Falice 2

Feelings

FP stood at the front door kissing Alice goodbye. They were their usual giggly selves which Jughead and Jellybean did not want to see.

"Daddy, come on." Jellybean yelled from one of the truck's windows, rushing the man.

"We're going to be late." Jughead groaned. He was leaning against the passenger door. "And we still have to go get Charles." They were going to spend the day bonding with their father. It has been a while since they all got to take the time to do so.

FP's lips left Alice's to answer his son. "I'm coming. Besides we have plenty of time to spare." FP loosened his arms from around Alice. "We'll be back later, baby."

"Drive safe, honey. I want you all back in one piece for dinner."

"I'll make sure to bring them back, Charles included." He pecked one last kiss on her lips.

"Dad!" The kids yelled.

"I said I'm coming!" FP yelled back. He turned to Alice. "Bye, Al." He began to walk to the truck. "Seatbelts, if you're such in a hurry."

"We just don't want to miss the show," Jellybean explained as he got himself situated behind the wheel.

"Neither do I, but there's no need to worry. We will all get there on time."

Alice waved them goodbye as the truck drove away. She closed the front door and went upstairs to check on Betty. Her door was opened, but she knocked. She has promised to be more respectful about her privacy. "Betty?" Alice got her to look up from the journal in her hands. "The boys and Jellybean just left."

"I hope they enjoy themselves," Betty said. She had been invited to tag along, but she kindly declined. She thought it would be nice for them to spend time alone, but there was something else too. She had a lot on her mind at the moment and going with them was probably not the best idea. "Actually, mom, now that we're alone...can we talk?"

Alice was a little surprised she wanted to talk to her but she felt honored. It was nice to think she was opening up to her again. Their mother-daughter relationship was strained for a while, but they started to fix it. "Of course, Elizabeth. What do you want to talk about?" She made her way to her and sat on the edge of the bed.

Betty was finding the courage to speak about what was bugging her. "I-" She sighed. "I don't even know how to start."

"Is something wrong?"

Betty looked down at her bed to avoid looking at her. She could feel her concerned eyes. "Do you remember when we had that small interview for the documentary?" She quietly spoke.

"Yes? What about it?"

"What we spoke about...off the record."

"Of you and the others faking his death?" Alice questioned. She had been bothered before of being left out, but they talked it out. She held no hard feelings on the matter.

"No, not that." Betty was getting more nervous about bringing it up. Her mother had told her she didn't have to feel ashamed for the kiss with Archie, but she still felt guilty. Especially when it happened again, only for it to be unplanned this time. They have kissed before two years ago, but things turned out okay then. Would it still be the same now? Considering everything that has happened. "It's about Archie."

"Okay," She nodded. "What specifically about him?"

"We...we kissed again." Betty confessed. "It kind of just happened...but like it didn't just happen. I don't know how to explain."

Alice got more comfortable on the bed. She felt like this was going to be a long conversation. "Sweetheart, relax. It's okay. Just tell me what happened." She didn't want her to panic.

"We were in his garage. We were supposed to have band practice but it was just us. I had an argument with Jughead earlier that night." Betty retold what led up to the kiss. "And I don't know what it was but in that moment it just felt right. But it was wrong, right? That wasn't supposed to happen."

"How did it make you feel?" It was important for her to understand herself first. Were there any feelings there.

Betty shook her head. "I don't know. That's the thing. These old feelings just like came out. I don't know what to do with them."

"It's okay to feel confused," Alice assured her. "You can't just ignore what you feel. I've learned to deal with that feeling too."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"First things first, do you think you feel the way you have before about Archie? If you do, it's okay. Right now forget about everything else. Focus on how you feel."

"I just keep remembering about how happy we were when we were little kids. Like the time he proposed to me after helping him pass the second grade," Betty softly smiled. "But I had told him we were too young. It was easy then. We had great memories growing up together."

"I can't tell you how to feel but I can tell you one thing. Follow your heart. Things may not come easy to you but it's worth the try if it means you're going to be happy." Alice offered her the advice she wished she would have gotten years ago. "Elizabeth, you're a very brilliant young girl. Much wiser than I ever was. That's why I want you to do what I couldn't at your age. I want you to feel like you have a choice. I didn't get to follow my heart at your age. I wasn't fortunate enough to. Maybe if I had my life would have turned out very differently. I wouldn't have waited on a lucky miracle to find my way back to FP. I could have raised a beautiful baby boy with him if I hadn't chosen to settle for a boy who my heart didn't belong to."

"Mom, what made you know he was the one for you?"

"He was the only guy who ever made me feel loved. Sure we had our rough patches but he was who I wanted. Deep down I knew the feeling was mutual."

Betty smiled. "I can tell. He makes you very happy. You also make him very happy. I've never seen you glow so much, not even with dad."

"I know," Alice loved FP very much. "I want you to be happy to, whoever your heart belongs to is okay. Archie, Jughead, or maybe even yourself. It's okay to have time to yourself if that's also what you need. It's a good way to figure out who you are."

"Thanks, mom. It really does mean a lot."

"Any time, dear."