𝐌𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 | 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚

Chapter 23.

It was always surprising to Veronica how fast Betty could go from calm to raising hell to the surface, the moment Jughead and Kevin both sent through the one single name that Veronica instantly knew would set Betty off Veronica saw Betty's fists clench into a ball at her sides. Veronica knew exactly what Betty was doing and she knew it was hurting her so she grabbed Betty's clenched fists, forcibly unclenching them and pushing her palm over Betty's scars, not wanting her to reopen the cuts.

"It's fine B--" Veronica started but Betty snapped at her the moment she'd started to say it was fine, Veronica knew it wasn't.

"It is not fine Veronica! Chuck is back and god knows what he's told everyone, god." Betty panicked, pulled her hand out of Veronica's and getting out of the booth just as Jughead sent another message through and another wave of anger washed over Betty making her let out a deep growl, Hermione had no idea who Chuck was but she could tell he wasn't exactly a delight. Veronica was on her feet the moment Betty was wanting to see the message, anger bubbling inside her now. "He and Archie got in a fight and I bet he's doing this to screw with me, we have to go and see if Archie's alright and if he's not--"

"Then he'll have me to deal with, you need to go home and I'll go and check on Archie. He still thinks your sick and you can't be around Chuck. Believe me B, if I see him I'll made sure he's hurt." Veronica told her, taking both of Betty's hands in hers and making sure the blonde looked her in the eyes, she could see that Betty wanted to argue, she wanted to go but she also could see the part of her that knew she couldn't go, it would only make things worse. She gave Veronica a slight reluctant nod.

"Just...just let Archie know I wanted to check on him."

Veronica nodded and flipped around to her, "You stay here with Betty, I'm going to go and find Archie and hopefully Chuck so I can give what he deserves, he was supposed to stay away." Hermione wanted to find out what had happened between the two girls and Chuck but he restrained herself and knew she could wait. 

"Just don't get yourself into trouble, Ronnie. If this Chuck person isn't a nice guy then be careful." Hermione warned, she never really trusted anyone in this town and she didn't want her child to be next on whoever was going around murdering people. Veronica nodded, knowing her mothers concern and blowing her a kiss then turning back to Betty, pulling her into a quick hug to try and comfort her and placing a loving kiss to her cheek before grabbing her jacket and moving fast out of the door, dialling Archie's number.

***

Veronica reached the school rather quickly seem as she was rushing, even though she was in heels she was rather speedy when she needed to be. She could already hears words being tossed around, people just now leaving to head home buzzing full of gossip. Veronica had to maneuver around people heading in the other direction and that's one reason she was glad she was small, it made it relatively simple to worm her way through a crowd. Veronica wasn't exactly sure where she'd find the boys but she ended up colliding into Cheryl for the second time today except this time they both groaned in pain, getting injured from the collide, Cheryl sighed down at her.

"Where have you been? You missed the action." 

"I had to get back to Betty, what the hell happened Cheryl? Why the hell is Chuck back?!" Veronica rushed out, dodging the people mindlessly trying to push past her but Cheryl sighed, rolling her eyes as though Veronica should know.

"His suspension is over, Veronica. He's allowed back and he had some words to say about your little girlfriend too, but before it could get juicy Justin Gingerlake had to burst in and punch Chuck, honestly you guys destroy all the fun." Cheryl muttered and Veronica frowned, trying to bury her fury right now so that she could find Archie who'd be with Jughead as he said. "Their over by the tables if that's what you're here for, Archie might be a little offended that the person he was defending didn't show up to see if he was okay."

Veronica glared up at the redhead, forcing back an insult and trying to hurry the conversation. "She wanted to come but I told her I'd go, she's sick. Look I'd love to keep talking Cheryl but I've got to see Archie and take a swing at Chuck if he crosses my path."

"Good luck with that." Cheryl mumbled before stepping aside, Veronica ignored her comment and carried on over to the tables, stopping at the top of the stairs as she noticed an angry red faced Jughead and a bloody lipped Archie leaning against a table looking equally as pissed. Veronica was done the steps in no time, rushing to Archie's side to check his wound seeing that he'd actually got hurt only fuelled Veronica's anger. She wondered if this was how Betty felt most days, trying to contain the anger.

"I'll kill him next time I see him." Jughead grumbled aggressively as he paced, practically blanking Veronica's arrival. The dark haired boy just filled with as much anger as the rest of them. 

"No you won't. Betty will end up doing it if she gets the chance, she has to stay away from Chuck okay...she just...she wouldn't be able to contain herself if she sees him," Veronica told them, taking out a bottle of water and tissues from her back and pouring a little water on the tissue so she could clean up Archie's face. He winced at the pain but let her continue. "She wanted to come here and see if you were okay, but I told her to stay with my mum. That way she won't stumble upon Chuck."

Archie and Jughead didn't argue, Veronica had only told them a little about what had happened that night, she didn't give them details, only that Betty lost it. But neither of them pressed on.

"He was talking about her...about Betty...about you how you both dressed and then he started to talk about how Betty went totally crazy and I just snapped, I couldn't let him talk about her like that..." Archie told her, trying not to move his mouth so much knowing it was harder for Veronica to clean him up if he did, plus it hurt. Veronica paused, feeling sick to her stomach, Chuck honestly made her want to throw up, he could ruin Betty, hurt her and make her fall into a dark place and the very thought of someone doing that made Veronica ready to kill someone in cold-blood. She pressed the tissue in Archie's palm and turned on her heels, determination in her steps. "Ronnie, where are you going?"

"To pay Chuck a little visit." Veronica called back.