Chapter 13

Of course, Betty had to pay for her crimes of leaving a dirty kitchen and not coming home until Saturday morning; she was grounded for the rest of the weekend. She spent most of Saturday doing chores to make it up to her mom. She also texted Veronica to fill her in on all that happened, she had the right to know she had decided to join the Serpents. But this also left her with a dilemma. How was she going to bring it up to her mom?

Sunday morning Betty was awoken bright and early by her mother screaming at her. She wasn't going to have to worry about telling her mom after all.

"Mom what is wrong?!"

"Betty, why did I just get an anonymous call on the Register tip line that you are joining the Southside Serpents? Is is true?"

"Mom, please just listen."

"Oh God, it's really happening. Betty , I forbid you. Do you hear me? Forbid you!"

Betty pulled the covers over her head and Alice laid down and held her daughter and cried.

"Mom!" she exclaimed pulling the covers back down. "You have to understand."

"I understand, Elizabeth. I was young once and the Serpent life looked attractive to me too. But it isn't. I got out of the Southside to give a better life to you and your sister. I won't have you throwing away all of my hard work like Polly."

"Mom. It's what I want. Joining the Serpents does not mean I am turning my back on you. I'm not moving out. This changes nothing."

"Honey, that's what you think now. But wait until you get called up for your first job. It could be patrol but it could also be dealing. I swear to God I am going to kill FP for allowing this. He of all people should respect my wishes."

Betty got up out of bed and stood over her Alice. "Mom, you can accept this now or later; it's up to you. In a few months, I will be 18 and you won't be able to stop me. I stand with the Serpents." Alice got up herself and stormed out of the room, "I am going to give FP a piece of my mind!"

Betty got up and started getting ready for the day. Betty took a long shower and washed her hair. She blew it dry and went to start her makeup when when she got a text from a number she didn't recognize. It read, 'call me- FP' so she got dressed and returned his call.

"Hello?" she said when he picked up the line. She had never spoke to Jughead's dad on the phone before and wondered if she would know his voice.

"I just wanted to let you know I just talked to your mom. She is pissed and I am sorry I had to do that to you. But you passed your next text. The courage to stand up to the most savage person I know."

"My mom?"

"I have have rival gang members who don't scare me as much as an angry Alice Cooper. She can slice you open with her tongue. But not only did you stand your ground, you proved your loyalty to us. Congratulations. I will be in contact soon about your next task. This one you will know about ahead of time."

"OK, well, thanks Mr. Jones."

"FP, please. Serpents are family."

"OK, thanks FP."

"Oh, and Betty?"

"Yeah," she replied.

"I did it for your own good. She needed to know," he said and the line went dead.

Being back at school was different for some reason on Monday. She felt like everyone was looking at her differently. Maybe it was because she didn't have her hair in a pony tail? Walking to her locker to get her books she was intercepted by Veronica and Archie. "You are really joining the Southside Serpents?" Archie asked in a worrying voice.

"I know what you are thinking, Archie, but I know what I am doing."

"I just worry about you. You and Jughead both."

"Thanks for your concern. But it's fine, really."

Veronica cut in, "We still love and support you Bee. Let us know if you need anything ok?"

"Of course. I will maybe see you guys in free period. Library?"

"Sure," Veronica said giving her a hug and the two walking off.

When it got to lunch time she got that weird feeling again, like she was being watched? She saw Jughead was sitting with Archie and Veronica for once so she headed over to the Serpent's table as to avoid his wrath. Toni waved as she came to sat down and she felt at home among them. The other younger Serpents had started including her in their conversations and had stopped being hush hush over club business. Things were progressing well. Fangs asked how she was doing with her initiation tasks. She replied that she had passed another one and pretty much only had the laws and the responsibility test left. "I can always give you some private tutoring in the laws, if you want," he said to her.

"Buzz off,"Toni cut in. "She doesn't need to spend an afternoon with you flirting with her.

"Ha ha, you caught me," he said. "I can't help it, Betty. You have to know you are kind of a babe."

Betty blushed. "Well thanks. I appreciate the compliment but I don't think I'm ready to be on the market just yet."

"I get it. You and Jughead just broke up. But if you need a distraction-" he was cut off by a notebook to the back of the head, this time, from Sweet Pea who was just arriving. "Sorry!" he said putting his hand in the air.

"Hey, Cooper. Congrats on task number two. You are halfway done. Do you want to go over the laws and stuff in free period?"

"Aww I made plans for free period. Rain check until tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure," he said mildly disappointed.

After her history class, Betty bolted towards the library. She knew that Archie and Veronica were going to be waiting there for her. For the first time since they had broken up, Betty was actively avoiding Jughead. She wasn't positive he would try to stop her from pledging but she had a feeling. Whether she did it for him or for herself, she should get to make her own choice. Just as she is walking by, she feels a hand tug her into the Blue and Gold office. She turned and of course, Jughead was standing there.

"Uh, hey Jug. What's up?"

"Can I be transparent?" Betty nodded. "I missed you, He said talking a step closer."

'What is he doing?' She thought

"I'm sick of being mad at you." He took another step.

'Wait- is he?'

"I want you back in my life."

'He wants me back!'

He put out his hand and put it on her shoulder, "We have to figure out how we can stay friends."

"Friends? You brought me in here to say we need to be FRIENDS?" Betty shook her head and stepped back away from him. She could feel her cheeks running hot and the tears coming to her eyes.

"Yeah, Betty. You are everywhere. I can't get away from you! In class, with my friends, at the Whyte Wyrm; you are there and I have been trying to ignore you but I can't. I still have these crazy feelings for you but it's not right for us to be together."

She looked at him with tears falling, "How can you say it's not right for us to be together if you love me?"

"I just can't be with you and be a Serpent. I have more to worry about and it's not safe for you."

"What are you going to do when I'm in too, Jug? Keep pushing me away?"

"Maybe, Betty, maybe! What do I do when I am the leader, when my dad really does retire? I am scared to have you attached to me. What if someone does something to you, to get to me?"

Betty tried to swallow but she couldn't because of the lump in her throat. "So this is really it? There is no hope for us?"

"I'm sorry, Betty. I just can't... At least right now."

"And how long am I supposed to wait for you?"

"Don't. Just don't," he said turning away from her. "I just want us to be friends again. So that when I see you I can stop getting this feeling in my stomach like I a being stabbed with a knife. I can let this wound heal and things can be normal for us again."

"Jughead, things will never be normal for us. Give me some time, but maybe we can be friends. I have to admit, I have been hanging on to the notion that I could win you back. Now I see... I can't."

"I know you have. I could see it every time you looked at me. It's how I wanted to look at you, trust me. But it's best if we just get over it and move on. I have reconciled. I hope you can too. I, um... gotta go." He stepped out of the room. She got out her phone to text Veronica to say she wasn't going to make it because she just had a fight with Jughead. She sent back a sad face and said she understood.