We'll make it together

1. Who was that?

trigger warnings: abuse,
Betty's POV
I winced in pain as my mother's hand came in sharp contact with my face, stinging from the touch. "Next time, you will do better, Elizabeth! You're grounded! Go up to your room and stay there until supper." My mother yelled. Without hesitation, I ran up the stairs. I collapsed on the couch resting on my bay window and sobbed into my arms. Soon, I looked out of my window while wiping away my tears. My next door neighbour Archie Andrews was looking at me concerned. Next to him, there was a boy wearing a beanie that I had never seen before. I gave them a half smile before scrambling off the windowsill and rapidly shutting my curtains. I took a deep breath. That boy- who was he? I internally groaned a horrible realization coming to mind. I'd better not be falling for him.

Jughead's POV
I was just hanging out with Archie, when all of a sudden, he turns toward his window. I went to see what he was looking at, and right across from him, there's a girl who looks about our age, sobbing into her arms. I felt a pang in my heart as sympathy came over me. Then she looked up. What a stunning girl. I wonder what could make her hurt so much? I saw how she quickly closed her curtains, and I felt even more worried. I know all too well what it feels like to be hurt.

"Hey, Arch. Who is that?" I inquired. "Oh, her? She's my neighbour, Betty Cooper. We're really close friends, you two should meet." He replied. "Y-yeah, totally..." I said, a little distracted. "Dude, do you have a crush on her?" Archie asked me while laughing. I swallowed hard. Was it really that obvious?  "No, no I don't." I said a little too quickly. "Yeah, sure you don't." He retorted. I sighed. "Anyways, why would she like me, of all people? I'm just a weirdo loner from the wrong side of the tracks." And I'm broken, I added in my head. Archie doesn't know what my dad does to me. In fact, no one does. If they did, he'd get arrested and I'd enter the foster system, which is not something I want. My life is pretty miserable, but it could be worse I guess...

"Dude! Jug? Hellooo?" I was snapped out of my thoughts by Archie calling my name and waving a hand in front of my face. "Sorry, I zoned out for a moment. What did you say?" He rolled his eyes playfully. "I said, I'm sure she'll like you! I'll get you two to meet!" He repeated. "Uh, sure," I said, still lost in my own thoughts. God, I can't wait.

Betty's POV
Who was that with Archie? Is never seen him before, did he just move here? I didn't have time to worry about that, I need to study. Or else, mom will hit me more. I sighed as I took out my books, unable to concentrate. I kept thinking: who was that?

Before I knew it, my mother was calling me down for dinner. I slowly walked down the stairs and sat down next to my sister Polly. "Careful not to eat too much, Betty. We don't want you getting any fatter." Polly sneered. "Elizabeth, your sister is right." My mother said. I looked down. "On second thought, I'm not very hungry. Is it ok if I go upstairs?" I said softly. "Sure. Go upstairs and review before bed." She replied. I nodded slightly and walked up to my room. I shut the door and slid against it while tears escaped my eyes.

I get fat shamed at home and at school, it's terrible. Cheryl Blossom, captain of the river vixens, gets the whole cheer squad to bully me. Every day, I'm mercilessly picked on, whether they kick me or fat shame me, it's all the same. Sometimes, I'll get notes in my locker telling me to do horrible things to myself. Then, at home, my mother abuses me if she doesn't like what I do, which is nearly all the time.

Polly doesn't help. She makes fun of me almost as much as the girls at school do. Mom always takes her side, no matter what. Somehow, through all of this, I've managed to never cut myself, though the thought has gone through my head. I have been starving myself though, whatever I eat comes back up, that is, if I even eat to begin with. As per usual, I went to bed with an empty stomach and a heavy heart, thought this time, the face of that boy plaguing my usually terrible nightmares.

I was walking down a long, dark hallway. All around me, there were doors seemingly leading nowhere. As I passed them, one by one they opened. A new face appeared behind each door. Polly, my mother, Cheryl, every single one of her Vixens, the Bulldogs.  They all whispered insults, loud enough for me to hear, blending together as one big chorus. I pressed me hands to my ears but the whispers only grew louder. This is just a dream. This is just a dream. I keep telling myself. Somehow, by miracle, the hallway was coming to an end. At the end, I saw that boy. He said something, but I couldn't hear him. The whispers turned to talking, then the talking turned to steams. I could do nothing to block out the sound, the screeching of insults. Everything started spinning then...

I jolted up in bed, breathing heavily. Tears ran down my face as I tried to steady my breathing. This is a recurring nightmare, and there seems to be nothing I can do to stop it. But who was he? And what did he say? I guess I couldn't hear his voice in my dream because, well, I had never actually heard his voice. I sighed as she got ready for another day of torture at that place we call high school.

A/n
Hello friends! Welcome to my second book! Sorry this took so long to start, I had no ideas for how to start the book. Thanks for reading!