𝐌𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 | 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚

Chapter 20.

Veronica hated not having Betty with her as she walked around school, the blonde was the only thing that kept her sane in this overpowered high school. Besides, the thought of Betty having to talk to the doctor about the argument with her mum alone, made Veronica worried sick. Archie only found it strange that Betty wasn't at his door this morning, then when he noticed Veronica seemed on edge too, he knew something was up and they were keeping him and Jughead in the dark. Archie ended up taking hold of Veronica's elbow to pull her aside from a chattering group of teenage girls that she was amongst, making her frown but he could tell she was thankful that he pulled her away.

"Where's Betty?" He finally asked after lunch, the subject made Veronica lower her eyes to the floor as she answered, something she'd never do that often unless she was going to lie. "Ronnie, she's my best friend...where is she?"

"She's at my place," Veronica sighed, she wasn't going to tell him about the crying, the pills, the argument that Betty had had with her mum, it wasn't her place to tell people. "She got sick last night and my mum called the school to let them know she was staying home."

Archie frowned, searching Veronica's expression unsure of whether she was lying or not Betty rarely ever got sick, mostly because her family made sure there was barely a speck of a bacteria in her house. Betty had told him about the time her parents had called the household cleaners in just because of a dirt smudge on the window, which he thought was ridiculous, they could've just cleaned it off themselves rather than pay a large amount of people to come out and clean an already clean house. Archie raised an eyebrow, giving Veronica a look.

"Sick?"

Veronica nodded, "Yeah Arch, sick like throwing up sick."

"Then I want to visit her after school, I'll come back with you we can check on her then head back to mine to practise our performance." Archie told her and Veronica's eyes widened, if he came back to her place and saw Betty he'd see she wasn't as sick as Veronica had lead on so she shook her head.

"Nope, sorry Archiekins, no visitors allowed. We don't need anyone getting sick, it's bad for Polly's health just to be around it, I'm going to have to skip practise too, my boo is my top priority," Archie rolled his eyes but nodded, allowing her to head straight back to Betty after school. "I'll make sure to tell her you wanted to see her though, I'm sure she'll be pleased to know you care."

Archie sighed, "Alright Ronnie, look, I'm going to go find Jug. I'm pretty sure he went to go get another burger from the dinner lady. See you soon." Veronica called a goodbye back as she watched Archie leave, then spun quickly on her heel to head to her next class but instead of just walking forward, she ended up colliding with a whole lot of red, stumbling back and muttering a sorry.

"Veronica, careful!" Cheryl exclaimed, in an oddly calm tone. Brushing herself down as she looked to the brunette before her, glancing around. "Where is Betty today? First she's late and now she's skipping school...what could she be up to?"

"Betty's sick, Cheryl. She's not up to anything." Veronica answered, walking smoothly around her but Cheryl simply walked by her side, eyes on Veronica's.

"That's strange, Betty had never had a sick day in her life..." Cheryl badgered on, making Veronica roll her eyes in annoyance. 

"Yeah, Archie said the same thing. Now I really have to get to class Cheryl, are you going to be at my side all day?" Veronica asked impatiently, arms folded as she stopped outside her classroom door, looking up at the grinning redhead, a mischievous look dancing on her face.

"Only if you want me to be." Cheryl winked, "Although of course you want me to be, who wouldn't."

Veronica felt her cheeks warm at the girls flirting, she'd always figured Cheryl was soft on her for a reason, but she hadn't quite guessed it was that reason. Veronica cleared her throat and placed her hand on the handle, glancing over her shoulder at Cheryl who looked as though she was waiting for Veronica to flirt back obediently but Veronica just stared.

"I want Betty by my side, Cheryl. Not you." Veronica felt a little harsh saying it because she could see beneath Cheryl's anger that she was hurt, but Veronica just wanted to make it crystal clear that she was with Betty and that was how she liked it. That was how she hoped it would always be. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Cheryl huffed in frustration and sauntered off down the hall, her heels tapping heavily as she went expressing how angry she was about being turned down by Veronica who'd shook her head with a light sigh and walked into her English class, pausing when she noticed people looking her way seem as she was late, but she quickly found her seat which was empty just like in her science classroom. She hadn't realised how lonely she'd be without Betty with her, the lessons seemed quieter and terribly boring with no one to laugh with, the hours seemed longer and it just felt like prolonged torture. She missed Betty. Veronica hadn't bothered to wake the girl this morning when she woke up for school, she knew there would be no point in waking her just so she'd have to wait to get an appointment to speak to a doctor to get a prescription.

 Plus she could guarantee that Betty would somehow persuade Veronica and Hermione to let her go to school, something none of them wanted at the moment. Veronica had left Betty a good morning note on her pillow, so that Betty would see in when she woke and know she'd already left for school. Betty was cliche, she loved pink and she loved cupcakes and flowers, and sweet I love you's and Veronica knew she loved good morning texts too, she'd told Veronica it was something that brightened her day every time she read one. So since they'd been together every morning Veronica had wrote her a text, sometimes sweet and adorable, sometimes random but this morning she figured she'd write a handwritten note seem as Betty was in her room instead of in her own so there would be no point in texting, this morning it wasn't random like yesterday's one, it was sappy and long. Telling the lovable blonde how much she cared, the reasons why she cared, she told her that she'd order them pizza and they could make cupcakes when she came back and she told her that if anything was ever bothering her, then she'd be right there if Betty wanted her to be. She simply wrote a note on how much she truly loved her.