Chapter Text
It’s a Friday night in Riverdale, at a party hosted by Cheryl Blossom in celebration of the Bulldogs’ latest win, when Betty Cooper’s life takes a turn that she never quite expected.
From the day Jason Blossom went missing, it was certain that the new school year was fated to mark a significant moment in time for Betty and her classmates. Paths would change course and nothing would ever be the same for many of Riverdale’s residents.
For Betty, her own path was rewritten the moment a black business car crossed the borders into Riverdale, carrying in it a girl who would change everything. She wouldn’t notice the change, not for a very long time. In her constant panic to stick to the path laid out for her, dear Betty had no idea of the love story sneaking up on her.
Not the tale of a ginger-haired boy, sweeping her off her feet towards a happily ever after.
But in fact of the girl next door, too caught up in the world around her, to notice the Raven-haired girl who would do anything for her.
This is the story of all the times Betty Cooper didn’t see what was right in front of her. And the one time she finally did.
Betty’s not even sure why she’s at Cheryl’s in the first place. Well she does know. It’s because Archie asked her to come, in some effort to mend the distance that’s grown between them lately. And Betty, it seems, has no sense of self-respect these days. All it takes is one puppy-like look from Archie and she’s agreeing to whatever he’s asking of her.
It’s been a few weeks since the prom incident, and Betty’s come to accept that the idea she dreamt up of her and Archie being together is unrealistic, and she’s even befriended Veronica despite what happened in the closet. She’s visited Pop’s and smiled and laughed when expected of her, and to everyone else, everything is just perfectly fine.
And boy does Betty want so badly for that to be accurate. But for some reason, it’s just… not.
And now even Pop’s feels like another place Betty’s stuck trying to please people despite how utterly lost she feels in the process.
She’s spent so much of her life modeling herself after the image of perfection that her mother’s ingrained into her, that Betty’s no longer sure where the act ends and the real ‘Betty’ begins; what is genuine or what is simply the product of her incessant need to meet everyone’s expectations.
It’s such a typical teenager cliché.
Hell, she doesn’t even know if the way she dresses is something she genuinely enjoys or just all that she knows. And then there’s Archie.
Betty’s spent so long in this bubble, looking at Archie as her shining knight, that at some point he stopped being Archie and was just a list of romanticized ideas that Betty had made herself see in him.
It’s what made the most sense. Falling for her childhood best friend and living happily ever after.
It seemed like the most natural progression.
But apparently even Archie is ten steps ahead of her in the realization that he doesn’t want to be another victim to suburban mediocrity.
“You are so perfect. I’ve never been good enough for you.”
She knows Archie meant it. That he believes exactly that.
It’s almost ironic that he did say it, seeing as Betty’s spent the majority of her life feeling like she’s never quite good enough for anyone. She’d laugh at that fact if it didn’t just make her want to scream.
Because even Archie, the boy who’s supposed to know her better than anyone, is completely and utterly fooled by the whole act. So completely unaware of just how close Betty is to crumbling any second.
“I’ve missed this.” Archie says, the pair sitting on the steps of Cheryl’s patio as the party continues on around them, “Us, just hanging out.”
Betty gives Archie her best attempt at a smile, hand gripping the cup of beer in her hand tight, “Me too.”
She’s not lying. Betty does miss hanging out with Archie. But tonight? This hasn’t been anything like ‘old times’.
Despite his promise for the night to be about them, Archie’s been preoccupied the whole night, checking his phone every other minute and making things more awkward than they need to be every time Veronica nears them.
“I really am sorry, Betty.” Archie says, “If I could change things -”
“Arch- please.” Betty sighs, offering him a half-hearted smile, “Can we stop talking about it?”
She still doesn’t know exactly what happened in the closet between Archie and Veronica, but the guilt that the pair have been carrying around since then tells Betty all she really needs to know.
Archie looks relieved at that, nodding, “Whatever you want, Betty.”
Silence falls over them, and Betty’s eyes follow the various figures wandering about the back lawn of Cheryl’s home, eventually finding Veronica surrounded by the usual group of admirers that seem to flock to her at these events. Boys and girls alike, it seems the charm of Veronica Lodge does not discriminate.
As usual, she’s wearing that confident smirk, no doubt loving the attention aimed her way. Betty wishes she could hate her. But for some reason, when she looks at Veronica, even basic dislike feels impossible.
“You and Veronica have gotten close.” Archie says, following Betty’s gaze.
“I guess.”
“She really cares about you.”
Betty sighs, tilting her head and continuing to watch Veronica.
He’s not wrong.
When Veronica had first shown interest in her, Betty had questioned just how sincere it was. But it’s become obvious lately that for some odd reason, Veronica does genuinely care about her. She’s not sure many other people would have stuck by her like Veronica has after witnessing her breakdown with Chuck the previous week.
Betty doesn’t really understand why Veronica continues to stick around, but she’s not about to question it. If she’s being honest, she’s just as thankful for their friendship as Veronica seems to be.
It’s nice knowing that even though things with Archie might be crumbling, her friendship with Veronica only seems to be growing stronger every day.
“So… are you still thinking of getting the school paper back up and running?”
Betty perks up at the question, nodding, “Yeah, I think so.” She says, “It’ll be another thing to add to my college applications. And I’ll get to write more without feeling like I’m putting off schoolwork.”
Archie nods, smiling kindly back at her, “That’s really great, Betty.” He says, “What’re you gonna write about?”
Betty shrugs, resting her chin in her hands, “I don’t know. I was thinking about looking more into the Jason situation, but I don’t know if Weatherbee would go for it. Might cause some…”
Betty trails off as she notices she’s lost Archie, the boy having retrieved his phone and looking at a new text.
“Arch?” Betty prods.
“Huh? Oh- sorry.” Archie looks up at her guiltily, “What were you saying?”
Archie pockets the phone, but not before Betty has already caught the flirty text on the screen from someone simply named ‘G’.
“… nothing.” Betty sighs, “Don’t worry.”
“Okay.” Archie accepts easily, “That- uh… that was actually my dad. He’s pissed that I’ve been out so much; wants me home now.” He looks to Betty apologetically, “Sorry, Betty. Do you want a lift home, though?”
Betty tries to hide her annoyance over how easily the lie just slipped off of Archie’s tongue, biting the inside of her cheek to hold back a snarky remark.
“No.” she settles on, offering Archie a stiff smile, “It’s okay. I’ll stay here.”
“Are you sure?”
Betty nods, and Archie lets out a sigh of relief, completely oblivious to the contradicting expression of disappointment written on Betty’s features.
“Thanks, Bets.” He grins, already getting up from the steps, “You’re the best.”
Betty just nods again, fighting back the urge to scream back at her best friend and let him know how not okay all of this actually is.
But she doesn’t; and instead she just sighs, hands balling into fists on her knees and nails digging into her palms, willing frustrated tears away.
Betty's not sure why she lingers at the party after Archie leaves. Maybe out of some need to just do what people don’t expect of her and actually let go for once.
It’s probably that same need that finds her sitting at a bench opposite Reggie Mantle.
She’s never had much contact with the boy, outside of his catcalls in the hallway every now and then.
But he’s nice enough.
A bit of a jerk, sure. But he doesn’t ask too many questions, and the mindless, if mildly flirtatious conversation is something Betty’s more than grateful for.
He’s smoking, and Betty’s spent the past few minutes just eyeing the cigarette between his fingers. It’s not even that she wants to smoke it. It’s just tempting, to shatter that picture perfect illusion of Betty Cooper for one moment and do something that no one would expect of her.
Reggie catches her stare, but reads it completely wrong, “Yeah, yeah, I know.” He drawls, “I’m gonna die before I’m thirty or some shit, yeah? Save me the speech.”
“What? No, I wasn’t…” Betty pauses, “Just… can I have one?”
Reggie’s eyes widen in surprise, looking down to his cigarette and then back to Betty, “You wanna smoke?”
Betty nods, and a wicked grin traces his lips.
“Well, that’s a surprise.” He laughs, “Okay, princess. If you’re sure.”
Reggie retrieves a cigarette, passing it over to Betty and lighting it for her as she takes a drag. Her throat immediately protests at the smoke filling her lungs, and her eyes water as coughs splutter out of her.
Reggie just laughs loudly, “Try again, Cooper.” He coaxes, “Take it a bit easier. You’ll get the hang of it.”
Betty waits for her coughs to subside before having another attempt, this time managing to fight off a cough and take the smoke in properly. It tastes just as gross as it smells, but it comes with a sense of relief. Like a little bit of the weight of the expectations surrounding her has been lifted. She watches the smoke drift into the night air as she exhales, the lingering soreness in her throat almost therapeutic.
“There you go.” Reggie grins, “Who would’ve thought? Saint Betty having a smoke. Archie’s gonna kill me when he finds out.”
“Shut up, Reggie.” Betty rolls her eyes.
“You know if you wanna try anything else new tonight…” Reggie winks playfully at her, “I’m your man.”
Betty stares at him, disgust painting her features, “You’re a pig.”
“Now that’s not-”
“And what do we have here?”
Betty’s eyes widen at Veronica’s voice, and she turns slightly to find the girl right behind her, looking anything but impressed as she glares at Reggie.
“Veronica! Was wonderin’ when you’d come retrieve your BFF.” Reggie taunts, grinning at her, “Wanna join us?”
Veronica eyes him, arms crossed and looking repulsed by the offer alone, “No, Reggie. I don’t.”
“Aw come on. I thought you and Betty did everything together these days. If she’s letting loose, you can too.”
Veronica glances to Betty for a moment, eyes narrowing and making Betty feel ten times smaller under her disapproving gaze. She looks back to Reggie, tilting her head, “Reggie, don’t you have a whole football team you can torture with your presence? Go bother them.”
Reggie scoffs, “Real nice.” He grumbles, rising from the bench and moving past Veronica, “I got better things to do, anyway.”
Betty almost calls after him and begs him to come back, frankly terrified at the look Veronica is sending her as she comes to sit on the other side of the bench. But alas, Reggie retreats back to the party like he’s a little scared of Veronica himself.
“Smoking, Betty?” Veronica starts, “I know teen rebellion is tempting and all, but you could at least choose a habit that won’t have you coughing up a lung before you even start graying.”
“It’s one cigarette, V. I’m not going to die.” Betty argues weakly, face burning with embarrassment, “Why do you care, anyway?”
“I care, because I’m your friend. And as your friend it’s my duty to tell you how horribly outdated it is to think you’ll find an answer to your issues in that dirty death stick between your fingers.” Veronica nods to the cigarette expectantly, “Put it out.” She demands.
Betty looks at Veronica disbelievingly, “You can’t just order me around like that.”
“Yes I can.” Veronica says, “Put it out.”
Betty glares at her friend, but squashes the butt of the cigarette against the bench anyway.
Veronica nods in satisfaction, “Where’s Archie, anyway? Shouldn’t he be with you?”
“He left. Some girl texted him.” Betty watches Veronica’s expression closely for any sign jealousy, but she comes up empty. Instead, the girl just looks even less impressed with her.
“So you’re sulking?”
“No.”
Veronica clearly doesn’t believe it, but Betty doesn’t back down under the girl’s probing stare, looking right back into those dark eyes and hoping she manages to look even half as uncompromising as Veronica does right now.
To her surprise, Veronica actually does give in this time, instead letting out a heavy sigh.
“Oh, Betty.” She says, “What are we going to do with you?”
Betty just shrugs, “I’m not your responsibility.”
“Well seeing as you’re clearly not looking out for yourself, someone has to do it.”
“You’re so dramatic. I’m fine.”
“Smoking and flirting with Reggie Mantle does not scream ‘fine’.”
Betty scoffs, “Are you sure you should be lecturing me about my behaviour at a party?” she says, glaring at Veronica, “Don’t you think that’s kinda hypocritical, considering prom?”
Veronica pauses, shifting in her seat, “Okay, touché.” She says stiffly, tucking her hair behind her ear and composing herself, “I guess I deserve that.”
Betty’s eyes narrow, and she lets out a laugh, shaking her head in disbelief.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Betty shrugs, “It’s just, aren’t you supposed to have a bit more bite? It’s hard to believe the girl sitting across from me is the same one who supposedly ran the New York social scene through fear.”
Veronica’s jaw tightens, “I can be that girl, if you want.” She says, “Be careful what you wish for, Betty.”
“Why hold back, though?” Betty pushes, “Why are you so nice to me all the time? Why do you care? We’ve barely been friends for over a month.”
Betty knows she’s being an ass, egging Veronica on for no reason. But she can’t seem to stop herself; needing to lash out at someone.
Figures, she’d pick the only person who actually seems to care about her lately.
“I know what you’re doing, Betty.” Veronica says, sounding bored, “I won’t be your punching bag.”
“Come on. I’m sure you’ve been holding back plenty of things to say to me.”
“Actually, no. Despite what you might think, B, I do actually care about you. That’s all it is.” Veronica quips, making Betty immediately feel guilty with one, pitiful stare, “No evil plan. I just like being around you. Although you’re making it quite difficult, right now.”
Betty groans, head falling into her hands, “I’m sorry. I’m being horrible.”
Veronica laughs, “Disagreeable? Yes. Horrible? Not quite.” She smiles softly when Betty looks back up at her, “The bitchy thing isn’t your style, honey. Stick to what you know.”
“I should probably go home.” Betty sighs, “Save myself from further embarrassment.”
“Well, this party has officially entered ‘bore’ territory.” Veronica reasons, “What’s say we get out of here together? Get some food from Pop’s and watch a dumb movie back at mine?”
“My mom’s expecting me home.”
“It’s a Friday night. Text her and tell her you’ll be staying at mine.”
“She’ll love that.” Betty laughs softly, “You know what she thinks of us being friends.”
“If you stuck to Mother Cooper’s rules all the time you would never even leave your bedroom.” Veronica drawls, “Now, are you going to fight me on everything, tonight? Or are you going to come home with me and stop feeling sorry for yourself?”
Betty smiles despite herself, “Okay, fine. We’ll go to yours.” She concedes, “But you’re buying my burger.”
The expression on Veronica’s face at her victory is one of almost childish glee, and she holds her hand out for Betty as she rises from the bench, “I’d be a terrible date if I didn’t.”
For a night that started fairly crumby, Betty’s surprised by how good of a time she’s ended up having.
It’s not that they’re even doing anything special. Just stuffing their faces with food and watching movies in Veronica’s bedroom. But Betty’s starting to discover that when Veronica’s involved, keeping up a foul mood is usually a difficult task.
They’re onto the second movie of the night, which is a horror, upon Betty’s request to not be reminded of how terrible the current state of her own love life is. Veronica’s less than enthused by the story playing out onscreen, complaining about how ridiculous the whole genre is in an attempt to mask the blatant fear on her features.
But it only manages to make the whole experience more amusing for Betty, never having picked Veronica as someone who can’t stand a simple horror flick.
“Honestly, Betty. What do you get out of watching these movies?” Veronica complains as the next teen of choice gets murdered onscreen, “It’s positively abhorrent.”
Betty snorts, “It’s called fun, Ronnie.”
“Well I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” Veronica grumbles, “It’s not even scary.”
“Tell that to the vice grip you have on my hand.”
Veronica glances down to where she is, in fact, close to breaking a few bones in Betty’s hand, and she loosens her grip.
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Betty grins, “I get it. You’re scared.”
Veronica glares playfully back at her, “Scared that these actors actually get work, maybe.”
“Uh huh.” Betty giggles, “So I suppose you’d be fine if we watched the sequel next, then?”
Veronica’s eyes narrow, an exasperated huff falling from her lips, “Well, I’m glad my suffering has brought you out of your teen angst for the night.” She pouts, “I suppose that was the goal.”
Betty’s heart warms at the admission, her laughter sobering. She’s still not certain if this friendship with Veronica is one set to last, or to crumble when the other girl finds someone more on her level to hang out with. But for now, it’s nice feeling cared for.
“Thanks, Ronnie.” She says then, sincerity lacing her tone, “I know I’ve been difficult tonight, but… I really do appreciate you doing this.”
“Betty Cooper? Difficult?” Veronica grins, “Never.”
They’re still holding hands, which Betty is sure would usually be weird. But it doesn’t feel anything but natural, and Veronica seems completely unfazed by the continued contact as well. So, Betty doesn’t pull back, instead squeezing Veronica’s hand softly.
Veronica looks down at their hands and Betty thinks she’s going to pull away, but instead she shifts her hold to link their fingers together, offering Betty a small smile.
“You know… you can talk to me, B.” she says, “I know what it’s like.”
Betty frowns, “What what’s like?”
“To feel as though people don’t quite see you.”
Betty’s almost bowled over by how easily Veronica’s hit the nail on the head, and she wonders for a second if the girl hasn’t somehow mastered the talent of telepathy or something.
“Who says that’s how I feel?”
“Betty, please.” Veronica smiles sadly, “I’ve spent the better part of my life feeling like I’m just playing a role.” She says, “You think I can’t recognize someone doing the same?”
Betty’s reflex is to deny everything and tell Veronica she’s just reading into things. But something in Betty makes her stop. Maybe it’s because she’s just tired of pretending, or maybe it’s because with Veronica, it’s so much easier to just let go.
She sighs, giving in, “It’s just…” Betty meets Veronica’s gaze, “I’ve always tried to do what’s expected of me. To be who my mom and dad want me to be. And I guess somewhere along the line maintaining this… this stupid image of perfection that people propped me up to be… it became so important. Even though I hated it, I had to keep it up. Because that’s who I’m supposed to be, you know? And after Polly… it just kept getting worse and I barely even know who I am anymore.”
Betty feels Veronica grip on her hand tighten slightly, the other girl remaining quiet as she waits for her to continue.
“Archie was always kind of a saving grace from all that. I didn’t have to try with him.” Betty says, “But lately, it’s like he barely knows anything about me. I’m just sweet and unassuming Betty Cooper. And that’s it.” She lets out a hollow laugh, “I mean- he said I’m perfect. That I’m ‘too good for him’.”
“You are too good for him, Betty.” Veronica says, so much conviction behind her tone that Betty almost actually believes her.
“I’m not perfect, Ronnie.” Betty murmurs out, sighing, “It just hurts.” She elaborates, “Feeling like even my best friend has no idea who I am.”
“Well screw Archie Andrews, then.” Veronica says, “You have me, and if we’re being honest, that’s better than his ginger ass any day of the week.” She grins at the laugh Betty lets out, “I know you can’t help how it hurts you. But you’re not on your own, B. You never have to be anyone else with me.”
Betty smiles, resting her other hand over their linked ones, “Thanks, Ronnie.”
There’s something in Veronica’s stare that makes Betty’s heart feel full, and pushes Archie completely to the back of her mind.
Maybe Veronica’s not so wrong about fate bringing them together, after all.
Because that might just explain how strangely easy and familiar everything is between them. Veronica’s barely been in Betty’s life for over a month, and already Betty struggles to remember what it was like before her.
A scream from the laptop breaks the quiet moment between them, Veronica jumping and letting out an annoyed groan as Betty laughs at her, “Mind if we switch that crap off and go to bed?”
Betty grins, nodding, “Fine by me.”
That’s all Veronica needs to immediately reach over and snap the laptop shut, proceeding to then find Betty a set of clothes to wear for bed. Betty goes to the bathroom to change, and when she returns Veronica has cleared the bed and is already under the covers waiting for her.
Veronica laughs at the sight of her shorts on Betty, which barely even cover her ass thanks to their size difference, “Looking smokin’, B.” she teases.
Betty groans, cheeks red, “Shut up.” She says, making quick work of sliding in next to Veronica to avoid further embarrassment, “You could have at least tried to give me bigger shorts.”
“Where would the fun be in that?”
Betty sends Veronica a stern look that only receives a playful grin from the girl, and they proceed to spend the majority of the night talking instead of sleeping, faces dimly lit by the lamppost outside as they divulge meaningless details to one another that neither yet knew.
Whispered confessions of their pasts and hopes for their futures eventually turn into constant yawns and both girl’s fighting to keep their eyes open. It’s the first time in a while that Betty can remember not wanting to fall asleep, but despite her wishes, the pair are eventually unable to fight it off.
“Betty?”
Betty’s eyes open at the sound of Veronica’s voice, having long thought the other girl had fallen asleep.
“Yeah?” she murmurs back.
Veronica rolls over to face Betty, the pair a breath’s distance from one another.
The light outside the window shimmers against her dark eyes as she watches Betty for a moment, searching for something Betty can’t quite define.
“You may not be your definition of perfect.” she says, reaching out to tuck a strand of Betty’s hair behind her ear, “But you’re definitely someone’s.”
After that night, Betty feels something between her and Veronica shift.
They’re closer than before, and when Veronica calls Betty her ‘best friend’, it no longer feels like an overstatement.
The truth is, there’s very little times where Betty doesn’t seek out Veronica’s company, or the other way around. Even with Kevin, it’s never been this easy to just be with someone.
With Veronica, Betty doesn’t feel the need to fake a smile or pretend to be someone she’s not. She can just be herself, and it’s enough.
It seems to be the same for Veronica, too, if the way she changes when it’s just the two of them is anything to go by.
It’s only since she’s started seeing another side to Veronica that Betty even realized just how guarded the girl is, almost like she’s always preparing for the next moment she has to defend herself or cut someone down before they do so to her. At school, Veronica’s all confidence and sharp-wit.
When it’s just the two of them, Betty is privy to a more relaxed version of her. It’s not a majorly noticeable change, just little tells that Betty’s picked up over time spent together. Like how her posture is less proper or how her words fall more candid, instead of sounding like they’ve jumped right out of a script. Even that smirk she wears so often becomes more playful than threatening.
Betty doesn’t point out any of the changes. Part of the relief of their time together is the fact that they don’t have to explain themselves to one another.
But it’s nice. Knowing that they’re sharing a part of themselves with one another that not many others get to see.
“Betty?” Veronica says one afternoon, sat on the floor of her bedroom while Betty lies on the girl’s bed, textbook in front of her and attempting to slug through her latest set of homework.
Most of their time together is spent here, in Veronica and her mom’s apartment. It’s the easier arrangement, seeing as Betty’s mom would probably have an aneurysm if she knew how much time Betty was spending with Hermione Lodge’s daughter in the first place.
“Hmm?” Betty responds, looking up from her textbook and over to Veronica, whose own gaze is fixed on the notepad in front of her as she writes something down.
“Do you remember MASH?” Veronica asks, a playful lilt to her voice as she continues to write on the pad.
“What?”
“MASH.” Veronica’s eyes move to Betty, “You know, that game everyone would play when we were little. To find out who you’d marry and all that.”
Betty rolls her eyes, smiling despite herself, “We’re supposed to be studying.”
“I got bored.” Veronica shrugs, “So, do you remember it?”
“I remember it. I never played, though.”
“Seriously?”
Betty sighs, marking her place in her textbook and looking back to Veronica, “I grew up pretty much only hanging out with Archie, Ronnie.” She says, “And he’s not exactly the type to doodle about his crush.”
Veronica scoffs, “Well, I beg to differ on that, but anyway…” she gets up from the floor, bringing her notebook with her and grinning as she joins Betty on the bed, lying on her stomach and side pressing up against Betty’s.
She places the notebook in front of them on the bed, Betty looking down to find the word ‘MASH’ written at the top of the page, accompanied by various lists. While she never took part, Betty remembers seeing some of the girls like Cheryl playing the game when they were younger.
It’s a childish game; your friend draws a spiral until you tell them to stop, and then you use the number of curves in the spiral as a way to count between the lists and ‘predict’ your future. It doesn’t take much effort to imagine a young, bossy Veronica hosting the game with her friends in the schoolyard.
Betty laughs, “Have you even studied at all this afternoon?” she asks, reading through the lists Veronica’s apparently spent her time creating instead of doing her homework.
“I’m trying to determine my fate, Betty.” Veronica teases, “As my best friend, it’s your duty to help me.”
“Uh huh. Okay. So you’re fated to end up with either Archie, Reggie, Jughead or-” Betty pauses as she reads the list of names, “Why am I on here?”
Veronica grins, winking playfully at Betty, “Well I figured you deserve a shot at me, too.”
“You’re an idiot.” Betty mumbles out, cheeks reddening under Veronica’s amused gaze.
She swears, Veronica has made a habit of flirting with her just for the enjoyment of seeing Betty squirm.
“Shut up and entertain me.” Veronica demands, placing the tip of her pen against the paper, “Now, tell me when to stop drawing.”
Figuring there’s no use in fighting her further, Betty does as she’s told, watching as Veronica draws out a spiral on the paper, “… stop.” She says soon after.
Veronica counts out the number of lines in the spiral, using the number to then count across the lists on the sheet.
“This is so dumb.” Betty says under her breath, receiving a brief glare from Veronica in response before the girl returns to the game.
“So, Future Veronica will be living in an apartment.” Veronica says, circling the ‘A’ in MASH before continuing to count across the lists, “It better be a penthouse.” She adds, completely oblivious to Betty’s anxious state next to her.
Betty doesn’t even know why she’s feeling so uncomfortable; it’s just a stupid game. But despite that, her stomach flips every time Veronica’s pen hovers over her name.
“Three kids.” Veronica says, then scoffs, “I better be adopting them. No way am I giving up this bod’ for a bunch of brats.” She continues counting, “… and I’ll be driving a Mercedes. Acceptable, I suppose.”
Betty manages a weak laugh, eyes fixed on the pen as Veronica hovers it over the names as she counts between them.
And then, her pen lands on Betty’s name.
Betty’s breath catches in her throat, and she stares at the paper as Veronica circles her name and turns to her with a wide grin. Betty plays it off when she meets Veronica’s gaze, attempting her best eye-roll at Veronica’s antics.
“I guess you’re stuck with me, Betty Boo.” Veronica teases, and Betty lets out a breathy laugh.
“Lucky me.” She drawls, hoping Veronica doesn’t mention just how red her cheeks have gotten and focusing her eyes back on the sheet of paper.
“I’m pretty high maintenance.” Veronica says, “Be prepared to pamper me.”
Betty grins, shaking her head, “I think I can handle it.”
Veronica laughs, nudging Betty’s shoulder with her own.
Betty doesn’t notice Veronica leaning in to press a kiss to her cheek before she’s already turned her head to say something to the girl, being met with Veronica’s lips colliding with her own in a clumsy kiss.
It’s barely lasts a moment, both girls snapping away from each other with wide eyes.
(Betty doesn’t think she’s ever seen Veronica so alarmed.)
“Um- I’m sorry.” Veronica says, voice a slightly higher pitch than normal, “I- I was going to kiss you on the cheek but you-”
“It’s fine.” Betty squeaks, “No problem.”
“Right.” Veronica nods, getting up from the bed as though she couldn’t get away from Betty fast enough. She comes to stand at her vanity table, fixing her hair in the mirror while Betty sits cross-legged on the bed silently.
Once Veronica’s apparently gathered herself a bit, she turns back to Betty, “I mean- it’s not like we haven’t kissed before.” She laughs awkwardly, “No big deal.”
“Yeah, exactly.” Betty agrees firmly, “Seriously, it doesn’t matter.”
“Yeah.” Veronica lets out a heavy breath, silence filling the room as the pair look anywhere but at each other, “Anyway… I guess if we’re not studying we should call it a night.”
Betty frowns, almost letting out a surprised laugh.
Is Veronica really kicking her out over this?
“Um… I mean. Sure. I guess.” Betty says stiffly, “If that’s what you want.”
“Oh- no. I don’t mean…” Veronica’s stumbles over her words, looking completely helpless as she still refuses to completely meet Betty’s gaze, “Well, your mom is probably going to start calling you to go home soon, anyway.”
Betty would be insulted by how Veronica’s acting, if she weren’t so completely stumped by the nervous wreck she’s turned into.
She didn’t even think Veronica was capable of anything other than total confidence.
Betty decides not to push the situation any further and take the exit Veronica seems to be so desperate to offer her, “Yeah, you’re right.” She says weakly, “Call me later, though?”
“Of course.” Veronica says, unconvincing.
Betty keeps glancing to Veronica unsurely as she collects her things, the other girl remaining completely frozen by her desk, as though even being near Betty right now is unbearable.
Once her bag is packed, Betty makes her way for the door, feeling the awkwardness caving in on her, “I guess I’ll see you later, then.” She murmurs out weakly, sparing a final hesitant look back to Veronica.
Veronica just nods, and Betty’s frown deepens, the girl turning to leave.
“Wait- Betty?”
Betty turns around almost immediately, praying that Veronica’s just been teasing her by making this so awkward. But Veronica’s still wearing that same, owl-like expression of dread.
“Yeah?” Betty asks, offering Veronica a soft smile.
Veronica’s hands grip the table behind her, mouth opening and closing as she seems to deliberate over just what she planned to say, “… I just…”
Betty frowns, “Yes, Ronnie?”
“Don’t forget we have Vixens practice on Monday.”
Betty doesn’t even need to see the completely perplexed expression Veronica is wearing to know that it obviously wasn’t what Veronica had wanted to say at all. But Veronica maintains her ground, smiling falsely at Betty and waiting for her to leave. And Betty doesn’t even have the energy to push any further, grip tightening on her bag and turning away from Veronica to leave, ignoring the sense creeping up on her that for some reason, this matters so much more than it should.