A/N: I'm so sorry for taking so long to update! I was waiting for Riverdale to finish the season before I wrote the next chapter. I didn't want to repeat anything from the last few episodes, because I want what I have in mind to be original. Plus, I've had major writer's block.
Disclaimer: I don't own the CW series Riverdale, or the comic series. However, all characters unfamiliar to the show and series are purely original and belong to me.
Chapter Two: De Moribus
"What do you mean weird? She's always been bubbly like that. I'm actually really glad, with what's going on with Polly and all that," the raven-haired girl lowered her voice at the end.
Archie remembered Polly Cooper quite well: tall, blonde, and Jason's ex-girlfriend that was now in a group home. He had been so occupied with his music, that he had forgotten about Betty's concern over her sister's well-being.
Some best friend he scolded himself. "Yeah, it is a good thing she's staying afloat." His honey brown eyes focused on the seat that his blonde-haired friend had just vacated, which triggered a curious look from Kevin. His eyes said it all.
xxx
Archie noticed that the one time Betty ate her food inhumanly fast and then sprinted off to the Blue and Gold office, had become more of a ritual. Ronnie and Kevin didn't seem to mind; they had plenty to talk about between the two of them. Plus, Ronnie was dating some guy on the football team named Josh, and Kevin had Joaquin.
That left Jughead.
"Hey Jug, you got a minute?"
"If it doesn't involve a slew of questions about the habits of a certain blonde, then yes." Archie hesitated to speak, and Juggy rolled his eyes, sighing, "Of course we can talk about Betty, not that I'd be much help."
"Has she been acting weird since you started working with her at the school paper?"
"Not any weirder than any other teenage girl. What makes you think she's acting differently?"
"I-I dunno, she's wearing perfume, she's always smiling, and lipstick—she only wears lipstick for like, parties and stuff."
"Then…you think that Betty is doing this for some guy?"
"Yes," he answered quickly. "No," his voice dropped. "Maybe. I don't know."
Juggy laughed, chomping into his burger (of course). "How sweet—you're worried your friend is dating and she's not telling you."
"What do you think, Jug? With everything I've told you?"
"I think I'm the last person you'd want to ask about what goes on in the adolescent mind of a girl. I detect being asexual and quite content in my future. But Betty is different; she's a childhood friend. If you suspect she's dating, then why not just ask her?"
"I don't want her to think…I'm jealous," he mumbled, scratching the back of his head.
"The red-headed boy-next-door is having a cruel twist of fate? Rather than being the desired one, you have become the desiring person? Hilarious."
"Absolutely not. I just don't want Betty getting involved in something she can't handle."
"Archibald Andrews, a boyfriend is nothing compared to investigating the murder of a teenage boy. You're just a little peeved because she's not focused on you anymore." Archie glared at him, and the raven-haired teen chuckled. "I guess that's a little too close to home for you."
xxx
The next time he saw her, he was on his way to the bathroom. She hadn't seen him because she was too occupied with her phone to notice anyone in the hall.
He hid in between a doorway and the lockers, and strained his ears to listen to her phone call.
"…it wasn't like last time…"
Silence. She grinned, a goofy look on her face.
"I had fun too…"
Silence.
"…I miss you…" her soft, kitten-like tone sent his heart into a flurry. She definitely wasn't talking to a relative with that voice.
So it is a guy, he concluded.
"…not until winter break? Okay."
Silence.
"…introduce you to my friends…"
Archie tuned out of the conversation. He felt sick inside.
He wasn't jealous.
He wasn't jealous.
He was not jealous. Whoever this guy was occupying his friend's heart and mind, he didn't want to meet him. There was no telling what would happen, how he would react.
The red head no longer had to use the bathroom; he needed to talk to someone.
"Ronnie." It was now lunch time, and Betty had just done her customary dash for the Blue and Gold office.
She was preoccupied with making goo-goo eyes with Josh from across the cafeteria. He didn't know why Josh didn't sit with them at least sometimes. The local jock population wouldn't have missed him.
"Yeah, Arch?"
"Betty has a boyfriend."
"Yeah. So?"
His heart thudded loudly in his chest. "You knew? Were you keeping it secret from me?"
"Not my secret to tell, Ginger. Us girls don't announce it to the world when we're dating, and it is relationship sabotage when trolls discover you have a new boyfriend. Betty is my girl; I'm glad she found someone, and I don't want anyone messing this up for her." She gave him a pointed look. "She needs us to be supportive."
"I will be," the words felt forced, sticky like maple syrup in his throat. Thankfully, the raven-haired girl didn't notice. "I heard he's coming to visit during winter break. Do you know his name?"
"Yes. His name is Quinn. And that's all I'm telling. If there's anything else you want to know, you have to ask Betty. He's not my boyfriend."
xxx
The walk home was awkward, and it felt like the street just kept going on and on. His house still wasn't in sight?
Betty kept asking him questions, how music was going, football, college aspirations and the like. He made sure to answer them, but he couldn't take his mind off of this mystery guy, Quinn.
"Earth to Archie? Hello?" Her chilled hand from the autumn air touched his forearm, and he returned to the moment. "Are you okay? You've been in space the whole time we've been talking."
"Maybe that's what I want to do—be an astronaut," he joked, trying to ease the tension.
"Archie, you love music too much. Who would listen to you play?" she laughed. "But seriously, Arch, you've been acting strange. Are you okay?"
He felt like he was betraying her and Quinn already, but he had to come clean. He had always been honest with his best friend.
"When…I was on my way to the bathroom, I heard you on the phone. It sounded like you were talking to a…guy." He could feel sweat escaping from all over his body. His head felt hot, despite the cool breeze in the air.
Betty remained silent for a few moments. "You heard my conversation?"
"…not all of it. Just bits and pieces. Ronnie told me his name is Quinn…your boyfriend. And she didn't give me his name without me asking. I know you guys protect one another."
"Yeah, his name is Quinn. He lives in Springdale."
"You're not mad about me snooping?"
"Archie, I was going to tell you today, on the walk home. I didn't feel comfortable at first, because of the whole Grundy situation."
He shook his head, his mind flooding with the memories of that experience. He had visited a therapist for the whole month of October. She told him he had been manipulated, used. The word 'rape' never left Dr. Breaux's mouth, but she had a vague way of implying that that is what happened. He was in disbelief, but in time, he realized that he was a victim. There was nothing 'cool' about breaking the law with an educated professional, who should've known better.
He had learned his lesson. "Grundy is the last thing on my mind right now. It's like you said, she was dragging me into a dark, isolated place. Now I have time to focus on my friends, and what's going on with you guys. I'm glad you found someone. Is he coming to visit in a couple of weeks?"
"Yes," she beamed. She could barely contain her excitement. "He has some time off."
Archie was confused. "Time off?"
He hadn't realized that they made it to her house, and that there was a stranger sitting on her stairs.
His blood turned to ice and he froze in place.
Betty focused her sights on the stranger.
"Quinn?"
xxx
And that's the end of the chapter! I know I went on a long delay in getting this chapter out, but I had major writer's block. Like seriously. I couldn't think of how to progress the story without it being too wordy. This is meant to be a short story, no more than five to ten chapters. So I don't want to saturate it with plot, and then leave it hanging in the end. Plus, I don't want to basically shadow and rewrite the first season with the relationships we saw play out (Arch x Val, Bughead, etc.) I like creating fresh ideas. The show is great, but writing something new affords opportunities to really expand on their personalities, and the universe they live in.
Anyway, if I ever delay this long again, it's because I have writer's block. I'm not neglecting the story, and I haven't forgotten about it. I need something to occupy my mind for the next dreadful 4 months until season 2 airs. We all have anxiety over Papa Andrew's shooting.
The next chapter will immediately follow up, no time jumps or anything. That comes later. Prepare yourselves for more Achie envy!
-SivanIXXX