Author's Note : First, I think it is going to be obvious that I am messing with the timeline a little bit. I am using the mystery from season one as my base, but as you may have gleaned from the only sighting of Jughead so far, he is already a serpent. There are a few other things I will mash around a bit, but they all serve a purpose in my AU. Second, something that I believe is that the music you listen to when writing can have a huge influence on what you write. With that in mind, I decided to include a list on each chapter of one of the songs that I listened to while writing the chapter; my own little soundtrack if you will. Obviously, not every one imagines mood or scenes in the same way, so feel free to completely disregard the song! I just thought it would be fun to include. Anyway, here is my chapter two! Again, I will emphasize, feedback is encouraged and craved.
Chapter Two Song : 'Prettiest Thing' by Oh Darling
Disclaimer : Don't own the characters. Just really like them.
CHAPTER TWO :
The diner was another drastic time warp, but Betty couldn't deny that she immediately loved it. As soon as Archie opened the door for her, she was bombarded by the smell of frying onions, greasy French fries and sizzling burgers. Archie led her to a booth where Reggie was already sitting accompanied a stunning, sharp featured raven haired girl with an olive toned complexion.
"My God," the girl said without preempt, "you are gorgeous!"
"Uh...thank you," Betty said, feeling her cheeks heating up. Archie slid into the booth and made room for her to sit down beside him.
"I'm Veronica Lodge and I can already tell that we are destined to be besties."
Betty didn't know why but she agreed. She liked Veronica, the vibe or whatever that she was getting from her. Less than thirty words between them and she liked her.
"Okay," Veronica said, slapping a palm on the table, "I am not one to ever sidestep a potential future confrontation so I am going to get this out of the way; your name is Betty Cooper."
"It is." Betty said, her eyebrows crinkling in slight confusion.
"Any relation to Polly Cooper?"
"Veronica!" Archie snapped.
Reggie dropped an arm on the seat behind Veronica's shoulders, "Chill, Andrews. Everyone is gonna be wondering about it anyway."
"It's okay," Betty said with a smile, "Yes. Polly is my sister. I don't know much about what is going on with her. My parents are pretty secretive about it."
Veronica grinned, "Parents can be like that. Okay then, now that that little bit of nastiness is out of the way, you have to try a milkshake. They are to die! And then I'll need to tell you about tryouts for the River Vixens, because with that peppy ponytail and pearly smile, you are definitely going to be one!"
Archie sat back and watched as two of his best friends embraced Betty. It caused a warm feeling in his chest. She was so perfect. She was sweet and pretty and everything that he hadn't known he needed.
His cell-phone chirped in the pocket of his letterman jacket. He pulled it out to read the caller id.
Geraldine.
He looked up just as Betty let out an uninhibited laugh at something Veronica said. The laugh was raspy and breathy and...warm. Then he rejected the call from Geraldine. He was done with that part of his life.
"Bathroom?" Betty asked, looking around.
Veronica pointed at the same time Archie answered, "Straight back."
"Be right back."
Once she was gone, Veronica leaned forward on the table and gushed, "Okay, I am girl crushing!
She is perky and adorable and I want to carry her around in my pocket. Well found, Archikins."
"She's great, isn't she?" Archie grinned.
Reggie shook some pepper onto his fries, "You planning on hitting that, Andrews."
"Reg," Veronica warned, digging an elbow into her boyfriend's ribs, "must you be gross?"
"You like it," Reggie said with a smirk.
Archie shook his head, "I'm planning to date that, Reg. Mark my words, before summer is out, Betty Cooper will be my girlfriend."
Veronica clapped her hands together in giddy delight, then stopped abruptly. "Arch, you do know that Jug is going to hate her."
"V has a point, Arch." Reggie agreed, "Blondie is everything that Donnie Darko loathes in society."
"You guys are wrong. Jug will like her because I like her."
Veronica shrugged, "You're probably right. Or at least he won't outright detest her. To her face."
"C'mon, give the guy some more credit." Archie laughed gestured toward Veronica, "He grew to like you well enough, didn't he?"
Veronica hit him with her dazzler smile, "Well, yes, but I am inherently charming and likable."
"I think Betty's likable." Archie said.
Reggie smirked around a mouthful of French fry, "He got you there, Ronnie."
"Touché, Archikins." Veronica said, "Besides, I'm in love with her. Official Veronica Lodge seal of approval!"
Over the course of the next two weeks, Archie found every excuse possible to see Betty while simultaneously dodging calls and contact with Geraldine Grundy. He knew he would have to deal with her sooner or later, but he preferred later. For the moment, he wanted to focus all of his energy on the miracle that was Betty Cooper.
There was something about her, a vibrancy with which she didn't just live her life, she attacked it. He admired that, he envied that, he wanted to be a part of that. She was unlike any girl he had known before. She jumped in with him and Reggie, throwing the football. She knew how to fix cars. But she also wore pink and lace and ruffles and was so utterly feminine. Everything about her fascinated him.
He was walking down the sidewalk, on his way to meet up with Betty and Veronica at Pop's before heading to the Bijou for a show when an old Volkswagon Beetle pulled to a stop beside him and Geraldine stepped out and slammed the door.
"Why are you ignoring me, Archie?" She asked.
"I just..." Archie stammered at seeing her. She was sexy and mature and he wanted her to touch him. Again.
"Is this about the fourth?"
"We heard a gunshot." Archie said, his eyes on his feet, "And then Jason disappeared."
"Jason Blossom drowned. That gunshot has nothing to do with anything. There is no reason to tell anybody." She stepped forward and touched her long graceful fingers to Archie's flat stomach, "And there is no reason why we can't continue to see each other."
"Until school starts?" Archie asked.
"Yes, until school starts."
Archie's caramel colored gaze swept up and locked on hers, "Maybe I need more than a finite fling."
An image of Betty smiling and laughing with him and his friends. With her, he didn't have to be secretive. He could hold her hand and walk her proudly through the halls of Riverdale High. He didn't have to look over his shoulder when they were together.
"Archie," Geraldine continued, taking another step toward him, touching his forearm, "we've talked about this. What we're doing...it's wrong. It can't continue once we're back in school. I'll go back to being your teacher and you'll go back to being a student."
"That's all I am?" Archie hissed, "Just another student?"
"You know that's not true."
"Do I?"
"Archie," Geraldine said in a plea, "you know how complicated our situation is. You mean so much to me. This summer, when we're alone, I'm free to be Geraldine. But once we're back within the walls of Riverdale High, I have to be Ms. Grundy."
Archie caught her around the wrist and removed her hand from his arm, but didn't release it. "I don't know if I can settle for that. And I'm late to meet my friends."
It took significant will power on his part, but Archie managed to force himself to release his hold on her. He couldn't help but think about the things that those hands had done to him; had made him feel. But he could move past that. He would move past that...and he would focus on Betty. He turned and walked away from his older lover.
He met up with Veronica and Betty at Pop's and then the three of them met up with Reggie at the Bijou. Betty and Veronica walked arm in arm through the door that Archie held open for them. Reggie had already purchased the tickets and was standing in line for the concession stand. Without releasing her hold on Betty, Veronica closed the distance and greeted the dark haired boy with loud smack of a kiss. "Hi there, handsome!"
True to her word, Veronica had indeed become Betty's best friend. The two were practically inseparable. Where there was B, there was V and vice versa.
"What'll you have, beautiful?" Reggie asked.
"Twizzlers for me and Betty wants Raisenettes and...ooh...B? Do we want regular coke or cherry?"
"Is that even a question? Cherry." Betty replied.
"True." Veronica said before her eyes cut back to Reggie, "Cherry Coke. Large. B and I wanna share."
"Exactly who is dating who, here?" Reggie demanded.
"Now, darling, don't be jealous." Veronica cooed.
"I for one support the sharing," Archie chimed, sliding in close to Betty who smiled up at him with her usual sweet warmth.
"Thank you, Archikins!" Veronica said, "I hope you're taking notes, Reggie, my love."
Reggie reply was to reach over a punch Archie in the shoulder.
Snacks were obtained and the foursome made their way into the theatre to find their seats, Betty and Veronica snuggled in between the two strapping lads. When the lights dimmed and the previews began, Archie knew it was time. He leaned toward Betty and on a whisper offered her some of his popcorn. She immediately reached her hand into his popcorn tub to take some and he made his move, raising an arm and dropping it around her shoulders.
She seemed a little startled by the action and looked to Veronica, who beamed a smile and scrunched her nose up in approval. After that, Betty relaxed against him and Archie knew everything was right with the world.
What the hell is happening? Betty's mind screamed. It felt as though she were being maneuvered into something that she hadn't agreed to; like an unruly horse being tricked into a corral. As the movie started, Archie seemed to ease himself even closer to her side. It wasn't that it made her uncomfortable, per se, it was just new territory and really soon. She had only been in town a few weeks. She felt her breathing escalating as her fingers slowly curled into her palms.
No! She bellowed inside her own head. She would not lose it. Archie was...wonderful. Archie was sweet and a good guy and cute as hell. Not to mention...well...the abs. The boy was ripped. Maybe this wasn't something for her to panic over. Maybe Archie would be good for her. She relaxed her hands, took a breath and forced her body to lean a little more into him. Archie seemed to radiate joy when she did and to be honest, that made her feel pretty nice.
Yes. This could be good. This would be good.
Archie Andrews and Betty Cooper.
Sure.
Why not?
Author's Note: Well, that's it for now. Guess who's making an appearance in the next scene! Anyway, I hope you are enjoying. Let me a comment and let me know what you think! Also, even if you don't think it fits, if you don't know it, I recommend the song. It is pretty adorable.