THE CLIFFHANGER
Hi y'all, English is not my first language, so I do apologize for any mistakes along the way.
This is my first attempt at writing on a fandom that is not Harry Potter, so let's see, I'm excited!
This story is mirrored. Chapter's 1 continuation is chapter 3, 5, 7...
While chapter 2 goes with 4, 6, 8...
From the first two chapters, the two sides of the mirror, you might unable to see, but as the story goes on, you'll see one story go to one way as the other goes to another, so this is a two-in-one story and the reason for that is... Guess you'll have to read it. HAHAHA
As the wheels of fate start spinning, it doesn't matter who you are or what you do. It's coming... it's coming for you.
Chapter 1
September 5, Tuesday – Riverdale
Betty watched with a small smile as the other girl strode into Riverdale High clicking her high heels onto the pavement floor on the first Tuesday after Summer break. Veronica Lodge, the new girl, walked in her general direction, reading a paper that she seemed to have folded and unfolded countless times, given its worn-out look.
She was either oblivious or very good at ignoring all the heads turning her direction as she passed. Props to the new girl.
"Hi, Veronica?" Betty waved at her after feeling guilty for letting her astray wondering through the halls, obviously looking for Betty, "I'm Betty, I'm giving you the tour through the school," she smiled once again.
Veronica's pretty features broke down into a smile. She was one of those people who smiled with their whole face, her smile reaching her dark brown eyes, decorated with her winged mascara. Her raven wavy hair went no further than her shoulder and moved smoothly as she inclined her head to extended a hand toward Betty.
"Oh, thank God. I have pretty thick skin, but all this ogling was getting to my last nerve. I feel like a wicked Sandra Dee waking down the halls."
Betty shook her hand and smiled once again: fan of classics, isn't she? Duly noted.
"People here don't get out much. Don't do much, they are just not that much," a tragically precise statement if Betty ever made one. Not as uplifting as she was supposed to be with newcomers, but sadly true. It's better to not let the new girl have high expectations.
High expectations led no one anywhere.
Veronica was surprisingly alert during Betty's exposé of the school history, so much that she decided to not bother Veronica with it anymore. Better to keep that for those who were rude and uninterested, so Betty could draw some pleasure in knowing that people's annoying remarks were met with a boring speech on her end. When you can't beat them, annoy them.
"And that's basically it," she concluded arriving the same corridor they started off, "As it turns out, we have Literature together, so you can follow me to class," she then looked at Veronica, who was giving her a mischievous grin, "What?" Betty asked her, grinning a bit herself.
"You might not know it yet, Betty Cooper, but you and I will do way more than share Literature classes together."
Veronica Lodge was magnetic. She had none of that uptown girl crap one would expect from someone with that look, or that name. She was sweet, funny and didn't seem to mind the fact that Betty was obviously a teacher's pet since she was the one the director appointed to give her the tour. Her beauty was nothing like the mellow vanilla pony-tail lapeled-sweaters Betty relied on so much. Veronica looked expensive, from the tip of hair to the click of her hills as she parades around the school, her hips swinging. As far as Betty could tell, there was nothing remotely similar about them. Nothing that could bring the duo together as friends.
But then again Veronica was magnetic. And Betty was tired of her damned sweaters.
"Bring on the rain," Betty said, at last, linking her arm with Veronica's.
Aside from Veronica and herself, the only other person who looked alive during the lecture was Jughead Jones, Archie's childhood friend, who was a bit too odd or too entitled to sit with them during lunch hours. She chose to believe that he was merely odd, as to give him the benefit of the doubt for Archie's sake.
He was clever, and to Betty, that counted volumes over being intelligent. Anyone could memorize a book, few could apply its knowledge in the real world, and take from said world teachings to apply elsewhere. The boy was a sponge, a perfect marriage between street-smart and book-smart.
Not that she would ever tell him that, because despite trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, she actually truly believed he was an ass.
"Jughead," she acknowledged him after the class was over.
To, you know, maintain peace in the kingdom and all that.
"Betty," he said the in the same tone she used.
"Veronica Lodge!" the latter explained, reaching out a hand to him. He looked at Betty and then at Veronica's hand again, shaking it at last, "Now that we all awkwardly said each other's name, let's all grab something to eat."
Betty did explain to Veronica about the pathetic excuse for hierarchy in Riverdale High involving some of the cheerleader (not her, because she actually had stuff to do, like live her life) and the Football and Basketball teams. Apparently, she neglected to inform her about their own booth hierarchy that did not involve Jughead "brooding makes me mysterious and an asshole" Jones.
Oh well, her fault, she guessed.
"Let's go", she said picking up her things from the table, faster than any protest Jughead was undoubtedly about to spill.
After getting their food, Betty guided them both to the tables outside, where Kevin and Archie were already seated, the latter holding a guitar in his hands.
The weather was nice. A bit chilly, but nothing unexpected for Upstate New York, it was refreshing, even. She couldn't suppress a broad smile when she seated across from her boyfriend, Archie. It's been two years now, but she suspected she would never grow tired of his boyish smile while holding that guitar in his arms.
He smiled back, as he always did.
"Oh, Jughead!" Archie exclaimed, as the most annoyed person to ever sit in a table took his place, nodding his head, "And..." he looked at the new girl.
"Oh, Archie, this is Veronica Lodge, she is new in school," Betty supplied, giving pointed looks to both Kevin and Archie to introduce themselves
"I love everything about what you are wearing, I'm sold. She stays," Kevin declared, "I'm Kevin."
"Ohh, new gay bestie alert," Veronica wore a devious smile.
"I'm not gay, by that logic, probably not suitable for a best friend then, but you seem to like my Betty, so I guess we are good".
Veronica knocked her head up and laughed hard at what Archie had said. They all laughed, except for Jughead fucking Jones, obviously, because he had no sense of humor on top of having no social grace.
He could at least pretend to be part of it all: his best friend told a damn joke. And it was funny.
It was. Right?
Author's note: The first two chapters will be pretty small just to... set the mood.
The BIGGEST shoutout to my girl vckliebold who not only inspired me to write, but also is also my Beta and the queen of Verache. You should definitely check her out (;
See y'all soon!