Reggie has always kind of had a crush on Archie Andrews. The redhead was a beanpole, all long limbs and pale skin. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing special about his appearance. But when he smiled, it was like the clouds cleared away and the sunshine broke through. Reggie was smitten, though he kept it to himself. His dad had told him about what happened to boys who liked other boys, and he had no intention of ending up like them.
And then their sophomore year of high school, Archie was suddenly all lean muscles and had a healthy glow to his skin. He was stunning, but he was still that good guy Archie. Reggie made sure to make him feel welcome on the football team, make him feel like one of them, but the other always remained distant, preferring to hang out with the weirdo and his preppy girl friend. Girl friend, as opposed to girlfriend, though it was obvious Betty Cooper, the cute girl next door, wanted to be more. And then Veronica Lodge appeared, Jason Blossom was dead, and they were battling for the title of team captain. Though the other was the obvious choice, he declined the position, his reason being that he couldn't devote his heart into the role. Reggie was curious about what was so important to Archie for him to turn down the title that would guarantee him scholarships, but he wasn't close enough to the other to ask.
And then one day, he learns that the hot music teacher had been banging Archie and that's why she suddenly left, to keep Betty's mom from getting her arrested. Reggie may talk of cougars and older women, but the idea that a teacher would take advantage of someone as good as Archie made him sick. He can't help but act a bit more possessive about the redhead, but he always claims that he was just watching out for him as team captain whenever Moose starts side eyeing him. Then Archie is with one of the Pussycats, then he's performing in the talent show despite his flop of an audition, and Reggie is left in awe, watching his fellow Bulldog rock on the stage. His high from some jingle jangle he took earlier just adds to the performance, making it feel like Archie was an angel on stage. His face was open and expressive as he played his guitar and sang, the lights shining behind him outlining him with a halo of light. He couldn't help but feel ashamed for how he booed during Archie's audition.
That was probably when his crush had reignited like no other. It wasn't long before Archie was breaking up with the one Pussycat who's name he just couldn't remember, but Reggie could see Veronica moving in. Of course he acted like he wanted to date her too, competed for the girl. But it was only to keep her from falling into Archie's arms. He watched and he played their game, and this was the most time he had spent with the redhead in quite sometime.
He never would've guessed that it would result in Archie actually considering him to be a friend, rather than a rival or just another player on the team. It was different and new and scary; but he just couldn't stay away. So he was always there whenever the other needed him; a study buddy, someone to work out with, someone to grab dinner with. It made his father watch him suspiciously, but there was nothing going on. So what if Reggie was a little less straight than he had previously thought, it wasn't like it was going to result in anything.
Until one night, when they're drinking cheap beers, and Archie has this adorable flush on his cheeks from his buzz. And the other teenager can't bring himself to look away. And he doesn't know what comes over him, but when the redhead leans closer to show him something on his phone, probably another cute picture of his dog, Reggie finds himself moving in, capturing the other's lips.
Of course he begins to panic afterwards, thoughts running through his head. But then he notices how the other football player hadn't pushed him away, rather, he had taken ahold of Reggie's shirt in a grip so tight it may even stretch the fabric. And he was staring up at him with rosy cheeks and shiny eyes and a grin that he couldn't help but sheepishly return. And so he leans in again. And again. And again.
They don't talk about it, just like they don't talk about how Archie had stopped pursuing Veronica. Because that would make this real, and neither of them were ready for them. So they made due with stolen kisses in the janitor's closet, for intense and lingering stares across the locker room. How Reggie always throws the ball to Archie when they're on the field, mainly because his eyes never look for anyone else. They make out in Archie's room, in his bed, and Reggie always wants more, more of those lips on his own, more of touching smooth but freckled skin, more of those glazed over eyes and private smiles. He likes to make the redhead laugh, especially when he seems so tense about whatever drama he has going on with his friends. He likes to pick them up milkshakes, burgers, and fries, because it's the other's favorite food and he would eat it for every meal if he could.
They also don't talk about the bruises that occasionally litter Reggie's body, always hidden under his clothes; bruises that speak of fists and hate and anger. Archie never asks why they don't hang out at his house, he doesn't ask about his home life, but his sad eyes whenever he sees those bruises speak volumes. It somehow is worse than the actual abuse. His dad has always been an asshole, especially when he drinks, but it wasn't so bad when no one else knew about it.
One week becomes one month, which then becomes multiple months, and Reggie is forced to acknowledge that maybe it's not just a crush or casual make out sessions. He can't bring himself to ask Archie how he feels, because there's no way that the perfect Archie Andrews likes him like Reggie likes him. There's no way his heart skips a beat when he catches his eye, there's no way the best part of his day is when they can just hold each other close and breathe.
But maybe one day, when Reggie has redeemed himself, when the only bruises on him are from soft and supple lips, when he has saved Archie in the same way that the other saved him; maybe he could love him, maybe he could be loved.