Jughead sat in the second row of the church pew, lost in his own world.
His eyes were focused on the closed casket that lay in the center of the room.
The pastor of the church was speaking, but Jughead was too distracted to listen.
To care about what he had to say.
Because no matter what the pastor said, he could never bring her back.
His sweet, kind, beloved angel was gone.
Betty Cooper was dead.
O-O-O-O-O-O-O
It was a Thursday night, and Alice Cooper had just gotten home from a long days work at the Register. Normally, her husband Hal Cooper would work the late hours and lock up, but he was out of town for the week on a business trip.
Alice had to stop at the grocery store on her way home to pick up a few things, and didn't get home until a few minutes past nine.
"Betty, come help put away these groceries please," Alice Cooper said in the direction of the second floor.
She went back to the kitchen and began putting a couple of things away. It wasn't until she had finished putting all of the groceries away, that she noticed Betty hadn't come down.
It wasn't until she put away the bags that she noticed how quiet the house was when she didn't move. Alice headed upstairs, looking for her daughter.
Had Betty fallen asleep?
"Betty?" Alice Cooper called as she made her way up the stairs.
The only answer she received was silence.
Alice headed towards Betty's room, quietly entering in case the teen was sleeping.
The light was off and Betty's bed was neatly made, looking as if no one had laid on it in weeks. Alice's eyes met the light barely escaping the closed bathroom door that connected with Betty's room.
Figuring her daughter was in the bathroom, Alice knocked on the door.
"Betty?" Alice said, a hint of concern evident in her voice.
Still no answer.
Alice was getting more worried by the second. The door was locked, and even though every knock got louder, it stayed closed.
Had Alice forgotten that Betty was sleeping over at a friends? Veronica's? Archie's? Even knowing Betty had stayed the night at Jughead's would calm her down right now.
But Alice had the memory close to an elephant. There was no way she would forget about Betty telling her she was staying the night at someone's house.
Still, just to be sure, Alice took her phone out of her pocket. She dialed Betty's number and put the phone up to her ear.
A couple of seconds passed before Alice saw a small part of the room light up. She heard vibrations and a ringtone going off, no doubt Betty's phone.
Looking at the desk in her daughter's room, her fears were confirmed when she saw that Betty's phone was here.
Now she knew she had to get into that bathroom. She kept telling herself that maybe Betty had fallen asleep in there, but deep down she could tell something was wrong.
She could kick down the door right? Her past serpent skills would finally prove useful. Alice drew her foot back and with all her might kicked at the door, knocking it off some of its hinges.
It hung on by the top hinge barely, but was now crooked. But the door was the least of Alice Cooper's concern right now.
The sight that met her eyes was something she wished she could erase for forever. But even all the soap in the world couldn't scrub her mind clean of the image that would haunt her forever.
Slumped against the bathtub was no doubt, Betty Cooper. Blood was all over the floor. Betty's wrists were cut, deeply. Lying next to her daughter's lifeless body, Alice saw a kitchen knife.
"No no no no no no... Betty... Betty wake up," Alice said.
Tears were in the mother's eyes as she ran to her daughter, pulling her close to her body. Alice sat with Betty's head in her lap.
Alice shook her daughter's body, waiting for Betty's eyes to open.
They didn't.
"It's okay Betty... c'mon..." Alice said, tears streaming down her face.
"You'll be fine sweety," Alice said, trying to convince herself that her daughter was only unconscious and bound to wake up any second.
"BETTY WAKE UP!" Alice now screamed, heart wrenching sobs now coming from her as she held her daughter's face in her hands.
Alice hadn't realized until now that her hands were shaking uncontrollably. Desperately she took Betty's hands, looking for a pulse.
Betty's wrists were so deeply cut, Alice wasn't sure a pulse would be possible to find on her arms. Quickly, Alice moved her hand towards Betty's neck, where no cuts were.
She pressed her finger, getting no slight signs of life in return. Alice stared at Betty's chest, only to see it was perfectly still.
It wasn't until that moment, Alice realized how cold Betty's skin actually was. How pale she looked.
Alice delicately touched Betty's face, hoping, praying... for her daughter to wake up.
Looking for a pulse again. Alice hadn't realized many things. Like how she would never get to talk to her daughter again. Or how her phone was ringing. Or how she was screaming and begging Betty to wake up again.
Until she heard the front door to her house be knocked down.
But right now she could care less.
She heard people calling her name, but all Alice could do was stare at Betty.
Then Fred appeared at the doorway to the bathroom.
"Alice are you oka-" Fred said, before cutting himself off.
The same look of shock covering his face at the scene in front of him.
Archie was right behind him, a bat in his hands, ready to knock somebody out.
Even Archie's body went stiff at seeing Betty, his best friend, with her life drained from her.
Fred went towards Alice, hugging her tightly.
Archie was speechless. He didn't even know he was crying until feeling a tear drop on his hand.
Archie looked at the bathroom counter, and saw a note. He picked it up, reading it quickly, then handed it to Alice.
Alice took the note from Archie's hands quickly, with Fred reading it over her shoulder.
The words written on the torn piece of paper made Alice's heart break even more, if that was possible.
On the paper, it read:
I'm sorry.
.
.
.
Hey! This is my very first Riverdale fanfiction, and reviews would be very appreciated! Hope this first chapter was okay. Until the next one...