Chapter 7 - Unwelcome Company
"Betty?" She awoke to the sound of her mother's voice calling from the stairwell. She could see that the sky outside had started to darken realising it must now be the early hours of Saturday evening.
Betty jumped out of bed, not wanting her mother to know she had been sleeping all afternoon. Alice would tell her that naps during the day were a waste of potentially productive time she could have spent studying, learning a new language or possibly an instrument. Alice had high expectations of Betty, to excel in anything Alice deemed a viable use of Betty's time.
"Hi mom!" Betty called out her bedroom door as she headed over to the banister beside the stairwell. Looking down she could see her mother standing in the entryway, looking up at her.
Betty gave a casual reply when Alice asked how her sleep over at Veronica's was. Alice then informed Betty that she would be was going to a friend's house tonight and would be home late, before disappearing into the bathroom. Her mother had a tendency to spend most nights sipping on wine and gossiping with her friends. Betty's father Hal seemed to be spending more and more time at work, Betty hardly even saw him. He was gone before she woke up and got back when she'd already gone to bed – he was working on weekends now too.
After Alice left, Betty was home alone again, an increasingly more common occurrence these days. Not long after Betty settled on the couch to watch some Netflix did her phone buzz. She checked to see a new text from Veronica.
V: Party at Reggies place in an hour. Keen?
B: I feel like I've had enough excitement for one weekend.
V: No such thing. Get ready, I'll see you in 45 mins.
Betty knew that trying to resist Veronica was a difficult mission, quickly decided that the resulting argument would probably be more effort than just getting changed and going to the party.
Half an hour later Betty had changed into a thicker cream coloured sweater, blue jeans and tan ankle boots. She had slicked a dark pink gloss onto her lips and made her eyes pop with a bit of eye shadow and mascara. She pulled her hair into a tight ponytail and headed downstairs to wait for Veronica.
"You looked sexy in black last night," Veronica commented from the driver's seat of her car, wearing a black lace dress and pearl necklace. That is what Veronica's wardrobe was primarily consisted of, Black. Betty's on the other hand was quite the opposite. "Why do you only ever wear pastel?"
"I just wear what mom buys me." Betty answered simply. The clothes fit, they looked nice enough and they were free.
"You're going to come over tomorrow and we're going to give my wardrobe a clean out and your wardrobe a makeover." Veronica told her, not pulling out of the driveway.
"Okay, fine. What are we waiting for?" Betty asked. Just then she saw the front door of the house next door open and Archie Andrews came hopping down the front steps.
"Hey guys!" He greeted enthusiastically as he hopped into the backseat of the car behind Betty.
"How you doing, Archikins?" Veronica asked as she reversed out of the driveway.
They all exchanged pleasantries before Veronica and Archie started into a conversation about his football game last night. Archie had lived next door to betty her whole life, he was one of her best friends and had been for years. They grew up together and even dated for a while in sophomore year. They had lost their virginity to each other and while Betty didn't regret it or her relationship with Archie they just didn't have the romantic spark they needed to have their relationship last. At the start of last year they had decided that it would be better if they just stayed friends, and as rare as it may be to stay friends with an ex, they made it work easily. Veronica and Archie had become really close when Veronica came to Riverdale half way though Junior year and became fast friends with Betty. Betty saw the connection they had, there was definitely something more than friendship between them, she just didn't think they realised it yet.
There were cars lining the street and drive way when they pulled up at Reggie's house. Stepping through the front door Betty estimated there would be just under a hundred people here, which was a very big turnout for a small town like Riverdale.
Betty followed Veronica, who followed Archie. They stopped to chat with some people from school as they made their way to the kitchen. Archie got them all a red cup of beer before leading them outside.
Reggie lived the upper class life. In the centre of the yard was a large pool, there were two people swimming in it. To the right was a Jacuzzi which is where they spotted Reggie. Betty had never really been a big fan of him, but followed suit as Archie lead them over to say hello.
"Arch!" Reggie greeted from his spot between two of Betty's fellow River Vixen's. "Hope in Bro." Reggie invited.
"I'm good, but thanks, Man. Just came over to say hey." Archie turned down. Reggie then shifted his gaze to Betty, an off putting grin plastered to his face.
"Betty Cooper," he slurred, "Hear you're running with the Serpents now." Betty's eyes bulged in their sockets, everyone's gaze shot to her as she composed her expression. She hoped to pass it off as shock at the accusation, rather than being shocked they knew the truth.
"What?" Archie asked sternly with shock lifting his features. Betty tried to play it cool and shake it off. She wasn't exactly 'running with the serpents', she just happened to have spent a little time at their bar last night.
"What are you talking about, Reggie?" Betty asked as if she honestly had no idea what he meant.
"Moose said he saw you hitching a ride with a Serpent this afternoon." Reggie stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
"No idea what he's on about." Betty bluntly shot down. "I'm going to get another drink." She dismissed heading back into the house.
She refilled her beer and took a seat in one of the chairs in the corner of the lounge. She pulled out her phone, playing a game while she was waiting for Veronica and Archie to finnish talking to the rumour starting jocks. Was it a rumour if it was true? Either way, her best plan of attack is to deny all accusations.
She sat quietly in the corner sipping her beer and playing her game for about half an hour before Veronica finally located her.
"So, you totally got caught." Veronica said sitting on the arm of Betty's chair. Betty looked up to glare at her friend.
"I don't know what you're talking about, V" Betty said sternly, through clenched teeth.
"Oh, I didn't say anything." Veronica insisted defensively. Someone behind Veronica caught Betty's eye. He had just walked through the front door, his eye black and swollen. It was the Ghoulie that Jughead had knocked out when the escaped the basement last night. Betty's eyes went wide as he strode through the lounge and straight out the back door.
"V, you need to take me home." Betty said locking her eyes with the brunette, "Right now." She insisted urgently. Betty shot up, pushing her way to the front door but stopped in her tracks as soon as she saw the two cars that had just pulled up. They were the ones that had chased her down the night before, four guys stepping out. Her gaze located Malachai, the 'boss' that had interrogated and threatened her when she was tied up in the basement.
As soon as he locked eyes with her, he sent her a spine chilling smirk that promised nothing but hurt.
"Shit." She cursed as he started walking towards the door. She stepped away from the door, grabbing Veronica's shirt to drag her back from the doorway. Betty's heart was threatening to beat out of her chest in utter terror. She was panicking, her breaths coming out in short gasps. She did the first logical thing that came to mind.
Jughead was at the Whyte Wyrm playing a solo game of darts, just as the throw landed in the bullseye his phone sounded from his pocket.
Betts: Help. 32 Washington Avenue.
Dust fluttered down in the vacant spot where Jughead just stood as he charged to the door. Sitting at a table near the exit were Sweetpea and two other Serpents that Jughead had gone to school with.
"You three, we're going." He ordered, there were no questions asked, following quick on his tail as he barged through the door. Revving their bikes to life they skidded away from the lot, speeding towards the north side.
Are you thinking 'Oh daaayum, shit's about to go down.' Well, well... you're probably not wrong ;) You'll see, and soon.
Have you seen today's episode yet? ... Oh my god. No words. (Because I would never do a terrible thing like posting spoilers for those who havn't!)
I can finally see my reviews! Thank you so much for your support and inspiration to write more! I love that you're loving it too!
- Kayla