Betty mimicked her, also folding her arms and cocking her head. “I know enough to know that the environment is a great theme for the fashion show.”
“Listen, Betty, I’m not helping you if you insist on keeping that stupid theme.”
“Fine.” Betty stuck her chin up in the air. “I don’t need your help, anyway. The green theme stays.”
“Good luck with that,” Veronica scoffed.
“Well, good luck destroying the paper. I suppose you don’t need my help to make it a total disaster.”
Veronica narrowed her eyes. “I’m sure I’ll do just fine without you. Consider yourself cut from the staff.”
Betty was shocked. She loved the paper. She really hadn’t expected that Veronica would go that far. Her nose began to burn, and she blinked rapidly, trying to keep back the tears that were filling her eyes. “Fine!” She turned and stormed off down the hall.
“Fine,” Veronica said, spinning around and wrenching open the door to the newspaper office.
Several students stumbled back from where they had been listening at the door. Kevin walked over and hooked his arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, Ronnie. A lot of people don’t like change, but I think you’re an innovator.”
Veronica gave him a thin smile and then turned to the paper’s staff. “Okay, everyone, let’s get this meeting started. We can keep some of the articles Larry assigned, but we need to get some fresh stuff in there, too.”
Ginger smiled gleefully to herself as she crossed the room to grab an empty seat. “Fine.”
Chapter 12
“Dilton, wait up,” Betty called as Dilton Doily, aka Riverdale High’s science super genius, was about to enter the science lab.
“Hi, Betty.” Dilton waited for her, adjusting his glasses.
It was the day after Betty and Veronica’s big fight, and both girls were still pretty steamed. Betty knew she had to press forward with the fashion show, even without Veronica’s help.
Smiling, she took a deep breath and said, “Well, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m the head of the charity fashion show.”
Dilton snuffled, “I think everyone in the entire school knows that.”
“Okay, good.” Betty was a bit surprised, but only because Dilton always seemed to have his nose buried in a book when he wasn’t in the lab. “Anyway, I was wondering if you would like to be one of the models for the show?”
Catching his glasses from falling off his face, Dilton did a double take. “Me? You want me to be in the fashion show?”
“Sure,” Betty told him. “I think you’d make a great model.”
“But, Betty,” he leaned in and said in a low voice as if he were worried someone might overhear them. “I don’t know if you realize this, but I’m a bona fide science geek.”
“So?”
“So geeks don’t usually get invited to strut around on a catwalk.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Dilton.” Betty laughed. “The nerd look is a great look, and it’s superhot right now. I definitely want you to be part of the show.”
“Well”—the bona fide science geek blushed a little—“if it’ll help you out, I guess I could be one of your models.”
“That’s great, Dilton!” Betty couldn’t stop herself from giving him a hug, which made him blush even more. “I’ll keep you updated about when we’re doing fittings and runthroughs and stuff.”
As Dilton ducked into the science lab, Archie and Reggie came lumbering down the hall. “Hey, Betty,” they both called, hurrying toward her.
“Hi, guys. What’s up?”
“When are you going to start picking models for the fashion show?” Archie asked.
“Now,” Betty told them. “I just asked Dilton if he’d like to be a model.”
“Dilton?” Reggie said, doing little to conceal his surprise. “Why’d you ask Dilton?”
Betty narrowed her eyes, suspicious of Reggie’s tone. “Because I think he’s got a good look.”
“Well, if you want good-looking, search no further.” Reggie gave her a rakish grin. “Go ahead and book me. I’ll be in your show.”
“We both will be,” Archie said, shoving Reggie aside a little.
“Really? That’d be great.” Betty pulled out a notebook and wrote down both their names.
“I could be your featured model,” Reggie said, stepping in front of Archie. “I’m lean, I’m fit, and I’m ready for the catwalk.”
“Or feature me,” Archie said, elbowing his competition out of the way. “After all”—he ran his hand through his bright red hair—“red really stands out under the lights.”
“You’re puny,” Reggie said, elbowing him right back. “Betty needs someone with stage presence.”
“I am not puny.” Archie flexed a bicep. “I’ve been working out twice a week.”
“Well, I’ve been working out three times a week,” Reggie fired back, flexing his own muscles.
“Well, I’m going to the gym right now,” Archie insisted.
“Not if I get there first,” Reggie said, giving his friend a shove and then sprinting down the hall. Archie was hot on his heels.
“Okay, well, I’ve got the two of you signed up!” Betty called after them.
Hurrying into the library, Betty saw Ginger, Nancy, Midge Klump, Ethel Muggs, and Brigitte Reilly all gathered around a big table. “Oh good, you’re all here.” She smiled as she walked over to them.
“What’s up, Betty?” Midge asked.
“Well, it’s about the fashion show. I need models, and I’m hoping you girls will help me out.” Some of the girls smiled, some turned red, and some whispered to one another. Some did all three. Midge was the first to speak. “Yeah, um . . . Betty? My name’s Midge, not Mammoth.”
“I know who you are, Midge.” Betty smiled at her. “So?”
“I’m five foot nothing. Not exactly your classic model type.”
Betty crossed her arms. “Don’t you think nonstatuesque people buy clothes?”
“Sure.” Midge was confused. “I guess they do. I mean, yeah. We do.”
“Well, then why can’t there be models that come in different sizes? I mean, different clothes look good on different people.”
Midge broke out into a grin. “Yeah, you know what? Count me in. I always thought it might be fun to get on the runway.”
The other girls agreed and quickly signed up to be models. All but one. Brigitte Reilly hung back and waited for the other girls to leave. “What’s going on, Brigitte?” Betty asked once the coast was clear. “Don’t you want to be part of the show?”
“Sure I do,” Brigitte said, even though she looked miserable about it.
“So then what’s the holdup?”
Brigitte patted her stomach, which was slightly fuller than the other girls that had been asked to be models. “This,” she said, not meeting Betty’s eyes. “People might not mind a short model, but they sure will notice a heavy one.”
“First of all, you’re not that heavy,” Betty told her. “It’s just a few extra pounds. And secondly, fashion should be for everyone, not just the domain of skeletonlike supermodels.”
“I guess.” Brigitte shrugged.
“What if I promise that all your outfits will be really, really flattering, and that we’ll bring in a professional to do everyone’s hair and makeup? Would that make you a little more interested in doing the show?”
Brigitte didn’t look convinced, but she did look like she might be persuaded. “There are so many skinny girls in this school. Why not ask one of them?”
“Because they’re not you, and I think you’d make a great model. You’ve got good hair and great skin. And I like the way you carry yourself when you walk. You don’t just stump along, you kind of float.”
The last comment made Brigitte blush. “Well, I did take a lot of ballet when I was little.”
“So will you do it?” Betty asked her. “Please, please, pretty please? I promise you’ll look fabulous, a
nd it’ll be superfun.”
“Okay.” Brigitte gave a shy smile. “Sign me up.”
Meanwhile, Veronica was in the newspaper office with Kevin, her unofficial assistant editor. “So Nancy’s doing the horoscope and some boring article about hygiene in the cafeteria. We might have to cut that. I don’t know what can be done to make that kind of story interesting.”
“You could change it to an undercover investigation about what really goes into the sloppy joes,” Kevin suggested.
Veronica laughed. “That might actually work.” Then, looking at her notes, she went on. “Ginger’s doing something about whether the school should push to use more recycled paper. Why is everyone so focused on the environment lately? It’s weird.”
“Well . . .” Kevin gave it some thought. “A lot of people think about the environment the way you think about your favorite pair of shoes. You want to keep them for a really long time, so you have to make sure to take good care of them.”
Rolling her eyes, Veronica laughed. “Yeah, but shoes are good for only one season.”
“And if global warming keeps getting worse, then that’s all the earth will have. One season. As in, hot.”
“Okay, I see your point,” Veronica told him. “But how do you make people read an article about recycled paper?”
“Compare it to how many seasons Principal Weatherbee has recycled his suits?” Kevin suggested.
“That’s hilarious.” Veronica laughed. “Can you believe it? Kim came over to me in the library yesterday and asked if she could come back and do her dress code story.”
“What did you tell her?” Kevin wanted to know.
“I said okay, but I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it.”
“Change it into what the dress code should be for Riverdale students that are fashion challenged,” he suggested with a grin.
“Perfect!” Veronica told him. “I’ve got to write all this stuff down.”
Kevin stopped smiling when he saw Veronica actually pull out a pen and flip through her notebook. “Um, Ronnie? I hope you didn’t take my suggestion seriously. I mean, I thought we were just joking around.”
“Well, I wasn’t. The Blue and Gold is boring and still in the Stone Age. There really needs to be something drastic to get people reading it, and I think a bit of gossip is just the right answer.”
“Making a school paper into a tabloid is a horrible idea. I mean, sure, a horoscope and maybe even some jokes might be fun, but tabloid journalism isn’t healthy for anyone.”
“Sorry, Kevin,” Veronica told him. “I’m editor in chief, so what I say goes. Plus, I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I really think I’m right about this.”
“Trust me, Ronnie, you’re not. Just go with the articles the writers submit. If you add the horoscope and then maybe a friendly fashion article, that’ll be enough of a shake-up for Riverdale High.”
Veronica could see that Kevin was sincere, and she really did appreciate his opinions, even if she didn’t agree with them. So she simply said, “Okay, Kevin, I’ll think about it.”
Chapter 13
Things were humming along with the fashion show. A lot of girls weren’t initially thrilled when Betty announced her going green theme, but they all still wanted to be part of the show, so they quickly got over it. Betty pursued running the show with the same hard work and dedication that she did with everything.
After the first two weeks of heading up the committee, she had already picked the models, ordered the invitations, booked the stage and sound system, hired a stylist, ordered the banner, and bought the decorations. Things were going great, even if Veronica was still giving her the silent treatment. Betty didn’t care. She was giving the silent treatment right back at her.
It would be weird not having Veronica even be a model in the show, but Betty was fed up with her best friend’s condescending attitude. She couldn’t wait for all the famous designers to start having environmentally friendly fashion shows. Then Veronica would have to eat her words.
“Betty, check this out,” Archie said, sauntering over to her in the hallway. Bearing down, he flexed his chest muscles. “I’ve been working out five days a week. I’m going to be superbuff for the fashion show.”
“That’s great,” Betty told him. She wasn’t really sure that male runway models were supermuscular, but Archie had a long way to go before his neck became thicker than his head, and she didn’t want to discourage him.
“That’s nothing.” Reggie swaggered over and showed his bicep. “Check this out. It’s like iron. I’ve been working out six days a week.”
“Well, on the days when I don’t pump iron, I jog,” Archie told him.
“I jog to school every morning,” Reggie countered.
“Well, I’m going to start working out every day and jog to school and jog home.”
“Guys!” Betty interrupted them. “You both look very fit. Just don’t overdo it, okay?”
“Okay,” Archie and Reggie both agreed, but she could see them shooting each other dirty looks.
“And remember not to show up all sweaty from working out when we have the fittings,” she told them. “These are new clothes that we have to return to the store, so we’ve got to keep them nice.”
Betty hurried home after school that day to change her outfit. She didn’t have designer labels spilling out of her closet like Veronica, but she could still clean up and put on her best ensemble before checking in with the five boutiques that had agreed to participate in the show.
“Hi, Mary Rose,” Betty said as she entered the shop, the door chime announcing her arrival.
“Hello?” the elegant shop owner said, obviously not quite placing her teenage visitor.
“It’s me, Betty Cooper. I’m the head of the Riverdale High fashion show,” Betty reminded her.
“Oh, that’s right,” the older woman said. “I was just thinking about you the other day. How are things coming along with the show? Will Veronica be joining you today?” She looked out the window, scanning for Veronica’s red car.
“Um . . . things are going great!” Betty said. “But I’m afraid Veronica’s busy and won’t be joining us.”
“Oh,” Mary Rose said, obviously disappointed by the loss of a retail opportunity. Veronica could always be counted on for some impulse purchases.
“So, anyway,” Betty pushed forward, “I just came by to tell you that our theme this year is going green.”
“Green?” the boutique owner repeated.
“That’s right.”
Mary Rose scanned her shop. “As in the color? I mean, we have a few green items, but not enough to put together more than one or two outfits.”
“No.” Betty did her best to suppress a giggle. “I mean green like the environment. You know, keeping our planet green.”
“Oh.” Mary Rose gave her a concerned look. “Green like the environment. Um . . . that’s going to be a tough one.”
“What do you mean?” Betty asked, alarmed by the woman’s tone.
“I mean this is a fashion boutique, not a . . . a . . .” Mary Rose struggled for a good comparison. “Not a booth at an environmental fair.”
“I’m sorry, but I thought you’d like the theme. I mean, everybody cares about the environment, right?”
“Of course I care about the environment,” Mary Rose snapped. “That’s not the point.”
“I’m sorry, but then what is the point?”
“Look around the shop.” The boutique owner made an expansive gesture. “Show me what I’m supposed to put on the models.”
“Well,” Betty started off hesitantly, “how about something made out of silk? That’s kind of green, isn’t it? And there’s . . . um . . . some cotton fabrics if they haven’t been chemically treated or dyed or anything.”
Mary Rose let out a large sigh. “Listen, Betty, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to back out of being part of this year’s show. I’d like to help out, but a big part of why I do the
show is to bring new customers into my shop. I just don’t have the clothes to cover your green theme.”
“But wait.” Betty felt a growing wave of panic. “Just give me a minute to figure something out. I’m sure we can work some of your fashions into the show.”
“Sorry.” Mary Rose shook her head. “You’re going to have to count me out this year. But come see me next year if you decide to do something a little more retail friendly.”
Betty’s eyes filled with tears as she hurried from the boutique. It had never occurred to her that any of the shops would have a problem with the going green theme. After all, it was about something important: the environment. Still, Betty bolstered herself, she had four shops left that were willing to participate, and she would just have to approach them in a more positive manner, pointing out how their businesses could benefit from her fashion show theme.
By the time Betty pulled her car into the driveway of her parents’ house that evening, she was a complete wreck. Every single shop had dropped out of the fashion show. She had absolutely no vendors.
Betty would happily change the theme to cheetah prints or love letters or any of Veronica’s original suggestions, but she’d already ordered the invitations and decorations. She could maybe work with the tablecloths and flower arrangements, but there wasn’t room in the budget for a reprint of the invitations. She’d gone all out and ordered them embossed on recycled paper. “What am I going to do?” she wailed as she turned off the ignition and slumped in the driver’s seat.
Betty desperately wished she wasn’t fighting with Veronica. She would know what to do. She would see a way to make the vendors participate in the show. At the very least, she would be a shoulder to cry on.
A melody started playing in Betty’s purse, and, wiping her eyes, she fished out her cell phone. “Hello?” she said, trying not to sound too forlorn and hoping against hope it was her best friend.
“Hi! It’s Ginger.”
“Oh, hi. I was just thinking I needed to talk to you,” Betty told her, doing her best to keep her voice from wavering. “Are you sure that all the big designers are doing environmental themes this year?”
xoxo, Betty and Veronica: In Each Other's Shoes Page 6