Blossoming | Bughead AU

dark betty

Betty composed a list in her head of all the things people are typically afraid of.

Spiders. Heights. The dark. Ghosts. Clowns. Roller coasters. Love.

Betty wished her worst fear could be any of those things. But they're not. Her worst fear, which could possibly be the saddest thing a person could hear, is her own mother. Alice Cooper. Now her worst fear stood right in front of her as Betty sat on the couch, arms folded as her daughter's fists were threatening to clench as an impulse. Betty felt the anxiety start to crawl up inside of her, and she struggled to push it down.

"Elizabeth, do you recall what Pauline told me regarding her future?" Alice began, raising her head up like a predator when it sees it's prey.

Betty spoke quietly, "She wanted to be a doctor."

"This year she was supposed to graduate and go to Harvard, but instead she became impregnated by Jason Blossom and they both moved away to be farmers. Since she is eighteen there is nothing I could do about it." A dreary darkness sparkled in Alice's eyes when she met Betty's gaze. "But you, Elizabeth, you are still in my clutches, under my household."

Hal Cooper was standing a bit of distance away from his wife, supporting her while feeling sympathy for his daughter at the same time. There are many moments where he believed that Alice was being too hard on the poor girl, but he also knew his marriage could come to a halt if he mentioned anything. This thought made him feel worse, because deep down, his daughters' happiness meant everything to him.

And right now, Betty is not happy.

"I was incredibly ecstatic when I was informed that you and Archibald were dating. Everything was falling perfectly in place for you," Alice hissed, taking a step closer to Betty. "But then you ruined everything. You ruined your friendship with Cheryl Blossom, as well as your relationship with Archibald. Now you're destroying your reputation by associating yourself with a Southside Serpent. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Every word she spoke irritated Betty. Her mother rarely praised her and constantly nagged her. Betty was growing tired of it; an outburst was certainly overdue, but she was trying to keep it under control.

"Archie broke up with me at the Homecoming Dance," Betty found herself saying.

Alice didn't say anything for a moment. Then she said, after thinking for a moment, "Sweetheart, is that why you're linking yourself with a snake? To get back at Archibald? Honey, there are plenty of other ways to make a boy jealous but parading around with the scum of the earth is certainly not-"

"His name is Jughead, mother, and he is not the scum of the earth," Betty interrupted into defense, quickly becoming angry. "He is the most amazing and most intellectual person I have ever met. He's my boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Alice scoffed in disgust. "No daughter of mine is claiming the role of Serpent Slut. You are forbidden to see him."

Those words were like a slap in the face to Betty. Even Hal thought it was too far and attempted to grab Alice's arm but failed when she pushed him away.

Betty rose to her feet, looking her mother in the eyes. "You cannot forbid me to do anything. I am going to be with Jughead and there is nothing you could do about it."

"Oh really? May I suggest kicking you out of this beautiful and warm home we've raised you in?" Alice's anger was rising.

Betty was up for a challenge. "Go right ahead."

"Now, let's not be too drastic," Hal immediately said, becoming nervous. "Alice, we cannot kick our own daughter out of the house."

"I can do what I want," Alice spat. "What's so great about 'Jughead' anyway, Elizabeth? Is it his criminal record or his drug abuse? Perhaps it's his father's incarceration that really turns you on, as well as the abandonment of his mother."