Lost (in Your Emerald Eyes)

E P I L O G U E

Betty took a shaky breath as she walked on the dark yet full streets of Riverdale, her head constantly turning toward every erupting firework. She was jittery and sweated way too much for the happy environment as she made her way toward the only 24/7 pharmacy open in town.

Fred had fallen asleep on the couch even before the clock struck twelve, and Betty threw a small blanket over him with a tiny smile before slipping on her shoes and grabbing her jacket.

She had made her way through the whole town on foot, constantly having to face young couples kissing, and then directing her gaze onto the ground while passing them. She didn't want to think about Jughead. She just couldn't.

It had been the worst year of her life. While also, simultaneously, being the best. The girl hadn't thought anything could be worse than someone selling her to a sadistic human trafficker while someone else tried to kill her boyfriend, which was why she had had to say goodbye to him, possibly for the eternity.

She had been wrong.

In so many ways as she set her foot over the steps of the pharmacy, she knew that this year would be even worse.

Her head was down as she walked into the small space between the shelves. The woman behind the counter straightened up and watched her with a cocked eyebrow, already reaching for her phone to call the cops on her in case she'd try to steal something.

Who else came to the pharmacy just five minutes after the new year had started?

Betty gulped as she stopped in front of the right section. Her hand grabbed two of the small boxes on the shelf before hurrying to the counter. She didn't chirp her usual hello or even smile at the woman as she placed the products in front of her.

The pharmacist slowly scanned the items, shocked, and put them into a small free plastic bag. "What are your symptoms?"

Betty stayed quiet and paid with her card, not once looking into the woman's eyes. Even before the check could be printed out, she grabbed the small bag and stuffed it into her coat's jacket, hurrying out of the store.

She was in some deep shit.

The blonde lay on her bed later that night, scrolling through her laptop as her phone blew up with messages from her friends and some of the nice relatives she sometimes still talked to.

Her head was aching when she closed the book she was reading online and her eyes stopped on the YouTube icon as she was prepared to shut off her laptop. The girl stared at it before directing her eyes onto the small pharmacy bag next to herself. With an inaudible sigh, she went incognito and let her fingers fly over the keyboard.

Her hands were shaking as she put in her earbuds and opened the first video that popped up. She clenched her jaw, seeing all the posters and hearing the words 'murder' and 'baby'.

Betty shut the lid of her laptop only a few moments later, but already, her heartbeat had quickened.

What was she going to do alone, still in high school, with an infant whose father had fled to another country to stay alive?

And most importantly, if the tests did come out positive, and she would decide to get rid of it, how was she going to do it when in front of the abortion center she'd see pictures of dead fetuses held up by old men who had no right to even discuss the topic?

The next day, Betty slowly moved downstairs for breakfast. Her hand was hidden in her pocket when she stepped into the kitchen and received a smile from Fred. "Morning, honey."

"Morning."

They were both still in their pajamas, and from what Fred knew, the girl was planning to have a New Year's marathon with all the movies that came from the TV on every first of January.

Betty watched as the man made them breakfast, and a moment later took a deep breath before slowly taking a few steps toward him. "Fred?"

He hummed, not turning to look at her as he mixed her fruit salad.

The girl stopped right next to him beside the stove and without any words, placed one of the positive tests on the counter. The man's eyes were glued to it the moment she removed her hand, and when he raised it up to see the results, they widened.

Fred turned to face the girl who was staring at the ground, tired and miserable, and after a brief moment, placed the test back onto the counter. "What are you going to do?" he quietly asked.

The blonde shrugged her shoulders. A minute or two of silence later, she looked up at him, eyes glassy. "I don't know," she whispered. "I'm scared, dad."

The man's heart broke at the statement as he gently took her into his embrace. Betty hugged him back, resting her head against his shoulder as Fred gently rubbed her back.

"It's gonna be okay, honey. I'll support you throughout the whole process, whatever you choose to do."

☆☆☆

I DID IT!! I finished this story in time!

Anyway, now I'll edit it a bit, officially end it, and then submit it to Wattys!!

Thanks for sticking with me here, and the sequel is coming soon, so follow my profile to get notifications and updates! Love you all. Xx.