"Archie, do you know who drugged you?"
"I honestly can't remember anything. Like I feel like I know that I've been in a coma for a while and that I must have performed my act but it's all a blur. I can see bits and pieces. Meeting Mr and Mrs Lodge on their way out of the restaurant we were going into. A server trying to flirt with me, probably in hopes of getting a higher tip, I think I ordered a steak but I don't remember eating it. Like that. I don't remember being forcefully given a drug but there are spots and holes so it could have been. I really just don't know."
Well that was useless. Betty came back as she put her phone back in her pocket.
"Fred is on his way. How long do you think before you get discharged, Arch?" she asked.
He looked thoughtful, but I didn't really expect he would know so I stepped in.
"From the looks of things he's doing really well but they'll probably want to run a few tests and keep him on observation over night just in case." Shortly after a staff of nurses and doctors arrives, rushing us out of the room.
In the chaos, I grabbed Sabrina's arm and whispered a "thank you" in her ear before we all took off. I wasn't sure what I was thanking her for and she sent me a panicked look but she was there when my blood brother woke up and that was important to me.
As we walked out the doors, a flood of people rushed in. They were covered in burn marks and ashes. I looked over at Betty who was already looking up at me as if to ask investigate? I nodded in return and we hung around long enough to hear about a fire at Blossom Maple Syrup Factory.
We jaunted over to Betty's and grabbed her car so as to drive to the scene and have a quick escape if things got bad.
Upon arrival, we saw Clifford Blossom standing in all that remained of his primary business. He looked as stoic as always; he was a hard man to read. He didn't seem to be looking for answers, which was a bit suspicious. Betty and I stayed hidden and watched. He soon got a call from insurance claims to set the wheels in motion to recuperate from the loss.
With all the crime in town, I couldn't help but wonder if it was arson. It was daylight and there were so many people inside. If someone was going for a lot of damage, this was it. I was sure by the end of the day we would hear how bad the injuries were and if there were any casualties. For now all we had was scorched maple syrup on the earth.
There was nothing else to learn so we quietly snuck back to the car and took off to Pop's. He looked frustrated as we opened the door.
"What's going on, Pop?" Betty looked concerned.
"It's just Hiram Lodge. He's breathing down my neck to sell and put up some crappy chain store. We already have that dumb coffee shop and a Denny's and every fast food chain known to man. I might entertain Johnny Rockets, but that's about it."
"Don't do it, Pop's. Your burgers are the best. I don't want any crappy imitation. You have class and character in here that can't be replicated. Plus their food tastes like crap."
"Plus you're a staple of the community! Jughead already lost the drivein. Don't let that happen here, too! Please!" Betty pleaded and pulled out the puppy dog eyes. He sighed.
"I didn't want to sell anyways. This town is disappearing and if I don't prevent it, all that will be left will simply be on display in a museum if we're lucky. Thanks for the vote of confidence, kids. Milkshakes on the house."
We sat down at our usual table, relieved that at least one thing wasn't going anywhere. This was our place, the town's place, and I would go down swinging to defend it.
"So Sabrina." Betty addressed the elephant in the room.
"Sorry she was so... Blunt. She's probably just mad because you see me every day and I forgot to go online for a week."
"Maybe. Are you sure she doesn't just like you or something? And you said something to her on our way out earlier... What was it?" Crap, this is what I was afraid would happen.
"Look Betty, we're really close, but it's not like that. Don't be upset."
"Did you really just say that? I just wanted some comfort because she makes me nervous but if you're going to be like this then she can just have you." She got up to leave but I grabbed her hand.
"I was thanking her for being there with him when he woke up. Things have been bad lately and he drives me crazy but he's my brother. And she... Have you ever seen Star Wars? She's the Leia to my Luke. She's like a sister, one that I can talk instead of protecting all the time."
She didn't turn around. "And am I like a sister, too?" Her voice was shakey.
I spun her into my arms, our faces mere inches apart. "Maybe sister-in-law to Jellybean, but you're like a lover to me." My hormones were on overload and I felt warm. I wanted nothing more than to kiss her. Push her against the table. Understand the intricacies of her face. But I was frozen. Her breath fanned over me and her eyes were half lidded. It was driving me insane.
Finally I snapped out of it and I pushed her right out of the restaurant to behind the building where I kissed her senseless until we were both bruised, panting, and tired.
A/N: I had this chapter mapped out before the horrors of that fire in London. It may be poorly timed, but that's the tragic curse of my art. I did a project on a tsunami the day before that one in Japan back in 2011 so this happens to be a lot to me. Sorry it's all over the place. It's kind of 3 disjointed things and it might and worked better in third. Person but I've already committed.