Caught In The Storm

Chapter 6

Jughead's POV
I wake up the next morning with a smile plastered on my face. I saw Betty yesterday. Betty. The girl I've loved for over a decade. The girl I've been missing for seven years. She's back.

Betty's POV
I wake up smiling, thinking of Jughead. I hate myself for it because I'm getting married in less than two months to another man. But I missed Jughead. He was my high school sweetheart. I loved him. I can't help thinking that I might still love him.

Archie's POV
"Bye babe!" I call to Veronica as she walks out the door to go grocery shopping.
After I hear the door close, I go upstairs to change out of my pajamas and get ready for the day.
I had just changed and started brushing my teeth when I hear the doorbell ring.
I spit out the toothpaste in my mouth, rinse off my toothbrush, and run down the stairs. I open the door, to see a face I was not expecting.
"You can't be here!" I whisper-yell, making sure to keep my voice hushed.
"Yes I can be. We have to talk about what happened. I don't want things to always be weird between us, Arch. We have to find a way to move on from it" Betty says, storming into my house.
"How can we move on? We both betrayed someone we care very much about! We can't just forget about what happened!" I respond, frustrated.
"Maybe you can't, but I can! Everyone makes mistakes. We can't undo what we did, but we can forgive ourselves and-"
"Veronica's going to be home soon. You need to leave!" I cut her off.
"Fine! But this isn't over" she yells.
She walks out of the door, slamming it behind her.
Seconds later, I hear a scream from outside. I run out of the house and find Betty shaking and pointing at a black van driving down the street.
"He was here. He was in the driveway. He tried to get me-"
"Shhhh it's okay" I say, hugging her. Although we're on bad terms, I can't leave her like this. We grew up together. "I'll drive you home"
I lead her to the car, and she sits down, staring straight ahead. It's a silent drive to her house, neither of us knowing what to say. She stares straight ahead, clearly shaken, her face streaked with makeup from tears.
After only a few minutes, I pull into her driveway and get out of the car. I walk around, open her door, and help her out of the car. We walk to the front step and I hug her again.
"It's okay, Betty, you're safe" I say.
"How are you going to get home?" she asks.
"I'll walk. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine" I respond. She nods and opens the door. I watch her walk into her house and start heading home.
"Wait, Arch!" I hear from behind me.
I turn around to see Betty running down her driveway towards me.
"He asked me where Veronica was. He was looking for Veronica!" Betty says.
I'm sure my face lost all of it's color. I start running home, hoping against hope that Veronica is there, safe.

Veronica's POV
I walk into the house with my hands full of groceries.
"Arch, I'm home!" I yell.
No response. He must be on a run or something. I set the groceries down and head up to our bedroom to change into sweats. I'm pulling on a sweatshirt when I hear the front door burst open.
"VERONICA? VERONICA?" yells Archie.
"I'm up here!" I yell down the stairs.
I hear the creak of the stairs as Archie quickly goes up them. He runs into our room and hugs me tight.
"You're here, and you're safe. I love you so much" he says.
What is he talking about?
"Arch, are you okay?" I ask, cautiously.
"We need to sit down" He says.
My heart drops. What could this be about?
"Archie?" I say.
"Today Betty came over. Looking for you. When she was leaving, she screamed. I went out and she told me that there was a black van in our driveway. A man came out and tried to take her. He also asked about you. I don't want to worry you. I just want you to be extra safe, okay?" He says, calmly.
I look down at my feet. The black van I saw at the end of the street. It had to be him.

Cheryl's POV
I see a text from Betty pop up on my phone on a group chat with Veronica and I.
Meet at Pop's?
Strange. We haven't talked in a while. We only had this group chat because of Betty's wedding and Veronica and I being bridesmaids.
Be there in 10 mins. I respond.

10 minutes later...

I'm the first one to get there. Two minutes later Archie comes by and drops Veronica off. She walks up to the counter and orders a milkshake, then slides into the booth across from me.
"Where's Betty?" I ask.
"She'll be here soon" Veronica responds.
Veronica was right, as Jughead pulls into Pop's and drops Betty off less than a minute later.
"Are they a thing?" I ask.
"I don't know. I don't think she even knows" Veronica replies.
Betty walks in and slides into the seat next to me.
"We need to talk" she says, looking concerned.

AN // I'm back a few days early and views went way up yay! Thank you guys so so much! I hope you keep reading and enjoying this book because I'm going to keep writing it. Let me know what you think of this chapter and vote if you wanna know about the black van!!