Jughead couldn't sleep. After the nights ordeal he tossed and turned on his bed, not knowing how to face Betty and Archie at school in a few hours.
Earlier, he was in his trailer contemplating what Toni had told him. He obviously knew that Betty was way out of his league, but he was not willing to give up just yet. He needed to see her, talk to her and reassure himself that maybe just maybe the past weeks were not just a phase, that maybe what they had now can progress into something. He got up and put on a shirt, his leather jacket and put his beanie back. He went for his motorcycle and drove to Betty's house convincing himself that it was the best for both of them.
The lights were still on from her bedroom, and as he walked near he saw the ladder he used a few days ago. Someone was already up in her room, in the pit of his stomach he knew exactly who, however he still grabbed a hold of the ladder and started climbing. Once in view of her bedroom, he could see Archie holding her in his arms and inching closer their nose touching. He could see clearly that she didn't pull back instead her eyes were closed inviting his best friend to kiss her. Fury, betrayal and deep hate for allowing himself to hope for something more with her arose and he started his way back down shaking the ladder at the windowsill with how fast he was trying to get down. He made his way back to his motorcycle not bothering to look back and see if they noticed he was there and turned the engine to life only to speed back to his trailer and cursing all the way for being such an idiot.
Veronica felt the air surrounding their group so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Something was going on between her two best friends and she couldn't put a finger on it. Maybe Betty had talked to Archie regarding his new found crush on her. However if they had an issue with the awkwardness before, now it has gotten even worse.
She looked at them both, eyeing them and studying their behavior. Archie was leaning against the locker the whole time looking at Betty, not once letting his eyes linger on anything else. While Betty was on the opposite side, hands crossed over her chest like she was hiding a naked body and looking at the floor or her nails, never once making eye contact with any of them.
The hallway doors opened and in came the serpents, in that moment there was a shift, Archie faced the serpents leader, while Betty looked up with a guilty looking face that Veronica knew all too well. Jughead walked past them not looking at any of them and ignoring the group as if they weren't even there. That's when she realized that her best friend must have hooked up with Archie Andrews!
The realization hit hard, her eyes wide she took Betty's hand and dragged her to the nearest room. She closed the door behind them and noticed they were in the janitors room. Betty looked at her nails once again.
"Betty! What did you do?" She asked, her arms crossed at her chest.
"Me? Nothing, I did nothing." She replied not once looking at her friend.
"You know that you're a terrible liar? You have always been" she said. "Why is Archie looking at you like you're his new favorite toy? And what about Jughead? In the past weeks he always stopped to talk and flirt with you!" She stated.
Betty's eyes started watering, Veronica now knew that her friend was hurt by something or someone, "what's wrong B? What did Archie do?" She asked. She was sure that Archie has done something which ruined the thing Jughead and Betty were having recently.
"He came to my bedroom last night to talk,"she started as tears started falling down, "he said he had feelings for me, that he wanted to start over and maybe build a relationship. He touched my hand, my face the way I always dreamt he would," she continued remembering last nights ordeal.
"Then he was about to kiss me when we heard a noise at my window, it was Jughead he came unknowingly. He saw our embrace and that we nearly kissed. If he didn't come, I don't know how we would have ended! I couldn't resist him, it's like he was my own personal drug" she sobbed. Veronica hugged her friend and soothed her while Betty sobbed uncontrollably.
"I'm so sorry Betty. Archie is such an idiot sometimes," she stated knowing pretty well that her other best friend often did things without giving it a second thought or evaluate the consequences.
"What do you really want Betty?" She asked, her friend looked up not understanding her question.
"I mean, in the past weeks with Jughead I saw a new side of you, a happier one. Do you want to throw that away and move on to your dream with Archie ? I know you have wished for this to happen many times but are you willing to lose what you had with Jughead?" She continued.
Betty didn't know how to answer her question. She loved Archie for so long and being so close to him yesterday made her feelings rekindle once again. But was it worth the risk? It was always known to them that Archie Andrews didn't last long in a relationship, he loses interests as fast as a flash. What if it happens with them? He did ignore her longing looks for so long and now that she was happy he suddenly realized that he wanted her. But she couldn't shake those feelings.
Jughead, on the other hand gave her his immediate attention. He was upfront with her and let her know that he liked her, he also knew her darkest secret which not even her best friend knew about. He kept it without adding more pressure to her and was helping her through this phase she is going through. They shared beautiful moments at the Blue and Gold and although his eyes were full of lust and wanting he never took that step way too far. He was a gentleman.
Veronica was still looking at her as she contemplated her decisions. "I don't know V" she sighed wiping away her tears and trying her best to calm herself down. "All I want right now is to get away from all of this and just get some space to think."
"Well, girlfriend, I know exactly how that can be arranged." Veronica Said with a mischievous look.
"Prepare your bags girl, we're going for a weekend away at my cabin" she smiled. Betty felt relieved, she can now have some alone time with her best friend away from the two boys that have made her life so complicated in just a short period of time.
Betty got out of the limousine and looked at the stunning wooden cabin. The cabin was built by the river shore, it had 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, a kitchen and living area and a back patio that extended on the river. Tall trees surrounded the cabin making it as private as can be.
The chauffeur grabbed their bags and placed inside the cabin. Betty's Mum agreed to this immediately after knowing that her daughter was having some boy issues. She needed this to clear her mind.
They went in, Veronica smiled at her friend, "you can choose any room you like, Josie will be joining us later after her gig" she said. They will be having a girls weekend. Although Josie was filled in briefly on the recent events she still didn't know all the bits and pieces. Betty felt more comfortable talking to Veronica than Josie.
Grabbing her bag she made her way up the stairs and looked at the 3 bedrooms, choosing the one that was facing the river. She grabbed her phone checking if she had reception, and to her surprise there was signal. She unpacked her bag and opened the balcony door. Resting against the railing she took a deep breath, savoring the view and the smell of nature.
Her friend joined her at the railing, "its magical here," she started, " I always loved this place, daddy wanted to get rid of the cabin a few years back. But he kept it just for me, since he knew how much I was in love with it." She concluded. She looked at Betty noticing that she was looking at a distance deep in her thoughts.
"We're here so you can contemplate on the past days in piece. You'll know who you'll want to choose by the time we get back." Veronica said reassuringly.
"How do you know that?" Betty asked.
"Easy," she smiled rubbing her friends back, "spending 3 days up here without socializing with any of the rest of our friends you'll tend to end up missing the one most important to you right now. You'll know who it is." She said.
Betty looked at her friend still not convinced that she'll end up knowing, "what if I do realize but I am too late when I get back?" She asked. "I mean, I haven't talked to Jughead since the incident and well neither to Archie in that case. What if when I choose they won't be waiting for me?" She looked at her hands.
"Sweetie, Archie will be for sure if you choose him. He is fixated on being with you so rest assured when you get back he'll be waiting to talk to you. On the other hand, I don't know Jughead that well but I am pretty sure that he cares about you. I am sure that if you end up choosing him, and apologize, he'll give you another chance" she said. "If he won't I'll give him a piece of Veronica's anguish and he'll have to surrender!"
Betty chuckled a bit at Veronica's remark. She knew that her friend was right. She had to use these 3 days to understand herself better, what she wanted and with whom. It will not be easy but it had to be done, both for her sake and for the sake of the two boys that made her life a complication.
"Speaking of," Veronica said, "hand over your phone, as I said you need to miss them. If you text or call you won't be missing them you need to cut socializing for good." She said, "don't worry about your mother, I'll keep in touch with her for you and you can use my phone whenever you need to call her."
Betty went back in her room and handed her phone over unsure if that's the right thing to do. Veronica took it from her and switched it off immediately. "There" she said, "now let's go grab something to eat. We'll have a hell of a weekend." Betty sighed and smiled wishing that this weekend would never end.