Too Hard To Find (Book One)

Not Even Friends

After school
Veronica's POV

I went straight to La Bonne Nuit after school. I just did my homework and then just stayed there. I went up to Pop's at around nine to tell Pop that was going to be staying a little longer so I could lock up for him. He left an hour later.

I was just down in the La Bonne Nuit trying to avoid going home since my father's back. I don't even think my mom knew he was coming back, like he didn't say a word to anyone.

I heard the bell ring from upstairs meaning someone walked in. I sighed and got up. Went I got to Pop's I saw Jughead at the door. He was looking at his phone. "We're closed." He said. He looked at me. "Well the sign out front says otherwise." I looked away and smiled. "Smartass. What do you want?" I asked. "I mean I want food that's why I came here." He said with an attitude. "Woah, what's with the attitude?" I asked. "I don't have an attitude." He scoffed. I shook my head. "Okay you don't have to tell me anything." I said. "Well I can get you something to eat. What do you want?" I asked. "Burger and fries." He said.

I made him his food. He was sitting at the counter and I stood across from him. "Are you even able to be doing this?" Jughead asked. "Able to do what?" I asked. "Well, be making food for me." I sighed. "Oh yea I can. The sign does say 24-hours, but sometimes like tonight he closed up." "Oh. Why does he do that?" Jughead asked. "Tired or needs a break I guess." I said. It was quiet.

"So I got a call from Betty earlier." Jughead said. "Oh what'd she say? She's been dodging my calls." I asked. He sighed. "Well she definitely IS with Archie." "I knew it!" He laughed a little. "What?" I asked. He shook his head. "Huh? Nothing." I says. "No, your laughing and I wanna know why." I asked, smiling. "It's just funny how you you knew that were together." I rolled my eyes. "I'm good that's why." I said. "Don't get to cocky." He said. "Oh like you?" "Hey! I don't get cocky... I sometimes get to much over my head..." I laughed at him. "Look who's laughing now." "Shut up!"

When he finished eating he left Pop's. I went back down to the speakeasy. I just sat down there for a while and I guess I fell asleep.

*******

I woke up down in the speakeasy. "How'd I get here?" I muttered to myself. I just sighed and got up. I walked up to Pop's to see Betty sitting at a booth. "Hey V!" She said happily as she saw me. "Uhh hi? Shouldn't you be at home? You know...? Getting ready for school?" She sighed. "Well I'm going to stay home to make sure Archie's okay. Also I don't want my mom to just come home and see him." Of course she's gonna stay home with him. "That's great. He needs someone to keep an eye on him." I said. "Yea. Well better get going he'll ne wondering where I am." She said, smiling and then left. I rolled my eyes.

I went back to the Pembrooke to get changed then go to school. As I was about to leave my father stopped me. "Veronica, can we talk real quick." I turned around to look ar him. "Sure what is it?" I asked. "It's about Archie." He said. I suddenly became worried. I mean I know he broke up with me and I hate him for that, but if anything has to do with my father I can't help, but worry. "Okay?" "They found him." "Wait. What do you mean they found him?" I asked. "He was leaving the Cooper house by himself. I guess he was staying there and thought he wasn't safe I don't know." He said. I started tearing up. "Where is he now?" "He's on his way to the Riverdale police department for now until they figure out what to do with him." I quickly left and got an uber to the Riverdale Police station.

When I got there I found him still on the corner of a cell. "Archie." I said. "Veronica? Oh my god." He said getting up and walking towards me. "How'd you know I was here?" He asked. "My father told me." He left out a sigh of relief. I completely forgot how sad and worried I was that a few tears left my eyes. He reached his hands out through the bars and wiled them. "Hey it's okay." He grabbed my hands. "I'm gonna be okay." He said reassuringly. It feels like we're together again, but that'll never happen. "Archie?!" We heard. I quickly backed away as Betty and Jughead came walking over to us. "Betty. Jughead." Archie said. Betty walked over to him. "What the hell happened?" Betty asked. "I tried leaving you house because I felt like I was putting you in danger and I didn't get very far before they found me." Betty sighed. "How could you be so stupid?" She asked. "I'm sorry." He said. "This is not Okay, Archie. You were supposed to stay in the house." I rolled my eyes and lokked at Jughead who walked over to me. "I guess she really likes arguing with people." I whispered to him. He laughed slightly. "I guess so to. I think it's a things now." He replied. "I think she just wants something to be mad at." I said. We both laughed a little and tried to be quiet. "What are you two laughing at?" We both looked up and saw both Betty and Archie looking at us. "We were just laughing." Jughead said. "At what?" Archie asked. "Just stuff." Jughead said. Betty turned and looked at Archie again. Archie put up his index finger to her and looked at us again. "Are you two a thing now." He asked. "Archie! I said keep your mouth shut!" Betty said. Jughead and I looked at each other for a second then back to Archie. "No! We aren't even friends that would never happen!" Jughead said, laughing. I felt slightly hurt. "Yea. Betty did you tell Archie something that isn't true?" She turned towards us. "Well yea." She said. "Why?" I asked. "Well I saw you two at your locker and it looked like you two were together." "That would never happen." I said. "Then what are you guys? Friends?" She asked. I shook my head. "We've never been really good friends and we've only just been talking." I said. It kind of hurt to say that and I don't know why.

I was quickly pulled out of my thoughts when Archie said something. "Hey guys can I talk with Veronica, alone?" I was surprised. Why does he want to talk with me? "Okay Arch." Betty says and both her and Jughead leave. I sighed and walked over to Archie. "What do you want?" I asked. "Look. I'm sorry." He said. "For what?" I asked. "For hurting you." He looked at the ground. I quickly realized he was talking about breaking up with me. "Oh. Well it's no big deal you seem happier with Betty." I said and took a few steps away. He looked back up at me. "But I'm not!" He yelled. "I'm not happier with her." He lowered his voice. "If anything I miss you, so much, Ronnie." "Really? Then why did you break up with me?" I scoffed. He sighed. "Betty made me. She said after her and Jughead broke up that she knew who she was really supposed to be with and... that was me." "So you didn't really wanna break up with me?" I asked walking over to him again. "No. I love you, Ronnie." He said. I couldn't help, but smile. "I love you too." He kissed me and I kissed back as best as I could. "Hey Veronica we have to--" I heard and pulled out of the kiss. I looked over and saw Jughead.

Jughead's POV

Betty and I were told we have to leave so I went to go get Veronica. When I walked back in I started talking, but  saw what I thought I would have never saw again. Veronica and Archie kissing. They both looked at me. "Oh hi Jughead." Veronica said. "What were you saying?" "We have to leave." She sighed. "Okay." She said and we left.