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The tragedy began last weekend, though the seeds were planted long before that. First grade, on a playdate with Betty, asking her who the cutest boy at school was. She knew that whoever Betty liked had to be the best, because Betty was the prettiest. It was a known fact that the prettiest girl could have whoever she wanted (Veronica knows this from experience). And whoever Betty wanted was who Veronica had to have, she would not settle for less than the best. The moment the name “Archie” was uttered, their fates were sealed. The three of them were doomed for years to come. A teenage lifetime wasted on a competition with no foreseeable end.
Eleven years spent fighting over Archie is what laid the groundwork for last weekend. It was a Saturday like any other, Archie would be taking Betty out just as he took Veronica out on Fridays. Sometimes Veronica allowed this to happen, sometimes she didn’t. Last weekend happened to be the latter. Reggie was busy, meaning she would have to stoop two levels lower to find a date. She didn’t feel like doing that, so she called up Archie and asked him to cancel his date with Betty. A common occurrence, one Betty shouldn’t be surprised by at this point. It’s far from the worst thing Veronica’s done to her. She kissed Archie at Betty’s birthday party once, and the blonde managed to get over that. She’s stolen Archie for every Valentine’s Day, every school dance. One measly date is nothing to cry about.
But cry, Betty did. Veronica didn’t see the tears, but she knew they were there. Only a unique, searing pain could cause Betty to actually follow through on one of her “I’m never speaking to you again” threats.
One week. That’s how long she’s gone without speaking to Betty. She’s not gone that long without talking to Betty since the six years before they met. She sees Betty more than she sees her own parents. Betty knows her better than their shared boyfriend- who is lovely, but simply not as fun to date without Betty. Archie was supposed to be something they did together, a guy to gush or fight over depending on their mood. He’s a comfort when Betty is away, but he’s not a sufficient replacement. As much as she loathes to admit it, no one can replace Betty.
She won’t speak to her at their lockers, or in class. If Veronica tries to talk, she pretends she can’t hear her. She eats lunch with the Vixens now, while Betty sits with their usual friends. She goes to the mall with Ginger and Kevin, who never suggest thrifting. Archie takes her to school in the morning, and Reggie drives her home in the afternoon. No more leisurely walks on the pavement. Betty won’t even look at her.
“I’ve reached the bottom of my own, personal hell.”
Across the booth, Kevin presses her with an unamused stare.
“Don’t you think you’re being a tad bit dramatic?”
“Dramatic?” She holds her hand to her chest. “Moi?”
“We’re getting nowhere with this.”
A booth at Pop’s is where Ronnie seeks out the answer to all life’s woes. A delayed shipment, a broken nail, her father’s emotional distance. Boy trouble- or, in this case, girl trouble, is no different. Sometimes she sits by herself, sipping on a chocolate milkshake and waiting for a handsome beau to lift her spirits. When the going gets really tough, she longs for someone to confide in. She drags one of her friends (usually Betty) to her favorite booth, and forces them to listen to her problems. Any friend should be honored to fill that role, chosen by Veronica Lodge as her own personal Mother Mary. Betty isn’t here today, for obvious reasons, meaning Kevin is the lucky companion.
He doesn’t look very blessed.
They’re halfway through their burgers, and still no solution. Kevin was the one who had her back when she pretended to be sick to get out of a date with Reggie, and when she cheated on Archie with Chuck. So far, he’s been able to pull her out of every mistake. He usually knows what to do, but right now he’s wearing a blue sweater with a white collar that reminds her painfully of Betty. It feels like slicing open the same cut every time it starts to heal.
“Just tell me what I’m supposed to do.”
“I’ve been thinking,” he twirls a fry in his hand. “When was the last time you helped me out?”
“My father is too old for you.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he shoots back. “And who said I needed help with guys? I don’t like that your mind immediately went there.”
She sighs. “I can set you up with Reggie.”
He drops his fry. “Seriously?”
“Only if your plan is a success,” she stipulates. “If it should fail, I will never speak to you again. And neither will Reggie.”
“I doubt that, but deal.”
They shake on it, Veronica pulling out a travel-sized sanitizer afterwards. Kevin’s fingers are covered in grease and salt, a combination unbetting of a dazzling socialite like herself. Yet another way he reminds her of Betty.
(Another faulty replacement, but that’s not his fault.)
“Soooo,” she stretches across the table. “Tell me what to do.”
“Sorry won’t cut it at this point,” Kevin says. “So you have to show her how apologetic you are. Actions speak louder than words, and all that.”
“Sounds great, how do I do that?”
The look on his face says it should be obvious, but Ronnie could not feel more lost. Veronica may know Betty best, but Kevin knows people best. He’s more in touch with their emotions than Ronnie could ever pretend to be. Unfortunately, that quality isn’t unique to Kevin. Most people are better with emotions than Ronnie. But she wants to try, she wants so badly to care when Betty looks at her with tears in her eyes. She thinks she could get there, with a little time and effort.
“Take her out,” he orders more than suggests. “A nice, friendly outing to show her how much she means to you.”
“Take her out where?”
“That’s for you to decide.”
Ronnie whines. “Why?”
“If I pick a place, it won’t be as personal. You’re her best friend, what does she like to do?”
What does Betty like to do…
Go shopping with Ronnie, sleep over at Ronnie’s house, fight with Ronnie over Archie. No, that isn’t right. She can’t pick things that are centered around herself. When Betty’s not with Ronnie, or going out with Archie, what is she doing?
She likes to write in her diary. Come to think of it, she writes a lot. Looking back, Veronica can remember more than one conversation where Betty talked about writing a novel. Whether she’s writing one in the present, or planning to write one, Ronnie isn’t sure.
Irrelevant, it’s not like she can take Betty somewhere just to write. They’d have to sit in silence. Maybe the library…they’d have to whisper, but Betty would love it. She volunteers there after school on Wednesdays. Ronnie knows this because it’s one of her many excuses for not being able to hang out. She also likes Pop’s, like every other kid in town. But when she’s not at Pop’s, she usually goes to some vegan place Ronnie wouldn’t be caught dead in. She’s all into those gory horror movies Veronica hates (they’re not doing that). She practically lives at the gym (they’re not doing that either). Aside from cheer, she’s also the captain of the girl’s baseball team (they’re not- you get the picture). She’s dragged Veronica to numerous thrift stores. She even made Ronnie go to a boring meeting for some environmentalist club she runs. That’s not even getting into her hobbies of theatre, soccer, scuba diving, dollhousing, baking, gardening…
Now that she thinks about it, Betty lives a very active life. Worse, she has an active life outside of Veronica. The thought makes her stomach turn.
“The park,” she says, suddenly. She manages to speak without spilling any of her food.
Kevin tilts his head. “Huh?”
“Her favorite date Archie ever took her on was at Pickens Park,” she explains. “She loves it there.”
And it’s the one place she won’t be able to ignore Veronica. Not much to do in that quaint little place other than walk and talk. She’ll have Betty’s undivided attention.
“Is that where you’re going to take her?”
“After the library,” she decides, because books are the one thing she and Betty can agree on. Well, books and Archie. And if she’s going to win back Betty’s friendship, she has to pull out all the stops.
“Sounds sentimental,” Kevin nods. “Betty will love it.”
Betty will love it, it’s hand-crafted to be her ideal date. Er, “friendly outing” has a nicer ring to it. It won’t just be magical, it will be an evening where Betty’s focus won’t be able to stray. She’ll have no choice but to give Veronica her undivided attention. No more silent treatment or passing her in the halls without a wave. She’ll be looking at Ronnie and only Ronnie. No pesky boys will come between them.
After that, they can go back to the way things used to be. Betty following Veronica like a lost puppy while Veronica gets everything she wants. The two of them walking side-by-side like they’re the only two people who matter. Their friendship will be restored, and Ronnie will finally feel complete again.
It’s a full-proof plan.
“Of course she will,” Ronnie pops a cherry in her mouth. “I’ll be there.”
~
She calls Betty that night, giving her a run down of the plan. It takes approximately three missed calls for Betty to answer, but she still picks up. The second, harder challenge is convincing her to meet up at the library. In the end, she has to give up two of her Fridays with Archie. That comes with the additional promise not to crash Betty’s Saturday dates. She can go out with him any other day of the week, except those two. A laughably small price to pay for victory.
Fifteen minutes of negotiating leads her to the library on Sunday, draped against a shelf while Betty noses through the books. She wore one of her favorite casual dresses, a red number with short sleeves and a flowy skirt. The white ribbon tied around her middle perfectly matches the headband she wears. It also pays a nice compliment to the white flowers at the end of the dress, which bleed into a black stripe along the bottom. She picked a pair of small red heels to match.
Betty is wearing a blue sweater over a white button-down, one that makes Ronnie’s heart squeeze. Her skirt is an ugly, black and blue plaid thing. She’s matched the outfit with knee-high socks, also blue, and an unfortunate pair of orange shoes. Her hair is in a half-updo instead of its usual ponytail, blonde curls spilling out beneath a small tie in the back. Her bangs need to be trimmed, as she keeps brushing them back when she crooks her neck to read. She’s always preferred them messy anyways, always seeking to be Ronnie’s perfect opposite.
She smells strange too, like the flowers that grow in her backyard. A feminine scent overtaken by dirt and overgrown grass.
“Did you come from the gym?”
Betty glances up from her current fixation, an Agatha Christie novel Ronnie can’t quite catch the title of. She looks as though she’d forgotten Ronnie was in the room with her.
“Yes,” she says, flipping the page. “I like to get in a good workout before school starts back.”
“Every weekend?”
“Yes, Ron, every weekend,” she shakes her head. “I go twice a week, at least.”
“At least?” The thought is mildly horrific. “I hope you remembered to change out of your church clothes this time.”
“You should be a comedian,” her attention is fully back on the book. “Do you even go to church?”
“You know I don’t,” Veronica sighs. “Unless Daddy makes me.”
She expects some retort along the lines of Well, you should, maybe delving into a lecture about salvation. It never comes, as Betty is too immersed in her book to care about Veronica’s soul. Not that Ronnie herself cares, but she wants Betty to care. Grating or not, the attention is never unwelcome.
She takes a few steps down the aisle, closer to Betty. The smell of sweat beneath her collar is stronger from this distance, making something bristle inside Veronica. She can’t fathom why, but it suddenly takes effort not to inhale. Her back straightens like the length of a ruler.
“What are you reading?”
Betty’s unpainted nails flip the book over, one finger crooked between the pages to hold her place. There’s that same struggle, the one that makes Veronica think consciously about her breathing. She focuses instead on the cover, now facing her:
And Then There Were None
She squints. “Hm. I prefer romance.”
“Wuthering Heights is not romance.”
“You just don’t understand it.”
Another opportunity for a lecture, a rebuttal, anything. Nothing comes. Betty simply pulls the book back, taking her attention with it.
“Whatever you say,” she shrugs. “I’ll be done with this one soon, I just wanted to reread this one part.”
Veronica feels her stomach sink.
“After that we can go to the park?”
“I’d like to keep looking.”
The reply is sharp, like she…like she just wants Ronnie to shut up.
Oh.
“And after that, the park?”
Betty sighs. “Yes, Ronnie, after that we can go to the park.”
She hopes Betty doesn’t notice the way her shoulders drop when she turns away.
“Don’t take too long.”
She busied herself by looking through a shelf of Jane Austen. Not entirely romance either, but she cherishes them nonetheless. Perhaps she was lying when she indicated that romance was the main sale of a book for her. She can appreciate other elements. There’s just something that makes her swoon, reading all these complex tales about the different ways two people can fall in love. People who don’t even like each other at first, or who have known each other their whole lives but haven’t had the chance to act on their feelings. People who may not even be good for each other but still love each other, so deeply and irreversibly. As a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, Betty must understand the sentiment. It must be easier for her to read about unrequited love than to have to live through it herself.
But, no, Betty would rather chase after a guy who will never love her than entertain the fantasy of mutual love. One-sided stories would make her too self-aware. Veronica has half a mind to beat her over the head with one of these “love stories,” knock some real sense into her.
…That’s not such a bad idea. Not the hitting part, but the part about knocking some sense into Betty. If Veronica could get her to dump Archie herself, that’d be a miracle. It would make things a whole lot easier for all three of them. Ronnie would have Archie, Betty would gain independence, and Archie wouldn’t have to worry about finding a way to let his friend down easy. Maybe what Betty needs isn’t to be crushed to dust, maybe she needs some good old fashioned self-respect.
“Is this what you do when you’re with Archie?”
Turning back, she can see that Betty has put up the first book. She’s now flipping through Little Women.
“Sometimes,” she answers. “Usually we go to his place or the park. Casual stuff like that.”
“Sounds low-maintenance,” Ronnie says, as subtly as she can. “Do you like that he doesn’t spend a lot of money on you?”
She rolls her eyes. “Money doesn’t buy happiness.”
“It’s so cute that you think that.”
“What is your problem?” She snaps the book shut. “Are you trying to get me to back off of Archie? You promised me four dates with no interruption.”
Damn it, she thought she was being subtle.
She waves Betty off, acting as innocent as possible. “Please, I would never. I’ve just been thinking lately…”
Betty assumes a stance that can only be described as adorable. Standing in between the brown shelves in her scratchy blue sweater, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised. Ronnie isn’t sure whether to laugh or hug her, so she does nothing.
“Thinking what?”
“You’re too good for Archie,” she says with conviction. “You’ve been letting him walk all over you for years, and I think it’s time you explore other avenues.”
“Other…?” She blinks, face going red. “Is this another trick?”
“Sure isn’t,” she shakes her head. “Look, between you and me, you’re way out of Archie’s league. You deserve a partner of high class, someone who will spare no expense to show you a good time.”
Her message seems to reach Betty surprisingly well. To be honest, she wasn’t sure if this mean old trick would work, but it’s starting out as a great success. Betty actually seems to believe the shit Veronica’s saying right now. On top of that, she looks flustered, like this is all just now occurring to her. It’s delicious.
“Veronica,” Betty meets her eyes, blue on brown. “Are you saying this as my best friend, or my rival?”
Ron smiles like the cat that just caught the canary, replying with a pleasant shrug.
“That’s up to you to decide, my dear.”
Winning has never felt this good. Betty looks as though Veronica just opened a door for her to a whole new world. A world of possibilities she never considered before. A world filled with hot, rich guys who will make her forget all about Archie Andrews. Then Veronica can have him all to herself.
The key is that all those guys are miles beyond Betty’s league. She won’t be able to score a date with any of them. If by some fluke, she does happen to score, Ronnie will swoop in to restore things to their natural order. Herself covered in guys, while Betty stays home on the weekend with a pile of books. After all, she can’t have Betty’s head getting too big. She’s gotta make sure the little nerd remembers her rightful place- under Veronica.
“It’s getting late,” Betty says, suddenly. “We should go.”
Veronica perks up. “To the park?”
“Yes, Ronnie, to the park.”
“Yay,” she claps. “You remembered.”
Betty gives her a strange look, one that almost seems…contemplative. Like she’s sizing her up. Ronnie isn’t sure what to make of it.
“Let’s just go.”
~
Things only get weirder from there.
Ronnie takes it as a good sign, Betty is linking their arms again the same way they used to do on their walks to school. She seems especially bubbly all of the sudden, laughing at all of Veronica’s jokes. She sporadically bumps up against her as they walk, like she’s seeking out contact. This must mean her plan was a greater success than she thought. Betty isn’t only buying it, she’s grateful to her. Grateful that Ronnie believes in her, that she’s encouraging her to do better. It makes the smallest feeling of guilt bubble in her stomach.
Her confusion deepens when Betty offers to buy her ice cream. They pass a stand that is miraculously still open at this hour, and before Ronnie can register it, Betty’s dragging her over.
“You planned this all out,” she explains. “So let me pay.”
Veronica frowns. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. I know how you like to be spoiled.”
How peculiar.
Betty gets a vanilla cone for herself, and a chocolate one for Ronnie. They eat them on a bench, covered by the shadow of a tree. The park is nice at this hour, quiet. There’s a slight chill in the air, but it’s still warm enough to go without a coat. Only a few visitors disrupt their privacy. The worst offender is an older man walking alone near the trees, but he doesn’t bother them. Ronnie does find herself scooting closer to Betty though, just in case. It helps to have a best friend who can bench press the whole football team.
With Betty by her side, she’s able to let her guard down. She can zone out whenever she wants. It’s that way with Archie sometimes too, but she has to keep her wits about her. He can take her down all the streets she’s unfamiliar with, but she has to make sure he doesn’t walk them off a pier or into a pole. Betty is different, she has everything under control, all the time. She’s alert where Ronnie is carefree, and as much as Ronnie teases her for that, it’s something she appreciates. If the world burned down around them, right here and now, Betty would have a plan.
Perhaps she lets her guard down a little too much, because she doesn’t notice the wet thumb reaching towards her until it hits her chin. She jerks away from the sensation, making Betty’s hand falter.
“Excuse me?”
“You had a little chocolate,” Betty motions to the corner of her lip. “Right there.”
It takes her brain a moment to catch up with what just happened. Betty just licked her thumb, and rubbed it against Veronica’s face. She now has Betty’s saliva on her chin. Right by her mouth, to be exact.
She inhales, sharply. “Never do that again.”
“What? I was just helping.”
Their friendship knows few boundaries; they’ve bathed together, shared a bed, watched each other dress, dated the same guy their whole lives. She got to second base with Betty long before she did with Archie, back when the blonde “wanted to see how they were growing.” They do things together that most best friends would consider crossing a line, but to them it’s how they’ve always been.
Something about this though…it’s too much, too intimate. Repugnant, and far too chummy for someone who was ignoring her mere hours ago.
She wipes her chin. “You’re going to give me mono.”
Betty shifts on the bench next to her, looking dejected.
“That was just a rumor.”
“I know, I started it.”
“Bitch.”
Then she’s being shoved, and everything feels normal again. Almost. The press of Betty’s hand against her bare arm gives her the same tingling sensation her thumb did. It brings her back to the library, realizing Betty hadn’t bothered to shower before their outing.
She puts it out of her mind by the time they toss their cones, linking her arm back with Betty’s. They walk without all the giggly, restless movement from Betty this time, though it’s replaced by something stranger. A calm, almost solemn blissfulness. A small smile rests on her face, eyes alight with wonder. Her hand comes up to caress Ronnie’s upper arm. She seems as though she’s found the true meaning of peace, strolling through the park with Veronica.
Ronnie knows she has that effect, but this is different. There’s something off about it, though she can’t place what. Betty’s looking at her in a way she never has before, so soft and dreamy. It makes her chest flutter.
“Would you mind telling me what’s gotten into you tonight?” She finally asks, on their way out of the park. “You’re awfully clingy.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Betty sighs. “Just you, I suppose.”
She ends up walking Betty home, confused as ever. The more she tries to make sense of the whole affair, the more lost she feels. Normally a trip to Betty’s house would be an excuse to sneak through Archie’s window, but she can hardly fathom anything like that tonight. He’ll have to settle for a glimpse of her walking down the street. Maybe not even that. If Betty were to invite her in, she’d be helpless to comply. Only because Betty is clearly obsessed with her, and Ronnie would have to be cruel to refuse her the company. She’s still the one behind the wheel here.
It seems she’ll be spared a sleepover in that crummy bed. Betty shows no signs of wanting to continue their night. Or, rather, she visibly wants to but she doesn’t ask. She just stands there under her porch light, across from Ronnie with their hands intertwined. How and why they ended up like that, Ronnie had no idea.
“Well,” she says, shyly. “Goodnight.”
Ron’s shoulders tense. “Goodnight, Betts.”
“I want to thank you for tonight,” Betty adds. “It’s the best date I’ve been on in a long time.”
“Oh,” she laughs, nervously. “No need to thank me for that. Remember what I told you, you’re too good for Archie.”
“Archie, who?”
She should have seen the kiss coming.
It’s a miracle she manages to remain standing. First, it catches her wildly off-guard. For all Betty’s strange behavior tonight, Veronica never thought this could be the reason behind it. The thought never even crossed her mind.
Second, Betty is good. Irritatingly good. Veronica has always prided herself on being a good kisser, she thought Archie would much rather kiss her than her plain best friend. Now she sees that Betty is anything but plain. She kisses with force, but not too hard. One of her hands gets tangled in Veronica’s hair, the other grabbing the front of her shirt to pull her in. Ronnie has no choice but to let herself be maneuvered. She doesn’t want any other choice.
Third, she’s kissing back. She’s kissing Betty Cooper, her best friend Betty Cooper, her rival Betty Cooper. She’s kissing her boyfriend’s second girlfriend. There are levels to how twisted this situation is. It’s perfectly legal in this day and age, but the context makes Ronnie feel like she’s breaking a law. She will care more about that when she can see something other than stars.
It lasts an eternity, and it’s over as soon as it begins. She’s left dizzy when Betty pulls away, skipping off to open her front door.
“’Night, Ron,” she calls back. “Don’t forget your way home.”
That bitch
She’s going to get Betty back for whatever just happened. She’s going to kiss her so hard, it’ll knock her off her feet. She’ll take her on a date that will exceed this one, and every other lousy outing Betty’s ever been on. She’ll be the one paying for ice cream next time. She’s going to make Betty swoon so hard, she’ll forget the male species exists. She…she…
She can’t remember the way home.