Hello! I apologize for the time between my updates! I was particularly uninspired this week, but found it again this morning. Hope you enjoy!

-casualfridays

BPOV

With a folder of crisp, freshly printed resumes in hand, Betty skipped out to her vehicle. She had decided to not waste a second, even if that meant printing them off at 2 a.m.

In the wee hours of the morning, her sleepless body rampaged the packed boxes, unpacking as not to waste any actual daylight on the task. The unpacking started with a simple search for her laptop and printer, but ended in a full-fledged redecoration. Nonetheless, Betty didn't even mind her sleepless night as she had accomplished so much.

Once in her car, she forced herself not to glance at the adjacent home. Not today. Betty Cooper needed a job. Her plan was to park behind the diner she spotted at the exit of the main strip and work her way down and back; stopping anywhere she wouldn't have normally seen herself.

"Today, Betty Cooper chooses for herself." Betty animatedly cheered to herself, almost sounding sarcastic despite her legitimate enthusiasm.

With an eye on the prize, Betty veered quickly out of park and back to the main road.

Riverdale had more going on than Betty had originally thought. There were actual throngs of people out and about on the main road, puttering around with shopping bags or congregating outside the diner called "Pop's".

There were multiple retail stores of all varieties; locally made soap stores, clothing stores, book stores, even antique stores. Riverdale had a hearty mix of choice without the streamlined grey architecture of the city. Everything had personality and existed in harmony with the forestry surrounding it.

As quaint as everything was, Betty was yet to drop her resume off. She refused to be in customer service again, at least at a similar pace as she had been accustomed to. She wanted something different, something she wouldn't normally choose out of sheer survival.

As Betty crossed the street, a brick building stood in front of her path. "Lodge Interiors" the sign read in an aesthetically pleasing curved font. The building was 2 levels and the main windows allowed for copious amounts of light to inter the space. Everything appeared clean and very modern, yet cozy and surprisingly inviting. Betty longed to sit in the plush looking sofa in what appeared to be the sitting area. Without even questioning what the business was, Betty pulled the door open and stepped inside.

Immediately she was assaulted with a warm aroma that reminded her of apple pie. She looked around the clean space, noting a comfortable desk front and center, various mixed media paintings on the white walls. The floors were a deep almost red hardwood, making the white space balance out. Somewhere from within the building the staccato sound of clacking heels emerged and only grew louder as Betty stood near the entrance.

"Hello?" Betty called out, feeling awkward just waiting to be spotted.

"Hi!" a chipper voice called out.

Betty glanced down the hallway behind the front desk to see a short woman with dark brown hair turning the corner. The clacking heels she wore only grew louder as she neared.

Betty was immediately stunned by her beauty. The gorgeous stranger had a glowing tan complexion and a huge smile displaying pearl white teeth. Her eyes were intense but captivating, matching the dark shade of her shining hair.

"Hi, I'm Veronica Lodge. Welcome to my studio! I haven't seen you around before, are you new in town?" Veronica asked, reaching out for a handshake.

"It's nice to meet you, Veronica. I'm Betty Cooper. A freshly minted resident of Riverdale." Betty shook the outstretched hand.

"Thank god, I am in dire need of fresh gossip! Tell me everything about you, Betty Cooper!" Veronica gushed, turning on her heels to sit on the plush sofa.

Betty stood a second longer, shocked at Veronica's intensity, not to mention her bold statement to a complete stranger. Sitting hesitantly beside the dark haired vixen, Betty glanced around the space, not sure what to start conversation with.

Veronica stifled what sounded like a laugh. "Oh Betty, I'm just dying of boredom here. You are new and exciting and appear to be fairly adept at putting together an outfit," she motioned to Betty's casual but clean attire, "Therefore I'm claiming you as my new friend before anyone else does. So dish! What brings you into town?" Veronica pursued.

Hesitantly, Betty explained her life to the strange intense woman, leaving out the why and the desperation for change, only sharing Archie and her excitement for this new chapter.

"Well, I may have only known you for 3 minutes, Betty Cooper, but I can tell when someone is evading the truth." Veronica said, her eyes prying.

"But for now, I'll take what I can get. We will amazing friends, of course, so time is on my side." Veronica claimed, as if Betty had no part in the decision.

Betty was torn between her feelings for this woman; shocked by her forwardness, but also refreshed at someone so rare and true to say what they wanted. Betty decided that this Veronica would be her first friend in this new town.

"So Betty, I'm assuming you're looking for a job? I can't help but notice the tell-tale "RESUME" folder on your lap." Veronica questioned.

"Yes, that's why I'm out today. Know anywhere that's hiring?" Betty asked, leaning into the new friendship.

"Well I am! And I think you'd be a good fit. I can tell." Veronica chimed, as if hiring protocols were nothing.

Betty sat stunned, once again, at her boldness. Typically, Betty would vet a job thoroughly, weighing pros and cons of any option before making a choice. That was what perfect, smart, ambitious Betty Cooper would do. Betty was sick of Betty Cooper.

"I'm in," Betty exclaimed abruptly, "Tell me everything I need to know about 'Lodge Interiors'".

Veronica clapped her hands with very little space between, eliciting the glee of a small child.

"Yes, girl! This will be incredible. Let's go for brunch at Pop's and I'll go over everything." Veronica stood up, hustling to the front counter and grabbing a stunning Prada purse from behind the desk. Scurrying back to the still sitting Betty, she hooked her arm under Betty's and pulled her to the door.


Pop's was even better than imagined. The vanilla milkshake Betty nursed was a dream, easily the best shake she had ever consumed.

Veronica dished details about herself and "Lodge Interiors" while munching on onion rings for the greater part of an hour. She had been brought up in the city with a business tycoon for a father. Once her mother remarried, Veronica had left daddy dearests' clutches and opened up shop here in Riverdale. Her passion had always been design; fashion and décor. She ran the studio on her own, using money from her trust-fund to feed the business.

Betty was in awe of the successful young woman who was the same age of 25, but thriving. Veronica had taken on more clients, her interior decorating studio being the only place on the island in that line of work. She was juggling calls while working on purchasing and hiring teams for the bigger jobs. Insert Betty. Betty would be needed for organizing and managing Veronica's hectic schedule, her duties ranging from coordinating contractors and suppliers, to handling the influx of new customers.

"This sounds incredible, Veronica. But don't you need someone with similar experience?" Betty asked, trying to be semi-realistic about the situation.

"Oh please! You are super friendly and have a wonderful presence. Plus you're a goddess and light up the room. I need THAT in my store, not someone to simply organize my schedule." Veronica chided, flattering Betty and making her cheeks warm.

Betty was about to speak when the door chime rang. Her eyes moved past Veronica's face to the figure she sensed before recognizing. Her throat grew tight and the urge to swallow grew powerful. He was there. In the diner.

"Betty? Girl, are you okay?" Veronica's voice sounded like they were underwater. Betty pulled her gaze back to Veronica, feeling her pounding heart threatening to break through her chest. Veronica turned to look where Betty's gaze had been focused, zeroing in on the man who still had his back turned.

"Oh, it's 'Brooding Boy,'" Veronica mused, turning back to Betty "He's here all the time working away on his computer, looking very serious I might add, hence my nickname for him. I think he just moved here too, I haven't met him officially yet."

"He's my neighbor." Betty managed to say, her voice barely a whisper through her tight throat.

Betty stared at the man until he turned, facing the booth she shared with Veronica. She hadn't seen his face clearly until that moment, and her heart stopped thudding in her chest. It stopped altogether.

His eyes were a smoldering blue grey colour which locked with hers. She noticed how smooth his face seemed, how his high cheekbones suited it perfectly. His dark hair peeked out from under a knit beanie, beckoning for her touch. His lips were full and soft, and Betty found herself wishing to feel them with her finger tips. He stood near the door, un-moving. The sound of a warped voice tore Betty from her focus, only to find herself witness Veronica turn and motion the man to sit with them.

JPOV

Once parked outside Pop's, Jughead found himself looking down the main strip, wondering where the blonde might be. Shaking his head, he tried to clear any notion of her from his brain.

"You don't even know her. Let it go." He mused in his head, mocking himself at his own absurdity. He just needed coffee. Coffee would clear his brain and set him back on track.

Jughead pulled the door to Pop's open, the smell of semi-burnt coffee and fryer grease welcoming him. He glanced up at the chalkboard with the daily specials, searching for something to accompany his coffee. As he read about the triple thick shake with a side of waffle fries, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle, the feeling of being watched made him shiver. Jughead turned his head to look at the booths when he spotted her. She was there with "Miss Fancy O. Rings", and she was starting at him.

He had seen her face from a distance, but it did not prepare him for this moment. Her eyes were a brilliant blue and were locked on his. He noted the smooth porcelain appearance of her skin, the pink of her lips, and desperately wanted to cup her face in his hands. Her blonde hair was in waves and rolling of her shoulder, catching the sunlight and beaming. He couldn't look away.

The moment could have lasted forever until the motion of a figure tore his attention. The brunette with her was looking directly at him, waving her arm, motioning him to join them.