𝐌𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 | 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚

Chapter 07.

The limo journey back from the prison was relatively quiet, Betty didn't speak much - she got the vibe Veronica didn't want to talk much and she respected that...but she couldn't get the image of a broken down Veronica out of her head. Betty's heart ached at the memory.

It made her adore Veronica even more because she acted like nothing fazed her, she stood up for what she believed in, she defended those who needed it and she did everything she could to help others - all whilst she shouldered her own problems. The thought however, also worried Betty, she hated thinking that the brown eyed girl faked smiles and laughs throughout the day - holding in her pain or problems, showing on the outside that popular, brilliant high school girl, then on the inside she felt herself slowly dying.

Betty pulled herself out of her head when she heard Smithers voice chirp up, the black glazed screen rolling down so the girls could see his sympathetic face as he gave them both a sad smile.

"We've arrived, it was a pleasure seeing you again Betty, I shall see you soon no doubt. Miss Lodge...I hope you understand the reasons behind your mother telling you not to visit...I wouldn't blame her." Smithers spoke softly, Veronica offered him a smile, thankful he cared.

"How many times have I told you, call me by my name, Smithers," Veronica smiled, the elderly man simply grinning. "But I understand why they didn't want me seeing him like that...thank you for the ride, have a goodnight." Veronica nodded, a smile still resting on her lips as she slid out of the limo after Betty, who called a quick goodbye and thank you.

Once the pair had approached the door, they both took notice that Alice's car was now parked in the driveway. Betty gave Veronica a worried glance then looked to the door, prepared to knock. The sky had darkened now, it's pretty baby blue and white fluffy clouds gone, replaced by a murky navy blue and shining specs in the sky.

"Betty! Where the hell have you been? It's an hour past your curfew!" Alice practically yelled as she opened the door before Betty even had the chance.

Both girls stumbled in surprise at the sudden appearance of the woman, exchanging the same look. Betty could tell her mother had had an argument with her father, the woman was as red as a tomato from screaming - which was never a good sign.

"I was with Veronica, mom.We had to go somewhere and it's not like I'm a child. I shouldn't even have a curfew." Betty sighed, rolling her eyes in annoyance. The blonde once more taking Veronica's icy hand and walking her past her mother and into the house. But Alice wasn't finished with them yet, she spoke again before the pair could rush up the stairs.

"Jason Blossom didn't have a curfew and look what happened to him...do you not remember there is still a murderer on the loose?" Alice glowered, her arms now folded in anger as she shot daggers at Veronica and then back to her daughter. "I've told you she was a bad influence and what do you do? Become her best friend."

"Listen mom, I promise you there was no chance of us getting hurt, ok? I don't care if you think V is a bad influence, in my opinion, she's the best influence for me." Betty shot back, her mind not forgetting that hers and Veronica's hands were still intwined. Before Alice could have the last say, she finished, "Goodnight, mom."

With that, Betty and Veronica ignored anything else Alice had to say and Betty shut her bedroom door closing them off from her hectic mother. Veronica smirked amusingly at Betty when the blonde let out enough air to blow over a house.

"Maybe I should ask if you could move in with me." She joked sweetly, trying to make the blonde feel better.

Betty's blue eyes sparkled as she imagined living with Veronica, thinking everything would be fun, sweet and best of all - no arguments. Betty gave her friend a sad smile. It was a nice dream. But that's just it, it was only a dream. There was no way her parents would let their final daughter live with the Lodges. It would cause more problems for Veronica and Hermione and that was the last thing Betty wanted.

"That would've be nice, everything is so...relaxing when we're at yours. Life seems simple. But I couldn't leave here even if I wanted, my parents would rip each others heads off. Besides, Archie would miss me."

Veronica perked up at Archie's name shuffling her feet, watching them intently as she wondered whether to bring up the question on her mind or not. Dreading the answer..

"Betty?"

"Mhm." Betty hummed, pulling her hair out of her ponytail, shaking it so that it didn't look like a birds nest. Veronica's brown eyes flickered up to hers, something flashing across them - something unreadable to Betty.

"Do you still like him? Archie, I mean." She asked nervously.

Betty was a little thrown off by the sudden interest in whether she still liked Archie - which she didn't. Although, a few months ago she had been sure she was in love with the red haired boy.

"No."

Veronica looked up, at her a twinge of a smile wanting to approach her lips but she fought it down. The brunette thanking god a million times for that answer. Betty suddenly felt a drop in her stomach as she realised why Veronica might be asking.

The blonde flopped down onto her mattress, trying to concentrate on her ceiling, avoiding Veronica's eyes as best as she could but every time Betty looked over, her dark irises reeled her in. She felt the bed dip as Veronica came and led beside her, gazing at the ceiling too, unsure of what to say. Betty took the risk of asking what she thought the brunette was eventually going to bring up.

"Does that mean that you might ask him on a date or whatever now? Because he's single and I'm not pining after him." Betty turned her head, the right side of her face resting on the bed as she traced every inch of Veronica's features with her eyes. Veronica let out a laugh, one more sarcastic and sharp.

"Me and Archiekins? No, sweetie. Not gonna happen." The brunette mused, her eyes still trained on the swirls that had been engraved on Betty's ceiling. Betty now full of curiosity sat up and glanced down at the girl with an eyebrow raised.

"Then why ask?"

Veronica smirked, finally meeting Betty's eyes and shrugging her shoulders, "Just curious. Come on B. It's been a long day, lets get some sleep."

[X]

Once they'd both changed and clambered into the sheets, backs to one another as though they had been fighting, seconds ticked by, then minutes, then a couple of hours. Veronica hadn't even closed her eyes to try and go to sleep, she knew she wouldn't be able to, not with having Betty so close and everything with her father.

The brunette couldn't help but smile as she remembered the two interacting, her father had liked Betty she could tell. He didn't just hug anyone. Veronica found her heart speeding up at remembering how quickly Betty agreed to go with her; how she didn't mutter comments when she cried or judge her like others would, because they believed caring for a criminal is wrong. Veronica liked even more that Betty had detected that she didn't want to talk much afterwards...most people would think of her as rude. Veronica couldn't help herself, she shifted over so that she faced Betty's back and tapped the girls shoulder, wondering if she was asleep but almost instantly Betty turned to face her.

Veronica couldn't believe she was about to take such a risk - a risk that could ruin their friendship - something that would make things super awkward. But what's the harm, they'd done it before, right? So Veronica focused on Betty's lips through the darkened room and made her move, swiftly sliding a hand up to Betty's jaw and planting a gentle, loving kiss, not like the first one, but this one with more feeling in it. Veronica pulled away as Betty started kissing in return, a smile spread across her lips.

"What was that for?" Betty pondered anxiously, feeling like she could burst with joy at affectionate little peck she'd received.

"A thank you...for coming with me today. For not pushing me to reveal how I truly feel about my father being locked up. A thank you for just being you, Betty." Veronica whispered, leaning over to kiss Betty's cheek. "I will forever be grateful of you, Betty Cooper."

Betty's cheeks heated, she knew that Veronica was being genuine and the thought made her heart want to soar through the sky, treasuring this moment forever. "I-I love you too, V."