Chapter 70: Mending And Fusing Friendship!
First of all, hello. Second, sorry for missing the anniversary of this story 1st being posted by exactly 1 month! Third, I'd like to thank Retro Mania for this story idea!
Enjoy!
*Archie's POV*
It's after Thanksgiving but still November. I hadn't seen Aria in a while, she's been working, studying and has events to keep her busy, so her social life has dropped a lot. I'm worried, but not much I can do. I know she's at Doctor Beaumont's shop today, so I decided to bring her something to snack on. I went into the shop and saw her dusting.
"Hey." I call out to her. She looked at me and smiled. Poor girl, she had bags under her eyes.
"Hey." She said with a smile.
"I brought you something to snack on." I tell her.
"Aunt Mary sent you, didn't she?" She asked me.
"What? Pfft, no. She didn't, she-" I started saying but Aria gave me an 'I know you're lying' glare.
"Yeah, she did." I finally confessed. Aria sighed but brought me over to the counter. I set down the food for her.
"Uncle says you're not eating much so mom thought this would help." I say as I showed her the boxed lunch. A couple peaches, some chicken with rice and green beans.
"She made it?" She asked me.
"Yeah, she wants you to eat. Do you still feel sick?" I asked her.
"I'm fine, just not that hungry." She tells me. I felt she was hiding something but she spoke before I could ask.
"Have you decided yet?" She suddenly asked me.
"Decided what?" I asked her curiously.
"Betty or Veronica? Have you decided which one?" She asked me. I groaned at this.
*Not this again.* I thought before sighing.
"No, I haven't." Was all I could say before she started on me again.
"Archibald Andrews, you can't avoid this forever. You need to choose. Preferably before graduation." She scolded me. I sighed as I rubbed the back of my head.
"I know, I just wish I could have both." I say to her. She was going to scold me but then smiled.
"I know it's tough, especially since they've been hounding you for a week now." She tells me. It's true. They've been hounding me on this again, butting heads and giving me the silent treatment. The silent treatment started two days ago.
"Yeah." I say as I looked bummed.
"So, why not get them a gift? A peace offering, if you will." She suggested to me. I looked right at her.
"Huh, really?" I asked her.
"Oh yes, in fact, I have something that can help you out." She tells me as she pulled out a small box. She opened it and inside it held two bracelets. Both are gold, or gold plated, with a half heart on each end. One holds a red gem and another holds a blue gem. Looks like Ruby or Sapphire, though they could be fake. I'm not good with these things.
"Where-" I started but she stopped me.
"Chill, I borrowed the box from here to keep them in, but I made them from other pieces of jewelry I had and didn't want. Trust me, girls like jewelry. I'm a girl, so I should know." She tells me with a smile.
"But, what about-" I started but she cut me off.
"Just give it to them separately and tell them you have the other half but haven't put it on a keyring or something like that." She tells me. She really thought this out.
"Um, you sure?" I asked her.
"Yeah, I'll even gift wrap it for a fee." She tells me. I rolled my eyes at that but smiled.
"Ok, fine, as long as it stops the fighting for a while longer." I say as I gave her money. She wrapped them up, put their names on in fancy writing, then gave me the boxes.
"I'll eat and you give these to them. All is going to be fine." She assured me as she ushered me out. She was right, I needed to apologize to them.
"Right, thanks." I say before I left. I didn't realize the scheme before me.
*Aria's POV*
After Archie left, I took a bite of a peach while being satisfied with my work.
"I told you those weren't to leave the shop." I heard Doctor Beaumont say behind me.
"You say that, I know that, but my cousin needs a big kick in the butt and this will do it." I say as I took another bite of my peach.
"Are you sure?" He asked me.
"You and I both know the curse that gypsy put on them, you haven't stopped telling me, so I thought this lesson would be good for him. And even if not, it should be entertaining." I say as I finished my peach with a sly smile.
"And what would that lesson be?" He asked me.
"Now why would I ruin the fun and mystery for any viewers/readers?" I asked as I turned and smirked at him. He smiled and chuckled.
"Very well, but this is your responsibility." He warns me.
"If your crystal ball told you all would be fine, then all will be fine." I say as I folded my arms.
"Spying, are we?" He asked me.
"No, but you should close the curtain if you didn't want me to see, but you didn't so that means I was meant to see this. You wanted me to do this but not say it." I say to him. He smiled but waved his hand.
"I have no idea what you mean. Enjoy your food before you continue cleaning." He tells me before wondering off.
I know his plan, I just hurried it along faster and lied to my cousin to do so. Otherwise he wouldn't buy anything from here. If I 'made it' then he'd accept it. I can't say I bought it because I am still paying for a few things. Not much but I make peanuts right now. Either way, I rolled my eyes with a smile before turning back to my food.
"Whatever you say, Doc." I say before eating some more food. Now to wait.
*Archie's POV*
I looked at the boxes and sighed, knowing Aria was right. She might not have gone through all I went, but close to it in a shorter amount of time. I know the choice was hard for her too, but I'm still not sure how she could choose. Either way, one will get hurt and I'll feel bad, or I end it with both and all three of us feel bad. It's a Lose-Lose no matter what. But, at least these will keep the peace, if only temporarily.
Now, to figure out how to apologize to both and give them the gifts. If they asked about the other half, I'd have to make up a lie for it or something. For now, I should apologize to Betty first. She's the easiest to win over. Wait, that sounded bad. I sighed as I headed to the library where Betty would be. It took me a bit, but I arrived and went inside. I found Betty studying at a table in the back by a window, the sun shining brightly on her lovely blond hair, making it shine like gold. I felt my heart flutter as she looked angelic. I shook my head lightly before going over to Betty.
"Hey Betty." I greeted her. She humphed before putting the book closer to her face. I sighed. The silent treatment was still in effect.
"Is this seat taken?" I asked her as I pulled out the empty chair next to her. She didn't reply, so I sat. She scooted a bit away from me as she continued staring at the book.
"Betty, please, can we talk?" I asked her in a pleading way. Betty humphed again in response.
"Betty, listen, I'm sorry for always juggling you and Veronica around. I shouldn't be doing that, even though I'm having a hard time choosing between two lovely girls." I apologized and ranted. She kept ignoring me.
"Betty-" I started but she interrupted me.
"I don't want to hear anything from you except if you choose me or not." She finally replied.
"Well, I, um, haven't decided yet." I said awkwardly. She put down her book and looked away from me while crossing her arms.
"Well then, we have nothing to talk about." She tells me. I sighed heavily.
"I just wanted to apologize and give you this. A token of friendship, even if I can't choose just yet." I say as I slid her the red box with a pretty white ribbon on it. She opened one eye to look at the box.
"Bribing me?" She asked me.
"No, just an apology gift. A way of saying maybe we should all be friends until I can decide." I say before standing up.
"I'll just leave you alone, now." I say before slowly walking away, hands in my pockets. Would she accept it?
*Third Person's POV*
Betty saw Archie leaving and felt bad for the silent treatment. She hated it, but Veronica was right. He needed to decide instead of stringing both of girls along. It would only hurt more in the end. Betty eyed the box before letting curiosity get to her.
"It would be rude to not accept it." Betty said quietly as she opened the box. Her eyes lit up at the lovely jewelry. She could tell it was a friendship bracelet, so did he have the second half? Betty examined the bracelet and loved it, it surprisingly being her style and Archie remembered, before slipping it on with a smile before frowning.
"Oh shoot. Now I have to forgive him." She muttered before looking around for Archie. She saw the door shutting and knew he just left. Indeed he did. Archie was glum and didn't know Betty ran through the library to open the door and saw him almost to the end of the library's walkway.
"Archie!" Betty called out to him. Archie turned around only for Betty to suddenly be hugging him, her arms around his neck and her left leg bent up in a romantic kiss situation way with her eyes closed and a large smile.
"Oh, I love the bracelet!" She exclaimed happily. Archie was shocked but then smiled a little.
"You do?" He asked her. Betty pulled back, both feet on the ground but both arms still around his neck as she looked at him. Archie was now resting his hands on her hips.
"Yes, you remembered what I liked." She tells him. In honesty, Archie kinda forgot, but trusted Aria since she's better at remembering these things.
"But this doesn't excuse you from not choosing. You'll have to, but for now, we'll be friends." She said with a smile. This made Archie happy and agree to the terms.
"So, where's the other half?" Betty suddenly asked me. Uh-oh.
"Well… It's in a shop to me made into a keychain, since, um..." Archie started but was trailing off.
"Are you embarrassed over wearing a girly bracelet?" Betty suddenly asked him. Archie jumped at this chance.
"Yes, exactly. That's why a keychain on my keys seems better." He explained quickly.
"Yeah, I get that. It's probably better anyhow. The bracelet might not go well with the guys." Betty said with a smile and a nod of acknowledgement as she knew he'd be teased. She didn't mind it being on a keychain, so long as they each had it.
"What about Veronica?" Betty asked curiously.
"I'm just going to apologize to her, offer the friendship, but that's it." Archie told her. Most was the truth.
Betty only nodded, feeling special for having a gift while Veronica wouldn't have one. Though, for the sake of Archie, she'd lie and say her sister gave it to her if Veronica ever saw it. It's just her nature. Archie was happy with this, but he knew Veronica would be next. He figured Betty wouldn't say anything, but he knew Ronnie would brag. He'd have to hope Veronica wouldn't tell, or at least make up a lie or something so she wouldn't. He hadn't yet thought of that, though. Betty and Archie talked for a few minutes before Betty had to go back inside. After all, there was an exam coming up and she really needed to study. Archie then started heading to the shopping center he knew Veronica would be at.
*Archie's POV*
I walked in to the fancy boutique Veronica likes, very posh for a small town area, and was immediately stared down for sticking out like a sore thumb.
"No no no! That's all wrong! Are you trying to make me look bad?!" I heard Veronica shout out. I soon found her tossing a few dresses, well maybe shirts but I couldn't tell, onto the worker.
"These all look terrible on me!" She yelled at the employee.
"I think they'd look good, but what do I know?" I say to her. Veronica looked right over at me in shock, but then looked away.
"I'm not talking to you." She tells me as the employee scurried away.
"You just did." I tell her with a small smile. She realized she did and smacked her forehead.
"Well, I'm not talking to you, starting now." She said as she kept pouting.
"Not even if I apologize?" I asked her. She still held her ground.
"Then, I guess a gift won't matter, either." I said, baiting her. It worked. It was enough to peek her interest. Her eyes opened as she looked at me.
"A present? For me?" She asked me, almost as if she doubted me.
"Well, it's in hopes you'd forgive me, we could be friends for now until I decide so not to hurt you anymore, but that's up to you." I say to her as I showed her the small blue box with a white ribbon on it. I could tell her curiosity was enough to come over and take the gift.
"Well, let's see how sorry you are." She said in a curious tone as she opened the box. Her eyes lit up at the bracelet.
"Oh, Archie-kins!" She gasped out with a smile as she, immediately, put it on. She was now admiring it.
"It looks old, but in a good way. And a Sapphire! Oh, Archie-kins! It's perfect! Well, could be platinum, but this is fine too." She said before she hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"I'll forgive you." She added quickly, now in a much better mood.
"Well, I'm glad you do." I say with a smile. This quickly changed into a frown once Veronica asked about Betty.
"Oh, well, um, to be honest. I'm going to ask her to forgive me and still be friends, but I don't want her to feel bad because only you got the bracelet." I lied to her.
"Oh, well that's not a problem, Archie-kins. But, where's the other one?" She asked me.
"Being turned into a keychain. I don't need to be teased by Reggie for wearing something girly." I lied to her.
"Good idea. I knew there was more than your looks that attracted me to you." She said as she snuggled into my arm. I smiled as I felt like the luckiest guy every.
"Listen, I want to finish shopping, but how about we meet up later?" She asked me.
"That sounds great." I say to her. We said our goodbyes and I left.
"This was easier than I thought." I said to myself with a smile on my face. I had no idea of the trouble that would brew later on.
*Veronica's POV*
Once Archie left, I smiled even brighter. Of course I was going to rub it in Betty's face. Why else get me a gift and not her? He wants me as his girlfriend and not Betty! I won! I finally won! I grabbed my cell and called Betty's house. She wasn't home, but I left her a message asking if we could meet up later. I was going to rub it in her face!
*Aria's POV*
I was reading my history book, trying to study a little bit, when I heard the chime of the bell ring. I looked up and saw a very happy Archie.
"It worked?" I asked him, knowing full well it did.
"Yeah, perfectly. Neither girls will tell and they're now talking to me again." He said with a goofy grin. I smiled at him.
"Good, glad to know it helped." I say as I went back to reading.
"Hey, you doing ok?" He asked me.
"Arch, I'm fine. Really." I assured him.
"Well, it's been a couple weeks and-" He started but I shot my head up and gave him a scary glare.
"Arch, please. I just want to move past it." I say to him.
Ever since I turned, I lost most of the trust of everyone in town. I was almost suspended from school activities and the school itself, but my dad talked them out of it, I had to stop working for Pops for a while too. He trusted me, but it's hard to serve customers that feel scared of you. Only my family, Pops and my friends trusted me. Heck, Vinnie had stayed away until a couple days ago. He's testing the waters, it seems. I was surprised Jughead stuck by my side the most. I mean, I shouldn't be, but I am. Heck, his mom and dad still adore me. Of course, loosing the trust of most people in town has also hurt my babysitting gig. Betty's been called more because of it. Luke and Duke, as well as Clarice, are really the only kids I watch. Well, Jellybean is another, but she's a baby that adores me. I'm working on gaining everyone's trust again, but it's going to take a lot of time. Unfortunately, people in this town are judgmental and closed minded.
"Listen, if you feel-" Archie started but I cut him off.
"Arch, I'm ok. Really." I assured him. His look told me he didn't believe me, but he dropped it still.
"Ok, I just worry." He tells me.
"I'm doing fine. I just need to earn back the trust I lost." I say to him.
"Everyone needs to understand it wasn't your fault. It's that scientists fault and partially mine." He says sadly.
"But I lost control. It's over now, so don't worry so much." I say with a small smile. It wasn't a real one, you could tell, but it it was enough for Archie to accept.
"Got any plans?" I asked him.
"Yeah, I'm meeting up with Ronnie in the park later." He tells me. I smirked at this.
"Well, good luck with that." I say to him. I knew what would happen next, if the crystal ball was right, of course.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Archie asked me.
"Oh, nothing. You know how overbearing Ronnie can be at times." I say with a shrug.
"Yeah, but still..." He said before he saw the time.
"I should get ready. Do you need a ride?" He asked me.
"No. I'm hanging out with Jughead after work, so I'll be fine." I tell him. He said bye and headed out as I read more of my history book.
*He'll have to figure out what happens next.* I thought as I waited for the end of the day.
*Third POV*
While Archie was heading home to get ready, Betty had gotten home and got the message from Veronica. She called her back and the two decided to meet up near the park. It was cold, but not freezing to change out of their usual clothes. They met up 20 minutes later and this, dear readers, is where the fun would begin. Betty and Veronica had began their walk in the park and talked as they did so.
"Did Archie come see you?" Betty asked Veronica.
"Yes, and he apologized. I just had to forgive him." Veronica exclaimed to her.
"Yeah, I felt the same way." Betty said as she tugged her right sleeve a little bit, hoping to hide her charm bracelet Archie gave her. Veronica had hers on her right arm, though Betty hadn't noticed the charm on it.
"Especially after-" Betty started but then stopped herself. She promised not to tell. Veronica seemed to not notice she was saying something before showing Betty her bracelet.
"Oh, look what Archie-kins got me. Isn't it lovely?" Veronica said as she showed it off.
"Yeah, that looks-" Betty started but then froze as she examined the charm. She then got mad.
"Like the one Archie gave me!" Betty added before showing Veronica.
"What?!" She said as she examined it.
"But, Archie said only I got one." Veronica said in a whiny tone.
"Then he lied!" Betty said in an upset tone. Veronica got upset.
"Then he doesn't have the other half of mine or yours!" Veronica whined out, feeling so upset she might cry a bit.
"Hold on, Archie might just have two. Maybe to not upset us?" Betty questioned. She was always the nice and logical one.
"You think?" Veronica asked.
"Well, let's see. With these old ones, they never really made two that were identical." Betty said as she remembered learning about antique jewelry from a museum she went to. Not one in Riverdale, but in another town. Greendale if she recalled the town.
"Well, let's see." Veronica said as she held hers up.
Betty held her up and put them closer together. Within seconds, the two charms clicked together, looking as if it now fused into one charm, as each side glowed. Betty's was red and Veronica's was blue. The light spread over each of the girls, making them gasp in both shock and fright, then pulled together as a blinding purple light shined then disappeared. There, where Betty and Veronica once stood, stood a new girl.
This girl had creamy white skin, a perky nose, dark blue eyes, long hair to her mid back that looked shiny and smooth like silk. Her hair went from black at the roots to 1/3rd of the way down, then blended lighter and lighter until the last 1/3rd of her hair was a lovely bright blond. She had arms and legs that looked similar to Betty's while the curve of her body looked like Veronica's. She wore shoes like Betty's but purple and a small unbuttoned sweater like hers too but white, while the dress looked like Veronica's but purple to match the shoes. The last things are the jewelry. The earrings she wore were very small gold hoops that looked classy still, while the bracelet was still the gold chain, but the charms were now fused into one, both gems, that were located on the upper corners of the hearts, were now amethysts. The girl held her head as she steadied herself.
"What happened?" The girl asked to no one in particular.
"I don't know." She replied to her question. The girl then froze before looking down at her hands in shock.
"What the?" She questioned as she examined herself.
"What happened to my outfit?" She asked herself as she did her best to examine it.
"I'm not sure, but it looks fabulous." She replied to herself.
"Cut it out, we need to know what happened." The girl scolded herself. In her mind, Betty and Veronica were separate minds but the body they shared was theirs, only fused, creating a new person.
"Are you me? Or am I you?" Veronica's side asked the Betty side.
"I think we're… A new person." Betty's side concluded.
"So… We're us but not us?" Veronica asked in confusion.
"Seems like it." Betty said to her. It was weird because, from anyone else's view, it looked like this girl was talking to herself.
"Why are we like this?" Veronica asked as she began to worry.
"It must be the bracelets." Betty concluded. The girl then tried to take it off, but couldn't.
"It won't come off!" Veronica said in a panic.
"Calm down. It'll be ok." Betty said as the girl let go and put her hands in front of her in a 'calm down' motion.
"But… What do we do?" Veronica's side asked.
*For now, we need to act normal. We need to think to talk to each other, so we don't seem odd talking to ourself.* Betty said to her in thought, making the girl not talk.
*Good call. We should go sit somewhere.* Veronica thought to Betty. The girl tried to walk, but was walking and tumbling like the 11th Doctor when he got his new body. New body, new rules. After a few minutes of trial and error, as well as embarrassingly smacking into a tree, the girl finally made it to a bench and sat down.
*This is a lot of work.* Veronica whined out in thought.
*I agree, but we have to keep this up until we can figure out what to do.* Betty thought to Veronica.
*Why would Archie do this to us?* Veronica thought as she felt sad.
*I don't think he knew.* Betty mused in her head. It wouldn't be the first time Archie did something similar to this and didn't realize what would happen after.
*What do we do? I told Archie I'd meet him here later.* Veronica thought as she was ready to panic.
*Well… We'll have to make up an excuse.* Betty thought before having the girl stand. The two had to practice being one. After an hour, they succeeded and proceeded to go to make a note, from both girls in their handwritings, saying they found out about the gifts and would give him the silent treatment again for lying.
*Ok, but what about us?* Veronica thought.
*Well, we're a new person. Let's work together to see why he lied in the first place and, maybe, see where he got the bracelets from.* Betty concluded.
*I say we should go on a date with him. I mean, I don't wanna miss out on spending time with Archie-kins.* Veronica thought.
*Really. After all this?* Betty thought.
*Well, if it was an accident, then why not? We missed quite a while with him.* Veronica concluded.
*Bad idea.* Betty argued. The two would've kept going, until they were interrupted.
"Um, excuse me. You wouldn't happen to have seen a raven haired girl around here, would you?" A voice asked. The girl looked up and saw it was Archie. He had arrived and couldn't find Veronica, but saw this lovely girl sitting here and decided to ask her.
"Oh, Archie. I mean, you are Archie Andrews, right?" The girl asked him.
"Uh, yeah. How'd you know?" He asked the girl curiously.
"Well, I'm friends with Betty and Veronica, I just got into town a little while ago. They asked me to give you these." She said and handed Archie the letters. He scanned them over and groaned.
"Great. They know I lied about the bracelets and are mad again!" Archie exclaimed as he threw his hands up in the air. He knew he messed up, he should've told the truth.
"Need to talk about it?" She asked Archie as she patted the seat next to her on the bench. Archie sighed and sat down. Might as well confide in someone who doesn't fully know the whole thing, right?
"Well, I'm dating both Betty and Veronica. It's hard to choose, because both are wonderful in their own unique way, but they've been hounding on me to choose. I don't think I can just yet. I wish I had more time, but I don't. I know this too. I just, well, I don't want to make the wrong choice and hurt the one who's meant for me." Archie explained to this girl. Betty and Veronica awed in their heads as they now understood.
"But, it's still wrong." The girl explained to him.
"Yeah, and I'm hurting them more, but if I try to tell the truth, they get even more mad at me." Archie sadly explained. Both girls realized they were quick on their anger, but had felt it was justified until now. After all, Archie had a way of wooing a woman's heart. This also gets him in trouble.
"Well, maybe they'll understand after some space." The girl said as she rested her hand on his leg. That action was Veronica's doing, which Betty didn't approve of, until Archie looked up with that charming smile of his.
"Thanks. By the way, I never got your name." He said with a friendly smile. Both girls then went into panic mode over a name. They couldn't use theirs, otherwise they'd fight or he might get suspicious.
*What do we do?* Betty thought.
*Let's combine our names.* Veronica thought quickly. It's not that Veronica doesn't get good ideas, it's just shocking when she gets them. Betty only nodded before speaking.
"Bettica. Bettica Looper." She introduced herself.
*Really?* Veronica scolded.
*Better than Verony Codge.* Betty told her. Veronica was ready to tell her off, but then grimaced at the name.
*Never mind, it's fine.* Veronica agreed.
"Bettica. Wow. What an unusual name, but it sounds pretty. Is it Dutch?" Archie asked her.
"German." Bettica quickly replied. Veronica hated that, but Betty had replied quickly.
"Neat. How long are you in town for?" Archie asked her.
"A little while, not sure how long just yet." Bettica said honestly. The girls had to figure out how to undo this mess.
"Listen, why don't I show you around?" Archie offered.
"Oh, I know my way around. Thank you, though." Bettica said as she waved her hand. Archie then saw the bracelet.
"Hey, that looks almost like the one I gave the girls." Archie said as he admired it.
"Oh, a friend of mine gave this to me." Bettica told him. She wasn't lying.
"Oh, what a good friend." Archie said with a smile. Bettica felt herself blush from that smile. Then Bettica's stomach gave a light growl, causing her to blush more.
"How about I take you out to eat at Pops'? My treat." Archie offered her.
"That'd be wonderful." She said with a smile. Archie held his hand out for her and she gladly accepted it. They walked to Pops', enjoying each other's company the whole way. After they got there, and being introduced to Pops himself, Archie ordered his food.
"And for you, Bettica?" Pops asked her.
"Could I get a cheese burger with lettuce, tomatoes and a slice of avocado, please?" Bettica asked Pops'.
*Cheese! Really!* Veronice thought rudely at Betty, since cheese is fattening.
*Well, you're getting an avocado, so what's the problem?* Betty thought to her.
*It's fattening!* Ronnie yelled.
*Well, I don't like avocados, so we're even!* Betty pouted.
"Sure thing!" Pops said happily.
"Hey Pops, why isn't Aria working yet?" Archie suddenly asked Pops. This made Bettica perk up with interest. It was a bit busy. Aria would be here helping and such, but she wasn't here.
"She's still on paid leave until things calm down a little more." Pops explained to him.
"Paid? Does she know this?" Archie asked him.
"Well, no." Pops confessed while looking to the side before sighing.
"The money's going towards any repairs needed. I heard she gave up all her savings for college to pay a good portion of that off." Pops confessed.
"That's nice of you." Archie said with a smile. Archie had thrown in some of his allowance to help, his parents helped a little, and Aria's dad had helped too. He also knew a few people, all their friends really, pitched in to help in secret. Why in secret? If Aria knew, she'd feel like she'd have to pay them back and no one wanted her to pay them back. She always helped everyone, so this was their time to help her. After all, she only acted out of fear.
"You should see Jughead. He's been eating less burgers here and working more, putting most of his money towards Aria's debt." Pops added. Bettica had a look of pure shock on her face, as did Archie. No one knew about this.
"You're kidding!" Archie exclaimed.
"Nope. He really cares about her." Pops said with a smile. In his mind, he knew this was more than just teens dating. It brought him joy too. Jughead and Aria were the closest things to kids he ever had.
"That sounds so romantic." Bettica said as she fluttered her eyes at Archie.
"By the way, have you seen her? Is she feeling alright?" Pops asked Archie.
"Yeah, she's at Dr. Beaumont's shop right now, working. She doesn't look well, though." Archie said to him.
"Well, if I make a few burgers, could ya bring them to her?" Pops asked Archie. He was worried after all. That and thats one of his best customers and his best, well actually his only, employee.
"Sure, no problem." Archie said with a smile. Pops excused himself and was off to the kitchen.
"She's your cousin, right?" Bettica asked, even though she knew the answer.
"Yeah, how'd ya know?" Archie asked her.
"Please, I'm friends with Betty and Ronnie. Besides, I've read some of your 'weird mysteries' now and then." She tells him. Again, it was true.
"Makes sense. How come they never told me about you?" Archie asked her.
"They didn't want more competition and didn't want you drooling over me, either." She tells him as she fluttered her eyelashes.
*Don't do that!* Betty scolded Veronica over the eyelash part.
*I can't help it! It happens when I'm around Archie-kins!* Veronica defended herself. Archie melted when Bettica fluttered her lashes.
"I can see why." Archie marveled as he felt love struck. In his mind, Bettica was like Betty and Veronica together, making her perfect. He had no idea how right he was.
"By the way, you said the bracelets you gave the girls looks like mine. I'm curious as to where you bought them." Bettica asked Archie in a sweet tone.
"Oh, Aria said she made them from some jewelry she had. I bought them off of her." Archie willingly told her, seeing no harm in this. Betty and Veronica were happy to know this, but a thought occurred to both of them at the same time. Why did she do this? After eating, which Bettica liked the burger surprisingly, Archie paid, grabbed the to go burgers and then headed off.
"Do you mind if we stop at the shop before I take you, um, to wherever you're staying at?" Archie asked Bettica, feeling awkward he didn't know where she was staying at.
"I don't mind." Bettica replied in a sweet, yet slightly seductive, tone. Archie blushed while Veronica scolded Betty for the tone.
*I didn't mean to use it. It's like she did it on her own.* Betty defended herself.
*Well, it wasn't me.* Veronica defended. What was going on?
Archie went ahead of Bettica and opened the door for her, to which she commented on how much of a gentleman he was, then entered behind her. Aria came out from the back.
"Sorry, we're clo-oh. Hey Archie." She greeted her cousin then saw Bettica.
"Hi Aria. This is Bettica Looper." Archie introduced the girls.
"Oh, I already know who she is. We've met before." Aria said with a smile. She knew who this was and this confirmed it with the two girls trapped in one body.
"Oh good, Pops wanted me to bring this to you, too." He said as he gave her the burgers.
"Thanks." She said with a smile.
"By the way, Betty got a hold of me. She was supposed to house Bettica tonight but she, nor Ronnie, can do it. She asked if I could and I agreed. That is, if Bettica is alright with it." Aria explained as she looked over at Bettica with a smile. Bettica knew this was a lie, but she also knew Aria knew more than she let on.
"Oh, that'd be wonderful. I'll catch a ride with her." Bettica told Archie with a smile.
"Are you sure?" Archie asked her. She nodded yes.
"Now that that's settled, I'm closing up and Aunt Mary wanted you home early tonight." Aria told him. Archie paled as he remembered his mom did want him home.
"Oh no! I gotta go!" Archie yelped out before he bolted. His parents were having his dad's boss over for dinner and Archie agreed to help out and such. Once he left, Aria smiled at Bettica.
"So, how's if feel to share Archie as one girl? Different, huh Betty and Veronica. Or is it Bettica from now on?" She asked the two girls in one body.
"So, you do know?" She asked the red-headed minx.
"How do you think you got like this?" Aria asked Bettica.
"Why? Why do this?" She asked Aria.
"Archie isn't the only one who needs a lesson." Was all Aria said before getting her out to lock up the shop.
"What do you mean?" Bettica asked her.
"I can't tell you, but I will give you a warning." Aria said as she helped Bettica into her car. Once in it, she turned to the girl and gave her a grave look.
"You will only have until sunset on the 7th day before this becomes permanent. You won't be Betty, nor Veronice. You two will fade away and Bettica will be a real person. Do you understand?" Aria warned the girls.
"But… But what's the lesson?" Bettica asked worriedly.
"You won't learn if I tell. I'm not allowed to anyhow. Heck, I wasn't supposed to give you a deadline, but I did. Archie will learn his lesson, and I know you two will as well." Aria told her before buckling up.
"My dad's gone for the week on a business trip, so you can stay with me for a while." Aria tells Bettica before driving off.
Bettica sat in her seat, thoughts going through her head as both the girls in her head understood what had happened but not sure why.
"Answer me this. Is it something to do with Archie?" Bettica askd.
"Yes and no. Not just him." Aria answered before she parked in the driveway.
"That doesn't make much sense." Bettica tells her.
"I can't tell you anymore. You'll have to figure it out. Just know that I did this to teach you three, mostly Archie, a valuable lesson. Besides, Doctor Beaumont was going to, but I can persuade Archie better. Also, don't be mad at him for lying. I told him to lie." Aria said as the girls went inside the house. Aria gave Bettica some pajamas to sleep in as she was feeding Vespers.
"You had him lie?!" Bettica shouted in shock and anger.
"Would you have examined the bracelets, let alone accepted them, if you had known?" Aria asked as she didn't look away from her sweet viper. Betty and Veronica were shocked but knew she was right.
"N-no." Was all Bettica could muster before getting dressed.
"What about school? And our parents?" Bettica asked.
"All taken care of." Aria said as she slipped into black pants and a black tank top with a purple snake on it.
"How?" Bettica asked.
"Doctor Beaumont handled that. Besides, nothing personal, but most of the adults are dense around here when a weird mystery happens." Aria explained herself.
"Won't Archie figure it out, though?" Bettica asked worriedly.
"That's the plan." Aria said as she grabbed a blanket and pillow.
"You can take my bed. Sleep well." Aria told her and started to leave.
"Aria, if you're not ok, we're here for you." Bettica told her. Aria stiffened but then shook her head no.
"This isn't my story. Mine will come up soon." Was all Aria said before making her way into her living room.
She made the couch into a bed and did her best to sleep. Bettica didn't understand why she said that, but sighed as she crawled into bed and nodded off. This was along day for Bettica Looper, even if it wasn't a whole day.
To be continued! Mwahahahahahahahaha!