Fresh start

Chapter 28

It was all a shock to Betty. One minute she's laughing with Veronica as they walk to her house, holding the silky umbrella above their heads, listening to the drops of rain hit it. The next she's got her hand gripped onto the cold golden door knob, holding the door open, hearing the sounds of sobs come from her house. The confused blonde let go of the knob and dropped her bag to the floor before frantically rushing to where she could hear the whimpers.

Veronica had followed behind and quietly closed the door. In the living room, Alice sat, crouched, on the beige sofa, crying whilst gulping down wine straight from the bottle. Betty ran up to her mum and instantly embraced the crying woman into a hug. Veronica placed the umbrella down, feeling a little out of place due to the fact she was standing there fiddling her fingers, watching her best friends mother cry.

"What's wrong, mom?" Betty asked, her voice weak, seeing her mom like this shattered her heart. Despite the fact the pop star repeatedly asked that same question her mother still didn't respond, only sobbed louder and louder. By this time Veronica had crouched down beside Alice and was slowly rubbing her hand against her back, feeling the shivers from the crying woman. "I'm going to ring dad." Betty whispered and tried to stand to her two feet but Alice pulled the girl back down. "No, don't call that scum bag." Betty's mom said, taking a big swig from the green glasses bottle. That's when the two girls realised Hal was the problem. He had done something.

Betty knew her family wasn't perfect. Her dad was always off on some business meetings, whilst Alice was the stay at home wife who only recently got a job, that she was so excited for. Her mom was always her favourite out of the two, Betty would never admit it, but Alice was the only one who had always been by her side, who she could trusted with anything. Her mom was like her best friend. Seeing the woman crying, broken, made Betty feel some sort of sadness she'd never felt before. 

"What did he do?" Betty asked. She had pulled away from her mom by now and was sat next to her, a tight grip on the woman's hand. "All those business trips were a lie!" Alice spat, rapidly standing up onto her heels. She was pissed more then sad, now. Saying that out loud made the woman's blood boil. Alice stormed over to the wall of pictures and pulled down every one with Hal in them and slammed then to the floor, glass shattering everywhere. "Lying cheating asshole!" She yelled and pulled out a picture of the family, she ripped out of Hal's figure which was to the left. Veronica looked at Betty with her eyes widened, searching for an expression of Betty's face, it was emotionless. Her dad had cheated on her mother, numerous times. Betty never in her life would of expected that.

The raven haired girl scooted closer to her best friend and wrapped an arm over the girls shoulder and used the other free hand to hold Betty's hand. "I'm so sorry Betty. I'm here for you." Veronica whispered, rocking the two side by side. Betty had her eyes squinted shut, hoping that if she held them tight enough that when she opens them she'd wake up in her bed, realising it was all a dream, a terrible dream. But once Betty did flutter her eye lids open, she then knew for sure it was reality. Veronica on the other hand had her eyes glued on Alice, who had now moved onto their family photo book and was yet again ripping Hal from every single picture, quietly cursing to herself.

Betty came to her feet, she tried to run but her knees were wobbling from the sobs that wanted to escape her lips, so instead she took long strides from the living room, up stairs, probably to her bedroom. Alice followed behind but went to the master bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Shocked and unsure what to do, Veronica grabbed the broom and began to sweep up the glass before going over the floor with a hoover, just in case she missed any glass.

The raven haired girl had now found herself cooking pasta in the Cooper's kitchen. She knew it was invasive to rummage through their things and to cook food, but she could never in any way possible leave her best friend and Alice alone with no food, and heartbroken. Veronica pulled out two plastic bowls, just in case Alice decided to throw it, and placed them onto the counter before splatting some pasta into them. She placed the pan into the sink and grabbed two forks before holding onto the bowls and slowly made her way upstairs.

Veronica first knocked on Alice's door, the woman let her in and smiled a little when the raven haired girl handed over a bowl and fork. "Thank you, sweetie. You're the best person Betty could ever have as a friend. You honestly didn't need to do this." Alice said, the corner of her lips curved. Veronica smiled and turned around, heading to Betty's room. She knocked on the door twice before slowly pushing it open and peaking her head inside. Betty was laying face down on her bed, her arms and legs sprawled out. "Betty, I made you some food." Veronica softly announced and sat beside the blonde. Betty slowly pulled her aching body up and rested her back against the headboard of the bed. "Thank you, V. I didn't even know you were still here." Betty said, taking the bowl into her hands. "Of course, I would never leave you alone like this." Veronica faintly smiled and rubbed her hand on Betty's shoulder. "Do you want me to stay or leave?" Veronica added on a soft tone, trying not to sound pressuring. Betty pursed her lips together before resting her head to the side as she chewed on some pasta. "I think I'd feel better if I was alone. I'll come back to school in a few days, but for now I need some time alone." Betty whispered, she didn't want to come of rude to Veronica's offer. The raven haired girl nodded and smiled, she stood to her feet and wrapped her arms around Betty's shoulder, placing a kiss on the girl's hair. "Call me if you need me. I won't tell anyone anything don't worry." Veronica said, waving at Betty.

Veronica let herself out and closed the door quietly behind her, she planned on checking in on the two for the next couple of days.