Was Archie worried about Reggie being taken advantage of by Fangs? Yes, he actually was, but, if Archie was being honest with himself, that wasn't even his main reason for not wanting Reggie to take things any further with Fangs. Archie was jealous, plain and simple. He could not deny it any longer. At first, he thought that maybe the newfound rejuvenation of his friendship with Reggie was the reason why he felt felt such a strong connection to Reggie, but that excuse was no longer sufficient. Archie's relationship with Veronica was the thing which was helping him remain in denial, but he knew that if he did not face reality soon he would end up doing something stupid, so it was time to face reality.
When they both had a free period, Archie texted Veronica to meet him in the student lounge. He had to be honest with her while he still had the courage. Archie was already sitting on one of the sofas of the student lounge when Veronica entered. She sat on the sofa which was facing the one he was sitting on.
"What's up, my love? What's so sensitive that you couldn't put it in the text?" Veronica asked.
She was a bit anxious to know what was going on, but she hid it well.
"Uh," Archie didn't even know how to begin. "Ronnie, I love you, so much, but…"
"It almost sounds like you're about to break up with me," she said in a joking manner, but feeling real worry.
"Ronnie…"
"Archie, what is going on? Things between us have been so good, lately. Why on Earth would you wanna break up? Is something going on?"
Veronica was always quite the detective.
"Yes," Archie said, mustering up the courage to be honest.
"Who is she, Archie?" Veronica asked, figuring that she had it all figured out.
"His name is Reggie," Archie ripped the bandage off.
"What? Reggie? What the hell, Archie? How long have you two been fooling around behind my back, then?"
"It's all super new, Veronica. I swear. I still like girls as well, the same amount that I always have, and everything we've been through has been real, trust me, but I can't deny what I feel for Reggie any longer...because I'm in love with him. I just...am. I wish I wasn't, Veronica. I hate myself for it. I am so sorry...I'm so fucking sorry."
Archie broke down into tears. Despite the fact that he was breaking her heart, Veronica made her way over to sit on the couch with Archie and comfort him by putting her arm across his back and resting her hand on his shoulder.
"I can't say that I'm not heartbroken, Archie, but what I do know is that no one can control what their heart feels. I'm gonna go now, because internally I'm too infuriated with you to comfort you any further, but...I wish you and Reggie...the best," Veronica managed to utter without dropping the tears which were forming in her eyes.
"Veronica, wait," Archie said.
But she didn't wait. Veronica ignored his calling out and quickly exited the student lounge, refusing to let Archie see her break down.