AN: I decided to post here after all. It's really distracting for readers to have to read/receive individual chapters. Plus, as there are other Archie fics floating around, I guess it'll be OK. If it's not allowed, though, I'll remove and go back to my original plan of sending out individual chapters as I write them to interested parties. Meanwhile, hope you enjoy this, please r/r!
Grumbling Reggie moves around his room, kicking furniture and tossing clothes into a suitcase. Did his mom HAVE to come home from work when she did? He was ALMOST positive Betty wouldn't have minded if he'd kissed her. Of course, her mortification at being caught by his mother, cute as it was, ensured that he would probably NOT be getting another chance to come close to her anytime soon. His conversation with his parents when he'd entered the house was, however, what made him FUMING mad.
Flashback:
'Son, we've got good news for you. Your father's major clients have invited the whole family to stay at their ranch in Texas for a month. We'll be leaving tomorrow.'
"Tomorrow? Aw man, Mom tomorrow Arch and I were going to take Betty and Veronica to the fair. Besides, isn't a month kind of long to be away from good old Riverdale?"
'I thought you'd enjoy it… I know how much you love riding' Reggie's father sounds perplexed.
"What's the point if Betty- I mean there are no girls around to see it?"
'Girls, girls, girls. Don't you EVER think about your family? You're GOING, and that's final!'
Reggie's father had stormed off in a huff, while Reggie himself stomped up to his room to noisily pack. He knows his father has a bit of a temper, and he clearly wasn't in the mood to be reasoned with. It didn't stop Reggie from muttering about tyranny and totalitarianism as he packed though, much to the amusement of his mother who had quietly entered his room to talk to her son.
'I see the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.'
Reggie looks up sullenly at his mother's gentle smile. He refuses to speak as he now quietly throws pairs of jeans and shirts in his suitcase.
'I don't think the jeans did anything to offend you…'
"Mom, a whole month?"
'The last I checked there aren't any tsunamis scheduled for next month. Riverdale will still be here when we get back.'
"They'll probably be married by then" Reggie grumbles under his breath.
'Oh, I don't know. I think she might surprise you'
"Ya think? I mean… who?"
'The one who will probably be married'
"Mom…"
'I'll just tell you this… if she's worth it, she'll definitely wait for you. And if there's one thing anyone can say about Betty Cooper, it's that she's worth it.'
Sighing, Reggie looks at his mother, who is giving him the trademark Mantle smirk.
"nnghhh" Reggie isn't really comforted by his mother's words. After all, Betty doesn't even know how he feels. There's no way she'd wait around for a month, for a guy she wasn't even technically dating, with old carrot top around. At the thought of his red headed rival, Reggie becomes angry again, and it takes all his self control not to punch the wall.
'Besides… your father was really looking forward to this trip.'
"Mmmm" Reggie is non committal. He's still upset at the thought of being whisked away for a month with horses and cacti, while Carrot head made time with HIS Betty.
'He was so excited, and thought you'd be too. You're going off to college next year, and he sees this as one of the rare times he gets to spend time with his only son.'
"mmm" Now Reggie feels guilty. He didn't think the trip would mean THAT much to his dad, and he certainly didn't think he'd be disappointed when Reggie didn't want to go. They never went on trips like Veronica's family anyway. He makes a halfhearted complaining noise as his mother leans forward to kiss her son's cheek and leaves the room, to talk to her husband. She hopes Betty knows what she's getting herself into; these Mantle men could be a handful sometimes.
Meanwhile, at the Andrews residence, Archie is talking to his mother about the Andrews summer plans.
'Son, we got so lucky! Imagine, a month long Caribbean cruise!'
"But mom… I can't be away from my girls for so long. Someone like Reggie might snap Veronica up, and that Jason Blossom has always had a thing for Betty."
'There will be plenty of girls on the island, son. Besides, we're only one of two families in this town to win this trip. Wouldn't it be lovely if the Coopers won as well? Then you could spend some time with Betty, the sun, the sand…' Mary Andrews made no secret of her preference for Betty Cooper among her son's girlfriends. She was beautiful, smart, kind and sweet and she disapproved of how he treated her like a spare tire most of the time. If the Coopers weren't going on this trip with them, she planned to have a long talk with her son, and hopefully make him see the error of his ways where Betty was concerned.
"Hmmm, maybe." Archie shrugs and bounds up the stairs, his mind already on a sunny Caribbean isle, surrounded by beach babes feeding him grapes and fanning him, as their very honored guest and prize winner. He thinks he's going to enjoy this trip.
"Anyway, it's only a month. What can possibly happen in a month?" He reasons as he starts to pack.
"What do you mean, you're going away for a month?"
'You COULD be happy for me, Ron. I don't get to go on vacation very often…' Once again, Betty is slightly miffed at her best friend's attitude. For the first time in years, her family was going on a trip, while Veronica's family remained in Riverdale, and Ron couldn't even pretend to be pleased for her.
"But Betty…"
'Yes…'
"I don't think I'm going to make it for a whole month without you" Veronica finishes quietly. Showing her soft spot for her best friend wasn't fashionable, but Veronica can't help it. She's never gone this long without her in Riverdale, and even on her own family vacations she'd missed the blonde she'd come to see as a sister. She didn't like admitting it though.
'It's only going to be a month, Ron… besides, you'll have Archie to keep you company..' Betty softens at her best friend's tone. For all her aggravating traits, Veronica did truly care for her, and Betty knows how lonely her best friend could get.
"Pfftt… he's going on some dreadfully dull trip too, apparently. Besides, it's YOU I'm going to miss, not him! Promise me you'll call often."
'Ron… I don't exactly have the money to burn on long distance calls, you know?'
"Call collect! Betty, whose going to help me pick out my outfits and decide which gorgeous hunk I should date for the summer?"
'Aaaand she's back' Betty grins slightly into the phone. Veronica may have a vulnerable side, but she was still Ron Lodge, and Betty was pleased that that at least, wouldn't change.
They talk for another hour about clothes, boys and the latest gossip before Veronica offers to come over and help Betty pack for her trip. Betty can't do without her fashion advice, she insists, although she really just wants to spend some time with her best friend
