He was prepared for anger, he knew how to deal with an angry Betty Cooper, but he was not equipped to deal with the rage currently pouring out of her as she stormed into the lounge, steam practically coming out of her ears.
"Was that your handiwork?" She demanded, her loud tone a clear indicator that she did not care who heard them.
"No!" Archie promised, holding his hands up in surrender. "Of course not. How could you even ask me that?"
"How could you tell Jughead about..." Betty trailed off quickly.
"I didn't." He insisted. "Well... Not exactly."
"Not exactly?" She echoed. "What, exactly, did you tell him, Archie?"
Archie sighed, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket.
How could he have betrayed her like that?
"I started to mention it." He admitted, after a moment. "Jug just kind of put two and two together."
Betty's eyes narrowed. "It was none of his business."
It surprised him that she didn't ask why he had been talking to their shared former friend in the first place, but ultimately, he was grateful.
Maybe they were all still entitled to a few secrets.
"I know."
"It was none of your business either." She hissed.
"Betty-"
"Who did it?"
"Reggie." Archie answered honestly, and without any guilt. "He said that Jughead confronted you yesterday? Why didn't you say anything?"
"How would Reggie have known?" Betty wondered aloud, ignoring his question.
Then, her eyes narrowed.
"Veronica." She said, her hands balling up into fists. "Of course."
She turned to leave, but Archie caught her arm, spinning her back around.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Betty avoided his gaze. "I don't have to tell you everything."
"I'm your best friend!"
"Are you?"
"Betty, c'mon." Archie sighed, loosening his grip on her. "I'm sorry. I screwed up."
"Yeah." She agreed, letting out a bitter laugh. "You sure did."
"Betty-"
Betty took an abrupt step away from him, causing his hands to drop back down to his sides. He surveyed her, taking instant notice of the still covered mark against her forehead. Her hair was pulled back into its usually pony tail, though it was not as neat, a few strands falling into her face, and the circles under her eyes seemed darker, if that was even possible.
"Betty." He pronounced carefully. "When's the last time you slept?"
Her lips formed a thin line. "Why do you care?"
"Betty."
"A few days ago, maybe?" Betty retorted, letting her shoulders drop in an uninterested shrug. "Why does it matter?"
"You're a wreck." Archie told her, and he knew he would pay for that comment later, when she was no longer angry with him.
"Excuse me?"
"Jughead was right." He acknowledged, almost reluctantly. "You're wired."
"Juggie doesn't know a thing about me." She grumbled.
"Sometimes I wonder if he knows you better than I do." Archie raked a hand through his hair. "I thought you stopped."
"I did." Betty insisted.
"You're lying."
"You can finally tell the difference?" She shot back.
Archie frowned. "I've been trying to help you, Betty."
"You want to help me, Arch?" Betty demanded. She took another step away from him, snatching a book from the worn arm chair that had been donated to the school way before any of them were born.
"Yes." He said.
"Then stay away from me." She hissed, spinning on her heel.
She stalked out of the room, and for the second time that day, Archie Andrews was left feeling like a complete and total failure as a friend.