Chapter 2: Moving on
The next morning, Betty woke up feeling fresh and rejuvenated. She dressed quickly in her denims and t-shirt. She brushed her hair and tied it up in a high ponytail with a few strands lying loosely on her face. Betty was never one for much make up, so she just applied a light shade of lip gloss. She slung her bag over her shoulder and ran downstairs.
Mrs. Cooper noticed, much to her relief, that her daughter was her usual chirpy self again.
"Good morning sweetie. How are you feeling today?" Mrs. Cooper said, toasting a piece of bread.
Betty knew her mom actually meant 'how are coping with the Archie situation?' so she sighed and said, "Mom, I am breaking up with him."
Mrs. Cooper stared at Betty for a minute, shocked. But she quickly regained her composure and went and hugged her daughter. "I am so happy, honey. Archie was never the one for you. I am glad you finally came to terms with that fact," she said, patting her daughter' back.
"I know mom. He loves Ron. It won't ever work between us," Betty said, pulling away . "Now I'd better get going or I'll be late for school."
She grabbed a piece of toast and dashed out of the door.
Betty knew she still had 20 minutes till school began, so she took a little longer route, through the Riverdale Park. The park was amazing in the mornings. There was a light breeze blowing that day. Betty took in the scent of freshly mown grass and sighed. She loved that smell. There was absolute quiet in the park, as no came in in the mornings. The surroundings made her feel so calm, so content, as if she didn't have a care in the world.
Betty realized she had spent a good 10 minutes in the park, and if she didn't rush now, she would be late.
Betty walked quickly and reached the school with 3 minutes exactly to spare.
She walked over to her locker and was just removing her books, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Betty turned around to face a smiling Archie. On a normal day, that smile would have made her day, but not today. Today she wanted that smile wiped off Archie's face.
"Morning, Bets. How's my beautiful gal doing today?" he said, slinging an arm around Betty's shoulder. Betty stiffened and pushed Archie's arm from her shoulder.
Archie looked taken aback for a second, but then his nonchalant grin returned. "So, fancy going to Pop's with me this evening?"
Betty was shocked. He stood her up yesterday, he didn't even apologize, and he was asking her out again today! The nerve of the guy!
"Why? So that you can stand me up again?" Betty said, icily.
At least he had the courtesy to look embarrassed. "I'm sorry about yesterday. Actually, Veronica called me. She was all alone at home...i had to be with her...I thought you wouldn't mind..," he said, sheepishly.
"Of course, Archie. Why would I mind? It's all perfectly fine. You keep breaking dates with me again and again and run to Ron like a lost puppy, you keep hurting me, but that's all okay. I'm fine with it. You can always count on good old Betty," Betty said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I- I'm really sorry Bets. Please let me make it up to you," Archie said, in his best pleading tone.
But Betty remained unmoved. "Shut up, Archie," she snapped. "I have had enough of you. I loved you and all you did was hurt me. But not anymore Archie. We're through." With that, Betty walked off, without a second glance at Archie.
This, of course, did not go unnoticed by the others. By lunchtime the news of Archie and Betty's break up was all over the school.
Reggie was in the changing room with the other guys, after gym class, when he heard the news.
"Hey Arch," Chuck said, scooting over to sit next to Archie, who looked like he had a huge gloomy cloud looming over him.
"Is it true- the rumors? Betty broke up with you?"
Archie's face paled but he didn't say anything. Reggie took that as a yes.
"Well, it is a good thing," Reggie sneered. Might as well rub some salt in carrot- top's wound. "She was too good for you. Betty's a great girl and she deserves someone much, much better than a git like you."
Archie snapped. He got off the bench and pushed Reggie up against the wall. Archie brought his hand up to punch Reggie, but Reggie was stronger. He held Archie's hand and twisted it so that Reggie's hand was now around Archie's throat.
"Get your hands off me, you jerk," Archie managed to spit out.
Reggie gave Archie a jab in the ribs and pushed him off himself. Archie groaned in pain and said all the curse words he knew to Reggie. Reggie just smirked and walked out of the room. Others just watched in amazement, everyone too stunned to say anything.
Classes went on as usual that day. Both Archie and Reggie received detention for a week because of what happened in the changing room.
Reggie walked over to his locker. He was just putting his books, and getting ready to go home, when he heard a soft girl's voice behind him. He turned around. It was Betty.
"Hey Bets."
Her blue eyes stared up at him. Wow, her eyes were beautiful. Hell, she was beautiful.
"Um...Reggie, I wanted to say...sorry..and, thank you," she said, biting her lower lip.
"Well, let me guess, you are saying thank you to me for being such an amazing, handsome and magnificent guy, and you are saying sorry because you have not asked me out till now," Reggie said, giving her his trademark smile.
Betty laughed. "Yeah, that and some other reasons also."
Reggie raised his eyebrow, questioningly. "Other reasons?"
Betty took a deep breath. "Thank you for the advice you gave me that day in Pop's. It made me think about Archie, and my relationship with him. It helped me decide that I needed to break up with him. And sorry...for walking out on you like that in Pop's. I was just so confused and upset...I didn't want to start crying in front of you," she said, blushing slightly at the last part.
"Bets," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Even I am not that heartless that I would laugh at you if you were crying in front of me. I would have actually tried to comfort you, you know. I am not as heartless as you think. And you don't need to thank me- I just told you the truth."
Reggie stared deeply into her eyes for moment, and then turned and left.
Betty opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. What the hell was that?
