Change My Mind (Riverdale AU)

Five

Veronica and Nathan arrived back in Taegu a few hours later, yawning and ready to finally get some rest. She had a small sleepy smile on her face, hopping off of Nathan's motorcycle, as she quietly stepped inside the hostel, Nathan walking in after her.

Lena was sitting in the center of the livingroom, her legs resting on the coffee table, as she smiled at them, her figure illuminating in the moonlight, and they both gasped, startled at her presence.

"Oppa*, I really don't get why you're being so nice to little miss heiress here. You hate spoiled, entitled, rich people. So why is she the exception?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, a small smirk appearing on her face.

Veronica blinked back at Nathan's younger sister in confusion and Lena feigned surprise, as Nathan took a step forward, his jaw clenching.

"Oh you didn't know? You see, aside from our dad's drinking problem, he left our mom for some spoiled rich lady. What she ever saw in our dad I don't know, but Nathan here, hates rich women. Or so I thought" she explained, shrugging slightly as she popped her gum in her mouth.

Veronica glanced back at Nathan, her brown eyes conveying pain. "Is...is that why you were so apprehensive around me?" she asked, her voice low.

Nathan sighed, shaking his head, outstretching  a hand towards her but she took a step back.  "Veronica it's not like that--" he started to explain but she gave him a small half-smile.

"It's fine, I should be getting to bed, anyway. Goodnight" she replied to him, and nodded at Lena who just smiled indifferently, as she went up the stairs to her room.

Nathan turned to his sister sitting on the couch, munching chips and narrowed his eyes at her.

"Lena, what the hell?" he asked, feeling betrayed by his sister's words.

She just smiled, shrugging. "What, oppa? Is it not true? You're getting too soft. Ever since we moved here, your tough guy persona is practically gone now. You should be just as mad as I am by all the shit that's been handed to us throughout the years" she replied, her voice bitter.

Nathan sat down on the couch beside her, feeling sorry for her.

"Lena, I'm begging you. As your brother, I really wish you'd try to take better care of yourself. I know better than anyone what it's like to keep yourself guarded and push everyone out because of all that anger inside of you. What dad did was messed up, I admit. But the past is now the past. We don't have to end up like him. We can do better, be better" he said firmly, his eyes watering pleading with his sister.

She stared at her brother, surprised at his emotional state, but she just sighed, standing up, patting him on the back before going to her room to go to bed.

 Nathan went to his own room, barely getting any sleep at the thought of Veronica misunderstanding him, and his own sister being so jaded to even have hopes for her life anymore.

He knew he had to get some sleep though as he had work in a few hours.

~

Veronica sat in her room, hesitantly looking at her phone before dialing a long-distance number, waiting for the ringing.

"Hello? It's me. No I can't tell you where I am, but I'm safe. I just needed a new start." she explained softly, trying not to cry.

"Oh Vee, I am so sorry, but I'm so glad you called. Things have been terrible here, your dad's already started the plans for the jail, and your mom and Mr. Andrews are head to head in the election now." Betty explained, almost to tears at hearing her friend's voice again.

"It's okay, Betty, really. I'll keep in contact a bit more now, but I don't want my parents finding out where I am" she explained.

"Okay, I'll keep it to myself, just be safe, and call or e-mail when you can" Betty said, before Veronica said goodbye, hanging up.

Sighing, she laid back down on her bed, a few stray tears streaming down her cheeks.

She wondered if Nathan still resented her the way he did in the beginning, but if he had, why had he made an effort to help her clear her mind earlier on?

~

*Oppa =older brother, older male friend in korean (sign of respect)