Speak To Me

Follow The Leader

"Um...Jug?" Betty said, sitting in between Veronica and Jughead. 

"Yeah?" He responded, taking a right hand turn.

"What are you doing? You're supposed to take a left to get to the Register." Betty tried her best to hide the huge pool of emotions she felt. She felt angry, she felt sad. A part of her was anxious while another part of her felt afraid that they could be pulled over and caught for breaking so many laws. She was also frustrated with Veronica for turning this emotional time into, basically, a road trip with the gang. This wasn't supposed to be fun. She knew Ronnie meant well and perhaps she invited so many people as a support group for her, but she still couldn't help but feel annoyed at about everything today.

"We're not going to the Register." Jughead responded.

"We're not?" His girlfriend replied with confusion. 

"No. I have a better idea."

They drove on for awhile and soon, Veronica took hold of Betty's hand before leaning her head against Betty's shoulder. The blonde succumbed to the embrace and let her head fall to rest upon Veronica's. Juggy couldn't help but put a comforting hand on Betty's knee and she held it there for a while. 

She eventually realized where they were headed. Jug had thought up the genius plan to go back to the section of the woods near Thistle House to hide the truck behind once again. When Alice would pass, they would pull out behind her and follow just as they did yesterday. 

"Thank you." Betty let out in a whisper. "I really love you guys. You know that, right?"

"Of course, B." Veronica squeezed Betty's hand. "We love you too."

"Careful." Jughead cleared his throat. "I may be getting a little jealous over here." He joked and the other two giggled. 

They finally made it to their hideout and he backed into the area surrounded by maple trees. Archie and Kevin knocked on the glass to the front of the window, asking what was going on. Ronnie took out her phone and texted Archie to let them know the plan. When he got it, he sent them a thumbs up and continued on with the conversation he was having with Kevin.

Betty lifted her head from Veronica's. "I hope this is all just some big misunderstanding."

"We do too, babe." Jug held tighter to her hand upon her knee. 

"We're here for you." Veronica said, propping her chin up on Betty's shoulder with a smile. 

The blonde opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn't when they heard a knock on the glass again. Ronnie turned to look at her boyfriend behind them and Archie pointed to a car passing by. Ronnie turned to look. "That's her." Both she and Jughead said together and Juggy pulled out once Alice was further down the road. 

"Okay...this is where we ran out of gas yesterday." Jughead spoke as they passed the tire marks Sweet Pea's car had made when he peeled out the day before.

"Let's hope you don't run out again." Veronica joked.

"I put a full gas can in the back this time." He chuckled. "So even if we do, we're good."

Both Ronnie and Juggy tried their best to make light conversation as they both noticed Betty's uncomfortable and nervous silence. They made jokes about Archie and made up names for Polly's babies. Elizabeth smirked every now and then, but her eyes stayed focused on her mom up ahead. 

Eventually, they saw Mrs. Cooper's car slow down as it turned right, entering the parking lot of an enormous white building. Kevin knocked on the glass behind Jug, Betty, and Ronnie, hoping to get their attention. The girls turned to see him show them the GPS on his phone. He pointed at the address they were approaching and B and V both widened their eyes as they turned to face forward again. "Jughead..." Betty began as her heart fell in her chest and her confusion only metastasized.