Chapter Text
Betty sat on the edge of her bed, chewing the cap of her pen as she looked down at her math book. Her hair in her tight and perfect ponytail as usual, trying to solve the equation in front of her. It was Friday night, and while most of her class had gone to Pop’s after the homecoming game, Betty went home despite Polly begging her to come out with her and Jason. Not wanting to be a third wheel, Betty after some serious begging had finally convinced Polly to let her go home. Betty had only gone to the game to support Polly, and Archie, who was starting on the Varsity team even though he was only a sophomore. She sat next to Kevin, rolling her eyes at Kevin’s sexual remarks about almost every single football player.
Watching her sister smile and dance alongside Cheryl Blossom, captain of the squad, Betty couldn’t help but be jealous of Polly. She was a River Vixen with the captain of the football team on her arm, and her sparkling personality meant everyone adored her. It’s not that people didn’t also adore Betty. She was every bit as beautiful and kind as her sister Polly, just less outgoing. Betty wanted nothing more than to be a vixen, but just the thought of trying out alone and dancing in front of Cheryl to be judged, made her want to run away. So instead, Betty spent her time writing for the Blue and Gold, tutoring kids after school, and retreating quietly to her room where she studied in order to maintain her perfect GPA.
For a long time, Betty didn’t mind that this was her life. She didn’t mind that Kevin and Archie were basically her only real friends, both of whom also had begged her to come out that night. She didn’t mind being introduced as “Polly Cooper’s little sister” instead of by her own name. Alice Cooper also didn’t mind, very content to have a daughter so focused and easy to look after, unlike Polly.
Out of nowhere, things changed. Betty slowly started to resent her bright, floral room, her light blue sweaters, and “pink perfection” lipstick. She began to resent everyone asking her for favors, to decorate this school dance, to help with this bake sale, to tutor so and so in Geometry. Every time her mother brought up school and how well she needed to perform, or saw Jason and Polly, arms linked in the hallway, it began to feel like too much. Archie was too busy to notice. He was always either at practice, or working with Josie and the Pussycats on song lyrics. Kevin had recently took up “night jogging”, and was always more than willing to share in great detail his late night activities at lunch to also notice. Polly was so head over heels for Jason, she didn’t notice either.
When it got to be too much, when Betty could feel her throat closing like two dark hands were squeezing on her neck, and her pink cheeks turned bright red, she would dig her nails into her palms, almost always drawing blood. It would take a second, but then she would exhale, and feel better. All the pressure, anger, desperation, and fear that had been building up would somehow be released as soon as she felt blood dripping down her hand. She couldn’t explain it, nor did she want to, and she was certain no one would ask anyway. Because as much as people wanted help from Betty Cooper, no one seemed to want to get to know Betty Cooper, the real Betty Cooper, and that made Betty feel like she was choking on loneliness.
So here Betty Cooper was, doing homework on a Friday night, desperate for a change. She didn’t know what to do. She wanted to be different. She wished it was easy for her to open up to people, to talk to someone, to anyone. But, she felt stuck. She was “perfect” Betty Cooper, and she was scared that if someone saw the darkness inside her, her growing hate and frustration, she would be “crazy” Betty Cooper. So, instead of sharing milkshakes at Pop’s, she would live vicariously through Polly, Kevin, and Archie, and spend her Friday nights alone.
By Monday morning, Betty had somewhat shrugged off her lonely and pitiful Friday night, ready to face her fellow students with a bright smile, signature ponytail, and collared pink sweater. It didn’t matter that her palms now had crescent scars. It was working. It was helping her keep up her “perfect” appearance, and Betty decided that it was worth it. Just as Betty was about to shut her locker, she saw Principal Weatherbee walk out of his office with a raven haired girl to his side. She was also in a collared sweater, but hers was a dark plum color with a string of pearls around her neck. She also wore a black pencil skirt and classic black pumps. Her lips were painted a dark berry color and her eyebrows were perfectly arched, her eyeliner in a sharp, pointed wing. Betty looked down at her light blue jeans, white converse, and pink sweater, immediately feeling inadequate as Weatherbee and the Blair Waldorf look alike approached her.
Betty of course, plastered on her brightest smile before speaking. “Principal Weatherbee”, Betty started, “How are you?”
“Oh, I’m just fine, Betty, thank you for asking”, he stated. “Betty, this is a new student at Riverdale High, Veronica Lodge. She just moved here from New York and I was hoping that you could show her around?”
Veronica put her hand out for Betty to shake as she said “It’s so nice to meet you, Betty! I love your sweater!”
Betty was not expecting Veronica to be so pleasant. A New Yorker in heels and pearls, Betty expected Veronica to be, well, more of a Cheryl Blossom. Betty’s fake smile turned into a genuine one as she told Veronica, “Thank you! I would be more than happy to show you around”.
Principal Weatherbee thanked Betty, and turned to leave the girls to their task.
Veronica looped her arm with Betty’s, surprising Betty, but it did not make her uncomfortable. Betty couldn’t help but admire Veronica’s boldness and confidence, secretly wishing she had those same traits. “So”, Veronica began, “Miss Betty Cooper, give me the one and only look into the scandalous lives of Riverdale’s elite”.
Betty sighed, “I’m sorry Veronica, but I can’t help you there. I’m pretty average”.
Veronica scoffed, “I don’t believe that for a second, look at you! You’re a blonde bombshell and I’m sure you have boys lining up around the block for you”.
Betty shrugged, “Believe it. The only lines forming for me are the number of committees begging me to take over as president”.
Veronica stopped them short. “That ends here, right now. I need a friend, and you clearly need someone to teach you how to let loose,” Veronica said, eyeing Betty’s perfect, uptight ponytail.
Betty knew Veronica meant well, but she was also terrified of what might happen if she did let loose, if she finally gave in and dropped her composure, exposing herself for all to see. As much as Betty wanted change, her fear always won. `
Betty began, “I appreciate it Veronica, I really do, but you’ve known me for thirty seconds? I think Cheryl Blossom is the girl for you. She’s captain of the River Vixens, her family is the wealthiest in town, and her brother Jason is captain of the football team. You want scandals and elite? Cheryl is your girl”.
Betty is cut off by the bell before Veronica gets a chance to speak. “Your first class is right here” Betty says, stopping in front of the door. “It was nice to meet you, I’m sure I’ll see you around”.
Betty quickly turns around and runs to class, not wanting to be late. She knew it was too good to be true. Girls like Veronica Lodge are not friends with girls like her.
Veronica was left in the hallway, staring after her. Veronica doesn’t want to be friends with Cheryl knowing full well just by Betty’s description that back in New York she was a Cheryl. She was looking for change, wanting to be someone new. Veronica sets her sights on befriending Betty. Sick of all the lies and betrayal and scandals within her very own family, she yearns for something genuine. And while her family may be falling apart right now, she’s still a Lodge, and Lodge’s are nothing if not persistent. She won’t stop until her and Betty are best friends.
Veronica walks into the cafeteria during lunch. A red haired girl with locks down to her hips approaches Veronica with a smile on her matching red lips and introduces herself as Cheryl Blossom. “Veronica Lodge” Cheryl says, “need a place to sit?”
Veronica looks around the room and sees Betty sitting with a redheaded boy in a varsity jacket and a brown haired boy in a blue sweater. “Thank you”, Veronica says but I was actually about to sit with Betty”
Veronica steps to the right to go around Cheryl when Cheryl blocks her path. “You don’t wanna do that”, Cheryl says. “I know Betty gave you your tour, and she’s Riverdale’s sweetheart, but she isn’t exactly the most… fun. And given your Instagram photos, I know for a fact that you and I will be great friends! I’ll even give you a spot on the vixens, a spot girls would kiiiilll for”.
Veronica just looks at Cheryl, a look of disgust and Cheryl immediately changes her tone. “Listen here you little rich bitch. I know about everything your dad did, and so does the entire school. With that floating around, you do not want to be caught hanging out with a loser like Betty Cooper. Here in Riverdale, I’m in charge. Trust me when I say you would much rather have me as a friend than an enemy. So, why don’t you come sit with me and the Vixens?”
Veronica knew this game. She had given this speech to countless other girls. She wasn’t afraid of Cheryl, and she certainly did not want to fall back into her old habits. With a smile on her face and her voice as sweet as honey, Veronica stepped and closer and said, “How about never, Cheryl? Is never good for you?”
Cheryl moved out of her way. She would remember Veronica’s words. If she wanted to be an outcast, fine. Cheryl would make sure she stayed that way.
Veronica approached Betty’s table as Betty was mid laugh at one of Kevin’s signature comments. She immediately stopped when she saw Veronica. “Can I sit?” Veronica asked.
“Of course you can!” Archie exclaimed, before Betty had the chance to speak. Veronica beamed at his kindness. “Archie Andrews” he says to Veronica, “and this is Kevin Keller”.
“Your shoes are incredible!” Kevin states, before offering Veronica his hand to shake. Betty just keeps eating her lunch, never meeting Veronica’s eyes. The last thing she wants is for this obviously popular girl to pity her and try to give her a makeover.
“Thank you!” Veronica says. “I can’t believe how friendly everyone in Riverdale is. Well, mostly everyone”.
“So you’ve met Riverdale’s resident bitch then?” says Archie, and Betty can’t help but smirk at that. “Cheryl Blossom”, Archie clarifies.
“Unfortunately, yes” Veronica sighs. “Is she always like that?”
“Always” Betty, Kevin, and Archie say in unison, causing laughter to erupt from all four of them.
Veronica begins to tell the three friends all about herself, her dad’s rocky past with his company, how he ended up in jail, and how she was forced to move to Riverdale. Archie steps in and tries to ease her worries, always playing someone’s knight in shining armor. That’s just who he was. Kevin was hanging on to every word Veronica said, gasping at every detail of Veronica’s previously lavish life.
Betty finally looks at Veronica, and notices that her eyes are sad whenever she mentions her father. Betty gives her a small smile. Maybe Veronica actually is more than a stuck up girl with daddy’s credit card, Betty thinks. At that moment, Betty decides to give her a chance, not knowing that by the end of the week, they would become B and V, and lead Betty to some circumstances that would change her life forever.
That Thursday, Veronica approaches their lunch table with a smile wider than usual.
“Oh God” Betty says, “what is it?”
“I heard through the grape vine….” Veronica pauses, “that Cheryl Blossom fired two of her Vixens for their annoying personalities and is holding try outs tomorrow afternoon!”
“This matters to me how…?” asks Betty.
“We should try out!” Veronica practically screams.
“Oh, no no no no” Betty repeats, “Not happening. Polly’s thing is the vixens, and also, didn’t we agree we hate Cheryl Blossom?”.
“We did” says Veronica, “but come on Betty! I know I’m trying to change my ways but I think this will be a good thing, and a good change for you. Don’t you want to, I don’t know, let that ponytail down a bit?”.
Betty’s wheels in her mind won’t stop spinning. She was petrified at the thought of trying out alone, but now she had Veronica begging her to try out with her. Betty’s fear was slowly starting to subside as she had never had a friend to help her face her fear, but now she did.
Veronica could see Betty slowly starting to give in. Kevin of course, was all for it.
“For God’s sakes Betty, wouldn’t you rather be a vixen than just the sister of one?” Kevin said.
Betty sighed. Of course she would love to be a vixen, but would her mother approve? Probably not. Not to mention, this overlooming cloud of darkness that seemed to be following Betty around these days. Betty looked down at her palms. Maybe with some physical activity the darkness could be kept at bay. She could hear Reese Witherspoon in her head stating one of her iconic lines from Legally Blonde “endorphins make you happy, and happy people just don’t shoot their husbands”.
Channeling some Elle Woods vibes, Betty finally looked up and told Veronica “Okay, let’s do it”.
“YES” Veronica squealed. We’ll work on our moves tonight, and I promise you that by this time tomorrow, you and I will be vixens”.
Betty was almost certain that she would not be a vixen, but she couldn’t help the little bit of hope bubbling inside of her. She had taken a step towards change, and that was both liberating and terrifying.
The next day
Veronica looked over at Betty. She could tell she was nervous by the way her hands were clenched into fists, knuckles turning white. They had been up all night going over their routine. Veronica wanted it to be the perfect combination of sexy and sweet, and Betty just wanted to be on the squad. Betty was quietly practicing the moves to herself, wanting to hit every mark perfectly. Veronica walked over to Betty and squeezed her shoulder.
“You got this, Betty. We got this. Now, let’s go show Cheryl Blossom she isn’t the only queen in this town”
Betty and Veronica killed it. Betty knew it. She saw Cheryl staring at them, mouth open, not believing that innocent Betty Cooper could move her hips like that. Betty felt pretty for the first time when the song ended, and all the vixens cheered for her and Veronica. Polly came over and hugged her little sister, beyond proud of Betty for putting herself out there for once.
Much to Cheryl’s disdain, she had no choice but to put them on the squad. The entire team had voted for them. But in the end, Cheryl didn’t mind. She knew she could have fun with them on the squad when one simple word came in to her mind: hazing. Cheryl handed the girls their new uniforms with a sly grin and said to Betty and Veronica, “You want to play with fire? Prepare to get burned”. Betty and Veronica shrugged her off, to elated to be on team to worry about Cheryl Blossom. They would deal with her later.
Betty couldn’t believe it. She stared at herself in the mirror as Veronica zipped up her uniform. She had tears in her eyes when she turned around and said to Veronica, “Thank you. I owe you one”.
“No need to thank me, Betty. We’re friends”.
“Still, thank you. You’ve helped me more than you know, V”.
Veronica smiled, “Anytime, B”
And that was the beginning of B and V, forever a team.
Polly came rushing in at that very moment, jumping up and down with excitement to have her little sister and her on the same squad.
“Come on”, Polly said, “let’s go to Pop’s and show those boys what they’ve been missing all their lives,” giving Betty a wink.
For the first time, Betty said yes. For once, there was no darkness. There was pure happiness.
She bounded up the steps to Pop’s diner, Veronica and Polly in tow. She was beaming, glowing, and it showed. She walked in, still smiling, looking around Pop’s for an empty booth when she landed on a pair of bright blue eyes staring at her. His stare, took her breath away. The eyes belonged to a tall boy, with dark hair, one curl sticking out underneath a crown shaped beanie, with a smirk on his face. He was wearing a leather jacket, and Betty quickly noticed that he was surrounded by 3 other boys also wearing leather jackets.
Betty may not have gotten out a lot, but she knew enough about Riverdale to know that she had just locked eyes with a Serpent, and he wasn’t looking away. Betty felt frozen, and suddenly nervous to look, say, or do something stupid.
Veronica snapped her fingers in front of Betty’s face, waking Betty up from her trance. “Earth to Betty” Veronica said, “Polly found Jason, he saved us a booth”.
“Oh right” Betty said turning to walk away. She knew that turning around would make her look desperate, but she didn’t care. She did it anyway, and was both surprised and excited to find the blue eyed Serpent still staring at her. He gave her a wink, and Betty just about fainted. She knew he could see her cheeks turning bright red, and Betty turned around and sat down in the booth before she could embarrass herself further.
Betty could still feel his eyes on her, and she didn’t mind. Looking into those baby blue eyes, Betty felt something she had never felt before. Her entire body was on fire, and she could only come up with one word to describe how she felt when he looked at her: alive.