Something Not Quite Right- But Not Quite Wrong

A bit of a shorter chapter, but I ended it where I thought it needed to be ended. Next chapter we'll be much longer- Veronica we'll be officially introduced to the series! :D

T/W- Mentions of the summer & Grundy

Word Count: 975 

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Dealing with the Summer Situation wasn't too bad at first. He'd push each thought and every feeling surrounding it, to the back of his mind- which was okay until it wasn't. He'd wake up in cold sweats, panting and trying to catch his breath. His clothes would stick to his skin. Not only feeling suffocated and trapped, but hollow and used again, as images of the dream-Ms. Grundy consumed his head. He'd try shaking it off, pushing it back, like he'd done a hundred nights previous. If he could pretend it didn't happen- it would be okay, right?

He'd cry himself to sleep, trying to muffle his sobs between his sheets, waking up groggy as morning light filters through his curtains.

Today, though- today had been much worse. He'd woken up with a thousand different feelings before, but today he just felt sick. He wasn't sure how long he could do this.

Betty texts him that afternoon. It's a week till their sophomore year starts, she reminds him. She's also wondering if he's still on for their meet up at Pop's.

Archie had nearly forgotten about Betty. Not her entirely, only the plans they made. He was so caught up in himself, selfish- he thought. He has to make a better commitment to his friends, and he supposes he didn't mind the thought of seeing her that much. It could be fun going out for something other than work. Plus, it would make a good distraction from all the noise in his head and the hurt in his body.

It would be just like it was before summer- everything would be normal again. He nervously smiles at the thought, replying to their text chain.

"Sorry, I'm late," he says, sliding into the booth opposite of Betty. "Lost track of time." It comes out confused, but Betty doesn't seem to notice- or if she does, doesn't bother him about it.

"It's no problem, Arch," she sends a gentle smile in his direction.

He hums, "Yeah?"

"Of course."

"I've missed you," he blurts out. "Er, how was your summer?"

"It was good. You remember that internship I told you about at the beginning of summer? Well," she begins. Having found herself rambling about her time there, and how much she had learned. Archie tries his best to follow along but still manages to give her eager smiles and tell her how happy he was.

Betty talked a lot sometimes, but he'd always been able to hear every word she was saying- something felt off tonight. Maybe he'd just grown accustomed to a different way of living over the few months they'd been apart—some kind of summer funk.

"-but," Archie hears, as his mind finally focuses. "As great as it all was, nothing compares to being back home. I've missed you, too, Archie."

At that, he feels less silly from when he'd blurted it out before- it was good to know she felt the same. He gives a tender smile in return.

"What about your music," Betty wonders, "You said you were writing something."

"Oh," he had forgotten about that. Not the writing or the music, it was hard not to remember- but that he had told his friend. He feels distant and doesn't give any single, clear answer to it. "Been too busy."

Betty seems to hesitate but brightens just as quickly. "Oh, well, I'd love to see what you've done so far. I'm sure it's great, Archie."

He did not want that at all, but nodded, smiling- "Of course."

Archie finds himself distracted again- only this time, it isn't totally his fault. He notices a man with raven hair, who he'd never seen before. You knew everybody in a town like Riverdale, and everybody knew you- even if you met them one time, four years ago, at the grocery store. It was always strange when you didn't immediately recognize someone.

He looked, in a way that Archie couldn't quite describe. Elegant, though, was one way to put it. And beautiful- a word that he'd never used to describe a man before. He blushes at the thought, an uncomfortable feeling settling in his stomach- and just like that, he's looking back at Betty. Who seems way too nervous as they share a glance at each other.

"Hey," she says, fidgeting with her hands under the table. "I've been thinking about this for a while, and," she sighs, thinking she might as well get it over with. "Well, I like you."

Part of him felt inadequate around her. Of all people, Betty liked- him? Did he hear that right? Archie, who was terrible in school, and couldn't focus, and always relied on Betty. Who had always been a bit scrawny- until he started working with his dad- and too tall for his age. Was it really that Archie, that someone so pretty and sweet as Betty would look at, and fall for?

Archie's mind felt jumbled again. For all normal, and understandable reasons this time. He was still awestruck that someone- no, not someone, his best friend- liked him. He feels a little odd just staring at Betty, and slowly shifts his gaze towards the napkin holder on the table.

"Arch," she dips her head down to look him in the eyes, her brows furrowed in worry. "Arch?" She repeats.

Archie hums in response. "Archie, are you okay?"

He looks back at her, eyes wide, his expression softening as he realizes what he'd done. "Sorry, just thinking." He stretches one of his hands across the table, and Betty seems hesitant to reach back- but finally places a shaky, nervous hand in his. He holds on tightly.

"I like you a lot," he sighs. "I'm sorry- I'm not very good with words."

All Betty can do is smile back, "It's okay."

And for once, Archie thinks it might be.