𝐌𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 | 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚

Chapter 22.

Pop's was quieter than usual, no noisy teenagers talking and cheering loudly at the end of the little restaurant, in fact there weren't many people in here at all. Betty knew this was usually the busiest hours of the day seem as school had just finished meaning that people who hadn't had lunch usually came in there to drink and eat. Betty and the others found themselves in here to have one of Pop's famous milkshakes almost everyday even though she knew they were fattening and not so good for you but she did enough exercise to not bother worrying about her weight, she rarely ever put on weight anyway. Hermione had headed straight over to Pop's when she got through the door whilst Betty and Veronica went ahead and chose a table, even though the place was almost empty they still chose to sit on their table like always. Sometimes Betty felt it was just reserved for them, always available as though Pop's put a reserved sign on the table to show that it belonged to the girls and the others. Veronica slid into the window seat, preferring to be by the lighting just in case she needed to take a selfie, Betty would always roll her eyes when she said that. Betty took her place beside her, sitting so close that their sides were pressed against one another liking the comfort of having the other so close.

"I was talking to your mum about me staying for a couple more days, how do you feel about that? Having two Coopers at your house, do you think you could handle it?" Betty smirked teasingly, eyes glancing down at Veronica's lips for a moment before returning to her brown, almost black eyes. Veronica noting the glance and smiling happily shifting her arm to rest over Betty's so she could hold her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I couldn't be happier about having you and your sister and not to forgot her babies at my place."

Betty suddenly felt guilty about having the Coopers practically take over the Lodge household, it couldn't be easy for Hermione to have to feed Polly, Veronica and now her. Betty winced and looked down at their joined hands lifting them to kiss the back of Veronica's hand.

"I'm going to help Polly look for a small place once the twins are born and we'll be out of your hair, I might have to take a job here but I wouldn't mind that." Betty promised and she noticed a look cross Veronica's face and she sighed. "Don't give me that look, I can handle it I just have to see you guys a little less."

"But I like how much I see you now." Veronica pouted, inching closer to Betty as the blonde nuzzled into her neck.

"I know, I do too but Polly will need money to pay the rent and she can't work at least not until the twins start school and maybe just maybe  my mum and dad will help out seem as it's for Polly and the twins. We have to look like we're a perfect family otherwise if the Blossoms do try to take the twins, they won't be able because we're stable and healthy and Polly is the mother."

Veronica had completely forgotten about the Blossom's plan and she knew Betty was right, the court would only see Polly as an unfit mum if they saw that she wasn't even staying at her family home and relying on other people to take care of her. 

"Polly wants me to be there at the birth, I told her I'd be honoured, but if I throw up at some point she'd better not get offended." Betty continued a little grin on her face as she lifted her head off of Veronica's shoulder and the brunette beamed, thrilled for Betty.

"That's so important Betty! You'll get to be there when your nieces or nephews come into the world...that's so special..." Veronica said in awe, her hands clasped together to express how cute she thought it was, Betty giggled, hiding her face. "You don't have to like...watch them coming into the world though right? That would be kind of gross and knowing you you'd pass out."

Betty cringed at the thought, she adored children with all her heart but she couldn't imagine seeing one come out, the very thought made her stomach flip. She shook her head almost instantly, "I think I'll stick to holding her head and cheering her on...if we ever decide to have children, don't expect me to be watching them come out."

Veronica let out a laugh. "What makes you think I'll be carrying it, I might not want to ruin this body!" Betty rolled her eyes playfully at the comment, a smile playing on her list.

"Well fine then, I'll carry it." Betty chuckled, "I can't believe we're discussing this, we're only sixteen almost seventeen, this is something for like our late twenties."

"Well you're the one that brought it up!" Veronica grinned, smacking Betty's shoulder gently as she smiled fondly. "You'll be an amazing auntie though, B."

"You do realise these kids will probably see you almost as often as they'll see me." Betty said, shifting her focus to Mrs Lodge who'd finally appeared to their table, a concerned look on her face making the two girls exchange looks of confusion. "Everything okay, Hermione?"

"Yeah mum, you look a little...frazzled." Veronica inquired, eyebrows knitted together.

Hermione glanced between them, "I was just asking Pop's why it was so empty in here today and he said there was some sort of drama after school according to his niece, he said people would probably be gossiping in here about it soon, did you see or hear anything Ronnie?"

Veronica frowned, she hadn't noticed any drama when she left, then again she was focused on getting back and her nose had been in her phone. She'd spent the first part of her day talking to Kevin, she hadn't heard about anything. Yet she had a bad feeling that it had something to do with someone they knew. It always was in this town. Betty was looking at her now too.

"No, I haven't really been paying attention to anything today..." Veronica responded, question in her tone as she spoke, curiosity overwhelming her. "Maybe I should text Kevin?"

"I'll text Jughead." Betty added, both of them whipping out their phones and rapidly texting their friends. Betty could remember when this was just a simple quiet little town, the only drama being that the south side serpents had wrecked something again.