Midge nodded. “Yeah. I heard about it.”
“From who?” Betty hadn’t noticed Archie or any of their friends in the restaurant.
Midge bit her lip. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this. But . . . there’s kind of a photo of you on the ground that’s making the rounds.”
“Making the rounds?” Betty said, her eyes widening in horror.
“Yeah. You have mashed potatoes on your cheek, and . . . well, whatever. But who cares?” Midge tried to laugh it off. “I mean, people will forget all about it in a few days . . . or weeks. Right?”
Betty swallowed. “Right,” she said in the most unconvincing voice ever. “The other waitress, Georgette, injured her ankle. She got it checked out and learned she needs to stay off her feet for at least a week—probably more. Pop asked me if I can handle things until she comes back.”
“That’s awesome, Betty!” Jughead cried, tossing his remote control into the air and catching it. He hit pause and the scene on the TV screen froze.
“I didn’t know you were listening to our conversation,” Betty replied, wrapping her arms around her chest. Even though these were her closest friends, it was hard not to feel self-conscious.
Jughead grinned. “Once you start talking about restaurants and food, I just can’t help myself. My eavesdropping tendencies take over.”
“Pop must really trust you a lot,” Kevin said. He was going through a big box of video games, looking for what to play next.
“And if you’re the main waitress, Coop, all the tips will belong to you,” Archie reminded her.
Betty knew her friends were only trying to cheer her up, but their words had the opposite effect. Thinking about work made her think about Georgette and Pop. She didn’t want to let either of them down.
“Hey, Jughead?” she called, scrambling to sit up. “Hand me a control, would you? On second thought, I think I do want to play after all.” Maybe running around a virtual forest carrying a slew of weapons in her back pocket as she chased nameless, faceless villains unleashing fatal strikes would help Betty get out all her negative energy.
Or maybe she’d end up being eaten by a fire-breathing dragon.
Normally Veronica liked to be fashionably late and show up ten minutes after she was supposed to be somewhere. But she had been so excited to see Liam that she had left her house right on time. There hadn’t been much traffic, and she had scored a parking spot in a beachfront lot. So that explained why she was standing alone on the boardwalk, trying to look cool as she waited for Liam to arrive.
This was totally worth spending my first paycheck on, she thought, looking down at her new halter top bikini with the gold foil circle print. So cute. If she needed to save her paychecks like Betty had to, she would be in big trouble. Her paychecks were more like fun money.
She pulled out her phone from her beach tote and looked at her messages.
8:34: Dad: Love you. Have a good weekend.
Her father was on business in Dallas.
9:03: Mom: Have fun 2day!
Remember your sunscreen!
10:44: Reggie: At beach with Archie. Wanna hang out?
10:47: Midge: Movies? Us? Later?
The sound of the bus startled Veronica, and she looked up from her phone. The bus had just let out a group of passengers, and one of them was walking straight toward her.
Liam! Veronica waved, trying to ignore the ping-pong ball ricocheting around in her heart. She was kind of surprised that Liam had arrived on the bus. People from Pembroke weren’t usually big on public transportation.
How cool is that, though? she thought as he got closer. He had on navy-blue swim trunks and a faded green T-shirt, and a backpack was slung over his shoulder. He doesn’t even care about what all those Pembroke snobs would think. Instead of driving, he’s being extra green and ecofriendly.
“Hey, you,” he said, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek. “So this is where you hang out, huh?”
Veronica kissed his cheek back. He smelled like lemon and freshly cut grass, like maybe he’d just mowed the lawn and had a glass of lemonade before he came to the beach. “Yeah,” she said, looking around as if she were seeing it for the first time. “It’s a really nice beach. Come on, let’s walk.”
Liam reached out and took Veronica’s hand. “I’m glad you can show it to me,” he said, lacing his fingers with hers. “I’ve lived here for a while now, but there’s so much stuff I haven’t done yet.”
“Allow me to be your personal tour guide then,” Veronica said, resting her head on his shoulder for a second. “That section of the beach?” She pointed. “Very family-oriented. We hang out a little farther down. There’s a little shop that sells sand toys and T-shirts, and next to that is the snack bar, which isn’t too bad.” Then Veronica pointed to a nondescript one-story building. “But that’s the most important building of all.”
“Lifeguard headquarters?” Liam asked.
Veronica shook her head. “Bathrooms.”
As they approached the part of the beach where Veronica and her friends usually went, Veronica scanned the scene for her friends. It wasn’t long before she spotted Archie’s red hair and Reggie’s broad shoulders. They were in the middle of playing catch.
“Do you want to find a place over here to put our stuff?” Liam asked.
Veronica nodded. “Sure!” They made their way down the wooden steps and began walking across the beach. “Ooh, it’s so hot,” Veronica said as the sand burned her feet.
“Want me to carry you?” Liam asked.
Veronica beamed at him. “Aww, how chivalrous!” Giggling, she put her arms around Liam’s neck, and he scooped her up in one fell swoop as if she was as light as a feather.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Reggie and Archie staring over at her, their mouths hanging open. There was no doubt about it: They looked totally shocked to see her with Liam.
She glanced their way and pretended to see them for the first time. “Oh, hi there,” she called, waving to the boys. Then as Liam kept walking, she waved again. “Bye!”
1:30: Veronica: I love making boys jealous. LOVE IT.
1:32: Betty: Where r u?
1:33: Veronica: At beach with Liam! So FUN!
1:36: Betty: Having a bad day here. V. Bad.
1:36: Veronica: Why? What’s up?
1:38: Betty: Can’t tell you in a text. Call me 2night.
1:44: Veronica: OK. ttyl. Gotta run!
“Do you want to get ice cream?” Liam asked Veronica as they approached the snack shop. After lying on the beach for a while and cooling off in the surf, they had decided to take a walk along the boardwalk.
“Do you have to even ask?” she joked. “I’ve had my heart set on a mint chocolate chip cone from the moment we got here.”
It had been such a fun day. Veronica had learned a lot about what Liam liked to do. Besides football and basketball, he also played tennis and lacrosse, and he had won a couple of mathematic competition awards. He was an only child, his favorite movie was Gladiator, and chirping crickets freaked him out. She also discovered that they were both country music fans—and that they each slept with a teddy bear! We have so much in common, Veronica thought happily as they got in line. It seemed like everyone was in the mood for ice cream.
She didn’t think Liam realized who she was—that her father was the Hiram Lodge. And she liked it that way. That meant that Liam was interested in her for her and not because she was rich.
While they were waiting for their cones, Veronica spotted one of the biggest snobs around town: Bunny Smythe. Just seeing her made Veronica’s blood boil. Bunny also went to Pembroke Academy and was one of the most horrible girls Veronica had ever met. She seemed to make it her personal mission to put down Riverdale High whenever she could. Today Bunny was wearing a tiny tie-dyed bikini and, as usual, was surrounded by her clique of mean girlfriends. They were just off the boardwalk in the middle of setting up their beach towels next to the lifeguard station.
/> That’s typical Bunny, Veronica thought, rolling her eyes. The fact that the girls were positioned near the station was no accident. Everything Bunny did was strategic. Veronica pitied the poor lifeguard, having to listen to them yapping the whole day.
Veronica knew it was childish, but she couldn’t think of anything better than Bunny and her snobby friends seeing her with Liam. She loved the idea of rubbing her cute new guy in their stuck-up faces.
And like an answer to a prayer, Bunny and her friends simultaneously glanced their way. Just as Reggie’s and Archie’s had a few hours ago, the girls’ mouths dropped open as their glances turned to stares.
Oh, yes. They are so totally jealous, Veronica thought gleefully, resisting the urge to laugh.
Instead, Veronica smiled brightly over at them as if they were all best friends. She pulled out her phone and sent Betty a quick text before tossing it back into her beach tote.
2:48: Love making mean girls jealous even MORE.
“Do you know those girls?” Liam asked, tilting his chin toward them. He licked his chocolate cone. “I think they might go to Pembroke. I’ve seen the blonde before. They’re kind of staring at us.”
And then Liam reached over and took her hand.
“They look kind of familiar,” Veronica said, squinting at them in the sun as if she was trying to place them. “They have those plain, generic types of faces, you know?” Then she sighed happily. “This ice cream is so good it should be outlawed,” she told him, taking a lick of her own mint chocolate chip. Veronica looked back over at Bunny and her friends.
The look on their plain, generic faces was priceless.
And so was the feeling of holding hands with the cutest boy on the boardwalk.
Chapter 10
“You don’t understand,” Betty said.
She had flopped onto her bed the moment she’d gotten home from work, not even bothering to change out of her clothes. “It was the worst day of my life. Georgette is hurt, and it’s my fault, Pop hates me, and pretty soon all of Riverdale is going to see what a horrible waitress I am.”
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the scene in the restaurant. Even though a few days had passed, it was like an endless loop in her mind—like a video clip on YouTube that no matter how many times she tried to hit pause continued to play. Somebody probably did film it. It probably will end up on YouTube. The whole world will know how much I stink!
“I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think it is,” Veronica said on the other end of the phone, her voice upbeat. “Besides, everyone makes mistakes.”
Betty sniffled. She had been counting on Veronica for a little moral support, but Veronica was clearly having a much better week than she was. First, there had been all her text messages about Liam. He was so cute! So funny! So sweet! And the second Betty had heard Veronica’s bubbly and breathless voice on the phone, she had regretted asking her to call in the first place. How could someone who was having such an awesome week sympathize with someone who was having such a terrible one?
She should have just suffered in silence.
“I just don’t think I’m cut out to be a waitress,” Betty said, feeling very sorry for herself. Caramel padded into the room and curled up next to Betty’s slipper. Betty sighed. Life was so much easier for a cat.
Betty rolled over onto her stomach—then sniffed. Something smelled disgusting. To her horror, she realized it was her. “And eww! My hair smells like greasy french fries.”
“You can’t quit if that’s what you’re thinking,” Veronica told her. “You have to stick it out for Georgette’s and Pop’s sakes. You owe them.”
“Thanks for telling me something I didn’t know,” Betty mumbled. “That’s what makes it even worse.”
“Don’t forget the reason you wanted a job this summer, Betty,” Veronica reminded her. “Laptop?” Then Veronica let out a half giggle, half swoony sigh. “Laptops make me think of Liam. Betty, we had the best time today. Wait. Hold on. I’m going to send you a picture of us. Hang up and call me back after you see it.”
A few seconds later Betty’s phone buzzed in her hand. She clicked open Veronica’s text. The happy new couple was standing on the boardwalk, heads together. Liam was laughing, and Veronica was making a silly face. They were holding dripping ice-cream cones.
Betty called Veronica back. “Yeah, I get it, okay? He is supercute.”
There was a moment of silence. “Oh, Betty. You aren’t mad at me, are you? I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad. It’s just hard not to be excited, and when I’m excited, you’re the person I always want to share things with.”
“I’m not mad,” Betty said truthfully. “I’m happy that you’re having such an awesome summer. I just wish that mine would perk up a little,” she said wistfully.
“Did any of the other jobs you applied for work out? Did anyone else call you?” Veronica asked.
“No,” Betty said, covering her face with her pillow.
“Well, see? You were meant to be a waitress,” Veronica said. “Everything happens for a reason, Betty. There’s a reason you got that job.”
Veronica’s words reminded Betty of her horoscope from that morning. Luck will find you when you least expect it . . . but you have to be ready to receive it. So don’t be shy. Get out there and shine, Cancer! She was pretty lucky that she’d even gotten the waitressing job. Especially when she had had zero experience being a waitress. “I do like getting to meet new people,” she said, her voice small. “That’s been fun.”
“See?” Veronica prompted. “Focus on the positive stuff.”
“Pop hired me because I’m dependable and reliable,” Betty said, half to herself.
“Absolutely.”
“And I’m friendly, too.”
“You are!”
A tiny pinpoint of brightness was beginning to light up Betty’s world. “Thanks, Ronnie. For cheering me up.”
“Anytime.”
Betty said good night and clicked off the phone. Then she reached over to her nightstand, picked up her journal, and began to write.
When life hands you lemons, make lemonade! Everyone knows that old cliché. But clichés exist for a reason—they make a lot of sense! Getting a summer job was all I could think about. But when I got the job at Pop’s, it threw me a little because it was completely out of my comfort zone. I wasn’t really sure I could be a waitress . . . and to be honest, I’m still not sure I can be. But I don’t really have a choice now. Someone is hurt because of me, and as much as I wish I could, I can’t turn around and change things. The only thing I can do is try not to be a wimp and do the very best job I can. If I suck . . . I suck! It’s not like I’m filling in for a brain surgeon . . . or a World Series pitcher . . . or a chef at a five-star restaurant.
I’m a waitress at a diner for Pete’s sake. If people are going to judge me, well . . . that’s their problem.
Working at Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe was not my dream job, but it sure is teaching me a lot. And that’s the important thing. (Okay, making $$$$$ is also pretty important!!)
Betty tucked her pen inside the journal and smiled. Putting her thoughts on paper made her feel a lot better.
And she knew something else that would make her feel better: a long, hot bath.
“Merci! Hope we see you again real soon,” Veronica said, handing a large shopping bag to her latest customer. She hummed along to the song that was currently blasting through the Belle Pink speakers.
Work was going great—she was busy and having fun—and things with Liam were just as perfect. Tonight she was meeting him for pizza, and then they were going to rent a paddleboat on the lake.
So fun.
“Here you go,” Veronica said now, putting a new customer’s top into a bag. “Don’t forget to check your e-mail for our special offers!” She tucked in a sheet of bright pink tissue paper and fluffed it out. That was the last sheet of paper. Veronica walked to the back room to grab another box of the store’s signature w
rap before another customer could come up to pay.
The muffled sounds of crying greeted her when she pushed the door open. “Lola?” Veronica said hesitantly, her eyes widening in surprise. Her coworker was hunched over the table, her hair shielding her face. “What’s wrong? Are you sick or something?”
Lola looked up at her. Her face was red and blotchy. She reached for a napkin someone had left behind on the table and loudly blew her nose. “I—I never thought you’d be so good at this job,” she blurted out.
Veronica stared at her, trying to make sense of what was going on. “That’s why you’re crying?”
Lola hiccuped. “I underestimated you. You came in here looking all hip and cute and I—I’m just so boring next to you. No one asks my opinion about buying something. They just go straight to you, and you get credit for the sale.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to feel that way,” Veronica said, biting her lip. “I’m just being myself.”
Lola kept going. “And don’t think I don’t know that you roll your eyes at me when I follow the rules, but I can’t help it. I’m a rule follower.” She took a deep breath. “And then when I found out who your father is, I guess I thought that you would feel like you didn’t have to work hard. That you could coast by.”
Veronica wasn’t surprised that Lola thought that way. Most people did. But because her father was a billionaire, she had to work twice as hard as anyone else in order to prove herself.
“And you aren’t coasting by,” Lola said. “You’re working really hard, and you’re doing a great job. So great that before long I’ll probably be reporting to you.”
“Don’t be crazy,” Veronica told her. “Jane loves you.”
Lola didn’t look convinced. “I haven’t been on the sales floor in days—and when I am, I barely rack up any sales. At this rate, I might even be fired.”
Living the Dream Page 6
