Like it was meant to be |Completed|

Chapter 7

Deciding to head to the pembrooke, Veronica struggled with emotions. It had become hard, to say the least these days. Too much negative emotions.

It had become her responsibility to check on her mother every now and then, to see if she was well. She dreaded the thought that maybe her mother was still in the same state as she was before, drunk, no idea where and what she is doing.  She wanted for her mother to get well. Be a responsible mayor to Riverdale. No one has figured what is up with her. All the work of mayor right now is being handled by an acting mayor, as Veronica had filed for temporarily stepping down in order to cope up with the emotional setback her mother is facing. But she knows that time is passing by, her mother needs to get her shit together.

Entering the pembrooke, she was relieved to see that at least the air inside wasn't damp with the smell of alcohol. She checked in her mother's room calling out "mom? Where are you?"

She looked around the pembrooke to find her in the study, looking at old photos of them, together. She was about to smile when she saw half empty bottle of whiskey next to her.

"What are you doing mom?" She sternly asked

She looked up and said" just looking at the old photos, and trying to clean the place up for your father when he returns"

Veronica was angry now. It was enough already with her alcohol addiction, now this? Wanting hiram out of jail?

"What will it take for you to understand that dad is no longer coming back?" She shouted at her.

Her mother angrily replied " he is your father Veronica, such negativity should not be coming from you. He loves you" she said as she stumbled while getting up

"Why don't you get that he is a bad person mother? He deserves to rot in jail, for all i care! He betrayed us. He used you. Why don't you understand you're better off without him in your life?" Veronica scowled

"He was a businessman. Itt was his job to make deals. He did that to provide a roof on our heads."

"He didn't have to embezzle someone else's money mom! He had enough! He could have done everything legally. Because of him many families suffered."

"Did you enjoy your life in New York? All the glamour? Our apartment? That was because of him. That was our life"

"Yes,i did. But i would have been happier if I had a normal family! My father and mother here together in a small roof, enjoying their time, but look where we are! He's in jail, you're an addict and me? I don't even have a place to say so im crashing here and there! I don't even have a mother anymore let alone a father.  So what if we didn't have that much money? At least we would have been together!!" Veronica said getting emotional.

Her mother looked at her, for a moment feeling guilty but then said "you would not have known about this before. How can you predict we would have been happier?" She slurred out

"I wouldn't have known it before, but i know it now. That i would have been happier. Coz mom after all of this? I am happy. Do you know why? Because i have my friends. I am running a legitimate business, im not using blood money. I am free. And so are you why aren't you seeing that? You have a chance to start over! Be a mayor that this town deserves! Repent for all the mistakes dad made! But you're here, choosing to ignore your life, only thinking about material things. Where is your conscience mom? Be there for the people who trust you to keep their town safe."

"Its no use. They won't trust me anyway" as she drank from the bottle.

"Mom! You have to earn people's trust, if i can do it, so can you."
Veronica said trying to get her mother to understand.

Apparently it was of no use. Hermione refused to listen. Veronica shaked her head, and left. Before leaving she cleaned up the apartment.

Veronica was headstrong, but she has these moments of weakness where she feels so helpless. In these moments she feels so alone. Getting these thoughts out of her head had become easy. It had become a habit.

Reaching pops for her shift, she saw Archie and betty sitting together without Jughead.
They were startled to see her but welcomed her and she sat beside betty and asked about Jughead's whereabouts.

"He is with his dad. He needed help in shifting to the new apartment his father bought. Although Jughead, like an idiot decided to stay in the trailer park only" betty said

Veronica nodded" i get it. I would not want to leave my childhood home either, where i have all my memories"

They smiled at her. Archie said " yeah, but if he moved on with his father, he could finally have a normal life. Safe. And he could focus on school"

Veronica snorted " Jughead normal? Mr. Weird, im a weirdo normal? I couldn't even imagine him being normal." As she raised her eyebrows

Archie and betty laughed
"You're right. It wouldn't be him now, would he Archie?" Betty said looking at Archie

"Okay guys, i have to work, but you guys enjoy alright?" Veronica smiled as she got out of the booth.

They smiled at her as they saw her leave the booth.

"Its good right? To see Veronica and Jughead friends? It was long time coming" Archie said watching Veronica leave.

"Its about time" betty smiled.