Betty and Ethel made it a habit to check in on each other throughout the day and by the time lunch came around, the two girls were tired. Betty, who was starting to feel the withdrawal effects tenfold, sat in her seat, staring ahead of her as she drummed her fingers on the table. She could feel Jughead watching her out of her peripheral, but she didn't have to heart to tell him she wasn't doing okay. She had a killer headache and it felt like no matter what, nothing was going to make it go away. She sighed softly, refraining from crying out when the pain in her head increased.

Ethel was sitting across from her, next to Sweet Pea, and doing admirably. Betty didn't know if the nuns drugged her as much as they drugged Betty, but if they had, Ethel wasn't going through withdrawals the way Betty was. Betty was envious of that fact.

Jughead rubbed soothing circles against the palm of her hand with the pad of his thumb and she smiled at him smally. At least he cared about her wellbeing. That was more than she could say for a lot of other people, her mother at the top of that list. She still didn't know what she had done that was bad enough to make her mom put her in Sisters but she didn't think she'd ever be able to forgive her. She and Jughead had already talked about getting her emancipated.

She knew that was an option she could explore; an option that Sweet Pea, Cheryl, and Kevin all wanted her to explore. Kevin hadn't been apart of the rescue mission but he loved Betty dearly and viewed her as a sister. So she knew what it meant to him when he found out she was locked away in Quiet Mercy. What it meant to all of them.

Kevin was sitting next to her and she turned to face him, speaking quietly. "I don't know how much longer I can go on."

"What's wrong?" Kevin asked at once, and Betty felt touched that he knew something was wrong.

"I'm just really tired today," she murmured, keeping her voice low. Jughead heard her and inclined his head towards hers with a tilt. She looked at him, noticing the frown that toyed at his lips as he studied her. Jughead tsked.

"You've got bags for days underneath your eyes, baby," he said quietly. "I want you to try and sleep tonight, okay?"

"I'll try," Betty said doubtfully. She didn't think she'd be able to get a good, solid night of sleep. She hadn't had that in months and certainly not since she had been at Quiet Mercy. She didn't expect it to start anytime soon. Jughead rubbed his thumb on her thumb, warming her heart, and she looked at him softly.

"I can ask Sweets if his mom still has some of her sleeping pills," he murmured. Sweet Pea, who heard his name, turned, and looked at them. Jughead asked him the question and Sweet Pea's eyes softened for Betty.

"I'll ask my mom," he said quietly, patting her wrist. "They're not addictive in the slightest and I think they'll help you get your sleep back on track."

"I hope so," Betty murmured, nodding her head a moment later. "I'll take whatever your mom is willing to give me, Sweet Pea."

Sweet Pea nodded, patting Betty's wrist once more, before he turned back to Ethel and continued carrying on a conversation with her. Betty looked around the table, wondering when her life was going to get fixed. Alice had left her in a hell of a mess and she didn't know how to clean it up. She had an anxiety that she had never had before. Sure, she was certainly not new to anxiety and all the trials and tribulations it entailed; but this was a new anxiety. It was uncomfortable and unfamiliar to Betty in its vastness. She wondered what she was supposed to do with it.

Just then, the bell rang, dismissing them from lunch, and Betty jumped about a foot in the air, startled – and, half scared – from the sound the bell had made. Jughead rubbed her back, shushing her with his gentle touches, and she smiled at him sheepishly. "Sorry, Juggie."

"It's okay," he murmured, standing to his feet, and holding out a hand for her to take. She laced their digits together and stood up, following after him into the building as everyone else filed in behind her. The group split up, each going their own way. This period was one Betty didn't have with any of her friends, and she knew that it would be hard on her. She squeezed Jughead's hand, kissing him on the lips gently, before making her way into the hallway that led to her class.

She could feel eyes on her and wondered who all knew what. She didn't want to think that they knew anything that they shouldn't, but she wouldn't be surprised. They lived in a small town and the rumor mill spun quickly. No matter if they were inaccurate statements about her. She kept her head down, hands trembling with the desire of the drugs the Sisters gave her, and she tucked them into her ribcage. She didn't want anyone to see them.

Walking into her classroom, she heard the way the room got silent, and looked around. People were staring at her; some in a pitying fashion, and others in an antagonizing one. She didn't know what they wanted but that wasn't for long. William walked up to her just then. "Hey, Cooper. Heard mommy dearest sent you to Quiet Mercy. I guess she didn't want to deal with your crazy ass, huh? Tell me, is it because you're like your father? A murdering freak?"

Betty had the wind knocked out of her but before she could reply, she saw a fist go flying as arms yanked her against someone's chest. "Say that again and I'll kill you."

This was Jughead, standing over William as the other guy clutched his nose. Looking behind her, she realized it was Sweet Pea who pulled her into his chest. They must have followed her into the classroom after all. She looked at William, feeling herself wanting to cry, but not wanting to give the dick the satisfaction. She laughed coldly, releasing herself from Sweet Pea's firm hold. Bending down, she got level with William. "Well, ever say something like that to me again, and I swear to God, you won't get the chance to do so again."

"You're crazy," William spat, glaring at her, and she nodded.

"Crazy Cooper, remember?" Betty asked quietly. Then she looked at Jughead and Sweet Pea. "Thanks, guys. I'm okay."

"I hate that dick," Sweet Pea muttered, before kicking him in the ribs once for good measure. The teacher still hadn't come into the classroom at this point and Betty sent her boyfriend and friend on their way before they got into trouble for fighting.

"I'll see you guys this afternoon," she murmured.

Jughead kissed her. "I'll see you."

Then they walked out of the room and Betty was left to wonder what was coming in the days ahead.