Dreamers

11

FP POV
I knew everything was gonna blow up on Betty sooner or later. She thinks I don't notice all the cuts on her wrists, or her screaming in the bathroom while she does it, thinking she's the only one in the trailer. "She get on her bike?" I ask. "Yes. We tried to stop her-" I cut him off. "As long as I've been around Betty, I know there is no stopping her. You might have prolonged her for a little while, but she will get away. She's done it before. She'll come back in a few days." I say. "You're not worried. At all?" Jughead says. "After that crash, I'm terrified. I hate it when she goes off the deep end, but I've learned to let her do her own thing. Most of the time she just needs to calm down. It's why she rides till dark or goes to the gym." I say. He looks at me shocked. "Shouldn't we go after her?" he asks. "She has her phone. She will call if she gets into trouble. She will text when she heads back." I say. "Does she know you're back?" Toni asks. "No. I'm gonna call her in a little bit." I say. "I had to get her a new phone. After a few calls, the screen was shattered and she dropped it on the ground when you called her about jail." Jughead says. He gives me her new number, and I head up to the office.

B POV
I was pulled over at a gas station and my phone started ringing.

B: hello.

Fp: Hey Betty.

B: how are you calling me?

Fp: I got out. I heard some things that went down here. Where are you?

B: I'm at some gas station. I'm fine. Don't worry about me.

Fp: I know you're fine on your own, but I need you to come back. How far away are you?

B: a few hours. If I come back now, everyone's going to hate me. What's the point?

Fp: They don't understand what you're going through. You just need someone to talk to instead of running off.

B: you remember what happened last time we tried that. That's gonna be a hard no.

Fp: I meant one of the serpents that you trust not to tell anyone, but I want to know what's going on...........Maybe you should start doing the tattoos. You're a great artist and you would do great.

B: I'm already queen. I don't have much time for tattoos, but that would be fun. I'm in.

Fp: only-

B: I knew there was gonna be another part to this.

Fp: shut up and let me speak. I want you to come home now. Not in two weeks, months, or years. Now. Then, and only then, will I let you do tattoos.

B: fine. I'll head that way in a few minutes. I want to get something to eat.

Fp: Thank you. Be safe. I love you.

B: I will. Love you too.

I get something to eat and eat quickly before heading back to the Whyte Wyrm.

FP POV
"Serpents!" I yell. They all quiet down and focus on me. "Betty is coming back now!" I say. I hear some cheers. "She's not in a good place right now, as most of you know, I don't want anyone on her case about her driving off." I yell. "Yes fp!" They yell. I nod and head back to the office and wait for Betty to get back.

J POV
"What did he mean?" I ask. "He is literally the only one who can get to Betty. He knows just how to persuade her into things. If she's coming back, that means he most likely gave her something. Probably another job here at the Wyrm or the garage. She keeps herself so busy with everything, so she doesn't have time to think about anything but work." Fangs says. "He just gives her things she wants?" I ask. They all nod. "Sometimes she doesn't take it. They make it a deal. If you want to know about them, go ask him." Sweet pea says. I head up to the office. "Fp?" I say. "What?" he asks. "Why do you bribe Betty to come back?" I ask.

FP POV
I knew someone was going to ask sooner or later. "She's like a daughter to me. If I lost her, it would break me. I have raised her for 9 years, and I'm not about to make it short. We have our ups and downs, but when it gets to the point in her life that she runs, if I don't make a deal with her, she won't come back for weeks to months. I learned that a few times. She doesn't go far out of Riverdale, but I know she could get seriously injured if she stays out too long. I'd rather give her a job that she will like, and get her to talk to someone about her life, than never see her again." I say. "Why don't you just go after her?" he asks. "You will never find her. She knows every inch of Riverdale, Greendale, and a few other places surrounding riverdale. She wouldn't let anyone find her, unless she wants to be found. I tried once. I chased after her for about a week or two. She would always go faster when I caught up to her. She's almost crashed a few times before this one." I say. "Why doesn't she talk to anyone about her problems? It's not healthy for her." he says. "Tried that once too. Didn't end well. He pushed her to far, and she pushed back. She ended up almost killing him. That's why nobody pushes her." I say. His eyes widen. "She has problems and almost everyone in her life betrays her, uses her, or abuses her. If she trusts you, you're very important to her. The serpents are her only family that hasn't done that. They try to help, but she doesn't want any, so we don't push her. We try to avoid sore subjects, and she does fine most of the time. Sometimes, everything catches up to her and it breaks her." I say. "I want to help her, but she just pushes me away." he says. "She does that with new people in her life. It took her a while to warm up to me and everyone else. Don't take it personal. She's just a very closed off person." I say and he nods.

B POV
I stopped by FPS trailer first. Nobody was here, great. I go to the spare room, and grab some of the dirty clothes and replace them with the clean ones in my bag, that way I can wash them. I head to the bar and park out front. I step in and everyone cheers. I guess they're glad I'm back and didn't get hurt in the process. I notice tall boy just scoff and walk towards the bar. I walk through the room and up to my office. "Dad?" I say, almost to the room. "In here!" he yells. I step in and hug him. "I'm sorry." I whisper. "It's not your fault. Don't ever say that." he says. "It is dad. I mess everything up." I say releasing him. "No you don't Betty. You just have a lot on your plate right now. Don't be so hard on yourself." he says. "I'm gonna go put my stuff up in my apartment." I say heading out the door. I open my apartment door and head to the bedroom. I drop my bag and head back to Fp.