CHAPTER NINETEEN:

↳ SWITZERLAND

EVEN THOUGH VIRGINIA HOPKINS WAS MAD at Jughead, she couldn't find it in her heart to not help find Polly Cooper. So, there she was, in the woods with a crowd of people she barely knew to search for a girl she barely knew.

"Okay, the Sisters of Quiet Mercy are due north. The getaway car was west, on the Old Route 40."

"The closest bus station is east, headed towards Sweetwater." Jughead added, looking at the group that came together to help find Polly Cooper. "If Polly wanted to leave Riverdale without anyone seeing her, she probably would've left through right–"

"Right here. Eversgreen Forest". Betty interrupted Jughead and he turned to her a frown in place.

Virginia smirked from behind Archie, noticing the slight awkwardness that surrounded the two. She was glad they weren't working out that well, she was stupid to have suggested Jughead to date Betty Cooper.

The group dispersed, everyone going in different directions to search for the lost girl. Jughead joined up with Archie, Virginia awkwardly standing near them, not knowing what to say or do.

"Hey, all this stuff with your sister, I'm sorry you had to go through that, and I wasn't there to help you." Archie told Jughead regretfully, hands deep in his pockets.

"It's okay, Arch, you're here now."

"Aw, is my bro-tp back together?" Virginia told the two boys with a smirk. She let her eyes dance between Archie and the floor, ignoring the other tall figure beside her.

Archie grabbed Virginia, pulling her into a headlock as she yelped in surprise.

"You know it."

"Hey, Gin." She froze as her friend finally spoke up. She cleared her throat, making eye contact with the boy full of regret.

She walked away.

Virginia walked up to Kevin and Veronica, her face betraying her emotions. She had to get away from Jughead in fear of her breaking down in tears. She missed having her best friend in her life.

"And what if she doesn't blink?" She listened in onto the conversation, probably about Veronica's mother who had betrayed her daughters trust.

"Back in New York, whenever I needed to blow off some steam, or force my mother's hand, I'd go out on a bender, dancing with my fave celebrity gal-pal, my best gay, and some dim-witted, sexy, disposable arm-candy."

"That's Josie, you,–"

"Honored." Kevin smiled widely at the adventurous girl.

"You want to come, Ginny?" Kevin asked with a smile, grasping the brunette girl's hand in his own. "I know parties aren't your thing but–"

"Yes, I'd love to come." Ginny said with a smile, squeezing his hand within hers.

"And as for my arm-candy. . . He'll do." Veronica continued, looking around at the other searchers before pointing to Reggie and Virginia held her breath. She hated the jocks with a burning passion– mostly because of Jason.

Kevin chuckled, watching Veronica bite her lip. "I'm in, I'm so in." Kevin laughed, "should we invite Betty? She could probably use a distraction right now."

"I think she might be a tad busy."

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GINNY STOOD BEHIND A LIBRARY SHELF, bored as she waited for school to end. She noticed Betty with Cheryl, an interesting combination of people enter the library with hush tones. She decided to move towards the girls, wanting to eavesdrop.

"Wow, you are literally the worst liar I've ever encountered." Cheryl exclaimed, her voice growing louder. "Spare me the details, Betty. Just tell me how I can be of assistance to my darling nephew or niece."

"Okay, uh, Polly needs money. For a safe place to live. And for medical stuff." Betty told Cheryl bluntly.

"Cash? Is that all?" Virginia rolled her eyes at the rich girls comment. "I can talk to my mom and dad."

"What? No, Cheryl."

"Jason's baby is a game-changer. We're all on the same team now." Cheryl told the girl before her eyes noticed Virginia watching from a distance away.

"Excuse me Miss Trashy Southsider, what are you rolling your eyes at?" Cheryl snapped and Virginia's eyes widened as she was caught redhanded by the redheaded girl.

She, however, squared her shoulders as she approached the mean girl, a hard look sent towards her. "Nothing, Cheryl. I'm just glad that your brother is dead."

A slap resonated throughout the diner and the room became quiet as Betty watched the interaction.

"You're dead to me, Hopkins."

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VIRGINIA HATED SCHOOL BUT WHAT was worse than school at the moment was work. One reason alone: FP and Jughead Jones together at a booth. Virginia cursed Archie, who had also joined the Jones', who knew what her section was.

Virginia came back around after awhile, noticing the group of guys finishing up their dinner.

"Yeah, yeah, Jughead works on the school paper with Betty."

"Betty? Ooh." FP tapped the table, a smirk plastered on his face. "Who is Betty? Is that your girlfriend? I thought Ginny was yours."

Despite how awkward and stiff she felt in the presence of FP, she blushed.

"She's–"

"I wanna know more about the band. What was the name of the band?" Jughead interrupted the current topic, ready to steer clear of his life.

Virginia's heart dropped at the sudden change of conversation, disappointed that Jughead couldn't say one thing about her to anyone. She managed to grab some empty plates from Archie and Fred Andrews, taking them behind the counter and giving them to the dishwasher. All the young girl wanted was to go home now, her mood soured by FP.

"Oh, thanks, Gin." Virginia smiled as she dropped off the check, watching the interaction between the two older men.

"Oh, come on, Fred. This was supposed to be my treat."

"Hey, you get it next time." Fred told him, pulling out cash and putting it in the book. He passed the check to her and Virginia bit her lip as she noticed the hard look FP had sent Fred.

She tried walking away but cursed as FP called her back, "Hey, excuse me. Pop?"

"We invited you guys out. Let me pay." Jughead cleared his throat, rushing to pull out money from his old wallet and Virginia held her breath as tension grew from the table. Her eyes danced between the three men who had money pulled out, wondering what to do.

"Put your damn money away." FP told his son sternly, and Jughead's gaze came to meet Ginny's, embarrassed for how his father was acting. Even while growing up, Jughead tried to shelter Virginia from his asshole father.

"FP, take it easy. You owe me this."

"Yeah, sure. Yeah. Go ahead. You get this one."

Virginia stood there awkwardly, waiting for the sign to leave and Jughead nodded his head to her, urging her to leave. She nodded at him, sending him a sad smile.

She just didn't see the lingering stare he gave her.

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guys if you love ginny you'll nominate this story on RiverdaleSociety

:) I'd love you forever <3