Chapter 15: Driven To Distraction!
*Aria's POV*
It was now the third week of March here in Riverdale. A few days before the spring dance at Riverdale High. The dance was going to be held on the 20th of March, which was a Saturday, and they would open the school's gym for us. It was a sunny, and rather warm, Thursday afternoon and I was wearing my biker outfit but with flat black ankle boots instead of my small heeled ones with studded earrings and the usual half winged eye liner but this time added a touch of silver eyeliner under the black. I went inside the house to get us some soda to drink and decided to make sandwiches for me, Archie and Jughead.
*Archie's been working on his car a lot more than usual.* I thought as I sighed.
Archie had been working on his car little by little ever since he accidentally crashed into the trash cans the night of the potato alien attack. He just got the rest of the parts needed and all the cleaning materials to give 'Betsy' that extra glow. Problem was he had been working on it over the past two weekends and even more over the weekdays after school. He was ignoring everybody again. I walked out the door and wasn't fully paying attention. I ended up bumping into Jughead, who hopped out of the car, and spilled the tray of sandwiches and soda all over the hood of the car.
"Whoa." I gasped out as Jughead grabbed me before I fell onto the ground.
"You alright Aria? I'm sorry." Jughead said to me, one arm around my waist and another on my back in a dipping motion, as I blushed a soft pink and nodded.
"Yeah. I'm okay." I managed to say.
"Aria! My car! I just cleaned Betsy off." Archie yelled as I sighed and stood up. I got out of Jughead's grip as I went over and started picking off sandwich parts.
"I'm sorry Archie. I'll help you clean up." I said as I bent down to grab a spare rag and started whipping the car off.
"No. Not like that. You'll just make it worse." He scolded as he tore the rag from my hands and whipped in a different motion. I just sighed and shook my head.
"I can help." I told him.
"Just clean up the ground and go away. You're only going to make it worse. You wouldn't know how to care for a car any ways." He scolded as I grew angry.
"YOU are suppose to teach me a bit but no. Instead you scold me and do it yourself. That's fine. I won't help." I raised my voice as I cleaned up and brought the wet and dirty destroyed sandwiches and partly to completely empty cans of soda on the tray into the house to throw away, clean the cans to recycle, and clean off the tray. As I started to clean the tray I heard someone come inside.
"Screwdriver off Archie." I scolded after I sighed in annoyance.
"Archie's still cleaning." I heard Jughead say as I turned my head to look at him.
"Oh I'm sorry Jughead. If I'd known it was you I wouldn't have said that." I told him as he came over to me.
"It's alright. Heck he scolded me about crumbs because I was eating a cookie in the back seat." He said as I chuckled a bit. I stopped and thought for a moment before I looked over at him.
"Wait? You're the one who took the cookie off the counter?" I asked him. I had made cookies last night and I had one put aside for later.
"Yeah. Wait. Was it yours?" He asked as he got a bit worried. He knew by now not to take my food because I get mad. I just shook my head and turned off the water as I grabbed a towel and dried it off before putting it away. I continued talking from the moment I grabbed the towel.
"It's ok. You didn't know. Besides I can always make more." I told him as I heard a sigh of relief from Jughead. I then had an idea.
"Hey Jughead? Wanna come with me to Pop Tate's?" I asked him. He shook his head no.
"Sorry Aria. I have a project due with Archie and I need to pull him away from 'Betsy' to do so." He said as I sighed.
*I hoped you would've said yes like usual.* I thought.
"Must be important if you said no to Pops." I said as I went to grab my bag, that had my wallet, money, Ipod, and headphones in it, and my skates next to it as I walked to the front steps with him.
"If I don't get at least a C on this project I'll be failing." He said as I gasped.
"Oh no. Do you need help?" I asked him but he shook his head no.
"Archie will. Hopefully." He said as I nodded and put my skates on. We noticed Betty and Veronica talking with Archie before he walked away. Oh boy. We went over to them.
"Sorry girls. It looks like you have a new competitor." Jughead said.
"Yeah. And her name's Betsy." I mentioned as I used my thumb to point behind me towards Archie's car.
"This is getting ridiculous." Betty said in irritation.
"Yeah. Worse enough when he ignores me for Betty. But when he does for a car." Veronica added as I shook my head.
"Do you two wanna head to Pops with me? Jughead's going to try and get Archie to help him with a project so it'll be us three. Besides it'd be nice to have some girl time for a change." I mentioned as they nodded.
"Sure. Why not?" Betty mentioned.
"I can drive us." Veronica said as I followed them to Betty's house next door. I didn't realize I stopped them from their jog but they said that it was fine. I also didn't know Veronica could be a slightly scary driver. We made it to Pops in one piece though and for that I was grateful. We got there and sat at a booth at the far right and ordered. They ordered salads and I got two burgers and nachos with extra Jalapeños. What? I'm hungry? And Jalapeños are one of the few veggies I'll willingly eat. We finished our food and paid for it as we drank our soda's and sighed. We were worried about Archie. As Betty was taking a drink of her soda Veronica started talking.
"I must be losing my touch. Archie barely noticed I was there." Veronica commented as Betty put her drink down. I was now starting to drink mine.
"Yeah. It was like talking to a brick wall." Betty said sadly as I put my drink down and shook my head.
"It's bad enough when Archie ignores us. But to yell at me for accidentally spilling food and soda on his car hood? At least I avoided the inside. He had the nerve to say I was cleaning wrong." I said in annoyance as then the three of us sighed and rested out faces onto our fists. Hopefully Archie will snap out of this soon.
"Greetings lucky ladies. Here I am to bring joy into your small humdrum lives." Reggie said as he took a seat next to me. At least his arm isn't around me. The three of us sighed and ignored Reggie.
"Why all the long faces?" He said with a look of irritation on his face. I don't blame him for it.
"Archie's taking me to the movie's Friday. But he's not making his usual big fuss over it." Veronica said to him. In my mind I smiled at the fact Archie fusses about it.
"Then forget Archie. I'll take you. I'll fuss like there's no tomorrow." Reggie said with a smile. Was this flirting?
"That's nice. But I don't think so." Veronica said with an attitude that soon matched the look on her face. Go girl.
"How about you Betty? How about a night on the town with Mantle the Magnificent?" He said as he used one of his nicknames he gave himself. Okay he definitely was flirting now.
"No thanks. I'm to worried about Archie." Betty commented as Reggie then looked at them with a worried face. Then he turned to me. Oh boy.
"What about-" Reggie started before I glared at him.
"Don't even ask." I told him.
"What's up with you?" He asked me. I just sighed.
"Archie yelled at me when I bumped into Jughead and spilled sandwiches and soda on the hood of the car. Then scolded me that I wasn't cleaning the car right." I said as I looked away from him.
"That's not right." Reggie said. I just sighed.
"So does this have to do with Archie's car?" He asked towards the girls as they nodded.
"It seems that Archie cares more about his car then the people in his life." Betty said to him. Reggie got mad.
"Archie is lucky enough to have two beautiful females moping over him, and a beautiful cousin who cares for him." He said, adding me into the mix, and slammed his fist on the table before continuing.
"And all he wants to do is work on his car? Why that's unnatural. That's wasteful." He said in a disgusted tone as he stood up at the last sentence.
"I am morally offended. Archie needs to be set straight. And I'm just the guy to do it." Reggie said looking the opposite direction as me and smiling with his hands on his waist. He looked like a super hero. I looked at the door and I saw Vinnie come in. I looked forward and was nervous. Vinnie creeped me out.
*I need to get out of here before he notices me.* I thought as I then had an idea. I hated to ask but.
"Reggie? If your going to talk to Archie can you bring me home? As much as it pains me to ask I need to see if Jughead still needs help with their project, that Archie has most likely neglected, or not." I asked him as I felt a wave of nausea hit me. Man was that painful but it was better than dealing with Vinnie.
"Of course. I'd do anything to help you ladies out." He suddenly said as he stepped out of the booth and let me get out. I shot up immediately.
"Ill call you girls later." I said as I grabbed Reggie's wrist and bolted out the door and to his car. Now we were on our way there.
"So Doll Face? Why pick me for a ride? I'm sure what you told me wasn't the real reason." Reggie said, trying to make small talk, as my eyebrow twitched in annoyance over the pet name. I ignored it.
"That is why." I told him.
"I think there's more to it." He said as I rolled my eyes.
"Don't worry about it Reggie. Whatever it is I can handle it." I told him as he sighed.
"I'm trying to be pleasant here. You could at least talk to me while I take you home." He said as I sighed again. Should I tell him about Vinnie?
"There was a guy at the Malt Shoppe that I didn't want to deal with." I told him.
"Huh? Really? Who?" He asked me.
"Don't worry about it. He's just not that big of a deal yet. When it becomes one I'll let you know." I told him. In all do honesty if Dilton says Vinnie is dangerous then the less people to get involved the better.
"If you say so. You never let me finish my question though." He said as I now looked at him questionably.
"Question?" I asked him.
"Yes. I was going to ask you if you wanted to go to the movies with me. There's a new horror movie out and I immediately thought of you. Would you like to see it Friday?" He asked me as I stared at him. He's asking me out? Really? Well I do want to see that movie but not with him.
"No thanks Reggie. I've got a lot on my mind right now." I told him.
"Will you think about it at least? It might keep your mind off of Archie and that guy whose bothering you." He told me. He's right. It would. I sighed and shook my head.
"Alright. I'll at least think about it. But not as a date. As friends." I told him sternly as he smiled brightly. I was regretting that already.
"Great! I'll take friend zone if it means spending time with a beautiful girl like yourself." He said as I mentally groaned. Reggie Then parked the car across the street and got out. I got out of the car as well and we both started going over to the house. Reggie went to talk to Archie as I went to find Jughead. I looked in the garage and then in the house but didn't see him at all. I went over to the boys now.
"Archie? Where's Jughead?" I asked him.
"He said he was going home. Something about a project." He said as I got mad.
"Archie Andrews! Jughead needs you to help him finish that project by tomorrow or he's failing! I can't believe you! Your such an airhead!" I screamed at him.
"What? Failing?" Archie said.
"Yes! And you don't seem to care. He said no to Pops just to try and get it done before spring break starts! You didn't help him! You're neglecting everyone over this machine!" I screamed as I kicked the car.
"Please step away from the car." We suddenly heard a robotic female voice say.
"Yikes! What was that?" Reggie asked.
"My new car alarm. I just installed it." Archie replied.
"Okay that's kinda cool but you're missing the point." I told him.
"Archie she's right. Your neglecting your friends for this thing. And besides what kind of thief would wanna steal a wreck on wheels like this anyways?" Reggie said as he used his thumb to point at it.
"Reggie! Too far man! Classic cars are reliable. Wait? What am I doing? Archie you need to stop this infatuation with your car before it spirals out of control." I told him as I tried not to go off topic. Guess Archie didn't hear me or chose to ignore me.
"Your just jealous of Betsy. Both of you. We don't have to stay here and take your abuse." Archie said as he pulled his keys out of his pocket, unlocked the car electronically, and walked to the car to get inside it. Then he buckled up and started the car.
"Archie." I said as he ignored me and began driving off.
"Why would I be jealous of that rattle trap car? I own a new sports car. It drives like a dream!" He said as he used his hand to put next to his mouth to shout the last two sentences. I just shook my head and sighed.
"Let him learn the hard way." I muttered as I turned on my heal and headed down the side walk.
"Thanks for the ride Reggie." I shouted back as I tossed my hand over my head towards him.
"Where are you going?" He asked me.
"I'm going to Jughead's to help him with his report." I shouted back. I soon felt my wrist get grabbed. I looked at Reggie, who had his grip on me, and gave him a look.
"At least let me drive you. It'll be faster." He explained as I sighed.
"Fine." I said as I caved and let him drive me. It wasn't a long drive but it was a quiet one. We soon arrived and I quickly got out of the car.
"Thank again." I told him.
"No problem Doll Face." He said. I was about to scold him when he suddenly drove off. I guess he knew and didn't want to hear it. I shrugged and went up to the door. I knocked on it and a woman, who looked a bit like a older female Jughead, answered the door.
"Yes?" She asked me.
"Hello. You must be Jughead's mother. My name's Aria, I'm Archie's cousin and a friend of your son's. I was wondering if he was home so I could help him out with his project." I said to her as she went from slightly worried to cheerful.
"Oh! Your Aria. Oh yes he's home. Please come in." She said cheerfully as I smiled and walked in the house.
"Thank you." I said while passing her.
"Jughead as told me so much about you. He says your a wonderful girl. I'm glad that he's friends with another girl." She told me as she then went near the stairs.
"Jughead!" She hollered.
"Yes mom?" I heard him ask.
"You have a friend here to see you. A pretty girl named Aria." She said as I blushed lightly. Next thing I knew Jughead, literally, jumped down the stairs in front of his mom and turned her towards the kitchen.
"mom.~" he whispered a whine with light pink cheeks and pushed her in so they could talk.
*Was he….Blushing?* I thought as I heard only whispers. Soon he popped out of the kitchen.
"Hey Aria. What's up?" He asked me.
"I was wondering if you still needed help with your project. I'm sorry Archie's being an airhead. I want to help make sure you pass." I told him as I lightly blushed and looked away from him.
"Sure. I'd like that." He told me as I smiled at him.
"Great." I said.
"Do you two want anything to eat or drink?" Mrs. Jones suddenly appeared and asked. I lightly jumped as Jughead tried not to groan.
"Sure mom. Two orange soda's please." Jughead said to his mom.
"Thank you Mrs. Jones." I said politely as she smiled.
"Why don't you two go into the living room and I'll be right out with some snacks." Mrs. Jones said as we said okay. She smiled and went back into the kitchen.
"I'll be back. Make yourself comfortable." He said as I nodded. I sat on the couch and pulled out some supplies as Jughead soon came in and sat next to me.
"So what's the project?" I asked him.
"It's a report for History on 'Greek Mythology'." He told me.
"Oh yeah! One of the fun ones. What do you have so far?" I asked him as he showed me a paper with a few things on it.
"Jughead. I hate to tell you but some of these facts are wrong. Wait. Did you watch and copy some of this from Disney's Hercules?" I asked him as he nodded.
"Well sure. Why?" He asked me. I groaned.
"Jughead. Some of it was wrong. For example Zeus basically slept with all women, both human and goddess, even his daughters. Second Hera wasn't as kind and sweet as you think. She was jealous of most women who Zeus was with because she wanted him for herself and couldn't. Uhg. We're going to have to start by scratch." I told him as he groaned.
"Great." He said as I smiled.
"No worries. It says on the instructions that you only need to work on a god, goddess, hero, or mythical creature of your choice. More than one is optional." I told him as he smiled.
"Good. I don't think I could get it all done by tomorrow." He said as I smiled at him.
"I'll help you with it. I know most of these any ways." I told him.
"You do?" He asked as I nodded.
"I read a lot in school because I was alone a lot. I read a lot at home to so I wouldn't hear the yelling. History books were a few. No big deal." I told him as we got started. We didn't notice Mrs. Jones was by the door listening to this whole thing before she decided to bring in the food and drinks. It took 3 hours but it was worth it. If Jughead got an A+ Then it would be superb.
"I should be leaving now." I told him as I stretched before grabbing my things.
"Is Archie getting you?" He asked me.
"No. We had a fight about his car obsession." I told him.
"Did you get here on your own?" He asked me as I shook my head.
"No. Reggie brought me. He had brought me home before dropping me off here. He was there to talk to Archie about the car thing as well." I said as Jughead grew shocked.
"Reggie? You got in a car with him?" he asked me as I nodded.
"Yeah. It was not so bad but something I wouldn't want to do again." I told him as he nodded.
"Are you walking home?" He asked me.
"Skating." I told him. He walked with me out the door.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" He asked me.
"I'll be fine Jughead. I'll see you at school tomorrow okay? Let me know how you did on your project." I told him as I put my skates on.
"I will." He said as we smiled at each other. We waved goodbye as I skated off towards home. I got home the sun was barely setting as Archie got out of his car. Guess he just got home.
"Archie." I said as I stopped him. We were now standing in front of the car.
"Archie listen. I don't want us fighting okay? I get it. You love your car. And I'm sorry that I kicked it. I had absolutely no right to do that. Could you maybe spend a bit less time on the car and at least spend time with us? An hour or so a day?" I apologized to him and soon asked these questions to him. We both didn't notice Betsy glaring at me.
"I guess. And don't worry about it. Betsy has no scuffs or dents." He said as I sighed. There he goes with the car again.
"Let's head inside. I helped Jughead with the report. It has both of your names on it so don't worry." I told him as we went inside.
*Betsy's POV*
I had just listened to his cousin. The nerve of her. She kicked me and he's not even mad at her. Well I am! I don't care if she's his cousin. I don't even care if she likes me. Archie is mine. No one will stop me from having him all to myself. Not Betty. Not Veronica. Not those boys Reggie and Jughead. And especially not his cousin Aria!
*Next Day Aria's POV*
The way to school was weird. It felt weird. The car itself felt weird. My seatbelt had unbuckled at one point when we stopped. I smacked into the dashboard. Ouch. Another point trying to get out the seatbelt tightened up on me and hurt me a bit. When I shut the door behind me it opened up and smacked me. Not fun. My outfit of the day was my original outfit with usual make up. After school I told Archie I would meet with Jughead to see if he passed or not. Archie was fine with it and drove off faster than I could blink. I just shrugged and went looking for Jughead. I found Reggie instead.
"Hey Doll Face. Did you think about the movies?" He asked me.
*Right. I forgot.*I thought.
"Not tonight Reggie. We can go another time." I told him.
"You sure? Has Archie seen the error of his ways?" He asked me as I sighed.
"No. But I just don't feel like it tonight." I told him.
"That's fine. How about we go to the dance together?" He asked me.
"No. I'd rather go by myself and meet up with everyone else there." I told him.
"Aw come on Doll Face. You don't want to spend time with me?" He asked me in a hurt tone.
"Not tonight Reggie." I simply told him. Soon Jughead was there.
"Why don't you go bug someone else." Jughead said.
"I was just asking her to the movies. She said no so I'll go." He said as he walked away in a small huff.
"Hey Jughead." I smiled at him.
"How'd you do?" I asked him. He suddenly pulled out a piece of paper and held it up to me with a bright smile on his face. B+. I smiled brightly at him.
"Jughead that's wonderful." I said to him as we walked out the door.
"It's all thanks to you Aria." He said as I blushed lightly.
"Wanna head to Pops to celebrate? My treat!" I said as he brightened up.
"How can I say no to you? Especially if it's Pops and free food." He said while licking his lips. I blushed and looked away from him.
*'How can I say no to you?' What did he mean by that? Him licking his lips is cute. STOP! NO! Don't think like that. Although I wish he would hold me like he did yesterday when I bumped into him. NO! No no no!* I thought as , before I knew it, we were off school grounds.
"I couldn't have gotten a B+ without you." I managed to hear him say. I looked at him and smiled.
"If you ever need help just ask me alright? I don't want to see you fail." I told him as he agreed. We had ate at Pops and headed up to see Archie.
"He should be at Ronnie's already." I told him.
"Nope. he's working on his car." he said.
"How do you know?" I asked him as he pointed in front of us. My face deadpanned and my eyebrow was twitching.
"Oh come on." I muttered as we walked up to Archie, Who was now sitting on the grass, and started talking to him.
"I've got to hand it to ya Arch. For a doomed man you sure know how to keep your cool." Jughead said casually to him.
"Huh? What do ya mean?" Archie asked.
"Um Archie? You have to pick up Ronnie in 15 minutes for dinner and a movie." I told him.
"Yeah. When you show up looking like that she's going to kill you." Jughead added in as Archie then paled.
"Oh no! My date with Veronica! I forgot!" He said yelled as he quickly went into the house.
"I'm glad I'm not him." I said casually. In less than 5 minutes he was cleaned and tossing on his jacket.
"Archie? Forgetting a date? It's getting to the point where you can't count on anything these days." He said just as Archie pulled out his keys, ran past us, and went to get into the car.
"All this fuss for what? Another expensive date with Veronica." Jughead froze as Archie then looked at us after he opened the door.
"Oh no! Expensive!" He said as he came over to us and pulled out his pockets to show us they were empty.
"I'm broke!" He said as we gasped.
"I spent all my allowance on a pair of dice for Betsy." He said. Now I'm fuming.
"Archie Andrews!" I yelled. That's all I could get out really. Jughead went over to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulder as he spoke.
"Broke on a date with Veronica. I'll miss ya bud. Where should we send the flowers for your funeral?" Jughead said as I giggled.
"Aria?" Archie said as he looked at me. Uh oh. The begging eyes.
"No! No no no! I used my money at Pops and your not even touching my emergency stash cash. Nope!" I flat out told him.
"Oh Jughead amigo." He said as he looked at Jughead. Really? That desperate? Soon Jughead was backing up.
"Oh no! Your not doing what I think your doing." Jughead said.
"If he did it with me then he's going to with you." I mentioned as Archie continued.
"Come on Jughead. Fold me a $20 until my next allowance." Archie was now making Jughead back up with his hands up.
"Keep away. Your subverting the natural order of the universe. I'm supposed to mooch off you not the other way around!" Jughead pointed out as I giggled a bit.
*Wait. Jughead never mooches off of me.* I thought. He will mooch off of everyone else but me. Only when I offer does he say yes. Other than that he has paid for me twice.
"Please Jughead. It's a matter of life or death. I'm begging on my knees." He said as he, was indeed on his knees, began to make crying sounds. Big baby.
"Stay strong Jughead. Don't-" I started but it was too late.
"Okay okay! Jeez. Don't cry." He said as he pulled out his money. Archie soon stood up and was handed a $20.
"Here. But lets keep this our little secret, this could ruin my reputation." He scolded and pointed a finger at him as Archie broke out into a smile. How pathetic was my cousin?
"Thanks Jughead." Archie said as he then hopped in the car and started it up.
"Unbelievable." I muttered when I got next to Jughead.
"I feel so….used!" Jughead said as Archie drove off.
"Well. Um. D-do you want to come inside?" I asked him with a small stutter.
"I guess." He said as we went inside.
"Jughead? Can I talk to you since we're alone now?" I asked him as I got real nervous. Why?
"Sure. Is something wrong?" He asked me while walking to the couch and flopping onto it. I sat down next to him and sighed.
"I think it's time I told you about my parents and my life once I turned 7. Archie didn't now either. I had ended up blurting this to Dilton and told Archie to be fair. Now it's your turn. Only you, Archie, Dilton and I will know. You three are my best friends in the whole world. I know I can trust you." I said as I finally looked at him. He went from casually leaning into the couch with a large smile on his face to up straight and serious.
"Really? You're ready to tell me?" He asked me as I nodded.
"Heads up I might cry a bit so don't worry on that." I told him as he nodded. I had ended up telling him everything I had told Archie. I had to stop to breathe shaky breaths and in the end I still ended up with a few tears falling down my face. I whipped them away as I then felt a pair of strong arms around me.
"J-Jughead?" I questioned.
"I'm sorry you had to go through all that alone. Now I understand why you eat almost as much as I do. Why you looked too thin and a bit pale until now. Why you were so eager to try and make friends and grew shocked when I stated you were my friend. Also why you practice fighting and speak your mind. I understand now. No one should go through that. You'll always have me to talk to. You'll always have me by your side." He said as he held me tighter. I hugged him back.
"Thank you." I whispered back to him. It was nice to talk to someone about this. I just don't know how I'm going to handle going back home if needed. We held each other for a moment longer before I decided to end this nice moment.
"Jughead? Do you wanna stay over? I'd like to watch a movie with you." I asked him and mentioned the movie thing.
"Sure. I like watching horror movies with you." He said with a smile as he pulled me away from him to see him.
"I'll get some snacks and drinks then. You can pick the movie if you'd like." I said as I got up and headed to the kitchen.
"Sure." He said when I walked past him.
"And Jughead." I said as he turned to look at me.
"Thank you. For listening." I said as I smiled a genuine and content smile. He smiled back.
"No problem." He said as I turned around and went into the kitchen for some food.
*Jughead's POV*
Once Aria went into the kitchen I looked at the movies but wasn't really paying attention to them. All I could think about was what she had said to me.
*How could her own parents hurt her? I thought my parents were bad with nagging but that? How can she stay sweet and kind? Maybe because that's who she really is. Maybe because she doesn't want to see that happen to anyone.* I thought as grabbed a movie and looked at it. It was a Stephen King movie. No surprise there. The movie was though.
"Silver Bullet?" I questioned out loud.
"The book was better." Aria said behind me.
"Yikes!" I screamed as I turned to see her set a tray filled with snacks, food, and soda onto the table.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." She said with an apologetic look on her face.
"No. It's alright. I just didn't hear you that's all. Are you sure it's okay? I mean after the werewolf." I started but trailed off.
"It's cool. I know this movie already. Besides I'm better about it now." She said with a smile.
"Alright then." I said with a smile as I popped it and then settled down onto the couch next to her.
"The Movie it was based off of was a Stephen King book called 'Cycle of the Werewolf'. Really good." She told me just as the movie was starting. I wasn't concentrated fully on the movie. It was good but I couldn't keep my eyes off of Aria. She was eating popcorn and she looked so cute.
*She's so cute when she eats popcorn one by one slowly.* I thought as she the took a small sip of her soda before continuing with the popcorn. I felt weird around her.
*Why did I think she was cute? Why did I get embarrassed when mom called her pretty? Why did I blush? I get why I'm protective of her but when she hugs me. I don't know.* I thought as I mentally sighed. Soon the movie was over but Archie wasn't home yet. That's strange.
"Jughead." I heard Aria say as I looked at her.
"Yeah?" I asked her.
"Do you need to go home?" She asked me. Yes. Yes I did. But Archie wasn't back yet and I didn't want her here alone.
"Well Archie's not back yet so I'll stay until then." He said as she smiled.
"If your sure." She said as I nodded. Soon we were watching 'Friday the 13th the TV series' and it was actually really good. Once we hit episode 9 I looked over and noticed she fell asleep. She looked so peaceful. I turned the TV off and went to the front to look out. It was now 10 at night and Archie still wasn't back yet.
"Where are you Arch?" I asked myself quietly. Looks like I might stay the night. I decided to call home and let them know what's happening. I went into the kitchen and grabbed the phone and called home. It rang twice before the line picked up.
"Hello?" I heard my mom say.
"Mom. It's me." I said to her.
"Jughead Jones! It is 10 o'clock at night! Explain to me why you are not home or called sooner!" My mother yelled on the other end.
"Mom. Keep it down. Aria's in the next room asleep." I told her.
"What's going on?" She asked me as I sighed.
"I was watching a movie and a few episodes of a series to be with her until Archie came back home. Her aunt and uncle are visiting her parents while on a business trip so it's just her and Arch. She didn't want to be alone and I didn't want her to either. She fell asleep but Archie still isn't back yet. I don't know if he will be or not. I wanted to let you know that if he does come home then I'll have him bring me home but if not then I don't want to leave her here alone." I told her as she sighed on the other end.
"Well she's nice. I'm glad she helped you out. I guess it's alright this one time. By the way what was your grade?" When she said I could stay this one time I mentally cheered. She asked me for my grade results on my paper and smiled at the fact Aria helped me get that grade.
"B+ mom." I told her as I heard her clap and cheer.
"I'm so proud of you! Now remember to be a gentleman and nothing bad." She said to me.
"mom!~" I whined at her and turned pink again. What is wrong with me?
"Goodnight Jughead." I heard mom say.
"Goodnight." I said as I hung up the phone. I decided to wake Aria up so she could go to bed but when I went up to her she had curled up on her side and looked so cute.
*I can't wake her up.* I thought as I then decided to carry her to bed. I slowly picked her up and soon found out she wasn't heavy at all. Actually she was really light.
*She's lighter than I thought.* I thought to myself as I carried her up the stairs and to her bedroom door. I put her feet on the ground and used the now free hand to open the door before I picked her up again and brought her to the bed. I set her feet down once more to pull the covers back and put her on the bed before pulling the blanket over her and tucking her in. I looked at her as she sighed and smiled a bit in her sleep.
*Man she's cute. Why am I thinking these things? What's wrong with me?* I thought as I sneaked out of her room and quietly closed the door. I made my way downstairs and cleaned up the mess in the living room for her. I then grabbed the spare blanket and pillow from the closet and set it up on the couch before I laid there and fell asleep.
*Morning Aria's POV*
I woke up and saw I was in my room.
*I don't remember coming in here.* I thought to myself. I looked at the clock and it read 10 am. I pulled back the covers and saw that I was still in my clothes from yesterday.
"Did Archie? Or maybe Jughead?" I said quietly as I grabbed my jean shorts, my 'Little Monster' shirt and my short boots I wore yesterday as I went to shower. I had my music playing and had started singing to it. I got out and dried off, cleaning off my old make up, and got ready. I walked out of the bathroom to grab my jewelry and make up when I smelt something delicious from the kitchen. As soon as I smelt it my stomach growled loudly.
"Well I am hungry. Archie must be home." I thought as I went down the stairs to get food. Archie's seen me with no make up and no jewelry on so it's not a big deal. When I got into the kitchen I saw Jughead, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, put a bunch of yummy looking pancakes on the island. He looked up and saw me.
"Morning Aria. I made breakfast." He said as he went back to flipping more pancakes. Did he stay the night?
"Um thanks." I said as I sat down.
"Jughead? Did you stay here all night?" I asked cautiously.
"Yeah. Archie never came home last night and I said I wasn't going to leave you here alone until he came home." He said casually.
"Oh Jughead you didn't have to." I told him as I started looking at the different pancakes.
"It's fine. I called my mom and let her know. I brought you to bed last night so I could sleep on the couch. Also cleaned up our mess. And I figured since I was up I'd make breakfast since you did last time." He told me as he piled the last of the pancakes on the island.
"You didn't have to but thank you." I said.
"It's no problem. The cook book you gave me for Christmas really paid off." He said as I blushed. He read it.
"We have chocolate banana swirl, blueberry and strawberry mix, and peaches and cream." He told me. I grabbed the peaches and put whip cream on it for the cream part and added syrup before digging in.
"I haven't had peaches and cream pancakes in years." I said through a somewhat full mouth as I continued eating.
"Jughead these are amazing." I said as I shoved a large forkful in my mouth.
"Glad you like them." He said as he took the chocolate banana swirl and consumed them all. I consumed all the peaches and cream.
"By the way *Munch swallow* I noticed your not wearing make up." He said as he and I split the berry swirl one. I froze.
*I forgot I wasn't wearing any.* I thought as I hid my face.
"I look horrible. I'm sorry. I thought you were Archie." I said as I was ready to get up to put some on.
"No don't." He suddenly said as I stopped and looked at him.
"You look nice with make up but you look more natural without it." He said as I blushed a bright red.
"O-oh. Th-thank y-you-u?" I stuttered a thank you as a question. How was I suppose to react. I've worn make up since I was 13 and always felt better with it on then without.
"You should not wear make up more often. It's nice." He said as I blushed a deeper red. I continued to eat my food.
"You going to the dance tonight? I'm sure Archie will be there." He asked me and when he mentioned Archie I shot my head up.
"Yeah. I need to see why he didn't come home. Wait? Sugar. I forgot the dance was tonight. Archie was suppose to drive me to the mall so I can pick up a new shirt." I mentioned.
"Don't worry. I have my skates so we can go together." He said as I blushed again.
"Thanks Jughead." I said quietly.
"What are best friends for?" He said as I finished my pancakes before him and bolted up the stairs. I put on simple black eyeliner and decided to wear my silver and purple bangles as I ran down the stairs and met Jughead at the steps to clip my skates on. We soon skated to the mall and I got a leggings that were purple and blue with touches of pink and white diamond stars to look like the galaxy and even had silver outlines of the enterprise from star trek (Loot crate special btw if you need to look up what they look like.) along with a loose black mid sleeve (stops at elbows) that covers my stomach with open shoulders and slits, that help open up the sleeves of the shirt, that had black big beads that went around the neck and shoulders. We went to Jughead's so he could change and he let me change in the bathroom. I put my stuff in my backpack and pulled out my make up to add in a touch of silver eye liner with my black and pulled out silver glitter to put on my face and some clear gloss for my lips. I took my hair out of it's usual ponytail and put it in a sideways high ponytail and took my bangles off. I put in silver hoop earrings and looked at myself with content before I cleaned up and head down stairs. We decided to get a bite at Pops, since it was early, which I also paid for since Archie took his money, and then headed to the dance to meet up with the others. We got there and immediately saw Veronica, Betty, and Reggie.
"Whoa! Doll Face! Super hot!" Reggie said as he went over to me and began the flirting. I ignored him. We waited for Archie and he never showed up so I looked at Veronica.
"Veronica when was the last time you saw Archie? He never came home last night." I told her.
"Not since last night when I left him at Pops when his car spilled oil on me." She said. The car.
"Did his car do anything else?" I asked.
"It smothered me against the wind shield and even smacked me with the door. The alarm also told me to step away from Archie and even said my name." She admitted.
"Car alarms can't do that." I said.
"I also saw the car chase Reggie around the parking lot but before Archie could see it it went back to it's spot." She said as I grew shock.
"Is that true Reggie?" I turned and asked him.
"Yeah! And it even chased me up the light post." He admitted.
"Sounds like his car's possessed." I said.
"How can a car be possessed?" She asked me.
"Simple. By either a spirit, which is not the case most likely, or by an object that can curse it. Like the car alarm or any new part he got." I said as I tried to think about it. The dice? Before we could ponder on it any longer we saw Archie's car pointing it's headlights at us.
"Look. There's Archie's car." Jughead said and pointed to it.
"And no one's driving it just like yesterday." Reggie said as the car soon sped towards us.
"It looks like it's heading straight for us." Jughead said as we then looked at each other before looking back at the car.
"It's heading straight for us!" All five of us shouted as we went into the gym but it followed us in and wrecked the place up. I saw Chuck and Nancy were in the way so I grabbed them and shoved them into the closet.
"Stay here. You'll be safer." I said as I shut it and made a run for it. Betsy soon had me in her sights as I bolted as fast as I could out the door. I turned a corner and saw the others up on the statue. Betsy was now hot on my tail.
"Aria! Hurry!" Jughead yelled as I jumped onto the statue and climbed up and clung on with the others.
"I told you it sounded like it was possessed!" I shouted as we clung on for our lives. Archie where are you?
"You can't stay up there forever!" Betsy taunted us as she circled us. She was right.
"We can sure try!" Reggie yelled back.
"Reggie shut up!" I scolded.
"Once I get rid of you five I'll have Archie all to myself!" Betsy told us. She was in love with him? Oh great! Betty and Veronica started slipping so Reggie and I helped them back up. This was not good.
"Can't we discuss this?" Betty asked.
"I know a nice European luxury sedan. I can introduce you two sometime. You'd make a nice couple." Veronica mentioned.
"I don't think she's interested." I said as we soon got Betty and Veronica situated. I was starting to loose my grip. Sugar not now. The car was circling faster now and that's when I saw someone coming closer to us. Is that?
"Archie!" I yelled as he got closer to us to see the situation. Soon Jughead was slipping.
"Jughead!" Archie yelled.
"I'm falling." Jughead yelled. I tried to steady him but it didn't work out. He fell with an oof as Betsy then noticed him. Not good.
"Try to eat cookies in my back seat will you?" Betsy said as she charged at him. I felt something strong hit me as I then grew angry. Jughead layed there as I then jumped behind him. I grabbed his shirt and pant loop and threw him to the statue as I glared at Betsy.
"Too far this time!" I screamed as I ran at the car. Yeah I was seeing red at that point. As it looked like the car would hit me I jumped on the hood and hopped in the driver side. I needed to control her. I put on the brakes and the emergency brake and even put it in park as I went to take the keys out. No keys.
"You can't stop me! I never liked you from the start!" She said as the seat suddenly reclined and the back seat belts pulled me back and held me there. She unparked herself and released the emergency break as she sped around. The seat belts were restraining me and hurting me badly.
"Spill food and drinks on me will you? Clean me off wrong. Even kicked me. Your the biggest reason why Archie won't spend time with me. I'll gladly get rid of you 1st." Betsy shouted as I screamed. I saw the door open and the passenger seat recline forward as the seat belts the started pulling me to the open door.
"I'd hate to make a mess but to be rid of you and be with Archie is worth it." She said as I got the idea. She was going to bash my head in with the door. I really started struggling now before I saw Archie get in the car.
"Archie!" I shouted.
"Aria!" He said as he went to undo me.
"Forget me. Figure out what you put in here to make her alive!" I shouted as the seat belts covered my mouth and brought me closer to the door. I couldn't hear Archie but I heard Betsy talking to him.
"How could you prefer them to me!" Betsy shouted. Yup she was pissed.
"Their my friends. And she's my cousin. Their people. Your just a thing." I barely heard him say. He finally got it. My head was closer to the door when it shut in front of my face. I saw Archie closed it as he tried to control Betsy. He was now flying out of the car as the door opened again. I struggled even more.
"You betray me for mere flash and blood!" She shouted in anger. Archie started climbing up just as I was close to the door. I muffled a scream as suddenly the seat belts loosened their grip on me and the car slowed down a bit. I pushed away from the open door just as we crashed and all I remember is my cousin flying out of the car and I slammed into the seats with the seat belts still on me as I blacked out.
*Third POV*
Betty, Reggie, Veronica and Jughead surrounded Archie to see if he was alright.
"He's not moving." Betty shrieked.
"Buddy. Speak to us." Reggie said and waved a hand in front of his face. Archie was awake but still processing all of this.
"You don't have to pay me back that $20. Just get up." Jughead said worrying for his best friend.
"Archie-kins. Are you alright?" Veronica asked as he blinked a few times. He has a content smile on his face.
"I'm fine. Now that my friends are safe." He said as h\they helped him up. Archie looked at each one of them but then froze.
"Where's Aria?" He asked as suddenly everyone grew shocked.
"I didn't see her fly out of the car." Reggie pointed out.
"Aria!" Jughead yelled and bolted to the car's back seat where she was last seen. The group grew slightly shocked over how worried Jughead was of her but Archie knew why. He knew Jughead might have loved her. He figured that out with Dilton too. Archie soon ran to the car and was next to Jughead, who was holding Aria's upper body, trying to wake her up and remove the seat belts.
"Aria! Speak to me! You didn't have to save me. Please wake up." He said as she stirred a bit. She wasn't waking up though.
"Aria I'm sorry. I'm sorry for yelling at you. I know it wasn't your fault for spilling food and soda on the car. I shouldn't have yelled at you for trying to help. I'm not even mad at you for kicking the car. Please wake up." Archie said in a worried tone as everyone else gathered around. Aria made a few sounds and twitched as bit before finally starting to open her eyes.
"Jughead?" She questioned. She had opened her eyes to see him first. Then she tilted her head back to see everyone else looking at her with relief.
"Hey guys." Aria said to them in a tired way as she gave a weak smile.
"Are you okay?" Jughead asked her in a concerned way. She blinked at him and went pink from the way he spoke to her and held her before speaking again.
"I feel like I got hit by a car but I'm alright." Aria responded as she then started to get up and stretch herself. She smiled as she turned to them.
"I'm not suffering from a concussion so far and no signs or feels of broken bones nor fractures so, other than maybe a few bruises, I'll live." Aria responded with a smile towards them as they all sighed with relief.
"Thank goodness. I don't know what would happen if I lost you. If I lost any of you." Archie confessed as he and Jughead pulled her out of the car before Archie hugged her close to him. She smiled and hugged him back. Archie was back to his old self and that made her happy. Aria then looked and gasped over how smashed up the car was.
"Oh no Archie! Your car." She said in sadness.
"Well Betsy seems to be normal again." Archie sighed with a look of disappointment.
"Yeah. But what a wreck." Reggie replied. Aria grew sad.
*Looks like we might not see him for a while.* She thought to herself.
"Sorry Archie-kins" Veronica said to him.
"It'll take you weeks to repair all that damage." Betty mentioned.
"I guess we won't be seeing much of you until you get Betsy up and running again." Jughead said as if reading Aria's thought. All five of them looked sadly at Archie until he spoke up.
"I'll get some Auto Shop to fix Betsy." He said as he let go of Aria and went up to Jughead and put his arm around his friend's shoulder.
"Besides. I'd rather spend time with my friends." He said with a smile on his face. Soon everyone smiled as all six of them went on there way to find a phone to call a tow truck to bring Betsy to an auto shop. They all commented on how Archie was back and how they missed him. A man with black and white hair dressed in red robes, known as Dr. Beaumont, suddenly appeared without the kids noticing. He picked up the dice Archie had purchased from him and began speaking to himself.
"Can't leave these lying around where anyone can pick them up." He said as he began cleaning them off.
"Not everyone needs to learn this lesson." He said while looking both ways before walking off and disappearing into the night. By now the gang decided to hang out tomorrow and let Aria and Archie go home. Well not before Jughead pulled Aria aside so they could talk alone.
"Aria. Why'd ya jump in the way and toss me to safety? You could've been killed." He scolded while she shrugged her shoulders and looked away.
"It's not a big deal." Aria mumbled as Jughead couldn't process this.
*How could she think it's not a big deal? She could've been killed. I care to much for that to happen.* Jughead thought as he grew shocked at his own thoughts. He cared to much for her to let her get hurt or killed.
"You're someone I care for Jughead. I'd do it for anyone I cared for. I just saw the car going towards you and I got mad to where I saw red. I didn't want to loose you." Aria suddenly blurted out as she tried very hard not to cry. Ever since she met everyone in Riverdale she wanted friends and adventure. She got what she wished for except now she cares about Jughead and Dilton to loose them. She doesn't want to loose any of her friends and never wants to leave Riverdale but now she had another problem. She concluded to herself after tonight that she cared the most for Dilton and Jughead. She would even dare to go as far as love.
*But do they?* Was all she could think to herself.
"Please don't do anything else reckless." Jughead suddenly said as he hugged her and held her close to him. Jughead didn't like to see her cry and Aria hated crying in front of others. She pushed her tears away and smiled. Aria then pulled away from him, smile still there, as she teasingly said
"No promises." As Jughead shook his head. They both knew Aria was a daredevil and would act before thinking half of the time. Especially out of anger or if it involved her friends. Jughead then put his hand on her head and ruffled her hair while laughing.
"Yeah. Can't make ya." He said as he then stopped. Aria then whined and tried to fix her messy hair. They both didn't see that Reggie, Veronica and Betty left and that Archie was watching them.
*Jughead loves her. But so does Dilton. Now what? Two of my friends love my cousin and she either loves one or both of them. How am I going to handle this?* He thought to himself. He failed to notice that Aria and Jughead had said goodbye and that she was now in front of her cousin.
"Ready?" Aria asked as Archie was then pulled out of his thoughts but smiled at Aria.
"Yeah." He said as they walked inside the house. They then started the article together.
*Aria's POV*
"So there you have it dear readers. This week's 'Archie's and Aria's Weird Mysteries' column. ~Aria. But we'd like to close with one final thought. A pair of dice possessing a car and turning it into an intelligent, and jealous monster, may seem hard to believe. ~Archie. But even harder to believe is that Archie allowed himself to forget that people are more important than things. ~Aria. How that had happened is probably one of the weirdest mysteries of all time. ~Archie.…...In a little town called Riverdale. ~Archie and Aria."
We finished the column and headed off to bed. I had a lot on my mind. I finally realized that I care a lot for both Jughead and Dilton. That strong caring feeling is most likely love. I kept raking my mind over their words and actions towards me and tried to figure out if either one liked me like that or not. I was now in a night gown as I rubbed my now hurting head.
*I'll figure it out tomorrow.* I concluded as I tucked myself into bed and drifted off to sleep.