Chapter Three
Betty sighed as she sat cross legged on the overstuffed sofa in the living room, looking around at the room that held memories of her early childhood. She remembered movie nights curled up on one of the two sofas with popcorn and candy, her parents sitting on either side of her and Polly and stretching a huge blanket across all four of their laps. She remembered Christmas mornings when she and Polly would come flying down the stairs and slide to a halt in front of a roaring fire in the brick fireplace, their eyes almost as wide as their heads when they saw the presents Santa had left them. She remembered Polly and herself dressed in their leotards and tutus practicing for a dance recital. Soon, the house would belong to a new family to make those kinds of memories, but it still hurt to have to say goodbye.
She looked back down at the pad of paper in her lap and began doing a rough layout of the room so she could start figuring out how she wanted to stage the room for the Realtor's pictures. She wanted to figure out the best presentation of the house so she could sell it fast and get back to New York before Michael started getting agitated. She glanced over at her phone and sighed heavily. No good morning text from Michael, again, like every morning and she had already been in Riverdale nearly a week at this point. She had kept herself busy by deep cleaning the house, rearranging the upstairs furniture and cleaning out clutter. She had almost completely finished photographing the upstairs and uploading the pictures into a file to send to the Realtor. Now, it was time to try and move the heavy furniture downstairs to make the rooms look as large as possible, and open and family friendly instead of sad and closed off as her parent's had left it. Betty almost thought it was a representation of the end of their marriage. She finally caved and picked up her phone, dialing Michael's number and placing the phone to her ear. He picked up after the second ring.
"Elizabeth." His greeted, his voice echoing irritation as she heard him typing away on his computer in the background.
"Hey, sweetie, how are you doing?" She asked as she cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder, looking around at the cramped room.
"I was fine until I was interrupted." He answered, his deep voice cold and very business like, as usual.
"I'm...I'm sorry, I just wanted to hear your voice." she answered as she chewed the inside of her cheek, blinking back the hurt tears that were beginning to pool.
"I'm just really busy with transitioning to my father's position and dealing with everything back at the apartment. When are you coming home?"
"As soon as this place sells. I've almost finished getting all of the pictures to send to the Realtor so they can post it for sale."
"Honestly, Elizabeth, I don't see why it takes so long to snap a few silly pictures. You do this all the time, you should be faster by now." he sighed, Betty this time feeling her temper flare and biting the back of her knuckles to keep herself from blowing up, "Also, speaking of silly pictures, Cordelia called freaking out because you're in that little hillbilly town. She wants to know if you'll be back in time for the wedding next month since you promised to be the photographer."
"I'll be there. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few silly pictures to take." she snapped and pressed the call button, tossing her phone next to her on the sofa and letting out a frustrated sigh, "He's just stressed." she whispered to herself, picking her phone back up when it dinged.
I don't appreciate being spoken to like that.
Please refrain from behaving that way again.
We shall speak later tonight.
-MW
"The hell we will." she growled and ignored the message, looking around at the room again. She decided one of the overstuffed sofas and one of the large bookshelves had to go to open the space up. Along with it the large coffee table that ate up most of the available floor space. She remembered seeing a smaller on in the attic that was still in decent condition. She stood, tossing the paper and pencil onto the coffee table and moving to push the couch towards the foyer. Well, attempted to. She found it awful heavy and she could barely get it to budge an inch.
"How the hell am I supposed to do this?" she huffed, figuring she could hire some movers to come in and take the excess furniture away. Her phone began ringing and figuring it was Michael calling to complain about Betty ignoring his text, she picked it up with a scowl until she looked at the caller ID.
"Veronica?" she asked after placing the phone to her ear.
"Hi, Betty! I was worried you weren't going to answer since none of us have seen you since Pop's a couple nights ago.
"Sorry, Veronica, I've been trying to get the house cleaned up so I can sell it faster." Betty answered and leaned against the armrest of the couch.
"Well how about you take a break and come shopping with me. I promise it will end in hers and hers mani/pedis!" Betty smiled at the excitement in Veronica's voice, the blonde looking around at the room at everything she had to get done. But then her conversation with Michael resurfaced and she shrugged, walking towards the stairs to go find an outfit.
"What the hell, where do you want to meet?"
"Perfect! I'll have Smithers swing by and pick you up, say in about an hour?"
"Sounds perfect, I'll see you then." With that Betty hurried up the stairs and into the bathroom where she was quick to shower, dry her hair and do a quick touch up shave on her legs and underarms. She was a whirlwind as she moved to her room to style her hair in loose waves to frame her face, dabbing on some light makeup and opening her closet to pick an outfit. She settled on one of her favorite casual rompers, a black off the shoulder with a small fringe around the edges on top and bottom. She grabbed a wide, decorative gold belt and slid it on around her waist after she stepped into the romper, grabbing a pair of strappy black high heels and her favorite matching purse.
She was sliding in a pair of dangling gold earrings as the doorbell rang indicating her hour was up and Veronica had arrived. She snatched the matching necklace off of her dresser, sliding it around her neck as she descended the stairs and hurried towards the front door.
"Whoa! Betty Bombshell!" Veronica said with a huge grin, lowering her sunglasses down her small nose as she eyed Betty's outfit of choice, "You have got to let me borrow that outfit sometime, that is to die for!"
"Thank you, Veronica, you look great too." Betty said with a smile and a small blush, Veronica's grin growing wider as she curtsied in her short white sundress, adjusting the halter neck on it before holding out her arm. Betty grabbed her oversized sunglasses off of the mail table and locked the door, her arm linking with Veronica's as they made their way towards the sleek black limo idling in the road.
"Miss Lodge, Miss Cooper." Smithers greeted as he opened the door for them, the two young women thanking him as they slid in.
"So, let me take you to a couple of my favorite boutiques, one of them being some of the best, and sexiest lingerie I have ever come across. This stuff rivals some of the high end products I have bought and tried. I need to find something to spice up mine and Archie's anniversary night next week."
"Aw, how long have you two been together?" Betty asked and Veronica smiled, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear as a smile crept across her porcelain cheeks.
"Since we were seventeen. Oh B, I'm hoping he finally pops the question! I've been waiting on it since we graduated college!" She reminded Betty of a young teenager in love and the blonde couldn't help but giggle as she placed her hands over her heart.
"You guys are so sweet, I'm so glad Archie has found himself someone who makes him so happy." The girls chatted all the way into town about men, lingerie, their favorite places to shop and dine in New York, their favorite vacation getaways. Veronica revealed that she had just recently purchased her first beach front condo on Sanibel Island in Florida, suggesting Betty invite Michael and the two of them take a vacation with her and Archie when the tourist season died down. Betty thanked her but informed her it would have to wait since Michael was too busy with his father's business to take a vacation.
"Alright, I hate waiting, but we'll make it happen somehow, B." Veronica said as Smithers pulled to a stop in front of the lingerie store, Betty following Veronica out and waiting as she waved Smithers off, "Well, let's see what kind of trouble we can get ourselves in to."
"Betty why don't you find yourself something sexy to model for Michael when you get back to New York." Veronica questioned from the dressing room where she was getting fitted for a corset, Betty roaming the aisles of lace, silk, and satin slowly as she waited patiently.
"Are you trying to look like a whore?" She heard Michael's voice ask at her failed attempt to seduce him with a whole red lace lingerie set.
"I don't think he'll like it." Betty answered and heard Veronica scoff.
"What red blooded, straight man would pass up a smoke show like you in this stuff?" She asked in disbelief and Betty frowned as she ran the lace to a black bra between her fingers. It had been about a week after her engagement and to 'spice things up' and bring something new to the bedroom, Betty had bought a red lace and black ribbon set of lingerie thinking Michael would appreciate it. Instead, she sat in the bathroom crying of humiliation as she ripped it off of her body, feeling stupid for not asking what he preferred and just assuming.
"He just isn't like most men." Betty answered and stopped as she spotted a set being displayed on a mannequin that caught her eye. The mannequin wore a black satin underbust corset, her breasts covered (barely) by a sheer black lace and her bottom donning a matching set of black lace cheeky panties. A lace garter holder held up black sheer stockings, the lace trim stopping mid thigh.
"Oh wow." Betty breathed, imaging herself wearing such an incredibly sexy set of lingerie. If only Michael would approve. Sometimes though she found herself wishing she could sport that kind of wear for someone who would appreciate the effort she put into being sexy and pleasing them visually. Someone other than Michael. She loved him, and respected his wishes, but dammit maybe sometimes she wanted to 'look like a cheap whore' and take their bedroom play to new heights. She turned away from the mannequin with a defeated sigh, reminding herself that she would just have to give up some of her fantasies and honor the wishes of her future husband.
"Alright, this is perfect!" Veronica announced and flung the dressing room door open, "What do you think, B?" She posed in the doorway of the dressing room, a dark purple corset with a black lace overlay hugging her small frame. She did a full circle, showing off the black lace stockings and the low cut purple satin panties that barely sat on her hips.
"You are going to blow Archie's mind." Betty said in amazement, Veronica flipping her hair over her shoulder and placing her hands on her hips.
"That won't be the only thing either." She added with a wink before disappearing back into the dressing room. She changed and purchased her lingerie set, along with an expensive bottle of massage oil as Betty looked longingly one more time at the mannequin before heading for the front door.
"Alright, mani/pedi time?" Veronica asked as she flung the door open and the girls stepped out, Betty colliding with a solid figure.
Jughead glanced up as he walked through downtown Riverdale, ignoring the points and stares directed at his leather Serpent Jacket as he made his way to meet Archie at the police department. He pulled his phone out and opened his messaging app, finding Archie's name to send him a quick text.
Running behind, couldn't find decent parking
He shoved his phone back in his pocket, looking over his shoulder when he spotted a familiar group of people watching him from across the street. He went to look back in front of him but found himself too late as he collided with another human being.
"Oh, shit, are you okay?" he asked quickly as he reached up and grabbed the woman's shoulders to steady them before he finally got a good look at her, "Betty?"
"Jug I'm so sorry! I was looking at Veronica and I wasn't paying attention!" She asked as her hands came up to grip his harms, steadying herself on her own two feet.
"I'm fine, I'm more worried about you breaking an ankle walking on those ice picks." he said as he glanced down at her high heels. He swallowed hard as he found his gaze traveling up a pair of long, slender, tan legs and admired the tiny little summer outfit that barely ended past her rear end and hung off her sun-kissed shoulders.
"Nice onesie." he teased and Veronica scowled as she propped her hands on her hips.
"It's a romper, Jughead Jones. Not that you would know much about fashion." Veronica argued as she looked him up and down.
"Consider it Hobo chic." Jughead replied as he looked down at his faded blue jeans and old red and white flannel shirt tied around his waist.
"You are impossible. Plus, don't make fun of her, she looks like a total knockout."
"Yeah, well, if our collision would have been harder it would have for sure been a knockout. Are you sure you're okay, Betts?"
"I'm fine, Jug, thank you." she said and he slowly let go of her waist, "Oh, Juggy, I have a question, well, more like a favor I need to ask you."
"Well, while you two converse, Betty I'm going to run in here and grab a coffee. Would you like anything?" Veronica offered and Betty shook her head before her friend walked off.
"What's up?" Jughead asked as he finally forced himself to take a step back, glancing back over his shoulder at the group of four guys leaning against a red 1940's Ford Tudor Street Rod. The leader of the small group was no stranger, Jughead knew, and he prized that car more than his own life.
"Well, I have some really heavy furniture I need taken out of the house, is there any way I can pay you and possibly Archie if he'll agree, to haul it out and take it away for me?"
"You don't have to pay me, Betts." he said and she shook her head in disagreement, "Okay, maybe not pay me in cash. Do a favor for me in return."
"What would that be."
"Are you busy tonight?"
"I'm not entirely sure, I don't think I have any plans." Except apologizing to your fiancee profusely and trying to fix whatever mistake you didn't make.
"I'll be at your house at eight sharp."
"Jughead, what are you talking about?" she asked and he smiled, taking a step towards her and shoving his hands in his jacket pockets.
"You, Betty Cooper, are going to meet my friends and my extended family at my place of business tonight.
Michael was just going to have to wait.
"I'll see you at eight sharp. Thanks, Juggy." she said and he gave her a quick wink.
"Not a problem, Betts." he said and waved to Veronica, who emerged from the coffee shop with two cups in hand, before continuing his walk towards the police station. He made it a ways up the sidewalk before stopping and looking over his shoulder back at the two young women. They were still in the spot he left him, Betty accepting a coffee from Veronica before she looked his way. His smile was returned by her and she quickly looked away, Jughead turning to walk just as Veronica followed Betty's previous gaze to him and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh this girl is going to be trouble." he muttered to himself before looking back across the street. Speaking of trouble. The group of four guys had all piled into the car, the driver, Malachi, watching Jughead's every step as he made his way uptown.
A/N: Thank you to all of those who have taken the time to read/review/favorite/subscribe. You all are amazing and your support means to much to me. Let me know what you all think. Thank you!