𝐌𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 | 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚

Chapter 25.

Veronica bowed a thanks to Archie when he held open Pop's door for her, earning a smile. Jughead came in after her and the moment she stepped into a now filled with teenagers restaurant a pair of arms flung around her making her stumble back into Jughead, surprised by the tackle. Veronica glanced down at the blonde hair that had swarmed her vision and her lips pulled into a smile as she was about to hold the blonde back Betty scrambled off of her and ran to Archie, cradling his face in her hands, hovering over his minor injury, tears welling in her eyes, partly anger, partly sadness. Veronica felt her mother come to stand beside her, sensing Veronica's wave of hurt when Betty left her the instant she saw Archie. It made sense it was her best friend.

"Oh god, Arch. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bring you into any of this," Betty hurried, her tears falling now as she crumbled in Archie's arms, Jughead stepping towards the counter, greeting Pop's and ordering a hamburger, that was one thing that could make the dark-haired boy feel better, a good old hamburger from Pop's. "I-I'll ki-"

Archie's arms pulled her away from him slightly, his hands firmly holding her shoulders, making sure she looked him in the eyes, cutting her off before she could continue. She couldn't say something like that with all of these people around, it would make them think that Betty was capable of murder if need be. "No. You'll leave it, you'll ignore that assholes existence. Veronica had sorted it all out."

Betty stifled her tears, nodding to Archie making him release her so she could turn to her girlfriend, her eyes still watery from tears. The sight broke her heart into a million pieces, there was nothing worse than seeing Betty cry, Veronica gave Betty a soft smile, stepping towards her girlfriend as putting her arm around her shoulders, tugging Betty gently into her side, the blonde nestling on Ronnie's shoulder slipping her arm around the brunette's waist. Veronica pressed a kiss to the top of Betty's head and lead them quietly back to their booth, doing her best to ignore the crowd of their school peers that had looked their way at the drama - she knew Cheryl was among them and that they'd pester her about what she'd said to Chuck tomorrow. Betty let go of Veronica so she could slide into her seat, Veronica quick to her side then the boys sat on the other side of them, glancing between the two girls. Veronica looked up when her mum didn't sit down, wondering what she was doing?

Hermione gestured to the door, "I'm glad you're all okay, but I'm going to head back, I don't feel comfortable leaving Polly for so long when she's so close."

The four nodded politely, understanding the reason to leave. Betty spoke up, clearing her throat. "I-if you know, she goes into labour or anything that means she has to go into hospital before I get back, please call me or V, I promised that I'd be there with her when...when it's time."

Hermione reached over, taking hold of Betty's hand and giving it a loving squeeze. "You'll be the first I contact, mija." Hermione quickly leaned down to kiss Veronica's head, telling them all to stay safe then heading out, shooting a wave to Pop's as she left. Betty turned her attention back to Archie, concern reappearing on her face.

"Do you need anything for that? Ice?" 

Archie shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Honestly Betty, I'm fine, he only managed to hit me once and it didn't even hurt that much."

Betty still looked worried and Veronica placed a hand over her knee giving her a playful nudge. "You should've see what Chuck looked like, he'll have that black eye for a week or so, as well as a damaged jaw...punching someone hurts...like a lot, it's nothing like the movies make it to be." Jughead scoffed.

"Nothing is like the movies make it to be."

"You hit him?" Betty asked her, not shocked, yet still surprised by Veronica's actions, she'd known her to be an all words no violence kind of person. Veronica chuckled a smirk stretching across her lips, patting herself on the back.

"Twice, once across the face and one slam of my knee right where it would hurt most...plus I threatened that if he ever even glanced at you again, I'd get my dad to send his outside men to hunt Chuck down and show him what a real beating was..." Veronica quickly scooped up Beca's drink and placed the straw in her mouth, acting like she never said anything because she could see the mouths that hung agape beside her as well as in front of her.

"V! I don't even think you're allowed to say a threat like that, are you?" Betty giggled, tangling her fingers with Veronica's, proud of her girlfriend for sticking up for them both. 

"I don't know but he looked like he was going to crap his pants so if I suspect he knows I'm not bluffing; I hate him for all that he is, for messing with me, then fucking with your head too. And now Archie. It was the last straw. If he attempts anything else, he's done." Veronica shrugged, passing Betty's drink back to her only available hand, giving her a sweet smile. Betty placed the drink down and grabbed Veronica's face to pepper it with kisses, making the boys let out a groan, Jughead going back to his dozen burgers Pop's had served him and Archie staring at the table.

"Do you really have to do that here? Whilst I'm eating my burgers?" Jughead grumbled, taking a large bite from one of them, Betty took back her hands from Veronica's face as she rolled her eyes, to her Jughead was always grumpy, it was as though he didn't have any kind of light in his life. Although she'd seen him smile once when he beat Archie at some video game. 

"You're always eating burgers..."

"And you always happen to be making out when I do..." Jughead shot back, burger between his hands, raising an eyebrow, trying to be cocky. Veronica sighed and folded her arms, glaring at the burger eating boy before her.

"Whatever."

Betty and Archie glanced awkwardly between their two bickering friends; it was obvious from the start that the two had no intention on becoming friends just because Jughead happened to be friends with both Betty and Archie, as was Veronica. She was at least thankful to have Kevin. Although he'd been gone a lot recently to sneak around with his secret south side boyfriend, which Veronica still thought was cool, but she missed having his opinion on a new line of clothing she was going to order. She'd always have to wait until school and she was lucky if she even had a class with him.