"You know, Juggie, you could get out of the way for a few minutes so the rest of us can get some punch, maybe?" Veronica huffed, her hand on her hips, her stance a little threatening. Despite her lean, feminine figure (thank you Pilates!) that left no trace of any tomboyishness, Ronnie appeared intimidating, Archie mused. She stood right behind Jug, who was busy scarfing down as much as he could at the buffet table. Archie groaned, hoping Ronnie wouldn't create a scene. Fortunately for him, she didn't have to as Jug whirled around.

"Sorry, Ron," Jughead apologized, his mouth full of chips. He gulped them down without chewing and stepped aside graciously, allowing Archie to get Ronnie her punch. Archie saw Jug giving Ronnie the once-over. "You know, Ron, you look radiant tonight." This was a surprise for Archie. Normally, Jug never declined in using his best wisecrack over Ronnie. It was just too much fun to make fun of her.

Ronnie seemed just as surprised. "Why, thank you, Juggie." Veronica had taken pains deciding what to wear. She had finally decided on a short strapless dress that was a deep green, almost black and matching pumps, accented with a matching choker with a huge gem. She had seen plenty of the other girls eying her choker enviously. "You don't look half so bad yourself."

Jughead grinned. He had ditched his crown for the occasion and slicked his hair back. He wore a white dress shirt and black tie, a black dress jacket but worn his jeans and sneakers. Just like Jug, Archie thought with a smile. He looked down his own navy blue formal suit complete with his signature bow-tie. Just the kind of thing Ronnie likes, he thought to himself, satisfied.

"Juggie, have you seen Betty? I sure hope she came to the dance. I'm just dying to see who her date is!" Ronnie gushed, clasping her hands together in front of her. "I called to ask her who it was but she wouldn't tell me. She said it's a surprise."

Betty. Archie sighed quietly. He hated doing it. He really did. Ditching her like that for Ronnie. He knew Betty would get hurt but come on, she should understand! When will she get the idea that he didn't love her? He only asked her to the dance because Veronica seemed to be unavailable for the dance. She had plans for vacationing at her dad's private island but changed them last minute. Now that she was available, he'd be crazy to be still going out with Betty. Archie winced at his own thoughts. No, there was nothing wrong with Betty. She was great. She was pretty, smart, sweet and a great cook. But that's where it ended. She couldn't give him the one thing he really wanted. The one reason why he really chased all the other girls. One thing that any normal, American teenage guy would want.

Neither would Ronnie, for that matter. Like last night, for example. He had been at Ronnie's hoping she'd finally give in. But she didn't. It was really frustrating. Ronnie was as boy-crazy as Archie was a womanizer. And all these years, it had been a huge surprise for him that she was still saving herself for that someone special. Archie rolled his eyes. Sure, Ronnie was beautiful, sexy and fun. But that wasn't why he was still with her. Being with Ronnie made him more of a chick magnet. Everyone wanted to be like Ronnie. Everyone wanted what she had. And she had Archie. Being with her raised him on the popularity scale, among the guys and girls. Girls wanted him. Guys envied him. And he intended to keep it that way.

And then there was Cheryl. Who had all the qualities of Ronnie and would give him what he wanted. But Cheryl wasn't like Betty. Cheryl didn't allow herself to be taken advantage of. She too was supposedly involved with somebody. A guy named Scott. Archie didn't know him very well. Just that he was on the track team. But he knew Cheryl didn't really love him. She loved Archie. Sure, she never said anything. But he knew it. He could feel it. And he supposed he felt very close to her too. But at the same time he was enjoying his popularity status with Ronnie too much to break up with her and go to Cheryl. So he'd meet Cheryl secretly. Archie saw her a few feet away, dancing with Scott. The fire of jealousy burnt hotly in his heart as he clenched his fists by his sides. Maybe a little later he could get away with Cheryl for a few minutes...

"No, I haven't. Reggie either. Normally, that guy would be dancing with pretty much every girl here," Juggie said thoughtfully. Archie broke out of his thoughts. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen Reggie ever since he and Ronnie showed up. He saw Jughead's eyes widen suddenly and face break out in a surprised grin at whatever he'd seen at the entrance. "Well, speak of the devil," he said. Both Ronnie and he whirled around to see who was at the entrance at which Ronnie squealed and sprinted toward the couple standing there as fast as her high heels could gracefully allow. Archie however, stood rooted to the spot.

He didn't think he had ever seen anything more beautiful, ever. Betty's light spaghetti-
strap blue knee-length chiffon dress matched her light blue eyes perfectly. Her long blonde hair flowed in gentle waves and framed her face and grazed her shoulders gently, making her appear angelic. The only single piece of jewelry she wore was a small silver chain around her neck with a small light blue pendant. Her lips were painted in the palest shade of pink. She looked simple, yet amazing.

"I don't see why you had to be so hush-hush about your date, Betty!" Ronnie started. "I mean it's only Reggie, you know." Betty grinned as Reggie gave a snort of annoyance.

"Gee thanks, Ronnie. You really know how to make a guy feel confident."

Ronnie laughed lightly. She looked at Reggie and gave and approving nod. She had always appreciated Reggie's taste in clothing. Like his choice for this special occasion. A black formal jacket, black pants and black loafers with a white shirt with the top two buttons undone. Reggie knew how to look sophisticated without looking too stiff. His longish hair hung adorably in his deep, dark eyes, making him look somewhat boyish.

"Oh, Reggie. How come you and Betty came together? Weren't you going to ask Midge to the dance?" Ronnie asked, fingering her choker. At least that's what Betty had told her a few days ago.

"Jeez, why is everyone saying that? I am so over Midge, you know. And besides," Reggie hooked an arm around Betty's shoulder, "I heard Betty didn't have a date yet so here I am to th rescue," he added. Reggie glanced behind Veronica, where Jughead and Archie stood at the buffet table, not too far away. Jughead lifted his punch-filled paper cup in greeting and Reggie smiled in return. He turned his attention to Archie just in time to catch him burning holes into Reggie with his hard stare before changing his expression into a cool smirk. Perplexed, Reggie decided to find out what Archie's problem was. He hooked another arm around Veronica and guided the girls towards the buffet table where the two guys awaited. Veronica was chattering animatedly about Nancy's outfit but he noticed Betty didn't seem too attentive.

"Yo, Reg! Nice threads," Jughead said, munching on another chip. Reggie leaned over to grab a chip from the table, catching Archie stare at Betty. Feeling his blood chill, he decided he had had enough of Archie's attitude. "Yeah, I know. She looks gorgeous, doesn't she," he said, resuming his position besides Betty.

Archie seemed to break out of the staring spell and turned to Reggie, narrowing his eyes. "She does," he said simply, not taking his eyes off Reggie.

"Can you believe Betty made her outfit all by herself?" Veronica started, amazed at her talented friend. Nobody said anything.

Jughead looked from Archie to Reggie, and back to Archie again, very confused. "So, uh, you and Betty decided to go together?" he asked, trying to fill in the awkward silence. Even Veronica and stopped talking and seemed to notice the tension between the group.

"Yeah, lucky for me, she said yes too," Reggie said casually, returning Archie's stare.

Archie redirected his attention towards Betty. "I didn't think you'd come. I didn't know you found a date so easily after..." he broke off, remembering that Veronica was standing next to him.

Reggie cut in before Betty could answer. "Jealous much, Carrot-top?" he said with a smirk. "Betty can have any guy she wants. And thanks to you, she finally knows that now." He reached for Betty's now cold hand and gave her a protective, reassuring squeeze. Betty smiled up to him nervously.

Archie saw that. He folded his arms across his chest. "Since when did you really care about anyone? Especially Betty?"

"You don't know what you're talking about, Archie. Reggie is twice the man you'll ever be. He's always been there for me when you haven't. Do you know why he asked me to the dance? Because you ditched me. He could have taken anyone. But he took me because he's a true friend. He's loyal, trustworthy, sweet... something you will never be." Betty said, her voice surprisingly calm.

Archie felt a stab of jealousy and a little hurt but immediately squelched it. He couldn't expect Betty to understand. Betty just couldn't realize that Archie had never taken her seriously to begin with. And what the heck was all that melodramatic stuff about? He had always liked Betty. They had always been friends. She should understand however that he could never give his heart to her. She had just been a useable phase that would happen with him each time Ronnie or Cheryl or any other girl would turn him down. Someone to make him bounce back. Someone who could make him feel good and manly about himself after the other rejections. "You know, Bets, I'm sorry if I ever gave you the impression that I'd ever go steady with you but I won't. You're just... not my type. No offense." Surely Betty would understand. She always did.

"None taken Archie," Betty replied coolly. "To be honest, I realize now that you were never my type either." Her voice finally broke at that. She turned to her best friend. "Veronica, he's all yours. I don't want to have anything to do with him anymore." And with that, she turned around and walked toward the girl's bathroom as quickly as she could.

Veronica stood rooted to the spot for a while, her mouth slightly agape and very surprised. Finally, she turned toward Archie and shook her head disbelievingly at him. "I can't believe you," she spat angrily at him. Then she followed Betty toward the girl's bathroom.

"But Ronniekins! Will you just let me explain at least?" Archie called, frustrated. He started to follow her when Reggie grabbed his arm and stopped him in his tracks.

"Let them go, carrot-top. Betty needs a friend right now. Those two have never been as close as they are now. Don't try to come in between them, alright?"

Archie shrugged his arm out of Reggie's grasp. "Betty will probably fill all kinds of lies into Veronica's head about me! She'll push Ronnie away from me!" he stopped for a minute, glancing toward the door. "She's crazy. I can't believe she thought I actually wanted her that way. She-" he stopped as he was roughly shoved backwards.

"You know what, Arch? Betty isn't stupid. You lead her to believe she had a chance with you. She loved you. And you broke her heart!" Reggie said, enraged. He took a deep breath. People were looking. And public displays of rage weren't his style. "Just get out of my sight."

"Who the hell do you think -" Archie began, advancing towards Reggie before Jughead grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back. Archie whirled around to face his best friend.

"Maybe you should go, Arch."

Archie looked at his pal. Jug wore a frown on his face and his eyebrows knitted together. But what hurt Archie the most was the look of disappointment and disgust in Jug's eyes. Feeling somewhat betrayed, he roughly pushed Jug's hands off him and strode out of the gym to his car.