A/N: This is chapter 3! I will be updating more frequently because of social isolation, although, if I'm being honest, I would still rather write fanfic than socialize most of the time. Also, I know that we're only at the start of canon S1, but if anyone had any ideas about how the Hiram/Archie storyline wants to go, feel free to spill. Since Veronica and Archie aren't dating, I'm leaving all of the romantic drama for Josie to tackle, as his eventual girlfriend. However, I would usually exclude the Hiram/Archie storyline completely, or make Betty take his place, but there's a few reasons why I can't do that. One being that Betty has a lot on her plate every season, because she's usually the one in deep with the season's big problem/villain, so I can't really squeeze all the issues with Hiram in there. Two being that if I just excluded that plot point all together, it would make Archie not really have a storyline to him. And it would take away from the depth of Veronica's family. So yeah. If you could excuse my rambling, onto Chapter 3.
Chapter 3
After that whole ordeal, the three kids, who had all fallen in love, went home with separate thoughts in their heads.
Archie wanted nothing more than to have Veronica as his own.
She was beautiful, witty, smart and resourceful, according to the necklace of shiny pearls she wore around her neck.
He knew that he would have to work for it, but he was certainly willing to do so.
Veronica came home, dazed, lust filling her chocolate eyes.
"Did you pick up the food from Pop's?" Hermione asked, getting up from a lounge chair.
Veronica just sighed and set the fast food bag down on the table.
"Oh, and also, I've decided that we're moving to Kayo Coco and adopting twin ferrets," Hermione joked, noticing the dazed demeanor of her daughter.
Veronica just mumbled an 'okay' and walked into her room to set her things down.
Hermione followed her, an amused expression on her face, as she saw Veronica flop onto her bed.
"So, what's this about?" Hermione asked, holding back a chuckle. Her daughter had clearly just fallen for someone. The question was, who was the lucky specimen?
When she didn't answer, Hermione walked over to the bed and took Veronica's hands in hers, shaking them.
"Ronnie! Earth to Ronnie! As your mother, I have a right to know why you look like you're in euphoria."
Veronica opened her eyes, smiling at her mother. All she could think about were those amazing clear green eyes. When the light hit them, they shimmered like emeralds, making Veronica's heart flutter.
Her head lolled to the side, as she confessed," Mom, I think I'm in love."
Hermione chuckled at that.
"Clearly, honey. Who's the lucky girl? Or guy?" Hermione said, rubbing her daughter's shoulder.
"Betty Cooper. She's amazing. When I look into her eyes, I get butterflies. I just- I feel like I'd do anything for her, if I could, and we've only had half a conversation." Veronica said, gazing up at the ceiling.
"Betty Cooper? As in, Alice Cooper's daughter?" Hermione asked, slightly worried.
She and Alice had had issues, back in high school. Alice hated Hermione, even though she did nothing wrong. She was concerned that the history of them would affect their daughters, who deserved none of it.
"Yeah, probably. Why?" Veronica answered, snapping out of her trance due to the worried edge of her mother's voice.
"Well, in high school, me and Alice weren't the best of friends. She hated me, for no reason, nonetheless. She was controlling, spiteful and filled with hate. She wanted, craved the need to be perfect all the time. If you really like Betty-,"
"I do, mom. And I think she likes me back. She put up a shield, though. She knows she does, but she doesn't want to." Veronica said.
"Okay, I believe you, Ronnie, it's just- wait, you said you think she doesn't 'want to like you'? And her mom's Alice Cooper. That bitch." Hermione said, slightly trembling with anger at all of the bad memories that came flooding back to her from high school.
"What, mom?" Veronica asked, confused and surprised at her mother's sudden outburst.
"Back in high school, there was a kid, his name was Josh. He was openly gay, and everyone was fine with it, supporting even. That was, until Alice came around.
"She started bullying him about being gay, in front of everyone. No one would do anything about it because we were all too afraid. It got worse as the months passed; he would skip school most days and when he did come, he hid in the crowd, afraid of her taunting.
"One day, Alice was being sloppy, and a teacher walked in on her using one of her terrible taunts on him. The teacher sent her to the principal's office and she got suspended. Honestly, she should've got expelled for what she made him do. Josh had ditched, going home because he couldn't take it anymore. He OD'd that night."
Hermione exhaled, then drew in a shaky breath, frightened for their daughters.
Veronica was appalled. Her mom had always been very protective over her, even going to court once against someone that assaulted her because of her sexuality. But she had always thought that it was simply because she was a supportive mother. Turns out there was another reason.
"Oh my god. And she wasn't punished further? For causing someone to kill themselves?"
Veronica's voice was rising now. The fact that someone would ever do that to another human being made her want to vomit.
"No. Which is why I'm worried. Betty could be suppressing her feelings, and doing harmful things to herself to do so. Alice probably has it drilled into her head that homosexuality is unacceptable. That's why it seemed like she was ignoring those feelings.
"Ronnie, did you notice anything? Anything that would alert you to her having any mental health problems? I know you're pretty good at spotting those kinds of things, because of Katy." Hermione asked.
"Well, I did notice a couple of things. She was skinny, too skinny considering how old she is, and when I shook her hand, her palm felt ragged, like there was some torn up skin there. She might be digging her fingernails in." Veronica sighed, her voice growing slightly tighter from the anxiety that someone like her could be struggling like that.
Hermione nodded, her face contorting into a frown.
"Well, you're obviously going to want to see her tomorrow, so make sure she's okay, check for any other symptoms, like you did back in New York. Anything, really. But also, be a good friend, by not getting up in her business too much, unless, of course she wants you to." Hermione said.
Veronica gave a grunt of understanding, as she acknowledged the fact that the mood had gone from dreamy to serious in a matter of seconds.
At that, an image of Betty flashed through her head, making her break out into a goofy smile.
Hermione looked over at her daughter, who was sporting the goofiest grin she had ever seen.
"Oh, Ronnie. You are hopelessly in love, aren't you?" Hermione chided, a serious but understanding look on her face.
"Would it be wrong to say yes? I mean, I just met her and I'm already fantasizing spending the rest of my life with her. Even if it means being her emotional support person. I could seriously picture me doing anything for her," Veronica admitted, lust entering her gaze once again.
Hermione chuckled.
"Ronnie, that's good, amazing even. To find someone like that at such a young age, is truly wonderful. You just have to be cautious. Love like that can confuse us, make us do things that we would never do in our right state of mind."
"I know, mom. I won't do anything that could get me in law troubles, or jeopardize my health, or anything like that. Though, I don't think I would even get a situation like that with her." Veronica promised.
"Okay. As long as you know where the line is." Hermione said.
"I do." Veronica said, once again staring into space.
"Well, then. I say we dig into Pop's burgers and fries, don't you? I want to see the look on your face when you have your first bite." Hermione said, nudging Veronica's shoulder with her own.
"Okay, mom. But unless you can somehow erase the memory of Betty in my mind, you can't guarantee my focus for the entire dinner." Veronica said, as her mother led her out of her room and into the kitchen.
Smithers had already removed the food from its bags and set it out on plates. Accompanying the delicious burgers and fries, were two double chocolate milkshakes, that looked heavenly.
"How did you know I liked double chocolate? I've never had a milkshake before," Veronica asked, puzzled but impressed.
"I knew, Ronnie, because double chocolate was my favourite when I was a teenager. Guess it just stayed with me, most preferences usually do," Hermione smiled, as they both sat down in their respective seats.
"Okay," Veronica said, getting situated and picking up her burger.
"Let's do this."
As she bit into her burger, a smile lit up her face, illuminating her already poised features. It was like a flavour explosion in her mouth. Sweet, salty, savoury, everything came together to form one amazing combination; umami.
She looked over at her mom, who was chewing her first bite of burger as well, as they locked gazes and smiled.
"Wow, mom. This is truly amazing. I can see why you were so eager." Veronica said.
"I know, right? It's like an explosion of flavours in your mouth."
"Amazing," Veronica whispered, as she devoured the rest of her burger, relishing every bite despite rushing to finish it.
She then moved on to her fries, eating them one by one, feeling the salt burn her tongue.
"Oh, no, no no. You do not eat your fries plain." Hermione protested.
"Wha-," Veronica interjected, being cut off by her mom.
"Open up your milkshake, and dip your fries in it. That's the only way to do it without acting like a psychopath." Hermione said, mock seriousness dripping from her voice.
"Okay, okay. Geez." Veronica said, laughing, as she did as she was told.
She was very glad she did. It was, alike the burger, one of the best flavour combinations that had ever entered her mouth.
"How did you not take me here before? This is amazing." Veronica gushed, astonished.
Hermione gave a nod of understanding, as the mother-daughter duo finished their dinner, and snuggled up on the couch to watch 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'.
Veronica ended the night being very content.
She had indulged in one of the finest meals that she had ever had, and had movie night with her mom; a scenario of rare occurrence.
But, the highlight of her night, by far, was the moment she set eyes on Betty Cooper.
Veronica had turned into a virtual pile of goo under her stare. And all night, she had been anticipating the morning, where they would meet again, much to Betty's distaste.
You see, Betty had gone home, on the verge of tears.
She felt as if she were in a swamp full of molasses, and those molasses were her feelings for Veronica. They were so strong, so thick, that she couldn't escape their grasp.
She walked home, taking short, panicked breaths the whole way back.
Her nails had been permanently embedded in her palms the entire time, too. Betty pushed them harder, willing them to numb her pain.
The problem was, it had been becoming increasingly harder to feel anything in her palms. It got to the point where Betty would dig her nails in, instinctively, and not even feel it. So, she would dig harder, causing more blood flow and more pain. Her palms were more sensitive than ever, now. Absent-mindedly outlining shapes on them with her nails when she was bored, then realizing that she couldn't feel it.
This was one of her many ever-growing worries.
Not only was it harder to get her relief, but it was also harder to hide, since there was more blood.
A lot of the time, when she didn't feel like going to the bathroom between every period, or carrying around a washcloth to clean up the blood, she would take a couple Xanax.
It calmed her down, enough so, that her worries would be gone. That, however, did contribute towards her insomnia, dizziness and nausea.
Betty thought it was worth it.
She got home, closing the door quietly like she was always taught.
"Elizabeth Ann Cooper! You are seven minutes late to curfew! What do you have to say for yourself?"
This is how Betty was greeted virtually everyday; by her extremely overbearing mother, yelling at her for something or other.
Seven minutes?
Betty hadn't noticed the time, as she was too focused on getting rid of her feelings for Veronica. And, as it turns out, the two reasons for that were standing in this very room.
Her parents would absolutely, positively never approve of them. They were 'ungodly' and 'sinful' according to Hal and Alice. They had those insults ingrained in Betty's head so much, she actually believed that her feelings were wrong. That other people could feel them and be fine, but if she had them, she was a sinner.
"I'm sorry, mom. I lost track of time. Me and Archie were really busy talking about our summers," Betty offered, only partially telling the truth.
Archie and Betty had finished up their awkward conversation soon after Veronica left. It was too weird, continuing that talk after a beautiful woman interrupted it.
Archie called his dad to come pick him up, offering Betty a ride as well. Betty, to Archie's surprise, declined it, saying that she had an errand to run anyway.
Archie was so oblivious to the whole situation; it was almost laughable.
Almost.
"Are you sure you've been taking your Adderall? You seem more out of focus than usual."
Classic Alice Cooper.
Instead of asking her how the night went, she goes and questions everything Betty is doing, and then makes sure to include some insults that purposely hurt Betty.
However, tonight Betty didn't even flinch at the blow to her self-esteem.
"I ran out a couple days ago, I keep meaning to ask you to get a re-fill."
Another lie.
Betty had been taking three a day, every day, to help with the insomnia she got from the Xanax, and everything in life.
In reality, Betty had run out of those precious little pills two weeks ago.
She had taken a late-night trip to the drug store and bought two packages of Racetams, another drug that helps her focus, but are are over-the-counter.
She had three of those left, which is why she needed the Adderall.
"See what I mean? No focus." Alice complained, scorn hissing from her voice.
That wasn't entirely true.
Betty was still keeping up with the quality of Register articles that she'd been writing, and meticulously writing a dozen essays, for extra credit, per her mother's orders.
She didn't even need the extra marks, either.
So, no, it wasn't lack of focus. It was the fact that she had too much focus, and would get hyper focused on one thing and forget about everything else, hence, Veronica.
But, instead of fighting, she backed down and dug her nails in.
"Yeah, I guess so. I'm sorry, mom. It won't happen again."
"It better not. Now, go on, up to your room. You need your sleep." Alice chided, shooing her up the stairs.
Betty accepted the invitation to leave gratefully, as she speed-walked over to the staircase.
She kept her pace, leaning against the railing for support.
When she reached the top, she was exhausted, even though she had only run up two flights of stairs.
She hobbled over to her bed, collapsing onto it, breathing hard.
She lay there for a few minutes, catching her breath, as a fresh wave of nausea washed over her.
It was no surprise, really. What she had eaten tonight was the equivalent of what she would usually eat in three days. Her stomach couldn't take it.
As she ran over to her bathroom, frantically pushing up the toilet lid and retching into it, Betty felt a twinge of pride in herself.
She had trained herself so well, that her body wouldn't allow that much food to be digested.
She vomited up the contents of her stomach, not bothering to be quiet. Betty had learned long ago that her parents didn't care if she was puking, sobbing or screaming, as long as it was away from prying eyes.
She closed the lid, using the back of one of her hands to wipe away the puke from her lips.
Flushing, she weakly walked back over to her bed and shed her blouse and jeans. Changing into a pajama top and bottoms, she crawled into bed.
She gave a last glance over at her vanity, which had her blush brush laying openly on it, discarded. Even though it had only been left there a mere two hours ago, so much had changed.
A silent tear running down her cheek, Betty turned off her lamp, rolling onto her back.
That silent tear quickly turned into choking sobs, as Betty succumbed to the panic, letting it torture her as it had done every night for a long time.