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He knew that relationship with Tabitha was healthy and mature. It was like a dinner with baked chicken breast, a lot of salad as a dressing, a wholegrain piece of bread and the glass of warm water that you suppose to take 10-15 minutes later after the food. It’s good for your digestion and health, it provides you with everything your body needs.
Basically, nothing was wrong about it, it was right, calm and something you’re supposed to do when you’re in your late twenties, already wise and adult. No drama at all, calm like a pond.
Relationship with Betty, on the other hand, was like his usual favorite order at Pop’s. Greasy cheeseburger with fries, a lot of ketchup and large milkshake. It could be bad for your health and you’re definitely not supposed to eat this everyday — there’s too much risk to end up sick, miserable and heartbroken. It’s wrong. But God, the process, the feelings and the satisfaction afterwards would always be incomparable. Every time he ate this, he wished it would never end. It was like the raging ocean.
It’s funny to think about, cause Tabitha was the owner of Pop’s now, he worked there with her and she was the one providing him with burgers now. He supposed to associate this place with her and her only. Supposed.
But for some cruel reasons, when he thinks about this diner, his mind always goes to Betty. It always was and will be their place and — now he’s sure — nothing can change that. He was miserable and heartbroken here so many times, yes. But so many great things happened here, at these red leathered booths. He never stopped craving these kind of emotions since then.
For any other wise young man the choice was obvious. Healthy nice dinner with cute nice girl you could grow old with and have two nice children and steady calm life.
But for Jughead? For Jughead it will always be the burger.