The Investigation - Jeronica

A long night

Just like we had planned, when the next day comes around I find myself making my way to Veronica's house. It's a large grande building, composed of marble pillars and perfect white balconies. The door to the house is impossibly large, with a single lion knocker dead in the middle. Cautiously, I grab it and knock hard three times. I hear the sound of movement inside before the comically large door creaks open and a small person steps out.
I'm surprised when I see her. I've never seen Veronica in anything other than a Chanel dress and stupidly high black heels. Yet here she is in a pair of worn out denim jeans, battered converse and bright purple cardigan.

"Hey," I say, "you look different."
She smiles back awkwardly. "An old friend picked them out for me once, I don't wear them out anymore."
"Cool," I say. Seriously Cool is all I can say.
"Come in"

I step inside to reveal a gorgeous hallway leading to an extravagant dining room and lounge. A gigantic old fireplace lights the room, providing the only warmth in the entire ice cold house. The room has more elegance than I expect, considering my knowledge of mob bosses is based off of black and white movies.

"Let's get to it," she says as she leads the way to her father's study. This room is more like I expected. It has a dark, gloomy feel, which is only added to thanks to the uneasy picture of Veronica hanging on the wall.

"Creepy," I say. I enter behind her slowly, crouching anxiously.
"Don't be so dramatic," she says as she looks at me.I chuckle at her words and stand up straight in embarrassment. She suddenly grabs a key hidden in her fathers pot plant and unlocks his desk. She pulls out of it hundreds of files. Some looking like they haven't seen the light of day in years and others as though they have been put in here just minutes ago.

"Let's start digging for anything incriminating," Veronica says, handing me a chunk of the pile.
"Are you sure he's dumb enough to leave incriminating evidence in his desk"
"It's the only place he ever works and the only lead we have right now." I nod in response and open the first file.

By the time the first hour has gone by we are only a fifths way through the pile with nothing to show for it. I'm already tired and bored. I look over to Veronica who looks deep in thought as she scans the pages in front of her.

"Maybe we should get more man power," I suggest, "ask for Betty's help."
Veronica looks up at me with a questioning look as if I just said the dumbest thing ever.
"Why don't you get how serious this is," she says, "My dad will kill you if he finds out about this, and now you wanna ask Betty. I mean Betty of all people too, she's too sunshine and rainbows for this"
We break out in laughter both trying to hold it back.
"Well can we at least eat," I ask
"Fine," she says, "I'll order some Chinese."
"Thank you" I say dramatically as she leaves the room to make the call.

The delivery boy hands me the hot food and I carry the bag back into the study where Veronica is already sifting through the files again.

"Hey, no more work we have hours," I say. I pull the file out of her hand and replace it with the bag of food."
She lets out a small sigh through her smile as she begins to grab our orders out of the bag.

"When do your parents get home?" I ask between bites.
"Not until tomorrow night," she says
"Well then we have plenty of time, I don't know why you are in such a rush to do this work," I ask
"I don't know," she says.

We eat in silence for a second before Veronica asks me a question out of the blue.

"So how's Archie and Betty?"
"You would know," I say
"I mean after that kiss from a week ago, I can't really ask about it,"
"They are ignoring their feelings and moving on," I say, "Why are you asking?"
"No reason."
My hands slowly clench into fists and my jaw tightens
"You don't like him do you?" I ask, trying to hide some of my anger.
"God no" she laughs out, "Archie's sweet and all but not my type. Plus I'm pretty sure him and Betty are gonna be a thing."
I feel my hands unclench. I hadn't even realised I got so tense.
"So you're over him?" I ask
"I was never into him. I'm more worried for Betty who so clearly is," she sighs out. "I would give them a push but it's not my place."
"They're never gonna be a thing" I say
"No" she says dramatically, "they have to be."
"They've been bestfriends for years, Archie has had his shot and he's never gone for it."
I go to take a bite of food but she snatches it out of my hand.
"You have to do something" she cries out, "I can see he loves her."
"Oh c'mon he's head over heels for you."
She goes silent.
"Sometimes I catch Betty staring through her window at Archie" I say in an attempt to brighten the mood.
"No!" she squeals in excitement, "how do you know?"
"I've been staying at his place," I say casually. She gives me a pure smile, trying her best not to say anything or tell me she was right.
"Don't" I say
"I'm not saying anything," she says through the biggest grin.

Day slowly turns to night and night slowly turns to day. But the passing of time doesn't affect us as we sit in the study talking and laughing, forgetting about everything and everyone outside of our arms reach.