That evening...
Betty POV:
"So, cousin... I love seeing you, but why the sudden need for a last minute get-together?", asked the curly-haired red head as she pulled me in. Toni and Veronica both expressed their warmth and concern with facial expressions and by rubbing my back.
"Nothing.", I said bluntly. "I just... Need to relax, I guess. I've just been really on edge. First it was Jug, but now it's just me. It's like we've switched. At least he seems like he's fine now. I think he's making himself believe that, to be honest.".
"B, what on earth are you talking about?", Veronica inquired. "Why are you on edge?".
"The kids just have their ways, you know? Not to mention the fact that the teenagers in the neighborhood are absolutely dickheads. Like seriously, why is ding-dong-ditching even a thing these days?".
Toni stepped around to stand beside her wife, cuddling under her arm as she eyed me suspiciously. "Are the kids pranking you guys? That seems unlike them.".
"Yeah, because it isn't them. Ashton has been skittish lately, and Lola kinda freaked when she noticed a black van taking the same route home yesterday. That obviously didn't help, so that led him to believe that the rain beating down on his window was really someone throwing rocks or something at his window.", I explained, my heart suddenly beginning to race as I pushed the rest into the back of my mind. However, Jug, Archie, and Kevin walked over, my favorite strong arm hugging me closer.
"Adding onto that, Betty answered the phone this morning only to hear breathing on the other end. Furthermore, Lola answered the door, finding, you guessed it, nobody on the other side.", Jug informed them firmly. "So, yeah, it's safe to say that Betty's a little shaken up.".
"Oh, like you aren't, Juggie?".
"I... didn't say that.", he whispered, chewing his lip before nuzzling his face into my hair.
"Truth be told, I'm a little worried guys. I don't want this all to mean something or... be connected.", he admitted, his voice muffled.
The stairs suddenly creaked, and all of us spun around faster that we might've in the presence of a tornado, only to find a conflicted Trinity hunched over the banister.
"Uh... Um, I have something to confess.", she murmured as her foot bounced like rapid fire.
"What did you do, Trin?.", Jug groaned, and I could feel his heart begin to slow as he refused any oxygen until he got answer.
After a steady breath and a nod of self-reassurance, she cleared her throat.
"My friends were the ones throwing stuff at Ash's window two nights ago.".
"What the hell, Trinity?!", I shrieked, my blood already boiling as I recalled the terror on my boy's face as he cried the night before.
"I-I'm sorry. I told them to hit Lola's, not Ash's. I wanted to scare Lola a little bit since she got scared over the car. They must've mistaken his window for hers. B-But the call and the doorbell and the noises last night w-wasn't caused by them, I promise.". Her lip began to tremble as she watched Jug's nostrils begin to flair, along with the invisible steam evaporating from my ears.
"Trinity, you aught to be ashamed of yourself. You scared your younger brother! You made him cry, for God's sake! I-I thought I raised you better than that!", Jughead fumed.
"Trinity, go upstairs. Stay in your room. You're grounded! I hope you've learned your lesson.", I yelled after her as she ran back up the stairs, choking on her sobs as her door slammed audibly.
"Well, at least that's one mystery solved.", Kevin pointed out. "That doesn't explain the car, the call, the doorbell, or the other noises.".
"Gee, Kev. Go ahead and freak Betty out more, why don't you?", Archie said irritatedly, patting my shoulder as he did so.
"Guys... you don't actually think... what if-".
"Betty, no.", Veronica cut in. "That's, like, an urban legend. You guys are fine, I'm sure.".
I slumped further against Jug, him quickly supporting me and holding me upright while I sagged tiredly.
"She's right, Betty.", he confirmed. "Everything is normal. I don't think there's anything we need to worry about. You know this.".
