This story takes place before Archie is framed for murder.

"Archie, you're a great football player," Jughead tried to reassure him.

"Yeah, but not as great as most of the other guys on the team, and that's not good enough. I mean, look at Moose; he's a freight train," Archie explained.

"Archie, some people are just genetically predisposed to be huge, okay? Besides, you've got a great body. I'd kill for your abs."

"But football isn't about abs, Jug. I'm still a small guy, which means I have to work harder than the larger guys."

"It isn't like you're quarterback; that's Moose. What's the big deal?"

"If I'm gonna be a proper Serpent, I've gotta toughen up, and I believe a great way to do that is by getting better at football."

"Okay, see, now I'm less confused, because I was wondering why you suddenly cared so much about football. Last time I checked, you basically only ever played to make your dad proud. How about your music? Why don't you just work on that?"

"Jug, I'll never abandon my music, but playing guitar and singing isn't gonna make me a better Serpent, and things are getting real between us and the Ghoulies."

"That last part you are right about. Well, if you feel like getting deep into football is what you need to do to be a better Serpent, I'll back you up, but I don't know the first thing about football, so I won't be much help."

Archie thought for a moment.

"How about Moose?" said Archie.

"That could work," agreed Jughead.

"Yeah, totally. I mean, he is quarterback, like you said. I mean, who better, right?"

"Go for it, man. Do you think he'll be willing to train you or whatever?"

"I hope so."

Anxious to know how Moose would respond, Archie made his way toward the locker room as soon as his conversation with Jughead was over. When he got there, Moose was having a conversation with a bunch of the other players.

"Hey, Moose. What's up, man?" greeted Archie.

Moose turned around.

"Hey, man. What's going on?" replied Moose.

Him and Archie knew each other, for sure, but it wasn't like they were friends, so Moose was a bit surprised that he was talking to him.

"Look, man. I'm just gonna ask you straight up: I need you to train me in football."

"But bro, you're a great player."

"Yeah, that's what everyone keeps saying, but I wanna be better. I wanna be like you, man."

Moose chuckled a bit.

"No offense, bro, but I'm six-foot-three and you weigh, what, 160 max?"

"I know, but I do know my limitations. I just wanna get better, that's all. I'm asking you as a teammate; please help me get better."

Moose thought for a moment.

"Fine, we can do some drills and stuff after school, but if you're serious about this, we can also train during lunch. We have the same lunch period, so you're on lunch right now, right?"

"Yeah, man. Let's do this."

"Alright, then. Meet me on the field. Let's go, Andrews."

After changing into his gym clothes, Archie jogged onto the football field, where Moose was already waiting. Archie was also carrying a gym bag.

"What's with the bag, Andrews?"

"Oh, I've got my football gear in here. I wasn't sure how hard we were gonna go, today."

"Slow your roll, Red. We'll get there. We're not running any drills serious enough for gear, yet."

"Got it, man."

Archie tossed his bag to the side.

"We're gonna start with everyone's favorite: sprints," said Moose sarcastically.

Archie hated sprints like everyone else, but he was committed. He pulled his shirt off and tossed it aside near his gym bag. Moose's eyebrows raised a bit. Holy shit, Archie's body was ridiculous. Of course, Moose had seen him shirtless before in the locker room, but never outside on the field with the sun gleaming off of his abdomen and really showing just how in shape Archie was.

"Damn," Moose said to himself. "Fucking sexy."

Of course, Moose already knew how attractive Archie was, but spending one-on-one time with someone makes you notice them. He was noticing things about Archie that were always there, but were becoming apparent to him, like Archie's gorgeous model-like face, brilliant red hair, luscious thick eyebrows, and his apparently ample ass, as he was watching it reverberate as Archie ran his sprints. By time he had thoroughly examined Archie, he noticed that he'd gotten a pretty apparent erection. He barely had time to cover it before Archie ran over to him after finishing his set of sprints.

"What now, coach?" asked Archie, dripping with sweat and breathing like he was on the brink of passing out.

"Uh, nothing. Take a break," instructed Moose.

He just wanted to get Archie away from him as soon as possible so that Archie wouldn't notice him covering his crotch. Archie immediately took the opportunity to lay out on the grass and catch his breath. After his erection had subsided, Moose took a seat on the grass beside a still heavy breathing Archie.

"You've got heart, man," commented Moose.

"Thanks," Archie responded.

"So how come you're trying to be a tough guy all the time, with the football and the Serpent stuff? How come you aren't a model or something, man?" inquired Moose.

"A model?" Archie sat up. "Not really my thing. Why? You think I could be a model?"

"Bro, look at you," said Moose.

Archie's face turned a bit red.

"I'm sure I don't look good right now, anyway. I probably look like a sweaty freak on the verge of dying," said Archie.

"Nah, bro. You're still hot."

Archie's face turned even more red.

"You think I'm hot?" asked Archie.

"Bro, you're sexy as hell."

Archie laughed.

"Hey, Moose? Aren't you with Kev?"

"Well, no, not really. Did he tell you that?"

"Actually, no. It's just kinda obvious that you guys have something going on."

"Well, I told Kevin not to tell anyone. I've never told anyone I like girls and guys, but it's mostly just because of my dad."

"You think he'd be upset?"

"I don't know. He's a military guy, so I'm really not sure. Damn, Archie. If you were my boyfriend, I'd probably be yelling 'I'm bisexual' from the rooftops if it was what I had to do to be with you. You're perfect."

"Cut it out, man. I don't think my face can turn any redder," said a blushing Archie

"I'm just saying, bro. Veronica is one lucky chick."

"You've got me thinking. Hmm. I don't know. Maybe, if I wasn't with Veronica."

"Maybe what?"

"I don't know...maybe your compliments would make me more curious."

Moose could feel another erection coming on just from hearing Archie say that. It didn't help that Archie was still lying there shirtless, either.

"I mean...do you think I'm, I don't know, cute, or whatever?" asked Moose.

Archie sat up and examined Moose's face closely.

"Hmm. Yeah, you're fucking adorable, man."

Archie lied back down.

"Wow. Thanks, man. I didn't know you liked guys."

"Well, I don't, but girls judge each other's attractiveness all the time, right?"

"That's true."

Moose was the one blushing, now. He decided to take a chance and slowly lean down to try to kiss Archie.

"Whoa," said Archie quietly, chuckling.

He cupped Moose's cheeks in his hands before Moose could kiss him.

"What are you gonna do?" asked Archie, still chuckling.

"I wanna kiss you."

"Come on, Moose. You know I have a girlfriend," Archie explained while still holding Moose's face.

"Fuck. I'm sorry. I just...fuck, you're so hot," said Moose, looking at Archie's lips, a look of desperation in his eyes.

"Moose, I've gotta ask: do you really like me, or you just wanna fuck me, because that look in your eyes looks like you wanna fuck my brains out," said Archie, laughing.

"You're kind, brave, and beautiful, so I'd give my left nut to go out with you, but I also definitely wanna fuck your brains out, bro."

Moose's behavior was making Archie laugh a lot.

"You're so cute when you laugh. I think you're more curious than you realize, Archie. Let me show you what a real man can do for you."

"Damn, I've never had a guy come on to me before, let alone such a big, manly guy."

"You like it, don't you?"

"Please stop making me laugh. I can't take it," said Archie while trying to contain his laughter.

"God, you're so adorable."

"I'm definitely flattered by how much I turn you on, but I am scared to let go of your face."

"Let go of my face, cutie. I won't kiss you if you don't want me to."

Archie finally let go.

"That was intense," said Archie.

Moose lied on the grass beside him.

"Well, I am a teen boy, after all," said Moose.

"Yeah, man. I believe you would've banged me right here on this field."

"Oh, definitely."

"Can we at least be friends?" asked Moose.

"Of course, man."