Sour Candy Kisses

The River's Edge.

This morning my father got a phone call from Mr & Mrs. Blossom panicking about their missing son. I follow my dad to the edge of Sweet Water River, where I take my place beside Betty and her family, while my dad does his job, as the rest of us watch as they sweep the river.

"If he is dead, Hal. I hope in those last moments he suffered. May Jason Blossom burn in hell." I look at Mrs. Cooper as I stand beside her daughter, my very best friend. "What?" I say not sure if I heard her correctly. She looked at me and then back at the river. Yea, I heard her correctly, she wishes that Jason Blossom suffered a painful death. No matter what he did, he doesn't deserve what happened to him...

Later that afternoon my brother and I sit on the bed in Betty's bedroom, Kevin scrolling through his phone while Betty finds an outfit to wear. 

"Are you excited?" Kevin asks. "Or Nervous?" I add smiling looking up at her as she looks at us from the mirror as she decides on what color lipstick to wear. "Both. I haven't seen him all summer."

"Which is why nerves are acceptable, but Betty, we agreed."

"It's time, you like him, he likes you."

"Then why, Kevin, Emilee, hasn't he ever said or done anything?"

I smile at her and answer before my brother does. "Because, Archie's swell, but like most millennial straight guys, he needs to be told what he wants, not decide for himself. So tell him, finally." 

"We'll see. It depends on - "

"Oh. My. God." Kevin says standing up staring out Betty's window.

"What?" The both of us say standing and joining Kevin at the window. 

"Game Changer! Archie got Hot! He's got abs now! Six more reasons for you to take that ginger bull by the horns tonight!"

It's the first day of school and already I don't want to go. all night long I listened to my brother complain about how he is tired of being single. I dress in skinny jeans and a black tshirt. I slide on a pair of flats and make my way to the car. Kevin and I drive to school together. I park in the parking lot and we make our way into the building. 

My locker happens to be, beside Archie. I lean against my locker as I watch Reggie and Archie having a conversation. I roll my eyes when I realize what it is about.

"Bro, you are READY for football - I'm not kidding you dude, you got ripped. Dude, you're a beast. Look at this arm!" Reggie grabs Archie's arm and squeezes it. "It's Diesel. How much you benching, like 220? 225? You got to give me some tips man, Real men need their looks, right? Taking some T?" 

The boys finish their conversation and I walk along with them. Archie goes off on his own leaving Reggie and I walking to our next class together. "You know, I could help you with whatever it is that you think you need to get girls." I smirk at him.

"Oh yea, Keller. What's that?" He looks at me with a raised eye brow. I swoon.

"Well, All you need to get me is that smile of yours." He smirks and I walk into class without saying another word to him. I feel him follow me to his desk.

"Keller." he whispers and I look over at him. "You like me?" I shake my head and look at the teacher writing up on the board and then back at him. "I can't believe you haven't figured that out yet Reggie, of course I like you." 

Veronica was being given a tour of Riverdale by Betty and my brother. "Friday nights, it's football games, then tailgate parties at the Mall-mart parking lot. Saturday night is movie night, regardless of what's playing at the Bijou - and you better get there early, because we don't have reserved seating in Riverdale." Kevin puts his arm around Bettys shoulder and she smiles at him. I adore the friendship that the two of them have together.