Riverdale

How To Survive Heartbreak

Summary: After her breakup with Jughead, Betty cuts herself off from her friends and family. Cheryl takes notice and decides to check on her dear cousin with Toni. Can Cheryl and Toni finally pull Betty out of her deep dark feelings? Or is the cousin she knows gone for good?

"Hey, Betty. I just heard that you and Jughead broke up for real this time and I just wanted to make sure you're okay. Call me back when you can."

"Hey, cousin. I'm just calling to check up again. I just want to make sure you're okay."

"Betty, come on. I'm getting really worried now. Please call me back."

After a week of leaving these type of messages, Cheryl finally heard back with a simple text message.

To: Cheryl

From: Betty

You don't need to keep worrying about me Cheryl, okay. I'm fine, just busy. I'll see you at Christmas.

"She must just be busy with school," Cheryl thought shrugging it off. However, as the weeks went on she started becoming more and more suspicious. After the somewhat suspicious text, she noticed that Betty deleted her social media pages and after talking with Betty's mom and her best friend, Veronica, she discovered that Betty wasn't really talking with anyone. "This is not good." She then thought about the conversation she had with her sweet cousin earlier that year when they all thought that Jughead was dead.

"Sweet cousin, I am so so sorry. It looks like the Blossom family curse has finally caught up to you and I know that as rival as teen queen of tragedy."

"Lucky me."

"Promise me you won't do it."

"Do what?"

"Take your own life. We all know you and Jughead were Riverdale High's Hamlet and Ofelia and I personally know what it's like to lose your other half. The despairing thoughts can flip without warning. Don't let them drown you."

Despite how serious Betty and Jughead were, she'd like to think that Betty wouldn't do something as serious as taking her own life over their breakup. However, she decided it's better to be safe rather than sorry. Before she took any drastic measures she decided to give her one more chance.

"No answer, of course," she told herself shaking her head.

To: Jughead

From: Cheryl

You haven't heard from Betty recently, have you?

To: Cheryl

From: Jughead

Not for a couple of months. We decided to give each other space. Why do you ask?

To: Jughead

From: Cheryl

Just curious. Forget I said anything.

Now she was really worried.

"Nana. I'm going out of town this weekend. I'm going to call Alice over here to look after you and the twins, okay?"

"Alright, dear."

After packing a bag, she called Alice who picked up instantly.

"Did you hear from Betty?"

"No. I'm going up to New Haven to check on her. Can you come over to Thistlehouse for the weekend to look after my nana and your grand twins?"

"Sure. I'll be there soon."

Before booking a plane ticket she called one more person.

"Hey. I know that we haven't talked much recently, but I really need your help with something."

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Cheryl's ex-girlfriend, Toni, asked.

"I'm fine, but I'm afraid that Betty isn't. Can you book a ticket to New Haven and meet me at the airport?"

"Sure."

The Next Day at Yale

Cheryl and Toni arrived at Betty's dorm building at around noon and went straight up to the D.A..

"Hi. We're friends with Betty Cooper and we were wondering if you could show us what room she's in?" Toni said.

"Sure, right this way."

After knocking on the door, a brown-haired stranger opened up.

"Hi. Can I help you?"

"Yeah. We're looking for Betty Cooper," Toni responded.

"Oh, thank goodness, someone's finally here for her."

"How bad is it?" Cheryl asked.

"Bad. She should be on her way back from her last class and then you could see for yourself," the stranger said letting the girls into the room.

"My name's Abby by the way."

"I'm Toni and this is Cheryl."

"It's nice to meet you both," Abby said shaking their hands.

"So tell us, Abby, how bad is it really?" Toni asked.

"She only sleeps a few hours a night and hardly eats, fully showers, or talks to anyone. The only times she leaves this room is for class, getting snacks from the vending machines, or taking quick showers. She's always wearing this big jean jacket and lays in bed hugging a stuffed dog and a picture of her and her I'm assuming ex-boyfriend. I've tried convincing her to talk to someone, but there really isn't much more I can do because I don't know her."

"That sounds really bad, Toni."

"I can't believe a breakup could affect someone that bad," Toni responded.

"Well, I need to start working on next week's school paper, so I'm wishing you lots of good luck," Abby said.

"You have a school paper?" Toni asks.

"Yeah. We are still trying to fill a couple of slots."

"Good to know," Cheryl said before Abby left.

A few minutes later Betty walked in and let's just say that Abby wasn't over exaggerating. Betty Cooper, once a beautiful, fair, strong young woman looked simply broken. Her face was red and puffy with giant bags under them, her skin so pale she looked like a ghost, her hair was a ratty mess, and she was so skinny she looked anorexic.

"Cheryl, Toni, what are you guys doing here?"

"Sweet cousin, what have you done to yourself?" Cheryl impulsively asked.

"Cheryl!" Toni reprimanded.

"What? She looks like a cross between a ghost and a zombie."

"We need to help her not make her feel worse," she told her before turning to hug Betty. "What happened?"

"Just the stresses of college, that's all."

"False, cousin. This has to do with Jughead, and we all know it."

"Cheryl!"

"We can't help her if she's not honest with us Toni."

"I guess that's true. You and Jughead seemed so happy, what happened?"

Before Betty could stop herself, she fell on her bed with fresh tears rolling down her cheeks. Toni and Cheryl pulled her into a hug waiting for her to calm down.

"During Hedwig, Jughead and I, we, we got into a fight, and that night I went over to Archie's to rehearse and clear my head and we…we kissed."

"Oh, no," Cheryl said.

"For whatever stupid excuse, I didn't tell Jughead about it until after graduation. I broke his heart and then I ran away. Now, he probably hates me which would make sense because I hate me."

"I don't think that he hates you, Betty," Toni said.

"I knew that I was a different person from when we first started dating. I mean how could I not be? However, I never thought that I would be a cheater. I ruined the best thing that had ever happened to me and now I just don't know who I am anymore. I'm so ashamed that I can't look at myself and I don't go out and do anything because I don't deserve to be happy, not after what I did.

Toni and Cheryl looked at each other realizing that this might be harder than they thought. Before she could start sobbing again, Toni looked into her eyes and said…

"You made a mistake, Betty. It happens to everyone. But mistakes don't make you a bad person. Despite what you think he's feeling or what he's actually feeling, Jug wouldn't want you to be living like this. I know it's going to be hard and it'll take some time but you're going to get through this, and we are going to help you start."

"These are the primal years of our lives. The time to let go of high school, go out, meet new people, and find out who we really are. If you and Jughead are really meant to be together then you'll find your way back to each other one day, but you aren't going to know that for sure unless you move on and let yourself grow," Cheryl added.

"I can't just let go of an almost four-year relationship in a few days."

"We know, Betty, but it's time we start the process."

"It's time for the Blossom Post-Breakup Routine."

"Cheryl, you've never been through a breakup before."

Cheryl and Toni give each other a quick look with Toni telling her with her eyes, "Don't tell her".

"You are right cousin, but I have helped my vixens through plenty of them. Trust me, by the time we leave, you'll feel a lot better."

"I don't know, Cheryl."

"What have you got to lose?"

After a few minutes of thinking, Betty's sighed and nodded her head.

"Alright, but if this plan includes another guy then I'm out."

"Fair enough," Toni said with a little laugh.

"Okay, Betty you need to take a shower and I mean an actual shower. With your hair like that, you might need a full bottle of shampoo and conditioner. Toni and I will start making the breakup box."

"Breakup box?"

"Yes. All pictures of you and Jughead plus anything else Jughead has ever given you goes in the box."

"What are you going to do with it?"

"It's coming back to Riverdale with us to be given to your mom," Cheryl said.

"No, don't. My mom would throw it away."

"I don't think she's going to throw away your memories, Betty."

"She almost burned my diaries, Toni. You don't know what my mom is capable of."

"Fine. I'll keep it in storage at Thistlehouse," said Cheryl. "Anyway, shower Betty. That's part one of step one."

"Alright, I'll take a shower," she said grabbing her towels and shower bag before heading to the co-ed bathroom.

An hour and a half later

"I've got the jacket," Cheryl said coming back into the room from the bathroom.

"Perfect. That should be all of it."

"She's just about done."

"Okay. Do you see her phone and laptop?"

"Right here."

"Okay, password?"

"Try her mom's birthday. December 12th, 1970."

"121270. I'm in. Deleting photos and his number."

"Wait, e-mail the photos to me first. That way she has copies of them for the future if she wants."

"Okay."

As Toni was finishing up with Betty's phone and computer, Cheryl pulled the outfit she brought for Betty out as well as finding Betty's make-up bag.

"Alright, done," Toni said putting her phone and laptop back as Betty entered the room.

"Okay, I'm showered. What now?"

"Put this on. Then it's on to part two of step one."

Cheryl gave her a long sleeve orange turtleneck, a pair of dark blue skinny jeans, a pair of tan sandals, and a tan leather jacket.

"I brought a pair of boots that goes perfectly with that jacket, but you can't wear them today," she said as Betty came back into the room.

Her hair was still wrapped up in a towel and she still had bags under her eyes and is still sickly pale from lack of nutrition and sunlight, but she isn't a smelly, hairy mess anymore.

"Step two of part one is getting a healthy actual meal in you," Toni said.

"No more vending machine snacks unless you are cramming for a test or something."

Betty took the towel off of her head letting her long blonde hair air dry as the three of them walked to a little café by the Yale campus.

"What's step three?" Betty asked as they paid the bill.

"Spa day and we are talking everything. Massages, waxing, hair, and mani – petties," Cheryl said.

They walked to the nearest spa and the three of them were there for about four hours. Between the healthy meal and the spa, Betty had felt better than she had in weeks. Still heartbroken over how things ended with Jughead? Of course, but being outside of her dorm with her friends definitely felt good. By the time they left the spa and went to a different healthy establishment for dinner, it was almost 8:00. Betty was half-asleep by the time they paid the bill.

"Okay, cousin. I think that's enough healing for today."

"We are taking you back to your dorm to pack a bag," continued Toni.

"Then you're going back to the hotel with us and getting a full nights' sleep," finished Cheryl.

Too tired to argue Betty did what they asked and by 9:00 she had passed out on the second bed in Cheryl and Toni's hotel room. It was a bit awkward for them to sleep in the same bed again, but they agreed before they first arrived that they weren't going to let Betty know that they'd broken up.

The Next Day

Betty woke up 10 hours later feeling good for the first time since her mom dropped her off at Yale. Trying not to wake Cheryl and Toni up, she took a quick shower, got dressed in the second outfit Cheryl brought for her and went out for breakfast before sitting back down on the bed to quietly work on an essay for school. A few hours later, Toni and Cheryl woke up. They were happy to see that Betty didn't go back to her dorm like they were afraid of.

"Morning Betty," Toni said.

"Good morning. I thought that you guys were going to be up soon, so I ordered you some breakfast."

"You didn't have to do that," Cheryl said.

"I know. I wanted to thank you for yesterday."

"I hope you don't think that we're done."

"I figured we weren't."

"Good."

It was around one when they were ready to head out for step four.

"So, what's next in the plan Cheryl?"

"Shopping, of course. We need to get you a whole new wardrobe."

"You'd buy every vixen a whole new wardrobe."

"No this is a new step, that specific to only you," Toni explained.

"You need a more mature look that will give you confidence. Letting your hair finally breathe is a good start, you need a new look that doesn't make you look like a color-blind middle-schooler."

"Hey!"

"Somebody needed to say it."

"You're a beautiful, sexy woman Betty. Now is the time to show it," said Toni.

"Why? I'm not going to be dating again for a while."

"It will be mostly for you, Betty. You need more confidence and feeling good in your own skin is a giant part of that. If you can project self-confidence having a fun college social life will be a lot easier."

"And when you're ready to start dating again…"

"Which there is no pressure to do," Toni interrupted.

"Right, but when you're ready being confident is a total game-changer."

They spent almost four hours at the mall getting Betty a whole new wardrobe. Three jean jackets and matching jean skirts with different shades of blue, a leather jacket in every color with watching mini-skirts, all sorts of boots with different lengths, all sorts of different dresses, pairs of skinny jeans, crop tops, etc. Along with jewelry, clothes, and shoes, Betty got a new bedding set and the same color decorations for her side of the room. Last but certainly not least, Betty decided to stop procrastinating and got herself a brand new, used car. After grabbing dinner, the three of them had arrived back at Betty's dorm room at around 8:00 ready to finally get herself in order. With the exception of a few special articles and a clean outfit for the next day, Toni and Cheryl bagged up her old clothes for donation. Just like the night before, Betty packed another "overnight" bag and followed Cheryl and Toni to their hotel room. Tomorrow was the last day Toni and Cheryl were going to be there, so Betty knew that it was going to be another busy day.

The Next Day

After getting up, getting, ready and eating breakfast the three girls arrived at Betty's dorm at little past noon. They spent a good part of the day in the laundry room. It took six loads to get all of Betty's new stuff washed. In between loads they'd help Betty decorate and organize her side of the room. They also went back to the mall to get decorations for Betty's new car and some food too. It was late afternoon by the time they got done and it was time for the three of them to come up with a plan for Betty.

"Final step, a game plan," Cheryl said as the three of them sat on Betty's freshly made bed.

"Obviously, school itself isn't going to be enough for you to keep your mind off of him."

"So, you need something else like a job, hobby, or both."

"Your roommate said something about there being positions available on the school paper."

"Yeah, I know. It's not going to be the Blue & Gold."

"Maybe it'll be better."

"Yeah, maybe."

"We need to be at the airport soon, Cheryl. I have classes tomorrow."

"Alright. Do you feel better cousin?"

"Yeah, I actually do. I'm still feeling heartbroken about Jug, but for the first time in over two months I could see myself being happy here."

"That's good, as for Jughead hearts heel at their own paces. The only way that you'll be truly happy here though is by forgiving yourself. Can you forgive yourself, Betty?" asked Toni.

"I'm trying. I'll look into the paper and I'll get a job and maybe when I return home next month for Christmas I'll be okay."

Toni and Cheryl gathered their stuff from Betty's room and the hotel as well as putting Betty's breakup box in one of Cheryl's suitcases before Betty drove them down to the airport.

"Thank you, Cheryl and Toni. You guys saved my life."

"Your welcome."

They both pulled Betty into a hug.

"See you in a month, cousin."

"Later, Betty."

"Bye, you guys."

She took Cheryl and Toni's advice and along with classes, Betty began working on the school paper with Abby where they finally began to connect. She also began working at a café/bookstore by the campus and changed her major from Undecided to Criminal Psych. She even went up to New York and was finally able to make things right with Veronica where they became V&B once more. She wasn't sure about her future with Jughead or even how'd she react when she sees him this summer. However, she was sure about this, Cheryl and Toni saved her life and she'd be forever grateful to them.

A.N.: My last one-shot idea for now. If you haven't checked out my other four Riverdale one-shots, please go do so.

Until next time,

Toodles!