Chapter 72: Mending And Fusing Friendship! Part 3!
*Bettica's POV*
So, we won't go into too much detail in the past couple of days. In short, when we're in control, we try to understand why Archie can't choose between us as well as friend zoning him. It would be easier if Bettica would stop taking over to flirt with him. When she flirts, it's like she puts a spell on him to turn him to a stammering buffoon. I think that's the nicest we can put it. Aria has been spying on us and sabotaging the dates when Bettica comes out.
How?
She tosses balls or Frisbees at her or Archie, gets kids to spill a drink on her or Archie, uses ropes to trip him etc. If any stains were on our clothes, Aria would clean it after to make it look like new. Archie was still falling for Bettica, but he seems to be steering towards being loyal to us more so. We now have 2 days to get Archie to learn whatever lesson it is he needs to learn. If not, we're stuck like this forever. It would be easier if we knew what the lesson was, though we had a feeling Aria knew. She wasn't going to tell us, so we're on our own for this. As we got ready to leave, Aria was in the living room trying to paint.
"You're not following us?" We asked her.
"Not today, you'll have to do it on your own from here on out. Don't worry, Archie might be a dolt, but he'll figure it out. Both of you will, too." She tells us as she put red paint on her paintbrush, then used it to glide across whatever picture she was making this time. We both felt sad and worried, but left.
*What is his lesson? It's so~ annoying!* Veronica thought in annoyance to Betty.
*I wish I knew, it would make this easier.* Betty thought to her friend.
*You'll never find out in time.* Bettica suddenly thought to us. We both were stunned, she had never talked to us before, until now.
*She's getting stronger.* Betty thought in a panic.
*Forget the lesson, we need to try and control/contain her and tell Archie-kins the truth!* Veronica thought to her friend.
*Sorry sweetie, that's not happening. I'm in control, now.* Bettica thought, putting both the girls in mental chains to prevent them from interrupting her work.
*With you two gone, I'll be real and Archie will be all mine!* Bettica told them as she walked to meet Archie for a movie date today.
I could feel the girls struggling, but I had grown strong enough to keep them both locked. I wanted nothing more than to be real, I've earned it, I deserve it! I soon saw Archie, causing me to smile.
"Yoo-hoo, Archie-Hunk!~" I called out to him seductively, not caring who sees. I could feel Betty and Veronica cringe, but I didn't care.
"Oh, hey Bettica. Um, could you not call me that?" He greeted, asking me awkwardly not to call him that.
"Aww,~ Come on Archie-hunk, I think it suits you with how much of a hunk you are." I say to him, twirling my hair with my index finger from my left hand while using the one on my right to gently stroke his chest.
I saw him blush, so I fluttered my lashes. This always made him melt. Something was different this time, though. He snapped out of it, using his hand to gently told my right wrist to stop me.
"Please, we're only friends and the nickname is not really appropriate." He suddenly told me. I frowned for a second or two before going back to smiling.
"I'm sorry, Archie. I just couldn't help myself." I say sweetly to him. He smiled at me, making my heart beat rapidly.
"Hey, it's ok. How about we head inside. My treat today." He tells me as he guides me inside. I nod, following him like the lovesick puppy I was. He would be mine soon enough.
*Earlier that morning, Archie's POV*
Something felt off about Bettica, like I know her but don't at the same time. What's weirder is, I haven't seen nor heard from Betty and Veronica. What's weirder is, no one has except for Aria. I couldn't ask Aria about it, feeling like she's betraying me, so I decided to ask the one person I could in town.
Doctor Beaumont.
I got to his shop a couple minutes after he opened, causing him to look at me from behind the counter.
"I had a feeling you would see me today, Archie Andrews." He tells me, creepy as always.
"You know something, don't you?" I suddenly asked him.
"I have no idea what you speak of, boy." He tells me with a shrug.
*Of course he won't tell me.* I sighed in my head, then had an idea.
"Hey Doc, got anything weird for me today?" I asked him, changing the subject. He raised an eyebrow to me, but then smiled and nodded.
"Quite a few things, actually. What would you like to know about?" He asked me.
"Anything, like your crystal ball, truth seeing mirrors, something to help you see things you can't understand." I list off to him, not caring if I was obvious or not.
"And what would this be about?" He asked me, raising his eyebrow once more.
"There's this girl, Bettica, I feel like I know her. Odd thing is, ever since she showed up, I haven't seen nor heard from Betty and Veronica, no one has except for Aria. I feel like she's hiding something from me, I feel like you know too. But that's not the point, I just want to make sure they are safe and who Bettica is." I explained to him. Doctor Beaumont gave me a stern look for a moment, but then he smiled.
"Good, you're ready." He suddenly told me, a look of confusion appeared on my face as he motioned for me to follow him.
I decided to follow him, hoping that what I'm feeling has to do with a weird mystery or not. God, I hope it was. The Doc lead me to a section of the store before pulling out a box, mahogany wood with jewels long the top and bottom lining where it opens, adorned with a golden lock.
"What's in the box?" I asked him.
"Something that will help you." He tells me.
"Help me with what?" I asked him, curiosity getting a hold of me.
"To see the truth." He tells me as he opens the box. Inside was…
*Present Time, Bettica's POV*
I was pouting super hard right now. Archie didn't hold my hand, wouldn't let me touch him, he even had us sit to where we couldn't make out!
*What is wrong with this boy!* I thought angrily, sitting in his car with a visible pout with my arms folded over my chest.
*He doesn't like you anymore.* I herd Betty tell me.
*Yeah, Archie-kins has some taste and sense.* Veronica added.
*Shut up, shut up, shut up!* I yelled at them, making more chains appear to gag them.
*He will be mine, I will be real, I am real!* I screamed at them in fury.
"You ok?" I suddenly heard Archie ask me.
"Why couldn't we at least hold hands?" I asked him.
"Sorry, but my hands were as colds as ice, I didn't want you to feel like you were holding a frozen fish." He told me. This made me less pouty.
"Aw,~ you mean that?" I asked him, feeling my heart flutter for him.
"Yeah, I do. Hey, how about we go get a quick bite to eat before I show you something." He suggested to me. I perked up instantly, feeling my heart pound in my chest.
*I hope it's make-out point!* I excitedly thought.
"Oh,~ sounds great!" I say in a slightly high pitched, excited tone. He smiled at me for a brief second, enough to put me in a good mood, before he looked back at the road.
*Back to earlier, Archie's POV*
I held the box with the item in it, standing right in front of Doctor Beaumont.
"Use this when the sun sets to see the truth, to know the truth, then and only then will you be able to do the right thing." He tells me this, almost as if warning me as well.
"I'm not even going to ask, because I know by now you won't tell me." I say, a look to match the deadpan tone was on my face.
"Precisely. I cannot always give you the answers, young Andrews." He tells me with a nod.
"Can you at least answer me one question?" I asked him, to which he gave a nod to.
"Did Aria have something to do with this?" I asked him.
"She will tell you after it's over." Was all he told me before shooing me out of the store.
I sighed in annoyance, but he has yet to steer me wrong. I looked at my watch, then went into my car before driving off to meet Bettica at the movies. I placed the box in my glove compartment for now, until I can use it.
*Now to wait until after sunset.* I thought as I waited outside the theater.
*Bettica's POV*
Dinner was so~ boring! It's like he doesn't want to spend time with me, nor find me attractive. Whatever, he won't have a choice once Betty and Ronnie disappear forever.
"Archie-hunk, why are you ignoring me?" I asked him in my cute pouty tone.
"I'm not, I just think the finally to our date will be best. Also, please don't call me that." He explained to me.
"I feel so neglected, especially since you gave me attention before. Is it because of the girls who, by the by, haven't even called to talk to you?" I asked him as innocently as possible, trying desperately not to show how envious I was at the thought of the two, who created me, being above me in his thoughts.
"I told you, you and I are friends only and so what if they're on my mind? I have every right to worry about them." He told me, sternly.
I felt the girls cheering in my head through the chains and gags, causing my anger to make the chains tighter on them. On the outside, I was hurt and nearly tearing up.
"But, but we, we're on a date." I say to him, stumbling over my words.
"Dating and being in a relationship are not the same thing." Archie pointed out to me, causing me to feel upset. I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest, pouting as my eyes watered.
"Heh, you actually look like Ronnie when you pout, same way too." He tells me, which upset me.
"I'm not Veronica, I'm Bettica." I tell him, trying not to cry.
"I know, it's just you're oddly similar to her and Betty, which is why I like you." He tried to defend, causing me to huff in annoyance.
"I'm not Betty, I'm not Veronica, get over it." I muttered in annoyance.
"Sorry, you're right." He apologized, which caused me to feel much better.
"Well, where are we going?" I asked him curiously.
"To Make-out point to watch the sunset and see the stars." He tells me.
I swear, I had hearts in my eyes with sparkles around me. The thought of that, as well as possibly making out with him, made my heart beat fast enough to sound like humming.
"Oh, Archie, that sounds wonderful." I say in a lovey dovey tone.
Once we parked I scoot over to him, hugging his arm as we watched the beautiful sunset together. I've seen glimpses of it, but never like this.
"It's as if I'm seeing it for the first time." I say happily to him, being lucky I was careful of my choice of words.
"I'm sure it is." He tells me, though his tone sounded fake.
I didn't care, I was close to him. It's what I wanted, what I've earned. Once the sun was down, I admired the stars that shined above the, thankfully top down, car in awe. I had never seen this many stars, since they tend to hide from the light of the town.
"Wow, I could stay up here forever." I whispered in awe.
"Yeah, it's the best spot in all of Riverdale to see the stars and the town." He tells me in a hushed tone, probably trying to be romantic. I turned to him and tried to kiss him, but he stopped me.
"Hey, before we do anything else, can you get the box out of my glove compartment?" He asked me nicely.
"Why?" I asked him, trying to climb on him to kiss him.
"Because, it has mints in it." He tells me.
*Aw,~ He's being considerate! Bet he was never like this with you two.* I bragged and scoffed in my head at the girls before going to the glove compartment. When I pulled out the box, I noticed it was odd looking, almost like a jewelry box.
"Archie, why are they in a jewelry box? Are you hiding something more?" I asked him. He looked sheepish, trying to grab the box.
"N-no, just mints." He tries to tell me, but I move it away from him.
"Why don't I look, hm? I mean, if it's condoms, I wouldn't mind it." I say before opening it. Once it opened, I saw a mirror inside. It shined on me before I passed out. This set the girls free.
*Earlier that morning and before leaving the shop, Archie's POV*
I looked in and saw a mirror. It gave a shine to me before I shook my head.
"Doc, what is that?" I asked him.
"A holy mirror that allows the truth to be revealed." He tells me. My head hurt for a bit but then stopped.
"Why did it shine?" I asked him.
"Because, the girl known as Bettica had you in a trance, as part of the curse on the bracelet." He tells me.
"Wait, you mean the bracelets Aria gave me?" I asked him.
"Yes, the same. They have merged into one, taking two people you know to form Bettica. If you and the girls do not learn a lesson to break them free, the two will disappear and Bettica will be real." He warns me.
"The girls? You mean, Bettica is Betty and Veronica?!" I gasped out.
It explained why Bettica was familiar to me. She was both of them. Normally, I'd love this, but I don't. I don't want them to be a new girl, I love them separately.
"So, whats our lessons?" I asked him.
"The girls figured theirs out, but you must learn yours on your own." He tells me, closing the box before pushing it in my hands.
"Get her to look at the mirror, then you will see for yourself that she is not real, those two in her are." He tells me.
"But how will I do that?" I asked him.
"Do I have to come up with all the ideas!" He scolds, throwing his hands into the air in frustration.
"No no, I'll think of something." I tell him frantically. The last thing I needed was for him to get mad at me.
"Good." He tells me.
*Back to now, Archie's POV*
"Archie, it's Betty, Veronica is in here with me." Betty got out of Bettica's mouth in Betty's voice.
"I know, Doctor Beaumont told me everything. Do either of you know what the lesson is I need to learn?" I asked them.
"Archie Andrews, how do you not know!" Betty yelled at me.
"Honestly, we're having enough problems with this, so you need to figure it out before she wakes up!" I heard Veronica's voice next.
My mind was racing, what am I to do? That's when Bettica looked at me. "You, how dare you!" I heard Bettica yell at me.
"Uh-oh." I muttered before she hopped on me, starting to choke me.
"Oh,~ why you little!" She yelled as she started choking me. That's when one hand let go and pried the other off of her.
"Archie, run!" I heard Veronica's voice before Bettica fell off of me and back into the passenger seat. I opened the car door and flew out of there, I had to figure out a plan to stop her and 'learn a lesson'.
"Come back, Archie-hunk!~" I heard Bettica call out to me, acting like a crazy stalker.
"Why~ do these things happen to me!" I whined/yelped out as I went behind a tree.
"Archie-hunk,~ where are~ you!~" Bettica called out in a creepy tone.
*Man, none of this would be happening if I had just one girlfriend.* I thought to myself. As soon as the thought went through, my eyes widened.
*I-is that my lesson? To acknowledge I need to choose?* I thought as I felt a hand on my shoulder, causing me to shriek and jump forward. I spun around to see Bettica, looking crazed at me.
"There~ you are, darling.~" Bettica said to me, she was going crazy.
"Bettica, what's happening to you?" I asked her, failing not to sound scared.
"I'm becoming real, but you just broke my heart and trust. Now, I don't care how much I love you. If you can't love and accept me back, maybe you don't deserve me. Maybe, just maybe, you don't deserve anyone.~" She tells me, her left eyelid twitched a little. Yup, she was breaking.
"Hey, no. I just did it to know if you were them or not." I tried to explain to her, backing up nervously.
"No! I'm not! I'm Bettica!" She yelled at me.
"No, you're not! You're them, you're not real!" I scold her. Wrong idea, she looked at me like a rabid badger.
"I. Am. Real!" She screamed at me.
I backed up but then tripped over a rock. She reached down, grabbing a large rock that was jagged and the size of a football, looking at it in her hand before looking at me with a devilish smile.
"What better than to dispose of you!" She tells me, getting closer to me as she spoke.
"Wait, Betty, Veronica, help!" I called out to them.
"They're locked up right now, and will be until they disappear!" She yelled, straddling be as she had her left hand on my shoulder, lifting the rock with her right, ready to strike me.
"I'll do anything to be real!" She tells me, ready to strike.
"No, wait! I'm sorry! Please, let me say goodbye to them, before you end this!" I shouted in a panic, praying she'd listen. I didn't want to fight back, I couldn't knowing the girls could get hurt.
"Why should I let you?" She asked me.
"Think of it as saying goodbye before all three of us are gone." I said, hoping it convinces her. She looked at me, then sighed.
"Oh, Archie-hunk, it's hard to stay mad. Hurry up, then I'll make it as painless as possible." She tells me, causing a breath of relief.
"Betty, Ronnie, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm dumb and selfish. I still want both of you, but I know I can only have one or neither. I just hate hurting people. I dated both of you in the first place because both of you asked me out, so I wanted to see who I liked more. Over time, it became harder and harder to choose. I didn't want to leave either of you, but I couldn't bring myself to it. In fact, if given the choice to change what I did or not, I'd choose not to, because seeing both of you smile, both of you laugh, comfort you both, dry your tears, I'd do it all again. Every moment with you two has been wonderful, but I know I'd have to choose soon. As much as I don't want the good times to end, I would have made my final decision the day after our high school graduation. I'm sorry for that, I've learned many lessons. I can't have too much of a good thing, things have to change, some things don't last forever, I can't have my cake and eat it too, but I also learned I have to be careful not to hurt you girls anymore. For hurting you two, having this happen all because of me being dumb, selfish and caring, I'm sorry." I tell them, sadness overflowed from my words as I spoke. Bettica's arm shook, a tear fell from each eye before she dropped the rock. She covered her face with both hands as she started sobbing.
"I'm sorry, I'm so~ sorry." Bettica sobbed.
"I just wanted to be real, but I'll never be. I'll always be Betty and Veronica, never Bettica." She sobbed out, making me feel worse. I leaned up, gently embracing her in my arms as she sobbed.
"I'm sorry." I whisper to her, letting her cry until no more tears were shed.
"I have to go, don't I?" She asked me, sounding sad.
"Yes, but you won't be gone. You're parts of Betty and Veronica, you're both of them. You'll always live on as long as they live and we remember you." I consoled her. She looked at me with sad eyes, but a small smile.
"I understand. Thank you, Archie." She said, reaching up and gently kissing my lips for a few seconds before standing up. She moved back, looked at the charm bracelet, then detached it.
"You two are free. Live your lives the way I would've and, for my sake, don't be mad at Archie. He loves you both, enjoy this time. Even if he chooses one or neither, be there as his friend. The friends he deserves." She said before the purple gems turned back to one red and one blue.
Bettica glowed before being nothing but light, then two lights before it died. Once it died, Betty and Veronica were revealed, holding their heads as if dizzy.
"Betty? Veronica? Please tell me you're real and I didn't actually die." I say to them, still sitting on the ground in shock.
They looked at themselves, then at each other, then at me before running to me, tackling me in a hug. They were on their knees, practically squeezing the life outta me. But I didn't mind, so long as they were back to normal.
"Oh Archie-kins, this was awful!" Veronica said, letting me go to check on my neck.
"She didn't hurt you, did she?" Betty asked as she checked as well.
"I'm alright, but are you two? I'm more worried about how you both are." I tell them, feeling guilty that this whole mess was my fault. They looked at each other before looking at me.
*Why do I feel like I'm going to get scolded. I deserve it, though.* I thought to myself.
"We should be mad at you." Betty said in a light, scolding tone.
"Yeah, getting us the same gift, trying to accept us both again, the list can go on." Veronica added in the same tone. The girls looked at each other, nodded, then looked at me once more.
"But we forgive you this time." Veronica said with a smile.
"You, you do?" I questioned in shock.
"Only because we know you've learned your lesson." Betty told me, causing me to smile.
"I meant every word, honest." I tell them.
"We've agreed to fight less, mostly banter, but we've also agreed on something else." Betty told me.
"That no matter who you choose, Betty or myself, or none of us, we'll support it and bow gracefully. But, if we don't like the girl, we'll tell you and explain why." Veronica tells me.
"Yeah, it's hurting not just us, but you and everyone around us as well." Betty explained after.
"Let's not worry about it right now, just give me the bracelets so this doesn't happen again." I tell them. They took them off and placed it in my hand, closing it into a fist as soon as I had both.
"Do you want me to drive you two home?" I asked them quietly.
Both agreed to the ride home. After I brought them home, I held the box in my hands, with the bracelets in them. I rang the bell, being patient outside the door. It opened, seeing Aria there smiling at me made me upset.
"I was expecting you, please come in. We need to talk." She said, gesturing me in. I did just that, we had to talk.
*Aria's POV*
"So, you're wondering why I did this." I asked him as he sat down.
"Yeah, exactly." He says, setting the box down on the coffee table. I go and sit next to him.
"Are you mad at me?" I asked him, eyes locked on the box.
"A little, but I understand why." He tells me, causing me to look at him.
"You do?" I asked him.
"Yes, you did this to help me learn a lesson, as well as the girls learning one too. Is that it?" He asked me.
"Yes, but Doc told me to use the bracelets and not get involved. It wouldn't have happened if I didn't tell him, but I don't know if he'd just do it anyway or not. Doc works in weird ways, you know." I tell him. Why should I lie?
"So you wanted me to learn 'I can't make everyone happy, so I should accept change and move forward'? And the girls to be more friendly to one another and not let someone get in between that, not even me?" He asked me.
"Very good, plus now you have a new Weird Mystery to write about." I tell him, a small smile appeared on my face.
"You think the girls are mad at you?" He asked me. I shook my head no.
"No, they're a little upset, but not mad. They seem happy to learn more about each other than they had before." I explained to him.
"Then, shall we type this up?" He asked me.
"You still want me doing Weird Mystery articles with you? Even after tricking you? Even after..." I questioned him, stopping myself from continuing on.
"You mean-" He started, but I cut him off.
"Let's not talk about it. If you want me to help, I'll keep helping. I just feel like you might loose more readers because of me." I tell him.
"Hey, you're my cousin. I don't care what others think, you had very little control of yourself. If the town can forgive me being a monster, then they will with you soon." Archie said, trying his best to assure me.
He was right, time would heal the wound. But how bad of a scar will this leave?
"This lesson was a long one, but it was one worth learning in the end. I had no idea how bad my actions caused a reaction, until now. I hope others learn these valuable lessons from my view. ~Archie. Don't forget from Betty and Veronica's view as well. Even though they are friends, it took them fusing to really understand more on each other. Not to mention, their actions and reactions as well. ~Aria. This is true. While we both had to learn in a different way, we both learned each action has a reaction. Some we can control, some we cannot, but what matters is learning from them. The three of us also learned, while things may change, see if it's for the better before accepting it. ~Archie. I know one thing's for sure, no matter how each day changes, we can be sure our long lasting friendship will never change. ~Aria. ...In a little town called Riverdale! ~Archie and Aria!"
We finished typing the article, I was stretching my fingers out like a cat abstracting and retracting it's claws from this article.
"You think we should make it a 2 parter? It's a bit long." I questioned him.
"Naw, it'll be fine. Some of mine have been very short lately, so this will make up for it." He tells me with a smile.
"Hey, do you want dinner? Dad's not coming home tonight and I have too much." I offered him.
"Did you make it?" He asked me.
"Yeah, I did." I tell him.
"Great! Then, let's eat." He says, rubbing his hands together eagerly. This caused me to chuckle.
"I hope you don't mind chicken Alfredo." I tell him as we head out of my room.
"Mind it? You haven't made that in ages! I love the Alfredo sauce you make." He says as we enter the kitchen. He sat as I made him a plate, setting it down in front of him caused him to smile in delight.
"Garlic bread?" I asked. He nodded, shoveling the food in his mouth. I chuckled before getting him two slices. I made myself a small portion before sitting across from him, picking and nibbling at my food.
"You ok?" He asked me, causing me to look at him instead of my food.
"Yeah, just not too hungry. Go ahead and help yourself to as much as you want. Heck, take some home to Aunt Mary and Uncle Fred too, I have plenty." I say with a smile, offering him the food.
"Really? You sure?" He asked me, sounding very worried.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Go ahead, I can make more tomorrow." I say with a smile. After dinner and sending Archie home with the leftovers, I locked the door with a sigh.
"Sorry, Arch." I say softly, a tear slid down my cheek before I went upstairs to my room.
I quickly fed Vespers, gave her a little boop on her snoot with a giggle before I changed into pajamas. Once ready, I slipped into bed with a sigh.
"I wish I knew when things would go back to how they were, before I had turned." I whispered out, slowly succumbing to slumber.