Dreamers

51

FP POV
I head down to the parlor and stop on the stairs when I hear her singing.

"Hey, we're all in the same boat.  Life can really suck sometimes.  But hey, can't live in the shadow. So here's a little piece of advice.

Start by kicking off your shoes. Leave em right by the door. Then you call a couple friends. And then you call a few more. Put a drink Into your glass. That will make you let go. Then you find something smooth on the radio.

That makes you wanna sway to the left and sway to the right. Get lost in the groove that will make you lose your mind. Put a smile on your face, sends you right into a daze.  No there ain't nothing wrong when a song comes on-"

The floorboards creak and I look up to see Scarlett and jughead. I look back at Betty and she was unplugging the aux cord.

B POV
I slammed my sketch book shut and unplugged my phone. I got to the radio and turned it off. I put my book up and look for my shoes. "I haven't heard you sing in forever." I hear and stop in my tracks. I don't really sing in front of people, but my mother would force me to at talent shows for school.  Every time I would get a panic attack and they would beat me when I get home. I take a deep breath and find my shoes. I slip them on and grab my glass. I take a sip and sit back in my chair, closing my eyes. "Betty, you ok?" I hear, and I let out a laugh. "You want the truth or the usual I'm fine, because the I'm fine is simple and short. It won't take up half of the night to explain what's wrong with me." I take another sip, "I'm going to get my keys." I hear the jingle and open my eyes to see jughead holding my keys. "Then I guess I'm walking." I stand up and finish the glass. I set the glass down and head for the back door. Someone grabs my arm and it's Fp. "You should've just left me in New York." I say. "After that headache you had. No." he says. "You had a headache, and went to New York?" Jughead says. I glare at Fp. "Yes, I did. Not that it matters. I had them when I was in New York before, and I was just fine." I say.

S POV
"Betty. I know you're upset with everything-" grandpa starts. "No! You don't get to tell me how to feel!" she yells. "This is all my fault." I say quietly, lowering my eyes. "No. It's mine. I shouldn't have left New York when I was 13. Then none of you would be in pain." she says. "Then I wouldn't be here." I say, "so does that make me a mistake?" "You were never a mistake. You never will be a mistake." she says, and wrenches her arm free, "I'm leaving." "I thought that you didn't want to leave ever again." Dad says. "Things change, especially when you lose a child." she says. "You didn't lose me." I say confused. "Not you munchkin." she says, tears in her eyes. Grandpa hugs her, and whispers something in her ear.

B POV
"They need you right now, but you need to get yourself together first." Fp whispers. "I know, but I don't want to leave, and come back in another 13 years." I whisper back. I take a deep breath and step back, wiping my eyes. "You know, I'm sick and tired of crying, but it's the only thing I can do nowadays." I laugh a little. "You'll be ok." Fp says, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, giving them a little squeeze. "I want to go to pops. So if you need me, that's where I'll be. Maybe I'll sober up some." I say. "Do you want someone to go with you?" Dad asks. "If they want to." I turn and walk out the back door.

S POV
"Mom was pregnant and no one told me?" I ask. "The only people who knew were me, fangs, and your dad." Grandpa says. "I could've been told!" I yelled. "Scarlett." Dad warns me. "Everybody knows everything about mom and I know practically nothing." I say. "What do you want to know?" Grandpa asks. "Everything." I say. "That's a lot for the past 37 years." he says. "She's 37?! See I didn't even know how old she is!" I say. "Then lets get started. I know everything about her. Some things that nobody else knows." he says and starts from the beginning.

B POV
Pop brought me a vanilla milkshake and sat across from me. "You ok Betty?" he asks. I shake my head, shedding a couple of tears. "You can tell me anything if you want to." he says. "I had a miscarriage the other day." I say quietly. "I'm so sorry Betty. My wife had a few herself. She didn't handle it well." he says. "I'm sorry pop. I know you don't like talking about her." I grab his hand. "It's ok. After the last one, she let everything catch up to her, and she killed herself. Don't let this get to you Betty. You are so strong, and everyone loves you. Don't give up, because you can always try again, but there's never gonna be another you. Your loved ones all need you." he says. The bell rings. I look up and see Toni, JB, fangs, sweet pea, Fp, jughead, and Scarlett. "Thank you pop. I think that's what I needed." I say. He nods and gets up. "Anytime Betty." he heads behind the counter and a smile twitches on my lips. "Can we sit with you?" I hear. I look up and see them standing there. I smile and nod.

J POV
Betty sits between me and Scarlett. She grabs my hand and Scarlett's. She rests her head on my shoulder. "Thank you. For everything. Pop helped me work through some stuff." she whispers. I rub circles on her hand and she smiles at me.

S POV
I was surprised mom grabbed my hand. She squeezes it and rubs circles on my knuckles. I look over and she was leaned against dad. "So Scarlett." My eyes shot up and everyone laughed. "Are you ready for south side high?" JB asks. "I don't know. It will be different, but a good different." I say. "You ready for work Betty?" Fangs asks. "Yep. I never really like Riverdale High." she shivers. Fangs and sweet pea laugh at her, and she throws a fry at both of them. We had a good time, but it was time to go home. "Oh. My bike is still at the bar." she chuckles. "Get in the car and we'll go home." Dad says. She grins and gets in.