NB : I've always loved the relationship between Archie and Betty but at the same time, I've always felt like Betty knew Archie better than he knew her. That's how I first thought of this really short one-shot. It sets after the Homecoming ball when Betty asks Archie if he loves her. That's my first fanfic ever about Riverdale. I hope you'll enjoy this!

000

"You're so perfect…"

That's when she truly felt her heart break.

She looked at him, like she had done it a thousand times before, but this time, she didn't even recognized her best friend, the guy she loved the most.

He was standing right there in the middle of the alley. His red hair was dishevelled and his eyes seemed to plead, to beg her to understand.

And she understood.

Finally.

She didn't feel heartbroken because he was rejecting her -well, a part of her was. She was feeling heartbroken because she'd spent years thinking of him as the person who knew her best while he only saw her like the rest of the damn world did.

Like the perfect girl.

He didn't even seem to notice he'd said the worst thing possible to her. Because she wasn't perfect despite what everyone thought. There was something in her that she didn't understand, some kind of darkness which frightened her. Quite often she felt herself overwhelmed with an anger she couldn't express but that would show through her eyes. She thought of the marks inside her palms, due to her nails when she clenched her fists.

She always believed that she and Archie could talk without actually saying a word and maybe that was true but she still felt like he didn't know the real her. He knew the face she showed the world, he had no idea of the darkness she hid and tried to make disappear.

They stood face to face for a few more seconds and when Betty finally came to term with the fact that Archie had said exactly what he felt and had to say, she turned her back, feeling numb in the inside.

Maybe he called her name, maybe not. She wasn't sure, she didn't want to care any more.

A few more steps and she'll be home. She'll be able to cry as long as she needs. Just a few more steps.

She put her hand on the doorknob.

"Goodbye, Arch." she said without even turning to face him.

Things will never be the same between the two of them.

She entered her house and quickly closed behind her.

At the same moment, a tear rolled down her face.

FIN

000

NB : Don't hesitate to comment, I welcome all advice as long as it's respectful. Thank you for reading!