Weirdo - Jughead Jones

2: Betty Cooper

When I heard that Betty Cooper would be guiding my tour around Riverdale High, I was taken aback. Betty was my best friend seven years ago. We did everything together, we knew each other's secrets. I loved her. And then I left. I left her, and I left Archie.

As I prepared myself for the day I thought about what Pop had said. That Archie and Betty had changed. I wondered what I would see if I were to run into them. Seeing Betty again was inevitable, as she was guiding my tour. It made me nervous, excited, and hopeful at the same time. What would she think of me? Would she hate me for leaving? Or would she see me as a different person? Have I become a person that she wouldn't like, or want to be friends with? I knew that I wanted to be friends again. I missed her so much. I might not think about her as much as I had when I first left, but I still did once in a while. I still missed her. And Archie.

I sighed as I buttoned my shirt, looking in the full body mirror. For a moment I thought I almost caught a glimpse of the little girl with dark bangs. I still had the bangs. My hair was now a faded bubblegum pink color. My style had changed. I was through with overalls and I was now a fan of skinny jeans and T-shirts covered by button-ups. My love for Chuck Taylors was ever present, however.

"Hon?" I heard a knock on my bedroom door.

"Yeah, Mom."

The door opened and my mother walked in. She smiled at me before looking concerned. "Now, I don't know if I can cover your lunch money for long, but--"

"Mom." I stopped her. "It's okay. I can handle it. I can start working somewhere, or something."

She gave me an apologetic look.

"I know, Mom." I smiled and hugged her. My mother had been working the graveyard shift for one job and was in search for another. It's been difficult without my dad to support our family.

"Okay," she said after a moment, pulling away. "You should get there early so that you can find Betty alright." She grinned at me. "I can't believe you'll be seeing her again!"

"Me neither." I grabbed my bag and walked with her downstairs and to the front door.

"Say hi to her for me, okay?" Mom rubbed my shoulder as I opened the door. "Archie, too, if he's there. He was so sweet."

"Yeah, I will."

A sense of panic grew stronger when the door was shut behind me. New high school. New faces. New expectations. I've always been an introvert, and as I got older I crawled deeper into the hole that was my comfort zone, away from socializing.

When I went to school in California I stuck my nose in a book all of the time. I shut myself off from everyone by putting on my headphones and tuning everything out, entering my own world. I was fine in my world. I couldn't make an idiot of myself and I didn't have to worry about fitting in. It was easier that way.

I pulled on my headphones as I started to walk. Soon Riverdale High came into view. I vaguely remembered passing it while my parents drove around town years ago. The queasy feeling rose when I walked toward the entrance, seeing the students of Riverdale. I thought I recognized some faces, but none of them were my old friends.

Not many people were here this early, so it wasn't difficult to find her. There she was. Betty Cooper. Still rocking that blond ponytail she always wore. A sudden surge of joy and nervousness flooded through me as I pulled off the headphones. This was surreal. My old best friend. She had changed so much, but her face was still soft and kind, her eyes still wide and bright. She now wore a pink shade of lipstick that suited her well.

"Betty?"

She turned to me, a hopeful look hinting on her face. "Wait. Madison Parker?"

I nodded, my smile fading a little as my stomach dropped. Did she not remember me?

Her hope mixed with vulnerability as she spoke again, softly. "Maddie?"

"Yeah, B." I grinned, relieved. "It's me."

"Oh my God!" Betty's lips spread into a smile of happiness and disbelief, her jaw slightly dropped. "I can't believe-- I-- How are you?"

"I'm okay. You?"

"Yeah. I'm great."

I think we both were kind of giddy. "This is crazy," I laughed.

"Yeah." She giggles.

We both sort of looked at each other, unsure, before I guess we both thought fuck it and embraced each other. I felt so happy in that moment, holding her tight as she returned the warmth.

"I missed you," she said softly, her chin resting on my shoulder.

"I missed you, too." I pulled away to look at her. "You're taller than me."

"And you have pink hair." She raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

I knew we sort of had a reunion moment, but the insecure part of myself still worried that she wasn't okay with the fact that I left. "Betty, I--"

"Am I interrupting something?"

Betty and I turned to see a girl raising a dark, penciled eyebrow, a small smile on her face.

"Oh. No, not at all." Betty smiled. "Um, Maddie, this is Veronica. I'll be giving both of you guys a tour."

Veronica smiled at me, holding out a manicured hand. "Nice to meet you."

I returned the smile and shook her hand.

"I haven't seen Madison since third grade," Betty said with a smile, disbelief still partly etched on her face.

"Betty has a long lost friend?" Another voice joined us. How many people were in this tour? "I need to meet this person." A tall boy appeared at Betty's side. He looked nice in a sweater over a collared shirt, his brown hair combed neatly. He gave a friendly smile as he put an arm around Betty. "Welcome to Riverdale High. Your usual, sweet little high school, home to all stereotypes. Such as nerds, mean girls, nice girls, and hot football players."

"Guys, this is Kevin Keller." Betty introduced him. "These guys are new here. Kevin is--"

"Gay, thank god." Veronica shook his hand. "Let's be best friends."

"Kev, this is Veronica, and this is Madison. She and I were, like..."

"Inseparable." I finished.

Betty smiled at me before saying, "Should we start our tour?"

And so she started a lecture of the history of Riverdale High, guiding us down the hallway. But as we walked something, or someone, caught my eye.

A dark haired boy wearing a grey beanie that was made to look like a crown was walking by, readjusting his messenger bag. I caused him to do a double take when he saw me, and found myself meeting his blue-green eyes again. He gave me a knowing smile as if it was a welcome, and then disappeared after a last look at me.

I looked down at my shoes and smiled to myself as Betty led us through the rest of the tour.