Hopelessly Devoted ➳ a.a ♡ b.c.

twenty one

betty walked into pop's playing with the ring on her right hand anxiously. she hadn't been on a date, with someone besides jughead, in years so she was rightfully nervous. her nerves skyrocketed when she saw lucas sitting in a nearby booth, drumming his fingers on the table mindlessly.

"hey, lucas." betty said as she slid in the seat across from him.

"hey, betty. what's been going on? we haven't talked in a few days." he said calmly, he wasn't being awkward which soothed betty's nerves a bit.

"oh, nothing much. just school work, and a little bit of helping my mom out with the paper." she smiled.

"i've seen you hanging around reggie mantle lately, are you two friends? he doesn't seem like the type you gravitate towards." betty laughed.

"we just became friends, trust me it's as surprising to you as it is to me."

"not to be rude but he seems like a bit of a dumbass." lucas said bluntly, obviously unsatisfied with betty's response.

"he's really not once you get to know him. after you've gotten past the tough, jock facade he's really sweet."

"i'll have to take your word for it. he doesn't seem interested in being friends with me." lucas said bitterly.

"really? why would you think that?" betty asked a bit confused why they were talking so much about reggie on their date.

"well during spanish i heard him saying some not so kind things about me to his friends. it was your typical 'what a loser' and various other taunts."

"weird, that doesn't sound like reggie. i'll talk to him about it." betty voice was full of caring.

"oh no, that's not necessary." lucas waved off the idea.

"i insist." she said as she met his dark eyes. he forced a smile.

"let's get this date started, no more talking about reggie."

"yeah, i like that idea."
              ***
"it was amazing, V." betty said in the phone as she unlocked her front door.

"it sounds like it. tell me more." veronica said enthusiastically.

"we just talked for like two hours straight, and he was so sweet and intelligent. his views on the world are just- uh i can't describe it. it was too good to be true, but it was true. he's amazing." betty gushed as she walked up the stairs, and into her bedroom.

"i'm proud of you, B. you're moving on from jughead, you don't need him holding you back."

"i'm proud of you too, V. reggie really cares about you, and you two are taking this relationship seriously. which i think is good for the both of you." betty could head veronica's smile through the phone at the mention of reggie.

"he treats me how i deserve to be treated, and i really like him. if everything keeps on like this, i can probably see myself loving him one day."

betty felt her heart stop.

"V i've got to go. i'll call you back." betty said as she abruptly ended the phone call.

she sank to the floor, and pressed her back against the foot of her bed frame. if veronica could love reggie after loving archie, could archie love josie after me? the question played in her mind on repeat.

she thought getting with lucas meant getting over archie, but maybe not. maybe it just meant she was able to distract herself from pressing matters. that was it, she was tired of this silent torture. she needed to talk to archie, but first she needed to talk to reggie.
              ***
"reg? can i come in?" betty asked as she knocked on his bedroom door.