Title: A Series of Fortunate Valentines

By: sintah

Disclaimer: I do not own Archie. I make no profit from this story.

A/N: I am reposting Eight Valentines Part 1 as the first chapter of A Series of Fortunate Valentines, with a few minor changes.

Chapter 1

February 12th

"That's it, Archie!" Betty said, trying to hold back tears, "I've had enough. Just go to Veronica like you are obviously dying to, and don't come running back to me when she gets bored of you!"

Archie opened and shut his mouth a few times. They were standing at the doorway of Pop Tate's chocolate shop. Choosing to tell Betty that he had to cancel their date for the day after tomorrow in this spot was a bad idea. Everybody inside were watching them. Archie could see Reggie's smirk and Jughead's detached disapproval at the way he was ditching Betty once again to take Veronica to the Valentine's Day dance. Archie decided it was time to clear out. Ronnie was waiting for him. He knew Betty would forgive him eventually. He gave her a sheepish smile and walked away. Betty wiped her eyes and without looking at anyone, went to pick up her bag from her table. She needed to go home.

Betty was walking along Maple Street, bitterly thinking about how she was dateless for the dance. The fuchsia sweater and white skirt she wore were not enough to keep her warm in the cold February breeze that was blowing. She hugged herself as she began to walk faster. Suddenly a red car came to a stop beside her.

"Hi beautiful!" a familiar voice drawled.

"Hello Reggie." replied Betty as she looked over at the dark-haired guy behind the driving wheel of the car. Reggie Mantle, Riverdale High's self-appointed trouble-maker-in-chief and all around playboy, grinned at her. The wind had messed up his hair, making him look even more bad boyish.

"That wind is enough to freeze a seal's blood, Bets!" Reggie exclaimed. "Get in the car; I'll give you a lift."

"Thanks!" Betty said, very glad to have a chance to get out of the cold. She opened the car door and got in the seat beside Reggie, and smiled at him. "Wow, Mr. Mantle! You are giving me a lift so that I wouldn't freeze? What is it, your one good deed for this year?" she teased.

"Nonsense, Miss Cooper!" Reggie bantered back, giving her his trademark grin, "I never do anything for altruistic motives. The cold was merely an excuse for getting to drive a beauty like you."

Betty laughed. Her bad mood was vanishing. Reg was a great guy to joke around with. Somehow he always brought out this saucy side of her.

"You did a smart thing, giving Arch-idiot Andrews that ass-kicking.", Reggie said, keeping his eyes on the road, "Just hoping that you can keep the resolution to not take him back when Ronnie ditches him."

Betty sighed. This is not the first time Reggie had pointed out to her what a total waste of space Archie Andrews was and advised her to lose him for good. Not that Betty did not appreciate the justice of his words. By now she knew Archie and she would never really happen. It was time to outgrow her Archie obsession. Pretty soon they would all be leaving for college anyway; she knew she did not want them to part with unresolved issues.

"You can take it from me," Reggie said again, "that a girl who is always available is not very attractive to guys."

"I know, Reg!" Betty uttered in exasperation. "It's just, it would be such a big change, deciding to let go of Archie! I would have to figure out everything in my life all over again!"

"You'd have plenty of time to figure it all out, Bets." Reggie laughed. "Right now, you can just enjoy yourself; stop being a goody-goody, live a little."

"I am not a goody-goody!" Betty playfully smacked him on the arm. "And anyway, how can I enjoy myself when I don't have a date to the Valentine's Day dance?"

"You don't need a date to go to the dance. It's a lot more fun to go with a bunch of friends and have a blast. That way you can dance and flirt with anyone. Me, Dilton, Chuck and Nancy are gonna hit the bash together. You should come."

"YOU don't have a date?" Betty stared at Reggie incredulously. Reggie never had a shortage of dates; his dark-haired good looks and devilish charm made him very desired among girls. "What happened, ran out of your magic mouthwash or something?"

"I decided not to ask anybody. Taking any of my casual dates to the Valentine's dance can make them think I am serious."

"Reggie Mantle, you are abominable!" Betty exclaimed.

"I try." Reggie replied grinning.

"Is it because Ronnie is going with Archie?"

"Good god, no! I didn't even ask her. Bets, you mustn't think I am hung up on Ron. Yeah sure, she is supposed to be the greatest prize in the dating market around here, so its fun to be seen with her. That's all there is to it."

"Okay, okay!" Betty laughed. "The Great Mantle doesn't become whipped by any female; I got it!"

"Anyway, are you gonna come to the dance with us?" The car had come to the front of the Cooper residence. Betty opened the door and got out.

"Yeah, I think so. Shall I ask Jughead and Ethel to join us too?"

"Sure, if you can make Juggie bestir himself enough to come." Betty laughed and waved goodbye as she began to walk towards her door.

February 13th

"Come on, Juggie! It would be fun." Ethel crooned, "We can all go together."

"I don't wanna go to a dance." said Jughead, as he shoved most of a hamburger in his mouth.

"There will be some nice food," Betty told him, "Cakes, pastries..."

Jughead looked at her as he swallowed his food. "Hmm. Well, I guess I can martyr myself for a few hours for that kind of food."

"YES!" said Ethel. They were at the Chocklit Shoppe. Ethel, Betty and Jughead were sitting at the counter. Moose and Midge and Chuck and Nancy were dancing to the music playing. Reggie was flirting with a pretty blonde called Sandra; Dilton was watching them, hoping to pick up a few tips. Archie and Veronica were not present. Jughead had told Betty earlier that they had a heavy date at Ronnie's house. Betty stopped herself from sighing. She must not dwell on it. She was determined to enjoy her life at this moment.

Sandra was saying she had to run an errand. When she was gone, Reggie came over to his friends. "Dilt, instead of sitting around and watching other guys do it, you should go talk to some girls yourself."

Dilton mumbled that he could not do it.

"Yes, you can. There's a cute girl over there. Just go and say hi."

"She would tell me to get lost."

"So what if she does? You try, you fail, and you try again. That's the rule of the game."

Between Reggie, Betty and Ethel, they made Dilton get up and go talk to the girl. They watched as he went over and shyly began to talk to her. "Dilly is sweet." thought Betty. Ethel went back to sit beside Jughead. Reggie grinned at Betty.

"How's the whole getting over Archie thing going on?" he asked teasingly.

"Okay, I guess. But I have just realized that I am probably not gonna receive any valentines tomorrow!"

"What do you mean?"

"Every year, Archie sends me a valentine. Of course, he sends something much nicer to Ron, but I at least get a small bunch of flowers or something. This year, I don't know if I would get a single card, let alone flowers and candies!"

"Humph. What's the point of sending valentines anyway?"

"Oh come on! Telling someone that they are amazing? Letting them know someone appreciates them?"

"Well, in that case girls should send valentines to guys too. A guy also needs to know that he is awesome! Can you believe that nobody has ever sent me a valentine? ME, the Great Mantle?"

"Well, you think yourself pretty awesome already!" They both laughed.

Reggie said, "Hey, how about this? This year, let's you and I send each other valentines. That would be fun!"

"Not a bad idea." Betty laughed, "That's a surefire way to know we would be getting something!" At this moment Dilton came back to them smiling.

"I talked to her!" he whispered.

"Well done, Dilly!" said Reggie, trying not to laugh at his childlike glee.

"Her name is Wendy. She is a junior. I asked her to come to the dance with us. She said yes!"

"Way to go, man!" Reggie slapped him on the back.

"She seems very nice, Dilton.' said Betty. Dilton beamed. "I gotta go now. See you kids later." Betty said bye to everyone and walked out. She had some shopping to do.

February 14th

Betty laughed at the card she had received. It had a picture of Scooby Doo on the front. Inside it read, Shaggy is cool, Velma is true, but Scooby is awesome, and so are you! A box containing a glass heart and a tube of glue accompanied it. The card inside the box read, Hearts are fragile things; if your heart gets broken, mend it with the miracle cure in the tube. Happy Valentines Day. RM.

Betty picked up the phone and dialed Reggie's cell phone number.

"Hello Reg!"

"Hi, Betty! Did you get my valentine?"

"I sure did!" Betty replied, trying not to burst into laughter. "That card? And the glue? Very thoughtful!"

"That little box of Turkish delight you sent me with Reggie You Are Soo Cool, I Freeze Every time I Look at You written on the card was real classy too!" Reggie said chuckling.

"Thank you, Reggie."

"Thank you, babe."

As Betty put down the receiver, she thought that this just having fun and enjoying every moment thing was going to be kind of easy. They were going to have a blast at the dance tonight.

******* FINISH********