"So, you're telling me you and Archie kissed?" Kevin lowers his voice at the last syllable, trying to avoid anyone overhearing but failing to hide his shock and amusement.

Betty bites her lip tentatively and nods her head slightly, "yeah, but we haven't talked about it, and maybe it's for the best if we never do…" she pulls up the sleeves of sweater, averting Kevin's gaze.

Kevin shakes his head, "Ok, but is this some sort of rebound kiss because of Jughead or...do you still…"

"No no" Betty interjects quickly, "all of that is over, and it has been for a long time. It was just in the moment and I don't know, I just...kind of lost all sense of reality maybe?"

"I mean, yeah I get that...but do you think you're ever going to talk to Veronica about it? Her and Archie are back to making out on every surface of this school you know…" Kevin raises his eyebrow as Betty shrugs her shoulders, "I don't know if it's even something I should bring up or even if it's my place to...I mean they were broken up at that time and…"

Betty stands up suddenly and crosses her arms, "you know what, it doesn't matter because it didn't mean anything, that night was just out of control…"

"Betts you might want to lower your voice because…" Kevin points at the door with a an awkward glance and Betty sees Archie and Veronica, liplocked, waltzing into the room. It seems to be their preferred entrance of sorts, their giggles announcing their arrival ceremoniously, their hands grasping at each bit of skin within reach. Hardly acceptable school behavior, she's thought before, but she never felt like she was in the position to preach about acceptable school behavior. They were her best friends and they were crazy about each other and she was happy for them. They break their kiss and look over at Betty and Kevin. Arch looks awkward as he mumbles, "hey Betty, Kevin" but Veronica looks a bit off. She stares intensely at Betty for a few seconds and drops her gaze.

"So what is everyone talking about?" she chimes in a loud and high voice, sitting next to Kevin.

"Nothing in particular!" Kevin says sitting up a little straighter and smiling broadly. "Just that the new southsiders have really been stirring up the place, haven't they Betts?"

"Mm? Ah, yeah, it's been interesting having so many new student's around.." Betty says, glancing quickly at Archie who looks away.

"Yeah, I bet it's interesting having Jughead around isn't it Betty?" Veronica crosses her legs and smiles sweetly at Betty, but again something feels off. Her eyes feel piercing, Betty notices, her smile a little too sweet for comfort, like poisoned honey.

"No, I mean...yes...I mean...I'm glad he's back and…" Betty tries her hardest not to glance over at Archie, but instead focuses her attention on Veronica's eyes.

"She knows…" Betty thinks to herself as Veronica stands up and picks up her bag, "Well have fun figuring that out, and if you excuse me, Archikins and moi have things to do to make sure our new peers are enjoying their first week at Riverdale High" She holds Betty's gaze for a second, but it feels like an eternity. "See you, Veronica…" she finally gets out as she breaks eye contact.

Archie looks over at Betty for a moment, but says nothing as Veronica pulls his hand out the door and into the hallway.

Kevin lets out a deep breath "Oh sweet Jesus, if the atmosphere back then wasn't any denser, I'd say Archie has let our princess know about that kiss.."

"No, you don't think...she knows?" Betty says hurriedly as she gathers her things,

"...mmm. I'd bet on a dying horse that she definitely know what's up."

"Oh my God I should go talk to her…." Betty says as she rushes out the door, looking to see if she can spot Veronica's raven hair and petite figure amongst all the bodies around her.

She could be in class, but she said she need to plan so maybe she's using one of the student rooms on the 3rd floor?- Betty thinks to herself as she climbs the stairs and surveys the hallways. She finally spots her, halfway to her locker, hand in hand with Archie.

"Hey Veronica!" She calls out as she runs down towards them.

"Betty? Can I help you?" Veronica says coldly.

"Um…." How do you start a conversation like this, Betty thinks in a panic, trying to be careful with her words, trying to remain calm. She suddenly notices Archie there, looking confused and concerned. They haven't talked properly since the night they discovered Mr. Svenson was the Black Hood, haven't talked about the way Archie was almost buried alive, or about what they discovered at Nana's house, or even what happened in the car. When they…

"Betty? Are you alright?" Archie says but suddenly Betty finds some words and says,

"Sorry, yeah, Veronica, can I talk to you...for a second...alone? Or if you are busy, we can catch some milkshakes at Pop's later tonight?"

She hears Veronica sigh, "If you need to tell me something then maybe you should tell me right now...it seems that it's pretty important to you if you came running down the hall like that just to find me." Veronica crosses her arms and shifts the weight on one of her tall and slick heels.

"Archie, can you give us a minute?" Veronica asks Archie softly as he still looks over Betty who looks away, focusing her attention on Veronica.

"Okay Ronnie, I'll text you later. Betty." He nods over at Betty and makes to leave,

"Archkins, wait!" Veronica suddenly stops him, pulling him in for a kiss. Betty takes in a breath, but waits it out, until the echo of their kiss fades away from her.

"I'm crazy about you Archie.." Veronica says as she caresses his face.

"Yeah...me too Veronica…" he takes her hands and kisses it softly. He only glances at Betty for a short second and leaves.

"So, what can be so heavy on the conscious of Betty Cooper that she runs after in me with the look of a sinner about to confess their sins to the pope...hmmm?" Veronica looks at Betty coldly and Betty tries to swallow her feelings of apprehension and tries to steady her voice as she starts her sentence with "Veronica, you know I feel like we haven't talked in forever lately, so much has been going on and…"

"Oh cut out the formalities, and just get on with it Betty. You and Archie kissed. That's what you ran over here to tell me, or am I wrong?"

Betty winced and put her hands up in defense.

"Veronica, I can, explain." she began quickly but was cut of my Veronica, who spoke in a straight voice. Brisk and clear, no pauses.

"No need to. Archie told me everything. He told me it was a crazy night and that you were losing your shit, and you kissed him. No I get it. He made it very clear to me that it meant nothing to him. And I trust him…" she pauses deliberately, as if to make her next words clear and understood, "Because he loves me. And I love him. But I can't say I really trust you Betty...given your record these last few months."

"Veronica, will you just let me explain to you, what's been going on. Your my best friend, and trust me, there is so much.." Betty tries to interject but she is cut off again by Veronica.

"Best friend, Betty? Is that why you kissed Archie? We were only broken up for a day or so. And you were only broken up with Jug for that long. How can I trust you? You say you're past Archie and then you do something like this?"

"I don't feel anything for Archie, V. We're friends and that kiss…" Betty was trying to find the words to explain but she felt an overwhelming amount of anxiety come across her. Her throat tightened and she was freezing in that moment,

"Well, I don't want to know what that kiss meant to you. All I know is that if you're my best friend as you say, then you'll leave Archie well enough alone for awhile."

Tears started floating out of her eyes as she looked down at her shoes, anything to not look at Veronica as Veronica also looked away, obviously exasperated.

"And I'm not just saying this because you kissed Archie, Betty. It's just, you're all over the place, lately. You just broke up with Jughead and maybe it was for the best after hearing about that debacle you caused at his dad's party. Really, Betty? Stripping in front of middle aged men, for what? To join a gang?."

"How do you even know about that?" Betty says, starting to feel a fire inside of her, "you don't know what was really going on…"

"How can I Betty? Lately you've been going into dark corners, meddling into everyone business, having this weird dark relationship with a serial killer when you should have just gone to the cops. Betty, are you following? Even at the party, when you went all psycho Betty on me without even telling me what was going on. You don't even communicate with me anymore. And you've been dragging Archie into things that he doesn't deserve to be dragged into."

Betty closes her eyes for a minute and breathes out, "I know but.."

"I can't believe you want to justify putting Archie in danger like you did because you wouldn't just call the police. He was almost buried alive, Betty. Archie, who is honestly too good for all this and has been through enough already. You're taking advantage of his goodness, and I don't want him to get hurt. I've been fighting tooth and nail for our relationship to work, for him to help his Dad, for him to be happy. I don't want you pulling him into any more danger, or using him to resolve your problems with Jughead."

Veronica stops as she notices Betty shaking, trying to stifle in sobs.

"Obviously I'm not saying you can't be friends with him, but for a while just let him breathe. If you care about him as much as you say you do, if you care about me… then just stay out of our lives a little while until you fix what you need to fix."

Without waiting for Betty to answer, Veronica turns the other way, wiping a small tear from her eye. But Betty doesn't notice this. She walks away briskly and Betty can only hear the sound of her heels trotting away.

She closes her eyes as she curls her knees towards her chest. Maybe Veronica is right, she thinks as familiar pangs hit her chest and her heartbeat accelerates. Maybe I am a bad person... and that's why Archie never loved me, and maybe why Jughead pushed me away. Maybe why Polly doesn't want to be a part of this family anymore, why...why…the Black Hood wanted me to join him, because I'm just not good. Not good for anyone or anything...

She buries her face in her hands, breathing in slowly, feeling the waves of anxiety crash into her, relentlessly without holding anything back. She tries to breathe in once again but can only manage a shivering sob.

She's in her room, and the lights are off. Everyone has gone to bed. She pulled down the curtains to avoid Archie peering in but she noticed his light were off as well. Maybe he does need some space from her.

I need some space for me. She thought as she bit her finger tips trying to stifle her sobs, to quietly take in her hurt.

Why did she kiss Archie? In that moment, what was going through her head? Why did she lean in and why did she let adrenaline take over her senses? In that moment, why did her mind go blank as she met his lips? Why couldn't she come to her senses when he kissed her back. He did kiss her back right? Was it just her, in her manipulative ways pulling him into her darkness or did he really meet her halfway?

She tried to bring herself back to that moment. When he was holding her hand, when he was saying that he needed her, needed Betty Cooper, and how everything was going to go back to the way it was. But as soon as she leans in, that's when all rational thought leaves her body. It's only soft lips, and steady hands, and a scent that smells like wet grass. Archie's sent. Then it was over. There was nothing in that moment, for either of them, she repeats to herself. I'm sure that's what Archie thinks.

Even if she was broken with Juggie, Archie and Veronica they were back together, more crazy and more in love than before. So what was the point?... of overthinking what it all meant?

I should just lay low for a while, she finally concludes as she wipes the tears from her eyes, and takes one last deep breath.

At that moment, her phone rings beneath her covers.

She pauses a second and examines the screen.

Arch. She whispers softly.

"Hey. Betty, can we talk? I could call. Or I could walk you to school?. Let me know."

She subconsciously hovers her finger over his name. If she doesn't respond he'll start to insist. He's just that type of person.

"I think I'll be out tomorrow." She starts to type out but deletes it completely.

She turns off her phone. But maybe it's best if she doesn't respond, there is so much to take care of right now. She'll stay low. And Veronica will keep him busy I'm sure, Betty reassures herself.

She moves over to the curtains and gently brushes them aside. Archie's blinds are still shut. She closes them again and then closes her eyes. She places her fingers on her lips for a second, her eyes still closed. She doesn't see anything behind her eyelids, but when she places a hand on her chest she can feel the gentle beating of her heart beneath her fingertips.