Veronica woke up in the middle of the night with a start, expecting to feel a big hard body next to hers but coming up empty. She sighed with relief. She wasn't sure what she'd do if Sweet Pea was next to her.
It was only short lived though, the moments before sleep flooding her mind like a tidal wave.
How could she break down like that in front of him? How did he even care enough not to run?
She was still dressed and lying on top of the covers, a blanket that usually sat at the foot of her bed used to cover and keep her warm. Sweet Pea must have left some time after she'd fallen asleep. She mentally slapped herself for letting him see her cry – for letting go that way. That wasn't who she was and it wasn't a part of herself she let others see.
She couldn't sleep for the rest of the night, the events of the previous day playing over and over in her head like skipping vinyl.
Thankfully she didn't have any classes with Sweet Pea the following day, so she avoided him at all costs, and made sure to make a show of kissing Archie when she saw him looking in her direction from the Serpent's regular lunch table. Veronica wasn't her mother, she was going to surround herself with the right kind of people – the ones that didn't dress in leather jackets and weren't covered in tattoos.
Deep down she knew that was wrong. Sweet Pea was the first guy who actually cared, in his own way. She felt it, but she pushed it away. Last night was a moment of weakness that wouldn't happen again. It scared the shit out of her. She hated it.
Thankfully Veronica's lunchtime show kept Sweet Pea away, the two of them not speaking over the next few days.
Somehow, in her attempt to stay away from Sweet Pea she'd almost forgot about the dinner. Almost.
Come Thursday she took all the time possible to stall in getting home. She and Cheryl hung out at the mall until her mother's constant calls and texts finally had her going home. Cheryl wished her luck, stating she'd need it.
She was glad she had someone who understood. Despite what others thought, Cheryl was actually an okay listener. She let Veronica bitch about the Serpents and agreed with her every insult and complaint.
She entered the penthouse with a frown, hearing voices from the dining room and going over to see the three sitting with a feast in front of them. At least FP wasn't sitting at the head of the table – that seat was empty – it was her fathers.
"Mija, we didn't hear you come in." Her mother greeted happily. "Here, I have your place made up already next to me."
FP stood to greet Veronica, waiting until she was sitting next to her mother and across from Jughead to sit back down.
Jughead nodded at her with a smile. He seemed to be in a good mood. She understood why, she noticed that whenever there was food in front of him he was in good spirits. She doubted his dad ever made anything even half as good as her mum's cooking.
"We were just telling Jughead about our high school days."
"How fascinating." Veronica replied flatly, looking at the two men across from them with a bitter taste in her mouth. Neither of them had their jackets on, both dressed nicely in clean shirts. It didn't fool her though, she knew who they really were.
They shouldn't be there – her dad should. It wasn't fair that he was locked away. She missed him too much to even let herself feel it.
Her mother took a deep breath and smiled at FP out of what looked like nervousness. Good, Veronica hoped she felt nervous. She didn't want her mother becoming comfortable with this – him in their home.
