They were enjoying their time together that Saturday night, each hiding away from some inside or outside forces that influence their lives outside of this bubble they all entered when in the treehouse. None of the other members of the quartet knew about another's inner turmoil, particularly regarding one Veronica Lodge, the newest member, though somehow it did not feel as though they had only met her that morning, the way they felt so comfortable together was almost as though she had been there as they all grew up.
Soon it became too late for them to still be in the treehouse, despite how time had flown by through their conversation and getting to know one another, but Betty had to somehow sneak in and avoid her mother's wrath for being over an hour past her curfew.
As she tiptoes through the dark silent house having made her way home with Archie, her mind taking her back through all information she had learnt about Veronica that evening; she came from New York, though her parents grew up in Riverdale, her and her mother practically fled from their lives after her father was arrested for embezzlement, and Ronnie (Archie came up with the nickname but Betty effectively stole it) was scared about starting again in a small town where everyone knows everyone but no one knows her. She expressed how glad she was that it was the trio she found in the diner earlier in the day, and as Betty Cooper pulled on her pyjamas and climbed into bed, she decided that she agreed with Veronica, she was glad that they had met. With that final thought drifting through her head, the blonde closed her eyes and fell into dreams of chocolate brown eyes and silky hair.
The next morning Betty awoke to her house in chaos, Polly running into her room exclaiming how they are going to be late for church and she better get herself ready quicker than she ever has before. So, for the moment her mind is preoccupied by ensuring that she is 'Blossom ready' for when they turn up for her and Polly.
Betty clothed herself in one of her nicest dresses, pastel pink, with matching ballet pumps and a soft pink jacket. She applied light makeup to her face and allowed her hair to curl around her shoulders, looking nothing like the Betty Cooper than is usually seen with minimal makeup and a ponytail. Alice Cooper (as usual) has negative comments about her outfit, deeming it unfit for church, while Hal simply smiles and whispers "You look great baby girl ignore your mother" as he pours himself a travel mug of coffee heading to the Register to ensure the prints have all been distributed.
Polly practically shoves her out of the door, hissing that the Blossoms are on their way and they must meet them outside to avoid Alice making any form of comment towards them. As the Blossom family car rounds the end of the street and heads towards them, Polly's hand grips on to her youngest sisters, the fright she always feels around her boyfriend's family returning but knowing that with Betty next to her she can get through this visit to church with them. The car pulls up in front of the two sisters and they climb in greeting the family of red heads as they enter, praying to all that exists that they get through this visit to church with no incidents, but the look on Cheryl Blossom's face as she looks at Betty suggests anything but as they purposefully ignore the couple in their own world.
Betty decided barely five minutes after stepping in to the church that it was a huge mistake agreeing to attend with Polly, the Blossoms throwing glares in her direction and the constant jabs delivered by Cheryl making her wish that she was anywhere but here. A lunch with only her and her mother being a better option than being where she was. The best plan of action she could come up with was texting Veronica, Archie and Jughead to meet at Pop's as soon as she can get away, needing to spend time with people she likes as opposed to the Blossoms and her sister ignoring her for Jason.
Near enough three simultaneous buzzes come from her pocket, replies from her (now three) favourite people 'Sure Betts, I'll be there', from Archie 'Already here Nancy Drew!' from Jughead and 'Of course B, see you soon xo' from Veronica (whose name still remained as Hot Brunette for reasons Betty doesn't want to discuss with anyone.) The fact that she will soon be consuming a milkshake surrounded by her friends eases her, allowing Betty to get through the rest of the church service surrounded by the people she doesn't like at all.
As soon as it was over she thanked the Blossoms for allowing her to join them, told Polly she was headed to Pop's and to enjoy her afternoon with Jason and all but ran to the Chock'lit Shoppe to meet her friends, not caring in the slightest about how she is dressed. She walked gladly into the diner, immediately spotting the table of her friends, slipping into the booth next to Ronnie "I have never actually hated any people more than I hate the Blossom family" she grumbled placing her head on her arms on the table. Ronnie rubs her back smiling sympathetically, soothingly telling her
"You look really nice though B", her chocolate eyes running over the pink outfit on Betty, "Very cute" she smiles honestly when her eyes meet Betty's as she lifts her head up, spotting the fourth milkshake on the table as Pop sets it down.
"Miss Lodge bought it but asked if it could be made and brought over when you came in as they were all unsure of the time of your arrival" Pop smiles at the four before walking back over to his counter, as Betty vehemently thanks Veronica before taking a large drink from her original vanilla milkshake, sighing contently. That is when her eyes open widely realising that tomorrow they are back at school, tomorrow is Ronnie's first day at Riverdale high, she had gotten so distracted by her arrival that all thought of the new semester had left her mind.
Her head returns to its place on her arms, the trio around the table faintly hearing her soft whine of "I don't want to go back to school tomorrow morning" and laughing, agreeing with her immediately wondering how Veronica will fit in, and especially if when she meets Cheryl Blossom, will she become friends with her or stick with the three people who genuinely feel as though she has made their group whole.
Only time was bound to tell, but while that thought rattled in the brains Archie and Betty, one also seemed to reverberate through Veronica's mind, her hoping that these three friends will wish to remain her friends when they return to school, and rumours start about her and her family.
There were to stay friends, not that they all knew it at that exact moment, they also didn't expect all of the rollercoasters that they were about to be thrown on together, the four teens simply fretting over the amounts of work they would be set, not about how two of them will begin building one of the greatest love stories of all time, all due to Betty Cooper's worst enemy – Cheryl Blossom.
Author Notes:
Thank you for reading, I know it has started off quite slowly, but from now the relationship between Betty and Veronica will begin building. I wanted to ask, do you want a relationship between Archie and Jughead? Archie and Cheryl? Jughead and Toni? Cheryl and Toni? Any other side pairings you guys are after let me know and I can encorporate them.
Once again thank you for reading and I hope you stick with me.
K.
