The investigation- a riverdale fan fic

Chapter 18

This is a long one and a lot happens so buckle up.
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Betty, Jughead, Archie, and Veronica sat together in a booth at Pops. Jughead and Betty were in their serpent jackets while Archie and Veronica were still in their riverdale high jackets from their practice earlier that night.
"So," Veronica took a sip of her milkshake. "How did you two meet?" Veronica asked in interest. Betty smiled at Jughead.
"Well, I was new at Southside high and his best friend, Toni gave me my tour. We immediately became friends and she introduced us." Betty smiled as she talked. Jughead kissed Betty on the cheek.
"Soon enough we were dating, I joined the serpents, and the rest is history." Betty stopped talking as their food arrived. Archie hasn't smiled yet that night Veronica noticed as they ate.
"So Cheryl talks a lot about you." Jughead notes. Veronica could feel her cheeks get warm.
"All good things I hope." Veronica tried to push her blush down before anyone noticed it.
"As long as no one is saying anything bad about Cheryl." Archie muttered.
"It's all good. She really loves you. I think she wants to introduce you to Toni." Betty said, quickly.
"Tell me about her initiation. She doesn't like to talk about that to me." Veronica told Jughead. As Veronica and Jughead talked Archie could feel himself getting angry.
"Arch?" Betty snapped him out of the daze. "Do you want to step outside?" Veronica and Jughead gave him a weird look.
"Archie, why don't you and I go pay?" Veronica announced. They stood up and walked over to the counter.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"Fine."
"Then why do you look ready to kill Jughead?" Archie paused. Veronica shook her head and gave Pop their money.
"Can you please be civil?" Veronica finally asked.
"Yes..." Veronica gave him a look of disbelief. "I promise." Archie added.
"Thank you." They returned to the booth and sat down.
"So how did you two meet?" Jughead asked. Betty could feel some panic rise up. Veronica didn't know how to respond but Archie immediately answered.
"Well, in freshman year, Betty and I were dating, but when she left me and Veronica accidentally slept together and we've dated ever since." Archie said, bluntly.
"Archie!" Veronica yelled.
"What?" Betty couldn't believe her ears. They were only dating because she left.
"But I mean, it doesn't matter how you start, right?" Jughead tried to get rid of some tension.
"Right!" Veronica said, too quickly. She was flushed with embarrassment. Archie tried to put his arm around her but Veronica pulled it off. Jughead gave Archie an apologetic look. Archie immediately scowled at him.
"Why don't we call it a night?" Betty found herself standing up. Jughead didn't look that happy about it but he followed her out.
"So we're just gonna leave them to argue?" He said as they walked to his motorcycle.
"Better with each other than with us." Betty muttered. Jughead handed her a helmet.
"I know you feel bad but, I'm the reason they're dating and I might also be the reason they'll break up. I won't be there while they argue." Betty explained. Jughead shook his head.
"You can't blame everything on yourself Betts. They chose to start dating and if they break up, it'll be by their own doing." Jughead sat down on the motorcycle.
"Now let's get back to the Southside before anyone has a problem with us." Betty nodded and hopped on. Veronica watched them drive away.
"Archie? Can we please talk?" Veronica took his hand. He didn't look up at her.
"I think there's something wrong with me." He finally said. His eyes started to water.
"I'm just so angry, all the time, at everyone." Veronica nodded.
"Cheryl has this new family and I'm just alone. At Thornhill, I just find myself in his room and I get upset and I hate the world for what it's done to me." Veronica leaned on Archie's shoulder.
"That's normal." Veronica promised. Archie let a few tears fall, his first tears in months. When he stopped crying, he turned back to Veronica.
"Do we even work anymore?"
"What?" Veronica knew she should fight what he said but she also knew deep down he was right.
"I love you Veronica but..."
"Something's missing." She finished his sentence. He nodded. Veronica picked up her purse and gave him a goodbye kiss.
"Goodbye Archie."
"Bye, Veronica. I hope you find love with someone better than me." He could feel his eyes start watering again, and if he cried then Veronica would start crying so he wiped his eyes.
"I doubt I will." Veronica smiled. Archie smiled back. When Veronica finally got home that night, she let her tears fall.
"Mija?" Her mom appeared at her door.
"Me and Archie broke up." She cried. "And I don't even love him like that anymore but it still hurts." Veronica let herself fall on her bed.
"Oh baby." Hermione hurried over and laid down with her.
"That happens. It'll get better." She promised. Veronica shook her head and buried her head in her mom's arms.