Truth Or Dare

Chapter Two

Cheryl bites her lip as she tries to decide on her outfit. A cherry red romper like dress or her favorite pair of red high waisted jeans and a black crop top with her cherry red choker. She stood in front of the mirror and held both outfits up against her body.

"Go with the first one but keep the choker." Veronica says from the doorway to her room.

Cheryl flinches slightly and looks toward her. "Shouldn't you be downstairs with the rest of the scooby gang?" she asks a little rudely, which everyone was used to. It was the wall she had put up after years of verbal and physical abuse from her parents.

"I was looking for the restroom." Veronica responded.

Rolling her eyes, Cheryl tilts her head. "You've been here many times before Ronnie. You know where it's at. What's the real reason you're lurking around my room?" The redhead asks before stripping down to just her red lace panties and pulling on the dress.

"I just came to make sure you're okay." Veronica said.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Cheryl asks with fake pep. "My life is amazing."

Veronica gave her a look that meant she could see right through her fakeness.

Sighing, Cheryl looks down. "It's just, mine and JJ's birthday is coming up and I don't think I can celebrate."

"You don't have to if you don't want to." Veronica said.

The redhead reaches up and wipes a tear from her cheek. "JJ loved his birthday, like I said at the funeral. He decided to combine ours because nobody would come to mine."

Veronica moved over to Cheryl and pulled her into a hug.

Cheryl's facade instantly crumbles and she curls into Veronica, sobbing softly.

Veronica gently rubbed Cheryl's back to soothe her.

"He was supposed to come back, Ronnie." The redheaded teen sobs out.

"I know." Veronica said softly. "I know."

After a few minutes, Cheryl pulls away and wipes her eyes. "I'll meet you down there. I need to fix my makeup."

Veronica nodded. "Okay, take your time." She said, turning to leave.

****

"V, you got some mascara on your shirt." Betty whispers, sitting down beside her best friend.

Veronica looked down at her top. "So I do,'' she said, wiping it with her fingers.

"Where'd that come from?" Betty asks, shifting beside her.

"I must have spilled some." Veronica said.

Nodding her head, Betty shifts on the couch just as Cheryl begins making her way down the stairs.

"Hey." Betty said, sending her a smile.

"Cousin Betty." Cheryl responds before looking around the room. "Hobo." she says, looking at Jughead. "And Archiekins."

"Hey." Jughead responded.

Cheryl moves to sit down just as the doorbell rings. Sighing, she goes to open the door. "What are you snakes doing here?" she asks roughly, looking at Toni, Sweetpea, and Fangs.

"Jughead invited us." Fangs said.

Rolling her eyes, Cheryl turns toward the living room. "Hobo, did you invite these Southsiders to my party?" she asks Jughead.

Jughead looked up. "I did."

Sighing, Cheryl steps back to let them in just as Reggie, Kevin, and Josie arrive.