Veronica walks in the apartment noticing the silence of it. She checks the kitchen first and when she finds it empty, she goes to Jughead's room, seeing him laying on his back, looking at the cell. She decides to ignore his shoe on the bed, and leans on his door, crossing her arms. When he doesn't speak, she gets tired and interrupts his mopping.
"I know you have a good memory so I'm trying to understand why you left me alone in that house when I specifically asked you not to" she starts and he still doesn't move.
"I'm sorry, Ronnie" he sighs.
"You're sorry you left me or for not listening to me? Because I can accept both options" she fishes, trying to making him talk about what happened.
"What do you want me say? I bet you and everyone in the neighborhood heard me shouting"
"Nah, you're lucky Polly's kids are really loud, no one heard a thing. But I did notice your absence and when I went to the backyard, I found a crying Betty Cooper lookin desperate and you missing. I know something happened but I don't know exactly what. So, you want to tell me?"
"Funny you want to know about my life but when I ask about yours, you get all defensive" he scoffs and she remembers Betty advising her to talk to him.
"Fine, I tell mine and you tell yours" she surrenders.
"I don't make deal with terrorists" he sings repeating herself with the twins earlier and she looses her patience.
"Jughead" she warns him and this time he takes things serious, sitting on the bed but still not looking at her.
"You were right" he starts.
"I usually am" she interrupts him cockish.
"I thought you wanted me to tell you what happened" he says annoyed and she nods, going to sit on the bed beside him. He sighs again and continues, "She told me she still loved me, that she wanted more than friendship and a chance to explain herself"
Veronica nods, absorbing his words, "And by her look I assume you didn't let her"
"Of course not" he scoffs "There isn't a plausible reason that explains why she did what she did. Not only her but him too. Can you just imagine all the things that they did behind our backs? And for how long? They hurt us, in the worst way possible so now she thinks she has the right to say 'I'm sorry, I still love you' and ask for a chance to talk? To say what? More lies? No. I'm done with her" he turns to Veronica "You were right since the beginning and I'm sorry I didn't listen to you and called you manipulative. It was wrong of me and you don't know how much I regret it, especially when she is the manipulative one"
Veronica stays quiet, analyzing his reaction and remembering FP's letter to her.
It was true the old man loved her very much and he made sure to let her know in his lasts words to her, but he also talked about his son, asking her to take care of him. FP knew Jughead better than he thought he did, meaning he knew the younger one still loved the Cooper girl. Veronica used to scoff every time he would tell her this, but that's because she didn't had the opportunity to see him with her after all this time. Jughead was happy, she knew that but can also see his grudge, his love was holding him back.
She takes a deep breath, and since he shared his piece, she would share hers.
"I have the gene" she blurts out and Jughead looks like he just got shot. "My doctor told me on your birthday but I would never ruin your day with a thing like that so I kept quiet and I would tell you on the next day. But I got scared, of saying this out loud, of understanding what this truly meant. That's why I started this fight, out of fear"
He takes her hand, squeezing and she squeezes back, trying to swallow her cry.
"So what do we do next? We can't sit around and wait for this thing come to us" he asks and she smiles a little, noticing how he included himself on her situation.
"Well, she gave me a few options but basically it would mean to do what you just said. So she suggested me something more final and certain. Since this kind of cancer affects ovaries and breasts, I could have them removed so this high possibility of me having this disease will go to zero" she explains, looking at their hands together.
"You know that whatever you decide, I will be by your side. You do know that, right?" he asks and she nods "But knowing you, I think you already made a decision"
She nods again and her eyes starts watering. "I will do the surgery. I can't end up like my mother. I want to live, there are so many things I want to do in my life. I won't let this thing win, I assure you" she sniffs "I'm just a little sensitive I guess because they will take away parts of my body. It's a pretty invasive procedure that will change my life forever" she starts sobbing and he lets go of her hands to hug her, putting her face in his chest right under his chin, his fingers in her hair.
"Hey, it's going to be okay" he soothes her in a chocked voice but she shakes her head in his chest "It's going to be alright in the end"
"No it's not" she whimpers "I've always had my goals set. Be successful, a force of nature, unstoppable, not like my father but in my own ways. And I be a mother was one of my goals and I know it might sound futile to you considering the amount of people already existing in the world and damage that could do to the environment, but it was one thing I always wished to be and now that won't happen to me. And I didn't even realize how much I wanted that until it was being taking away from me. And I will be without my boobs, do you have any idea what my boobs mean to me? They are part of who I am and I know they are not like Sofia Vergara's but I love them and now I will be ugly and useless and I will die alone because no man will want to be with a woman without breasts that can't give him children" she cries and he shakes his head, forcing her apart from him so he can put his hands on her face, forcing her to look at him.
"You know I hate to be the feminist one here but you're wrong. So, so, so wrong" he states looking in her red eyes "First, there isn't any part of your body that defines who you are. With breasts or no breasts, bearing kids or no, you are an incredible person and anyone who can't see that is an idiot. And if the guy you're with cares so much about these things, than it's his lost and you shouldn't be with him anyway" he takes a second to breath, calming down a little "I know you can't see the bigger picture right now because you're still upset and it's a lot to take in such a short time but I can. You are everything you wished to be and more. You will get to live, Ronnie. You just told me you wanted to do that, to have this opportunity"
"I know I did, but is it wrong of me to want everything I'm about to loose too? Why can't I have it all like any other person? I know I'm not the best human in the world but I'm not that bad. You know I'm not that bad" she asks almost in a whisper and he wants to cry too.
"I don't know why these things happen to people, especially the nice ones. But you can have them. I mean, you can still be a mother in the future. There's adoption and a lot of kids that needs a family in this world, and you know that blood doesn't matter a thing when it comes to love, you and I are proof of that. And the rest... well, I'm pretty sure you can do something about that too" he ends embarrassed, trying to refer to her breasts and she laughs at his red face.
He goes along, laughing too and both looked calm enough when the laughter dies. Veronica remembers the news Jughead shared at the Coopers and brings it up.
"You know, I didn't appreciate not being told first about your book, especially when I was the one that made it happen" she points it out and he looks down sheepishly.
"It wasn't my intention" he starts "My agent called at the beginning of this week and everytime I tried to start a conversation, you looked like you wanted to strangle me. The book will be released in the beginning of december" he informs her.
"I did want to strangle you" she confirms nodding "But I would have loved to know that your dreams are finally going to come true. And I'm really hurt I had to hear it along with everyone else so as a way to make it up to me, you will let me plan your book's release party" she ends clapping her hands excitedly.
"Ronnie, I don't think I'm in a very festive mood. And besides that, your parties are usually too much for me" he scratches his neck remembering Veronica's last parties and how out of place he felt.
"I admit I exaggerated a little on my birthday this year but that was for me, which means I will take it easier on you. We can have something more private, in one of my bars. Just a few friends, Jen, JB and your agent" she starts planning and he looks apprehensive "C'mon Jughead, this will be my last event before my surgery, my last with my real boobs. This means something to me" she pleads.
"Can we please stop talking about your boobs? It's awkward and I want to change subjects" he begs rubbing his face trying to not look shy again.
She laughs at him and he gets more red. "I will stop if you say I can throw you a party" she negotiates.
"You will do it no matter what I say, so go ahead, Veronica" she lets a squeal hugging him in the process and he laughs at her happiness.
"Trust me, you will like it" she assures him "This came in a good time because I will have to move back to New York to plan everything with my doctor. But I will think of a way to be in Riverdale with you"
"What? No, I'm coming back with you. I told you, you won't be alone in this. I will be with you in every step, even if you want me in your doctor appointments" he offers.
Veronica looks at him appreciative. "Thank you. But you still have things to work out here, the White Wyrm, Blue and Gold –"
"I'm not going back" he interrupts her "After today I don't think I can stand to be in the same place as her without exploding. And it will be good for me to go back and find a job. I can't spend the rest of my life with the money from my book, I need something more stable"
Veronica thinks for a while before speaking, not knowing if he would like to hear what she has to say.
"Jug, I think you and Betty should talk" she says slowly and carefully, watching his reaction.
"What? I thought you wanted me away from her" he lets out confused with her.
"I did" she confirms nodding "But you didn't listen to me and now you're in this kind of limbo, which to be honest, you have been since you left this place the first time" she sighs sitting straight "I don't want you near her, and I still don't think that what you did was a good idea but the damage is already done. I can see you're hurt and you have not healed from what happened. To be honest, I'm still not over that too, with both sides. But I feel can work with this feeling while you can't" she explains her point of view.
"So now you want me to forgive her?" he asks shocked with her change of behavior.
"I'm not saying that. I'm just saying you liked having her back in your life and you don't have to pretend you didn't because I know. And I know, that you, like me, would want to have a real conversation with her. Even after seven years, I still want to look at Archie's face and ask him why. I don't know if I need this to move on completely or something like it, but I know it would do me good to do it. While I still don't have courage enough to do that, you have. You have been close to her since you came back, I think you're ready to hear what she has to say or maybe you can tell her how you really feel. And after this, you can decide if you want her back in your life for good or no" she shrugs, noticing how mature speech sounded.
"I feel like in an alternate dimension right now" he looks at her dumbfounded.
"I know, Veronica Lodge is full of surprises. But I stand by what I said. And I can deal with whatever you choose, at least I promise to try" she lifts her right hand, swearing.
"Thanks, but it's not necessary" he dismisses.
"That's your call to make" she gets up from the bed and starts walking to her own room "I will go back next week but you're not obligated to come with me, you can stay for a while until you work everything out, and I mean everything" she stresses the last word and he rolls his eyes.
She goes to her room and closes the door, looking around her old room in the apartment. She can't wait to leave this place again.
A week passes in a blink, and Veronica sees herself pointing her bags to her driver, knowing this time she won't be back. When he takes the last one she turns to her friend. Jughead has his hands in his pockets, leaning on the wall behind him. She sighs, looking at the apartment one more time, than to him.
"Relax, if you forgot some thing, I will bring it with me when I come back to New York" he assures her "I just need to work some things out about the bar, then I will be with you"
"I'm not worried about my things. It's just this place… it brings back memories of my mother, and I miss her. Just that" she looks around one more time and takes a breath "Okay, I'm ready"
Veronica hugs him tight, knowing they will be apart and unsure of when they will be together again. She tries not to cry, thinking to herself she's just sensible because of her situation and it's only for a short period of time.
"Text me or give me a call if you need anything" she tells getting away from him and going for the door.
"I will and feel free to do the same" she's already at the door when he speaks and sends him a wink, closing it behind her.
She takes the elevator and leaves the building straight to her car when she sees Betty standing in front of it, clutching her bag like her life depends on it and looking anxious. Veronica starts walking slowly and raises a brow at her, wondering what the woman is doing here.
"Saw your driver putting some bags in the car. Another trip?" Betty starts nervous and Veronica tries to imagine how long the blonde had been staying in here to know this.
"Actually I'm going away, this time for good" she answers not because she owns Betty one but wants to know what is going on with her "Care to explain what are you doing in front of my building, standing there like a tree?"
"The street is public, I can stay in here all day if I want to" she retorts and Veronica raises another brow at her and Betty sighs "I wanted to talk to Jughead. I've been building enough courage to come here, but now that I did… I don't think he wants to see me, so now I'm trying to be brave enough to go up" she explains sheepishly and clutches her bag one more time.
Veronica tilts her head, remembering what she had told Jughead and ponders on what to do. She doesn't like the blonde in front of her and again, she wanted to make her suffer just like Betty did to her. But she was tired of seeing her best friend in pain, so she would grant Betty's wishes today. Jughead would hate her, but he also needs to grow up and face his problems that goes beyond his book.
"You can go in, he's still home but I think he will leave later to deal some bar issues" Veronica concedes and watches Betty takes a relieved breath with her blessing to go ahead.
The blonde passes her when Veronica speaks again. "I'm not the only one leaving, Jughead will be gone in a few days too. So I recommend you to say whatever you want to say today, because I don't think you will have another chance like this nor will I give you one again" Veronica warns her and Betty nods, understanding what she means and appreciating the opportunity.
Veronica finally enters her car and Betty calls her.
"Why are you helping me?" she asks, knowing Veronica wanted her away from Jughead.
"I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it for my friend" she clarifies "Jughead needs to work out this part of his life, even if this includes you"
Betty nods again. "Thank you"
Veronica doesn't respond, closing her door and wishing for the best in her mind. Her driver starts the car and she takes her phone to warn Jughead, changing her mind about it. Then she sees Betty going in and drops it, the damage is already done.
Jughead is about to take a bite on the sandwich he just made for himself when the bell rings. He furrows his brows thinking about whoever may be behind the door when he wasn't expecting anyone, then thinks it might be Veronica again, neurotic about forgetting something. He opens the door with a smile, ready to mock her and his smile falters when he sees a nervous Betty looking at him.
"What are you doing here?" he asks in a dry tone.
"Veronica let me in" she answers in a low voice "Jug, we need to talk"
"Oh no, we don't" he speaks ironic and tries to close the door but Betty's hands stop it. "Let it go or I will close this door with your hands on it" he threatens her, not having the patience to be nice with her.
"No, you won't. You would never hurt me" she says certain and still holding the door.
"So now you think you know me" he says ironic again "Because the old Jughead you knew has changed, a lot" he says with a suggestive tone and she knows what he's implying. He's definitely not the same forgiven guy he was before with her.
"You haven't changed that much" she replies looking in to his eyes, seeing that the guy she loved was still there. He scoffs and let the door go, entering the apartment knowing he wouldn't have his way today.
She takes a deep breath in relieve when she sees he gave up and enters the room right after him, closing the door behind her. She drops her bag on the couch and faces his back, since he wouldn't look at her.
"We need to talk, Jug" she repeats herself and he turns to her.
"Again, we don't. And you need to get out of here" he points his finger at her but she doesn't back out.
"Are you done? Because even Veronica agrees with me" she insists.
"Veronica should learn to take care of her own life and not mine. I'm fine, happy and I have an amazing girlfriend. I don't need this in my life" he says making clear for her that she doesn't have space in his life.
"This is not my point. I know the chance of us going back together doesn't exist anymore but we never talked about what happened. And I think you should give me the opportunity to explain myself, not because of me but for all the things we lived together. You don't know how much I wanted to do this, how this want is consuming me. I think I have the right –"
"Oh, you have the right? Because from where I stand I think you have none" he interrupts her with poison in his voice.
"Jug –" she tries and is interrupted again.
"You want to talk, then talk. But let me see from where you can begin with. Um, how about you tell me why on earth you think you can justify going behind my back with my best friend" he shouts losing his temper.
"There's nothing I can say that will make it right, I know that. But you have to understand me –"
"All I did was understand you, be good for you. A good and a caring boyfriend" he spits out "Why him? Why Archie when I asked you a million times if you still felt something towards him and you always said no! Why the guy I always felt unsecured with? That was like a brother to me?" he yells.
With all the guys in the world Betty could've chosen to do this, Archie was the worst one.
"Because he was there" she yells back and he closes his eyes not believing in her.
"Are you kidding me? You think I'm some kind of idiot to accept this. I thought you were smarter than that" he scoffs "I was there for you, every single time, when you needed me or not"
"No you weren't" she says back "First, it was Stonewall, then faking your own death and coming back again. You were distant, living in your own world like the future didn't exist, like I didn't exist. And not to mention Iowa. You applied to a university on the other side of the country without even telling me. Why would you do that if you cared about me, when we had plans?" she whines.
"Oh, please forgive me to try to enroll in a school after I gave you my place so you could go to your dream one. I'm sorry, my mistake. I should have waited for you in Riverdale, like a perfect boyfriend, so you could go live your dreams and then find me here, waiting for you so we could live happily ever after" he speaks ironic and she sighs.
"You know that's not what I meant –"
"And you convinced to go to Stonewall. I didn't want it but you pushed me to do it" he accuses her.
"Like you didn't want to go to that place. It was an amazing opportunity at the time, what kind of girlfriend I would be if I didn't want the best for you?"
"The kind that doesn't blame her boyfriend and takes her responsibility" he talks back "That's not even the point. Things were different so you instead of fighting for us, you go to Archie? Were you tired of me? Am I that easy to give up?"
That was the doubt that had been living in his mind ever since he knew about the cheating. All the insecurity he felt in his life, with his mother leaving him, his dad not being around to care of him and this betrayal, was flooding him.
"No" she cries going to him, trying to to frame his face with her hands but he takes a step back and she lowers her arms defeated "You have to know, you, our relationship was the best thing that ever happened to me. I would never get tired of you or give you up. That's why I kept trying to talk to you after everything, and now seven years later. You have no idea how much I missed you in my life. Your voice, your conspiracy theories, your writing, your touch. How much I've missed you"
He scoffs and goes away from her. Betty seeing him out of her reach, sits on the couch behind her, trying one more time.
"I won't defend what I did. It was wrong and I regret it until this day" she admits taking some breaths to calm herself down "There isn't a single reason that justify my acts but I was spiraling, I wasn't on my right mind. Have you stopped to think about all the things that happened to us? To me?" he shakes his head in disbelief again.
"I was there through the entire thing and you didn't watch a video of me and Veronica or some other girl kissing" he says wry, not feeling pity of the woman in front of him.
"Oh no, you won't win this one" she replies narrowing her green eyes at him "I saw my dad try to murder me and my mom just after I discovered he was a serial killer. Then a year later, he was killed in front of me. He was a monster but he was still my dad. And let's not forget about Edgar and my mother drowning herself so she could be accepted at The Farm. And my sister attacking a nurse thinking she was me. And we can also talk about me finding your bloodied body in the woods, thinking you were dead and having to pretend to everyone you were actually gone. And now looking at my life, my mom donating all my college money, finding out about my psychopath gene, convulsions and me losing my shot at Yale sounds like they are the smallest problems I had to deal with" she rants with angry remembering all the bad things she had to go through. Betty takes some moments to recompose and when she speaks again, he's looking down. "Again, I'm not saying what I did was right but can you just take a moment to see things from my point of view? I wasn't fine. All these things I just said and all the others I didn't… a normal teenager shouldn't have to go through these situations. It's not right, it's not normal. And I know that in some point I should've asked for help, because I knew everything was becoming too much for me but everytime I would let my head go there something else happened, and I had to be there for you, my mom or Veronica and I thought I could take it one more thing. And then, I reached my limit" her voice breaks and she takes more breaths so she wouldn't cry again.
"I wanted, craved, to things to be normal, to be like everything was before I had to deal with all the crimes because deep down, I knew I wouldn't be able to deal with much more. I wanted to avoid blood, so maybe I could act like an ordinary teenager, worrying about school, college and I wanted my boyfriend to do the same, then I would be fine again. That's why we fought about stupid things at the time. But you didn't follow me and I lost it" she replays the moments from seven years ago in her mind, trying to swallow down the guilty feeling and choosing the next words carefully "The video you saw, the one it was played at prom, it was a one time thing. I swear" he scoffs but she continues "We were singing and everything I just told you, the need to feel like things were still in my control, it came back. Archie was everything I thought I wanted before you showed up and made realize I was wrong. I was over him, had been since you and I kissed for the first time. But he was still one of the memories I still wanted to hold on to, to normal. So in my twisted head, I thought that him would be my life savior. I can't say the same for him, but this was the reason we kissed. It was just because he was there. But it was it, I promise you" she pleads, her eyes watering again.
"Do you honestly expect me to believe you two just kissed? For all I know you two –"
"Jug, I swear it was all that happened" she interrupts him, getting up from the couch "I ended things before it got too far. Archie wanted more but I stopped it"
"Great, good to know I never should've trusted the guy I considered to be a brother" he says ironic still not believing her "So if what you say is true, why you never came forward? I was an idiot back then, I would have probably forgiven you"
Jughead knows this one is true. It would have hurt him like a bitch, but after time, he would forgive her. He loved Betty too much to even think about living with her not being on his side. But now, he knows he can and the sentiment of being cheated on only grew since prom night.
"I didn't want to lose you" she cries despite not wanting to "It was a mistake and I had finished everything before it could turn in to something more. Things were already shaken between us and you were excited to move across the country to Iowa. I was selfish and didn't want to lose you or Veronica, knowing we would already be apart from each other in the future. The same thing that happened with Archie was happening again and this time I knew you wouldn't forgive me" she ends defeated.
He sees her hands closing, just like she used to when they were teenagers. Jughead noticed she had quit the habit when they started talking again, but he could see it was coming back. He stops himself from taking her hands in to his, knowing this wasn't his place anymore.
"Do you have any idea of what I felt seeing that damn video? Finding out like that? Or about the damage you made? About how worse my trust issues have gotten since that night? Or about the fact that your mom was dating my dad so this whole thing pushed my dad and sister away from me?" He gave up the 'trying to not point fingers' speech, and it felt good to lift the weight on his shoulders and put it in someone else.
"I don't but I can imagine it. And I know I should've told you myself, it was the right thing to do. But at the time, I couldn't do it, I was selfish, I needed you. I couldn't lose the best thing in my life" she shrugs remembering that at the time, she felt like she didn't have a choice.
"Yet, you lost me anyway" he replies with sadness, feeling sorry for everything they had. "I loved you, Betty. I don't think you know how much I did" he says with sorrow, sitting on the couch, tired of fighting.
"I know" she nods, sitting on the opposite couch to him "And you have to know that besides what was going on in my head in that time, despite of what I did… I loved you very much too" he chooses to stay quiet, not knowing what to say. Betty looks around, seeing the place emptier than she remembered from his birthday and remembers what Veronica told her. "So, you're going away again? What about the bar?"
"I planned to talk to Sweet Pea and Fangs later today. I'm thinking about how I can manage the White Wyrm from afar, maybe I could do some stuff from New York and leave some to them. And I would give them some percentage of the profit, so the bar stays with me as my dad wanted but it also stays with the serpents. I don't know, I'm still trying to figure this out. But right now, I need to be with Veronica" he shrugs remembering his friend.
Betty nods, agreeing with him. "Sounds like a good strategy. And she needs you too"
He furrows his brows at her, wondering if she knew what was going on with Veronica and Betty explains. "She told me, about the gene on thanksgiving, right after you left"
"Oh, she did?" he asks not believing Veronica would do something like that, and tell Betty before him. And she was complaining about me not telling her about the book first. In his opinion, her news were much bigger than his.
"Yep. I don't know why she did it either but it felt nice talk to her and not feel like she wanted to slap me or threaten me" she lets a small laugh slip from her lips but it fades quickly. "I won't ask you to be friends again. Veronica warned about it and I thought we could do it, because I really wanted you in my life again. But I learned my lesson, and I know that me forcing my presence in your life will only make you hurt more. I didn't realize that before but I do now. And though you might not like it, we are practically family now, even with FP dead. I heard Jellybean talking to my mother and I know she's excited to be with you and spend more time with her older brother like it should have been from the start. So I will try to move out of your way when you come to Riverdale, so things won't be hard for you"
"Betty, no" he interrupts her "It's your house, I wouldn't do that to you. Besides, I learned my lesson and I know how little time we have to be with people we love, so I wouldn't want for you to be apart of your mother, sister and nephews just because we are in the same house. It wouldn't be fair, so we will make things work. I can't say the same about Veronica but I think you and her can do the same" he says thinking that maybe it's not only him that have a soft spot for the blonde. Veronica telling her about her results before him it's only proof of that.
Betty nods getting up and taking her purse with her. She starts walking to the door when she turns to him again.
"I'm sorry I forced myself in, it was not right even though Veronica authorized me to do it, but I had to at least try to talk to you. I think we should have had this conversation a long time ago but I'm glad we did it now" she takes one step closer to him and he lifts his head to watch her "And again, I'm sorry about what I did to you. And I hope that someday, you can forgive me. But despite of what you choose to do, I wish you all the happiness in the world, Jughead Jones, because I know you deserve it" she ends finally walking away and he knows she meant it every word.
She goes to the door and close it behind her, giving him one last look. After that, the apartment stays silence and though he wishes to feel closure, he doesn't. But he gets what Veronica told him.
Listening all Betty had to say didn't make him forgive her, but he finally had a why. It was not something he liked to hear, as he already guessed it, but it was something. And maybe this time, he can move on.
He feels his cell vibrating in his pants and he takes it just to see a message from Veronica saying "I'm sorry but I had to do it"
He shakes his head at her and when he doesn't reply, she sends another one "Am I in trouble? Do I have to play the gene card? Because I can and I will"
He laughs at her strategy and finally answers his friend, enjoying the normality of it. He looks at the door one more time and wishes for the day he will be the one crossing it, the day he can leave all of this behind.