Chapter Text
ARCHIE HAD BEEN pouring himself a cup of coffee when Jughead and Kevin stormed into the teacher’s lounge. They'd seemed to be having a heated conversation based on their tense expressions. He could hear bits and pieces of their conversation as he nursed his black coffee. He shouldn't eavesdrop but, with Veronica still out of town and Eric visiting family, he was dying of boredom.
"-the hell is she?" Jughead demanded. He'd looked exhausted, more so than usual, which was no surprise as he'd heard from Toni, who heard from Tabitha, that he'd gone missing for a couple days. Now, seeing the bags plaguing his eyes, Archie felt bad for not checking up on him more thoroughly.
"-her mom said..." Kevin was speaking in terse whispers and it put Archie on edge. What were these two so freaked out about? Kevin looked around the room, his eyes panicked. When they landed on Archie, his eyes widened a fraction and his mouth clamped shut.
Okaaay, that was his cue. He knew how to take a hint. He was preparing to make swift exit when he'd heard the name Jughead had said and stopped dead in his track.
Archie turned on his feet and headed straight for them. "What did you just say?" he ordered, he tried to keep his voice steady but the desperation in his voice was evident and hearing it made Jughead frown.
"I think Betty is in trouble. She used her leave to follow a lead on her sister but that was two days ago. Her mom called me today, freaking out because she hadn't heard from her." Kevin hesitantly explained.
Archie's head was spinning. "Well, what are we going to do? Have you called the cops? Or what about any of her friends at the FBI? I mean there must be someone who can help." He was rambling, something he did when he was nervous and panicking.
Jughead folded his arms across his chest, a frown etched into his features. "Why don't you let us handle this. Mysteries are more of my forte, don't you think? I'm sure you're too busy renovating the Pembrooke and battling Mr. Lodge to be on the front lines of this."
His dig made Archie flush in embarrassment. Maybe it was deserved, he'd completely went back on his promise of being there for Betty, but it still made Archie's blood boil.
"Jughead, Betty's my friend. I think paint samples and carpeting can wait. She takes priority." He firmly stated, his voice armed with steel. "So what can I do to help?"
Jughead silently scrutinized Archie and it made him squirm a little. He still had no idea about what happened between him and Betty but his gaze told Archie that he was putting the pieces together. Now wasn't the time to worry about that though.
Archie met his eyes with a challenging glare and tension crackled between them. Kevin, always the peace keeper, interjected, "We're meeting up at Mrs. Cooper's after school to come up with a plan. You should come."
He sighed in relief. "Thanks Kevin."
_________
Archie was walking to the Cooper's house when his thoughts inevitably drifted to Betty. Strangely enough this wasn't the first time Betty had been missing.
They had been ten years old. Archie knocked on the Cooper's door to ask if Betty could come out and play. He'd wanted to show her the new trick he'd taught Vegas. When Polly answered the door, her eyes were red and glassy and it made Archie nervous.
"Polly, is Betty home?" He asked her. He peered into the doorway to see if she was inside but instead he saw Mrs. Cooper weeping into her hands while Mr. Cooper paced around the hallway.
"Archie, Betty ran away, we haven't been able to find her all day." Archie could've swore his heart stopped then and there. Betty running away? It seemed so unlike her. He shook his head in disbelief.
"If you see her, you call us immediately and bring her home okay?" Polly said and Archie nodded, still in a daze from the news. He barley registered the door being shut until the click of the lock being turned snapped him out of it.
Betty could be in danger. He had to save her. He rushed home and immediately began packing a bag. He had packed his nerf gun, a sleeping bag, and his piggy bank when his dad walked in.
"Archie Andrews, what are you doing?" He demanded and Archie shrunk from embarrassment. Busted. He hated being in trouble, especially when it was his dad. He'd rather be subjected to his mom's yelling than hear how disappointed his dad was.
But right now he couldn't care less. "Betty ran away and I have to find her. You can't stop me dad, she needs me" He said, his chest pumped out and eyes filled with determination.
"I wouldn't dream of it. In fact, I'll join the search. You'll need a ride right?” His eyes went to Archie's duffle bag and he smiled. "What's the nerf gun for?"
"In case there's any danger." Archie stated, as if it was the dumbest question in the world.
"Makes sense," His dad nodded. "Okay, I'll be waiting in the car for you." He ruffled the red headed boys hair before taking his leave.
And that was that. Archie and his dad drove to all the places he thought Betty could be at. The playground, Sweet Water River, the library. He was starting to lose hope.
Archie had just finished looking at the school when it hit him. "I know where she is!" He shouted, sprinting to the car. "Step on it."
His dad had barely pulled in front of Pops before Archie was opening the door and running out. His eyes scanned the diner and when they met a pair of green ones he sighed in relief. She was here, safe, thank god.
Betty was sitting in a booth towards the back, hunched over, her eyes puffy and red. She'd given him a watery smile when she saw him approaching her.
"Betty," He breathed out.
"Archie, what are you doing here-" Before she could finish her sentence Archie threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly.
"Never run away again!" He squeezed her even tighter and she let out a squeak of surprise.
After a beat, she wrapped her arms around Archie and pressed her face into his shirt. Archie's eyes widened when she began shaking in his arms, his shirt became wet from her tears
"Betty," He pulled away, his hands still on her shoulders, searching her teary eyes. "What happened? Why did you run away?"
"Caramel..." She hiccuped a few times before choking the words out. "She's dead Archie." After speaking the words she bursted into a fit of tears and Archie's heart sank.
"How?" He whispered.
"She got hit by a car. It was my fault too. She'd been staring at a butterfly outside so I let her out and she chased it into the road and-" She couldn't finish her sentence, burying her face in her hands.
He didn't know what to say so he just hugged her again, rubbing circles on her back, like he'd seen his dad do with his mom, until she settled down and her breathing became more even.
"You gotta go home Betty. Your family is worried sick." He told her but she just shook her head.
"I can't face them. Not after what I did." She whispered.
"It's not your fault. It was an accident, you didn't know she'd run out into the street." He said helplessly, in a pathetic attempt to comfort her.
"I can't go home Archie. Not yet." She looked at him, her eyes pleading. "Please don't make me go." She begged and Archie's heart ached. How could he say no to her?
"Okay, okay. Don't worry." He went outside and told his dad what was happening. He asked him to tell the Coopers that she was safe at Pops and that she'd be home soon. His dad nodded in understanding and told him he'd pick him up at eight before driving off.
Archie headed back into pops and slid into the seat next to Betty. "You hungry? A vanilla milkshake always cheers you up." It was true, whenever Betty was upset a milkshake from Pops always managed to lift her mood.
"I don't have any money." She admitted, looking dejected. It broke Archie's heart to see her like this. She was normally so upbeat and happy. He missed her laugh, her smile.
"Don't worry about that." He slid the duffle bag off his shoulders and fished out the piggy bank he'd packed. Without hesitation he smashed it on the table, revealing all his savings. Fifteen dollars and some change.
"Archie!" She shook her head in disapproval but a smile touched her lips and Archie grinned at her.
"Let's get you that milkshake okay?"
___________
Archie had finally arrived at the Cooper's house. Reminiscing only made him more determined. He was going to find Betty and he wasn't going to stop until he did.