Author's note: Things get a little darker in this chapter. Enjoy! Xx

Betty woke up with a gasp, body trembling as she sat in her bed, unsure of the cause behind her abrupt wake-up call in the first place. She glanced around her room, trying to make sense of what had startled her so much that she woke up choking for air. Coming up empty-handed, Betty sighed as she threw her covers back and got ready to start her morning routine. It was the one time she truly had to herself before the start of the day. Before the demands of the dance studio came a knockin' and she had to meet her college's expectations on top of that.

Getting into the shower, she let the hot water run down her muscles, loosening them for a few minutes before she started washing her hair. Her thoughts were running rampant as she tried to figure out the angle her stalker was coming from. Of course, Betty recognized the fact that she most definitely never would be able to figure out what it was. Whoever was stalking her, he wanted to play a game of cat and mouse with her; wanted to make her feel so unsafe in her own home that he didn't mind growing a little bold – didn't mind being a little daring.

Her mind went back to the pictures she had received – the ones of where her back was naked, and she was facing away from his camera. He was growing bold and quickly, especially if he had sent that type of photo so shortly after announcing his presence in her life. The only thing bothering her – well, one of the things bothering her, she amended – was that she had no idea of who it could. None. Whatsoever. She had made enemies in Riverdale, certainly. Hal Cooper had brought that to her and her mother. But, Betty acknowledged, she hadn't brought those enemies here. Not to her school. Not that she could tell anyway.

Sighing, Betty finished her shower as the water started turning cold, quickly toweling off after shutting off the water. She went through her process of washing her face and doing her makeup, before drying her hair and walking back into her bedroom. She had left the light off so as to not wake Jughead or Sweet Pea up at this ungodly hour but upon entering her bedroom, Betty screamed bloody murder and it was only moments before she heard footsteps running towards her as her eyes stared at what was on her bed.

"What? What is it?" Jughead asked as he pushed her door open, before pausing and shutting his eyes, forcibly turning Sweet Pea around in the process. "Ahh, sorry. Didn't realize you wouldn't be dressed."

"No – shit, it's okay," Betty hurriedly replied, going to throw on her leggings and two-times too big sweatshirt before giving them the clear to turn back around. "Jughead, look." Betty's voice was a shaky breath, and she didn't acknowledge the fact that she called out to Jughead when she needed help. She'd have to unpack that later. Like, when there wasn't a –

"Is that a fucking bloody scarf?" Sweet Pea asked, voice holding a mixture of disgust and surprise. Betty nodded numbly, rubbing her arms as goosebumps dotted along them.

"Yeah. It wasn't there before I went and took my shower, which means -,"

Jughead cut her off, glancing around her room sharply. "He was in here while you were in the shower; while we were asleep."

Betty heard the barely concealed angry coating his tone and knew he was not only angry with the stalker but with both himself and his friend for not hearing him enter her apartment. Betty shook her head. "Jughead, it's no one's fault but this creep."

Jughead's jaw tensed. "Betty, for the love of God, do not placate me. Not right now. I should have heard this guy enter. You were in the fucking shower. He could have attacked you in there, do you understand that?"

"Jughead, maybe this isn't the time?" Sweet Pea asked, voice low as his brow furrowed. The taller was staring down at the scarf, not touching it as he looked at it intently. He turned to Betty after another moment of inspection. "Do you recognize this scarf at all, Betty?"

Betty started to shake her head but paused, staring at the scarf more thoroughly as she chewed on her lip. Then, it hit her, and a soft gasp fell past her lips. "Oh fuck. That's Valerie Brown's scarf."

"Who is that?" Jughead asked, and Betty shook her head, heart thumping harshly in her ears.

"She's a fellow dancer," Betty said quietly. "She's one of the sweetest people I know. Why would it be her scarf?"

Jughead shook his own head, staring down at the offensive object in question. "I don't know but I swear to God, I will find out." Jughead sounded so self-assured in his conviction, Betty had no choice but to believe he meant what he said. She nodded, mind wondering if Valerie was alright.

XXX

Betty, Jughead, and Sweet Pea made their way onto the campus grounds, where Sweet Pea had officially enrolled. She thought it was ridiculous it had even come to this but, as the taller liked to jokingly tell her, "you'll get used to me, Coop! By the time this shit is done, we'll be best friends. Just wait." Betty didn't know how much faith or stock she put into his words, but she did know his heart genuinely seemed to be in the right place and he himself genuinely seemed to care. So, she took his words at face value and for what they were worth.

Walking into the building, Betty got ready to wave the guys off to wherever the fuck they needed to go but she was stopped almost immediately upon her entrance into the school by her dean. She watched the woman walk towards her with purposefully strides, feeling apprehensive as she waited to see what the woman needed with bated breath. Whatever it was, Betty had an inkling it wasn't a good thing.

"Ms. Cooper," Dean Burble greeted, tone somber, and Betty felt her stomach drop even further.

"Dean Burble," Betty nodded back at her respectfully. "Is everything alright?"

Dean Burble sighed, rubbing a hand across her forehead as she slowly shook her head. It was at that moment that Betty noticed tears gathered in the corners of the other woman's eyes and felt her heart sink. "No, I'm sorry to inform you, it is not."

Valerie.

Valerie.

Nonononononono.

Taking a steadying breath, Betty squared her shoulders, ready to hear the outcome of one of her fellow dancers and friends. "What is it, Dean Burble?"

"Betty, I'm so sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but Valerie Brown was found murdered in her apartment in the early hours of this morning. There was no sign of a struggle. Which, the police are thinking means…,"

"She knew her killer and trusted them," Betty supplied, turning to face both Jughead and Sweet Pea. She was certain their looks of horror mirrored her own.

Author's note: This is not edited. I have to get ready for work and still need to go get my Starbucks. Apologies. Thoughts lovely per usual! Xxx