The Crash

Part 21

~A few weeks later~

School had been going really well for the most part but recently everyone had been looking at Betty differently. She and their friends were all sitting at lunch, talking and enjoying their break when they realized that people kept looking at Betty and then whispering.

Veronica- Girl, what's going on?

Archie- Yeah...did you do something?

Betty- No, what do you mean?

Fangs- Everyone keeps looking at you and then whispering.

Toni- It's kinda weird tbh.

Betty turned around and looked at everyone, instantly their heads turned away. Jughead could tell that Betty became uncomfortable so he wrapped his arms around her stomach and let her rest her head on his shoulder.

Jughead- Betts, don't worry about them. If they have a problem with you they'll have to go through me.

She smiled and giggled before standing up.

Cheryl- Where are you going?

Betty- I just need to use the bathroom, I'll be right back.

She walked away and all of the friends continued to talk, but suddenly Kevin came running up to them with a worried look on his face.

Kevin- GUYS! We have a problem!

Veronica- What? What is it?

Kevin- Betty's locker, it's bad, come on!

As soon as Jughead heard Betty's name he jumped up and ran through the cafeteria and the hallways to get to her...but as he got to his girlfriends locker, he saw a bunch of people surrounding it. He pushed through the crowd to see Betty standing there, looking at what people had written about her. There were a bunch of different messages taped to the locker, but in big, blood like, red letters it said: 16 year old whore, with pictures of her and Emma all over the locker. Jughead stood in front of the locker trying to get people to go away, but then Betty pushed past him trying to take it all down.

Jughead- Betty...

Betty- It's nothing Jug, it's just a jerk with a can of spray paint. (tears)

Jughead- I don't think that's spray paint, come on.

He placed his hand on her cheek, calming her down instantly, before taking her away to a classroom so the two of them could be alone.

Betty- T-That's not even true... (tears)

Jughead- Betts, I know it's not, you don't need to make me agree with you.

Betty- But everyone else thinks it's true, that's why they've been looking at me weirdly. (tears)

Jughead- But it doesn't matter.

Betty- Yes it does, everyone thinks that I'm a whore who had a kid at 13. (cries)

Jughead- Betts-

Betty- I just want to go home, can we go? (sniffles)

Jughead- Yeah come on.

They grabbed all of their stuff and then left. They picked up Emma from daycare and brought her home with them, but as soon as she had seen Betty she knew that something was wrong.

Emma- Mama...

Betty- Mhm? (softly)

Emma- Why are you sad?

Betty- I'm not...let's just go. (softly)

She nodded but still didn't believe her. As soon as they got home Betty just laid down on the couch while Jughead played with Emma for a while, but then she ended up crawling up onto the couch and laying down in Betty's arms.

Emma- Mama...

Betty- I told you, I'm fine baby.

Jughead- Emma, can you go upstairs for a minute?

She nodded and ran up while Jughead sat next to Betty and ran his fingers through her hair.

Jughead- Betts...why do you care what other people think?

Betty- It's not just that...

Jughead- Then what is it?

Betty- I think part of me is still hurting that I'm her "mother" figure.

Jughead- Oh, okay...look, I know it hurts but you should be happy that she loves you so much to the point where she wants you to be her mom. I think that's amazing. Your guys' love for each other is so special and I think you just need to cherish that rather than be upset about it.

Betty- Yeah, you're right.

Emma- Mommy, Juggie, can I come back down now.

Betty- Yeah, come here munchkin.

She ran down the stairs and jumped into Betty's arms as she kissed her head softly.

Betty- Want to play princess?

Emma- Yes! Come on, come on!

Emma pulled Betty onto the floor as they began to play. But soon it was time for Emma to go to sleep. She wanted both Betty and Jughead to tuck her in so they sat on her bed with her and waited for her to go to sleep, but then Emma sat up and looked at Jughead, reaching out for him.

Jughead- Emma, you need to go to sleep.

Emma- Not yet.

She got up and crawled into his lap allowing him to wrap his arms around her, then she looked up into his eyes.

Jughead- What is it baby?

Emma- Can you be my daddy?

Jughead- I-I...uh...

He looked at Betty who was looking at the two of them, smiling softly, then she nodded wanting him to say yes.

Jughead- Yeah, I'll be your daddy.

Emma- Yay!

She hugged him tightly and gave him a kiss on the cheek before crawling back under the covers. Then she closed her eyes to go to sleep.

Emma- I love you mommy, I love you daddy.

Betty & Jughead- We love you too.

The two of them were about to walk out and go back downstairs, but before they could Emma called Betty.

Emma- Mama, stay.

Betty nodded and got back in bed with her, holding her tightly. Jughead walked out of the room and just stood by the door frame for a moment, watching the two in awe. He loved them both so much, but how much love would be enough to keep them all together?