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Chapter Text

It takes Archie a while to work up the courage to ask Veronica out. Between ending things with Geraldine and then dating Valerie, and consequently being dumped by Valerie, his love life’s been full.

Neither of those relationships were ended by his hand, but he can roll with the punches. He’s forgiven Betty for forcing him and Ms. Grundy apart when he confessed everything to her at the homecoming dance. It’s taken a while, but he does actually understand Betty had his best interests at heart. He’s not an idiot.

Well, he’s not that much of an idiot. He definitely wasn’t at his smartest when he started dating Valerie. Looking back, it’s pretty obvious that he’d been distracted by Veronica and the memory of their one kiss throughout the course of that entire relationship.

So now he’s growing some balls. He’ll never get the girl if he never makes a move. 

When he tells Jughead he’s got his eye on someone, he expects to be ridiculed. Jughead does a lot of that, especially where Veronica’s concerned.

Instead Jughead’s words are, “Finally, watching you guys give each other heart eyes is actually disgusting.” And that’s it. No jokes, no nothing. He just continues scarfing down the pizza they’d ordered like nothing happened.

So Archie takes that as a sign that it’s time.

And now’s his chance. He and Veronica are alone at lunch, for once, at least until the rest of the group joins them outside in the courtyard. 

“So, Ronnie, you got any plans Friday night?” He blurts after clearing his throat awkwardly.

Luckily, Veronica doesn’t seem to notice his awkwardness, “None that can’t be rescheduled if need be, Archiekins,” she says, popping a fry into her mouth.

“Wanna go to a corn maze?” 

Veronica raises one eyebrow dubiously. 

“The one in Centerville is supposed to be the biggest one in the state,” he continues despite her unenthusiastic response.

She tilts her head at him from across the table. “You know, New York Veronica would’ve said no immediately,” she hums noncommittally and glances behind Archie, toward the doors to the school. 

Archie opens his mouth to sing the praises of corn mazes all over the world, but Veronica cuts him off before he can say a word. 

“Alright, I’m in,” she says decisively.

Archie’s answering grin is blinding.

But his success is short-lived. Betty and Kevin slide into the open seats next to him and Veronica, and without missing a beat, Veronica tells them they’re all going to a corn maze on Friday night.

Betty nods agreeably, as she usually does, blonde ponytail bouncing with the movement. 

Kevin, on the other hand, looks a lot like Veronica did when Archie first asked. “You, Veronica Lodge, want to go to a corn maze?” 

“Hey, Veronica Lodge is open to new experiences, okay? Besides, my old group of friends never used to do anything like this.” 

Kevin shrugs, “Can I bring Joaquin?”

Again, Veronica answers before Archie can, “Of course!” 

Fuck. Now there’s no way Archie’s going to get any alone time with Veronica if Betty’s going to be there too. Although...Kevin bringing his boyfriend gives Archie an idea. If he finds a date for Betty, then it’ll just be a triple date and his plans won’t be totally ruined.

As if by fate, Jughead plops down on Archie’s other side.

He holds up a hand before anyone can say anything, “At least let me get a bite in before you fill me in on Riverdale High’s latest gossip.”

“We were actually talking about this weekend,” Betty rolls her eyes at him. 

“What about it?” Jughead takes a huge bite of his burger.

“How would you feel about going to a corn maze, Jug?” Archie asks.

Jughead laughs. “Hard pass.”

“I’ll buy you Pops’ after,” Veronica sing songs persuasively. 

Jughead eyes her consideringly before finally shrugging, “Okay, you convinced me.” 

Well, that didn’t take much work. Archie grins. Perfect.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Kevin and Joaquin disappear almost immediately once they actually enter the corn maze, which is just fine with Archie. (He knows what they’re up to.)

Betty and Jughead do not. Which is more of an issue.

Veronica strides ahead of him confidently, ignoring the hand he’d offered her. Well, maybe she just didn’t see it. It is pretty dark in here.

“This is the biggest corn maze in the state?” Jughead asks skeptically from behind him. 

“Well, that’s what it said on the website,” Archie defends himself. Betty catches up to him and nudges him with an elbow. He catches her smile gratefully.

“No need to be such a downer, Juggie,” she says pleasantly. “I’m sure we’ll be lost in here for hours.”

“Hours?” Jughead yelps.

Veronica’s laugh chimes like a bell. “Oh, Juggie,” she says mockingly, “I’ll get us out of here in a New York minute.”

“Right, because Veronica Lodge knows her way around corn mazes.” Jughead rolls his eyes. Or at least, Archie thinks so. He can barely see their expressions in the dark, but he knows Jughead.

“Veronica Lodge knows her way around a lot of things,” Veronica insinuates, running a manicured finger down a nearby ear of corn. It’s ridiculous; it’s hot. Archie blushes. 

“Alright then, Ariadne, where’s your red string?” Jughead jokes. Well, Archie thinks he’s joking. He doesn’t know what Jughead’s talking about. Honestly, a lot of the time he doesn’t know what Jughead’s talking about.

But clearly Veronica does.

She grins, white teeth shining in the moonlight. “So then are you my Theseus? Or the minotaur?” Veronica saunters right up to him and stretches up onto her tiptoes to finger the points of his beanie. “These could be your horns.”

Archie expects him to slap her hand away. Or at the very least, recoil in horror.

He doesn’t.

Jughead tilts his head down so Veronica can reach, even while making a face at her.

Something about it makes Archie uncomfortable.

He clears his throat loudly and steps forward toward them. “Well, on that note, I nominate Veronica as our leader.”

Veronica and Jughead look away from each other and turn toward him.

“Seconded!” Betty calls, raising her hand.

Jughead sighs melodramatically. 

Veronica grins at the sound, and upon seeing it, Archie can’t help but smile, too. He just wishes she was directing that smile toward him, and not toward Jughead. Jughead just doesn’t appreciate it the way he does.

He gets his wish when she turns to him. “Thank you, Archie,” she says.

“You’re welcome,” he smiles charmingly. “You can thank me by getting us out of here.” Archie reaches out his arm for her and finally she takes it, tucking a hand into the crook of his elbow. 

“Consider it done,” she starts leading him further into the stalks of corn.

He glances behind her at Jughead, who’s got an indecipherable look on his face, and Betty, who looks confused. 

“Coming, Betty?” Veronica calls back to them. “You too, Theseus.”

Jughead’s face finally softens and he reaches an arm out for Betty. 

Trust Veronica to solve Archie’s problems. She’s a much better matchmaker than him. 

The rest of the night goes well. Veronica and Jughead argue, call each other names Archie doesn’t understand, but Archie manages to keep his place next to her. Her hand on his arm burns through his letterman jacket in the best way.

He isn’t surprised that Veronica manages to get them out of the maze in no time- she is competent in all things. Even Jughead admits her confidence was well-placed, and Betty murmurs her agreement.

Betty’s been quiet all night, and Archie’s not sure why. He’ll have to ask her at school tomorrow, when Veronica and Jughead aren’t around.

Still, tonight was a total success, he thinks as he stretches an arm over the back of the booth at Pop’s, and consequently Veronica’s shoulders. 

He’s so distracted by Veronica, he doesn’t notice the way Betty and Jughead’s eyes linger on the action.

Chapter Text

Last night was a total failure.

The next day at school Veronica acts exactly the same as she always has. If she knows they went on a date last night, she certainly doesn’t show it. If anything, she seems actually kind of irritated with him.

What did he do?

He hesitantly approaches her and Betty at their lockers between second and third period.

Whatever conversation they’d been having abruptly stops.

“Archie!” Veronica greets him enthusiastically, “We were just talking about you!” She exchanges a quick look with a flustered Betty. 

Veronica was talking about him? He grins internally; that’s a good sign.

But Veronica’s not the one avoiding his eyes.

Archie stares for a second. Betty is blushing . Is this about...Jughead? No way. He forcefully pushes the thought from his mind and clears his throat.

“Yeah?” he says, inanely.

“I’ve decided that it’s time Veronica Lodge experienced all the autumnal rites of passage offered by small town living,” she says confidently. 

“Really?” Betty asks doubtfully.

Veronica shrugs it off, “When in Rome…” she trails off.

Betty looks like she can’t argue with that, so Archie jumps in, “Well, what’s next on your list?”

Veronica grins, satisfied. “I’m so glad you asked- I was thinking pumpkin carving. My house tonight, say around seven? I’ll buy pizza,” she rattles off.

Veronica doesn’t give either of them a chance to refuse. “Archie, mind giving Betty a ride? Great!”

And then she’s strolling off down the hallway toward next period without another word. 

Archie feels steamrolled. And like there’s a scheme afoot that he’s missing. He glances at Betty, surprised to find that she’s looking right back at him.

She blushes again and she scrambles to shut her locker. “See you tonight, Archie!” she calls back as she flees down the hallway after Veronica.

Definitely a scheme afoot. 

He brightens. Maybe this is Veronica trying to spend time with him.

It’s gotta be. 

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Archie picks Betty up right on time. Not too early- he doesn’t want Veronica to think him eager. The whole ride over, Betty’s awkward and stilted with him. What did he do? 

When they finally arrive at the Pembroke, Betty can’t hop out of his truck fast enough.

“Betts, is everything okay?” he asks once they’re in the elevator.

“What? Of course, why wouldn’t everything be okay?” she rambles. “I’m just excited for pumpkin carving, aren’t you?”

Archie frowns. Betty’s totally nervous about something. He opens his mouth to say so-

The elevator doors open and Betty bolts out. Straight into Jughead.

“Oof,” he grunts as she collides bodily with him, “What’s your rush, Betty?”

Betty blushes. 

Archie stares.

Holy shit. Is this why Betty’s being weird? Does Betty have a crush on Jughead ?

He’s on the verge of losing his mind when Veronica finally enters the foyer. Thank God. 

“There you are! We were wondering what was taking you so long!” she grins beatifically at Betty and Archie.

“We?” Archie blurts out without thinking.

Jughead raises an eyebrow at that, but Veronica smoothly butts in. “Of course. I ran into Jughead at Pop’s and couldn’t leave him out, now could I?”

“Of course not!” Betty enthuses.

“The more the merrier,” Archie chimes in, hoping to make up for his rude remark.

Jughead lets him off, probably mostly thanks to Veronica pulling him by the elbow into the dining room.

Archie follows Betty dutifully after them. There, laid out on the Lodge’s maple dining room table, are four pumpkins, and all their carving needs- knives, spoons, newspaper, bowls- the table is full.

“I thought you said you’d never carved a pumpkin before, Ronnie,” Archie says, just to get her attention.

“Did you...did you look up how to carve pumpkins on the internet?” Jughead squints at Veronica.

“But of course. A Lodge is always prepared.”

“I think that’s boy scouts,” Jughead says drily.

Veronica seats herself at the head of the table, pointedly ignoring him. Archie takes this chance to slide into the place next to her.

Betty hesitates before sitting next to him; Jughead taking the last seat on her other side at the other end across from Veronica. 

Veronica rubs her hands together excitedly. “Alright, what do we do first?”

“Didn’t wikihow tell you?” Jug snarks.

“Shouldn’t you be happy that a small town boy like you gets to teach a big city girl like me something for once?”

Jughead grins widely, to Archie’s surprise. It really feels like they’re sniping at each other, but something’s off.

“Sure thing, princess.” He picks a knife up off the table and gestures to her with it. “I’m sure you can guess what to do with this.”

“I can think of a few things,” Veronica says, picking up a knife herself and flicking a sharp glance at Jughead. 

He just laughs.

Archie steps in before they can stab each other.

“Here, Veronica,” he gently pulls the knife from her grip, “gotta empty out the thing first. So cut a hole in the top.” He demonstrates on his own pumpkin then returns the knife to her.

Next to him, Betty is efficiently removing the stem of her own pumpkin. Jughead mutters something under his breath to her about how vicious she’s being and she rolls her eyes at him.

“Nice job, Betts,” he says, just to distract her from Jughead. 

What is he doing? Wasn’t he trying to set them up in the first place?

He mentally gives himself a shake before turning back to Veronica. Who is completely done, lid perfectly and smoothly removed.

She dusts off her hands primly. “What next?”

“Now the messy part.” Archie digs his own hands into his pumpkin and starts pulling out the guts and plopping them in the huge bowl in the center of the table.

“Ugh,” Veronica makes a face, but gamely removes her bracelet before digging in. 

Of course, it’s not long before Jughead makes some sort of snide comment and the two of them are going at each other.

Archie sighs and gives up on making conversation with Veronica.

He turns to Betty, “What’re you gonna carve?”

She bites her lip as she concentrates on sketching out what she wants with a sharpie. “I’m going classic,” she says, pausing to smile up at Archie. “If it ain’t broke, right?”

As he’s watching her, a handful of pumpkin guts smacks Betty right in the cheek and drops right onto her white blouse. She yelps and turns to Jughead accusingly.

He immediately points a finger at Veronica. She’s clearly the guilty party here, both hands clapped over her mouth in shock.

Although soon it appears those hands are there to muffle her laughter.

“Ohmygod, Betty, I’m so sorry!”

Betty just shakes her head and pulls her collar away from her neck to inspect the stain. “I didn’t realize I needed to dress for a food fight.”

“That stain is going to be a nightmare to get out, here let me lend you something.”

Veronica pulls a reluctant Betty back to her room. 

Archie immediately rounds on Jughead. “Dude!”

“What?”

“Can you and Veronica stop antagonizing each other for two seconds?”

“...Antagonizing each other?”

“And you haven’t even paid a smidgen of attention to Betty tonight!”

Jughead looks bewildered. “...smidgen?” is what falls out of his mouth.

Archie shakes his head. “Jesus Jug, are you just determined to cockblock me with Ronnie?”

Jughead chokes at that for some reason. He stares at Archie and opens his mouth to speak, but before he can, he’s interrupted by the return of the girls.

“Alright, what did we miss?” Veronica leads the way, followed by Betty in a cream button up that honestly looks indistinguishable from what she had been wearing to Archie.

Jughead just shakes his head and turns back to his carving. Veronica frowns and turns to Archie. He smiles widely, “Just debating what to carve.”

Jughead apparently listens to Archie for once, he’s much more subdued the rest of the night, and he doesn’t try to argue with Veronica anymore. For her part, Veronica seems confused, but Archie’s quick to pull her attention to himself any chance he gets.

He owes Jug so many Pop’s meals for this.

Chapter Text

Archie’s not sure if he should expect Veronica to ambush him again with another date, but he really hopes she will. The last two times they hung out really didn’t feel like dates at all, and he aims to rectify that.

But maybe he should ask her?

He doesn’t really have any ideas, and considering the corn maze didn’t work out in his favor, maybe that’s for the best.

He brainstorms all morning, and by the time lunch rolls around, he’s still got nothing.

Archie plops down across the lunch table from Jughead, who just nods and goes back to stuffing his face. Archie grins. Well he’s certainly not thinking of asking Jughead for dating advice.

Veronica slides onto the bench next to Jughead, which surprises Archie a little. He would’ve thought she’d sit next to him , but before he can worry too much, Betty’s sitting down next to him.

Archie shrugs internally. Whatever. Girls.

Veronica clears her throat and glares pointedly at Betty.

Archie and Jughead’s eyes ping pong between them.

Betty looks wide-eyed in fear at Veronica. And then she jumps.

Archie can only assume Veronica has just kicked her under the table.

He is just so baffled.

Archie glances at Jughead, who just shrugs and turns back to his food.

“So guys,” comes Betty’s voice, high pitched and hesitant.

“Yes, Betty?” Veronica says leadingly. She spears a piece of lettuce on her fork and eats it daintily.

Betty blushes prettily. “I was thinking maybe we could have a movie night at my place?”

Archie opens his mouth to reply.

“You know, for Halloween. We can watch scary movies or something,” Betty hurriedly spits out.

“Sounds good to me,” Jughead speaks up before Archie gets a chance. Archie blinks. Jughead agreeing to hang out without the lure of free food? Talk about an alternate universe. 

“That’s a great idea!” Veronica enthuses. Betty finally starts to look a little less red. “Archie?” Veronica asks him pointedly.

He quickly swallows the food in his mouth. “Oh yeah, of course Betts, that sounds like a lot of fun.”

Betty smiles brightly at him, and Archie can’t help but feel a little smug that she’s not directing that smile toward Jughead.

But now he’s realizing- did he just agree to go on a double date with Betty and Jughead? Like a real one? Planned by someone other than him. 

Well, stranger things have happened. 

Right? 

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Jughead’s already at Betty’s when he gets there, which is odd. He really thought he’d beat him there, since he lives right next door. It’s not a problem, it’s just kinda weird.

In typical Cooper fashion, Betty’s got all the snacks set up on the coffee table already. And it’s a lot. Two huge bowls of popcorn, one of which is probably entirely for Jughead, and then a plate piled high with chocolate chip cookies make up the spread. 

Surprisingly, Jughead’s sitting in one of the armchairs in the living room, not eating already. He’s looking at something on his phone, but when Betty leads Archie into the room, he smoothly puts it away and gets up to greet him.

“Finally, man!” Jughead throws his hands up. “Betty said I couldn’t even have a cookie before you got here.”

“Jughead!” Betty hisses.

Jughead rolls his eyes. “Chill, Betts.”

There’s a knock at the door.

Betty brightens up, “There’s Veronica!” She scurries to go get the door.

Veronica breezes into the room ahead of Betty, brandishing two six packs. “I brought drinks!”

She continues on into the kitchen. They all follow her, drawn along by the promise of drinks and allure of her cheer.

Veronica pulls down glasses and fills them with ice, moving around the kitchen with confidence, like this is her home and not Betty’s. “Now, I expect you all to love this, because this is very expensive cream soda from New York.” 

She pops the tab on one of the bottles and fills up a glass. “Torombolo,” she hands it to Jughead. 

Veronica watches him carefully as he takes a sip. Archie braces for a cutting comment, but none are forthcoming. Jughead toasts Veronica and bows mockingly, “If it’s good enough for a Lodge, it’s good enough for a Jones.” 

He takes his glass with him into the other room, so Veronica takes that as her cue to pour Betty and Archie glasses.

Archie is quick to take a gulp and grin. “This is amazing, Ronnie.” He gushes, even though mostly he thinks it’s alright. It doesn’t taste any different from cheap cream soda to him.

Veronica smiles at him, but she just hands a glass to Betty and follows Jughead into the living room.

He stares after her, a little dazed by her, as always.

Betty clears her throat. “Shall we?” She shoulders past him a little aggressively.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 

Betty has a whole list of scary movies cued up on her Netflix. She has really planned this out. It’s so Betty. 

All this effort for Jughead, though?

Jughead doesn’t even really seem to care; he’s of course snagged the lone armchair once more, leaving Archie sandwiched between Betty and Veronica on the couch.

They’re currently arguing over what movie to watch, which Archie has absolutely no opinion on, and which Jughead has too much of an opinion on. That’s pretty much the way it is, though. Archie and Jughead care about very different things, and rarely do they overlap.

“Betty, as our host, you pick the movie!” Veronica finally ends her argument with Jughead. Jughead acquiesces with a mere shrug and a last glare at her.

Veronica hands the remote to a flustered Betty. “Um, alright.” She clicks on the very first option. Jughead groans; Veronica fist pumps. 

Archie laughs, and takes the opportunity to casually stretch an arm over the back of the couch behind Veronica. 

He’s not sure if she notices, but she doesn’t get up and move, so, success! 

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Jughead eyeing him oddly. God, what is his problem now?

Archie pointedly ignores him, staring hard at the tv screen.

Jeez, he knows Jughead doesn’t like Veronica, but can he just get over it?

Chapter Text

The next date Archie and Veronica go on is actually not a date. The only thing that makes it a date in Archie’s mind is that it’s just the two of them. That totally counts, right?

Archie thanks whatever deity is up there that he and Veronica have U.S. History without Jughead and Betty. The exam coming up next week presents the perfect opportunity for a study date. (See? Technically a date.)

So he texts Ronnie and invites her over to his house for Pop’s and studying. Just the two of them.

When she texts back that she’d “love to, Archiekins”, he does a little jig for joy. His dances in the endzone have nothing on this dance in his bedroom.

She arrives promptly at 6:30, just as he’s finished cleaning off the dining room table. His dad’s at work tonight, so he’s not worried about him cramping their style.

Veronica looks amazing, as usual. In her heels and lipstick, standing in the middle of his living room, she’s like something out of his dreams. 

She smiles at him as she brushes by him on the way to the table. He grins dumbly.

Really, who can retain their composure when Veronica’s smiling at them, all sultry and dark?

But then she pulls out their history textbook and shatters the illusion.

“Where do you think we should start? My notes for chapters 5 through 7 are pretty thorough, but I haven’t actually finished 8 yet.” She proceeds to pull out a sheaf of notebook paper and a thick stack of index cards, presumably said notes.

“Uh,” Archie hasn’t actually taken any notes besides what he’s managed to jot down during class, which is actually mostly doodles in the margins.

She steamrolls over him, “Let me finish chapter 8, then we can go over everything together.”

Archie nods in agreement, “Sounds great, Ronnie.”

And then they sit in silence for a while, the only noise the flipping of pages and the scrawling of Veronica’s pencil. Archie makes an effort to focus on the pages, but it’s no use. He can’t even pretend to be interested in this, even though he should be.

It feels like hours later that Veronica finally sets down her pencil and shuffles all her cards together.

It’s actually probably only been like 15 minutes, but Archie’s restless anyway.

Veronica clears her throat, “Alright, how about we split the cards and quiz each other?” She doesn’t wait for his answer, just hands him half of her stack.

This study date is turning out to include way more study than date. But Archie does actually need to pass this test, so he can go along with it. 

But he did promise Ronnie dinner, and food would make it more of a date. “How about we do chapter 5, then take a break and run to Pop’s to grab some dinner?”

Veronica beams at that, “Lemme just check something,” she pulls out her phone and rapidly taps out what looks like a text to someone. 

Unfortunately for him, that doesn’t get him out of quiz time. She places her phone on the table and gestures for him to ask a question off his cards.

“ What was the significance of the Five-Power Treaty signed by America, Japan, Britain, France, and Italy in 1922?” he reads off, easily following Veronica’s loopy handwriting. Is this really from the chapter? 

Veronica snaps off an answer, nearly word for word what she’s written on the back, and then it’s Archie’s turn. 

So much for looking intelligent in front of a pretty girl, he muses. Not that intelligence was really his strongest suit anyway.

Her phone vibrates with a response mere minutes later, when Archie’s stumbling through an explanation of the results of the Bolshevik revolution on the American people. Thank god it distracts her. Archie’s answer is only getting more nonsensical the longer Veronica lets him ramble.

Her face brightens up as soon as she reads whatever it says. He wishes she would look at him like that.

But on the upside, she tosses her handful of cards on the table. “What do you say we just head over to Pop’s now?” 

He jumps up out of his seat. “Yes!” He can’t help but blurt out.

She laughs. He considers that a success.

Archie holds out her coat for her, like a perfect gentleman. He even opens the passenger side door of his dad’s truck and holds it open.

He wishes he had the opportunity to hold her hand on the drive over to Pop’s, but he plays her his one of his songs on his phone and she gushes compliments. So, yeah, he’s still killing it.

Archie doesn’t cop out halfway through either- he helps her out of the truck, opens the door to the restaurant, and fully intends to buy her meal.

But his luck has run out. 

As soon as they walk through the door, Veronica makes her way to the back corner booth, where Jughead is sitting alone with his laptop. 

“Torombolo!” she calls out, sliding into the booth across from him.

Archie hides his frown and plasters a grin on his face. “Hey, Jug!”

He hopes this will be a short encounter with Jughead, but Jug’s already shutting his laptop to devote his full attention to them. Which is surprising.

Jughead doesn’t seem surprised to see them, “So how’s the studying going?”

“Ugh, don’t make me lose my appetite,” Archie jokes.

“No idea what that’s like,” Jughead plays along.

As soon as Archie’s decided there’s no way he can ask Ronnie what she wants and ignore Jug, three full plates arrive, complete with milkshakes.

He’s baffled. “What?”

“You’re a godsend, Jughead,” Veronica groans in pleasure, “I’m starving.”

Archie looks up just in time to catch Jughead’s wink at her. “I figured you guys might need some brain food.”

He’s not sure how Jug knew they were coming, but whatever. He’s not gonna look gift food in the mouth. 

And, you know, it’s actually pretty fun. There’s no way Archie can call this a date anymore, but Jug and Ronnie are hilarious when they’re snarking at each other.

And, honestly, he’s probably going to fail the history test next week, but he’s too busy laughing at them to mind.

They sit in that booth for hours, Veronica almost close enough to be brushing up against his arm.

Veronica finally notices the time, bringing an end to the fun, “Shit, it’s midnight!”

“Your ride turn into a pumpkin?” Jughead cracks.

Veronica steals the last sip of Jughead’s milkshake in revenge, and smirks. “Even so, this princess has got to get back to her castle.”

She motions for Archie to let her out of the booth and bids them both goodbye.

He sighs and watches her go, not noticing that Jughead’s doing the same across from him.

Chapter Text

Archie figures the ball is very firmly not in his corner at this point. Unfortunately, Veronica’s not exactly playing ball.

All of Friday morning goes by without her saying a word about any weekend plans or asking him out.

At lunch, she pays him only the cursory amount of attention, instead choosing to sit next to Jughead and argue with him about some English assignment they turned in last period.

Archie sighs dramatically.

Betty nudges him in the side and offers him an oreo from her lunch.

He grins. Betty’s the best. 

Archie takes the cookie, leaning into her side playfully. She blushes brightly. He opens his mouth to tease her-

Jughead clears his throat loudly from across the table.

Archie and Betty both jerk toward the noise. Jughead’s smirking at them both, and Veronica looks pretty smug, too.

“So, I was thinking, it’s my turn to choose something to round out Veronica’s small town Halloween experience.” Jughead says, barely pausing while he inhales a slice of pizza.

Well. It’s not Veronica doing the asking, but this could totally work out in Archie’s favor- he can turn this into a date no problem. 

Except- he frowns- does this mean Jughead is trying to ask Betty out on a date, too?

“What did you have in mind, Torombolo?” Veronica asks, leaning into Jughead’s personal space. Archie’s eyes zero in on where her dark hair brushes against his shoulder.

Jughead’s answering grin looks downright evil. “A haunted house.”

Kevin scoffs, finally entering the conversation for the first time. “And where are we going to find one of those in Riverdale? Unless, of course, you mean the one run by the Presbyterian church,” he pauses for dramatic effect, “for fifth graders.”

Jughead makes a face at him. “There’s one over in Greendale- I heard from a couple of Serpents that it’s shit-your-pants terrifying.” Archie winces a little. Greendale IS creepy.

At that, Betty’s shaking her head, “I dunno, Jughead, I might skip out on that. It doesn’t really sound like my scene.”

Shit. Archie can’t have Betty backing out, then it’ll be just him and Veronica and Jughead (he assumes Kevin and Joaquin will make themselves scarce again).

Before he can jump in to somehow convince her to go, Veronica speaks up. “Come on Bee, it’ll be fun!” she cajoles. “Plus, I’m trying new things here; wouldn’t it be fun to step out of your comfort zone, too?”

Betty turns to look at him. Archie turns up the puppy eyes.

She throws her hands up, “Fine!” she points at Jughead, “but if I can’t sleep tomorrow night, you’re the one I’m blaming!”

Archie meets Veronica’s eyes midlaugh; she smiles brightly and winks at him. He just about combusts. 

Then he realizes- Veronica convinced Betty to come along, she must not have wanted Jughead to thirdwheel them either.

He fist pumps internally.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

The line for the haunted house is insane . Archie swears they stand there for at least 20 minutes, stamping their feet to keep warm the whole time.

He’d offer his coat to Veronica, but well, it’s cold, okay?

Anyway, she and Betty are huddling to keep each other warm anyway.

Kevin and Joaquin have their arms around each other, too. 

Archie casts one considering look at Jughead before immediately nixing that idea. Cuddling Jughead would be like trying to hug a very uncooperative cat. He doesn’t even want to think about Jughead’s sharp elbows.

Once they finally make it inside the building, Archie could care less whether it’s haunted, as long as it’s warm. 

And well, it’s warmer than outside, but that’s not saying much.

Archie wills the group ahead of them to get moving already. The blond girl at check in is taking forever to collect their money and send them on their way.

“Christ, Jughead, I think your lips are actually turning blue,” Veronica’s voice provides a welcome distraction. 

The group all turn as one to Jughead. He does look freezing, wearing only his usual sherpa jacket and beanie. But he just scowls and shoves his hands deeper into his pockets.

Archie shrugs. Jughead will probably take Veronica’s comment as a personal attack, and Archie wants no part of that ensuing argument. He opens his mouth to distract her, but she just rolls her eyes.

“Just take this,” she pulls the (probably very expensive) scarf from her neck and stretches up to wrap it around Jughead.

“Veronica-” Jughead protests. Veronica gives him a pointed look and he shuts up. Archie blinks- Jughead, dropping an argument? But Jughead just stares at her, wrapping his hand around hers where it’s still clutching her scarf.

Archie frowns.

“Next!” the check in girl finally calls.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Archie manages to squeeze his way to the front next to Veronica as they make their way through the narrow hallway to the first room. She doesn’t appear to notice.

He figures it’s just dark, with only a few lit candles.

Kevin and Joaquin giggle from the back of the pack, and Archie can hear Betty and Jughead speaking in hushed tones. 

It’s the perfect opportunity to talk one on one with Veronica. The dim, quiet hallway feels just the right amount of intimate.

He doesn’t get the chance.

All the candles are immediately snuffed out, leaving them in pitch black darkness.

There’s almost a collective gasp, and then they all immediately fall silent. Nobody moves. Archie’s not sure they’re even breathing.

Archie gulps.

“The door should be straight ahead of us,” Jughead finally whispers, breaking the oppressive quiet.

Archie nods jerkily, then realizes Jughead can’t see him. “Right.”

He starts shuffling forward cautiously. He’s totally not afraid of the dark.

Archie nearly jumps out of his skin when Veronica latches a hand onto his upper arm. 

“Sorry,” she mutters.

“No, no, you’re good,” he chuckles weakly, “you just scared me.”

But with her holding onto him, he feels a wave of confidence. 

He finally reaches the door and swings it open, ready to take on the scares.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

By the fifth room, all of Archie’s confidence is long gone.

“Fuck,” he breathes, staring at the bloody pentagram drawn on the brick wall. 

Betty whimpers behind him. He gropes blindly for her hand; she eagerly latches onto him, pressing her arm against his.

The group squeezes close together, waiting for whatever terror is coming.

Veronica’s pressed tightly to Jughead’s side; Archie has the fleeting thought that they might even be holding hands. But really, who wouldn’t hold hands with whoever was next to them in this house? 

And then the walls start bleeding.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Archie fucking runs toward the back door, dragging Betty along with him. She’s probably going to have bruises with how tight his grip is.

He can hear the others cursing and stampeding right behind them, but all he can think about is the door.

Archie slams his whole body into it, sending both himself and Betty hurtling out onto the back lawn. 

Right on their heels, the other four nearly trip over them. 

They all look crazed in the moonlight. “Is everyone okay?” Archie asks, voice shaky.

“No,” Kevin laughs, a little hysterically, bending over to catch his breath, “I think I might throw up.” Joaquin rubs his back comfortingly.

“Holy shit,” is all Veronica says. She presses a shaky fist to her mouth. Jughead’s eyes are darting all over the place, still totally in fight or flight, but he tugs her toward him and wraps an arm around her shoulders. Veronica slumps into his embrace and clutches at his shirt.

Archie thinks he might still be too scared to be mad about it.

A branch snaps in the forest behind them.

They scramble for the parking lot.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

They’re jittery and paranoid the entire car ride home, and none of them can stop talking over each other.

Once he’s dropped everyone else off (in pairs, he’s sure nobody will be able to sleep alone tonight), he doesn’t have to twist Jughead’s arm to get him to stay.

Even Jughead doesn’t want to be alone after tonight.

Archie still feels a little terrified, but he also feels exhilarated. So exhilarated he forgets all about tonight actually being a date with Veronica.

Until Jughead reminds him.

Archie’s laying in bed, Jughead on the air mattress on the floor, both trying to calm their racing hearts.

“So how’s your epic romance going?” Jughead asks, a little stilted. It sounds like maybe the question isn’t his idea. Archie brightens. Maybe Veronica’s asking about him.

“Well, to be honest, I’m not really sure,” he says after some thought. 

He hears Jughead turn to look at him, “What do you mean?”

“She’s impossible to read, dude. Every time I think I’m getting somewhere, she just completely flips the script on me.”

Jughead scoffs, “You must be seriously dense if you think she’s impossible to read. She’s been practically in love with you for years.”

Archie warms at Jughead’s words. It’s definitely reassuring to hear. But wait- “What do you mean, years? Veronica’s only been here for a couple months.”

The air mattress squeals as Jughead jerks, sitting up completely. “What are you talking about? You’re dating Betty .”

Archie sits up too, “Uh, no, I’m definitely not. I asked Veronica out on a date to the corn maze and she said yes. I didn’t mean for everyone else to get dragged into it, but that was technically our first date.”

Archie can’t tell if it’s the moonlight, or if Jughead’s lost all the color in his face.

“Your first date?” Jughead asks incredulously.

“Well, like I said, she’s impossible to read. The rest of our dates have mostly been group dates, except we did have a study date- you saw us that night,” Archie points out.

Jughead looks green now.

“Are you okay, Jug?” Archie’s a little concerned. Maybe the haunted house is catching up to him.

Jughead shakes his head, “Yeah, I- Yeah, I’m fine.”

Archie smiles fondly as he lays back down. It’s kind of endearing how oblivious Jughead can be. 

Chapter Text

Cheryl’s Halloween party is tonight, and Archie couldn’t be more pumped. The football team has a whole group costume planned- they’re going as the Avengers, and Archie gets to be Captain America. It’s going to be epic. 

What he really wants is to ask Veronica to go with him, as a couple. Maybe even make it their first official public appearance. 

Unfortunately, Veronica is very clearly not in the mood. Every time he approaches her, she manages to cut him off before he can even say anything.

The first time, he waits by her locker for her before homeroom. By the time he spots her striding toward him, he can tell she’s pissed. She’s texting furiously, only pausing once to glance at Archie and then flap a hand down the hallway. “If you’re looking for Betty, she stopped to use the ladies’ room before class.” 

Veronica practically wrenches her locker open, disappearing from his view.

“Ah, actually, I was looking for you.” Archie says, shifting on his feet.

She reappears, stack of books in hand. “Whatever for?”

“I was wondering if-” 

The bell rings.

“Shit!” Veronica swears. She spins and speedwalks away. “See you later!” she offers halfheartedly.

The second time, he tries to corner her at lunch before everyone else gets there. He’s waiting at their usual table when she saunters up, but she doesn’t let him get a word out.

“Have you seen Jughead?” she asks, eyes flicking around the room like she might spot him.

Archie thinks, “Uh, I think I saw him between second and third period?” He’s pretty sure that was Jughead slinking down the hallway away from him. There’s really no mistaking that beanie.

Veronica finally looks directly at him. “Did he say anything to you?”

“No?” Archie can only shrug.

“Hmm,” Veronica goes right back to people watching.

Now’s his chance. “So, Ron-”

“Who’s ready to party tonight?” Kevin shouts right in his ear, dropping his tray on the table right as Betty slides in next to him.

Archie sighs internally.

The third time Archie tries to ask Veronica to be his date tonight, he doesn’t even get that far. He knows she has English last period, so once the bell rings, he practically sprints toward the classroom to catch her before she leaves.

Once he finally shoves past the last person exiting the classroom (Dilton Doiley, ugh), he can catch his breath.

He made it- she’s definitely still there. 

But so is Jughead.

Archie frowns. He squints through the narrow window in the door.

They look angry- or maybe upset? He can’t tell what they’re saying to each other. They both have their arms crossed in front of them, but as he watches, Veronica’s arms drop to her sides. She doesn’t look angry anymore, mainly just confused.

She stalks toward Jughead and stabs a finger into his chest, grabbing hold of his shirt. Just as Archie thinks he should intervene, because surely Veronica should be prevented from inflicting bodily harm on Jughead, she yanks him down to her level-

“Yo, Andrews!”

Archie jumps about a foot when Reggie slaps him on the back.

“Fuck, Reggie!” he clutches his chest.

Reggie is undeterred. He slings an arm around Archie’s shoulders and starts steering him down the hallway. “You ready for tonight?”

Archie casts one last glance toward the door, “Uh, yeah, got my costume and everything. You?”

He lets himself be drawn into a discussion of Reggie’s failure to grow a goatee. Honestly, he didn’t really want to interrupt an argument between Veronica and Jughead anyway. 

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Cheryl’s mansion is packed by the time Archie arrives with the rest of the team. Every year, this party seems to get bigger and bigger. 

As if on cue, right as they’re about to walk in, Cheryl herself swings the door open. “Welcome to Thorn hell, boys.” How very on the nose, Cheryl dressed as the devil. Archie snickers.

Cheryl glares at him. “Remember my rules- absolutely no puking, especially not in my nana’s rose bushes! No messing with my dad’s office. And no sex in my bed,” her glare turns abruptly seductive, “unless it’s with me.”

And then she’s waving them on, “Alcohol’s in the kitchen, drink up!”

God, she gives him whiplash. 

But he does appreciate the free drinks. He needs the liquid courage. Archie ducks past two river vixens dressed as sexy vampires into the kitchen.

Only to stop cold. What is Jughead doing here? He never comes to Cheryl’s parties. But hey, this is awesome!

“Jug!” Archie cheers. “Where’s your costume?” he asks as he helps himself to a solo cup full of punch. He takes a healthy sip- damn that’s strong.

Jughead gestures to his red hoodie and rolls his eyes, “I’m little red riding hood.”

Archie scrunches his eyebrows together in confusion. “Why?”

“It’s an inside joke,” Jughead brushes off the subject. “You’re actually just the guy I was looking for.” He shoves off from where he’s leaning against the fridge and joins Archie at the punch bowl.

“Whaddaya need, Jug?” He takes another sip, not sure where this is going.

“I need to talk to you about Veronica,” he says seriously, awkwardly fiddling with his own drink cup.

“Oh,” is all Archie can think to say.

“You told me you two have been dating,” Jug grimaces.

Archie rolls his eyes. “I know you and Veronica have your issues and you don’t like her, but who I date is none of your business, dude,” Archie brushes past him to leave the room. 

Jughead grabs his sleeve. “That’s not it! Archie, Veronica and I-”

“What on earth are you two doing loitering in here?” Cheryl stomps her foot from the doorway. “Scram already, other people want drinks, too.”

Archie yanks his arm away from Jughead and squeezes into the crowded living room. He’d do anything to avoid that conversation.

He glances around, looking for Veronica among the crowd of monsters, but it’s impossible to see who’s who. Out of the corner of his eye, Archie spots a gorgeous redhead in a skin tight jumpsuit. Black Widow! Of course, Veronica must have found out he was going as Cap and chose a costume that complemented his. 

He taps her on the shoulder. “Nice costume!” Archie shouts to be heard over the din.

Black Widow turns around- it’s not Veronica. Oh wow .

“Thanks!” shouts Betty tipsily. 

Archie gapes. She looks…amazing. He can’t believe this is Betty, the same girl who changed his oil in dirty coveralls last month.

He almost forgets all about looking for Veronica.

But he’s a man on a mission, and he won’t be distracted. Well, maybe once he finds Veronica and confirms their relationship status- say, maybe with a kiss?, he can come back and talk to Betty.

“Have you seen Veronica?”

Betty nods eagerly, almost sloshing her drink on herself, “I saw her go upstairs earlier!”

Upstairs? That’s perfect! Maybe she has the same thing in mind. Archie grins.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Except once he’s upstairs, he can’t find her. She’s not in the insanely fancy bathroom, nor is she in any of the bedrooms.

He even checked the linen closet.

The only place left to look is Mr. Blossom’s office. But she can’t be in there, can she? He’s pretty sure Cheryl said it was locked.

But he gives the doorknob a try anyway. Surprisingly, it turns easily.

He eagerly barges into the room, certain Veronica is waiting for him.

And, well, she is in the room. Unfortunately for Archie, she is clearly not waiting for him.

Veronica’s back is to Archie in the doorway; she’s perched on the huge mahogany desk taking up most of the room. At first, Archie can’t tell whose face is buried in her neck.

But then he moves, shifting to kiss her lips, bringing his profile into the light for a split second.

Standing between Veronica’s spread legs, hands nowhere Archie can see them (he can guess), practically atop her on the desk, is Jughead.

Jughead .

Archie must make some sort of involuntary noise of horror, because both their heads snap toward the doorway.

He runs.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Archie has no idea how he feels about what he just saw. Confused? Yes. Betrayed? Also yes. At this point it’s easier to determine what he doesn’t feel.

So when presented with the perfect solution to his problem, he does what any heartbroken teenager would do.

He gets blackout drunk.

Chapter Text

Archie wakes up Saturday morning feeling like absolute death. He immediately rolls over and makes use of the trash can, conveniently placed right next to the bed. 

He definitely doesn't remember putting that there. 

There's a knock at his bedroom door. "Arch, you up?" Comes his dad's voice. 

Archie groans.

His dad just chuckles. "Musta been some party, huh?"

Archie's response is another unintelligible groan.

"Come downstairs, I'll make you some eggs and bacon."

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

By the time Archie manages to crawl out of bed and practically stumble down the stairs, it's late afternoon.

His dad’s sitting at the kitchen table; Archie groans internally this time.

He gestures toward the stove, “They’re cold by now, but eggs and bacon are in the pan, just like I promised.”

“Thanks,” Archie creaks out. Once he actually sees the food, he realizes how hungry he is. If his dad wasn’t watching him, he’d eat it straight out of the pan. He forces himself to grab a plate from the cabinet, and loads it up.

Fred doesn’t say a word until Archie sits down. “So are you gonna explain why your friends had to carry you home last night, or am I just supposed to guess?”

Archie gulps. “Reggie and Moose carried me home?” God, that’s embarrassing.

His dad’s eyes narrow, “No, Jughead and Betty carried you home. And the Lodge girl, what’s her name?”

“Veronica,” Archie cringes even as he answers. That’s even more humiliating.

“Ah,” Fred snaps his fingers, “That’s right, Veronica.”

Archie shovels a mouthful of eggs in his mouth.

“So?” his dad prompts.

Archie swallows. “I um, I saw something I really didn’t wanna see at the party last night.”

Fred’s brows furrow, “So you got blackout drunk? C’mon Archie, why on earth would you do that?”

Archie pushes some eggs around on his plate, “I was upset, okay?”

“What were you so upset about?” his dad asks in disbelief.  “What could have possibly bothered you so much?”

“I saw Jughead and Veronica making out!” he drops his fork entirely and clenches his fists.

Fred gapes, stunned into silence. “ Jughead ? And the Lodge girl?” he starts laughing. “Oh my god, wait till I tell FP.”

“It’s not funny!” Archie protests. “I thought Veronica was my girlfriend.”

Fred stops laughing at that, “Oh, well now that’s unfortunate. You’ve been dating this girl?” he asks sympathetically.

Archie winces. “Well, looking back I’m not so sure. I thought they were dates, but it was never official.”

Fred just lets out a long sigh and pats him on the back, “High school relationships are confusing, son.”

“So how can I make it less confusing? How can I make it clear that they were dates and that we’re dating?” he asks his dad.

Fred shakes his head. “But they weren’t dates, Arch. Clearly not on her end. If she’s… making out …with Jughead, she’s already got her eye on someone who isn’t you.”

Archie deflates. “Then what do I do now?”

“You talk to them. Apologize, make sure there are no more misunderstandings.” Fred pushes away from the table. “And finish your food before you go crawling back into bed to sleep off that hangover.” 

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Come Monday morning, Archie feels only marginally better. Well, he doesn’t feel nauseous so much as horribly embarrassed. And still blindsided.

Seriously. Come on. Jughead and Veronica? Who would have ever guessed?

But he powers through the shame and forces himself to wait at Jughead’s locker before classes start.

The second Jughead sees him, his eyebrows shoot through the roof. Archie can see him mentally contemplating fleeing. But his shoulders just slump, and he shoulders his way through the stream of high schoolers in the hallway.

“Didn’t drown in your puke, I see,” Jug starts sardonically, breezing through his combination and yanking open his locker.

Archie gulps. He deserved that. “Thanks to you,” he points out.

Jughead shoves a couple textbooks in his messenger bag. “Yes, thanks to me,” he hisses, “the guy you publicly called a backstabber and a hopeless virgin at Cheryl’s party.”

“ I what ?” Archie practically shouts.

Jughead slams his locker. “Well, I suppose the hopeless part was implied. You rambled on about me violating the ‘bro code’ more than anything else,” he says, adding the air quotes.

“Fuck, Jug, I’m so sorry,” Archie swallows, “I was drunk; I don’t remember that at all.”

Jug just stares at him. “Do you really feel that way? That I stabbed you in the back?”

“No!” Archie hurriedly spits out. 

Jughead narrows his eyes.

“Okay, maybe in the moment I did. But I had just caught you and Veronica upstairs in Cheryl’s dad’s study going at it!” Archie concedes.

Jughead flushes bright red. “Yeah, I am sorry about that. That wasn’t how we wanted you to find out,” he winces.

“I’m just so confused,” Archie admits. “I told you I was asking her out, and you were so supportive! You literally said it’s about time!”

“You never mentioned her name!” Jughead argues. “I thought you meant Betty!”

Archie pulls up short. “Betty?”

The bell rings.

“Look, we’ll have to continue this later, okay? Just…maybe think twice about…everything.”

And Jughead’s gone, leaving Archie reeling.

And late to class. Shit.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Archie manages to postpone any epiphanies Jughead thinks he should be having. He just doesn’t have the time for that during class.

After all, he still has to worry about seeing Veronica at lunch. And the whole school, since apparently he made a scene at the party.

The glances and smirks he’s gotten in his classes all day are nothing compared to the outright stares in the lunchroom. 

And even the stares he’s getting now are nothing compared to the glare Veronica has aimed his way.

He takes a deep breath. He just has to apologize.

Archie hesitantly slides his tray onto the table across from her. Kevin’s eyes ping pong between the two of them.

“So, um, where are Jug and Betty?” Archie asks awkwardly. It’d be nice to have a few friendly faces. Well, possibly friendly.

Veronica continues the silent treatment, viciously stabbing a cherry tomato with her fork and popping it in her mouth.

“They had to grab a few things from the Blue and Gold office,” Kevin answers when it becomes clear that Veronica won’t.

He swallows. “Veronica, I’m so sorry.”

She cocks her head. “Sorry for what? For outing Jughead and I’s relationship to the entire student body? Calling me a cheater?”

“All of it,” he swears.

Veronica throws down her fork angrily, “Do you have any idea what you’ve done to my reputation? And Jughead’s, for that matter?”

Truthfully, Archie suspects Jughead has moved up a few rungs in social standing because of the whole thing. He definitely does not mention that to her.

“I’m sorry,” is all he can say.

She sighs and rubs her temples. “Why on earth did you think you and I were dating?”

Archie glances awkwardly at Kevin, who makes no attempt to hide his interest in the conversation.

Fine.

“The corn maze- that was the first time I asked you on a date,” he explains.

Veronica scruches up her nose in confusion, “That was just a group hang.”

“Well, no, it was supposed to be a triple date.”

Veronica and Kevin exchange a glance.

“Archie,” Kevin begins slowly, “How many of your dates were you two actually alone for?”

Archie blinks. “Um-” he thinks, “Oh, our study date!”

“ What ?” Veronica shakes her head. “Jughead was literally right there!”

“Jughead was right where?” Speak of the devil. Jug slides onto the bench next to Veronica.

Great, now Archie’s facing all three of them. He feels like he’s on trial.

Okay, maybe appropriate.

Jughead’s fidgeting and making an effort not to look at the tables around them, clearly thrown off by all the looks he’s getting from their classmates, but he stays right where he is. Veronica beams at him.

“ Okay , so maybe I’m now realizing we’ve never actually been on a date.” Archie concedes.

“Oh, we have been on a date,” Veronica says, pushing her tray over so Jughead can reach her fries, “We were just on a double date with other people.”

“What are you talking about?”

Veronica just scoffs. 

Jughead picks up the conversation where she left off, which is so fucking weird.

“Betty, Archie.” He doesn’t beat around the bush. “You’ve been dating Betty.” 

“Oh come on, Betty and I would never-” Archie hesitates, sees the knowing looks all three of his friends are giving him.

Betty is beautiful, and smart, and knows him better than anyone. But can he see himself dating her?

He thinks about it.

Shit.

Here’s the epiphany Jughead wanted him to have.

Right on cue, Betty sits down next to him. “What’d I miss?”

Well, apparently Archie’s missed a lot.

He looks across the table. Jughead has an arm wrapped around Veronica’s shoulders, playfully stealing a carrot stick off her tray. She just laughs and shoves him - not , Archie notices, hard enough to dislodge him from her shoulders. 

Archie glances back at Betty, who is staring at him, confused and somehow still so perfect

He smiles nervously. “I think it’s actually me who’s missed something.”

Archie’s not about to miss anything else.