It starts like this.
Betty is at Archie's place, and they're on the couch watching some dumb Netflix movie, drinking beer and eating chips. It's a commonplace occurrence. Betty is at Archie's almost every night of the week.
It's the summer after they both graduated college, and neither of them have a clue what comes next. But they're back in Riverdale for the time being, at least until they figure it out. Betty is living with her mom but Archie has rented a place, because his dad has a new girlfriend and Archie doesn't like her.
The movie is boring. At least, that's what Archie says.
"Shut up, I like it," Betty says, putting her hand over Archie's mouth. He licks her hand and Betty squeals, pulling it away. "Gross, Archie! How old are you? Ten?"
"You're the ten-year-old who actually thinks this movie is good," Archie snorts.
"I didn't say it was good, I said I liked it," Betty pouts.
"Sure you do," Archie grins, and then, because apparently he really is ten years old, he tackles her. Betty isn't exactly a fan of the tickling, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't like the way his body feels on top of hers. And apparently he likes it too, because suddenly she feels his hard on press into her stomach.
"Oh," she gasps, and Archie quickly springs to his feet, turning away from her. Well, that certainly hadn't happened when they were ten. Betty sits up, watching him. He won't look at her. She feels bad for drawing attention to it, but he'd surprised her.
"Sorry," he says, still facing away from her. "I haven't… you know. In a while." He puts his hand to his face. Betty doesn't think she's ever seen him so embarrassed. "That was too much information," he groans. "Sorry. Just… give me a minute."
Betty stays silent, her eyes still on him. Her heart races. She wants him to turn around so she can see it. Wants to put her hands on him, feel how hard he is. She wants to put his cock in her mouth, or between her legs, and feel it deep inside her. Her face grows hot and she's thankful she doesn't have a dick or she'd probably be having the same problem as him right now. As it is, she can feel herself getting wet thinking about it, and she presses her legs together tightly.
He's still silent, facing away from her, trying to get his erection to go away, apparently not having any luck. She wonders if he's having the same thoughts as her.
"What are you thinking about?" Betty asks.
Archie hesitates. "I don't know."
"You don't have to be embarrassed," Betty says. "It's really fine. I get it."
Archie turns his head to look at her. His face is bright red. "Yeah?"
Betty nods. She gives him a smirk. "What happened to the Archie Andrews from college? You were pretty much with a different girl every night."
Archie snorts. "Exaggerate much?" He sits back down on the couch, but he's still got his hands over his crotch, much to Betty's disappointment. "Besides, that was only the first year. I had a girlfriend for a year and half, remember?"
"Right," Betty nods. She remembers, alright. She had hated that girl. "What was her name? Ginger?"
"Georgia," Archie corrects.
"Georgia," Betty nods. "That was over a year ago though. Have you been celibate that long?"
Archie turns red, and Betty's mouth drops open. She'd only been teasing, but maybe she's right?
"Not quite that long," Archie says defensively.
"Seriously, you're like a completely different person," Betty laughs and Archie gives her a pained look. Though Betty has no clue why he hasn't had sex in such a long time, it's obvious he isn't celibate because he's stopped wanting to have sex.
They fall silent again and Betty eyes him cautiously. She bites her lip. "You know, it's been a while for me too."
Archie meets her eyes. He studies her, trying to work out if she's saying what he thinks she's saying. She is.
"We could—" she starts. How to phrase it? "Help each other out," she decides. "Just this one time. Just to, you know. Scratch the itch, or whatever. Just friends helping out friends."
"Friends don't normally do that," Archie points out.
"But we're really good friends," Betty says. Archie seems hesitant. Betty immediately feels stupid for suggesting it. "Okay, forget I said anything," she says quickly, her face heating up. "It's obvious you don't want to."
"No, I want to," Archie says. The words thrill her. She lets the proposition hang in the air between them for a moment, and then she reaches for him, fists her hand in his t-shirt and crashes her mouth against his. Her hands slide under his shirt, her fingers tracing every line in his chiselled torso. She's wanted to do that a long time.
Archie grabs her hand. "Wait."
She stops to look at him, her heart hammering hard against her ribcage. "What is it?"
"We're not doing this on the couch," Archie says, standing up. He doesn't let go of her hand. "Come on."
Betty stands and follows him to his bedroom, giddy with excitement. He drops her hand to switch the light on, and Betty closes the door. Archie's eyes fall on her and her heartrate picks up as he crowds her against the door and kisses her. Betty's arms circle around his neck, her fingers curling into his hair as she pulls him closer. Archie's hands grip her waist and he spins her around, guiding her backwards towards his bed, still kissing her.
They tug at each other's clothes, each article finding the floor haphazardly until they're both in nothing but their underwear. Archie's lips trail across her skin, his tongue circles around a nipple and his mouth closes over it, and Betty arches her back in pleasure. His fingers find their way into her panties, and she's wet, soaking for him.
He toys with her clit, his mouth pressing hotly against her skin, and god, she never knew it could be this good.
"Archie," she pants. "Fuck me, please."
Archie moans into her skin. "Fuck," he curses, sitting up. "I don't have a condom."
He really isn't the same Archie from three years ago.
"It's okay," Betty says. "I'm on the pill, we're good."
"Okay," Archie breathes, and then he's kissing her again. Betty isn't entirely sure there is meant to be this much kissing in a one night stand, but she likes it too much to complain.
Archie reaches for her panties and she lifts her hips so he can pull them down her legs. Betty sits up and helps him with his own underwear. She reaches for his cock and feels it throb under her touch. It's big and hard and damn it if her pussy doesn't ache at the sight of it. She pulls him back down onto the bed.
He enters her slowly, gently, and Betty grips him hard, her fingernails digging into his back as his cock fills her completely. Archie picks up the pace, grunting as he fucks her, and Betty near loses her mind from the pleasure.
She's never been particularly loud in the bedroom, but this time she can't seem to stifle the sounds that come from her mouth, every time he hits that sweet spot, winding her up until she's ready to snap.
She comes with his name on her lips, her body shuddering in pleasure. Archie thrusts into her, and then he tips over the edge too, his cock deep inside her, filling her with his come.
Betty breathes heavily, satisfied, as Archie falls to the bed beside her. The urge to cuddle up to him almost overwhelms her, and she's hit with a sick feeling in her gut.
"I should go," Betty says quickly, slipping off the bed and hunting for her clothes.
"You can stay if you like," Archie says.
Betty shakes her head. "Let's not make it weird," she says. It's already weird. But only because she's making it weird. She'll be fine in the morning.
"Okay," Archie says. Betty pulls her shorts on over her underwear. "Are you sure you're okay to drive?"
"Yeah, I only had like a beer and a half," Betty assures him. "I'll see you tomorrow probably," she smiles at him, to let him know everything is okay. Then she hurries out the door without looking back.
Betty texts Archie the next morning.
Meet me at Pop's?
A reply two seconds later.
See you in ten.
Betty assures herself that she freaked out about nothing last night. The sex was amazing, she can't deny that. And she just puts the fact that she wanted to cuddle him afterwards down to post orgasm attachment or something. That's a thing, right?
She gets to Pop's before him and snags a booth for the both of them. Archie arrives a couple of minutes later. He looks good, as always, and maybe her heart skips a beat when she sees him. She takes a deep breath as he approaches.
"Hey," he smiles, sliding into the booth across from her.
"Hey," she smiles back. God, why does she feel all gooey inside? It was just sex for fuck's sake.
They sit like that for a moment, smiling at each other stupidly, before Archie laughs, ducking his head almost bashfully.
"Last night was—" he starts.
"A mistake," Betty finishes for him. He looks up, more sombrely now.
"Right, yeah," he agrees. "Totally shouldn't have happened."
"We could have completely ruined our friendship."
"We didn't."
"But we could have."
"Yeah. Close call," Archie grins again.
"So we'll never speak of it again?" Betty presses.
"My lips are sealed," Archie assures her.
"Okay, good," Betty nods. "You want some breakfast?"
"Do you even have to ask?"
Betty doesn't see Archie for a few days after that. Not because she's avoiding him. She's just busy with working for her mom at the paper, and babysitting Juniper and Dagwood. Normal life stuff.
She thinks about him though. Like, a lot. Specifically, she thinks about him when she goes to bed at night and she can't stop the images of him naked on top of her from flooding her brain. It's unbearable.
He calls her a little after midnight on Thursday night. She's awake, reading a book that just got really interesting. She panics when she sees his name pop up on her screen, figuring something terrible must have happened for him to be calling this late.
"Archie?" she answers, dread pooling in her stomach.
"Hey," is his reply.
"What's wrong?" she asks.
"Oh—uh—nothing?" Archie says. "Sorry, did I wake you?"
"No, it's okay. You just had me worried for a minute."
"Sorry," Archie apologises again.
"What's up?" Betty asks, putting her book down. Now that she knows he's okay, she wonders if maybe this is a booty call. Is it wrong to hope it is?
"Just… calling to say hi," he says lamely. Betty smiles. God, he's adorable. "I haven't seen you in a few days."
"Sorry," Betty says, still smiling. "I've been really busy. You want to have drinks at the speak easy tomorrow night?"
"Sounds good," Archie says. "You should get some sleep."
"So should you."
"Goodnight, Betty."
"Night, Arch."
Veronica's speak easy has become the most popular place in town to get a drink on a Friday night. Veronica still owns it, though she no longer lives in Riverdale, and FP Jones still runs the place.
It's busy already when Betty and Archie arrive. He'd picked her up five minutes earlier from her mom's house.
It's warm out, and Betty has on a pretty floral dress, and maybe she imagines it, but she thinks that Archie's eyes linger on her a little longer than usual.
They buy their drinks at the bar and find an empty table to sit at. Moments later FP is by their table, grinning down at them. If she's telling the truth, Betty's kind of glad he's there. She's on edge, he eyes constantly flicking to Archie's hands, remembering what they can do to her. She needs the distraction.
"Why didn't you two tell me you were coming? I would have reserved the best seat in the house for you," FP jokes.
"I'll take a free drink instead," Archie suggests. FP chortles like Archie's just told the most hilarious joke he's ever heard. Betty is pretty sure Archie was serious.
"When is Jughead coming back for a visit?" Betty asks.
"If he hasn't told you he sure as hell hasn't told me," FP rolls his eyes. "Thinks he's too good for his old man now."
"That's not true, Mr. Jones," Archie is quick to interject.
FP sighs. "I know, I know," he nods. "But if you talk to him tell him to drop in sometime. You kids have fun," he nods again and leaves them to it.
They finish their drinks, and fill each other in on what they've been doing during the week.
"You want another?" Betty asks, gesturing to Archie's empty glass. She's too fidgety without a drink in her hand. Like she's nervous. Which is absurd, of course.
"I'm good for now," Archie tells her. He glances at the band who have just started playing a rock cover of Lay All Your Love on Me by ABBA. He looks back to Betty. "You want to dance?"
Betty quirks an eyebrow at him, amused. "Okay," she agrees.
Archie gets up and Betty follows him to the dancefloor. There are a few other people dancing, so it isn't too weird. Archie grabs Betty's hand and twirls her under his arm, her skirt and hair fanning out as she spins.
Truth be told, it's kind of a weird song to dance to. But Archie seems into it, and his enthusiasm is infectious. He's not a great dancer, but he's so close to her that Betty doesn't even notice. All she can think about is how good he smells and how she wants him to put his hands on her. Totally normal friend stuff.
Somebody grabs Archie by the shoulder and yanks him away from her, snapping her out of her trance.
"What the hell are you doing here, Andrews?" Reggie asks, grinning. He gives Archie a playful shove. "Thought you said you couldn't hang out because you had a date tonight? Now I find out you're just hanging out with Betty?"
"Change of plans," Archie shrugs. A look of realisation passes over Reggie's face.
"Or is Betty your date?" Reggie winks knowingly.
"No," Archie scowls. "Get lost, Reggie."
Reggie cackles as he walks away, joining his friends at their table.
"Did you have a date tonight?" Betty asks.
Archie shrugs. "No." Clearly a lie.
"Archie," Betty presses. Archie sighs.
"Okay," he admits. "Maybe I had a date."
"You cancelled your date for me!" Betty gives him a scolding tap on the shoulder.
"It's no big deal!" Archie defends. "I wasn't really looking forward to it, and I'd rather hang out with you anyway."
Betty still feels a little guilty that he cancelled his date to hang out with her. But the fact that he cancelled it for her, and not Reggie, pleases her a little too much.
She's about to suggest another drink when her mom struts in, wearing heavy make up and heels that are way too high for someone her age. FP walks over and Betty quickly looks away before she can witness any PDA.
"I think it's time to go," she grimaces. No way is she staying here while her mom and FP flirt all night. Gross.
"I'll drive you home," Archie offers, as if there had been any question about it.
It should only take a couple of minutes to drive from Pop's to Betty's place, but it ends up taking fifteen. Archie drives five miles under the speed limit the whole way, and then he takes a wrong turn, which Betty is sure must be impossible, he's been this way a million times. He claims she distracted him, and to be fair his eyes don't really stay focused on the road. She can feel them on her, even when she looks away, and every inch of her bare skin is covered with goosebumps, despite the warm night.
And she herself isn't exactly paying a lot of attention to her surroundings. Her pulse quickens every time Archie reaches for the gear stick, as if she thinks he's going to put his hand on her thigh. She's disappointed every time.
Archie pulls up at the front of Betty's house and turns the ignition off. He walks her to the front door, though she doesn't ask him to and she probably doesn't need him to. But she wants him to, so she doesn't complain. Their hands brush three times from the car to the door, and Betty's stomach flips over every time.
Betty unlocks the door as Archie hovers, making sure she gets inside alright. Her skin buzzes, and she can feel his eyes on her.
"I should go," Archie says, as soon as Betty has the door open. Betty nods. Archie doesn't move. "You want to come over tomorrow night?" he asks.
"Sure," Betty agrees. Archie nods again. His keys jangle as he fiddles with them.
"It's too bad your mom and FP had to come and ruin the night," Archie continues.
"That's just classic Mom," Betty rolls her eyes. "It would be fine if she was there but she's all over FP like they're a couple of teenagers. It's disgusting."
"Maybe we'll be like that when we're older," Archie jokes. His eyes widen. "Not with each other, I mean. With other people."
"Right," Betty nods. Is he standing closer than before? "If I'm ever that embarrassing, please tell me."
Archie laughs. "Only if you do the same for me."
"Okay," Betty smiles.
There's a pause. The space between them is charged with electricity. Betty shivers. Her eyes slide to Archie's lips involuntarily.
"I should go," Archie says again. He still doesn't move. His eyes flick down. They linger on her lips and then her cleavage. Betty sways towards him slightly. "Okay, I'm going," Archie says. He swallows, and then he turns to go.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to," Betty says quickly.
Archie turns back. "Yeah?"
"I mean, it's still early," Betty shrugs. "We could…" she trails off, her gaze skimming down his body. Archie takes a step towards her. Betty looks up at him, her eyes meeting his. He searches her eyes, looking for the end of that sentence.
"Help each other out?" he grins, repeating her words from last week. Betty huffs.
"Shut up," she says, and she barely gets the words out before his mouth covers hers. She gasps, letting her lips part so his tongue can slide into her mouth.
Betty pushes open the front door and pulls Archie inside, her hands already under his shirt, pushing it up. Archie stops kissing her for a moment so she can get it over his head, and then his lips are on hers again like a magnet. He shoves her up against the wall, leaving her breathless. She grips at his bare back as he kisses down her jaw and to the sensitive spot on her neck.
Desperate for his touch in other places, Betty guides his hand from her waist to between her legs, and he brushes his fingers over her panties, pressing just enough to drive her crazy. Betty whines, yearning for more.
"I haven't stopped thinking about you since last week," Archie breathes.
"Me too," Betty admits. She gasps as Archie pushes her panties aside, slipping his finger just inside her, his thumb skimming her clit. His mouth finds hers again, his teeth grazing her bottom lip.
"Archie," Betty whines. "I need you."
Archie moans against her mouth, and he removes his fingers from her slit, instead hooking them into the waistband of her panties and dragging them down her thighs. Betty fumbles with the button on his jeans, eventually getting them undone, and pulling them down along with his underwear, just enough to let his cock spring free. Betty groans at the sight of it.
She pulls her dress up her thighs revealing herself to Archie, and he positions himself at her entrance. His hands rest on her ass, and her arms wind around his neck as he hoists her arm and her legs wrap around him.
Betty whimpers as he enters her, bracing himself against the wall behind her. It vaguely registers in the back of her mind that he's about to fuck her in the entryway of her house, where anyone, including her mother, could walk in at any moment. But she can't bring herself to care, as Archie's cock stretches her, and fills her to her core.
Betty's eyes flutter shut, the pleasure of being filled by him so is almost too much to bear.
"You feel so good, Betty," Archie murmurs. Betty would like to echo the sentiment, but she can't seem to speak. Archie pulls out of her, and she misses him for a moment before he drives back into her. He thrusts into her again and again, there against the wall, both of them still half dressed.
Betty bites into his shoulder to keep herself from crying out as she comes. It only half works. He comes inside her, flattening her against the wall as he reaches his own climax. He holds her there for a minute, both of them breathing heavy, Betty's heart beating erratically. He slides out of her, and Betty's feet drop to the ground and her dress falls back down. Already she wants him again.
"Was that another mistake?" Archie asks, his voice hoarse. Betty shakes her head.
"Come upstairs," she whispers. She walks backwards towards the staircase, her eyes inviting him to stay. Archie follows her as if in a trance, and they head upstairs to Betty's bedroom. The house is empty and the night is theirs, and Betty intends to make the most of it.