Mischief Maker for hire

By: sintah

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

Chapter 3

Reggie smirked and leaned towards Betty, his eyes alight with laughter.

"Now, how can I pay you back, beautiful?" he asked, brushing her cheek lightly with the back of his knuckles. "How about by…. giving you the chance of going on a date with the sexiest man in the world?"

"Oh yes!" Betty cried, her hands clasped in mock rapture, "Have you seen him around?"

"Of course, I see him everyday." Reggie answered without missing a beat. "In the mirror."

Betty and Ethel laughed at this; there was no winning one over the Great Mantle. Betty stood up and smoothed her skirt.

"Alright, stud, why don't you and I take a nice walk down Maple Street and discuss how you can pay your debt?" she said batting her lashes at him.

"That would be my pleasure, beautiful." Reggie offered her his arm with a flourish, which she took laughingly. They both said goodbye to Big Ethel and walked out in the rosy October afternoon.

They walked along Maple Street, where the trees at both sides of the road had the color of autumn. A cool gust of wind swept over them, making Betty pull her denim jacket tighter around herself.

"It's a bit chilly, huh?" Reggie put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

"You're just wearing that sweatshirt!" said Betty, looking at his jacketless figure. "Aren't you cold?"

"Nah, I am just too hot." Reggie smirked. "Hot as hell!"

"Ha ha, that's appropriate, as you are quite the devil." Betty teased, snuggling against his side for warmth.

"What can I say, chicks dig it!" he said with a graceful shrug.

"Well, you use your evil powers for other uses too." said Betty slowly. "Like tricking people, making trouble. I was wondering…"

"Wondering what, Betty?" They had stopped walking, and were now facing each other.

"Would it be possible for you to use your super power for my benefit?" Betty asked in a rush.

Reggie stared at her

"I am not sure I follow you, Bets."

"Let's say that, I want some mischief done to somebody who deserves it, and want to hire your services."

"You want me to help you tricking someone?" Reggie asked incredulously. "Who? Veronica? What did she do now?"

"The usual," Betty said angrily. "Deliberately stole a date with Archie from me. She thinks she is so clever! I would just love to take her down a peg or two."

"Wow." said Reggie, blinking rapidly. "Sooo, you want to outwit Ronnie? I don't see that happening anytime soon."

"That's where you come in." Betty said with a evil smile, "You are going to help me."

"What?" he exclaimed,"Why would I do that?"

"You owe me, remember? This is how you pay me back. And anyway, this should be right up your alley."

"I don't want Ronnie out for my blood!" Reggie argued. "And she would never date me again if I did anything like that."

"But that's just it!" cried Betty, "She won't know you have anything to do with it! My plan is, she won't have a clue what's happening, and why it's happening."

"Hmm," said Reggie speculatively, "that would be pretty clever if we could pull it off…You! If you could pull it off!"

"Ha!" Betty threw up her arms in a victorious gesture, "you said WE! You are so busted, Mantle. You actually want to do this, don't you? You want to outwit Veronica Lodge!"

"Okay, it's true that it would be… an exciting challenge," Reggie said sheepishly, "But it would mean catastrophe for me if I get caught. I would never be able to take Ronnie out again and the coast would be clear for Carrot-top!"

"Don't worry, we won't get caught." Betty soothed. "We will keep the whole thing quiet. We'll do the planning discretely, and set the schemes in motion when nobody's looking."

"It would take a lot of planning," Reggie scratched his head, "What if people get suspicious when we are going over stuff and ask what we are doing together?"

"Oh no, they won't! We will tell them we are on a date." Betty said quickly, seizing his hand. "Come on, let's go to my house and start making plans right now!"

She turned and began to walk, pulling a half reluctant, half excited Reggie behind her. What I am getting myself into? he wondered as he was dragged away by the determined blonde.

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