Caught In The Storm

Chapter 12

Veronica's POV
We get out of the car, run to the front door, and ring the doorbell. Footsteps get louder until the door opens.
"Hey guys"
"Jughead?" we all three say in unison.
"Why are you here?" Cheryl asks.
"Just come in" Jughead responds.
We walk into the house and to the living room, where Betty is sitting. Jughead was in front of us so he takes the seat next to Betty. We all sit down across from them.
"Guys, what happened?" I ask.
Betty just shrugged.
"We had a moment. Was it a mistake? Probably" Jughead says.
"Probably? It was a huge mistake, period. We warned you guys. You can't do this to yourself" Archie says.
"I think that this is your life and you can do what you want. But, Betty is getting married in like, a month and a half. You have to remember that" Cheryl says.
I can't help thinking that she's come a long way from high school. From that mean, judgmental, popular girl.
Jughead leans over and whispers something in Betty's ear. When he pulls away, she nods.
"I...um...I don't want to marry Jack" she says.
I feel my jaw drop. I'm sure Archie and Cheryl's faces look the same.
Jughead gives her a reassuring look. Archie's the first one to talk.
"Betty, that's big. Do you really mean it?" he asks.
"Yes, I mean it. I don't even know why I thought he was the love of my life. Coming back here and seeing all of you guys made me realize that he isn't. I just have a feeling that he isn't the man I'm supposed to marry. I don't want to marry him" she says.
Just then the front door opens and Alice comes walking into the house. She takes one look at all of us sitting here and scoffs. Betty turns around and her mom sees her tear stained face.
"Elizabeth, what are you crying about? We're going to do some wedding planning" she says.
Betty looks at us. I can see her unhappiness in her eyes.
"Alice, wait!" I say.
"Don't!" Betty whispers.
"You should know..." I start.
But then I see the pleading look Betty's giving me and I can't betray her.
"Anytime now, Veronica" Alice says.
"Um...you should know that Cheryl and I are wearing baby blue dresses. Just wanted to tell you" I say.
"Thank you" Betty mouths to me.
"How cliché. Elizabeth, let's go" Alice says.
Betty stands up to start walking upstairs to clean up a bit.
"Bye B" I say.
"Bye Betty" Jughead says.
And with that she walks upstairs and we walk out of the house.

Jughead's POV
Once we all get outside, everyone turns to look at me.
"What were you thinking man?" Archie asks.
"I wasn't" I answer.
"Yeah, clearly" Veronica says.
"Hey, in my defense, I didn't initiate the kiss" I say.
"You didn't pull away either" Cheryl mumbles.
"Betty is in a tough place right now. She's engaged to a man she doesn't love. She's vulnerable and feels lonely and I'm just trying to be there for her, okay" I whisper-yell.
"Kissing her isn't the way to do that, Jug" Archie says.
"We have to get home. Please don't hurt Betty, Jughead" Veronica says.
Her, Archie, and Cheryl walk away. I stand there on the step, wondering how this happened, and if this storm is going to turn into a hurricane.

Jack's POV
I sit there in the van, parked out of town where no one can see me.
I dial Betty's number. It only rings once before she picks up.
"Hey babe!" she says, like nothing's wrong.
Two can play that game.
"Hi! How's Riverdale?" I ask.
I know perfectly fine how Riverdale is.
"It's good. Just like the old days. Nothing's changed" she says.
Clearly.
"Have you visited your ex boyfriend? Bowlhead? Jarhead? Something like that"
"It's Jughead. And yes, I have. And it's only made me realize how much I love you" she says.
Is she seriously going to lie to me like that?
"I miss you!" I say. It's not completely false. I did love her.
"Miss you too, babe! See you in a few weeks!" she says.
She'll see me way before that.
"Yep! Love you, bye!" I respond.
"Bye" she says.
I hang up the phone and rev the engine. I'm going to get answers.

Archie's POV
I'm home alone when I hear a knock on the door. I open it up and see Betty standing there.
"Uh, hey Betty"
"Arch, it's still killing me that we haven't told Veronica. You guys look so happy together and I just always feel guilty around her" she says.
"Betty, drop the subject. There's no need to tell her about something that happened two years ago! I've been pretending that it didn't happen and it's working pretty darn well" I say.
"We'll feel so much better if we tell her!" she says.
"Yeah it'll feel great when she divorces me and stops being friends with you!" I say.
"You don't know that that's how she'll react!" she says.
"We can't risk it, Betty. Play this safe and drop the subject"

AN // More Jack! I really kinda hate him but he's a big part of the story so I have to include him. Let me know what you think! Vote if you hate Jack!!

OMG ALSO DID YOU GUYS SEE THE SPROUSEHART MOMENT THIS WEEKEND AT THE TV LINE INTERVIEW AT COMIC CON I THINK IM DEAD SPROUSEHART IS SO REAL DONT EVEN FIGHT ME ON IT AND APPARENTLY THERE ARENT PICTURES BUT PEOPLE SAW THEM HOLDING HANDS AND KISSING AHHHHH OMG MY SPROUSEHART HEART CANT HANDLE THIS