The Mystery of Y/N

Chapter Four - Summer Project and Snooping by Betty

Betty was your partner for the summer project for history class. She kept asking to come round your house to help out with it but you insisted on doing it yourself. Being the kind and caring person Betty was she felt terrible about letting you do all the work so she hiked over to your house to help out. Getting off the bike she walked up to the grand front door and knocked on it. Normally, she would expect your maid to answer the door but when you answered Betty was a little shocked but brushed it off. "Hey." She greeted.

"Err, he-hey... what are you- what are you doing here?" You asked looking around nervously to see if she was alone.

"I came to help with the history project. I felt bad that you were doing it on your own so I thought I'd come and help." Betty answered before frowning at your reaction. "Unless now isn't a good time."

"No, no. Now's fine." You assured her with a forced smile and hurriedly ushering inside. When Betty got inside she noticed an immediate difference from last time she was there. Normally, she is met with expensive paintings lining the walls instead she was met with blank walls. Betty followed you upstairs to your room noticing the lack of items as she went. Clothes were strewn across your room, a vast difference from last time. You moved some of them out of the way but not before Betty noticed tags still on them.

"What's going on, Y/N?" She asked gesturing to a top in her hand which she saw you wear the other day at school still with a tag on.

You gulped. "It didn't fit right so I need to take it back to the store." You lied hoping she wouldn't recognise it. "So... err we should get started then." You said trying to change the subject which Betty obliged to.

Things were quiet between the two of you as you worked on the project, the occasional question being asked when your parents started arguing downstairs. Your grip on your pencil tightening as they did. "How could you be so stupid?" Your mom asked your dad exasperatedly. "You knew this was our only chance and you ruined it."

"I can't take this." He replied before you heard the sound of keys being grabbed.

"Where are you going? To your little assistant? You have to be blind if you think she is still going to be with you when she realises that you have no money." Your mom scoffed. You quickly got up and closed your door before Betty could hear anymore of your parents fight. You leaned your head against the now closed door and took a deep breath, wiping away the single tear that fell.

"Is it true, Y/N?" Betty asked with caution. You nodded before running over to hug her.

"Please don't tell anyone." You cried into her shoulder.
-
Betty, Veronica, and Archie made it back to the newspaper room to meet Jughead and Kevin to tell them what they found out. "I've found nothing new. What about you guys?" Jughead asked once everyone was in the room. Veronica relayed what they found out from Reggie to Jughead and Kevin.

"So, let me get this straight Reggie actually wanted to be with Y/N but Y/N didn't want to?" Kevin asked once she finished.

"It's not that I don't think she wanted to but that something else was going on with her." Veronica stated before turning to Betty. "You said you knew what was going on with her parents."

"Yeah I do know what's going on but I promised I wouldn't say anything." Betty admitted, looking down guilty that she kept this from them.

"It's not like she's here to stop you." Jughead said bluntly causing Archie to look over at him. "What? We were all thinking it." He shrugged.

"Fine... Y/N's parents have been having money problems. I went round in the summer and that's when I found out." Betty told them.

"Wait, so you kept this from us for the whole summer?" Archie asked, a hint of offence lacing his tone that you didn't tell him.

"She made me promise not to tell anyone. You should have seen her. She was broken up by it and embarrassed she didn't want anyone else to know. Y/N wouldn't have told me if I didn't accidentally find out." Betty replied.

"Hang on, if she was struggling with money then how did Y/N still have new clothes and a fancy car?" Veronica wondered.

"It appears she was wearing the clothes with the label still on so she could take them back to the store." She shrugged. "But there's something that just doesn't make sense."

"What is it?" Jughead questioned as the others gave Betty a look telling her to continue.

"I went over to her house again in the summer but this time she didn't seem closed off or trying to hide something. She was acting like this whole money thing wasn't happening. Also, Y/N got new clothes that had the tags off and new shoes. It's almost like she had some money but I didn't know she got a job."

"Y/N didn't. She would have told us." Veronica said certain that you would have told them if you got a job. "Plus, for the whole summer I didn't see her working."

"Y/N kept her relationship with Reggie a secret and the issues she was having with her parents. It makes you wonder what else she's been hiding." Kevin pointed out.

"Oh, my god... it makes sense now." Jughead blurted out after putting what Betty had told them together which resulted in everyone giving him a questioning look.