Chapter 21 - Just ask
Betty's morning routine had been the same for a long time; wake up in her pastel pink bedroom, shower - brush teeth – hair in pony tail – subtle makeup, get dressed in conservative wardrobe picked by Alice, eat healthy breakfast, walk to school with Archie.
Now even though she wakes up in the same pastel wonderland and she keeps the good hygiene and health portion of the routine: her hair doesn't go into a pony tail, her makeup is certainly verging off subtle, her high waisted shorts are black and the blouse tucked into it is blood red... and Archie does not walk her to school.
She hadn't spoken to Archie since the scene they caused in the cafeteria last week.
She was oblivious to the fact that, as she walked down the few streets it took her to get to school, Nuke and Ricky followed at a safe distance. Jughead had asked them to watch over her as she walked to school, but to try not to make her feel smothered. They decided it would be best if they just didn't let her know they were there. Only after she was safely on school grounds did they turn and head back to where their bikes were stashed back near her house.
As she walked through the doors of Riverdale High, she kept her head down and earphones in, as she had been since mid last week. If there are still judging glances directed her way or rumoured whispers about her, she doesn't know – she chooses to be blissfully ignorant.
She only takes her earphones out once class starts to listen attentively. She has decided school is much easier to bare that way.
Her day passes easily that way and she's in fairly high spirits until she walks into the cafeteria and see's Archie sitting at her table with Kevin and Veronica. She's about to retreat straight back through the doors she had just entered as Veronica spot her. She gives Betty an encouraging nod before making a small gesture with her finger for Betty to go over to them. Taking a deep breath she makes a quick lunch purchase and makes her way over to sit beside Kevin.
"Hey Betty Boo!" Kevin greets excitedly.
"Hey Kev." She responded with far less enthusiasm. She looks up from her plate to see Archie looking back at her.
"Betty, would you mind joining me outside for a sec'?" Archie asked hesitantly.
"Yes, I would mind." Betty snapped back, quietly.
"I'd really like to talk." Archie said, pleadingly. Betty took a deep breath in knowing she was going to have to interact with him at some point. She stood, exhaling slowly she didn't respond in any way other than to abandon her untouched lunch and head for the doors that lead to the courtyard off the cafeteria. She could hear Archie's chair scuff against the floor as he got up to follow her.
Once outside she turned to him, crossing her arms across her chest. He looked blankly at her as she glared back at him. After a moment of extremely awkward silence, she rose her eyebrows expectantly.
"Oh, I..." Archie stammered, looking to his feet as he scuffed his heel across the bricks. "I wanted to apologise." He started, looking up through his lashes with wide 'puppy dog' eyes. The kind of eyes that would once have melted her heart in the past, now they left her thoroughly indifferent. "I'm sorry I was rude to you and I'm sorry I upset you." He said sincerely, her glare had softened into an expression that portrayed her indifference; she looked bored at his apology. "You were right, I don't know the guy. Veronica has told me a bit about him and what he's done for you. He's doesn't seem... all bad." Archie continued lamely, scrunching up his features. The two stared each other as he waited for her reply. He seemed genuine in his apology.
"I was quick to judge too." She said quietly, he seemed a bit confused at the statement, so she explained. "The first time I met him, I assumed him to be the way you had thought he was as well. It's was what we were conditioned to think about the Serpents, only knowing what we had been told - taking it to be truth. They are hardly what they're made out to be." Betty reasoned. She had also been quick to jump to a conclusion of the kind of person Jughead was, though it didn't take him long to change her mind. Now she was utterly infatuated with him. Betty honestly could understand why Archie acted the way he did and said the things he did - though it didn't negate the fact that he'd offended and upset her greatly.
"I'm sorry, Betty." He repeated.
"Are you going to keep your unreasoned remarks about him to yourself?" She asked him.
"Sure." He replied.
"And you're going to be open minded and not assume the worst of him?"
His reply was slightly more hesitate. "Sure." He repeated turning his head to roll his eyes – Betty didn't miss the action even if he had tried to hide it from her. Betty felt like that was just about as good as it would get for now.
"Then I guess I can deal with you being around again." Betty said casually. Archie smiled, he opened his arms to engulf her in a hug but she held out her hand, bracing it against his chest. "Not really in the mood for hugging." Betty's voice was monotone, void of expression.
Archie tried to hide his shock at the action. Betty had never refused a hug, she loved hugs. She had given him a hug hello and hug goodbye just about every day for the last 12 years since they became friends.
Betty headed back inside to her lunch, a slightly baffled Archie following. He mentally noted that her shorts were too short and too tight, her whole outfit was wrong. This hardly even seemed to be his Betty anymore.
"Have you guys made up?" Veronica asked as they took a seat back at the table.
"Sure." Betty said, mockingly. Veronica cocked an eyebrow, looking to Archie. He shrugged and nodded with a face on uncertainty.
Kevin quickly shifted the conversation to discuss the upcoming football game on Friday night, something the football player, cheerleaders and avid attendee could all distract themselves with.
"I'm not looking forward to cheerleading practice today. Cheryl wants us to learn a new routine and that is when she reaches her peak level of 'bitch'." Veronica said with a roll of her eyes. Betty groaned, she had forgotten all about Vixen practice. Cheryl had been sick last week so Vixen practise was cancelled. Betty had rejoiced, to every and any god she could think of, for that beautiful gift. Betty like being a cheerleader most of the time, some times... on occasion – Her mother and best friend wanted her to be on the Vixen's, so she was. Cheryl Blossom however, was the insufferable thorn in her side that made the extra-curricular activity severely less enjoyable than it should be.
After the final school bell sounded, Betty made her way to the girls locker room where she found Veronica already in her Vixen's practice attire. Betty dragged out the process of changing, willing herself to prepare for the fact that she hadn't seen Cheryl since the Saturday before last. Cheryl lived to torment Betty, and she was definitely at Reggie's party.
Betty tried her best to hide at the back of the group as Cheryl made her entrance into the gymnasium.
"Starting position, grid formation three!" She called to the group of girls. Betty groaned, there was no hiding in that, that had her damn near front and centre in front of Cheryl. Fantastic.
Betty kept her head down trying her very best not to do anything to perk Cheryl's specific attention, she failed miserably.
"Betty Cooper." She singled out, Betty slowly raised her head to meet with Cheryl's grin that spelt trouble. "I'm surprised to see you here!" She said as if genuinely shocked. Betty inhaled deeply attempting to prepare herself. "I didn't think you'd slither out of the snake pit alive!" She stated with mock concern. Betty flushed red, not with embarrassment, with anger. She clutched her fists, digging her nails into her palms trying to keep her breathing and expression calm.
"Good to see you too, Cheryl." Betty said through clenched teeth. Cheryl smiled tightly, chuckling to herself.
The rest of practice, that was already gruelling enough, was also filled with subtly taunting remarks at Betty's expense. It took every ounce of effort Betty possessed to keep her composure and brush them off. Every comment spurred a fresh flush of anger. By the end of practise Betty's palms were brutalised by bloodied, crescent shaped, wounds.
As soon as Cheryl announced practise was over Betty fled for the exit, with a quick goodbye to Veronica, before she could be detained in hell any longer. She didn't bother changing before swiftly heading for home, checking her phone.
Jughead The Hot Serpent: How's Betty Cooper doing this fine Monday afternoon?
Betts: Mmm... grumpy.
Jughead The Hot Serpent: That's not good to hear, Garfield. Why's Monday got you down?
Betts: School... mainly the people at school... just the usual.
Jughead The Hot Serpent: School is unavoidably painful.
Betts: That it is.
Jughead The Hot Serpent: Am I still the reason school is shit?
Betts: I'd like to say it has nothing to do with you... but I'd be lying. It's nothing you've done, it's just the fact that you exist in my life and Riverdale High loves gossip. How did you deal with high school?
Jughead The Hot Serpent: Well, at first I just kept my head down, stayed silent and tried my best to blend into the walls... that didn't work very well, I used to get a lot of shit. Then I joined the Serpents... which instilled a bit of fear in people and earned me some friends that had my back in the process. That was when I stopped ignoring the shit that was thrown at me and started actually standing up for myself.
Betts: I'm currently at 'blend into the walls'...
Jughead The Hot Serpent: Ahh, I see... I know Riverdale High and Southside High are very different schools, and the perils of high school are different for guys and girls but from my experience... trying to blend in, especially when you already stand out, is futile.
Betts: I'm starting to gather that...
Jughead The Hot Serpent: No ones like... actually physically hurting you though, right? Cause, so fucking help me god, they wouldn't wanna be.
Betty lets out a giddy chuckle, she adored his protectiveness. She'd made it home now, retreating straight to her bedroom.
Betts: No Jug, nothing like that. Just talk.
Jughead The Hot Serpent: Just know that if there is ever anything I can do... just ask.
Betts: I will J
Jughead The Hot Serpent: Good ;)
Betts: How's your stomach?
Jughead The Hot Serpent: My super badass bullet hole? Really, good actually. Healing up really fast, already hurting less and the bruising is almost gone.
Betts: I'm really glad to hear that, Juggie.
Jughead The Hot Serpent: On another positive note, I've dealt with the Ghoulie issue.
Betts: Dealt with it...? How?
Jughead The Hot Serpent: Had a chat with Malachai.
Betts: You had a CHAT with Malachai?
Jughead The Hot Serpent: I did.
Betts: You CHATTED away an attempt on your life..?
Jughead The Hot Serpent: Mhm
Betts: Nothing besides a chat?
Jughead The Hot Serpent: Well... I may have shot Malachai... just a little bit.
Betts: YOU WHAT?
Jughead The Hot Serpent: Only in the foot... I didn't seriously hurt him, really. Just a little payback for having me shot and saying some stupid shit he shouldn't have... He'll be fine in a few weeks.
Betts: YOU SHOT HIM? Jesus Christ Jughead?! What if you get arrested?!
Jughead The Hot Serpent: Oh my sweet Betty. Ghoulies, and Serpents alike, do not involve to cops in their business.
Betts: Don't patronise me, Jughead... What if that just made him angrier and he comes after you again?
Jughead The Hot Serpent: Betty, trust me. I know how to handle things like this. I spent all morning making sure he got the message, we have an agreement now. Oh, and on that note, you can't write any articles on the Ghoulies... and aren't allowed anywhere near their lair.
Betts: I think I can manage that...
Jughead The Hot Serpent: Then you can sleep easy, Betts.
Betts: Thank you... It wasn't really your responsibility to fix the Ghoulies issue with me but just know that I really appreciate it... I have no idea what I would have done.
Jughead The Hot Serpent: I think you would have gone to the cops, which would have just made the situation a whole lot worse. Just for future reference... when it comes to the Ghoulies, or us for that matter, don't get cops involved.
Betts: Understood...
Jughead The Hot Serpent: If you need help with anything, you've got me. I'll fix whatever you need me to. Just ask... I'm at your service, ma'am.
Betts: Who needs police when I've got my own personal vigilante?
Jughead The Hot Serpent: ;)
I love Madeline Petsch, but I really just can't get behind Cheryl. At least not yet... Im open minded... but not about Barchie. Barchie is what Lucifer invented to bring the utmost amount of pain to my heart.
#bugheadbetterbeendgameorsomeoneisgoingtohurt #longesthashtagever
I read Dylan all the reviews that featured anything about him, he feels special that you guys acknowledged his existence ;)
While I have your attention, a few days ago I found 'emowhofromwhoville' on Instagram who makes Riverdale video edit clips... I don't know exactly what you'd call them... but I'm obsessed with them specifically because their all mainly Cole. SO, if you have a spare sec, go check them out. They might make you as happy as they do me :P
If you're interested on finding me of Instagram you're welcome to: ... but it's really just comprised of pictures of my (and my housemates) dogs, halloween costumes (my birthday is on the 31st of October, so Halloween is my everything - most important day of the year) and selfies... not specifically interesting but hey if you're bored, so nuts.
You guys keep me happy 3
- Kayla.