The Only Beanie - Book 4 (Riverdale Season 4/5)

Graduation - Part 3

"You guys are the best friends anyone could ask for," Archie said as the five giggled, sitting on the bleachers in the empty football field, drinking root beer and cream soda.

"Uh-oh. Sounds like another vow's coming on," Jughead warned.

"So let's make a vow. Really. The five of us, right now."

"These never end well," Aminity smiled.

"Okay, okay," he raised his hands. "Come on though. In one year, no matter what's going on in our lives, we'll meet back at Pop's. One year from today."

"You better. That's my graduation." The four laughed at her. "I'm not kidding. You guys better be there."

"Next year and every year after that," Archie agreed. "Deal?"

"Deal," they all repeated, clinking their bottles and drinking.

"Good," Archie told them. "Okay. There's- There's something else."

"You're very dramatique this evening, Archie," Veronica told him.

He paused. "I'm joining the army. I know it's sudden, but I enlisted and I leave for basic training in the morning. It's kind of the same plan I had going to the Naval Academy."

"Hardly," Veronica told him. "In fact, it's nothing like the Naval Academy."

"I can get my high school degree without repeating my senior year, which I was gonna have to do. I'd be set up for college. Look, guys, for the first time in a long time, I don't feel scared or uncertain about my future."'

"Well, if that's what you feel is the right thing for you, Arch, then-"
"Sorry, but no," Veronica cut her best friend off. "I won't sit here and support this." She stood and started walking away and Archie caught up to her before she could go far.

"Wait, Ronnie. Wait. Wait, Ronnie."

"You do know there's a war going on, right?"

"Of course."

She took in a breath. "You don't have a plan. And I get that that's scary, but this... This is just straight up lunacy, Archie, and I won't indulge it."

"Ronnie!" he called and Betty looked at the Jones' before following after her best friend.

"Hey," Aminity said and Archie looked at her, "we're gonna be by your side, no matter what. Just expect consistent letters and care packages."
He sighed and gave a small smile. "I think I can live with that." He sat back down and Aminity leaned into his side as Jughead put a hand on his shoulder.

***

STAY THE NIGHT WITH SWEET PEA

***

"You ready?" Jughead asked, knocking on Aminity's door.

"Yeah," she nodded, finishing tying her shoes before following him out the door. They went next door, knocking before Archie opened it.

"Ready to go?"
"Yeah, just about," he told him. He leant down as Vegas came running towards him. "Hey, come here. Be a good boy, okay? Look after Mom. I love you, buddy."

"Don't worry. He and Hot Dog will have the best time," Mary told him and Archie stood back up, giving her a big hug.

"I love you, Mom."
"I love you."

"Thank you for everything." He grabbed his bag and jogged down the stairs before taking one last look at his house and Mom before getting on the back of Jughead's motorcycle. They drove out to the bus stop, sitting in silence.

"This kinda reminds me of our, uh, not so fun roadtrip," Aminity said after a while and the boys chuckled, smiling at the good memories of their escapade.

Archie riffled through his bag, trying to find something. "Um, Aminity, I think I left my water bottle by the bikes. Can you check?"

"Sure." She hopped up and walked over to where the bikes sat a few feet away and started searching. Jughead and Archie sat awkwardly for a moment before Archie spoke up.

"Listen, Jug... Before I leave, I have to tell you something."

"Archie, I know. About you and Betty? She told me. It's okay."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously. I know neither of you did it to hurt me or Veronica. Maybe a little normal high school angst is good for us. So, yeah, we're okay. Seriously. We always will be." Aminity waited before the two fell into silence again before walking over with Archie's water bottle.

"Here."

"Thanks," he said, putting it in his bag before the bus pulled up. "I guess it's time." They stood up and Jughead hugged him first before Aminity did. "I'm expecting those letters and care packages," he teased and she chuckled.

"You got it," she smiled, looking up at him as he pulled away. He looked at the two of them, his brother and sister before picking up his bag and getting on the bus. Aminity and Jughead waved as it drove away before sitting back down on the bench for a minute. They were pulled out of their thoughts as the jalopy pulled up with Betty driving and Veronica in the passenger seat.

"Guys?" Jughead asked, standing and walking over to them.

"Where's Archie?" Veronica asked.

"The bus left, like, a minute ago. He's gone."
"Well, not yet, he's not. Get in." They climbed in the back of the jalopy, Betty speeding off as they tried to catch the bus. Finally it came into view, Betty honking the horn as she pulled up beside them and saw Archie in the window. Veronica stood up, waving and blowing a kiss as the rest of them waved.

"I love you, Archie!" she yelled.

"I love you too, Ronnie," he mouthed and the bus slowed down, pulling off to the side of the road. Veronica ran to meet him, the others watching as they hugged tightly and talked for a minute before he walked over to the three of them.

"Later, bro," Archie held out his hand.

"Don't bro me," Jughead told him before giving him a bug.

"See you in a year, Arch," Betty said as she hugged him.

"See you in a year, Betty."

"Be safe, alright?"

"You know it," he told Aminity, giving her another hug before walking back over to Veronica and taking her hand. She smiled at him and he let go, getting back on the bus. They walked onto the road, watching as Archie moved to the back, keeping them in his sight for as long as possible.

***

Veronica left first. She went to spend the summer with her mom. Betty decided to go to New Haven early, leaving Jughead and Aminity alone in the house. They decided to move into the Andrews house until Jughead left for college in August. Sweet Pea helped them move and Mary welcomed them with open arms. August came quickly and soon, Jughead had to prepare to leave for Iowa.

"Is that everything?" Aminity asked as she took the last box out to the truck that Jughead had rented.

"I think so, yeah," he nodded as he looked over them all.

"I guess this is it, then," she said, putting her hands in her pockets.

"Hey, I'll be back for breaks or you can come and visit me. Our story isn't over."

Aminity smiled. "I know. There's always gonna be another chapter."

Okay, so I know I'm terrible at updates, but here's the last chapter finally. But I got to post it on the day I graduated high school, so it's kinda fitting. Congratulations to all the 2023 grads! I'll make a post to this book when I put the next one up!