Hey everyone, it's my first fic so I hope you like it. I decided to do the traditional ArchieAtlanta with a little TheresaJay thrown in later. I hope this doesn't get too long, but who knows. I always love reviews! Yeah! p.s. I don't own CotT tears
Another Chance
Chapter One: Running
He knew it. Why had he even tried? There was no chance she would have said yes. They weren't any more than just friends to her, and would never be more.
The boy sat on the bleachers surrounding the school track. The white cracked paint on the seat was rough against the skin of his legs. The wind tousled his vibrant purple hair but he didn't notice, glaring pointedly across the field at nothing, lost in his own thoughts.
Why did he have to ask her? Now they couldn't even hang out anymore, it would be too awkward – or in his case, heartbreaking. Would he even be able to look at her? He didn't know; probably not. That thought killed him the most. He adored just looking at her, her cheeky smile igniting her eyes with energy.
The boy shook his head and stood up. He was just overreacting. He would get over it, he's gotten over other girls before.
But other girls weren't like her.
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"You WHAT!"
The long, strawberry blonde hair of the speaker whipped around as she turned to face her sitting friend, her pacing abruptly halted by semi-real, semi-feigned shock.
"I uh, rejected him?" The other girl replied, her eyes questioning her friend's reaction and worried about what she might do next.
"Atlanta! How could you do that?" scolded the strawberry blonde. She sat down with a sigh across the table from her friend and looked Atlanta in the eye. "Do you know how long Archie has liked you?"
"Well, obviously not," (the orange-haired girl rolled her eyes) "and besides Terri, we're just friends," the bright-red haired girl interjected.
"What did I just ask you? He's liked you for a long time 'Lanta, more than 'just friends'," countered Theresa, silently hoping she would change her friend's mind with a little persuasion.
"But he's so goofy, and stubborn and…" Atlanta furrowed her brow, trying to find reasons.
"And…?" asked Theresa, raising her brow. She stood up and turned towards her room. "And perfect for you," she said over her shoulder, walking away.
Atlanta stared after her friend. He's not! We're just friends… How could I be perfect for someone so… so… she couldn't finish her thought. She looked down at her hands and cursed Theresa's manipulative powers. He's just not for me, she thought, standing and glaring in the direction her friend went. Shaking her head, she walked towards the hallway and outside towards the track. She always went there to think.
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Archie jumped the last bleacher and landed on the dusty track with less than a thud. He stood and wiped his shirt of the red dust. If Neil should see me now, he thought with a grin. He bent down, his arms prepped and ready, his feet digging into the dirt. At the sound of an imaginary shot he bolted, bringing up dust behind him. He was a fast runner, second in the school – second to her, but you'd never catch him admitting it. He usually ran to improve his speed, a would-be excuse to race Atlanta and have her ruffle his hair when she won. "Nice try, Arch," she'd say. He quickened his pace. This time he was running to beat her, to cross the finish line without her and be none the less for it. His heart dipped at the thought. No, keep going he said, clenching his teeth.Atlanta walked across the soft grass to behind the bleachers. The metal structure holding up the seats towered over her as her eyes flitted to the entrance of the track. She never went through the gate, however, preferring to crawl under the bleachers. It allowed her to pop out from under a seat, and was especially fun if someone was sitting in said seat. Especially fun if that someone was Archie, said a little voice in her head, projecting an image of him falling backwards with the funniest expression on his face. Shut up, she told it, furrowing her brow and slithering between the metal bars of the under-bleachers (? Didn't have a better name for it). She got to a low bench and stuck her head out, using her arms to pull her out from under the seat. To her surprise she saw someone on the track, across the field. They were running fast, almost a blur. She squinted her eyes against the orange back-lighting of the sun and saw a mess of purple on the runner's head. Her breath came in sharply. "Archie!" she whispered. She resisted the urge to duck back under the bleachers and leave. Her eyes followed him as he ran. He was always so determined and strong, she saw it in his eyes as he ran the curve closest to where she was sitting. As he did so she saw his eyes widen and his concentration break as he caught sight of her. She was about to smile at him when Archie tripped over his feet and fell into the track. Atlanta jumped to her feet. "Archie!"
