I edited this myself so please excuse the errors.
After prom, school became all anyone could think about. They had a few final essays to hand in and they formed a solid study unit to make sure they all nailed their final exams.
Betty lived at Veronica's and only went home to get new clothes and pack up her old room. The five of them decided they would move to New York a week after graduation. Betty needed to work extra hard to make sure all her affairs were in order before that time.
One day Jughead came over to help her with pack so she wouldn't lose so much study time. She was also going to be selling all her childhood furniture so she had extra money before she could find a job in the city.
"Betty!" Alice called from the staircase.
Jughead froze up, a stack of books in his hands. "Is FP with her?" He asked with worry in his voice.
"You can hide if you want." Betty offered pointing at her closet.
Jughead was aware Betty and her mother were putting their relationship back together and he was happy for them. It was something he hoped for his future with his parents but he knew he couldn't handle it in that moment.
"Betty, you have more boxes in the basement. Do you want me to bring them up or will you - oh." Alice stopped mid sentence when she entered the bedroom and saw Jughead there. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here."
Jughead shrugged. "That's okay." He was visibly relieved she was alone.
Alice nodded and wrung her hands together. "Since you're here, I wanted to say I'm sorry I was so rude to you when we first met. I'm sorry you had to find out about your true parentage like you did. No one deserves that. I'm trying to turn over a new leaf and not be-"
Jughead cut her off. " Such a colossal bitch?" He said without thinking.
For a second the signature Alice Cooper death stare emerged but was taken over by a thoughtful smile. "Yes, I guess I was a bitch."
Betty bit her lip to hide her smile before addressing her mother. "I'll get Jughead to get the boxes from the basement mom, don't worry."
Alice nodded and changed the subject. "Betty showed me pictures of the place you're at staying in New York. You're going to have invite me over some time. I come alive surrounded by creme and jewel tones." Alice swung her hair dramatically.
Betty laughed at her mothers's comment. No matter how much Alice Cooper changed she would always be one of the most extra people Betty knew.
"Yeah, it's a pretty sweet place." Jughead agreed.
Alice shifted from foot to foot, not realizing the conversation had ended. "Well, you two get to it. There's loads of food in the kitchen if you get hungry." She offered and went back downstairs.
"How's that going?" Jughead asked.
"Really well actually. I'm somewhat comfortable around her now, which is something I never thought would happen." Betty smiled before stripping her bed and preparing for another load of laundry.
Jughead started pulling the posters off her walls and smiled when he got a glimpse of the paint underneath. He gasped in delight and looked over at his girlfriend with a huge grin on his face. "Your bedroom was pink! I knew it!"
Betty rolled her eyes. "It was that color when we moved in and my mother liked it and I wasn't allowed to re-paint, hence all the posters."
"Are you going to miss this room?" He asked, tackling his task quickly without damaging any of her posters.
"A little, I mean, a lot of shitty things happened here but a lot of great things happened here too." She glanced over at him with a small smile.
"Are you going to miss Riverdale?" She inquired.
"Maybe the library and Veronica's house but that's about it." He turned to look at her. "If you were staying here then I would miss Riverdale but since you are coming with me, there is nothing keeping me here."
"I think its good to start over especially after everything we've been thorough." She admitted while she took a deep breath in. "Okay, lets get this done, we have exams to study for."
"Ugh, don't remind me." Jughead muttered.
They finished packing everything in her bedroom and went back to Veronica's.
Betty worked on her valedictorian speech during exams week. She practiced it in front of anyone who would listen until she started to drive everyone crazy.
"Oh, my god Betty!" Kevin exclaimed. "The speech is great but do you know what's not great?" Kevin questioned.
"What?" She asked.
"I'm going to be in my American history exam tomorrow and I'm going to answer the question, "What was the cause of the Civil War?" with the answer, "We are the children of the future". So, if you need to practice this speech, please do it somewhere else." Kevin pleaded running his through his hair, nearly tearing it out.
"Fine." Betty huffed, stomping away to her and Jughead's room.
"It sounded great babe!" Jughead called after her which caused Kevin to throw a Junior Mint at him. Jughead raised his hands like he wasn't sure what he had done wrong. "What? It does!" He responded as he ate the mint with a shit eating grin and went back to studying.
When exams week was over the five of them took it easy, caught up on sleep and got ready to move.
Graduation day was upon them before they knew it and Betty's nerves were starting to get to her. She paced in her graduation cap and gown while going over her speech in her head.
"Bets, you are going to be amazing! You have an incredible speech, you're well spoken and everyone loves you." Jughead placed his hands on her shoulders. "You have nothing to worry about."
"And if his little pep talk didn't work I have vodka, so let me know." Veronica disclosed before getting into line.
"Betty!" Principal Weatherbee shouted and motioned with his hands for her to come over.
He was standing with the Vice Principal and guidance counsellor as they waited to go on stage.
"Well Miss. Cooper, are you ready?" Mr. Weathersbee asked.
"I guess." She answered without much conviction.
"Good." He said bluntly before walking out onto the football field while everyone followed behind.
The rest of the students took their seats and Betty was able to find Jughead and the rest of the gang immediately. She gave a quick wave to her mother and father who sat as far away from each other as possible. The Blossoms, The Keller's and Fred Andrews were also there. Rosa stood in the back with an iPad in her hand so Veronica's parents could see the whole thing.
Mr. Weatherbee went to the microphone and began to address the crowd. Betty zoned out, not feeling like she was in her body, not believe this day had actually come. She used to fantasize about graduation day and how wonderful she would feel but all she could do was play the notes to a Frank Ocean song on her knee as she waited to be called up. She tensed when she heard her cue.
"The class of 2017's valedictorian, Betty Cooper." He announced and Betty stood taking the place behind the podium.
She looked at all her fellow classmates as the June sun beamed down on them. She peered at her cue cards, at the speech she had worked so hard to perfect. She stared at her elegant hand writing and found she couldn't bring herself to say anything she had written. The words were not her own, they were the words she was expected to say. The words a valedictorian should say. These were the best years of our lives, we are the pioneers of the future… blah blah blah but she didn't mean any of it.
She scanned the crowd before her eyes fell on Jughead who gave her an encouraging nod. Betty took a deep breath and began to speak. "I hated high school." She started. Her words caused murmurs throughout the audience. "I know what you must be thinking. I'm the valedictorian, the prom queen, a cheerleader, how could I possibly have hated high school?"
Betty looked down at her hands gripping the wood of the stand. "But the truth is I'm none of those things. I'm those things because people insisted I be those things but I'm not that person, it's not who I am." She paused, partly gathering her thoughts and partly reflecting on what she had just said. "We're in this weird limbo stage in our lives," Betty continued, "where we're expected to act like adults but have none of the privileges of being an adult. We must be prim and proper. We must do well in school. We must take responsibility for our actions but the moment we make our own choices we are told we are too young to do so. That we don't understand. That we are children and you know what..." She looked up at everyone. "It's kinda bullshit."
Her frankness and the use of a curse word caused every student in front of her to cheer.
"If I've learned anything over the past four years it's that we are forced to act like adults because the adults act like children. Most of us raised ourselves. We made ourselves the extraordinary people that are in this graduating class." Betty shook her head. "What I'm trying to say is… you know what I have no idea what I'm trying say. What I will say is this, you need to find the best people for you and hold them close and cut out all the things that drag you down. Those people who have your back no matter what are the most important things in your life. It might be friends, it might be family but no matter who they are hold onto them with everything you have." Betty informed. "Do what you love, even if it's only for the blink of an eye. There is so much horrible in the world that those moments make life worth living." She looked out at everyone.
Her mothers hands were clasped in front of her face and she looked enraptured by her daughters words. She could have sworn there were tears in her eyes. Veronica, Cheryl and Kevin were beaming at her and Jughead wore the soft expression of pride on his face. She knew he was proud that she spoke from the heart and not from her cue cards.
"I want to finish my speech with a quote from the great Elle Woods, "You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself." Having faith and trusting myself was the most important thing I learned this year and I've never been happier. So, trust yourself, trust your decisions. If someone is telling you what to do and you don't like it, tell them to go fuck themselves. It's your life and it'll be over before you know it. Live for yourself and the ones you love. Go out into this world and be a badass. Someone has to." She smiled and glanced at the crowd one last time before finishing with a, "Thanks."
Her classmates broke into a fit of cheers and so did a few parents. Most of the crowd clapped cautiously not expecting to hear a cuss filled hodge podge of a speech.
"That had more profanities than I would have liked, Miss Cooper." Mr. Weatherbee stated as they passed.
"Oh, I didn't know there was a limit, sir." She snarked back as she took her seat and waited to be handed her diploma.
She opened the piece of paper when she received it and stared at her name. She had worked tirelessly for four years to get it. To get a simple piece of paper. A moment of anger coursed through her as she reflected on how much she had given up to get it. Then she thought about her spot at Juilliard and knew that it was all worth it because now she got to go off and live her dream life.
When the ceremony was over, Betty hopped off the stage to find Jughead.
His back was to her as she rushed towards him and he turned at the last minute as she collided with him. Betty kissed him playfully all over his face. "We did it!" She squealed.
"Your speech was so good. So much better than what you had planned." He congratulated her.
"Yeah, what you said was amazing, like a teen movie kind of speech." Cheryl nudged Betty's shoulder.
"Oh shit, your mom's coming." Veronica warned looking past the blonde.
Betty spun and saw her mother, she was wearing a blue sundress and sensible cork wedged shoe. FP hung a few yards back still not ready to talk to Jughead.
"Betty, I am so proud of you." Alice said hugging her daughter. "It was a lovely speech."
Betty's eyes went wide. "It was?" She asked in near shock as they parted.
"You spoke from the heart." She leaned forward and tucked a stray hair behind her eye. "Now, is it the speech I would have given, no…"
Betty laughed. "There's the mom I know and love. I was beginning to worry you had fallen victim to an 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' type of situation."
"A tiger can't change it's stripes over night but I'm trying." A warm smile spread across her face.
"I appreciate that you're trying. It means a lot."
"So what are you kids up to for the rest of the day?" Alice asked looking at the rag tag group in front of her.
"I'm not sure." Betty admitted.
"Well, I need to speak to my parents." Cheryl said.
"So do I." Kevin agreed.
"I need to call my parents." Veronica informed.
"And I don't have any parents that I'm actively talking to so…" Jughead trailed off as no one laughed. "Wow, that was way funnier in my head but I'm guessing Felix's." He looked at everyone who nodded in agreement.
"And then a pool party at my house?" Veronica suggested.
"Sounds like amazing after graduation plans." Alice approved.
"I'll see you later, mom. I won't be home tonight but I'll be around to pack the rest of my room soon."
"Sounds good. Have fun with your friends." She smiled before turning and walking back towards FP.
"I'm definitely down for food, I'm starving." Betty told Jughead as they walked towards the crowd of over excited parents taking picture after picture of their children.
"Yeah let's get all the pleasantries done right quick because I need a burger ASAP." Jughead quipped, throwing his arm around Betty's shoulders.
It didn't take long to get through everyones parents and they made their way to the parking lot to leave.
"Isn't it crazy that we are never going to come back here?" Betty spoke up looking back at the red brick building. "How something can be so much a part of your life and then it just isn't." She took off her graduation gown and cap and chucked it in the trunk.
"I'm so happy I never have to go back to this place." Jughead admitted.
"Please don't get all sentimental about school ending." Kevin scoffed. "Remember you have four years of Juilliard to look forward to. You're not out of the woods yet, sweetheart." He kissed her head as he passed to get in the back seat.
"And why be sad? You are taking the best part of this school with you." Veronica said.
"And what's that?" Betty cocked her eyes.
"Your friends silly, now get your butt in the car." Veronica instructed.
Betty smiled, taking one final look at the school and officially closed that chapter of her life.
The next week was a whirlwind. Going through her things, selling her stuff and tying up any loose ends in six short days was not as easy as it sounded. After arranging the sale of all her furniture with her mother, getting a list of everything Veronica needed done and making sure Jughead was on schedule, Betty was exhausted.
The night before they were going to New York, she stood in her room and looked at it one last time. It was completely empty for the first time since she moved to Riverdale. It looked smaller somehow and she wondered how she managed to cram so much stuff into it.
Betty didn't expect to feel so sentimental when she so desperately wanted to leave. She took her final look, breathed the space in one last time and headed down stairs.
She had been bringing her boxes over to Veronica's house one by one so the moving men could take everything all at once from one place.
"So you're going?" Alice asked leaning against the foyer wall.
"Yeah, we are leaving for New York at 11 but the moving guys are going to be there at 8." Betty told her as she slung one of her bags over her shoulder.
Jughead came in the front door like he had been doing for the last fifteen minutes, taking her bags and boxes to the car. He took the remained of her things and turned to leave. "Later, Mrs. C." He said as juggled everything he was carrying.
Alice gave him a nod before looking back at Betty. "Please call me once you are settled tomorrow." She requested.
"I will."
"And until you get a feel of the city don't go anywhere by yourself."
"I won't."
She sighed. "I wish I was a better mother when I had the chance." Alice admitted as she pulled her daughter in for a hug.
"I don't plan on going anywhere so we have lots of time to work on it." Betty squeezed her mother back. "I promise I'll come for Thanksgiving and Christmas and I'll drag Polly home with me."
"I look forward to it." Alice took a step back and smiled. "I love you."
Betty's breath caught in her throat at her mothers words. She couldn't remember the last time her mother had said I love you. "I-I love you too, mom." She stuttered, getting used to the way the words sounded in her mouth towards the woman in front of her. She gathered up the rest of her things and left her the place she had called home for the last four years forever.
The morning of the move was hectic even though everything was ready to go. Veronica and Betty rushed around the house trying make sure everything was taken care of.
The moving men dealt with the heavy lifting and Kevin and Jughead were responsible to getting everything else into the cars.
When the craziness had died down Jughead found Betty in the kitchen.
"Are you ready to go?" Betty asked as she finished making sandwiches for the trip.
Jughead nodded. "Yeah but there is one last thing I have to do." He said walking up to her and placing a soft kiss on her head.
Betty eyed him suspiciously.
Jughead chuckled. "Don't worry, everything is fine. It's something my therapist thought would be good if I did." He admitted to her.
"Okay, text one of us if you are going to be awhile. Ron wants to leave in like 20 minutes."
"No problem. It won't take long." He left the kitchen and headed out the front door.
Jughead tried to talk himself out of what he intended to do with every step he took towards the Andrews' home. He knew he had to do this, he wanted to do this.
He walked up the steps of his father's house and rang the doorbell.
Archie's eyes were wide when he answered the door and saw Jughead standing there. "Are you lost?" He asked.
"Nope, I'm exactly where I need to be." Jughead informed shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Our father isn't here." Archie told him. "I'll let him know you stopped by if you want."
"No, I'm actually here to see you."
"Me? Why?" Archie's body straightened, now on high alert.
"Because Arch, I've been trying to get better. I've been trying to work out my feelings and deal with everything I found out over the past month or two." Jughead started.
"Okay." Archie said cautiously, his tone implied that he wanted his brother to continue.
"And whether we like it or not we're family. Wouldn't it be nice if we could rely on each other?" He questioned.
"So you want to be brothers, just like that?" He asked with equal parts scepticism and hope.
"No, I want to try to start to build a relationship and I thought saying so was the first step." Jughead sighed. "How about I give you my phone number and you give me your phone number and we can start texting each other about anything. If that works then maybe we can go from there. If not at least we can say we tried." Jughead looked at Archie. Betty was right, he looked terrible but for a split second that spark in his eyes came back.
"I'd like that." Archie fished his phone out of his pocket and Jughead did the same. They entered their numbers and handed their phones back.
Jughead bit his lip trying to think of something to say, something to close this conversation in a healthy way. "Where are you going to school?" He asked.
"BU." Archie replied. "And you?"
"NYU."
"Congratulations, that's a dope school."
"So is BU."
They were silent again. It was awkward and made Jughead's skin crawl but there was a small part of him that was happy this was happening.
"I'm really sorry for being a major dick to you for the last four years. I mean, I know that doesn't make up for anything but I hope I can do something to fix all the damage I did."
"Thanks man, your apology means a lot." Jughead smiled.
Then Archie did something Jughead could never have expected. He took a step forward and hugged him. Like their silent moments it was awkward at first but once Jughead got used to the feeling of Archie's arms around him he couldn't help but hug him back. "I've set up a councillor in Boston. I need to talk to someone. I have a lot of anger in me."
They parted. "I've been seeing someone and it's helped me. A lot. It's the reason I'm here right now actually." He smiled. "If you every want to compare experiences, I'm down.
"Thanks." He ran his hand through his hair." I'm glad you and Betty worked things out. She really loves you." Archie admitted.
"How can you tell?" Jughead asked.
"Because she never looked at me the way she looks at you." Archie confessed with a smile.
"Well, I'm about to head to New York, so if you are ever in the city and need a place to say, we have a couch for you." Jughead smiled back.
"Thanks man."
"See you around." Jughead said with a wave as he walked away from the house.
"Yeah, see you around." Archie called as his brother walked away.
Jughead was still shaking from the success of their interaction. It felt like a twenty pound weight had been lifted from his shoulders. It was a start. He could work on his father later but fixing the relationship he already had seemed like a smart move.
Everyone was already outside loading the car. The moving trucks had gone ahead and everything would be in the proper rooms by the time they arrived.
"All right kiddos, we'll see you at the house!" Veronica shouted in her flowery summer dress, putting sunglasses on. "Drive safe!" She got in the car along with Kevin and Cheryl and they drove off leaving Betty and Jughead alone.
"How was that?" Betty asked looking over at Jughead with her hands on her hips.
"How do you know what I was doing?" Jughead asked with a smile, lightly honking her nose.
"I doubt you went for a walk and considering there are only two homes around here, I figured you went to speak to Archie. Or Fred. Unless you've become friends with Penelope and Cliff."
"We'll aren't you are regular Sherlock Holmes." He teased.
"But seriously, how did it go?"
"Really well." Jughead grinned.
"I'm glad. It's nice to feel like everything has been righted before we go. What did he say?" She asked.
"I'll tell you all about it on the way." Jughead assured.
"Are you ready?" Betty inquired.
"For what?" He asked.
Betty shrugged. "For everything, for the rest of our lives." She got in the car and he followed.
He looked over at her and sighed in contentment. "Yeah, I think I am."
For the first time in his life it wasn't a lie. It was the truth, he was ready and he couldn't wait to get started.
I can not believe this was the last chapter. I have been writing this story for nearly a year and I am so grateful too all of you who have stuck by it from the beginning, just binge read it now, those of you who liked, reviewed and kept with this even when I wasn't sure that I was going to keep with it.
Also, I know it's weird that Archie is going into therapy too but whatever, that boy needs it.
There will be an epilogue. It's called One Wedding, Five Musicians and A Writer In The Dark. I would love to hear your theories on what you think is going to happen. You can leave them in the comments or ask me on my Tumblr, bughead-fic-request.
Thank you all so much and I really hoped you loved this chapter and will be satisfied with the epilogue.
Reviews are appreciated.