Always and Forever

Chapter 2: Touch of Evil

On Monday morning I sat in the kitchen doing my honors English and trig homework as Fred gave Vegas a piece of food.

"Morning dad, Morning Dani," Archie greeted us as he walked into the room.

"Morning," We both greeted him.

"Where'd you sneak off to last night?" Fred asked.

"You, uh, heard that?" Archie questioned.

"The house is pretty squeaky," I pointed out.

"Son, I've been hearing you sneak out since you were eight years old, going to Jughead's treehouse," Fred added.

"I couldn't sleep," Archie answered. "Went out for a jog to tire myself out."

"Got something on your mind Arch?" I questioned.

"Just all the stuff with Jason," Archie answered.

"No more midnight runs until the police catch whoever it was that shot that poor kid," dad ordered after a sip from his coffee. "I swear to God, this town." Later that morning, we heard the doorbell ring. I opened the door with Archie standing behind me, and we saw that it was Betty.

"Walk me to school?" Betty mainly asked Archie. We walked down the familiar path on the way to our high school. "I needed time to process. To separate what my mom wants from what...I think I want."

"Which is?" Archie asked the girl.

"My mom says I should never speak to you again," Betty answered. "Not including Dani, she loves her."

"So what are you saying?" I asked.

"But I...still want us to be friends," Betty admitted, then looked at me. "Best friends."

"You do?" Archie asked, surprised.

"Yeah," Betty confirmed. All of us broke out into smiles.

"I mean, that's great, Betty. Me too," Archie admitted.

"I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt," Betty pointed out.

"And I'm sorry Betty," Archie apologized. "I didn't do it to be a...I don't know, I just...I thought it would be better in the long run."

"And it will be," I confirmed. "We probably shouldn't tell Alice that you two are friends again."

"Dani!" Archie hissed.

"She's not wrong," Betty agreed before walking ahead of us. When he got to school, we broke off into different directions. I went to go find Josh. He was with Reggie and the other football players. I walked down the hallway while holding Josh's hand, in the distance, I saw Jughead whisper something to Archie before walking away. As they passed each other, Jughead and I accidentally collided a little.

"Watch it, Wednesday Adams," Josh ordered, pushing him to the side. I mouthed him 'sorry'. He nodded.

"Be nicer," I pleaded as we continued to walk.

"He hurt you," Josh reminded me as he rubbed my arm.

"It was an accident," I told him. "I am fine." We soon passed Jason Blossom's old locker and set down flowers and a teddy bear along with the others. Later on, in the first period, I was sitting next to a couple of the vixens when the announcements started.

"Good morning, students," Principal Weatherbee began in the overhead. "This is your principal speaking. There have been many inquiries about the upcoming pep rally. So let me state clearly, it is happening, as scheduled. Now, on a less felicitous note, if you could give your attention to Sheriff Keller."