Chapter 34: Invisible Archie!
*Aria's POV*
It was now mid October and the leaves were barely starting to change colors. I was outside for gym class right now, 1 of 4 classes I didn't have with Jughead and 1 of 3 without Dilton, as I decided to jog with the girls. While they were wearing the blue shorts and yellow tops I strayed and wore a purple tank top, a bit too low cut but Aunt Mary got it for me so no complaints, with a black Chinese dragon wrapping around it and black mid thigh shorts with two white stripes on each side along with purple ankle socks, white sneakers with purple laces, and my hair in a ponytail with a white bow in it. My make up was the usual black half winged eye liner and I wore black studs in my ears. No gloves this time. Why jog? Nothing better to do and I needed to work on my speed and stamina anyways. Also….I gained a lot more weight than I wanted…...I've gained 30 pounds compared to when I first arrived. I'm not cutting back on burgers but I needed to turn it to muscle instead. Don't get me wrong I'm actually completely healthy as the doctor says but I guess it's a woman thing. Anyways, the three of us were jogging and I noticed Archie and Reggie were chatting. As we passed them though.
"Oh ladies." Reggie called. Betty and Veronica laughed while I rolled my eyes.
"I think we have a fan." Betty commented as I decided to look over just as I saw him giving the Mantle magic smile. Uhg.
"Is that a smile or is he in pain?" Veronica asked rhetorically.
"He just caused me pain." I said as the girls laughed a bit.
"I don't know if he's in pain, but he sure can be a pain." Betty added as we laughed. I took a peek over and saw Archie with the pole.
"Looks like my cousin is attempting to show you girls some triple A action." I said with a giggle.
"What's that?" Betty asked me.
"Archie Andrews Action. Same thing I use except my name instead of his." I explained as I pointed out to him. I noticed them not looking so I looked over at what they were looking-Oh my stars! I saw a really buffed out looking African American teen, 17 maybe, tying his shoe laces. The girls waved at him as he waved back. Betty and Veronica went over to him as I shook my head lightly and continued jogging. I did another lap while the girls were talking and cling on to him. Wow! They're dating my cousin and they're straying from him? Seriously? I mean he's buff and kinda hot but I knew better. Something seemed familiar with him though. Do I know him? Just as I finished the lap and started stretching.
"Hey." I heard a deep male voice.
"Oh, um...Hi?" I said as I blushed. Thanks to all the running it looked like I was over heated a bit.
"Here. It's good to stay hydrated." He told me as he handed me a bottle of water.
"Thanks." I said as I took a few sips before putting it down. I was looking at him and the feeling of knowing him kept nagging at me.
"I'm sorry, but, do I know you?" I asked him as his eyes went wide in shock at first before he blushed lightly and rubbed the back of his head.
"Wow, have I really changed that much? I mean I met you last year when you first arrived." He said as I looked at him. Still at a loss.
"We were in English together." He said as he tried to remind me. I was picturing English class last year. I would've remembered a hunk like him. Definitely. He could tell I was still confused.
"You and I wrote an essay together on your favorite poem by Edgar Alan Poe. The Raven I believe it was." He reminded me as my eyes widened in shock.
"No way. Robbie Dobkins?" I questioned.
"One and same." He said as I stayed in shock. Holy Cheese he buffed out.
"You've….Been working….Out?" I asked him as I stayed shock.
"Yeah, I gained some muscles over the summer while I was away at camp." He told me as I tried to shake off my shock.
"A little? You seriously buffed out from the Rollie Pollie you were last year." I said as I covered my mouth and started blushing.
"I meant no~ offense to that. I'm so~ sorry." I said as I removed my hands from my mouth and started apologizing. Robbie just laughed a hearty laugh.
"Still very honest and a bit blunt as usual. I'm glad, that's why I like you." He told me as I blushed again.
"O-oh." I stuttered out. I had no idea what to say or do.
"Well, it was nice talking to you. I need to practice pole vaulting." He said as Betty and Veronica then clung onto him and gawked and gaveled about how he can pole vault and how they loved a man that could do that. I then grabbed my water and jogged off to the locker room. I needed to shower and cool off. What was wrong with me? I have two loving boyfriends and here I am having the hots for another guy. I'm becoming as bad as Betty and Veronica. What am I gonna do?
*Time skip Aria's POV*
I was looking outside, not paying much attention to science class, as it seemed to drone on and on. Jughead wasn't in my class with me, which upset me, so I've been pared up with Dilton a lot. Thanks to that I've gotten projects done a week early so I've been able to help Archie out, if Betty doesn't, and sometimes Jughead. Jughead was smart though so he really didn't need my help, he just loved the company. I had to stay distracted. Robbie Dobkins was in this class. Why?~ I mean, I have no problem with him, but I could feel myself heat up whenever he's around. Must be the muscles. We then had to pick partners, wonderful. I was smart enough to study with Dilton to get my homework done a week early. I've been doing that so, not only I could have more free time but, I can concentrate on my job and the weird mysteries every now and then. I didn't realize Robbie was staring at me while Betty and Veronica were talking to him as I decided to rush over to Dilton to see small explosion.
"Ack. My eyes!" I coughed out as I became temporarily blind. I then heard Dilton and Archie talking.
"Could one of you two guide me to the eye cleaning station? Ouch!" I had asked while trying to feel my way over to them before I slammed my knee into the side of the desk/counter.
"Oh Aria!" Dilton said worriedly as he realized the smoke reached my eyes.
"Seriously, hurry. I'm trying not to rub them." I said as I felt a hand grab my arm.
"Here, let me help." I suddenly heard Robbie say. I could feel my cheeks heating up but I couldn't tell him no, my eyes seriously needed to be rinsed out before something bad happened.
"Thanks." I managed to say as I felt myself get guided to the sink/eye rinsing area. I then heard running water as he guided my head to the water. I was now able to rinse my eyes properly. I finished and stopped the water.
"Here." Robbie said as he handed me a cloth. I patted my eyes dry, surprisingly keeping on the eye liner, as I gained my vision back.
"Thanks. I needed that." I said as I finished drying my eyes.
"No problem." He said with a light smile. Than Professor Flutesnoot came over.
"Are you alright Miss Andrews?" He asked me.
"Yes, I'm fine now." I said as I put the cloth down.
"Mr. Dobkins, do you have a partner yet?" He asked Robbie.
"No, not yet sir." He said as I noticed Betty and Veronica looking at us.
"Miss Andrews, I know you and Mister Doiley have finished but, could you help Mister Dobkins out so he does not fail and can stay on the track team?" He asked me as I looked at him.
"Are you sure you don't wand Betty to?" I asked him.
"I'd rather have Miss Cooper help out Mister Mantle or Miss Lodge." He explained as I sighed before smiling.
"Sure. It's not a problem. I don't mind tutoring him." I said as Robbie smiled.
"Thank you Miss Andrews." Professor Flutesnoot said before he went off to talk to Betty and Veronica.
"You made it onto track?" I suddenly asked Robbie as I remembered what Professor Flutesnoot said.
"Yeah. I got on the team but Reggie got booted off." He said as he looked a little bummed about that.
"I'm sure you didn't mean too. If Reggie would worry less about showing off and stop with his devious pranking and concentrated then I'm sure he would've stayed on the team." I said as I voiced my opinion. Robbie then smiled at me.
"You sure do know how to stay optimistic and honest huh?" He asked me as I shrugged. I then saw Dilton come over to us.
"You okay?" He asked me as he pulled me into a hug and looked at my eyes.
"Yes, much better now." I said with a smile.
"That's good." Dilton said as he kissed my cheek. I noticed Robbie looking at us oddly.
"Um, Dilton, you remember Robbie Dobkins correct?" I asked him as Dilton looked at Robbie.
"Yes, I remember. It's nice to see you again." Dilton said as he let go of me and shook Robbie's hand.
"Nice to see you too brainiac." Robbie said as he joked about his nickname. I giggled lightly as Dilton fixed his glasses.
"Thank you for assisting my girlfriend." Dilton said as he referred to me as his girlfriend instead of my name. Was he jealous?
"It's no problem." Robbie said with a smile.
"Dilton? I was told by Professor Flutesnoot that I needed to tutor Robbie so I won't be able to help you with your 'muscle juice' right now. I can swing by after school though." I told him, using the nickname I gave his experimental serum, as Dilton's eyes widened a bit before he smiled.
"Not a problem." He told me as I smiled. I then guided Robbie back to his desk area and began to tutor him with his project.
*Dilton's POV*
Professor Flutesnoot had just assigned us our partner project just as I pulled out all the stuff I need for my next experiment. 'Muscle juice' Aria nicknamed it. She's cute. She also said the scientific name would be a mouthful for a few, which made sense, so I kept the nickname. I had just added a wrong chemical and a small explosion of smoke erupted in my face.
"Ack. My eyes!" I heard someone say, I was unclear who as my new goggles, that can fit over my glasses that Aria made me for my birthday last weekend, became covered in black from the smoke.
"Oops." Was all I could mutter out.
"Having some trouble there Dilton?" I heard someone ask me. I swear the voice was familiar but I couldn't see who it was.
"What? Huh? Who said that?" I called out nervously. I than felt my chin get grabbed and my goggles got cleaned up and saw the voice did belong to Archie.
"Oh! Hello Archie." I greeted him with a smile.
"Aren't you supposed to find a lab partner before you start? Or Aria as usual?" Archie asked me while I smiled and continued my project.
"Actually no. You see, we both actually finished this weeks project last week." I informed Archie as Reggie popped over.
"So, what's all this stuff?" Reggie asked me with a small attitude.
"One of the advantages to getting ahead in class is that I can use the school's resources to run my own experiments." I casually explained to them. It seemed simple to me but I guess it was something interesting for Archie to hear while Reggie found it boring and useless to hear.
"Could one of you two guide me to the eye cleaning station? Ouch!" We heard Aria say. I looked over and saw black powder from the smoke around her eyes. She was the one who's eyes got hurt. She had also banged her knee on the side of the work station trying to find us.
"Oh! Aria!" I gasped out when I saw her like this.
"Seriously, hurry. I'm trying not to rub them." She said just as one of the class mates lightly grabbed her arm. Wait? Was that Robbie Dobkins?
"Here, let me help." He said to her. I could faintly see her cheeks turning a very light rosy pink color. Did she like him? She thanked him as he guided her to the cleaning station.
"Was that Robbie Dobkins?" I asked them out of curiosity.
"Yeah. Anyways, tell us more about your latest project." Archie suddenly said as he grew curious of all the equipment. I smiled at him. I loved it when young minds, even if we are the same age, love, or at least like, to learn new things.
"Well, currently, I'm developing a formula that, with only one external application, enhances physique." I explained to them as Reggie was looking at my lizard.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Reggie asked as I grabbed the elixir and a dropper. I put some in the dropper and I told them to observe. I placed the dropper over the lizard and squeezed it onto the lizard.
"With only one application, The formula enhances the lizards physique." I explained as the lizard shook dry and then took two steps before becoming over muscular.
"You gave him muscles." Archie said bewildered as him and Reggie were looking at the lizard.
"Preciously, again why Aria calls it 'muscle juice'." I said as I had taken a book out and made a side note before closing it and looking at them. "That's amazing. How long does it last?" Archie said with a smile on his face. I wonder what's taking Aria so long?
"Let's see." I said as I opened the book to the time grid Aria put in there for me.
"Usually a couple hours. Than, according to my entries, the reptile returns to normal experiencing temporary feeling of inadequacy." I explained as I looked at the pictures Aria drew next to the notes and smiled lightly. I hope she's okay.
"Huh, any more muscles and the girls will be asking that lizard to be their science partner." Archie said in bewilderment. I grew slightly confused.
"What do you mean? Don't Betty and Veronica always ask you to be their partner?" I questioned him.
"Not today." Archie said as he sighed.
"It's all because of Dobkins. Say, before we change the subject, how about testing this on a person huh? I'll even pay you for it." Reggie started with but then suddenly threw that out there.
"What? No way. This stuff has never been tested on humans before, only lizards. Until Aria and I know the full results, this stuff is off limits." I said, stressing my words, as I put a cork on the bottle and put it in the cabinet under the work station.
"Now what were you saying about Dobkins?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Robbie got muscles over the summer and now the girls are fawning over him." Archie told me.
"Yeah, and it looks like he's making a move on Aria. She doesn't seem to be telling him no or anything." Reggie said as he pointed them out to me. I looked over and saw her eyes were better but her and Robbie were still talking.
"Excuse me." I muttered out as I went over to her. It was hard enough fighting against Jughead for her full attention and affection, there was no way I was letting another get in the way. She than noticed me coming over.
"You okay?" I asked her as I pulled her into a hug and looked at her eyes.
"Yes, much better now." She said with a smile.
"That's good." I said as I kissed her cheek.
"Um, Dilton, you remember Robbie Dobkins correct?" She asked me as I looked at Robbie.
"Yes, I remember. It's nice to see you again." I said as I let go of her and shook Robbie's hand.
"Nice to see you too brainiac." Robbie said as he joked about my nickname. Aria giggled lightly as I fixed my glasses.
"Thank you for assisting my girlfriend." I said as I referred to her as my girlfriend instead of her name. I wanted to voice out that we were together and put a subtle 'you can't have her' into it.
"It's no problem." Robbie said with a smile. I'm sure Reggie was getting in my head, he didn't seem like he purposely grabbed the girls attention. Either way she's working with me so problem solved.
"Dilton? I was told by Professor Flutesnoot that I needed to tutor Robbie so I won't be able to help you with your 'muscle juice' right now. I can swing by after school though." She told me, using the nickname she gave my experimental serum, as my eyes widened a bit before I smiled.
"Not a problem." I told her as she smiled. Was I happy? No. But if he needed tutoring then I can't say no. She then guided Robbie back to his desk area and began to tutor him with his project. I sighed and went over to shoo Reggie away from the bottle. Then the bell rang as I went over to Aria.
*Aria's POV*
I was on my way to my next class, which was study hall, as Robbie walked with me. Dilton had come up to us earlier and I told him I'd be there once I got permission, which I always did since it's the last class, and I'd meet him at the lab.
"You and Dilton seem very close." He told me as I smiled.
"Yeah, we are." I said to him.
"So the rumor last year, about you, Dilton and Jughead?" He asked me a bit awkwardly.
"Yeah. It wasn't supposed to happen but then Veronica opened her mouth with her rumor before it could be proven true and, well, one thing lead to another." I said with my cheeks flushed and a shrug.
"Don't they fight a lot?" He asked me curiously.
"Yeah, sometimes. We've made out a schedule of who I see when and that way I can have more time to work, get homework done, finish chores, take care of Allegro and be able to keep up with my hobbies and other friends." I explained to him.
"Allegro?" He questioned me.
"Oh that's right, you weren't at my birthday party because you went to camp. Allegro is my dog." I told him as he looked right at me.
"Cool. Sorry I missed your birthday. Who got him for you?" He told me and apologized as he asked that question.
"No worries and Jughead did. We went into a pet store and Allegro warmed up to me after a bit." I told him with a smile.
"He must really like you if he got you a dog." Robbie said as I blushed again. I walked him to his last class and went to mine. After getting permission I headed down to the lab to where Dilton should be by now. I walked in just to hear.
"I told you it was unstable!" Dilton yelled out to no one.
"Dilton? No one's there." I said to him.
"It was an accident! Honest! And I'm right in front of Dilton! I'm invisible!" I heard Archie as I went wide eyed.
"Let me guess, Reggie's fault." I said after I shook the shock away.
"Exactly." Archie said as I went over to Dilton.
"We've gotta fix this before something bad, or worse, happens." I said to Dilton just as I stepped on something hard.
"Ouch! That was my foot!" Archie yelped out as I pulled back.
"Sorry. Couldn't see ya." I said to him.
"So it made you invisible. Interesting." Dilton questioned while holding the formula and examining it.
"Wait, If you and Reggie used it, then, where's Reggie?" I asked him out of curiosity.
"I don't know! Last time I checked, he should be in history class." Archie told us.
"I hope he's still there. Archie" I said to him while Dilton and I got started.
"Why does Reggie always cause problems? And he dragged Archie into this as well." I mostly said to myself as Dilton got started on a formula while I researched the effects on a human. If there's a time frame then we need to know soon.
"Who knows." Dilton said as I pricked my finger and put my blood on a glass slide with the formula. I was taking notes and handing Dilton a baker before I put the paper on the sample. Now, even though it's invisible, it should've made the paper wet. But it didn't.
"Huh?" I questioned as I felt the spot where my blood was. Nothing.
"Dilton? We got a problem." I said to him as he looked at me.
"What's wrong?" He asked me.
"Well, with a small sample the time frame is shortened, but my blood sample I mixed with the formula...It's…..Gone." I told him as he, too, grew shocked.
"What do you mean it disappeared?" He asked me.
"Well, It's not just invisible, it's gone. Wiped clean from existence. I think the 'muscle juice', on people, makes them invisible first before making them disappear completely." I told him as he looked at me.
"What does that mean?" Archie asked us.
"While I'll be super amalgamated. If that's true then we've only got less than a few hours before Archie will fade from existence." Dilton said scientifically while looking over the notes.
"That's interesting how instead of enhancing one's physique it goes far beyond just taking them away." Dilton muttered with pure fascination.
"Fade from existence?!" Archie yelped out while Dilton was looking over the formula and other chemicals.
"As in gone forever." Dilton said as he wasn't catching on to the situation.
"As in gone forever?!" Archie yelped out again. I tapped Dilton's shoulder as he looked at me. He then saw my sad and worried look and realized exactly what he said and what the situation was.
"Huh? Oh my!" Dilton said as it finally clicked.
"We need to start this formula quicker than we thought. Archie! You need to find him, I'll help Dilton with making a solution." I told him.
"Before you go we need to be able to see you." Dilton said before they made a disguise, a horrible one at that, and Archie left to find Reggie.
"I hope Reggie cooperates." Dilton said as I rolled my eyes.
"Knowing Mister Mischievous than I doubt it." I said as we got to work. It took us all of our last class period, and a few extra minutes, but we managed to create an antidote. Hopefully it works.
"Eureka! We've done it!" Dilton announced while holding the beaker up.
"Dilton!" Archie yelled after the door slammed open.
"Ah!" Dilton screamed out and dropped the beaker. I grabbed it before it could fall and break.
"You've really got to stop doing that." Dilton scolded as I held the beaker close to me.
"I got it. Let me guess, Reggie's not cooperating?" I questioned Archie.
"Yeah." He said as I took a quick guess.
"Wants to prank Robbie for hogging the girls?" I asked quickly.
"It's scary how you can figure these things out quickly." Archie commented.
"I just know pranksters like him is all. Anyways, if he wants to prank Robbie, then I know how to get him to take this, if it works that is." I said as I gave the solution back to Dilton.
"Here, try a splash of this." Dilton said as Archie took it and dumped the small portion given to him all over himself. He then turned visible.
"Great! It works! Now we only have a small time frame before Reggie disappears forever. Would it really be that bad?" I questioned them.
"Aria!" Archie scolded.
"Alright! Alright. I was just joking." I said as I grabbed the rest of the formula before we headed out to the field.
"It's too big out here, we'll never find him." Dilton exclaimed.
"Which is why we do this." I said as I guided them to the sprinkler system and had Archie grab a wrench.
"Oh I get it! You're going to mix this in the sprinkler system and turn it on to spray him." Archie said to me.
"That's a great idea." Dilton complimented me.
"Thank you." I said as I poured the solution in the system and then, after closing it, turned on the sprinklers.
"We need to go. Now." I said as I grabbed them and bolted quickly away. We saw Reggie get turned to normal before he pantsed Robbie and got punched for it.
"He had it coming." I mumbled.
"Stay here. I'll be back." I said as I ran to the sprinklers to see Mr. Weatherbee trying to shut it off. I ran over and assisted him. When he asked about it I told him I saw Reggie do it to try and distract Robbie and how he took Archie's hall pass, Archie explained why he took so long on the way here, and tried to come over here to turn it off without getting wet. He believed me 100% and made his way to Reggie. I ran over to the boys and explained what I said and got us all off the hook. What? Reggie deserved it. The game then got postponed to next week.
"So, Aria, wanna head to Pops?" He asked me.
"Can't, it might be my day off but, I gotta help Robbie with his project." I told him as he slumped his shoulders and sighed. I smiled and kissed his cheek.
"I can after though." I told him as he perked up and smiled.
"Ah! Great." He said happily. After 20 minutes I ran into Robbie and we headed off to the library to study. We talked, laughed, got his work done and after an hour we were walking to Pop's together.
"Thanks for the help." Robbie thanked me as I smiled.
"It's no problem." I said as we rounded the corner.
"Hey babe!" I heard Vinnie as I saw him heading over to me.
"Oh no." I muttered quietly. I guess Robbie heard me.
"What'ya doing with the jock? I told you not to be with other guys unless I say so." Vinnie said with anger in his voice.
"I told you to leave me alone." I told him with anger rising in my voice and an angry look to match.
"What did I say about talking back?" He questioned as he went to hit me.
"You hit me again and, I swear, I'll break your arm this time." I told him as I readied myself. He formed a fist and went to hit me but Robbie stopped him. Vinnie looked at Robbie and saw him get angry and growl before Vinnie gulped. He then glared at Robbie and went to hit him before Robbie beat Vinnie up and tossed him aside.
"Let's get you out of here." Robbie told me as he wrapped his arm around me and guided me away from him.
"I can't believe that garbage is still bothering you. I mean, I heard rumors that he was getting serious about wanting you and all but, I didn't think it was that serious." Robbie commented as we got to Pop's. We went inside, as he still held me close to him, as we saw Dilton and he brought me over to him.
"Thanks Robbie. You didn't have to do that though." I told him as he smiled at me.
"It's no problem. People like Vinnie make me sick anyways." He told me as he let me go and smiled at me.
"Vinnie giving you problems again?" Dilton questioned me.
"Yeah. Robbie helped though." I said as I sat down across from Dilton.
"Thanks for helping her and bringing her here Robbie." Dilton said as he stood up and shook Robbie's hand.
"It's no problem. Aria's a sweet girl. I'm glad she has someone like you and Jughead who care for her." Robbie said as Dilton and I blushed. We said our goodbyes as Dilton and I grabbed a few burgers to eat.
"So, how's that dream machine coming along?" I asked him out of curiosity.
"If we both work on it on our spare time then it should be done after Christmas. After spring break the latest." He told me as I smiled.
"Cool." I said to him as I sipped my soda.
"The nightmares getting worse?" Dilton asked me.
"They come and go. It's not that bad yet. I just can't always remember what they're about. Just bits and pieces." I explained as I sighed.
"I'll help anyway I can." He told me as I smiled at him.
"Thanks." I thanked him as I reached my hand out to rest on one of his. We smiled and continued our….Date? I guess you could call it that. Anyways I walked him home before I started heading back. I was two blocks away from home when I heard something. I turned around and Vinnie used an iron bar to hit my in the face. I yelped. I fell onto the ground before I felt him straddle me and start hitting me.
"You really are dumb ain't ya?" He told me as I started to fight back. I then heard barking and growling. Vinnie looked up and then he got up and ran off. I just laid there. My head hurt a lot.
"Aria!" I heard someone call me.
"Aria!" I heard again. I was in a fetal position. I felt like I couldn't move. I felt something wet and rough on my arm. I looked and saw a dog.
"Allegro?" I questioned as he whimpered and licked my face.
"Aria! Are you alright?" I heard someone ask.
"Uncle Fred?" I asked as I tried to look up. I couldn't see well.
"Aria!" I heard Archie as Uncle Fred bent down to my face.
"Archie! Get your mother. Now!" Uncle Fred said as I tried to focus my vision. I kept hearing Allegro barking and whining.
"Can you hear me?" I heard Uncle Fred ask.
"Yeah." I said to him.
"Can you see?" He asked me.
"Not really. I'm alright though." I said as I tried to stand up.
"Stay there. Don't move." He told me as I felt something wet run down my face.
"Oh god you're bleeding." Uncle Fred said as I heard Allegro whining more. Archie bolted back.
"Mom's calling the hospital." Archie said to us.
"I'm alright. I just need to clean up and put ice on me." I said as I tried to stand up but got dizzy.
"Stay down. You're hurt." I heard Archie say as I ended up sitting back down.
"What's wrong?" I heard Betty's voice. I then heard her gasp.
"What happened?" She suddenly asked in shock. I soon heard sirens and was being put onto a stretcher. They started asking questions as I answered them as best as I could. I tried so hard to stay awake as I felt someone grab my hand.
"It's alright. I'm right here." I heard Uncle Fred tell me as I tried to focus my vision again. I got to the hospital and they patched me up. Concussion, broken nose, right eye was black, temples swollen, and a few bruises on my arms and sides. I'm lucky nothing else was broken or fractured. I was also glad my jaw didn't get damaged. If it wasn't for Allegro it might have been worse. Uncle Fred was next to me and that's when I heard it. Sobbing. He was crying.
"Please don't cry. I'll cry." I told Uncle Fred as he then held me in his arms. I hugged him back. I had forgotten Uncle Fred was the sensitive type. Once we got the okay Uncle Fred took me home. I still had a hard time seeing but Uncle Fred helped me out. He opened the door and I heard Allegro whining. I reached to try and pet him as I felt him lick my hand.
"Is she alright?" I heard Aunt Mary ask.
"Archie, can you bring her upstairs?" I heard Uncle Fred ask him.
"Sure." Archie said as he came out.
"Archie, Let's go to your room 1st. I wanna help finish the weird mystery column." I told him.
"Are you sure?" He asked me.
"Yeah." I muttered out. He helped my up the stairs as we went to his room. He sat me on the bed and told me he'd type and all I had to do was tell him. I agreed to that.
"Poor Reggie, who thinks he was the victim of our practical joke and had gotten blamed for this when really, we were using the sprinklers to save his life. ~Archie. Granted he got clobbered in the process, which he fully deserved for Pantsing Robbie, but that was his own fault. He's going to get in worse trouble if he keeps the pranks up. Oh well. He'll learn. ~Aria. Maybe next time Reggie's invisible he won't use it as an excuse to cause trouble. ~Archie. ….In a little town called Riverdale. ~Archie and Aria!"
We finished the article and Archie helped me downstairs to my room. I told him I could manage changing and getting in bed. He agreed and left. I tossed on a night gown and Allegro guided me to bed where I went to sleep.