The late-summer air in Riverdale still felt heavy, thick with the kind of heat that made everything seem sharperâbrighterâbut Archie barely noticed. The rhythmic thud of a football being passed back and forth on the field behind him faded as his thoughts drifted elsewhere. Music. Jason Blossom. The⊠choices heâd made over the summer, ones he wasnât ready to talk about.
When he saw Betty Cooper walking up the sidewalk toward him, he pulled in a breath he didnât realize heâd been holding. Betty was familiar. Safe. And after a summer that had been anything but, he found himself grateful for the sight of her.
âBetts?â he called, shifting his backpack higher on his shoulder. His smile was warm, but there was a tightness around his eyesâsomething she knew well enough to notice. âHey. Welcome home. Howâs⊠howâs everything? I, uh⊠I missed you.â
He stepped closer, trying to catch her gaze, trying to ignore the weight of all the things he wasnât telling her.
âI was hoping weâd get a chance to talk before school goes crazy tomorrow. Maybe walk a bit? I want to hear about your summerâreally.â A beat. âAnd I guess⊠thereâs some stuff I should probably tell you too.â
He waited, open and uncertainâhoping sheâd take that first step with him.
@milkshakesandbadges
Betty had been heading this way with the hope of finding Archie. After a few weeks of staying with her aunt in Greendale, she had missed her home and the boy next door. What she felt for him was deeper than a childhood friendship. Sheâd never told anyone about it except Kevin, and he would never tell a soul. She was ready to change that now, and that meant telling Archie how she felt about him.
âHey, Arch!â Betty gave him a big smile as she drew closer. She hoped he couldnât see how nervous she was. They were never nervous around each other. When she reached him, her smile widened. She could see there was some tension in his eyes, and she would ask about that later.
âItâs so good to see you. I have lots to tell you too. Maybe we could walk to Popsâ and talk over some milkshakes.â She hoped that she would work up the nerve to tell him before they reached the diner.
It was great to see her. So much familiarity about her, so much warmth and understanding. Of all the people he knew in his life, she was the one, besides his father, who stood by him in everything he did and tried to understand him. How does he plan to tell her what went on during the July 4th holiday and would she even understand or walk away from him forever. He sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm himself and every nerve in his body was rattling on edge. He managed to squeeze out a smile and look at her, his brown eyes warm and yet, there was a shade of uncertainty there. He saw her eagerness and that she too had something to share with him.
"A milkshake a Pop's sounds perfect, and maybe some of his famous grill cheese sandwiches," Archie suggested. No on in the universe made Grill cheese sandwiches like Pop did. He used real cheese and brioche bread for his sandwiches. They walked down the sidewalk, their footsteps echoed in the silence of the dusk air.
"So, how is Polly?" he asked, wondering if it was a sticky question to ask. He saw her surprise and tried to put her at ease with a 'it's okay smile'
"I heard my mom and dad talking on the phone, about what happened to Polly? That she had to go to a special group home after the whole situation with Jason" Archie wasn't much for rumors but when the words came from his own father Fred Andrews, who was best friends with Hal Cooper since their high school days, Archie knew it was the truth.
Betty fell into step beside Archie. It was such a normal gesture and yet there was something that felt more charged between them, as if something had changed between them. Maybe that was her wishful thinking because of what she planned to tell him.
His question about Polly brought her up short. It didnât surprise her that he knew about what happened. Their parents were friends and even if they werenât everyone in town was gossiping about where she might have gone. The rumors only increased after Jason Blossomâs murder.
âPolly is doing okay,â she said slowly. Betty trusted Archie with her biggest secrets, but her parents didnât want her talking about Polly, and she didnât want to add to their problems.
While they talked easily to each other, like they hadn't even been apart the whole summer, their footfalls led them towards Pop's Diner, their familiar haunting grounds. The place where they always felt welcomed, the place where they could truly be themselves. He missed her while she was away on an internship and some days seemed lonely and empty without her. Was that why he had turned to someone he knows now he should have run away from. He shook his head, to dislodge those thoughts for now.
"Sorry if my question about Polly upset you Betts, I was just wondering what happened. I know you two are close," Archie held open the front door of Pop's for her, and escorted her inside. They took their familiar booth on the left hand side of the diner, near the windows. He smiled at her and grabbed a seat across from her.
"It's so great seeing you again, Riverdale hasn't been the same while you were away," he spoke, and thought, noting was the same since she left. Could their relationship, survive what he had done over the summer.
Things were just as they had always been between them. It was like sheâd never left. It helped that they had texted occasionally while she was gone.
They didnât have to think about where they were going. They had been to Popsâ so many times they could make the walk in their sleep.
She stopped and placed a hand on Archieâs arm. âDonât feel bad, Archie. Itâs just a complex situation.â She put a smile on her face that didnât feel forced. âWhat about you? Tell me what you did this summer.â
There was the question that was about to open up a whole can of worms. How would he tell her about his...affair with Ms. Grundy, would she even forgive him. He was about to open his mouth when Pop came over to their table and asked what they wanted. Archie was grateful for the moments distraction.
"I'll have two grilled cheese sandwiches, an order of onion rings, a chocolate mocha milkshake, a brownie pie and a couple of your homemade cookies pop," Archie ordered and saw both Pop and Betty give him an amused look.
"I can't help it. I'm hungry," he shrugged with a blush. Pop went to the kitchen to prepare thier food and Archie turned back to Betty. His heart was doing a boom boom pace in his chest.
"I went to work for my father, it was grueling work. Sometimes to pace the time, I'd make up songs in my head, and.." he paused.
"I was supposed to go to Greenville for the fourth of July fireworks with Jughead. I backed out, I...I did something bad Betty and I don't know how to get out of it,"
Betty shook her head when Archie ordered all that food. She had no idea where he put it all. For herself, she ordered the grilled cheese sandwich with fries and her favorite vanilla milkshake.
When they were alone and Archie started talking again, Betty turned her attention back to him. It seemed as though he was about to confess something important and she wanted to make sure she didnât miss it.
She placed a hand over his and leaned forward. âYou can tell me, Archie. Whatever it was you did canât be as bad as you think.â She had a lot of faith in him. Plus, she loved him and didnât believe he would anything truly terrible.
Archie drew in a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself, although his heart hammered. Her hand on his arm her touch diffused some of his nervousness. He put his hand on hers, and there was so much to tell her, and she was the only one he could talk to.
"This summer, I... I met Ms. Grundy and...and..." he stammered. "I had an affair with her," he blurted out and before he could say more Pop came back to thier table with a tray of food. Archie watched as the friendly cook placed the plates of food before them although right now, Archie's appetite was slowly vanishing. Once Pop was finished and taking orders from another table, Archie turned back to Betty.
"I don't know how it happened...I mean I know how i don't know why?" He sighed laddened with guilt.
"Betty, say something?"
Betty looked at him with a stunned expression. Of all the things she expected him to say, the admission to having had an affair with their music teacher was not one of them.
She stared down at her plate of food as she struggled to find the words to express what was going on in her head. She wasnât all that hungry right now. In fact, she felt a little sick.
âArchie, I-â She shook her head. âI donât know what to say,â she said quietly. She wanted to tell him it was alright and that she didnât think less of him for having done that, but the words were stuck in her throat. She still loved him. This didnât change her feelings.
She reached her hand toward him hesitantly. Maybe touching him and looking him in the eye would help. She gulped as she struggled to find the words.
âI didnât know you had feelings for her,â she said quietly.
"I.." Archie started to speak and then stopped. Betty's statement about having feelings for Grundy had stopped him short, and he sat there thinking, trying to connect with his feelings for Grundy. Feelings that really, weren't even there. He blinked and then came back to the here and now. Did he have feelings for Grundy? He shook his head, as if silently answering the question himself.
"I don't have feelings for her," the sincerity traveled into his tone and he looked at Betty, his brown eyes gazing steadily into hers, her blue eyes so warm, so alive and full of happiness, and attraction, except at this moment, they were full of confusion and he swore he saw a silent look of accusation, like he had betrayed their unfullfilled dream by going out with Grundy. His hands found Betty's once again, and he squeezed them warmly, like she was an anchor in this storm.
"It was a fascination, a sort of sexual attraction," but what it was if he was honest with himself, was an older woman taking advantage of a young teenager.
"I ended it after the Fourth of July weekend, after....after we heard about Jason's death," there was so much more to be revealed to her.
She closed her hand around his and gave him a small smile. His explanation made sense to her. He was a teenager who was probably caught up with lust for his teacher. Ms. Grundy was certainly a beautiful woman. It was easy to see why he would be attracted to her. Part of Betty had always hoped she and Archie would be each otherâs firsts. That wasnât going to happen now, but somehow she didnât care about that any more.
âIâm not going to rationalize your behavior to myself,â she said quietly. âWe both know what happened was wrong. You obviously wish it never happened if you are feeling that level of guilt right now. It would be pointless for me to throw accusations at you or be angry. I can tell youâve done that yourself.â She paused and gathered up her courage for the next part. âIt was a mistake, but it doesnât change the way I feel about you. I care about you, Archie. A lot. As more than a friend.â She stopped talking then. He had confessed something big to her, and she was now doing the same. Sheâd planned to tell him any way.
Archie was buried in so much guilt that for a moment, he hadn't heard Betty's words, about her caring for him, more than a friend. He jerked his head up and stared at her, eyes wide and his heart stopped in his chest. Could she mean what he thought she meant. He sunk low in his seat for a moment, and stared at her.
"Betty, you know I love you, hell I have loved you since we were in the sandbox together," he told her, and he was honest with his heart. He did love her, yet, he always felt she deserved so much more than him, so much more than the boy next door. He put his other hand on hers and gazed into her eyes, his heart wanted to belong to her, and yet he didn't think he deserved it, not after what he had done.
"Are you sure you want to be seen with me, I mean, I'm not even sure I deserve you Betty. You are so perfect, so loving, and kind, and how could I expect to deserve that,"
She hadnât known he had loved her all this time. If she had, she probably would have said something sooner.
âArch, youâre a much better man than you think you are. I donât know how you see yourself, but I see someone who is kind and loving and good. Yes, you made a mistake, but Ms. Grundy took advantage of you. As for me, I am anything but perfect. Itâs just a front I put up for appearances and to make my parents happy. Why wouldnât I want to be seen with you?â
She had loved him since they were kids but had only just worked up the nerve to tell him. At least he hadnât laughed at her. She has been so afraid of that. It was just the opposite. He felt the same way, and she felt her heart soar when he said that to her.
He did and does love Betty, so why did he turn to Grundy? Was it some sort of passionate moment that he let himself get caught up in, because she was an older woman who paid attention to him. Archie felt like such a fool, letting himself fall into that mess, and he wished he could change things. Coming to focus on the here and now, he looks at Betty and smiles, grateful for her love, her compassion. He squeezed her hands in his, warmly and with tender affection.
"I'm sorry I took so long, to realize what was right in front of my face," he told her and he so wanted to kiss her, but he couldn't, not yet, he still had much on his mind, much guilt swirling around in his conscious, he looked at Betty with a deep sorrow in his eyes.
"That's not all that happened this summer Betty" he told her, and took a breath, ready to drop the bombshell about Jason Blossom.
To her mind, whatever else had happened couldnât possibly be worse than Archie sleeping with Ms. Grundy. Betty would never look at the teacher the same way again. While she would never reveal what Archie had told her, she thought the woman belonged in jail.
Her eyes had lit up when heâd all but told her he loved her. Sometimes taking risks paid off. This seemed to be one of those times. âI waited a long time to hear you say that, Arch.â She gently squeezed his hand.
âYou can tell me whatever else happened. I think weâve already established that I wonât judge you.â
He knew he could trust her, she wouldn't betray him and she would be his sounding board, his voice of reason and yet, the shame burned deep in his heart, shame and guilt because he hadn't done anything sooner, he had stayed quiet about something important, not wanting to get Ms. Grundy in trouble, and now, now he thought maybe it was too late to say anything at all. He blew out a heavy breath, his cheeks puffing out and his fingers rubbed against hers, as though gaining strength from her and he closed his eyes, mentally preparing himself.
"I was there, at Sweetwater River the day that Jason Blossom was shot, I heard the gunshot, I was....there with Ms. Grundy" he told Betty and if she turned around and hated him for this, for keeping such a serious secret, it would hurt but he wouldn't blame her.
Betty let out a slow breath as Archie confessed his secret to her. It wasnât as bad as she thought from the way he had been acting. She already knew he had been with Ms. Grundy. It shouldnât have surprised her that they had been to Sweetwater River, or even that they were there when Jason was killed.
âOh my god, Arch!â She lowered her voice. âDid you see or hear anything?â She spoke with no judgment. Only curiosity about what he might have seen or heard that day. She understood why he couldnât go to the police if he had. It would reveal his secret about Ms. Grundy, and she had probably told him no one could ever know.
She was composed and non judgemental, she was his Betty. He brought her hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles, needing her to know how much he appreciated her comfort, her love. He lay her hands back down and watched her for a moment, wondering what he did to deserve her. She was so good to him, and he wanted to do so much for her.
"I heard a gunshot.... the gunshot Betty," he confessed to her, and he nervously watched her. He was the good guy Archie and he felt dreadful that he never went to Sheriff Keller and told what he knew. Keeping the secret, to protect Ms. Grundy, had probably screwed up the case. He didn't dare think of how disappointed his parents would feel when they heard, especially his father. His body shuttered and he ran his hands down his face.
"I fucked up Betty," he dropped his hands and shook his head.
"I listened to Ms Grundy when she told me how much trouble we'd be in if Weatherbee found out about us, of how I'd be suspended and she'd lose her job." He picked up one of her fries and absentmindedly munched on it, not really tasting it.
âYou mean how much trouble she would be in, Archie. Sheâs the teacher taking advantage of her student. Sheâd just using the threat of suspension to scare you,â she scoffed.
Betty didnât believe for a minute that Archie would get into any trouble for what he her done with Ms. Grundy. That woman was trying to save her own skin and keep herself out of jail.
âArchie, you wonât get into any trouble. If you know something, you should tell Sheriff Keller. Iâm not going to make you do something you donât want to, but you should at least consider it. If you want to leave Ms. Grundy out of it, donât tell them she was there.â
Betty wanted to help him. She didnât care what happened to the music teacher. She just wanted Archie to be able to let go of his guilt and realize he did nothing wrong.
Archie felt relieved she wasn't mad at him, so mad at him that she refused to speak to him again. He didn't know what he would have done if she had done so, and yet, after what he did, he would not blame her for pulling away. He ran his hands down his face and let out a heavy sigh. How did things get to be such a mess, he wondered and he shook his head.
"I never meant for any of this to happen," he told her, and himself. "I mean with Ms. Grundy, it was childish and stupid," he cursed himself and then taking her hands, as if she was grounding him, he looked at her with a plea in his brown eyes and his heart beat nervously in his chest for a moment.
"I'm going to go talk to Keller about what I heard on the morning of July fourth, would you come with me to the station, just you know for some kind of moral support?"
