone.” She said with a blush, and Eddie flashed her a cocky grin, his whole body having been overtaken by alcohol at this point. He placed an innocent kiss on the side of her lips.

“You’re killing me.” He said softly into her ear once again, and no matter how turned on she was getting, she laughed him off again and told him to deal with it.

“No, really. You’re killing me, with every breath you make me want you more, and I know that I’ll never be able to have you fully, and it kills me.” He said, still drunk, but an air of intense seriousness came over them both, huddled in the booth, while everyone around them was laughing and having a good time.

“I’m yours Eddie.” She said with finality and was slightly off put by his declaration. He had made a reference to it more than once, and she didn’t want to have to remind him all the time. He flashed her a small smile.

“You’re still killing me though. Let’s get out of here.” He said, and the whiny voice was back, as he tried to sneak his hand up her thigh once again, and she once again pushed it back down with a laugh. Eddie huffed out and then moved to get out of the booth. Layla looked at him in confusion, but he didn’t look back as he made his way over to Chris and said something to him, before they both made their way to the karaoke DJ and said something to him. Layla started to get nervous and it went through the roof when Eddie and Cornell got up on the stage, neither of them looking towards the crowd as they got into position, both looking whimsical and theatrical at the same time. Layla moved up to the stage and stood beside Jeff and Sean, while everyone shouted in encouragement. Layla was still confused as to what was going on until she heard the opening notes of the song, and Eddie turned around dramatically as he started to sing the first verse.

“Your cruel device Your blood, like ice One look, could kill My pain, your thrill”

Eddie sang doing his best Alice Cooper impression, and soon Chris, who was prancing around in the back, joined in for the chorus as he sang the high-pitched background vocals.

“I wanna love you but I better not touch (don't touch) I wanna hold you, but my senses tell me to stop I wanna kiss you but I want it too much (too much) I wanna taste you but your lips are venomous poison You're poison, running through my veins You're poison I don't want to break these chains”

Layla’s mouth was wide open as Eddie suddenly made eye contact with her and got down onto his knees and started crawling across the stage to where she was standing, looking like a lion who was trying to seduce her.

“Your mouth, so hot Your web, I'm caught Your skin, so wet Black lace, on sweat”

Chris was still providing the backing vocals, moving around on stage like a burlesque dancer while Eddie tried to seduce Layla with his movements, getting onto his knees and caressing himself with his hands. He was acting like he was part of a metal hair band, of which he despised, and Layla couldn’t help but burst out laughing with his drunken actions. Where was the shy Eddie she knew and loved?

“I hear you calling and it's needles and pins (and pins) I wanna hurt you just to hear you screaming my name Don't want to touch you but you're under my skin (deep in) I wanna kiss you but your lips are venomous poison You're poison, running through my veins You're poison I don't want to break these chains Poison

One look, could kill My pain, your thrill

I wanna love you but I better not touch (don't touch) I wanna to hold you, but my senses tell me to stop I wanna to kiss you but I want it too much (too much) I wanna taste you but your lips are venomous poison You're poison, running through my veins You're poison I don't want to break these chains Poison (poison)”

The song finished with both Eddie and Chris singing it to her, both moving sensually around the stage as they acted like fucking idiots. She had the biggest grin on her face and she had no idea how to control it. After a much-deserved round of applause, they both got kicked off the stage by the DJ and made their way to the rest of the guys. With whistles of encouragement in the background, Eddie moved to her and picked her up, twirling her around slightly as he placed his lips on top of hers and moved against her.

So much for public displays of affection.

*****

Holy shit It’s been so long since I updated! So I hope you all enjoy this and still like reading this fic. And what do you think about Eddie’s insecurities over Layla? Tbh I can’t believe I’m at chapter forty. I know the updates aren’t the longest but the fact that I’ve stayed committed to writing this long when I usually give up anything within a week is fucking mind blowing. And hopefully I’ll be able to keep up for another forty, because I’m going to finish this story even if it kills me!! Anyway, sorry for the rant. Love you all and hope you enjoy xxx. 

[makingnewenemies]

Group Picture Vol. 7 liner notes - 

Jake Lee - Bleeding Gum Murphy’s Jake Lee makes his triumphant return to Group Picture after a two year absence and the treasure is worth the wait! Jake blesses us with his characteristic upbeat opener set to clear-headed and introspective lyrics. He even manages to throw in an almost spanish sounding acoustic guitar lead? Welcome back Jake!

Little Cousin - The classic yet elusive duo of Walter and Milk come back with this strange and smooth track about burning ponies? Not really sure what to say about this one but I love Milk’s beats even when they are simple and jazzy like this and Walter’s experimenting with some new styles so props to trying I guess.

Weston Bookhouse - Weston is back with this calming and catchy piece about reflecting on his life and love while driving a country road. His voice is clean and clear, the shaker is fast and steady, and that outro when he sings both up and down the octave is probably the catchiest bit I’ve ever heard him write. I got the chills the first, second, and third time I heard this song. Rumor has it he is going to record the next album in 2018 in Walter’s garage!

Slaughter Beach, Dog - A Group Picture staple at this point, and the songwriter behind my favorite album of the year, Jake Ewald seems to be able to pump out heartfelt songs like a pathos machine, and of course this tune is no different. The arrangements of this song are fun and interesting and I love his love for slide guitar.

Milk Flud - Who? Ya the beat seems pretty chill but honestlyI don’t understand the motorbike metaphor at all. Is this guy ok? Who is Max? Was that a lyric about a german shepherd in a muzzle? The thing I love about MNE is that they give a platform to the little guys like this Flud character.

Chain - Woah! Chain is a Portland band that I’ve seen play live before but this is my first time hearing a recording and woah! The music and production are so unique and Teal’s voice is like candy. I can’t wait to hear more from them and I really hope they stick around the mne world for a little while so their creativity can rub off on me a little.

Cool American - Cool American is probably Portland’s coolest band. Their cynical wit and fuzzy charm leaves every listener intrigued and wishing they lived in Portland to have a beer with them. I’m really glad they came back to GP cause I want to be associated with them when they blow up.

Sour Guy - Well this has to be the absolute best song ever written about a grad student grading papers. While this might seem like a simple acoustic song, it’s really impressive the way Kris Schobert can clearly express the frustration of spending a whole day grading papers of kids who did not at all learn the subject matter (physics!) that he so passionately tried to teach to them. Love you, Kris. I would love to take your class and I wouldn’t be on my phone!

Banned From Japan - Earl from Banned From Japan is a sweet and genuine valley rat who has admittedly never listened to any bands besides NOFX. And, Earl, that is ok with us! This punk gem not only slaps but makes me want to delete my social media and live a more wholesome life. Welcome to MNE and Group Picture, Banned From Japan!

Alex Maddox - Our childhood friend with the voice that screams major label shoe-in is currently gearing up to ditch his job and live in a van traveling around Europe, surfing and following spiritual gurus. Perhaps Houston Graves is the person he felt he was turning into. Perhaps I am totally wrong. But I am right in saying this song is equally easy on the ears as it is introspective and I feel blessed to have Alex in my life and on Group Picture since its early days.

Benjamin Ward - It was a hard year for certain people in our music community. There were several deaths and Benny experienced one directly on his Hemingway tour. With that in mind, this song is absolutely heart breaking and cathartic. Usually known for dark metaphors and understated lyrics, Benny comes softly with candid words and a direct message - “I’m just glad I had you in my life / And I will carry you and the things you do until I die.” Beautiful, Benny.

Isabel Zacharias - So I was at Russell’s house meeting his new roommate Isabel for the first time this fall and we sang Wilco and Mountain Goats songs together. Then she played this song and I was floored. I told her about Group Picture and said she had to be on it. Now I am so grateful I had some caffeine that morning and had the gumption to be so forward because now I get to enjoy her poetic lyrics and soulful tune whenever I want.

The Sal Show - Sal from Animal City! Finally a funny track on Group Picture this year! But if you follow the lyrics, they actually convey a pretty ridiculous distant concept - a bad kid magician? - and it does not only make sense but its funny! Kudos to Sal if he ever reads this. The dude can write a tune.

Jeremy Murphy - The guy in Riled and Chain, Jeremy wowed the world with his “cranberries in the cosmos” song last year and now he has topped himself! This song is weird and cool! I would say more but Jeremy and I made a bet over a game of pool and he lost and he actually owes me a personal song. So I will hold my tongue until I hear that tune!

Dakota Loesch - The other mastermind behind Animal City and Lemp Lungs, Dakota is becoming a staple of group picture and that makes me feel blessed. This year he brings us a poetic Americana tune that makes me feel three things 1. honestly kinda sexy (must be that beat and the deep bass?) 2. Kinda melancholy! (not sure why) and 3. Dakota can we party together???

Emo Dreamboat - Ben Ward of Hemingway collabs with Milk and damn this song is a true emo pop song! Ben’s voice sounds soothing and dark and Milk’s beat is moody and intricate. Is this a collab that is gunna last or is this a one off Group Picture track? I really hope they do the album cause Ben can float over a beat like an experienced rapper and we all know Milk is capable of endless beats.

Byronius Punk - Ian Farmer, the dark horse of Modern Baseball, has always had a knack for songwriting and a great voice but it was hidden behind his role as “humble bassist” in the band. His track this year comes under the new moniker Byronius Punk and makes me want to stare out the window on a gray and snowy east coast day and just fall asleep on my desktop until summer arrives.

Grimy Baby - Naka G, from Weston Bookhouse and a past touring member of Walter Etc., keeps the slop tradition of MNE alive with this smokey bluesy gem. Probably recording everything in his bedroom in Santa Cruz, Naka sings about a “sleepless luxury” but honestly Naka if this how you function without sleep then I think you’re doing fine homie.

Chase Hoyt - Usually known for guitar shredding in Ubu Roi or Chaz and the Minions of Chaz, Chase takes a new disco styled approach with his contribution to this year’s comp. A disco song would usually seem annoying but this song sounds like Ozzy or Alice Cooper made a lo-fi disco song and that is obviously awesome. Also, note the shredding that still takes place and put some headphones and listen to those bass lines!

Humphrey Orlando - Our whiskey drinking story teller Humphrey is a classic mne and Group Picture stable. He claims he wrote this song in 5 minutes but he manages to squeeze as much soul as anyone feels in a lifetime into this scrappy minute and a half gem.

Melancholy Quinoa - The infamous rap group featuring Alex Crawford, Kyle B Hart, Ben Ward, Your Homie D, and Milk Flud, made their debut last year with a song about hot boxing a jungle gym. Well, they are back blending the Emo Dreamboat’s smooth vox, Crawford’s crass lyrics about masturbating, Kyle singing for the first time, and Milk’s trap tendencies. Honestly, this slaps!!!

Daddy Collin - The figurehead behind Snow Roller and voted Portland’s “Easiest Guy to Fall in Love With” is back this year under a solo moniker. Does this mean a solo career is in the works? Snow Roller released “XXL”, one of my fav albums of the year, this summer and Collin seems to still be climbing to his peak. I got the chills when he sings “i hope you still consider me a friend”. I do, Collin, I do.

Peanut Butter Cups - Aaron Kovacs from Lauren Records does this lo-fi project that pretty much only exists on Group Picture and I really think he needs to make a full album! His songs are fuzzy, lovely, and sad and make me feel something. Please Peanut Butter Cups, give us the full candy bar!

Walter Etc. - This one is just Walter alone, singing about being on a boat or something. Honestly, it sounds like all his other songs and I can’t relate to his love of the open sea, but hey this tune is kinda catchy!

*thanks for reading / listening* - omniscient mne god 

[daisy-chain-gardens]

Exchange Romance - Part 4

Part 1: https://daisy-chain-gardens.tumblr.com/post/162913902685/exchange-romance

Part 2: https://daisy-chain-gardens.tumblr.com/post/162947052535/exchange-romance-part-2

Part 3: https://daisy-chain-gardens.tumblr.com/post/163574533070/exchange-romance-part-3

A/N: Hey guys! I had a lot of trouble writing this part and I’m not that happy with how it turned out but I hope you guys like it! A huge thanks to @marieherondalebookfangirl for being super supportive and enthusiastic about this story and also for giving me the song ideas for this part. The songs mentioned are ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ by Wham! and ‘Northern Wind’ by City and Colour.  Please let me know what you think.

Summary: Betty and Jughead’s first school dance together

Word Count: 4450

As soon as Fred let him take a break from lifting rocks, Jughead all but ran into the break room to grab his phone and text hid doe eyed girlfriend an apology for disappearing so early that morning. He’d wanted to wake her up to say goodbye but he couldn’t do it. She’d looked so peaceful, such a contrast to how he’d found her the morning before. A small smile played on her lips and Jughead found himself wondering what dreams were gracing her with their presence at this time of the morning. He’d pushed a stray strand of her golden hair behind her ear before kissing her gently on the forehead, lips soft so as not to pull her away from her dreams. He had left her a note, explaining his mysterious absence, but he still felt bad. In true Betty fashion, she’d been the one to text him first. Thank you, Jughead. His whole being seemed brighter with his goofy smile. She’d read his letter.

--------------------

The Saturday after Betty’s birthday, Betty and Jughead were sitting on an armchair in the Lodge’s library. The blonde was sitting on her boyfriend’s lap as his voice filled the cozy room. His arms were wrapped around her as he held the book in front of them, reading aloud from the ink covered pages as Betty played with the hair that had fallen from his beanie. They stayed that way for a long time, interrupted in the middle of the afternoon by the sound of a phone ringing. Betty pulled hers out of her pocket and answered the call before she realised who it was.

“Elizabeth! Nice of you to finally pick up.” The harsh sound of her mother’s voice pulled Betty out of the dream-like state that Jughead’s voice had lulled her into.

“Mum. I wasn’t expecting you to call. Is everything alright?” Betty sounded slightly concerned as she tried to move off of Jughead’s lap before her mother could see him.

“Everything is fine Elizabeth, why wouldn’t it be? I was just wondering what your plans were for this weekend. Hermione emailed me that there was some sort of school dance you were hoping to attend,” Alice’s eyebrows raised in question. Betty let out the breath she was holding when her mum didn’t ask who she was with.

“Yes, mum. I’m going with Ju-, I’m going with some friends.” She wasn’t technically lying since she was going to the dance with Ronnie and Archie as well. She didn’t want to tell her mother about Jughead because she knew exactly how she would react. She would start by talking about how disappointed she was in her youngest daughter, say something about how Betty was going to end up like Polly (not that Betty saw this as a bad thing), rant about how she was letting herself get distracted at such an important time of her life, and then threaten to get her sent back to New Zealand. Betty had heard this speech countless times; whenever she got a mark less than an excellence or was too busy to fulfill all of her commitments, her mother would bring out the speech. Betty would sit there quietly, pushing her nails into her palm to prevent her from yelling at her mother and making the situation worse. She didn’t want to have to deal with that over Skype, thousands of kilometers away from her sister, the only one who could make her feel better. Betty ignored the quizzical look that Jughead was giving her in favour of looking down at the rich carpet under her feet.

“Well be careful, Elizabeth. I don’t want you out too late, you know how difficult it is to hide the bags under your eyes when you don’t sleep for eight hours.” Betty tried not to roll her eyes at her mother’s comment. Jughead observed the conversation from the chair, not having moved since Betty left his lap minutes ago. Betty had told him that her mother was a bit overbearing at sometimes but he found himself oddly jealous. Here she was, on the other side of the world from her parents but they still made an effort to worry about her wellbeing. Sure, they may have gone slightly overboard but he would take more over less anyday. His Dad lived in the same town as him but Jughead couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a conversation with him, much less bugged him about his sleep patterns. Jughead stood up out of the chair and mimed to Betty that he was going to grab a drink of water as her mother babbled on about a new diet she had been researching.

“Is there someone there with you Elizabeth?” Betty’s eyes widened with shock and Jughead froze mid stride.

“Umm, yeah, mum. This is my um, this is my friend Jughead.”

“Hi Mrs. Cooper. It’s nice to meet you.” Jughead tried to put on his most charming smile as he walked over to Betty so he could be seen on the tiny screen. Betty could hear the discomfort in his voice and placed a hand on his back, moving it in small circles.

“Jughead? That’s an … interesting name. Are you going to be taking Betty to the school dance this weekend,” Alice asked, as if this was a normal thing to bring up in conversation.

“Yes Mrs. Cooper. Well, Veronica, Archie, Betty and I are all going together,” replied Jughead, remembering Betty’s response earlier. His girlfriend sent him a grateful smile as she continued to rub his back. He placed him hand on her thigh and squeezed gently.

“Elizabeth, you never told me you were going with boys. I’m not sure how I feel about this, maybe you should stay at home and work on that science project you told me you were struggling with.” Jughead had to fight back a laugh. Betty struggling with a project? Not only was that idea absurd, he happened to know that she’d finished that project a week ago, the day after it was assigned. He kept his mouth shut but made a mental note to ask her about her it later.

“Mum, really it’s fine. Archie is going out with V so there’s going to be absolutely no problem there and Jughead and I are … we’re just friends. I’m sure he’ll be the perfect gentlemen. “ She looked over at he boyfriend and had to refrain from kissing the shy smile right off his face.

“Yes, I’m sure he will be Elizabeth but you know how I feel about dances, especially after what happened to Polly.” Jughead noticed Betty’s hand holding the phone tightening, knuckles turning white. He squeezed her thigh again and she relaxed slightly. Jughead could tell that Betty was on edge and he wanted to comfort her, but he also didn’t want to piss off Alice. He found her intimidating enough as it is and he was pretty sure she was trying to be polite.

“It’ll be fine Mum. Besides, I thought that you wanted me to get the full american high school experience. This dance is just a part of that. I promise not to stay out late. I won’t drink or do drugs or whatever other wild things you seem to think happen at school dances. I’m going to this dance mother, with or without your permission.” Betty’s voice had started out a bit shaky after the mention of her sister but by the end of it, Alice’s mouth was open in shock.

“Elizabeth Cooper, that is no way to talk to your mother. You’re getting more and more like Po-”

“Gotta go mum, bye!” Betty said quickly while clicking that small red button. She let out a huge sigh before embracing Jughead in a tight hug. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” she whispered into his chest. Jughead wrapped his arm around his girlfriend, noting how small and tired she looked, a complete contrast to how she’d looked while he was reading. He scooped her up in his arms.

“Do you want me to keep reading?” he asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the tired atmosphere present in the large room. She nodded in response as he walked over to the chair and settling them into their previous position.

--------------------

“B, you know I love you, but there's no way you’re wearing that to a school dance. Or anywhere. Ever.” Ronnie pulled the grey dress from Betty’s arms and threw it swiftly into the bin.

“I know but I wasn’t exactly thinking about school dances when I was packing my suitcase so now I have nothing to wear,” Betty groaned as she flopped onto her bed dramatically.

“You must have forgotten who you’re talking B. It’s lucky we’re almost the same size.” Betty opened her mouth to protest but her raven haired host sister was already out of the room. Veronica returned moments later, arms piled high with dresses of all shapes and colours. She couldn’t help herself, the blonde reached out a hand to touch the mountain of fabric.

“Oh my goodness, these are gorgeous V! I love them all but, knowing you, you’ve probably already picked one out for me,” she chuckled. Ronnie reached for a silvery blue dress that was hidden in the middle of the pile.

“Of course, I saw this in my wardrobe and instantly thought of you. Go try it on, I’ll wait here.” She took the dress from Ronnie’s grasp and walked into the bathroom. The fabric was soft under her fingers and seemed to sparkle under the fluorescent lights. She slipped it on before walking back into her room.

“Hey V can you help zi-” she didn’t even get the chance to finish her sentence before Veronica had jumped up from her spot on the bed.

“Oh my god! B! That dress looks like it was made for you. Jughead is going to have a heart attack when he sees you,” Ronnie gushed as she pulled the zip up Betty’s back, closing the dress while pushing her over towards the mirror. Betty gasped. She looked … elegant, sophisticated. She looked different. But she liked it.

--------------------

On Saturday, Betty felt like a queen. She’d been to dances before but it had never felt like such a big deal. Various people were coming in and out of the apartment to help the girls get ready. Hermione was even present for a while to get her nails done for an event she was going to that night. Many hours later, the doorbell rang. Hermione floated over and opened the door.

“Hello boys, looking very handsome tonight,” she commented, stepping aside to allow the boys into the apartment.

“Thanks Mrs. Lodge. Are the girls ready?” Archie asked politely.

“They should be out in a minute. Now, Hiram and I are flying to New York for an event tonight so we won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be checking in with Veronica though and I expect her and Betty to be home at midnight, alright? Have a good night.” And with that she was gone, leaving the boys all alone in the large apartment, waiting for their girlfriends.

--------------------

“I’m pretty sure I just heard the door.”

“It’ll just be the boys, Betty. Nobody ever got hurt from a little bit of suspense,” Ronnie smirked before fixing up her lipstick. While Veronica looked like the definition of confidence, Betty couldn’t sit still. Her knee was bouncing up and down impatiently while her long nails kept running through the ends of her wavy hair.

“Ok, perfect,” Ronnie said to her reflection. “You ready to knock ‘em dead?” She raised a perfect eyebrow after turning around to face the nervous blonde. “B, breathe. You look incredible and is Jughead’s jaw isn’t on the floor when he sees you I will personally kick his ass.” Betty smiled slightly at the thought of her host sister kicking anyone’s ass let alone Jughead’s. She stood up off the bed and followed Veronica into the living room.

--------------------

The boys stood up off the couch at the sound of two sets of heels walking down the long hallway. The girls burst through the door in a fit of laughter, heads thrown back carelessly as if they were unaware that they had company. Ronnie strutted over to Archie, greeting him with a kiss and a flashy smile, wrapping her arms around his neck. Betty was stuck in the doorway. Her feet wouldn’t move. Jughead was breathtaking. His beanie was nowhere to be found and his dark hair hung messily around his face. His tie was made of the same silvery blue material of her dress but his smile was what really stopped her in her tracks. It was shy and sweet and so perfectly Jughead.

He’d noticed that she wasn’t moving but he couldn’t either. She always looked beautiful but tonight was something different. Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders and her eyes looked more lighter than normal. She moved towards him and Jughead could have sworn she was walking in slow motion. When Betty finally reached him she kissed him softly on the cheek.

“Hi Juggie. You look really good,” she whispered in his ear, arms around his neck.

“You look gorgeous Betts,” he whispered back, feeling the heat of her blush against his cheek. Once again, Veronica’s voice interrupted them.

“Ok ok, we get it, you both look amazing but we need to go, Smithers is late,” she stated, turning on her heel and walking out the door.

--------------------

Even though she knew that this was the same gym she had P.E in every day, Betty couldn’t help feeling like she’d walked onto a movie set. She’d helped organise dances for her school in New Zealand but they were never anything like this. Fairy lights were draped along the walls and the hung from the ceiling, making the gym feel soft and cozy. White flowers sat in the middle of the elegant tables as fake snow floated around the room. Jughead watched Betty’s awe with a smile on his face, her childish reaction reminding him of their snowball fight the week before.

“Do they always look like this?” Betty asked as she continued to look around the room.

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never actually been to a school dance before,” Jughead answered with a shrug. “But Cheryl is always in charge of decorations so probably. She’s a bit of a perfectionist so everything she does is above and beyond.” He squeezes her hand and sends her a small smile.

“Well I think it looks incredible. School dances in New Zealand are a bit more about how many guys you can get with and who can sneak in the most alcohol. They definitely don’t look like this,” she giggled, still awestruck by her surroundings.

“Just because we’ve got fake snow doesn’t mean that people aren’t trying to get drunk,” Jughead smirked.

“Of course, silly me. Guess we won’t be drinking the punch then,” she said in mock disappointment.

“Haha, we’re not that cliche. Do you want to go and find Ron and Arch and grab a seat? I don’t really know how we’re supposed to act at these things.” A shy blush reddened his cheek. Betty reached over and grabbed his other hand, forcing him to face her. “Juggie, I don’t care that you’ve never been to a school dance before, although I don’t understand why if they all look like this,” she jokes. “Just try to relax and have fun, ok?” His small smile answers her question as she lets go of one of his hands, using the other one to drag him over to where Ronnie and Arch were jumping up and down in the middle of the gym.

“I think I see a spare table over there, want me to take you scarf?” Jughead yelled to be heard over the music. Betty nodded and passed him her scarf, wishing that he would stay and dance but understanding that this wasn’t really his scene. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before disappearing into the crowd of students.

--------------------

Jughead had figured he would stay at the table for the rest of the night under the guise of watching his friend’s coats but once he’d walked over to the table, the only thing he wanted to do was go back and be with Betty. She looked so beautiful tonight and he didn’t want to be away from her for another second. He spotted the metallic fabric of her dress shining from the middle of the crowd, making her look like a real life snowflake among the fairy lights and the snow. He made his way through the mess of bodies singing Wham! off key.

Wake me up before you go-go

Don’t you dare to leave me hangin’ on like a yo-yo

The raven haired boy rolled his eyes and cringed simultaneously. Of course they’re playing this at a school dance. They couldn’t possibly play music that people can listen to without having to worry about their ear drums bursting. As he was pushing through the sea of limbs, the screeching faded out, replace by a slower melody which didn’t leave Jughead wanting to stab himself repeatedly.

You’re the Northern wind

Sending shivers down my spine

You’re like fallen leaves

In an autumn night

His eyes locked with Betty’s and he was frozen for the second time that night. Jughead swore she was even more breathtaking than she had been since she saw him five minutes ago. She was the first one to move, again, gliding towards him without breaking eye contact. Betty reached her boyfriend after what felt like a lifetime, stopping only inches away from him.

“May I have this dance?” Jughead questioned with a small bow, bringing his face right in front of hers, allowing Betty to get lost in his piercing blue eyes.

“I guess you may,” she giggled into a slow curtsy before standing up and wrapping her arms around his neck. He placed his hands gently on her hips, pulling her into his chest. They started swaying back and forth in time to the ballad, eyes saying all of the words they couldn’t.

You’re the lullaby

That’s singing me to sleep

You ar the other half

You’re like a missing piece

Betty let out a small sigh, causing Jughead to pull away slightly to look down at her angelic face.

“Everything alright Betts?” Jughead’s voice was laced with worry, his brow furrowing.

“Never been better,” she replied with a smile, pulling herself back towards her boyfriend before standing up on her toes to place a soft kiss on his lips.

Fireworks. As cliche as it sounds, that’s the only word that seems to come close to describing how Jughead felt when Betty kissed him. His hands move from her waist to cup her face before he could give a second thought to where they are. Her fingers start to play with the curly hairs on the back of his neck as her smile grows wider against his lips. Betty had only kissed a couple of boys before but none of them had ever made her feel like this. Her knees were going weak with pleasure as he deepened the kiss further, his thumb slowly rubbing along her cheekbone before running through her hair.

Oh my love

You don’t know

What you do to me

Someone bumped into Betty’s back, forcing her to jump away from Jughead in shock. She blinked a few times, eyes wide, almost as if she was waking up from a dream. Jughead’s face was still warped into a warm smile at the sight of her like this; hair tousled from his touch, lipstick smudged from his lips, and eyes dark with desire. She looked different, sexy.

“After that I don’t know why I haven’t come to more school dances,” he smirked, earning him a playful punch on the arm. He rubbed with a fake frown on his face, playing along with Betty’s games.

“Trust me, it’s not always like that,” her voice dripping with desire as she stepped back into her boyfriend's, arms returning to their position around his neck in an attempt to continue dancing.

You are all four seasons

Rolled into one

You're like the cold December snow

In the warm July sun

“You really are something else Betts, you know that?” Jughead whispered as they swayed to the beat. Betty let her head rest on his chest, smiling as she remembered the first time he said those words to her. It felt like yesterday and a lifetime ago all at the same time. So much had changed in such a short amount of time but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You wanna get out of here Juggie?” Betty asked, lifting her head from his chest to meet his eyes.

“There’s nothing I’d like more,” he grinned as he reached for her hand, slowly pulling her toward the open door.

Oh my love

You don’t know

What you do to me

--------------------

The bell over the door rang softly throughout the diner, signalling the arrival of the two new customers. Veronica and Archie slid into their usual booth across from their friends, milkshake glasses and burger wrappers already empty.

“What caused you two lovebirds to leave so early?” Ronnie asked, eyebrows raised as she stole a fry from the basket in front of Betty.

“We just weren’t really in the mood,” the blonde replied nonchalantly, flashing a knowing grin at Jughead.

“Fine, don’t tell me,” Veronica said dramatically. “We’ll have girl talk later B.” Betty’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red at what her host sister was inferring.

“Any chance you guys are in the mood for a movie?” Said Archie, changing the subject, causing Betty to send him a grateful look.

“Do you even need to ask?” Jughead replied, already standing up to help Betty climb out of the red booth.

--------------------

Ronnie ended up choosing ‘The Notebook’ as the movie of the night, then falling asleep ten minutes in.

“Not only is she punishing us by making us watch this overworked cliche, she doesn’t even have enough decency to stay awake and listen to me complaining,” Jughead mumbled into Betty’s ear from where he was sitting beside her.

“I’m going to let Ronnie sleep in my bed because she’ll probably kill me if I let her sleep on the couch. Don’t stay up too late Jug,” Archie called out as he started carrying his girlfriend up the stairs.

“Oh how the tables turn,” Jughead quipped, his redheaded friend laughing as he walked out of view. “So Betts,” his grin widening, “whaddya wanna watch?” He changed his voice into the awful accent Betty had only had the displeasure of hearing once before. She cringed before replying.

“Really Jug? All of this time hanging out with me and you’re still doing that awful semi-australian accent. Guess we’ll just have to talk more,” Betty said in mock disappointment and she snuggled into Jughead’s side.

“Or we could do some not talking,” he suggested playfully, leaning down to plant soft kisses on her neck.

“Jug! Stop! That tickles!” She squealed, squirming under his mouth. His eyes twinkled as his long fingers danced across her sides, leaving her giggling and squealing under him. She quickly pressed her lips up to his, surprising him into stilling his fingers. She pushed him off her and kissed him again, this time lingering long enough to take in the sweet smell that could only be described as purely Jughead. “You want to keep watching this? I can’t be bothered moving,” Betty confessed, eyes already trained on the screen.

“Anything for you Betts,” Jughead whispered into her hair before leaving a soft kiss on the top of her head. “Only for you.”

The last thing remembers seeing is Noah and Ally rowing in the rain, before closing her eyes and eventually feeling heavy tears falling on her head.

--------------------

Fred Andrews lumbered down the stairs early in the morning, far too early to be walking around without caffeine in his system. He’d done this so many times that he stumbled through the living room with his eyes closed, reaching the kitchen and blindly reaching for the on switch on the coffee machine. The beverage was eventually hot and Fred poured half of it into his mug, taking a giant gulp before finally opening his eyes and plodding back into the living room to watch the news before he had to head off to the construction site.

He stopped in the doorway before rubbing his eyes, hard, to make sure he wasn’t still asleep. There on the couch lay Betty and Jughead, sound asleep and wrapped up in each other’s arms, both still wearing their clothes from last night. Fred rolled his eyes before turning on the tTV at full volume. Betty jumped up at the noise, bumping her head on Jughead’s chin. His eyes eyes opened slowly until he saw Fred standing over them. Betty was already sitting up, hands smoothing the front of her dress and trying to tame her hair discreetly.

“Morning guys. How was the dance?” Fred asked the pair nonchalantly, taking another gulp of coffee from the steaming mug in his hand.

“It was um, it was good thanks.” Jughead said nervously, running a hand through his hair and wishing he was wearing his beanie. “Hey, um look, Fred, about all this-”

“Jug, calm down. I’m not gonna ground you or anything but just be careful ok? Don’t rush into anything you’re not ready for.” Betty’s face had turned the colour of Archie’s hair and Jughead was shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “Anyways, by the looks of you two that was punishment enough so I’m just gonna head off to work. Oh, and we’re out of milk.” Fred left his coffee mug on the coffee table and was grabbing his coat as the door opened slowly. Archie stepped through it, closing it softly to reduce the sound of the lock closing. He tiptoed towards the stairs as his dad turned the corner, slamming right into him. “Oh hey Dad, um , I was just, um, at the store, ah, getting some milk for breakfast.”

Jughead chuckled from his spot on the couch, noting how stupid Archie’s lie was considering it was five in the morning and he was still wearing his tuxedo from the night before. Fred obviously noted his son’s attire, and his lack of milk, before letting out a huge sigh and walking out the door. Archie looked at the giggling pair on the couch.

“What?”