Veronica had her arm linked with Betty's as they walked into school, and honestly? There were sparkles shooting throughout Veronica's body, and she was struggling to hide it.

She was grinning as they walked in, talking passionately about something she'd done with Archie over the weekend, rambling about going to the drive in and seeing a movie with just the four of them, giggling like Veronica hadn't see her ever before.

Veronica watched Betty with a slight smile, that kind of smile one made when they were deeply in unrequited love – slightly disappointed but loving nevertheless. Her smile widened as Betty told her all about the drive in, but then, all of the sudden, it was gone.

"B?" She asked quietly. "What is it?"

Betty scowled and then jerked her head towards the entrance of the common room, where Veronica saw Cheryl and her minions, giggling bitchily.

"Honestly, the things Polly tells me," Cheryl was saying. "Oh, Betty! Your sister was telling me earlier quite a funny story. Do you want to share your experiences with a certain black wig… or shall I?"

Veronica clenched her teeth and tore away from Betty, dropping her arm and stalking over to Cheryl. "Do you have a problem?"

"No," Cheryl said sweetly. "I just find it funny that Betty is so invested in my brother's murder, when in reality, perhaps we should be investigating her?"

Veronica stormed closer, getting right up in Cheryl's face. "I suggest that maybe you should shut the fuck up before I do something we'll both regret."

Cheryl just laughed, turning to her minions. "Look how adorable jealous Ronnie is!" She whipped back to Veronica and hissed, her eyes dancing. "Bit protective of your little girlfriend, are you?"

She heard Betty yell "V, no!" but she was furious. "Get the hell away from her before I break every single bone in your body," she hissed.

Cheryl laughed again. "Oh yeah? I bet you wouldn't even dare touch me, huh? Not if I touched Betty first! Maybe she'll endure the same fate as my dear brother. After all, murderers get what they deserve, don't they?"

Veronica shrieked and pounced on Cheryl, hitting her over and over. "V, NO!" Betty yelled, and pulled her from behind, but Veronica wanted to kill Cheryl, how dare she, she wanted to pummel and punch until Cheryl's pretty face was just as broken as her mind obviously was.

Cheryl yowled as Veronica's fist made contact with her nose, and she cried out 'you bitch!' before scratching Veronica across her cheek with her stupidly long nails.

Veronica growled lowly and kicked out against whoever was trying to pull her off Cheryl, because couldn't they see that Cheryl wasn't dead yet?

"Ronnie, calm down!" Betty's voice was literally the only thing that could have stopped her, and she screamed out at Cheryl but allowed herself to be pulled away.

"You're bleeding, V," Betty murmured, dabbing at the cut that Cheryl's nails had left across her cheek.

"It's fine," Veronica said irritably, pushing Betty's hand, and the paper towel, away. "I'm fine."

"You're not," Betty said, but she pulled Veronica into a close hug and held her tight. Veronica was shaking, her rage still brimming, but Betty had this special knack of calming her down.

"You know," Betty said, the trace of a laugh on her lips, her breath warm and ticklish on Veronica's neck. "You know, if Cheryl beats you up and you die, that's not gonna protect me."

Veronica smiled reluctantly, because, as always, Betty was right.

"She's a bitch," Ronnie said simply, and Betty nodded.

"She is, and that's why I'm not letting her hurt you. You have to be careful, Veronica. I can't lose you." All traces of humour were gone as Betty pulled away and looked right into Veronica's dark eyes.

Veronica wanted only to please Betty, so she let out a deep breath and brushed her thumb across Betty's cheekbone. "I'll be careful," she whispered. "You won't lose me."

Betty's face folded into a beautiful smile and she pulled Veronica in by the waist to meet her lips. Veronica sighed and kissed her back, stroking her neck, her soft lips working against Betty's until she forgot why she was upset in the first place.