It has been a quiet few days around the Cooper Jones house. FP and Jughead have been helping Charles investigate the new round of videotapes that popped up on everyone's doorsteps, Jellybean keeps herself occupied by playing Minecraft in her room all day, and Betty has been locked up in her room starting to prepare for finals.
Alice has noticed a change in Betty recently, especially when Jughead is around. At the dinner table, she spends most of the time pushing her food around with her fork and not engaging in conversation. She was so excited for Jughead to finally return to Riverdale High and determined to help him get on track for him to graduate with the rest of the class but Alice can sense something has happened between them.
Alice's relationship with Betty was still trying to be repaired, and she knew it would take a while before things were back to normal but, she could see in Betty's eyes that she was holding something in and could use someone to talk to.
Alice stood in the doorway of Betty's bedroom, watching her read through one of her old diaries which she had gotten from the old storage box that was sitting in her closest but now lies open next to her bed.
Alice knocks on her door. "Betty, may I come in?"
Betty nods welcoming her mom in. She sits up and closes her diary while Alice takes a seat on her bed.
"What's up mom?" Betty asks.
"It has been quiet around the house lately with the boys working on the investigation with Charles and I figured it would be a good time for us to talk."
Betty gives Alice a questioning look, not sure where this conversation is going.
"Are things good between you and Jughead? You were so excited for him to come back to Riverdale and I have noticed you quite around him now."
Betty turns her head away from her mother to hide the tears that are forming in her eyes.
Alice takes her daughter's hands. "Betty, I know things haven't been the same between us but, you can talk to me about anything."
"I don't know what to do mom." Betty swings her head around, her tearful eyes making contact with her mothers. "I don't know what to do or what to feel. Jughead and I fought last week. I just wanted him to catch up with school work so he could graduate with the rest of us but, maybe I was pushing him too hard."
"Oh, Betty. I am sure he is just overwhelmed with everything going on recently and he didn't mean to have an outburst on you."
"He apologized for the fight but, that's not what's been occupying my thoughts lately. After our fight," Betty swallows the lump that has formed in her throat before she can finish her sentence. "After our fight, I went over to Archie's for band practice and we kissed."
Alice is a little caught off guard hearing what her daughter just said. Betty and Archie were always friends and she knew they had developed feelings for each other over the years but, once Betty started dating Jughead and Archie dating Veronica, she thought maybe those feelings had disappeared.
"Oh honey, is it ok. You were upset and got caught up in the moment."
A tear escapes Betty's eye and rolls down her cheek. "We did get caught up in the moment but, I'm not sure if I am upset that it happened."
The feelings between Betty and Archie that Alice thought disappeared, might have not. She finally realizes why Betty has taken out her old diaries - to see if her feelings for Archie have disappeared.
If anyone knew about still holding on to feelings, it was Alice. Being married to Hal for 18 years didn't make her feelings for FP disappear. Ever since they got together in high school, she had feelings for him and no matter how many times she had tried to convince herself she didn't, those feelings could never go away.
"I still love Jughead but Archie and I-," Betty shook her head. "I don't know if my feelings for Archie have really gone away. Mom, how did you know that you still had feelings for FP?"
Alice laid down on Betty's bed, propping herself up on her elbow. "Betty, I always knew I had feelings for FP, no matter how many times I admitted to myself that I didn't."
"Did you ever love dad?"
"For some time, I thought I did but, I really loved what he was able to give me. I loved that he gave me a new life, an extravagant house on Elm Street, a decent job, two beautiful daughters but, I never really loved him."
"Do you ever regret ever being with him?"
"No, I don't regret it. If I wasn't with your father, I wouldn't have what I have right now. I wouldn't have my dream job, or you and Polly and the grandbabies. I wouldn't be living in this house with the man I love." A smile appeared on Alice's lips.
"You are really happy with your life right now, aren't you mom?"
"Yes, I really am and I couldn't tell you the last time I was this happy."
Betty couldn't stop the smile appearing across her face. She couldn't remember the last time her mom was this happy either.
"Mom, I know you think we all think you and FP dating is kind of odd but, I am happy for you. You have been through so much and finally being able to see you live a life that you have always dreamed about, it is what you deserve."
"Thank you, sweetie. I love you." Alice sits up to hug Betty.
"I love you too mom."
Alice pulls away from her daughter so she can look her in the eyes. "Honey, I know you are confused about what you are feeling right now but, just listen to your heart. No matter what you decide, I am here for you and I support you. I just want you to be happy."
"Thank you, mom."
Alice gets up from Betty's bed. "I am going to start making chocolate chip cookies for when the boys come home if you want to come down and help and get your mind off of everything for a while."
Betty looks at Alice with a huge grin appearing on her face. "I would love to."
Betty jumps up from her bed walking towards Alice. Alice wraps her arm around her daughter as they walk downstairs to the kitchen together hoping that she has given her daughter the advice she needed to hear to make the right decision and be just as happy as she is.
