I Want You to Be Alive

Chapter 1

Archie took a deep breath trying to stop the tears from coming as he sat next to his father waiting for the police to question him along with half the student body about one of their former classmates Betty Cooper. He just couldn't believe what had happened to her. What had driven her to kill herself? He guessed he would never really find out the reason why, but he knew one thing he could do for her family at the moment was tell the police the truth about what had happened between him and Betty. He at least owed them that. Owed her that...

The door flew open as a police officer walked into the hall looking at all the students with dismay in his eyes as if he knew exactly what all of them had done. He couldn't blame him, if Archie was that officer he would be disappointed in them too.

"Archie Andrews." the cop said summoning him to the room where he would be questioned.

Archie looked up at the cop nodding his understanding as his dad gave him a squeeze of encouragement. Archie followed the cop to the principals office where he would be questions for the next couple of minutes hoping he would have some information about what exactly was going on. At least he hoped he would be able to help. He would do anything at this point to try to make things right.

"Have a seat, my boss will be with you in a moment." the cop said twisting a knob to another part of the office.

Archie shifted his feet from foot to foot as he waited for the detective who was going to be assigned to this case to enter. Finally after what seemed like awhile a man that Archie doesn't recognize stepped into the room and smiled with Sheriff Keller by his side.

"Hello Archie, My name is Detective Castillo and I'm here to take over the Elizabeth Cooper case-"

"Betty." he interrupted the detective even though he probably shouldn't have

"What?"

"She hated the name Elizabeth. She preferred that her friends called her Betty."

"Alright Betty it is then."

"Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt."

"It's quite alright, I understand under the circumstances. From what I understand you were best friends with the deceased."

"You could say that."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"We didn't really spend a lot of time together or talked much the last few months that she was alive. As a matter of fact there were times where she didn't want anything to do with me."

"And why do you think that is? Why do you think that you two lost contact?"

"How much time do you have today? Because in order to fully understand what went wrong with us than I'll need a lot more than an hour to do so."

"Do you think that what you have to say will affect the case in any way?"

"I'm not one hundred percent sure."

"Well there's always a chance that you might have something useful for us."

"I wouldn't get your hopes up. I know I'm not."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because nothing I say or do will bring Betty back. She's gone and it's all my fault."

The detective looked at Sheriff Keller for more explanation as he stepped forward ready to talk to Archie for the first time that day.

"Why do you feel like it's your fault Archie?"

"I feel like it's my fault, because maybe if I had been more observant she would still be here. If only I hadn't shut her out maybe she would still be alive."

"Why did you shut her out Archie?"

"Things started to get complicated after we both started dating each others best friends. That in itself is another long story."

"Well it seems like a story that's worth telling. If you don't mind coming into the station for the next week to clear up the air on the situation than maybe we'll have somewhere to go with this case."

"I guess I could do that."

"Sounds like a plan. Can I go now? It's been quite a day and I would love to go home."

"Of course. Just keep in mind that we'll be contacting you further for more questioning."

Archie nodded as a sudden sense of relief flooded through his chest. With shaking knees, Archie rose from his chair and headed straight towards the door wanting nothing more than to forget that this day ever happened. Too bad it wouldn't be that easy. Things like this never were...

Archie kept a fast pace to get inside the house as fast as he could. The last thing he needed was his dad to try to have a conversation with him when all he wanted to do was lock himself away fro the rest of the world and hide inside of his emotions, but unfortunately his dad wouldn't let that happen. He almost never did.

"Archie!" his dad yelled as Archie's foot hit the stairs. Dammit. He was hoping for a quiet night.

Archie pivoted on the steps and looked at his dad who was now right in front of him.

"I don't think you should be alone right now."

"Well than I guess we have a dilemma, because that's all I want to be right now."

"Archie, You just lost one of your best friends. I know you can't be alright right now."

"No dad I'm not alright, but when your best friend kills themselves there's never really an alright, is there?"

"Arch-"

"Please dad I just want to be alone. Even you can understand that right?"

His dad nodded as he went upstairs not knowing what he would find in there next.