Chapter Text
"Come on, Betty. We're going to be late!"
Cheryl's shrill voice sent a shiver down her spine as it usually does whenever raised. Betty quickly assured, "Almost done!"
Betty Cooper looked at herself in the mirror once again. The tight red dress hugged her body in all the right places but she was definitely not comfortable. Sure, it'd be perfect if they were just about to attend the biggest party in town with celebrities appearing. But it made her feel weird that she had to wear it to Riverdale High. She longed for her simple jeans and cozy t-shirt but Cheryl and her parents would have a heart attack if they caught her wearing such "less than superb" clothing.
Betty snapped out of her racing thoughts and carefully skipped down the steps in her high heels. Cheryl immediately grabbed Betty's arm and pulled her towards the awaiting limo.
"I honestly just want to call a taxi right now to take us to the most prestigious academy in the country," Cheryl spat, ignoring the chauffeur's greetings while slipping into the limousine. "I swear, Riverdale is turning into a hellhole."
Betty's heart dropped at her best friend's sour mood; it usually never ended well. "What's going on?"
As the limo sped off, Cheryl whined, "I just received word from Tracy that Weatherbee is allowing some mutinous snake slither in to our school. Apparently Southside High is too 'underwhelming in education' for his taste. Which is ironic, being that he is a Serpent."
"A Serpent?" Betty croaked. She's heard all the stories about the gang. She never dared to step foot on the other side of the tracks; even if she wanted to, her mother would never allow it. The Serpents destroy anything and anyone whenever they felt like it and sweet, precious Betty Cooper should never get caught up in that. "What if he tries to hurt someone?"
"That's what I'm saying," Cheryl groaned. "Whatever. The whole school is going to shun him."
Betty nodded, her nerves increasing as the limo pulled up to the high school. People always stared whenever they arrived, which always filled Cheryl with pride but embarrassment for Betty.
"Where's Jason?" Betty asked as they walked through the halls, arms linked together.
"Early morning football practice," the redhead answered, grinning at the thought of her twin. "By the way, we have cheerleading practice after school."
Betty's stomach growled as she had not eaten all morning, but would unfortunately have to wait for lunch to be properly fed. Cheryl's convinced her to start skipping breakfast to improve her diet, despite the fact that it is incredibly unhealthy. But as it was inferred earlier, Betty's life and choices are made to please Cheryl Blossom.
Principal Weatherbee suddenly appeared in front of the two girls, and Cheryl scowled. She was still angry at him for accepting a Serpent into the school.
"Miss Cooper, may I have a word with you?" the elder man asked kindly, ignoring Cheryl's glare. "It will be just a moment."
"I'll be right back, I guess," Betty whispered to Cheryl who reluctantly backed away.
"As you may have already been informed," Weatherbee began, glancing at the steaming red headed diva as they walked away, "a student from Southside High is transferring over here to Riverdale High."
Betty nodded. "Yes, I have been made aware."
"I suspect that most students won't... show him much respect, and I also fear that trouble will immediately begin upon his arrival," he continued, starting to look a little frustrated. "Betty, you are one of the only students I have ever come across who may have the slightest chance of showing this young man acceptance, despite his life and his surroundings."
She gulped, unsure of where he was going with this.
Principal Weatherbee gave Betty a pleading grin, "I must ask if you could show Mr. Jones some friendliness and guidance. I don't want him to feel unwelcome... after all, he is transferring here on his terms for his own educational benefit."
Betty's mind was spinning. If she associated herself with the new student Cheryl would kill her. But seeing Principal Weatherbee's stressed expression and hearing his praising words toward her made her feel as though she had no choice.
"I can do that," Betty nodded, wondering how the hell she was going to manage this hopefully secretive mission. "When is he coming?"
"Tomorrow," her now smiling Principal replied. "I'd like for you to give him a tour."
Everyone in her life would never let Betty associate herself with a Serpent. But deep inside, she doesn't care about who this new student is. Hey, he's transferring because he wanted a better education, right? He must be a good kid.
He can't possibly be that bad.
-
"What did Weatherbee want from you?" Cheryl questioned, leading the anxiety-filled blonde girl into the cafeteria.
All throughout her first few periods, Betty's mind constantly drifted to her obligatory tour she is supposed to give to a Southside High student. She absolutely dreaded it and felt slight anger towards Principal Weatherbee for giving her the mission, knowing it could ruin her reputation she needed to uphold. She also decided that she wouldn't tell a soul about her small interaction with the Serpent; he probably wouldn't even care for her acquaintance afterwards, right?
"Oh... just praising me for managing to maintain my 4.0 GPA," Betty lied.
Cheryl grinned as they walked towards the front of the lunch line, earning a few complaints from Freshmen who didn't know better than to bother Cheryl Blossom, who always gets what she wants. "That's my Betty, perfect as always," Cheryl beamed.
"As are you," Betty replied, but her brain wrapped around that one, awful word.
Perfect.
After they received their lunch (Betty was starving, so she was absolutely grateful even though it was just a salad and some water), Cheryl squealed at the sight of her twin brother. "Jason!"
While many others believed Cheryl and Jason Blossom's close relationship to be strange and unnatural, Betty always envied their close bond. Her and her sister basically pretend the other doesn't exist outside of school. And since she lived in the Cooper household with her nutcase parents, she felt lonely. In order to shake away the dreadful feeling of loneliness, Betty wrote poetry that probably no one would ever see. She loved to write. It was a huge passion of hers and if it was up to her, she's major in Journalism in college rather than Law. But nothing is ever up to her.
Archie Andrews also appeared, and grinned widely at the sight of Betty Cooper. It was obvious that he had a thing for Betty; everyone in school knew and thought it was absolutely adorable. However, Betty wasn't interested. Not in the least bit. But she had a feeling that one way or another, Archie Andrews is going to be her boyfriend by the time Christmas rolls away.
"Hi Betty," Archie smiled, taking a seat beside her.
Betty nodded in acknowledgement, letting out a shy, "Hi."
Polly Cooper, much to Betty's dismay, also showed up and kissed her beloved Jason Blossom on the cheek. "There's my sweetheart."
Betty wanted to roll her eyes as Cheryl clapped, "I can't want until you guys get married!"
"Too bad we're only Juniors in high school," Jason laughed at his sister's excitement.
Polly nodded and spoke dreamily, "But it will most likely end up happening anyway."
They kissed and Cheryl let out another one of her infamous squeals, "As long as I'm the maid of honor!"
Polly smirked, not even glancing in Betty's direction, "Definitely."
It hurt Betty, honestly, to have her sister act so cold and distant towards her. She never knew why, and it never made sense. They were at the same status in school, you'd think that your sister would utter more that a sentence your way everyday.
As the four continued chatting about whatever, Betty's mind wandered. She wished she lived a different life, one where she'd make her own choices and be loved by her own family. She wished she was a different Betty Cooper.
-
"Weatherbee is absolutely out of his mind to give some lowlife Serpent a chance and allow him to step foot inside of Riverdale High," Alice Cooper hissed, cutting into her steak. Betty wished she could have some, as it looked delicious, but due to her strict diet she couldn't.
"You stay away from that boy, Betty," Betty's father, Hal, warned, as if he could predict the future.
"Don't worry, I will," Betty quickly assured. "What if he hurts someone?"
"Then we'll have a good enough reason to kick him out," Alice chuckled.
Betty didn't feel quite right. She felt a weight on her chest that was quite normal, but it was unusually heavier today. It worried her, and she could no longer clench her fists any tighter than she already was.
"May I be excused?" Betty asked softly. "I feel faint."
"Whatever," Alice waved her off. "Polly, honey, how's Jason?"
Betty was halfway up the stairs when she hears Polly exclaim, "Everyone thinks we're a married couple!" She entered her bedroom and laid down on her bed, holding back the tears. Perhaps she was just tired, and that she'd feel better by tomorrow.
Or, perhaps, this was the real Betty Cooper. A living robot.