"So Jose, the dance is coming up, what color are you and Veronica wearing?" Josie jerked her head towards Valerie with a bewilder look.
"Excuse me? What did you just say?"
Valerie glanced at Melody before speaking again. "I asked what colors you and Veronica are-"
"Yeah, stop right there. "Josie said with a hand up, "Why would Ronnie and I color coordinate?" She asked with a raised brow.
"Because… you're going together."
Her eyes enlarged. "Why the hell would I go to a dance with Veronica?"
"Um duh, cause you guys are like a thing?" Melody said in an obvious tone, looking at Josie like she was stupid.
"A thing?"
"Y'know like a couple? That's something couples do." Valerie supplied.
"Yeah, I know that." Josie snapped. "I'm just trying to figure out if you guys are tripping on some jingle jangle or you're actually suggesting Ronnie and I are dating."
"Definitely the second one." Melody said popping a fry in her mouth nonchalantly. "Girl why are you acting like Veronica isn't your boo?"
"Because she's not!" Her voice raised an octave, as she glanced around. "Where is this coming from?"
"From like every interaction you guys have had since she broke up with Archie…are you being serious right now?" Melody muttered only to have Josie look at her dumbfounded. Valerie sent her a knowing look that said told you so before turning to Josie with a sympathetic look.
"Okay Josie, I know these sort of things are hard for you but it's okay to accept-"
"There's nothing to accept, Val. Nothing's going on between us."
"Josie...she's calls you babe, baby, cutie-"
"Friends are allowed to have pet names for each other."
"She walks you to like every class and she even sits with us at lunch now."
"Because we're close friends now!" Josie's eyes widened in realization. "Wait, is this you guys weird way of telling me you feel threatened by Ronnie?"
"Girl, what?" Melody asked in confusion.
"Look guys, I know I spend a lot of time with Ronnie and she comes to Pussycat rehearsals a lot but that doesn't mean she's going to replace-
"Girl this isn't about us feeling threatened by her. This is about you being totally in denial about the fact that Veronica is your girlfriend!"
"Why do you keep saying things like that!" Josie hissed through her teeth, horrified.
"Because it's true, Josie." Valerie said softly. "That concert we went to last weekend," she used for an example, "you and Veronica were literally stuck like glue. Her arms were around your waist the whole time, whispering in your ear."
"They were inside jokes!"
"Oh my gosh that's not the point! You're always staring into her eyes like you want to kiss her."
"No I don't."
"Okay, I've literally seen y'all kiss." Melody deadpanned.
"Friendly kisses!" Josie protested.
"Josie, we've been friends since first grade and you've never even given me a friendly peck. And I know for sure I've seen Ms. Lodge stick her tongue down your throat."
Josie's mouth opened and closed, not really having a response for that because her and Veronica have done a lot more than that…But that doesn't mean that they're like.. well you know… um whatever! She took a breath before calmly speaking. "I don't know what kind of messed up high you both are on right now, no doubt curtesy of Reggie, but I am not dating Veronica." She said firmly, though she didn't like the way the words sounded out loud.
"Fine. You might not be dating her, but girl she is definitely dating you." Josie went to tear into Melody but was quickly interrupted before she could utter a word.
"Bonjour, Pussycats." Veronica appeared with a lunch tray and Betty in tow. She pressed a sweet kiss to Josie's cheek as they settle down in their seats, making the girl's cheek flame. This wasn't unusual though. Veronica always greeted her with a kiss and a soft smile but after her conversation with the girls and the smug look Melody was currently sending her, she felt uncomfortable. "Hi, baby." Veronica whispered, smiling sweetly at her as she placed a warm hand on her thigh.
She swallowed thickly at how her heart expanding hearing Veronica call her that, despite her aggressive disposition earlier. "Hi."
"So what are we talking about?" Betty smiled, looking around the table.
"Oh just a innocent game twenty questions." Melody said as she suddenly shifted her gaze to Veronica. "Veronica, care to play?" She asked, amused at the glare Josie was shooting her.
Taking a bite of her salad, the girl nodded. "Sure. What's the question?"
"Would you ever kiss Betty?"
The table went silent, save for Josie suddenly choking on the water she was sipping, causing Veronica to spring into action. "Are you okay?" She asked softly rubbing her back and thigh, looking into her eyes. Josie nodded mutely, gently pushing her hand off her thigh.
"I'm fine."
Veronica frown slightly at the action but turned back to Melody. "Well besides obvious reasons," She began, glancing at Josie, who's eyes widened, "No, I wouldn't. We're best friends, that'd be kind of weird."
"Yeah." Betty agreed with a laugh.
Josie couldn't stop the words from spilling out of her mouth. "So you didn't make out with her on your first day at the Vixen's tryouts?" She said it with a little more bite than she cared to admit.
Veronica looked surprised. "I didn't know you knew about that."
Josie shrugged, playing with her jello. "Cheryl told me about it awhile back." She could have sworn she heard Veronica mutter of course she did under her breath.
"Well that one doesn't count. I didn't really know Betty then. Plus, I was just trying to rile Cheryl up."
"Hmm."
It was pretty awkward after that. Veronica kept glancing at the Pussycat with concern looks. It was obvious Josie was annoyed which was never fun for anyone around her. Plus, she was clearly jealous remembering the fact that Veronica and Betty have kissed. Melody didn't know if she should be amused that her friend was really this oblivious about her thing with Veronica or feel sorry for the confusion she's probably feeling. Betty cleared her throat, obviously not caring for the sudden weirdness around the table. "So is everyone excited about the dance? I think I might actually be able to talk Jughead into going."
At the mention of the dance again, she was reminded of how all these conflicted feelings started. She stood abruptly, grabbing her bag. "I'll see you guys later." She quickly left without sparing any of them a glance, which didn't sit right with Veronica.
"Okay, what's wrong with Josie?" She asked, eyes following the girl into the school.
Valerie hesitated before answering. "She's kind of had a recent revelation that she's in denial about."
Veronica frown. In the three hours they were on the phone last night, Josie didn't mention any 'revelations'. "What do you mean? Revelation about what?"
"It's not really our place to tell you."
"Really, Valerie? You can't tell me?"
"Yeah, well it's kind of about you."
The dark haired teen looked taken back, before a somber expression marred her features. "Oh." She said quietly.
"Oh! No, no! It's nothing bad!" Val quickly reassured, realizing where her line of thinking was heading.
"Well it technically depends on how you look at it." Melody said awkwardly, no longer finding the situation funny, averting her eyes away from the sad look on Veronica's face.
"V, I'm sure Valerie's right," The blonde offered, "it's probably nothing bad."
Veronica glanced around them, before pushing up from the table. "I'm going to go talk to her."
"Good luck with that." Melody muttered, shooting her head up when she felt a kick in her leg. Crap, she said that out loud. She went to attempt to reassure Veronica but the girl was already stomping off in search for Josie. She felt a slap against her shoulder. "Ow."
"Seriously? You were not helping like at all."
"I'm sorry! I just can't believe Josie was so clueless about this. I mean how could she not know?"
Betty slide over a seat so she was directly in front of the girls. "Okay what's going on?"
"You know how Josie and Veronica are…" Val trailed off when Betty began nodding. "Well apparently Josie doesn't."
The blonde's brows furrowed. "Wait, what?"
"Josie basically thinks her and Veronica are strictly platonic." Valerie explained, with Melody nodding.
Betty began to laugh but quickly stopped when she realized they were serious. "W-wait. How is that even possible?" She asked in disbelief and wonderment.
Valerie shrugged. "Josie's never really dated before or shown real interest in doing so. Plus she was never really interested in guys growing up-"
"I think we know why."
"I'm just saying she never allowed herself to have crushes or flirt or anything." Val said.
"Then again she also didn't seem to notice Cheryl was totally in love with her last year or the year before, which I don't get because the girl was a bitch to everyone but Josie."
"And Jason."
"Sorry but you can't convince me she wasn't in love with him too."
"Okay changing gears," Betty said, not wanting to get back into the memories of Jason or last year. "I still don't understand how she doesn't realize that they're dating. I mean, V is always all over her."
"Right!" Melody exclaimed, "Even when I brought up that I've seen them kiss with tongue, she still tried to deny it."
Betty scoffed. "Kiss with tongue? That's nothing. I've walked in on them making out on Veronica's bed at least five times now."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes!" The blonde nodded enthusiastically, "So what's her justification for that?"
They were silent a minute, thinking, until Melody broke it. "Do you think we're getting played? I mean, no one can be this in denial."
Valerie shook her head slowly. "No, Josie seemed pretty freaked."
"Wow." Betty breathed, shaking her head in amazement. "Hopefully V will be able to get through to her."
what do you think? second part coming soon~