The sound of forks and knives hitting the porcelain plates was the only noise that could be heard between Veronica and Jughead on their Pop's table. The two friends were not on speaking terms for the first time in seven years.
It's not like they haven't got in to a fight during their friendship, because they did. Both had strong personalities and opinions and different points of view for a lot of topics, especially movies and books. And both were not the kind of people that back out of a fight, this specific trait was part of who they were.
They never shouted at each other but things could get ugly and Veronica definitely knew how to hold a grudge against him. She was right, her specialty was ice. Usually, he would be the one to surrender and apologize if he took things too far – he would do that even if it was not the case, Jughead knew Veronica wouldn't be the first to reach out. And then, everything would be alright again between them. But not this time.
The day started as any other. They had breakfast together, then he went to the White Wyrm and she stayed, working from home. Then, she picked him up from the bar with her driver so they could go to Pop's for lunch. When he was already inside the vehicle, Jughead remembered the main reason why Veronica had spent the last week in New York and not in Riverdale. It wasn't lost by him that she never approached the subject since his birthday, but he was trying to give her time. And he thinks a whole week had been enough. So Jughead asked her about what her doctor had to say about her tests, then in a incredible way, she diverted the topic to why he had brought Betty to her house even though she was not supposed to be there. He still doesn't know how she did that but his shock turned in to shame when she finished her argument. Veronica was right, he shouldn't have done that. Just because he was being nice to the blonde, it doesn't mean Veronica had to do the same. So he apologized but remembered Betty's face when she left and the weird way she was acting at the Blue and Gold, and confronted Veronica about it, knowing the two of them had already argued a few weeks back. After that, things got ugly.
Veronica accused him of preferring Betty over her even after what the Cooper woman did and how she had been an amazing friend to him. Jughead said she was keeping secrets, excluding him from her life. Veronica called him weak excuse of a man and he called her a manipulative bitch. If asked, Jughead would say he had no idea why he said those things. If the same were done to Veronica, she would say the exactly same thing. But they would not tell each other this, so that's why both of them are seated on opposite sides on Pop's table, not talking to one another. Jughead was filling the silence stuffing food inside his mouth like he was afraid someone would take the plate from him and Veronica kept playing with her food, looking outside the window like it was a painting from Picasso.
The absence of sound was cut by someone clearing their throat and both of them stopped their activities to look up, to see Alice Cooper standing next to their table. Her hair and clothes – a pink blouse and white skirt with a matching beige coat – perfectly, looking like a Stepford wife and Jughead regrets he didn't visit Riverdale when his father was alive to see what an strange couple they would like.
"Hello to you two. What a beautiful day, right? " she greets them and Jughead prefers to ignore the judgmental look she sends to him when she notices his choice of food."Jughead, I would like to talk to you about something. Your sister is coming home for thanksgiving and she didn't tell me if you're going to pick her up or not" she starts, completely ignoring his and Veronica's mood.
"Uh, we never talked about that to be honest, and I'm really busy this next week so maybe you could pick her?" he asks sheepishly, scratching his neck.
"I guess I can try" Alice sighs knowing she will have one more obligation this holiday "She didn't say anything about you, but I'm guessing I will be expecting you for thanksgiving as well. Cheryl and her girlfriend will be attending too"
That picks Veronica's interest and though he's not looking at her, she knows she's mad with the alternative. But to be fair, he never said a word to JB about attending the holiday. Though he clearly recalls him promising Jellybean to be more around and she did asked him to come Riverdale so they could spend thanksgiving and even Christmas together, specially now that their father was dead. However, he can't do this to Veronica. They had a fight but they only have each other now and he won't put her through a horrible experience just because of what she said. And Jen had asked him to come, so she could introduce him to her family and Veronica would be invited too. Maybe he can convince Jellybean to come too.
"Alice, I'm sorry but I don't think that will happen. And me and Veronica already have plans together" he tells her as an excuse and Veronica's face relax a little but he can see Alice didn't buy it.
"Oh please, the invitation is to both of you. FP always told me you two have your own tradition" she eyes them both and Veronica chooses to look somewhere else. "And this will be the first event for you and your sister without your father. And I, for a fact, know JB is feeling that deeply. She told me she was expecting you and was very excited to be closer to you"
He knew what she was doing and felt sorry for himself, knowing he was surrounded by manipulative people. He called Veronica that, and he's sorry for it but it doesn't mean it isn't true.
"This will be hard for both of you, but I assure you two will not be the only ones in pain this year. We all had been stricked hard and from experience, I know that the best way to heal from it, is being together, around family. I think that's what FP would want. In fact, I knows it was because he told me himself" she finishes and he knows she won. He stays silent and she takes that as an acceptance. "So that's settled, right? I will ask Jellybean to send you the details and I expect you to be right on time. You too, Veronica" Alice turns to Veronica and he almost wants to laugh noticing her expression.
"Miss Cooper, I don't think this will be a good idea" Veronica starts but Alice interrupts her.
"It's Smith now and nonsense, you won't be spending such an important holiday all by yourself. I know your mother had no other relatives alive but maybe you would prefer spending this date with your father and sister. What was her name again? Rosa" Jughead can see her strategy, probably based on what information FP had fed her through these years, and is pretty sure Veronica lost this one too.
"Hermosa" Veronica corrects her with a bitter tone "And I cut ties with my father a long time ago, I thought FP told you about it" she eyes the blonde suspicious.
"Oh, he did. But you know how fast these kind of feuds can be resolved these days. But I can see nothing has changed. So know you are very welcome to come by on Thursday. You don't need to bring anything, just your moody friend here and be there on time" she stresses the last word "I'll leave you two to your lunch now, see you next week" Alice nods to both of them and walks away, her heels making noise at the linoleum floor.
"Great Jughead, this is all I could ever want for my thanksgiving" she tells him ironic dropping her fork on the ceramic.
"Are you serious right now? Did you hear what she said? She practically backed me in to the wall, bringing my dead father and my little sister in to it. It's not like I had a choice in the matter and she knew it" he snorts "I want to be at that house as much as you, trust me. Oh God" he sighs rubbing his eyes "Jen asked me and you to spend thanksgiving with her so she could introduce me to her family"
"This keeps getting better and better, don't you think? I just can't wait to hear you telling your girlfriend you chose your ex girlfriend over her. I just hope she finally dumps your ass" she says with poison, resuming to eat again.
"I'm having a hard time believing you consider yourself my friend at the moment" he narrows his eyes at her.
"I could say the same for you, jackass" she replies gritting her teeth.
"Oh, now we are back to insults?" Veronica could be very creative about how many ways she could insult someone, and Jughead had his fair share of it in the car when they were coming to Pop's.
"You don't have any idea of what I really want to do with you now, so be glad I'm only calling you names" he eyes her knife cutting the chicken in her plate with an unnecessary force.
He chooses to not tell Jen the real reason why he and Veronica won't be with her on Thursday, not lying but telling her part of the true. He says Jellybean wanted some thing personal and only family for this year, so they are having dinner together. He doesn't say where or the people that will be in the same place as him. Veronica sends him a glare when she hears him on the phone with his girlfriend but he looks back at her with an expression that speaks "Don't say a word" and she keeps quiet, knowing this was not a fight worth fighting.
Another week passes and they're still not talking and Betty's still acting weird around him, and for this time he doesn't know what he did wrong. So he starts getting upset, he did give her a chance at friendship, was being nice and polite when he should be the one ignoring her. He didn't confront her, Jughead figures he already had enough of that with Veronica and wanted to relax and enjoy the peace he was living at the moment. And peace was all he was praying to have on thanks giving.
Thursday arrived soon enough and he had to listen to Veronica's sighs the entire way to the Cooper's. She gets out first, slamming the door and Jughead groans, already knowing what to expect of the day. He leaves the car and goes to wait besides Veronica as she rings the bell.
"I'm warning you Jughead, do not leave me alone in this place, do you hear me?" she grits out and a smirk appears on his face.
"Oh, now you're speaking to me?" he asks with a wry smile.
When she opens her mouth to speak the door opens, revealing Alice with a tired smile and a apron around her waist.
"Veronica, Jughead" she greets them both "So glad you both could make it. Get in, the food is almost ready" she lets them both enter the house, take their coats as the perfect host and leave the two standing awkwardly next to the stairs. He's about to take a step when he sees a friendly face.
"Jones" Tony says with a grin, hugging him hard, just like she did on his father's funeral. "It's so good to see you again"
"I can say the same, Topaz" he replies getting away to look at her, basically the same rockstar from High school but with shorter hair. "I'm sorry I barely talked to you that day, my head was a mess" he apologizes remembering the funeral.
"Nah, you're good" she dismisses "I know you weren't fine that day, as you shouldn't be so" she shrugs and turns to the brunette on his side "Veronica, you look incredible as always" she gives her a quick hug which Veronica answers.
"Thanks Tony, you too"
"Well, well, well look what the witch brought in" Cheryl sings getting closer to them.
"I think you got the expression wrong" Jughead narrow his eyes at her, not wanting to correct the witch herself.
"No, no. I was referring to Alice Cooper so I got that right" she tilts her head analyzing him and his clothes "Hello Veronica. Hobo" she turns to him "I've gotta say, I didn't imagine I would see you here"
"Cher, be nice, okay? You promised" Tony warns her and she rolls her eyes to the pink haired girl.
"Hello to you too, Cheryl. And I can say the same for you. Didn't think you and Tony would be around"
"Polly invited us, she wanted JJ's kids to be near their aunt" she says with a smile.
"Does she know who you are? Because I don't think that's a good idea" he speaks with his brows furrowed.
"Very funny" she rolls her eyes at him "Theses kids need a good influence in their lives and as far as I can see, they have none here. And besides that, TT and I thought it would be good to be with family this year and we both have no one left since my Nana died this year" she finishes trying to look superior but everyone in the room knows how close she used to be with the old woman.
"I'm so sorry, Cheryl. I didn't know" Veronica gives the red head her condolences, speaking for the second time since she arrived at the house.
"Yeah, me too. I'm sorry for your loss" Jughead says too.
"It's alright" she shrugs "Guess this will be a different holiday for me and you, Jughead"
"Okay, enough of this sad talk" Tony claps her hands looking at them "Let's get in and enjoy that we are together again after all this time"
They all agree nodding and starts walking when a ball of fur hits Veronica hard, making her stumble and Jughead acts quickly holding her arms so she wouldn't fall. The dog starts barking at his friend and two kids appears out of nowhere holding his leash and getting him away from her. He lets her friend go, looking at the two red heads trying to tame the black labrador then look at his friend seeing her black dress now full of hair dog and her face fuming.
"What was that?" Veronica freaks out trying to pull herself together again and clearing her dress.
"Sorry, we're still trying to train him but he's not very smart" the boy apologizes finally making the dog sit.
"Oh my God, what have you two done this time" Polly screams getting closer to them and seeing the mess "Oh my, I'm so sorry Veronica. I told them to keep this monster outside" she looks to the kids and they look down.
"It's fine" Veronica dismisses but he can see she's just being polite.
"No it's not and be sure me and these adorable kids will have a little chat tonight" she says eyeing them both with an angry look and turns to him "Nice to see you again Jughead and you too Veronica and I'm sorry again" then to the twins again "Okay everyone, this is Veronica and Jughead. He's FP's son and aunt Jelly's brother" she introduces them, with him swallowing his surprise to know how they call JB, and they exam the two figures in front of them carefully "They are very special guests and you two will treat them nicely, do you hear me?" she speaks every word slowly and looking directly at them. Jughead can help but feel surprised to see Polly acting like a mother since he never had the chance to see that.
Her stare is broken with Alice screaming her name and she leaves them alone with a groan. Cheryl follows her and sits in the living room while Tony stays by his side.
"We will have to call you aunt too?" Dagwood asks Veronica tilting his head and still holding the dog.
"That's not necessary" she dismisses eyeing the labrador "Just keep this thing away from me and we will be fine"
"And what will you give us to keep Fishy away from you, aunt Veronica?" Juniper asks stressing the word 'aunt' knowing Veronica would hate that. "I really liked your lipstick. We could both benefit from this transaction" she ends shrugging and Jughead can see Cheryl in the little girl in front of him.
Tony groans closing her eyes and he can Veronica narrowing hers. She takes a step a step closer to them, looking in their eyes and he feared what would happen between them.
"I don't negotiate with terrorists, sweetheart" she says with a soft voice "But I deal with people like them everyday, so here's what's is going to happen: you two will keep Fishy away from me and my clothes and if you don't, me and your mom will have a talk and I'm pretty sure you won't like the results of it" she ends looking at the way Polly went and Juniper's smile falls while Veronica's grows.
Tony slips a laugh and he tries to hold his. Dagwood pulls the dog away from them and Juniper sends Veronica a last look before following her brother. Veronica stands up again and tries to clear her dress of dog hair once again.
"It shouldn't be allowed for these kids to have some much of Cheryl in them. I already had my share of that in high school and I don't intend to relieve those days" she says huffing and Tony laughs.
"Oh honey, you haven't seen nothing yet" Tony speaks and points to the living room "Shall we?"
They go to the living room and he sees Betty and Jellybean with their backs to him, cutting some thing near the sink and wonders how they're working so peacefully next to each other, especially his sister. He clears his throat and they both drop their knives looking at him, Betty slower than JB.
"Jug" Jellybean yells running to him and he hugs her tight. It's been a month since he saw her but it feels like too long.
"Hello to you too, JB" he replies in a muffled voice, her hair tickling his noise.
"It's so good to see you. I can finally have my brother with me, like it was always supposed to be" she lets him go to look at him "I didn't think you were serious when you said you would show up more. But thank you for coming, for real. I know what this means for you" she says sincerely and lower at the last part "But you could have arrived sooner, a helping hand would have been nice since Alice is making me cut and wash things like a mad woman" she scolds him.
"JB" Alice reprimands "C'mon, let your brother go and help me set the table"
His sister lets him go but ignores Alice when she sees Veronica, yelling a 'Ronnie' and hugging her too. He takes his attention away from them to look at Betty who sends him a smile and a nod.
"Hey, Jug" she greets him with a calm voice.
He notices her reserved behavior toward him, the same one he was receiving from her through the last two weeks. It still bothers him but he will let go, again, not wanting to add more problems to his life. If she wanted to act like that, good for her.
"Hi" he sends her a little wave and she goes back to what she was doing and he sits next to Tony on the couch, listening to Cheryl playing with the kids and Veronica talking to his sister.
Tony notices his gaze and gets closer to him, her voice almost a whisper. "You know, Cher wasn't wrong earlier. I didn't believe when she told me Alice had invited you and you said yes. Yours and Veronica's were not faces I expected to meet here"
"Trust me, this is not what you're thinking. The woman approached me talking about my dead father and now my orphan little sister. It's not like I had a choice as I always don't with Alice Cooper" he mimics his voice still looking at the scene in front of him.
"Oh, so what I heard about you and Blondie getting closer once again was just gossip?" she cocks an eyebrow at him and he moves his eyes to her fast, noticing her expression and folded arms.
"Again, not like that. And where did you hear that? I thought you lived in L.A. and had an interesting life, too interesting to care about Riverdale's gossip"
"You know how fast gossips spreads in this town" she shrugs but he keep a looking at her and she sighs "Okay, I went to the White Wyrm and Sweet Pea snitched you out" he groans and lean on the couch avoiding her face "Do you want to talk about it? Because I know you and I are not what we used to be and you have Veronica now, but you can always count on me, you know that, right?"
He knew that. When things went to shit on prom night, she was one of the few people that he allowed to be near him when everything happened. She was there when Veronica wasn't and though he felt a special connection toward Veronica because both of them had been cheated on with their best friends, it had been nice to be with someone that didn't remind him of what had happened. Tony chose his side, as well of the serpents, Veronica and JB but Cheryl chose Betty's. He still remembered a fight Tony and her girlfriend had because she couldn't understand Cheryl's support, hating what Betty had done. They worked it out in the end and Tony said she didn't like her girlfriend's decision but respected. Later she told him Cheryl didn't approve Betty's actions but she had almost no family in her life anymore and couldn't bear to lose those she still had. Jughead understood her and never held a grudge and it's not like he had much contact with the red head through the years. But Tony, as well as Veronica, still doesn't like Betty for what she did.
He nods at her and she rests her head on his shoulder, squeezing his arm with her free hand.
"Just be careful, okay? I don't want to see you hurt again and I would hate to spend other holidays alone with a moody Cheryl just because we can't come to the Coopers because I got in to a fight with Alice's daughter for breaking my friends heart once again" he laughs and rests his head on top of hers, mimicking her position.
"You sound like Veronica but less aggressive"
"And that's why you love me, you need balance in your life. And I don't blame the girl, I don't know if I would he here if I had been in her place"
"Well, she's here because she didn't have a choice, just like me. Just instead of me, Alice used her living father and long lost sister" Tony groans remembering the woman "We had an stressful week and I don't trust this evening will go smoothly, so be aware because it might happen a lot of drama with Veronica, JB and Betty in the same house" he warns her.
"Good, because I love a good drama. Things were already boring in my life" she jokes.
"With Cheryl as your girlfriend, I really doubt that" he jokes too and they laugh "I missed you, Tony" he admits.
"Me too. So I think you will be glad to know this" she slips away from him to tell the news "Me and Cher are thinking about leaving LA and moving to New York" she ends excitedly.
"What? Are you kidding me?"
"Though LA is amazing, New York has much more opportunities for us, especially for me as a photographer. And we are thinking about more serious things. Marriage, kids. And if we are going to do any of these things, I want the people I love around me, and Cheryl feels the same"
"This is incredible, Tony"
They keep talking about their lives until Alice asks everyone to come to the table. Veronica chooses to sit in front of him, with Cheryl on her left, in the middle of her and Betty. JB seats on his left and Tony on his right and Polly, Alice and the kids took the other seats available.
"Last year FP was the first to start this thing, but in his absence, I will go first" she starts eyeing the vacant chair left on the other side of the table and Jughead knows it belonged to his father "Though it isn't true, I feel like I had the worst year of my life, but I still have things to be thankful for. I'm thankful for my beautiful two daughters and a son that couldn't be here because of his work. I'm thankful for my grandchildren and for the second chance I had in life, to be with the man I loved again, even though we had little time together. And I'm thankful that we were able to reunite everyone on this day, a real family. I think FP would have loved this" she ends with a chocked voice and turns to his sister "JB, you're next"
JB sniffs and nods, "I guess it's like you said, though everything has been terrible, I still have things to be happy about. So, this year, I'm thankful for my family, you included Ronnie" she winks to Veronica and she winks back "I'm thankful for being in the school I always wanted attend, for living in LA and for finally having all of my family with me" she turns to Jughead then looks down "I mean, the ones that are alive and matter anyway" they all laugh and Jughead knows it's his turn.
"Okay" he takes a deep breath "This year made me realize how fragile life is and how fast it goes. So repeating you Alice, I'm thankful for all the time I had with my father too. I wish I had more but I'm learning to cherish everything we went through together. I'm thankful for my family as well, especially the ones I don't share blood with" he eyes Veronica and she sends him a small smile though she's still mad at him "And for my book, that finally has a release date and will be in the shelves before the end of this year" he ends with a smile and everyone in the table cheers. Everyone except his best friend.
He knows the little progress he had made with Veronica with his words went down the drain with these news just by looking at her face. It's not like he did on purpose to hurt her or was hiding it from her. His agent called him to tell the news while they were fresh on their fight, and though Veronica was the first person he wanted to tell, he didn't want to do it while they were not talking to each other. So he kept quiet but couldn't hold anymore, barely containing his excitement. He thought Veronica wouldn't mind that much, to hear the news with the others, but once again, he was wrong and realized it too late. He could see she was upset and this time, it was not because he called her names but because he didn't tell her about his major accomplish in his life.
The rest of the table says their thanks and things don't get awkward as Jughead expected to get and it's actually nice to be with his sister and friends for once. The food is great, after all Alice Cooper succeeds in everything she does. In the end, she asks JB to help with the dishes, and sensing a refusal from her, Jughead offers to help too so he could have more time with Jellybean.
They start in silence, him washing and she drying the utensils and he loves the domestic of the moment, wishing his mother hadn't take JB away from him so they could have more moments like this. Remembering Gladys makes him wonder what she's doing today.
"Hey, have you talked to mom?" he asks giving her another plate.
"Nah" she dismisses "I mean, I texted her saying 'happy thanksgiving' but that's it. And she didn't reply, as usual. She's happy with the family in Toledo or wherever she is now. The guys were good, I miss them, but now that I have a real family I wouldn't change it for anything in the world" she eyes him drying the ceramic "Did she talk to you on your birthday?"
"No. She forgot it, again. But I'm used to it by now" he shrugs and JB puts the plate down to lean on the wood, next to him.
"I know it doesn't make it better but she forgot mine too. Hey" she calls him for attention and he looks up "I already said it but I want to say it again, thank you for being here. Mom doesn't know what she's missing by not showing up to be with us, but I do. And I really loved having you around like it should have been from the start"
"You don't have to thank me, I had a good time too. I just hope Veronica did too" he nods to the living room where his friend is sitting, talking to Cheryl and Tony.
"She did, at least I think so" she looks at her and she's laughing from something Tony told her "And since you mentioned her, I will leave you to finish this because I already helped making the food and I miss my friend too. So deal with this and don't call me, okay?" she puts the dishcloth on his shoulder, tapping it.
"Jerk" he lets out in a low voice but Alice walks past him at the same moment sending him a glare.
"Watch your mouth, Jug Head" she scolds him and he actually gets embarrassed, looking down while Jellybean laughs.
They both leave him alone to the dirty plates and he finishes quickly. He turns to the living room, drying his hands and watching everyone in a conversation to each other and he feels better seeing Veronica talking animatedly with his sister. He decides to take a little break from the space going to the backyard, closing the door behind him. He sees Betty sitting on the steps watching the wind moves the swing that didn't exist when he used to live in this house. He takes careful steps and sits on her side, focusing on the same thing as her.
"Are you running away from Veronica?" he asks with a playful tone but knows there's a possibility he's right.
"No. But it wouldn't be a bad thing to do" she replies softly not looking at him and nods to the swing "FP set that thing up for the twins but they haven't used it ever since he died. They miss him and I miss him too" she sniffs and he noticed she had been crying.
"Yeah, I get that feeling" he looks to the swing again, imagining his dad building it. He doesn't have the memory of his father doing the same thing for him.
"My mother was right, he would have loved today, with his two kids together" she turns her head to him "I'm sorry you couldn't have this with him during all these years. It's my fault and I know it" she apologizes looking at him.
For so long he held this same thought to his heart, blaming her for the time he didn't have with his father. While a part of it is true, Jughead knows he could have made an effort to change the situation. Not that he would suggests making amends with Betty because of his father but he could've thought of something, even if it meant to have her in his life in every important occasion. But he didn't do it, thinking he had time when his father hadn't. After arriving in Riverdale he let go of this conclusion and finally took responsibility to recognize he had made a mistake, one he couldn't make it right anymore.
"I try not to think of that. What is done, is done. And though I wish things had been different, I'm really grateful for all the time I had with him" he looks at her too and tries not to think of how close they are "That's why you're here? Because you're feeling guilty? Because I swear to you I won't point fingers, at least not today"
She looks down. "I guess that's part of what I'm feeling today" she takes a deep breath "And I'm probably running away from Veronica too"
"Something happened" he deduces "And I bet it happened on my birthday" she nods and it confirms to him what he already knew.
"It's not like it happened something. I already knew where she stood about me and about me and you, so this is nothing new. But Veronica, as usual, made realize something" he raises a brow when she doesn't continue speaking and she takes another breath "She confronted me, again, and said I had a plan to get near you and that I should take a step back. And she wasn't wrong"
He rubs his eyes, noticing that the drama he wanted to avoid was coming at him with fast speed now. He looks the other way, wanting the moment to be over soon.
"I didn't and I don't have a plan to get closer to you. I feel like I have zero control of my life right now, I wouldn't even have the mind to do it nor I would do it if everything was fine with me. But, yes, I wanted to be near you and maybe have your friendship. I meant it when I said I missed you, our talks, our friendship so if I could have at least that back I would feel satisfied" she rants, her voice not so softly anymore "But she was also right when she said that I still loved you, that I wanted more" she ends with a chocked voice, putting her hand on his knee.
"Betty" he says like a warning, wishing her to stop talking but he knows the damage is already done.
"No, Jug" she interrupts him, turning her body to him "I'm not asking you to give me a second chance, which I know I don't deserve it. But all I ask is that you give me a chance to really talk to you" she pleads, her hand now squeezing his knee.
"We are talking, that's all we have been doing these past weeks" he deflects.
"That's not what I mean and you know it. You never gave me the opportunity to explain myself or even try to. I love you –"
"That's enough" he interrupts her standing up "Veronica was right, I should've never let this continue" he mumbles to himself starting to walk away.
"Jughead, wait" Betty begs, standing up too "Will you just listen to me?" she pleads, her voice high and he thinks people inside can probably hear them.
"Listen to you? That's all I did when we were together and you still chose to cheat on me with the guy that was supposed to be my best friend" he almost yells, relieving part of the tension he has been holding since he left Riverdale "You were selfish enough to not think of me or even your best friend so I'm sorry if I don't want to listen to what you have to say" he shakes his head not wanting to feel the hurt all over again, just like seven years ago.
"Veronica kept warning me and I didn't listen to her because she's right. I'm an idiot who thought I could put everything behind me and be the bigger person but I can't" he sighs defeated "I can't pretend that every time I look at you I don't see that damn video replaying in mind or Veronica's cry asking me why you two did that! I just can't" he ends out of breath.
He can hear in his mind everytime his friend freaked out because of his new relationship with Betty and he knows he owns her an apologize. She was right, as always.
"I'm done with you, and this time for good"
He can't stand to be in this house anymore or even go back and pretend nothing happened, especially when he is sure everyone inside heard them. So he starts walking away, choosing not to go in again and make a clean exit. He ignores Betty's pleads, calling his name and it's like a replay of prom night, just this time it's not dark outside and he's not wearing a suit he spent too much money to wear on just one night. Veronica's driver is still in the driveway, parked in front of the Cooper's house but he chooses to walk back to Pembroke, so if his friend wanted to leave, she would have her ride and a walk would do him some good.
While he starts his walk, Betty sits on the same place she was seated before everything went to shit. What was she thinking, approaching him like that, saying those words. She probably knew the outcome but she had to try. She shakes her head, burrowing it in her hands, not wanting to believe she lost him again.
She gets so distracted in her thoughts that she doesn't see the backdoor opening again, this time with Veronica, walking slowly, seeing the absence of her best friend and the crying blonde. She knows what happened without even asking.
She takes pity in the scene in front of her, curling her lips and taking a deep breath before speaking.
"Where's Jughead?" she asks looking at Betty's back, hoping he didn't leave her here and without her driver.
Betty lifts her face, drying it with the back of her hands before speaking. "He left" she answers sniffing.
Veronica nods though Betty can't see her. "Because of you, right?"
"Veronica, please, not now" Betty begs looking at her with red eyes "I know you hate me, okay? And you're probably happy with this so, please, just stop" she turns her head again, not wanting to see the smile she imagines Veronica wants to put on her face.
"You think I'm happy with this? Because let me tell you something, ever since I stepped foot on this damn town again I haven't felt happy. Especially when I know my friend is in pain, that's how much I care about him" she shakes her head thinking of him "I told you this wasn't going to work out. I warned you this little thing you two had was going to hurt both of you but you didn't listen"
"I did listen to you. I heard you loud and clear last week and I tried, I swear I tried to get away from him. But it's not my fault your manipulative speech didn't work with Jughead too because he was the one that came to me" she ends with a bitter tone.
Veronica scoffs. "Oh right, because he's my little toy and does whatever I say to him, forgive me if I forgot that part. And besides, this is the second time I'm called manipulative in a week and I don't appreciate this, especially coming from the person who betrayed me"
"Jughead called you that?" Betty asks imagining the scene in her head.
"We were in a fight, he didn't mean it. We still are but that's none of your business" Veronica corrects herself, ending with a superior act.
"I thought you two were best friends" she says with a wondering tone, happy to know that Jughead it's not her 'toy' as Veronica said.
"Friends fight, get over it" Veronica snaps "This was not our first and it won't be our last, we both have strong personalities, this is perfectly normal. But he was right about me this time, not about what he called me, but about what I was doing" she speaks remembering them in the car to Pop's last week.
"What were you doing?" Betty asks turning her body completely to the brunette, enjoying a conversation which Veronica isn't yelling or accusing her. Jughead wasn't the only one she missed. The Lodge girl, now woman, was her first girl friend and basically the only one she had in life. Betty was a social person and made friends in college and in her brief time working in Washington, but nothing like Veronica. Betty had colleagues but not best friends.
Veronica sighs and leans on the wood fence next to her. "My mom died of breast cancer three years ago, and her disease could be detected through a genetic test, which she didn't do because she had no idea about that. After her passing, her doctor said I should get tested, to know if I had the possibility to have her same kind of cancer but I didn't have the courage to do it. But now I have, that's why I spent some time in New York, my doctor was trying to find out if I had this damn gene that causes cancer"
Betty's heart saddens imagining her former friend losing her mom. She knew about Hermione's death, FP told her and she spent days imagining if she should give Veronica a call, not wanting to cause her more pain by talking to her but still needing to know if she was alright. She decided it was best not to call after listening FP's advice about it, but it didn't mean she could stop thinking about the strong and powerful Veronica Lodge suffering.
"I'm really sorry for your loss" she says meaning it and Veronica nods, looking down "What your doctor said?" Betty asks carefully not knowing if she would answer.
Veronica takes a deep breath. "She said I have the gene, which I imagined I did, the chances were really high. That's what I had been hiding from Jughead" she shrugs, picking at her dress, seeing more dog hair in it.
"I'm sorry, Veronica" Betty says again, this time with her eyes watering a little, the scenario where Veronica dies in her head. She closes her eyes, trying to erase it from her mind. Veronica was the strongest person she ever came to known and she knew for certain, she would be alright.
"Yeah, me too. But now that I know, I can prepare and don't let this evolve to something I can't control. Now I have the upper hand" she stands straight like she just hadn't told Betty one of the most important information of her life and puts her loose hair behind her ear "I will go now, I have to make sure Jughead is fine" she starts to walk back inside when Betty calls her.
"Veronica" she turns to Betty still holding the door "You should tell him. If I were him, I would want to know"
She nods and goes inside, thanking Alice for inviting her and the food, that was delicious. She says her goodbyes to everyone, telling them Jughead was not feeling well so he had to leave. Of course no one buys it but they play along, knowing the real reason of him leaving, especially after spending some time outside with Betty.
Inside her car, she keeps thinking to herself why she told Betty about what her doctor had said. She didn't want to talk to her when she arrived at the Cooper's today, let alone say all those things to her. She knows he's not the only one that doesn't think straight with the blonde, Veronica can admit that to herself. She misses their friendship, having a girl friend and someone who would understand her, especially now that she has to face the consequences of her discovery.
She leans on the window, closing her eyes and imagining a world where she never saw her best friend with her boyfriend. A alternative reality where she could've had Betty with her when Hermione finally divorced Hiram or when she found out about her cancer or her death. She remembers about all the plans they made together, traveling, moving in together and maybe daydreaming about weddings with their boyfriend's, being each other maid's of honor. And now it was all gone.
She wishes things had been differently, but to be honest, she loved her life. She doesn't have a boyfriend or a husband, and she's not on speaking terms with anyone left of her living family and she just discovered she might have a deadly cancer in the future. But for now, she's healthy, has a successful business and came to the conclusion blood means nothing to her. She has an amazing best friend and she was on her way to check on him.
She couldn't have Betty back but she still has Jughead. Their fight doesn't matter anymore and this time, she will be the first to give in, to say 'I'm sorry'.