Letters From Another (Bughead)

Chapter Five

A/n This is taking place right after Betty read the letter.

*still in flashback*

Betty POV

Where do I go from here?  I know my life can never be the same.  My love, the man I built a life with.  The father of my child and my protector through the darkness took my heart and broke it. 

I dial the only number that can come to me off the top of my head other than Jug's.

(Phone Call)

V- "Hey B, what's up?"

I can't respond.  The words are stuck in my throat.

V- "Betty? Are you there?"

Silence.  Say something...

V- "B, what's wrong?!"

The tears break away from my eyes and all I can get out is, 

B -"I need you."

V- "Stay put B, I'm coming over"

(End of call)

[15 minutes later]

I can't feel my legs.  I'm stuck in the same spot I was in 15 minutes ago.  I know nothing around me has changed.  The furniture Jug and I picked out together.  The glass of water I don't remember pouring.  Juliet's jacket draped across the chair in front of me.  

How do I tell her?  Is it better if I don't?  I dread the idea of picking her up from school.  She knows when something is wrong.  I think most kids do.  

We're taught to ignore it.  Stay out of it.  Control your feelings.  

Control.  What an absurd idea.

I hear keys jingling outside the front door.  Veronica bursts in frantically.  She looks over at me,  she knows.  This is one oof those moments.  Everything is different.

She approaches me slowly, as if she doesn't want to scare me, and sits down right next to me. I put my head on her shoulder.  The same shoulder I've been leaning on for the last 10 years. 

"B, can you tell me what happened?" I take a breathe and release my new reality into the air.  It's real, no turning back.

Veronicas POV

He's done.  No coming back, no more taking his family for granted.  No more.

She had to grow up so fast.  Never had the support every child deserves.  Only heartache and betrayal.  Now, the one person on this planet who she believed she could build a family with has swept the rug out from under her.  As I look down at her I feel the pain.  I radiates from her skin as she lays across me. 

"B...  You deserve better than him.  You always have.  This is not on you."

She began to lift her head up to look at me. When our eyes meet I struggle to find an area that isn't filled with tears. The man that she would die for is planning on leaving everything they built, the world he promised to protect.

"Betty" I said softly "What are you going to?"

She looked at me again and whispered "about what?"

"Betty, I don't mean to overstep but he's going be back. He doesn't deserve you. I know you love him but he is not worth all of this pain anymore.  He hasn't been here for you in a long time and you deserve love."

Her head start a slow nod as she drifts back down to my lap.  

Nothing can convince of a good bone in that man's body.