𝐌𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 | 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚

Chapter 13.

Betty arrived late to school - something that rarely ever happened - the first time that happened when her parents told her about Polly, the teachers never really cared if she was late, she was good girl. She'd bring her essays in on time, always. She'd stay back to help a teacher out if need be, she'd have perfect attendance and perfect grades. So when Betty knocked lightly on her chemistry room door, she expected the teacher to allow her to go to her seat without question. But the moment Betty stepped in the room it seemed everyone in the room had looked at her with narrowed eyes as though she'd committed a crime. Betty moved towards her seat near the back of the room beside Veronica but Mrs Joules called her making her stop and turn to face the snake eyed woman.

"Betty, you know I need an explanation as to why you're late otherwise its a fifteen after school." Her teacher sighed, Betty gulped, she'd never been asked for an explanation before that's why she didn't bother getting a note. Betty cleared her throat.

"I uh, I don't have a note." Betty stuttered feeling her nerves rise, she hated being intimidated in front of the class. "But I-I can assure you I'm late for a good reason."

"That's not enough evidence, Miss Cooper. For all I know you could have been skipping first period. Sit." Mrs Joules told her, her eyes glazed over with coldness. Betty clenched her books and stilled.

"Call my mum. I was with her. You know I wouldn't skip school, not when I need a perfect record." Betty rushed, trying to explain before the woman wrote down her detention. She'd never had one, not even when she was younger and getting one now, on her last year was not an option.

"Miss Cooper, take a seat." The teacher sighed getting quickly fed up with the blonde.

"I was getting a prescription, if you need evidence..." Betty said trying to keep her voice quiet but she knew people heard. She placed her books on Mrs Joules desk and rummaged through her bag pulling out a receipt for her medication. "Here."

Mrs Joules took the paper scanned it, she glanced up at Betty with wide eyes and opened her mouth to say something but Betty cut her off snatching the paper.

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak of it. You've got your evidence so you can scratch my detention." Betty's cheeks were still flared, she knew what her teacher was thinking. She had no doubt Mrs Joules knew what those tablets were for and Betty prayed the woman didn't blab it around to the other teachers and eventually the students.

"Right, of course," Mrs joules nodded, snapping her attention to the detention she had wrote down then tore it into two and tossed it in the bin. Betty took hold of her books ready to head to her seat but her teacher placed a hand on her books making Betty glance at her. "Listen Betty, if you need to ta-"

"I'm fine thanks." Betty said quickly, tugging her books into her arms and lifting her bag strap so it was on her shoulder properly and lowered her eyes to the floor as she headed back to her seat, whispers starting up around her. She dropped down beside Veronica who leaned over placing a delicate kiss on her cheek. Betty felt her stomach flutter and she smiled warmly at Veronica, her nerves washing away. "Hey."

"Hi beautiful." Veronica smirked, Betty felt blood rush to her cheeks at the compliment. Betty quickly skimmed Veronica's book to see what page they were supposed to be on and flipped open her book, scribbling down notes from Veronica's. Betty heard Mrs Joules start to speak up again explaining something about atoms and tests, she tried to both listen and write but it was becoming difficult as well as trying to concentrate when Veronica's heat was so close that it was radiating off of her and hitting Betty. Betty shook the thought out of her mind and forced herself to concentrate but it wasn't long until Veronica distracted her again, placing a hand on her thigh. Betty stopped writing and her breath hitched, she was completely frozen very aware they were in the middle of the classroom. She heard Ronnie stifle a laugh. "Relax, your all tense today."

"T-that's because I was questioned in front of the entire class, I had another row with my mum and my doctor prescribed me another set of tablets that will most likely do nothing and...and I can't concentrate when I'm sat beside you." Betty whispered, her blue eyes meeting brown. Veronica now had worry lines on her perfect head, she moved her hand back to the table and placed it over Betty's.

"You can talk to me you know, don't...don't block it all away. Maybe I can help." Veronica shrugged, she wanted to help, she really did, she could tell there were so many things going on in Betty's life right now, as there was in hers and honestly she wanted to vent it all out, it was her way of coping. She knew Betty's was shutting it all out but she didn't want her to do that anymore, it wasn't healthy.

"I know V, but it's not that si-" 

"Ladies!" Mrs Joules snapped, both girls snapped their heads to the teacher, both their cheeks warmed and they moved their hands away from one another. "I'm trying to teach, I'd gladly let you take over if you like?"

Veronica and Betty side glanced one another and shook their heads in unison. Betty had been embarrassed enough today, she didn't want to be embarrassed further. Veronica just didn't have a clue about chemistry so she knew there was no chance she was saying yes. Mrs Joules nodded and sighed.

"I didn't think so, now concentrate or I'll move you apart." 

"Maybe that's best, who knows what their doing under the desk." Cheryl commented, she knew her words would start Veronica off, Betty's cheeks flared and she ducked her head wanting the attention off of her. Veronica slammed her hands on the desk, rising to her feet and glared at Cheryl.

"Really Cheryl? How immature can you get?" Veronica spat, earning a eye roll from Cheryl, Mrs Joules looked like she had had enough of the lesson and its drama and she slammed the classroom door to grab the students attention.

"Veronica sit back down, Cheryl keep your comments to yourself, I'll have you both in a detention if you carry on with your childish fights." Mrs Joules yelled, her face red with rage. Veronica grumbled but did as she said and settled back down beside Betty, Cheryl turned to face the front not looking pleased either. But they didn't say anything else and allowed their teacher to teach them without further interruptions.