Betty and Cheryl

Betty and Cheryl
Information
Characters	Cheryl Blossom and Betty Cooper
Type of pairing	Family; 3rd cousins
Status	Frenemies
Started	Before "Chapter One: The River's Edge"

Betty: "Get out of my house."

Cheryl: "Not until you tell me—"

Betty: "Cheryl, get the hell out of my house before I kill you."

―Betty to Cheryl, after the latter accused her sister Polly of killing Jason

The relationship between Cheryl Blossom and Betty Cooper is hard to define, but the two can currently be called rivals, though frenemies may be more accurate. They both care for each other but haven't openly admitted it, therefore they can be seen as friends in denial about their friendship.

History

Cheryl and Betty met at some point before the start of the series. They share a connection, as Cheryl's now deceased twin brother Jason dated Betty's older sister Polly, and apparently, their relationship did not end on good terms. After her brother's death, Cheryl started to despise Betty and continuously humiliate her whenever she got a chance.

During the previous school year, Betty tried out for the cheer squad but was rejected by Cheryl who claimed Betty was too fat.

Throughout Riverdale

• Season 1
• Season 2

Season 1

When Veronica Lodge moved to Riverdale and enrolled at Riverdale High School, she befriended Betty and managed to convince her to join the River Vixens cheer squad, which was run by Jason's sister, Cheryl Blossom. When Betty and Veronica failed to impress Cheryl, she put Betty in an uncomfortable spot in which she was forced to explain her sister's mental heath in front of the entire cheer squad and Veronica, causing Betty to self-harm by clawing at her hand with her nails so as not to be provoked. However, Veronica managed to save her new friend by telling Cheryl that they came as a package deal, otherwise Veronica would refuse to join, and Cheryl reluctantly accepted and allowed both Betty and Veronica to join the River Vixens. However, Cheryl took delight in tearing Betty and Veronica's burgeoning friendship apart at her party later that night. Cheryl manipulated Veronica into playing Seven Minutes in Heaven with Archie Andrews, who she knew Betty had feelings for. Betty left the party in distress. Betty and Cheryl burn the playbook together. Cheryl took advantage of this situation and feigned being nice to Betty and offering herself as an alternative friend. She went round to her house and pretended to be apologetic about her past treatment of her, but was really digging for information about Polly. It was revealed that she believed Polly had killed Jason, and so Betty forcefully told Cheryl to leave her house before she killed her. Cheryl encountered Betty and Veronica plotting to take revenge on certain members of the football team for slutshaming them. When told they had a book listing their conquests, she was disbelieving, certain that Jason would have told her about it if it was true. When they stole the book, though, she discovered that Jason had not only known about it but had participated, as Polly Cooper's name was listed in the book. This forced her to reevaluate her opinion of her brother, and she apologized to Betty for his actions and they burned the book together. After Polly Cooper's escape from the Sisters of Quiet Mercy group home, and an unsuccessful search for her, Alice Cooper held a press conference and, much to Cheryl's surprise, revealed to the entire town that Polly was pregnant with Jason's child. Polly was eventually found by Betty, hiding in the attic of the Cooper house, where she revealed that their parents were trying to for her to give the baby up for adoption. Betty was speaking to Veronica in the student lounge the next day about Polly's situation when they were were interrupted by Cheryl, who wished to help Polly and the baby. Reluctantly, Betty revealed that she knew where Polly was and that she needed money for a place to live and medical supplies, to which Cheryl responded that her parents would be more than willing to help. That night, Betty met up with Cheryl and her parents at Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe, where they assured Betty that they could assist Polly with emotional and financial support, all Betty had to do was trust them enough to tell them where Polly was. They were set to meet again the next night, however, Cheryl came alone to warn Betty and Polly of her parent's ill intentions; they did not care about Polly, they just wanted the baby. Cheryl told Betty and Polly to leave, before her parents arrived. With Polly living with the Lodges at The Pembrooke, Jughead, Betty, Cheryl, Archie, Veronica, Kevin and Valerie analyzed Polly's dilemma, in which the Coopers wanted her but not the baby, and the Blossoms wanted the baby, but not her. Veronica suggested that they throw Polly a baby shower, which would force the Coopers to finally start communicating, which Cheryl was in full support of. On the night of Polly's baby shower, Cheryl came bursting through the front door of Hermione's apartment with a brand new, expensive stroller for Polly and Jason's child. All Cheryl asked for in return was that she be named the baby's godmother, unaware that Polly had earlier named Betty the godmother. A little later in the night, as Polly opened the gifts, Cheryl expressed her desire for Polly to stay with them at Thornhill, which Cheryl's mother assured Polly was a genuine offer. However, this started an argument between Penelope Blossom and Alice Cooper. Cheryl stepped in in support of her mother, but Betty quickly rebuked her as she was not helping the situation. After the shower, Polly decided to go live with the Blossoms. After attempting to contact Polly to no avail, a brief confrontation took place between Betty, Jughead and Cheryl, in which Betty demanded that she be allowed to talk to Polly. Cheryl told her they shouldn't be fighting but celebrating as she revealed that a doctor confirmed Polly was expecting twins, which Betty was unaware of. She was shocked to learn that her own sister did not tell her, but she pleaded with Cheryl to at least deliver a message, for Polly to call their mother as she missed her, despite her best efforts to hide it. Cheryl agreed to pass on the message but made no promises that Polly would care or respond. Betty comforted Cheryl about her feelings of the nightmare not really being over. When Betty found out that Clifford Blossom is Jason's killer, she immediately called Cheryl and told her to get out of Thornhill.

Season 2

Betty and Kevin speaking to Cheryl

After Archie's father was shot and sent to Riverdale General Hospital, later during the day, Kevin and Betty were discussing about Betty's love life. Their conversation ended when they spotted Cheryl coming into the hospital with a body wrapped in up bandages. They later go to talk to Cheryl to ask her if the body covered in bandages was her mother, which Cheryl confirmed that it was. Informing them that their house burnt down.

Cheryl speaking to Betty and Jughead

A couple days later, Jughead was informed that his father would possibly be spending 20 to 40 years in prison, as Jughead was worried for what would become of his father once his court trail began. He later went to see an attorney named Penny Peabody, who informed Jughead that the only way he could help his fathers case, was to speak to the Blossom Family to get them to make a statement that they don't hold FP accountable for the death of Jason Blossom, stating that they forgive him for his part in the crime committed. Jughead later headed over with Betty to the Thistlehouse, where Cheryl and her mother, Penelope where staying. To convince them to making a statement that would help in FP's case. However, the Blossom's were reluctant to do so, refusing to help Jughead. As Penelope and Cheryl wanted FP to suffer for what happened to Jason. As Betty later pointed out to Cheryl that it wasn't FP who killed her brother, it was her father.

Betty having a chat with Cheryl

Later, Betty stopped by the girls locker room, as she came by to have a chat with Cheryl. Betty blackmailed Cheryl into testifying on the behalf of her family for FP's court trail, without Jughead knowing about it. As she threatened Cheryl that she would show everyone of the copied footage that was made an kept on Jughead's laptop, of the night her father, Clifford, killing Jason in cold blood. Ashamed by her fathers sins, and how it would impact her and her mother, Cheryl was willing to make her statement to prevent the footage from getting out.

Back at Riverdale High School, in the student lounge, Betty greets Kevin as she spotted him doing some homework. She asks Kevin what happened to him last night, as he told Betty earlier that he was coming over by Veronica's. Kevin later responded to Betty, telling her that he was coming over but something came up. Continuing to resume doing his homework after. However, Betty being Betty, wanted to know what suddenly came up for Kevin, causing him to not being able to hang out with them. Later questioning Kevin if it had something to do with being in the woods. Kevin later responds to Betty's question, as he tells her not to take his comment the wrong way, confronting her, stating that he listened to her for years reminiscing about Archie and now Jughead. Pointing out that she didn't ask him for his permission to date them, later stating that she didn't, since she didn't need it, telling Betty that he didn't need hers either. As Cheryl is seated near them, faced the other direction eavesdropping on their conversation. Betty later tries to talk to Kevin, however, Kevin cut her off before she could say anymore to him, telling Betty that it was none of her business. Packing his things up to leave, as he was annoyed by Betty's presents. Cheryl later approaches Betty, confirming that Kevin has a sex-drive, asking Betty what was the big deal. Which Betty informs Cheryl that with his recent known activities, its putting Kevin in danger, due to recent events that have accured linked to the Black Hood. As Cheryl tries to have Betty understand Kevin's situation.

Later that day, during that night at Pop's, Cheryl spotted Kevin getting ready for another one of his late night jogs. As she suspected that he was headed for the woods again, even though Betty tired to warn him earlier not to go back there until the "Black Hood" was caught. However, Betty and Cheryl later went searching for him, as they caught him through the woods. Which Kevin was surprised to see them there, asking Betty what she was doing there with him. Betty later informed Kevin that she received a phone call from Cheryl earlier to notify her that he was headed towards Fox Forest again. Betty later reminded Kevin that he told her that he wasn't going to go through the woods again. Kevin is upset to see Betty, as she was on his case a lot lately. Asking what she wanted from him, which Betty responds that she wanted him to have more self respect for himself. Which Kevin informs Betty that they've been friends for a long time, but she still had no idea what it was like for him. As he tells her that she acts like they have the same set of options when it comes to dating, which they not. Confronting Betty that she lives in a "pale-pink world of milkshakes and first kisses", with options on who to date such as Archie and Jughead. As Cheryl adds on with the exception when she "Dark Betty", which Kevin agrees with Cheryl as he pointed out when Betty is exploring her BDSM sexuality. As he continued to tell Betty that she was allowed to do those things but he wasn't. Telling Betty that the woods was all he had to meet guys.

Quotes

Cheryl: "Tell Veronica about your sister and my dear brother."

Betty: "Polly and Jason dated."

Cheryl: "' [scoffs] I wouldn't say "dated"."

Betty: "It didn't end well."

Cheryl: "In fact, Jason's probably why your sister had a nervous breakdown and now lives in a group home, isn't it?"

Betty: "That's what my parents think."

Cheryl: "What do you have to say about that, Betty? Go ahead, the floor is yours. Whatever you've been dying to spew about Jason and how he treated Polly, unleash it. Destroy me. Tear me a new one. Rip me to shreds. Annihilate me."

Betty: "I just..."

Cheryl: "Finally."

Betty: "I just wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened to Jason. I can't even imagine what you and your family must be going through."

―Cheryl tries to provoke Betty

Gallery

Images

• Season 1 Screencaps
• Season 2 Screencaps

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