Monday Afternoon
"Am I hearing you correctly? You found out where your parents sent Polly, ditched school to go see her only to find out she's run away from that place?" Veronica summarizes, perplexed. "And then your parents found out because the scary asylum nuns called your mom to tell her you were there. Sound about right?"
"Pretty much, yeah."
"Bettykins, I adore every part of your blonde head but your family makes my riches to rags, dad's in jail, mom working at Pop's tale of woe much more grounded in reality," Veronica says, giving Betty a sympathetic look. "Just think of the titles we could come up with for our memoirs."
"I think Kevin's should be Drama Is An Aphrodisiac, The Kevin Keller Story," Jughead tells them, sitting next to Betty on a sofa in the student lounge. Veronica, Archie, and Betty all laugh as Kevin gives him a very clear shots fired look.
"And what would yours be, Jughead? Betty, Burgers, and Beanies, A Tale of the Boy Who Loved Them?" Kevin responds, looking incredibly self satisfied.
"Oh my god, this is amazing," Veronica insists, scooting closer to the edge of the chair she's sitting on. If he was looking he would see Betty turning bright pink but he can't because he's too busy trying to figure out how to instantaneously dissolve into the floor.
Physics and their limits are now his enemy.
"I think Archie's should be So Many Girls, So Little Time," Betty says, ignoring the previous statements. Thank god for Betty Cooper. "And you, Veronica? What would yours be?"
"Hmm, Pearls of Wisdom, The Veronica Lodge Experience," she finally responds, looking satisfied with herself.
"I like it, Ronnie, I'd totally buy your book," Archie tells her, leaning back further into the sofa he was sharing with Kevin. "What about you, Betty?"
Betty looks at him and shrugs. "I assume The Crazy Coopers wouldn't sell too many books so I don't know."
"It actually sounds like a terrible TV show, Betty," Kevin says, looking unapologetic.
"You're still mad we missed the Variety Show, aren't you?" Jughead asks him, "You're coming off a little more petty than usual, Kev."
Kevin just stares at him with a blank face. "Not only did you two miss the show I poured my soul into, I lost the pool because of you, Jughead Jones. The Third. Or if you want to get technical, Forsy-"
"Hey! None of that now, there's no need for that level of aggression."
"That's cold, Kevin," Archie adds. "Bringing the full name into it like that."
"You should be mad too! Why aren't you mad they missed your performance?" Kevin questions.
"Because, Kev, Archiekins is good like that," Veronica offers. "When he's not being a Ginger Judas that is."
Archie sighs, accepting his fate for the moment. "I'm sorry, Ronnie. I didn't think any of that through."
Jughead sees Betty staring straight ahead at nothing, not listening to the conversation. "Are you okay?" he asks, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, relaxing when she puts one of her hands on his.
Veronica's eyes are quick and satisfied as she ignores the move to talk to Betty. "Did you find anything out from Cheryl over the weekend?"
"No," Betty replies in a sad tone, "She was less helpful than usual which makes me suspicious but until I can prove something, I have nothing to go on."
"Do you think she was lying to you or she really doesn't know what's going on? I can't tell if her anger is a natural state of being or if it's about her brother," Veronica says with a cringe. "I don't know her but I know her kind and it seems like she's wearing her anger like armor."
"Cheryl has never been nice, let's make that clear, but she's been more vicious over the last year than I've ever seen her," Jughead states with a shake of his head, letting his arm drop from around Betty. "Something is definitely going on, we just need to find out what it is."
"Yeah, well, good luck with that," Kevin scoffs.
"What pool?" Betty whispers to Jughead, looking confused.
"I honestly have no idea."
Saturday Evening
Cheryl wasn't at the Variety Show, they had run through and while her minions were there, she was missing. They hear the end of Archie's song as they're looking for her and they both stop to listen for a minute. It's the song they couldn't get away from the entire time he was writing it and there's only so many times you can hear something before you snap so they continue looking for Cheryl in the name of their own sanity.
Out of the auditorium and in the hall, Betty looks at him with resignation. "We're going to have to go to Thornhill, aren't we?"
"God, I hope not but probably, yeah."
They end up at Thornhill an hour later, both slowing down with apprehension. Knocking on the door, they're both surprised when Cheryl herself answers.
"You can't possibly have a good enough reason to be here but what can I do for you?" She doesn't move to invite them in, she steps out of the door and pulls it closed behind her.
"I've been looking for Polly, Cheryl, since I got back this summer. I know where she was but not where she is, did Jason say anything before he left? Did Polly tell you anything? My parents won't tell me anything and you're the only person I can think of that would know."
"Sorry, Betty. Jason leaving had nothing to do with Polly and if I were willing to divulge what I know about him, which I'm not, I still wouldn't tell you."
"Cheryl!" Jughead shouts, irritated.
"Be quiet, it's bad enough you brought your air of destitution on my property, I won't have you raising your voice to me," Cheryl tells him, a bored look on her face.
"Cheryl, I just really need to find Polly, okay? If you think of anything or see anything or hear anything, please let me know." Betty turns to leave, shoulders drooping and a defeated look on her face.
"I won't but if it helps you sleep at night we can pretend I agreed, Betty."
As they leave the only thing Jughead can think to say is, "Was it just me or did you feel the icy grip of death there as well?"
Monday Morning
As Betty walks into the Blue and Gold office she sees Veronica sitting at one of the desks, looking fairly satisfied. "Good morning, B."
"Good morning, V. Can I help you?"
Betty pauses when Veronica just stares at her. Confused, she just stares back. "What?"
"I'm thinking."
Taking a seat at the desk Veronica is at she asks, "About?"
"As your new BFF, your new female BFF mind you, I've been waiting for you to spill and yet, you've given me radio silence. I am not Archie or Jughead or Kevin, who god love him, would tell everyone you know. This is Veronica Lodge, who knows the value of a well kept secret."
Veronica's intensity is making Betty nervous. Like she knows things. She sighs and slumps into her chair. "Do you already have spies in Riverdale, V?"
"No, but that's a good idea, remind me to write that down," Veronica tells her, leaning back and crossing her arms with a pointed look.
"I feel like you know something and you're waiting to see if I tell you the truth. It's very Alice Cooper of you, to be honest."
Insulted, Veronica sits up. "Rude! And for your information, I do know something but it came second hand and I need to verify the results of something."
"What do you know?" Betty questions. Then she sighs with relief as the bell for first period saves her.
"This isn't the end of this, Betty."
Saturday Afternoon
Archie is doing last minute preparations for his performance when he's distracted by the sight of Jughead climbing a ladder up to Betty's window.
That's a new development, he thinks. He's been patient with Jughead but he had been considering locking them into a closet by Christmas if he was still watching his best friend pine for his other best friend.
He knows Veronica is still mad at him over the Variety Show, as she has a right to be, but he texts her anyway. The eagle has landed.
Pics or it didn't happen is the response he gets almost immediately. Sighing he looks over at Betty and Jughead standing in the middle of her room talking. She looks upset and he's obviously trying to comfort her.
He feels a little dirty taking a picture of them but Veronica's wrath has him complying before he really thinks it through.
OMG, the basquiat has really landed! Is what Veronica sends back.
He texts back a quick, Ronnie, don't make me google things
Veronica responds one last time with a It's a crown, Archiekins, besides Betty and I agreed Jughead is an owl. So I guess the owl has landed. I'll see you at the show even though I'm still mad at you
He looks over at Betty's window once last time before leaving his room and can't stop the smile that comes over his face.
That owl has certainly landed.
Monday Morning
"So, Jughead. Want to share with the class what you did over the weekend?" Kevin inquires with an amused look.
"Not really, no."
"Are you sure, Jug?" Archie throws in, a smirk on his face.
"Yup," he tells them. "Nothing to share."
He's suspicious and paranoid but he can't tell how much of that is something he has the right to be worked up over and what's his regular amount of societal distaste coming through.
Archie looks satisfied and Kevin looks disgruntled but he keeps his mouth shut long enough for Kevin to get impatient and takes off in what he would describe as a flounce but would never ever say that to Kevin's face.
"What's up, man?" Jughead wants to know.
Archie leans back into the chair he's sitting in and tells him, "Jug, I know we've never talked about it, but if you want to be with Betty, you should just be with her, you know?"
Jughead chokes on the air he sucked in at that and coughs out, "Uh, yeah. I'll take that into consideration, Arch."
It takes him about ten seconds of looking at each other uncomfortably before they both take off and head in different directions as the bell rings for first period.
Sunday Morning
Veronica is sitting in a booth at Pop's waiting for Archie and Kevin, stirring sugar into her coffee.
When Archie arrives and sits down she tells him she's already ordered for him and Kevin, sliding another cup of coffee his way as Kevin comes in to join them as well.
"So, Archiekins, tell me what you know."
"I saw him climb into her window, she was definitely upset about something and he was talking to her. They were standing close, though. Real close."
"Was he doing that thing where he pretends he's not going to touch her then he can't help himself and his hands end up somewhere above her shoulders? Because as awkward as it is, I find it adorable," Kevin interjects, taking a drink of the coffee Veronica ordered for him.
"You know, yeah. He was. And that's not all…"
Monday Afternoon
"A betting pool, Betty," Kevin tells her.
"I know what a betting pool is, Kev. But for what?" Betty wants to know.
Veronica spears another piece of the fruit she was eating with her fork. "For you and Riverdale's very own Holden Caulfield sitting next to you."
"I feel like I'm the only person who has no idea what's going on. Do you know, Jug?" Betty turns and looks at him, confused. She's so distracted she's not put it together yet but he thinks he understands what's happened.
Archie saw it.
He told Veronica.
Who told Kevin.
And now they're all acting like vultures.
Worth it, he thinks.
Saturday Afternoon (Betty Cooper's bedroom)
"Hey there, Juliet," he says to her as she opens the window with a confused smile. "Nurse off duty? You haven't gone full Yellow Wallpaper on me yet, have you?"
She laughs lightly at him. "They're crazy, Jug. I think my parents are crazy."
"They're parents, they're all crazy."
"They just kept lying to me. I don't even know if they know where Polly is, if they do, then they are purposefully keeping me from my sister, which is ridiculous. If they don't then they're totally delusional! But, Jug, what if it's me? What if I'm the delusional one?"
"Betts, you're not. They're gaslighting you, alright? You're not delusional or crazy, there is nothing wrong with you," he tells her, settling a hand on her shoulder. "They must be hiding something, there's no other reason."
"I know you're right, logically, but everyone is acting like everything is normal! It's not. Polly is missing. Jason Blossom is also missing. My sister was committed to some creepy home for troubled youth. Troubled youth? Polly? That doesn't even make sense."
"What if I'm next, Juggie? What happens when I do something they don't like and it finally makes them send me away? What if I go crazy, too?" Betty pleads, "I don't want to end up like my parents, acting like everything is okay when I know it's not."
"We're not our parents, Betty. We don't have to turn into them," Jughead assures her, "Also-"
He stops and thinks he almost did something stupid. Is it ever really right to confess your feelings for someone when they're upset? Or confused? He doesn't think so but he also thinks he's going to explode if he doesn't. Veronica's plan be damned, there's too many steps and he's waited for so long.
He's definitely about to do something stupid.
"What?" Betty asks, and he can see her eyes flicker to his lips and back to his eyes. That's fairly encouraging though it doesn't make him move or say anything.
"What?" she repeats with a small laugh and smile.
He doesn't hesitate again before he reaches for her with both hands, putting them on either side of her jaw and presses his lips to hers. They're the sort of soft that make you rethink your definition of the word and they taste like the sweet cherry of her chapstick. He can feel her lips press back to his and his world spins a little faster.
It lasts only a moment longer before she pulls back a little but he can see she's happy about what just happened. He lets out a sigh of relief. He can't believe he did it, he kissed Betty Cooper.
It's the smartest thing he's ever done.
Monday Afternoon
"So, who won?" Jughead asks, everyone knows now, so there's no point in acting like it didn't happen.
"Actually, my dad if you can believe it," Archie tells him, laughing.
He can see Betty's wheels turning as she looks from him to Archie to Veronica to Kevin. "You saw, didn't you, Archie?"
"Yup, totally saw it," Archie responds.
"And V, Arch told you, I assume. You must have told Kevin. And you were betting on something happening? Is that right?"
"All true, B. I refuse to apologize, by the way, this is a good thing," Veronica insists, leaning forward to take Betty's hand in hers. "Isn't it?"
Betty's looking around and he knows he must be blushing. "It is, V. It really is." She takes his hand into her free one and squeezes it. "So, how much money did he win, Arch?"