Chapter 3

Betty fumbled with her keys to open the front door of her family home, unsurprisingly it was empty. Her mother was rarely home during the day, spending most of her days teaching English at the Farm. Slinging her bag on the floor at the bottom of the stairs she headed to the kitchen. Trailing a finger along the spotlessly clean counter top her thoughts rewound to what life used to be like. Her mum and her baking brownies and having flour fights while her sister, Polly and their father cooked BBQ in their perfectly landscaped garden.

Although she never admitted it to anyone except herself, she often found herself wishing things could go back to how they used to be. Life was so simple back when her family was complete, they were just life a normal everyday small-town family. Shaking her head, she fought the memories back inside their dark boxes in her mind. Her life would never be the same again, her dad was in prison, her mum and sister were members of some weird cult and finally she'd left school so didn't even have the familiarity of that anymore. However, what she did have was Jughead and the Serpents. Veronica and Archie would be back in the fall so soon she'd have them back again to keep her occupied while Jug was working.

Grabbing a sandwich from the fridge she bounced her way upstairs to her room. Pulling the chair out from under her desk she sat down and opened her laptop. She dreamed of being a journalist and had managed to land a summer job writing articles for an online magazine aimed at teens. It was far from the high-profile crime reporter she longed to be, but it was a step in the right direction, and she would take anything she could get to keep her busy over the summer till collage started. This week she was writing an article called 'How to Stop the Summer Slums'. Finishing off her sandwich she ties her hair up and begins typing.

An hour later and 1000 words down she was just finishing up when her phone buzzed from across the room. Saving her work quickly she jumped up and threw herself onto her bed, picking up her phone as she sunk into the mattress. Unlocking her screen she smiles seeing that the text is from Demi, a friend of hers from the Serpents.

'Hey girl, wanna come out 2nite? Pick U up 7:30 xo'

It was currently only 1pm so she had plenty of time to finish the article and get ready, so rapidly she typed her reply back.

'Sure thing, what we wearing? X'

Almost immediately her phone buzzed a reply.

'Snakeskin and sexy'

Betty couldn't help but smile as she locked her phone again and rolled onto her back. Despite her earlier thoughts she told herself she was happier now than she ever had been. Finally, she was part of a family that would protect her and fight for her no matter what she'd done in the past. Sighing she pushed herself up off her bed and headed over to write the last 500 words of the article.

7:30 came round quicker than she'd expected and she was only just ready when Demi revved her bike from out the front of her house. Waving out the window letting her know she'd be 5 minutes she quickly jammed her phone into her pocket and grabbed her jacket as she ran down the stairs. Making sure to lock the door behind her she jogged over to the bike.

"Looking good Betty," Demi smiled, giving her a fist bump and handing her a spare helmet. Betty had decided to wear a crop top that tied up in the front and a pair of short black denim shorts.

"Thanks Demi, you look pretty smoking yourself," she smiled climbing onto the back and grabbing hold of the handles. Demi just shrugged in reply as she pulled out onto the road and headed towards the Southside. Feeling the cool summer air whip across her face was refreshing and definitely something she needed. She didn't venture out with the girls often and it felt good to be stepping out on her own for the night. After all she was Serpent Queen and it helped to keep a good rapport with the girls in the gang.

20 minutes later Demi rolled up outside a bar on the very edge of town. It was called Tomb and it wasn't a haunt they ventured to often. The Serpents weren't exactly always welcome here as it was often occupied by a bunch of the upper-class teens from the next town along. Greeting the other girls who had met them there she took the front position and walked confidently into the bar. She felt the whole atmosphere change and she felt the girl's close ranks behind her.

"We'll keep it nice and civil tonight girls, no hard partying just some nice social drinks," She said quietly so only they could here. Toni placed a hand on her forearm giving her a reassuring squeeze.

"You got it girl," said Jazz, Demi's younger sister.

Walking forward they headed to a booth at the far end of the bar feeling the intensity of everyone's eyes following them. They got their drinks without trouble and were sat talking about who the hottest guy in the Serpents was when the door to the club swung open with a loud clash. The echo of wood smacking against wood rippled through the bar as all heads swivelled to see who needed to make such an entrance. Betty's heart sank and Cheryl instantly placed her comforting hand on her cousins legs.

Walking through the crowds like Moses walking through the parting sea was Joshua Morris-Addams. His family used to live next door to Betty's so they'd grown up together. He was two years older than her but they had socialised at events throughout their childhood and teenage years; everyone thought they'd end up together. Then one night, Betty's family were hosting a big business dinner party, as she was only 15 at the time she'd headed up to bed early. As she was sleeping Josh had crept into her room and forced himself upon her. She'd tried to mention it her parents a few days later they'd brushed it off and not taken her seriously. A month later his family moved across to the next town. This was 3 years ago and Betty hadn't seen him since they moved.

Her palms were clammy as him and his group of friends marched towards the bar. Nobody except Cheryl and her parents knew what had happened, she hadn't even brought herself to tell Jughead. Betty swallowed hard, the lump catching in her throat and stopping her breath as he turned and noticed her from across the bar. Their eyes locked and all Betty felt was fear and panic as a slow, menacing grin drew across his face.

"Betty are you okay?" Jazz asked, bringing her back into the real world. "You've got as white as a ghost."

Shaking her head and rubbing her hands across her jeans she nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine, just I know the guy at the bar. Let's say we've got bad history."

Cheryl's face fell at the memory of the night she'd found Betty sat on the roof of the school, that was when she'd opened up about the assault. Betty had been battling with the truth for a few months and then when she thought she couldn't take it anymore she'd found herself sat on the edge of the school building wondering about where to go next. Cheryl had talked her down and managed to source a councillor to come and speak to her in private so that nobody else knew what had happened. Then a few months later she'd met Jughead and her life was turned around. She no longer saw the councillor but every so often the nightmare would replay in her dreams and bring it all to the front of her mind again.

"Well we won't let him get too close," Toni promised picking up her beer and shuffling a little closer to her. Josh lifted his beer towards Betty as his group made their way to a table across the room. He'd picked a table that was in the direct eyeline of Betty and even without looking Betty could feel the stab of his gaze.

As the night carried on Betty managed to relax with every drink the girls bought her. They began laughing and Betty found herself forgetting about Josh sat across the room.

"Okay girls, its my turn to get the round!" Betty declared, placing her palms on the table and pushing herself up. "Shots?" The group cheered at the mentions of shots making Betty laughed as she squeezed past out the booth. Walking over to the bar she pulled her phone from her pocket and to her surprise there weren't any texts from Jug. Placing her order she scrolled through her social media while the bartender got out the glasses and began pouring the drinks. She was vaguely aware of a body stood a little too close, but still looking at her phone she didn't take much notice of him. Until he spoke.

"Hello Elizabeth," Joshua's voice was deep and husky; it sent shivers down Betty's spine. "It's been a while."

"Please leave me alone," Betty pleaded, hating how her voice sounded so pathetic.

"I'm just saying Hi, we've got a lot of history," He turned to face her, towering over her petite frame. "Is that a Serpents jacket I see? You really have lowered your standards."

Feeling some confidence from wearing the jacket she stood a little taller.

"Yeah my boyfriend leads them," She said smugly hoping he would back off.

"Boyfriend? You're Jughead Jones' little piece?" His voice was full of humour.

"You know Jughead?"

"Of course I do, I had to get him to keep his snakes under better control, they were infesting my little town," He spat viciously, looking Betty up and down. "You don't suit that lifestyle, you are far too… perky for them."

His eyes fell on her chest, his tongue licking his lower lip. Betty felt sick as his gaze bore a hole into her. Josh moved forward, closing the gap between their bodies. Betty's breath got caught and she found herself trembling as his hand brushed over her hip. Just as Betty was sure he was going to try and kiss her she felt a rush air past her. Josh was ripped away from her and she saw a flash of leather as the girls bustled in between them.

"You lay another hand on her and I swear I'll kill you," Cheryl shouted angrily at Josh. Toni wrapped an arm around Betty, holding her close. Betty began slowing her breath, trying to match it to Toni's.

"Back off little lady," Josh warned.

"Don't patronise me. You touch her again and you'll have more than just us to answer to," Cheryl shoved him backwards, knocking him into some guys stood drinking.

"Babe come on, lets get Betty home," Toni grabbed hold of Cheryl's arm, giving her a squeeze.

"Yeah lets get her home," Cheryl nodded. Spinning on her heel she flicked her bright red hair in his face, then linking her arm through Betty's she led the way through the on lookers and out the front door.

As soon as the cool night air hit Betty she couldn't contain her emotion and panic any longer. Tears streamed down her face and she felt her chest tighten. Her vision went blurry and then all of sudden she felt herself falling. Everything went black as she hit the cold ground with a hard thud.