Flash of Red

Chapter 14

Betty sighed, biting her lip. "I need to talk to Polly." Jughead glanced over his shoulder at her, rubbing his hair with a towel. "I'm going to go do that now."

He furrowed his brows, nodding. "Okay," she placed a kiss to the corner of his mouth and left the bedroom, walking downstairs and collecting herself before she walked into the kitchen.

"It's simple, Jason. They can do things on their own now, right guys?" The twins nodded in unison and Polly finished tying Juniper's pigtail, tightening it.

Betty cleared her throat and Polly looked over at her. "Can I talk to you?" Betty asked quietly. She nodded and Betty clenched her jaw, wringing her hands together. "Alone?"

"Betty, anything you need to say can be said in front-"

"Polly-" Betty cut herself off when she said her name in a shout, taking in a deep breath to calm herself. "Alone, please."

Polly nodded, Jason taking both of the twins and leaving the kitchen. Betty stood by the doorway nervously, twisting her hands before she smoothed them over her thighs and stepped forward.

"So," Polly stood straight at the kitchen island, looking almost confused as to what Betty had to say. "What do you need? Is it time for me to wring out Jughead, because I'll do it. I can stay a little longer, I'll just change my fli-"

"Polly, stop." She looked taken aback at her sister's words but nodded hesitantly, Betty letting out a deep breath. "I love you and I appreciate everything you've ever done for me, but you need to learn when to stop. Pol, I love Jughead."

Polly scoffed, crossing her arms across her chest. "How can you even say that? You've known him, what, seven months?"

"You married Jason after being together for a year!"

"The circumstances were different!" They both sighed, Betty curling her hands into fists but forced herself to open them. "What, are you planning on marrying him now?"

"No, not-not now, but Polly, our circumstances are different." Polly shook her head and Betty reached for her hand. "Pol, he loves me, he actually loves me." She looked up at Betty and watched her as she tested a small smile. "He makes me happy, he calms me down, he knows when to walk away, he knows when enough is enough, and-and he listens. Do you know how hard it is to find someone who listens? He cares more than... he cares a lot more than he should."

Polly sighed and Betty did the same, tucking hair behind her ear. "He's really sweet, Polly. Yes, he has baggage, but so don't I. We all do. And maybe I am stupid for loving him, but that's what love is. It makes us stupid, it makes us do dumb things." She agreed silently, Betty watching her carefully. "But he loves harder than anyone I've ever been with and because of that, I want a future with him but I'm not going to be able to let myself do that if you hate him."

Polly sighed, squeezing Betty's hands. "I never said I hated him. I mean, I kinda do because he's taking you away from me and I can't stop that because this is the happiest I've seen you in years." Betty smiled tinily, Polly giving her a small one back. "You're in love and... I can tell that this, this isn't going to end. I don't want it to end because you guys are adorable. You deserve this and I hate myself for wanting to interfere. He's good to you and that's hard to find now, so you keep him. Don't screw this up. The shittiest thing Jason and I do and what puts the most strain on us, is that we don't talk. You have to talk, communication is key and it sounds stupid, but it's true."

"So, you like him?"

Polly laughed as she walked around the counter, pulling Betty into a hug. "Yes, he's great for you!" Betty laughed and hugged her sister back, Polly gripping her shoulders and pulling her back. "I'll try my hardest not to be overbearing, I'm just trying to protect you."