Chapter 1 - Betty

I don't know how things got so bad.

This was my dream, to leave Riverdale and become my own person, to shed the image of the perfect Cooper daughter.

I went to Columbia University in New York to study journalism. I left behind everything to find myself and become my own version of Betty Cooper.

And now five years later, I'm frantically packing all of my belongings into my suit case. I don't know where I am going, I just know I have to leave.

Things with Alex are… bad, no… terrifying.

I met Alex in my second year at Columbia he was sweet, charming and so handsome. He became my very best friend in New York.

Things slowly progressed into a relationship. He was smitten from day one. I on the other hand, had a hard time returning those feelings. Of course Alex was great, but something was holding me back.

When my parents came to visit for Christmas that year they were head over heels for Alex. He was smart, charming, funny and handsome. He came from a "great family" as my dear mother Alice so notably pointed out multiple times. My parents loved Alex; he was the perfect match for their perfect daughter.

Shortly after their departure that Christmas I decided to make things official with Alex. He was sweet to me and my parents adored him. And as much as I wanted to move to New York to get away from being their perfect daughter, I just loved seeing them so happy, and that happiness directed at me.

Things with Alex were great at first. He loved me, really loved me. He kissed me sweetly and remembered my favorite things. He walked me to class and supported me in my studies. With time I started to love him too. I forgot about my reservations and fully embraced the here and now. And my here and now was Alex.

After graduation Alex proposed. My parents were ecstatic, and I honestly thought I was happy too. Alex and I were a perfect match by all accounts.

We moved to our own apartment shortly after the engagement and started our lives together.

He got a job at a great advising firm inside city and I was working for a notable online news source. Things were what my mother would call… perfect.

Well they were at least at first.

When Alex started his new job he started going out with his work buddies frequently after hours. At first I was fine with it even though most nights he wasn't home until after I was already asleep. In the beginning he would come home a little tipsy and put himself to bed without waking me, but as time went on he started coming home completely belligerent.

It was exactly one month ago when Alex came in after another night out with the guys; it was nearly 2:30 in the morning. I was sleeping when he threw our bedroom door open with a loud crash.

I was jolted awake by the sound. I rolled over to see him standing in the doorway, shirt untucked tie hanging around his neck, undone. I roll my eyes at his appearance and rolled back on to my side hoping he will see himself to bed so I can fall back asleep soon, I have a very important deadline tomorrow. However he starts yelling, "Get up… n' make me something to eat."

I sit up, "No Alex, please, just lay down and go to sleep, I have a busy day tomorrow."

"WHAT did you just say to me?!"

"I said NO Alex, I am not in the mood just go sleep on the couch."

He rushed over to the bed and grabbed my wrists and yanked me to the floor.

"I SAID MAKE ME SOMETHING TO EAT"

And that was the first time he hit me.

He bent down, gripped my chin firmly with one hand, while he drew the other back and placed a hard slap across my cheek.

I was mortified. He had hardly ever even raised his voice at me, let alone laid a hand on me.

Tears sprang to my eyes from the force. My cheek stung and grew hot. Without processing what I was doing, I pushed him hard in the chest forcing him to take a few steps back. Then I ran out the door, straight to my car. Once I was in my car…. I didn't know where to go. I had no one in the city.

I didn't really have any friends in the city, none I knew well enough to show up at their doorstep at 2:30 in the morning at least. My mind wandered to Veronica. Oh how I missed our friendship and wished I could run to her in this moment.

I sob for hours while sitting in my car. My cheek stings, my heart aches and for the first time in a very long time, I am home sick.

In the morning Alex came out with a cup of coffee and a carefully articulated apology. Swearing he would never touch me again, begging and pleading for me to stay.

I had nowhere to go, so I forgave him.

Now here a month later, not only has Alex broken his promise, his beatings have become harsher. Tonight was the worst one yet. I can already feel what will soon be a black eye starting to swell and his handprints around my wrists are bright red.

But tonight, I am leaving.

I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand and tighten my ponytail. I zip up my suit case and throw my purse over my shoulder. I quietly walk through the living room of our tiny apartment trying very hard to not wake Alex from his drunken stupor on the couch. Before I reach the door I pull the, too flashy, engagement ring off my finger and set it on the counter.

Once I reach the other side of the door I run, no… sprint to my car. I climb inside, lock the doors, start the engine and drive.

I am numb as I race down the highway. My eye is starting the swell shut but I keep driving. I don't know where I am going, but as long as it's not that tiny apartment on the north side of Manhattan I know I will be safe.

After my heart stops racing and the adrenaline has subsided I finally peel my eyes off the road to look at the time. 7:30AM. I have been driving for nearly 4 hours. My left eye is completely swollen shut and the handprints on my wrists are puffy and bright pink. I take a long slow breath and decide where I am heading.

I am driving home, to Riverdale.