Hometown

Saturday

    I wake up to the smell of breakfast. A smell that hasn't been in this house my entire visit. I follow the scent into the kitchen where a tall dark-haired girl stood, humming. She spun around, plating the bacon with sausage, egg and orange juice and I see her face. She hasn't changed, not one bit. Veronica Lodge.
    "Veronica." I smile.
    She looks up and runs over to me, throwing her arms over my shoulders and hugging me tightly. "Jughead, I've missed you. How's college?"
    "It's great, what have you been up to?"
    "I teach at Riverdale high, I started this year. I already love the kids. I can wait for next year."
    "That's so exciting, Ronnie. Did you ever end up getting married, I know you said you wanted to do that."
    "No, but I met this guy, he also works at the school. His name is Sweet Pea and he is just the best. Are you seeing anyone?"
    "No, not at the moment."
    "You know, Betty is single." She states.
    "Oh, I saw her yesterday. She looks great."
    "Yeah, after everything nobody saw much of her. She did online schooling for a bit and then after you left she came back and...wow."
     I smile. "I'm glad she worked on herself. She was going through a lot. I'm happy for her."
    Veronica nodded, bringing a plate into mom and coming back out to the kitchen. "Ya, her and I became close after too. Which is surprising because of the...circumstances."
    "I actually don't remember much about what happened," Jughead admitted.
    "How about we go for a walk and I'll explain things?"
    "Ya, sure." 
    We finish breakfast and head out for a walk. We walk in silence for a few minutes before I finally speak. "So, what happened...between all of us?"
    "Well...it all started in grade nine. It was our first year of high school and it was going great."

    Betty laughed, flirtatiously grabbing Jughead's arm. He might have noticed, had he not been starting and Veronica, running towards them. Her new look was, to say the least, hot. He had thought about her all summer and none of them really kept in touch. With Archie at football camp, Veronica in New York and Betty at writing camp, that left Jughead alone. He thought about their date on his front porch. Their kiss. How she didn't talk to him ALL SUMMER. He sighed, staring over at her. She was wearing a tight navy blue skirt and had a black tank top tucked into it with a black headband. A string of pearls rested on her clavicle and instead of sneakers, she was wearing black heeled boots.
    She went from a sporty girl with 'childish looks' to a woman, in one summer. Jughead walked over to her, ignoring Betty who hadn't exactly gained what was considered a woman's body. Her cousin Cheryl, however, did. Kevin and Cheryl walked over to Betty and Cheryl scoffed, rolling her eyes at Jughead and Archie drooling over Veronica. Betty sighed slinking back to the girl's bathroom. Cheryl Joined her and they stood there talking for a while.
    "Why don't you just stuff your bra?" Cheryl suggested.
    Betty nodded and padded her bra sith napkins. She had managed to get Archie's attention but Jughead Still wanted Veronica. Betty shrugged as Ethel Muggs and Midge Klump approached her.
    "Looks like someone stuffs their bra for attention." Ethel broadcasted to the entire lunchroom.
    Everyone turned to fave Betty and she looked to Jughead for help. He turned back to Veronica who was still staring at Betty with eyes full of remorse. 'I'm sorry' she mouthed. Betty turned away, running out of the cafeteria and sobbing as everyone chanted at her. "Stuffs, stuffs, stuffs, stuffs."

    "She started homeschooling right after. Cheryl yelled at us all for not defending or helping her and left the friend group. Then I moved back to New York and Archie felt so guilty he attempted suicide and was put in a mental hospital for the rest of high school." Veronica explains.
    "That's horrible."
    "I think what's worse is people still call her stuffs."
     "I really just ignored her?"
     "Mhm, she tried to talk to you a couple of times afterwards, once you and I stopped being friends because of it, but you kept ignoring her."
    "But you guys are so calm about it."
    "It was a long time ago. Cheryl, on the other hand, might not show the same consideration. She despised you after everything went down."
    "Yeah, I haven't seen her since I've been back."
    "Oh, you will, and it won't be a walk in the park. After what happened, not only did Betty end up being homeschooled, she was sent to a nunnery that we had to break her out of, she was sent to regular therapy, conversion therapy, she's bisexual, and shock therapy."
    "Poor Betty."
    "I'm surprised she ever talked to you."
    "Yeah...me too."