Chapter Three: Breathtaking
September 27th
Betty POV
I sighed, a relieved smile on my face as the Bulldogs celebrated their victory. Now that they had gotten their first win out of the way, I knew Archie and I could relax a bit. He had been so stressed about the homecoming game and proving to the scouts attending that he was worthy of his scholarship, that he'd been very on edge. I winced as V grabbed my arm in excitement, the bruises still fresh.
"B, Archie played AMAZING!" She grinned and I smiled back, nodding.
"He really did." I said as a few of the guys approached the Vixens.
"Hey babe!" Archie greeted excitedly as he kissed my cheek. I smiled warmly to him and cupped his face.
"You were incredible out there. The scouts loved you!" I told him and he grinned.
"Yea atta boy, Red!" Reggie agreed as he greeted Veronica with a kiss on the head. I smiled to them and noticed how hyper Archie was.
"You ok, Arch?" I asked and he nodded.
"Yea just amped! I think I'm going to get out of my gear and take a jog. Gotta go babe love you! YEA, GO BULLDOGS!" He yelled as he jogged away and I laughed as he retreated.
"Well someone is jacked up." I commented to Reggie and V. They gave me a forced smile and nodded. I noticed their hesitation but let it go. I was just happy that Archie was finally in a good mood.
We all went back to our respective locker rooms for a much-needed shower. Us girls were so excited for our football team, but also that the Vixens had crushed our routine tonight. Cheryl had been working us hard but it paid off.
"Don't get comfortable ladies. Hard work is key to consistency! I want to see everyone at practice Monday ready to sweat!" Cheryl called to us all and I smiled to Toni. She looked nervous as Cheryl made her rounds chatting to each of us.
I was half dressed, hair dripping wet when she came up to Toni and I.
"Betty, beautiful as always. But I want to see more exaggerated facial expressions. Remember. We lead our school in cheer! We need to give it 110%." I nodded and smiled.
"Topaz, good job out there. Needs some work…but all in all, not terrible." She commented and walked away. I gave Toni a thumbs up and she let out a relieved exhale.
"God she's scary." She said and I laughed and nodded.
"I mean you aren't wrong." I giggled. We finished getting dressed and I took one last look in the mirror, not caring about being presentable for my walk home. V waved goodbye to me as she left to find Reggie and I looked to Toni.
"You ready?" I asked and she nodded, an odd look on her face as she watched me put on my zip sweater, but followed, walking out of the locker room with me. We were chatting about the game when we stopped and I looked up, seeing Jughead and two other Serpents standing there waiting for Toni.
"I never knew you had such school spirit, Topaz." One of them said with a grin and she punched his arm.
"Shut up, Sweet Pea." I looked down to my shoes and cleared my throat.
"Well um…I'm going to get going. I-"
"Toni Topaz. Inner Circle are assembling at Thornhill tomorrow night for a sleepover. 3pm. Don't be late." Cheryl announced as she approached us. She flipped her hair as she walked away and I looked to Toni with a grin.
"Holy shit…" she mumbled.
"Look who's Inner Circle!" I teased quietly and she tried to hold in her smile.
"B, are you heading home?" I heard Veronica call from down the hall. I nodded as they approached.
"Wasn't Red your ride?" Reggie asked and I nodded again.
"Uh…yea. That's ok I'm just going to walk."
"Betty…you shouldn't walk home this late alone. Where did your boyfriend go?" Toni asked and I smiled.
"I'll be ok…he went for a run to burn off the excitement. It's fine guys…really." I told them and noticed Jughead's signature scowl shift to annoyance. I shifted on the spot and cleared my throat.
"I'm going to go-"
"No, Coop. I'm taking you home." I gave Reggie a stubborn smirk and he shook his head.
"End of discussion, chick." He insisted and I laughed, nodding in defeat.
"Ok…ok fine. See you tomorrow night Toni." I told her and she nodded, saying goodbye.
I walked with Reggie and V out to Reggie's car and climbed in the back.
"Does Archie do this often, B?" V asked and I smiled.
"He's a bit all over the place lately…but that's ok." I told them and noticed they shared a look. V sighed.
"Yea…he seems a touch…frustrated lately." She offered and I paused before responding.
"Yea he's been stressing over the scholarship." I replied and she nodded slowly.
"So…everything is…going ok?" she asked and I noticed Reggie glance to her, an uncomfortable look on his face. I was silent for a moment taking in the interaction.
"Yea of course. Never better." I nodded, almost trying to convince myself. They shared another look and I took a deep breath and looked out the window. It was starting to rain so I was thankful for the ride. I saw Toni, Jughead, and their friends walk out of the school heading towards an old Chevy truck. I admired it for a moment, before it was gone. My grandpa and I used to fix up old cars together and old Chevy trucks were always his favourite. It made me miss him.
"So...do you know those guys?" V asked and I paused.
"Um…well I know Toni." I told her and she nodded, with a laugh.
"Well obviously. The other guy though…with the beanie. He was watching you." I took a breath and hesitated on my answer.
"I know Red doesn't want you to be around the Serpents…but we won't tell." Reggie told me and I nodded.
"Umm…yea. That's Jughead. He um…he works for the Blue and Gold with me." I confessed and V turned in her seat.
"Oh my God, B! Why didn't you tell me you were buddies with the Serpent Leader?!" She gushed and I rubbed my forehead, clearly stressed.
"Well…I mean like Reggie said. Archie really doesn't want me to be associated with them…and I didn't want to stress him out. You know…football and everything…" I told her, piecing together an excuse. She nodded and Reggie glanced to me in the rear view mirror.
"Besides…we really are not buddies. We don't much get along." I told them and V nodded.
"He seems moody and distant." She supplied and I nodded.
"He sure is." We were silent for a moment before I spoke.
"Umm…please don't tell Archie…or…anyone. He already hates that I work in the Blue and Gold and-"
"Your secret's safe with us, Coop." Reggie told me and I let out a relieved sigh.
"So…are you excited for tomorrow night?" V asked and I nodded with a smile.
"Yes! I love our girls nights…I feel like it's been forever." I told her and she nodded with a grin.
"So what's Toni like…I heard Cheryl invited her?" V asked and I nodded.
"Honestly she's so nice. I really enjoy spending time with her. I think she will fit in easily." She nodded at my response as we pulled up to my house.
"Well…thanks for the ride guys. You really didn't have to do that." I told them and Reggie brushed it off.
"No worries." I said goodbye and climbed out of the car, jogging through the rain up to the door, eager to get into the warmth of my house.
Veronica POV
"It's not fair that she doesn't know." I told Reggie as we watched Betty run to the door. He sighed and nodded.
"I know babe but…it's not our place to tell her. If she won't admit that he's been off lately then we aren't helping by telling her. I wasn't even supposed to tell you." He told me and I ran my hand through my hair in frustration.
"But…but what if he hurts her, Reg? What if he snaps and-"
"Hey…hey. It's ok. We will pay attention and if it looks like she's in trouble, then we get involved. Ok? But promise me that you won't tell her." He asked me looking into my eyes. I fought off tears knowing I had to respect his wishes.
"Ok…ok fine. But if she gets hurt…"
"If he hurts Betty, I'll hurt him. You have my word." He told me and I sighed, nodding. He leaned in and kissed me before putting the car in drive and heading back to my place.
Jughead POV
I watched as Ponytail walked away with the jock and the dark haired girl and looked to Toni.
"Jug…" she started and I shook my head.
"Yes, Toni. He's an asshole. I agree. But she lets it happen." I told her, also annoyed that her boyfriend just left her to find her own way home in the dark. When she had said she wanted to walk home, I'll admit I felt nervous for her. When she walked up with Toni…I had to consciously work to keep the surprise off my face.
There was Ponytail, without her ponytail and signature pastels. Her hair was down and wet, beginning to dry in soft waves. It was longer than I expected it to be, falling down her shoulders, onto her chest. She wore black yoga pants, pale pink running shoes, and a pink shirt under her navy blue zip up sweater.
No makeup…no frills.
She was beautiful.
When she said that pretty boy left her at the school to go for a run and she was going to walk home I felt angry. Someone like her is prime pickings for some pervert. If she was my girl-
Easy there, Jones.
Well…let's just say I'd never do that to my girlfriend. Not that I've ever had one…I basically just have hookups and shake off any clingers. But…if I did have one. I wouldn't do that to her.
"Jones!" I heard my name pulling me from my thoughts and looked to the guys. Toni looked frustrated.
"What?" I asked and she shook her head
"Bruises! Jug…she has bruises on her arms." I shook my head in a double take.
"Wait…what?" I asked, looking from Toni to Sweetpea and Fangs. They looked pissed.
"When we were getting dressed. She was about to put on her sweater and I saw them…right here." She motioned to my upper arms, grabbing them with her hands.
"They looked like hand marks." She told me and I felt many emotions pumping through me.
Anger. I had no tolerance for abuse. If he actually…
Disgust. Anyone that hurts a woman deserves to have the shit kicked out of them, I-
Hesitation. But…we don't know for sure he put his hands on her. By all accounts they just seem like an annoying, bickering couple. Northside Prince and Princess. Quarterback and cheerleader.
Annoyance.
"Look, Toni. We don't know what those bruises are even from. Suspicious…yea ok sure. But all we know is he's an asshole and she's the idiot that puts up with it."
"Don't you dare-" Toni started and I put my hands on her shoulders.
"I'm not saying people that tolerate abuse are idiots. I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying that she lets him be a jerk...that's all we know. Just…don't get too worked up. Is it possible you're maybe projecting?" she looked at me for a few moments and sighed.
"I mean…I- yea I guess. Maybe…" I nodded.
"You're going to that…thing tomorrow. You're a cheerleader. You'll be able to be close to her so you can keep an eye on her. Just…please don't hurt yourself. I don't want you to put yourself through everything again because your friend is dating an asshole…ok?" I told her and she nodded.
"Ok…ok yea. You're right. I just…I saw the bruises and just…I had ones just like it and…" tears welled in her eyes and I pulled her in for a hug. Toni was like a sister to me…like the twin I never had. I hated seeing her like this and wouldn't allow Ponytail's idiot boyfriend to ruin her progress.
We walked out of the school and I saw her watching us out of the back seat window as they drove off.
She may be annoying and preppy…and basically everything I hate in a Northsider and her perfect Northside life.
But she sure was breathtaking.
Betty POV
I kicked my shoes off and went to the kitchen, finding my mom sitting at the table, a bottle of wine almost gone.
"Hey mom." I greeted and she looked up, tear stains on her cheeks.
"Hi baby. Um…can you sit?" I nodded and watched her, concern on my face. The wine…that was normal, especially after the twins were asleep. The tears and tragic demeanor was not.
"Mom…what's wrong?" I asked and she took a deep, shaky breath.
"Well…I got some news today about your father." She told me and I felt my heart beating faster.
"Ok…" I urged her to continue. She took another drink from her glass and sighed, wiping a tear as she spoke.
"He um…he is taking me to court. He…he wants the house." I nodded slowly.
"Ok…ok well…so what. Let him have it…we can move." I told her, grabbing her hand. She shook her head.
"That's not all. Um…he…he wants more than that. I…I had no choice but to hire an investigator to try to prove he is unfit but…but…God this is so hard."
"Mom…what are you talking about?" I asked, tears in my own eyes from seeing her like this.
"Betty…you remember how I said I had a son from before I met your father? Well…umm…I f-found him." She told me and I felt my face twist into shock.
"Oh…my God…mom. That's…that's amazing!" I told her, moving to hug her. When she didn't hug me back I pulled away, concerned.
"Mom why aren't you more excited?" I asked, confused by the circle of information that didn't really connect.
"I am it's just…um…h-his name is Charles…and he works for the FBI. He um…he is going to be investigating your father." She told me. I looked to her confused.
"I don't get it mom…like I said…I don't want to fight with him…if he wants it he can have it. We can find somewhere new."
"Betty he- the house isn't all he wants." She said, looking up to me. I waited in silence for a few moments.
"What then…what does he want?" More tears fell down her face as she closed her eyes and dropped her head.
"Mom…what does he want?" I asked again softly, touching her arm.
"The twins." She said in a weak voice. I felt my body tense and tears escaping down my cheeks.
"He wants custody of the twins."
Hope you enjoy guys! Reviews are appreciated :)