Touch (a Bughead story)

•3•

At lunchtime Betty explained to Cheryl about the nightmare and how she was kind of out of it from her lack of sleep -Cheryl was very understanding.

This was before Cheryl asked the Southsiders to sit with them of course.

School was finished for the day and Betty Cooper could not be happier. She couldn't get the memories out of her head and Jughead's glare certainly wasn't helping.

She had dance after school today -they had it Tuesday to Friday and early morning on Sunday. It was a weird timetable but it worked.

She was very happy she had dance because she needed to release her emotions -she needed to escape.

But when she entered the gym hall only Connie -their dance instructor- was there.

"Where is everyone?" Betty asked as she entered.

"Did no one tell you? My sister just had her baby so I cancelled practice" She replied.

"Leah had her baby oh my god tell her I say congrats! What's her name?" The blonde girl asked.

"Evie. And I'll tell her" Connie replied packing up the last of her things.

"Would you mind if I stayed and practiced? I can lock up?" Betty asked.

"Of course honey, no problem" Connie smiled as she gave the girl the keys. "Just head out the back door I don't fancy getting into trouble with Mr Weatherbee alright?" The brunette said.

"I will. Thanks Connie bye!" Betty waved as the girl walked away.

"Bye!" Connie waved back.

Betty did some stretching and warming up before starting to dance properly.

After feeling warm enough she decided to do a run through of her most recent work -she had finished it in her basement last night.

Her eyes were glassy and full of emotion as she danced across the room.

By the end of it some of her moves were slightly sloppy -she was in tears now.

As the song finished she sat on the floor, exhaustion taking over.

She let the tears run as she pulled her knees to her chest. "Damn it. Why are you so fucking weak?!" She scolded herself.

She shook her head and continued to let the tears burn her face.

"Hello? Anybody there? Hel- Betty? Is that you?" She heard a girl speak -she recognised that voice -Toni.

Luckily she had her back turned to her so she wiped her tears and took a deep breath.

"Y-yeah it's me." Betty said shakily.

"Are you alright?" Toni said walking closer.

"I'm fine. What are you um, doing here?" Betty asked as she heard the footsteps get closer.

"I was looking for the blue and gold for photography and kinda got lost." She chuckled as she reached the blonde.

"Oh right, it's uh third door on your right from here." Betty said as she wiped a quick tear that escaped.

Meanwhile Betty breathing had increased as she started getting more flashbacks.

"Please let me go I won't tell anyone I swear!" Betty pleaded with hopeful eyes.

"Where's the fun in that?" The man said darkly, taking out a piece of barbed-wire.

"Please just don't! Please don't hurt me!" She begged.

But it was too late -he had already plunged it into her skin dragging it diagonally across her stomach, blood pouring from her long new wound, that would soon scar.

Betty screamed but a cloth was shoved in her mouth to quieten her.

"Think of it as a souvenir, no matter where you are you'll always have a piece of me etched into your skin, taunting you." He whispered into her ear.

"Betty are you alright?" Toni asked.

"Umm, could you maybe leave me a-alone to
c-collect myself s-sorry." She winced at how rude she was being.

"Yeah. Do you need me to call someone or?" She asked.

"I'm f-fine" she spoke shakily. "Toni?" She asked.

"Yeah?" The pink haired girl replied.

"Can you n-not tell anyone a-about this. It's
k-kinda embarrassing." Betty said sheepishly.

"Of course Betty" She replied before reluctantly leaving the room.

Betty managed to calm herself down after many breathing exercises and some water.

My that time she decided to just call it quits and go home.

***

As soon as Betty entered her house she rushed to the kitchen -already knowing her mom would be there cooking.

"Hey honey, ho-" Alice had started but was cut off once Betty ran and hugged her.

Alice wrapped her arms around her daughter and held her tight. "What happened? Are you ok?" She asked.

"F-flashbacks" was all Betty managed to say before starting to cry again.

"Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry" Alice said, her eyes becoming glassy at the sight of her daughter's tear stained face.

Betty slowly calmed down and pulled away after a couple of minutes. "I'm sorry" Betty whispered.

"Don't you ever apologise for something out of your control alright?" Alice said.

"Betty chuckled lightly before replying. "Yes ma'am".

"Do you want some green tea?" Alice asked boiling the kettle.

Betty nodded.

"What are we having for dinner?" Betty asked softly.

"I'm making curry. It should be done soon, Chic just went to get some milk from the store and then we can eat." Alice explained.

"Can I have a shower first before dinner?" Betty asked.

"Sure honey, go ahead just don't be too long." Alice replied.

"Ok" Betty called down the stairs as she headed to her room.

***

Betty let the hot water run over her and relax her tense muscles. She had told her mom she wouldn't be long but...well it was a nice hot shower and just couldn't seem to get out.

After a long argument with herself about getting out she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower.

After changing she proceeded down the stairs in sweatpants and her brother's hoodie that she had stolen.

"Isn't that my hoodie?" Chic asked as they sat down to eat.

"Not anymore." She grinned back at him.

He laughed before devouring his dinner.

Betty smiled at her family maybe it was unconventional at times, and certainly not normal or perfect but it was home, and that's all she needed.

********
A/N
So I kept rewriting this chapter I couldn't get it right and i still don't like it that much but here it is I guess?

Thanks for reading x