A/N: Thank you to everyone who is reviewing and favouriting and following. It means so much.

I edited this myself so I apologize for any errors.

After what happened last week when the chapter alerts weren't going out, I am posting this on AO3 if you prefer that site better.

I am also on Tumblr at Malmo722 and I'm usually re-blogging a lot of Bughead stuff lately.

I hope you enjoy this chapter.

The next two weeks were uneventful. Betty finished the Gone series and had moved onto American Gods. After Jughead had mentioned Neil Gaiman was his hero she decided to check it out. She plowed through her school work and continued to ignore Archie. She played her piano all the time so she would be ready for her audition which had been confirmed for March 3rd. The timing worked well because that was the day Polly and Jason were set to come home for spring break. Betty volunteered to pick them up.

On Wednesday afternoon Betty sat in the cafeteria making notes for an upcoming AP Biology exam during her free period. When her phone buzzed she took it as a welcomed distraction. She had a text from Veronica.

Are you free this Saturday night? I was thinking we could have our girls night. - 02/22/17 - 10:42am

Betty smiled.

At your place? - 02/22/17 - 10:42am

Of course at my place - 02/22/17 - 10:42am

What time do you want me there? - 02/22/17 - 10:43am

Betty was startled when Veronica plopped down in front of her with a thud. "I was thinking you could come around six? We can do mani/pedi's, face masks, talk about boys and watch romantic comedies. Are you a McConaughey girl or Channing Tatum girl?" Veronica cocked an eyebrow.

"Jesus Christ Ronnie, where did you come from?" The blonde asked clutching her chest.

"I'm everywhere." She smirked. "Or are you into Chris Hemsworth? Chris Pine? Chris Pratt? Chris Evans?"

"I'm actually a Tom Hardy kind of girl." Betty blushed feeling stupid talking about her celebrity crushes. It made her think of her real life crushes which caused her to flush deeper.

"Good call, a Hardy night it is. Also would you prefer Pina Colada's or champagne?"

"Pina Colada's sound great." Betty smiled.

"So bring a pair of PJ's, cause you are sleeping over. Also do you have a problem with being massaged?"

"What?" Betty choked out.

"Of course you don't, I'll see you Saturday, gorgeous." She stood with a wink and disappeared almost as quickly as she appeared. Betty wondered if talking to Veronica was always going to be that much of a whirl wind.

She finished making her notes and headed to her AP Calculus class. On her way there she was pulled into an empty class room. She sighed once she realized who was making her late for class. "Archie, what do you want?"

He looked tired, like he had been partying hard as well as pulling all nighters. "Betty, we need to talk."

Betty watched him as he shifted awkwardly. "So talk." She snapped.

"I'm sorry." He blurted out.

"Are you? You've been torturing Jughead since freshman year and I can't find a good reason for it. The only thing that makes sense is you hate him because you became a rich asshole and hated him because he didn't."

"Betty, he reminds me of a time in my life I hated. He reminds me of when my mom left and I can't handle it. I feel like when I push him down I'm pushing down that part of my life." He atoned. "There are so many things you don't understand."

"Then help me understand, Archie." Betty took a step towards him.

He shook his head. "I can't. You have to trust me." He sighed and rubbed his hair in frustration. "I don't know why I do the things that I do, Betty. I feel like I've fallen into this stereotype and if I step out of it for even a moment then everything will go along with it. I need to be the jock asshole to be the best football player I can be."

Betty understood what he meant even thought she knew he wasn't right. She felt the same way now that she was hanging out with Veronica, Kevin and Jughead. She had created an identity being the valedictorian, cheerleader and girlfriend of the quarterback. She was terrified that everything she worked for would go away if the balance was disturbed. She had worked too hard to let that happen.

"You can't do that anymore, Arch. Hurt him like that." Betty took another step towards him feeling his pull, the gravity he had. "You can't do that to anyone, you have to believe you are good enough without being a jerk."

"Have dinner with me, please, this Saturday." He begged.

Betty shook her head. "I can't, I'm going to visit my grandparents." She lied.

"Next Saturday?" He asked.

"No, I have to work that night."

"Where?" Archie asked confused.

Betty eyes widened incredulously. "At the library, Archie, remember? The community service I have to do because you abandoned me after the prank you wanted to do went south." Betty shook her head. "You know what, no. I'm still mad at you." She turned to leave.

Archie caught her hand. "Please B, I miss you so much. I'm going to work so hard to be better, I promise."

Betty glared at him. "You can take me to lunch sometime in March. I'll let you know" Betty finally decided.

"Seriously? You're making a half assed plan with me?" He asked shocked and annoyed.

"I have a lot of stuff I have to do between then and now and I need a clear head to do that. It's that or nothing." She held firm.

Archie sighed. "Fine." He moved towards her and wrapped his arms around her. She made no motion to return the tender gesture. "You are my future Bets. I want to do everything I can to make this work." He took a deep breath in. "I love you so much."

They parted and Betty looked up at him. He looked so sincere and eager. "I love you too." She squeaked out.

"Can I pick you up the next time you work?" He asked expectantly.

"Tonight?"

"Yeah, tonight."

"Fine." Betty finally caved.

"I'll text you, beautiful." He kissed her on the cheek and left the room.

Betty had wanted this, a remorseful boyfriend ready to work on their future. He loved her, the only problem was Betty wasn't sure if she loved him anymore.

Betty and Jughead sat on the library counter eating the curry pad thai he had bought them for dinner. "Veronica invited me over for our girls night tomorrow."

"I know, she's been preparing for it all week." Jughead laughed as he shovelled the food into his mouth. "Believe me, you have never been to a slumber party quite like this before."

"And I guess you will be there?" Betty asked picking out a piece of tofu out of his food.

"After my shift here, yeah, but Ronnie is probably going to banish me to my room because I am not a girl." He grinned at her. "I'm going to play video games and eat an unhealthy amount of jalapeño Doritos."

"And they say our generation doesn't aspire to anything."

He laughed and nudged her shoulder with his. "You need me to walk you home tonight?" He asked giving her a timid side glance. He had been walking Betty home after every shift for a week and a half.

Betty swallowed hard. "Um, actually Archie is going to pick me up."

Jughead felt his stomach drop and he hoped he kept his face as neutral as possible. "Oh, so you guys made up?"

Betty exhaled. "I don't know. He apologized and he wants to talk it out. We've been together for four years, you know, I can't just throw it away."

Jughead nodded his head in understanding. "Well, I hope it works out, one way or another." He wiped his mouth. "Are you finished?" He asked pointing at her nearly empty tray.

"Yeah." She handed it to his as he jumped off the counter and tossed the containers in the recycling. He went back to his seat and picked up his book.

Betty mentally kicked herself for saying anything. He looked so disappointed and she hated she was the one who put that look there. She took out her phone and messaged Archie.

My dad is gonna come and get me, no need to pick me up. See you at school. - 02/24/17 - 8:08pm

She shoved her phone back in her pocket and lowered herself down from the counter. She let the silence hang and went back to reading her book.

Just before nine o'clock Betty glanced at Jughead. "Um, Jug?"

"Yeah?" He finished the sentence he was reading and looked at her.

"Archie can't pick me up after all, can you still walk me home?"

"He bailed on you?" Jughead asked.

"He has too much homework to do." Betty lied.

Jughead gawked at Betty before laughing hysterically. "You are a terrible liar, Cooper." He kept guffawing.

"What? He has homework." Betty put her book down.

"Archie Andrews can barely spell homework let alone do homework. Bets, you didn't offend me. He is your boyfriend, I get it. If he wants to pick you up, he can pick you up." He wiped his eyes and went to start shutting down the computers.

"You seemed so disappointed." She stood and slid her hands into her back pockets.

He shrugged. "Of course I am, you're too good for him and you can't be yourself with him. Why would I wish that on one of my friends?" He turned to face her. "But if he's what you want, then be with him. I want you to be happy, Betty." He gave her a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"I still need you to walk me home though, I told him not to come." She felt her cheeks flush. She felt so stupid. She hadn't had a crush in years and had no idea how to behave but she was certain whatever she was doing now was wrong.

"I guess I can still walk you home. I need the exercise." He smirked.

They closed up and they headed towards her house. This time her parents were home and they stopped at the corner of her street. He could see her house from where they stood.

"I'll see you tomorrow." She smiled and hugged him. They had become accustomed to these hugs. She loved how he enveloped her and how he had started dropping his head to rest on the slope of her neck. When she was wearing a low collared shirt and her hair was up, she could feel his lips pressed against the point where her neck and shoulder met.

He loved the way she smelt. He couldn't smell strawberries or vanilla without thinking about her, without getting aroused. She was warm, soft and it felt like she moulded perfectly to his body. Almost as if they had been halved and spent the last eighteen years looking for the part they had been missing.

They parted. "You'll see me breeze by but, like I said, Veronica will not allow me in the girl sanctuary." He laughed. "Good night, Juliet." He teased with a wink.

"Good night, Romeo." She chuckled.

Jughead watched her go and considered climbing the lattice before deciding against it and heading home.

Betty slept in the next day even though she hated doing it. She knew she was going to be up late that night and didn't want to be the loser who fell asleep before midnight. Veronica seemed like she knew how to party.

She told her mother she was staying at Cheryl's and packed a small overnight bag. A phone charger, pyjamas, clothes for the next day and some toiletries she would need for her stay.

She walked over not wanting to take the car and risking her mother asking her to bring it back. She reached Veronica's home a little after six and approached the massive structure in awe. White and light brown brick covered the exterior and the drive and walkway were interlocking grey stone. There was a water feature in the middle of the roundabout driveway and pristine landscape work.

Betty made her way to the front door and rang the doorbell.

Veronica opened it in a flash and Betty gaped at her in awe. The brunette's hair was pulled into a soft french braid, she was wearing no make-up and looked bight and glowing. In place of her dark wardrobe was a white sundress with delicate pink flowers on it.

"You made it!" She sang as she pulled the dumbstruck blonde in for a hug.

Betty nodded. "Yeah." She managed to breathe out.

"Come in." She invited her into the large foyer. The floor was polished dark hardwood, the ceilings were high and a flight of stairs to her right. She noticed a stout woman with warm brown skin and black hair to the left. She was in her late forties but had few wrinkles. Her eyes were large and brown, her nose small and pointed and her lips were full. "Betty this is Rosa, Rosa this is Betty."

"It's nice to meet you." Betty smiled still trying to get over Veronica's appearance.

"Let me take your coat." Rosa offered holding her hand out. She had a slight accent but it was faint.

"Thank you so much." Betty felt overwhelmed and she had only been in Veronica's world for 30 seconds.

"Let's go up stairs." Veronica said with giddiness. She handed the blonde a Pina Colada with an umbrella and fresh pineapple wedge on the side.

"Okay." Betty said still unsure.

"What are you wearing?" Betty asked.

"What do you mean?" Veronica questioned.

"Normally you are very Hot Topic but today you are all American Eagle." Betty took a sip of the drink and moaned. "Holy shit, this is so good."

"Rosa uses fresh coconut and pineapple." The brunette walked past many closed doors until they reached a set of double doors at the end of the hall which they entered.

The room was huge and there were windows all along the back wall with white curtains on either side. Under the windows sat a king sized bed adorned in white sheets with two dark wood nightstands on either side. The floor was the same dark hardwood as the foyer but most of the floor was covered in plush white carpet. To the right was an extensive closet filled with more clothes than Betty had ever had in her life. In front of the closet was a large white ottoman. To Betty's left was a sitting room with a blood red couch, a dark wood coffee table and a TV mounted to the wall. Beyond that was a white tiled bathroom.

Betty turned to Veronica in bewilderment. "I don't know what I'm looking at. This is very confusing."

"What is confusing you?" Veronica asked with a tilt of her head. "You can put your bag down anywhere."

"You wear black, always, your make-up is always dark and you have a gloomy disposition. Now I'm standing in your room which is almost all white and you look like an angel." Betty took another sip of the Pina Colada. "Good lord, I've never had anything this delicious before."

Veronica smiled warmly. "When I moved here from the city I wanted to change. When I lived in New York I did too much too fast. I drank too much, I did a lot of drugs and I had a lot of sex with much older men. I ignored school, I didn't have real friends and I hated myself. On my first day at Riverdale High I wore a dress just like this one." She grabbed the hem and swayed the fabric. "While I was speaking to Kevin, Cheryl came up to me and told me how cute my dress was and that we had to be friends. While that was happening Archie came out of no where and punched Kevin in the stomach. I knew in that moment I wanted nothing to do with them. So I became a void of black that deflected everyone who wasn't genuine. I created strong relationships with Kev and Jughead, I became a good student and I love who I am now." She took a step towards her closet. She pointed to the right half of it which contained only black clothes. "This is my mask and this," she turned to the light side of the closet. "Is the real me."

"Again, I'm really sorry if I said or did anything to you before-"

Veronica cut her off. "Don't worry about it. That was your mask and the real you is worth knowing. We're kids, we're still figuring it out."

They stood in silence as the words set in. "What do you have planned for tonight?" Betty asked.

"Are you cool with pizza for dinner?" Veronica asked walking into her closet and coming out with two large white robes.

Betty nodded while taking the plush garment from her host.

"Strip down to your underwear and put this on." Veronica said undoing her dress.

"Why?" Betty asked placing her drink on the ground and tossing the robe onto the ottoman. She started removing her clothes.

"Girls night, duh?" Veronica laughed as if Betty's question was nonsense.

"At most girls nights I go to we get into some PJ's and watch movies with half naked dudes in them." The blonde pulled the softest robe she had ever touched over her shoulders and secured the tie.

"We'll do that later but now we relax. Come on." Veronica motioned her head towards her bedroom door.

They went downstairs into and went into what Betty assumed they used as a sitting room. Grey sofas outline three walls and an ornate light wood coffee table sat in the middle on top of a dark grey rug. Two grey chairs had a ceramic basin placed in front of each other them. Two massage tables were set up in the middle. "Have you ever had a massage before?" Veronica asked.

Betty shook her head still very unsure of what was going on.

"I'll turn around so you can take off your bra and then get on the table face down."

"Are you going to be massaging me?" Betty asked.

Veronica chuckled. "No, I've hired a few girls to come in and give us a massage, a facial and paint our nails and toes. I don't like to be an asshole about my wealth but do I like to use it on my friends." She clasped her hands together. "Okay, bra off, Cooper."

The girls enjoyed a few hours of pampering and many more drinks.

They got into their pyjama's. Veronica chose a pink silk tank top and shorts to match while Betty slipped into a white tank top and black booty shorts.

They ordered pizza and ate around the island of her incredible kitchen. The counter tops were white marble and the cabinets were a rich dark brown. The appliances were stainless steel and the floor was immaculate white tile.

"Leave a pizza for Jug, he's going to be hungry when he gets in." Veronica asked pouring another drink for both of them.

Betty pushed the plain pepperoni pizza way from where they were sitting so they wouldn't be tempted to eat it. "Thank you so much for this. I didn't realize how badly I need to relax."

"Maybe you just need to get laid." Veronica suggested wiggling her eyebrows.

"Oh please, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of that myself." Betty grinned.

"Well, if you want some help with that I know a brooding, beanie clad boy who would be happy to oblige."

Betty's eyes went wide. "Veronica!" She scolded.

"What?" She retorted in defence. "I've know him for four years and I've never seen him like this. He comes in every night he's worked with you all moon eyed and shit."

Betty couldn't suppress a smile but she bit her lip so Veronica wouldn't see.

Veronica began imitating Jughead. "Betty can sing, Betty's so smart, Betty listens to amazing music, Betty plays the piano and Betty got back together with Archie." She looked at guest with raised eyebrows.

"I'm not back together with Archie, I'm figuring it out. I told him he could take me to out to lunch at some point and that he could drive me home. Lets not lose our minds over it." Betty sighed and took another sip of her drink.

"So if you aren't willing to get back to it with Archie right away, what about Jughead?"

"What about him?"

"Put your mouth on his mouth!" Veronica slapped Betty on the shoulder.

Betty's nose scrunched up in disgust. "There has to be a better way to say that and I don't think about him like that." She lied.

Veronica's held lolled back in frustration. "Oh come on Betty. I've seen you look at him. There's interest there."

"Yeah because he's not the guy I thought he was. I like him, a lot, but it's strictly platonic."

"Care to make a wager?" The brunette cocked her eyebrow.

"What kind of wager?" Betty asked with interest.

"If you end up hooking up with Jughead, you have to take me to dinner, wherever I want."

"Okay and if I don't?"

"I'll take you on a shopping spree, whatever you want."

"Deal." Betty said shaking her hand.

Veronica laughed and grabbed Betty's plate putting it in the sink. She turned with a huge grin as she gripped the edge of the counter.

"What are you so happy about?" Betty asked walking around the island.

"I'm thinking of all the places we can go for dinner when I win. I'm for sure getting dessert."

Betty rolled her eyes. "What do you have planned now?"

"You wanna get drunk and watch Tom Hardy movies?"

"Always," They both giggled, grabbing their drinks and heading to the smallest room Betty had been in yet. It was the TV room. A plush off white sectional sat away from the wall and took up most of the room. It was accompanied by a large chair of the same colour. On the far wall was the biggest TV Betty had ever seen, 90 inches, and in the middle of the room was a dark wood, square coffee table.

They started with This Means War and moved onto Inception while they laughed and talked about where they wanted to do after high school.

"Fashion, I want to make clothes." Veronica said finishing off her drink. "The Parsons School of Design is where I want to go. Jug will be at NYU and Kev will be at the New York Film Academy and we'll continue this life there." She sighed dreamily. "Your body is perfect by the way. Can I use you as a model sometime?" The tipsy girl asked, her eyes hopeful.

"Have you made a lot of clothes before?" Betty asked.

"I buy all my black clothes and I make all my light clothes." She said proudly. "Unless there is a to die for piece. I bought this beautiful sheer Alexander McQueen dress with beautiful hand made flowers. It's stunning." Her smile grew.

"You can make my prom dress." Betty suggested. "If you want."

Veronica's eyes opened even wider. "Yaass! Oh my god, a blush two piece satin trimmed, layered, tulle gown and a sleeveless beaded bodice." Her bottom lip pouty and she started making whining noises. "You and Jug are going to look so cute when you walk into prom together."

Betty crossed her arms over her chest. "Veronica stop, nothing is going happen between me and Jug."

"Fine," Veronica said dropping it. "Where are you going to school?"

"I've applied to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Georgetown, MIT, Oxford and Cambridge. There are a few fall back schools too."

"Holy shit, those are some heavy duty schools, Bets. What are you going to take?" Veronica questioned.

"Business Finance," she took a sip of her drink.

"Is that what you want to do?"

"It's a practical option." Betty said, her mother's words coming out of her mouth.

"But what do you want to do?" Veronica pushed.

"I want play piano. I applied to Juilliard but it's such a risky choice. It's not like the need for a pianist is abundant." Betty sighed.

"You can carve your own path, bands need piano players." Veronica encouraged.

"I don't know, I have time to decide and until then I'm trying not to think about it."

The conversation was cut short when they heard the door open.

Betty sank further into the couch while Veronica got on her knees and leaned over the back of the couch. "Juggie!" She yelled. Betty realized that Veronica was way more drunk than she originally thought.

He appeared in the doorway. He was wearing a grey henley, black jeans, a flannel shirt was tied around his waist and his backpack was slung over one shoulder. "You need something?" He asked.

"You wanna join us?" Veronica asked with a lazy smile. "There are lots of Pina Colada left."

Jughead eyes shifted to Betty who was wiping the condensation on her glass around not looking at him. She was too tipsy to be around him and not act a fool, she was too tipsy to keep her guard up.

"Uh, I guess." He said shifting from foot to foot.

"But if you do, you have to let us give you a facial and we can paint your nails. You have to be one of the girls." Veronica laid out her conditions.

Jughead stared at his roommate for a long time. Betty could see him sorting out the pros and cons and deciding what to do. "Fine," he said with mild annoyance and disappeared.

"Veronica," Betty said with disappointment, "you said this was a girls night."

"And to me Jughead's a girl." Veronica raised an eyebrow. "You said you have no interest in him, right? I figured it shouldn't be a problem." She grinned mischievously. "Do you have a problem Betty?"

Jughead came into the room wearing plaid pyjama bottoms and a tight white tank top that outlined his lean muscular frame. His beanie was gone. Betty had never seen him without it on. His raven coloured hair flopped every which way as he plopped down on the chair.

Betty swallowed hard. "No, there's no problem at all."

The truth was she had a very big problem and she knew she was on her way to losing that bet.

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