August 5th, 1883
I was sitting down as Ma was cleaning my face, I couldn't believe that I had to actually go through with it.
"Why do I have to do this?" I ask. "I just turned fourteen and I don't think I'm ready to be courted--"
"I was corrected when I was fourteen" Polly, my sixteen year old sister said as if it was a blessing. I turned to see her holding her belly, I didn't even think about wanting to become pregnant.
My focus was on becoming a teacher, I would be first of my family.
"Elizabeth" Ma said turning me back to face her. "Mr. Jones will be here any minute, you should be happy that his son has taken an interest."
"I don't want to be forced to marry him---"
"No one is forcing you to marry him" Ma said laughing. "But you should at least give the boy a chance to prove himself."
Once Ma was done fixing my face, I stood to my feet staring at the dress I was told to wear.
For some reason I didn't feel beautiful. That was probably another reason I felt unworthy of Jughead's affection for me.
"Why would he want me, Ma?" I ask. "I'm not beautiful like the other girls--"
"Shut up, Betty" Polly snapped, clearly not liking that I would ask a stupid question. But I couldn't help how I felt, I didn't feel beautiful.
"Polly, go and help your brother feed the horses" Ma said and Polly nodded handing me my brush on the way out.
I stared at Ma not knowing what she would say.
"Elizabeth, you are beautiful" She said smiling at me brushing my hair with her fingers. "Jughead would have been a fool if he had interest in one of those other girls."
I nod. "I don't ever feel beautiful--"
"Well you are, Elizabeth" She promised. "Prettiest girl in the entire town."
"I don't know--"
"My daughter" Ma said shaking her head, grabbing the brush from my hands to fix my hair. "You are such a silly girl. Any man with eyes could see your beauty, can't you see that?"
"I don't know I'm no Veronica Lodge, Ma--"
"No you are not a Veronica Lodge" Ma replied. "Because you are a Betty Cooper, don't ever want to be someone else, Betty. You are a insecure girl and that's alright, but you were born in your skin for a reason my child."
I think about what Ma said as I wait for Jughead and his father to arrive, still not sure I even want Jughead Jones to be courting me.
