𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒

Beneath the surface | Sweetpea

Title: Beneath the Surface

Summary: On a quiet night by Sweetwater River, Sweet Pea and the reader find solace in each other's presence, sharing vulnerabilities and breaking down the walls they've both carefully built. What begins as a simple meeting between friends soon turns into a heartfelt confession, leading to a tender kiss that changes everything.

Words: 880

Warning(s): None

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THE NIGHT was quiet in Riverdale, with a slight chill that nipped at the edges of your sweater. Sweet Pea had invited you to meet up by the edge of Sweetwater River. It had become something of a ritual for the two of you – a place to escape from the chaos of home, school, and the tension that simmered under the surface of the town.

You arrived to find him sitting on a fallen log, staring out at the river with a pensive look on his face. His jacket hung loosely over his shoulders, and his usual confident stance softened in the quiet night. He turned when he heard your footsteps, offering that familiar crooked grin that always sent your heart racing.

"Hey," he greeted, patting the spot next to him. "Was starting to think you'd bail on me."

"Please, I'm the one who's always waiting on you," you teased, settling in beside him. The log was cold beneath you, but the warmth of Sweet Pea's presence was enough to make up for it.

He chuckled, his laugh low and soft. "Fair point. I'm known to be fashionably late."

The two of you fell into an easy silence, the kind that came naturally after years of friendship. Being around Sweet Pea felt like slipping on a well-worn jacket – comforting, familiar, and a little thrilling. Tonight, though, there was something different in the air, a kind of tension that hadn't been there before.

You glanced over at him, noticing the way his gaze kept drifting toward you. There was something in his expression, something almost... vulnerable. Sweet Pea was usually so guarded, but in this moment, he seemed open, as if he was letting you see a part of him he usually kept hidden.

"Why did you ask me to come out here tonight?" you finally asked, breaking the silence.

He shrugged, his eyes dropping to the ground. "I don't know... Just wanted to be with you, I guess." He hesitated, his fingers tracing patterns in the dirt. "Things have been weird lately. I feel like I can only really be myself around you."

His admission took you by surprise, and you felt a warmth spread through your chest. Sweet Pea wasn't usually the type to open up like this. It made you realize just how much he trusted you, and that thought filled you with a strange kind of joy.

"I get it," you replied softly. "Being with you... it feels safe. Like I don't have to pretend."

He looked up, his eyes meeting yours. For a moment, you were both silent, lost in the intensity of each other's gaze. There was something in his eyes that made your heart beat faster, something that told you he was feeling the same pull you were.

Before you could overthink it, you leaned in, closing the distance between you. Your lips met in a gentle, tentative kiss, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away. It was just the two of you, sharing a quiet, perfect moment by the river.

When you finally pulled back, Sweet Pea looked at you with wide eyes, as if he couldn't quite believe what had just happened. Then, a slow smile spread across his face, and he reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear.

"I've wanted to do that for a long time," he admitted, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"Me too," you replied, your cheeks warming under his gaze.

He pulled you close, wrapping his arm around your shoulders as you leaned against him. The two of you sat like that for a long time, content just to be together. There was no need for words; everything you needed to say had already been said in that kiss.

As the night grew colder, Sweet Pea shrugged off his jacket and draped it over your shoulders, pulling you even closer. His warmth seeped into you, and you couldn't help but smile. You'd always known Sweet Pea was more than the tough exterior he showed the world, but tonight, you saw the depth of his kindness, his loyalty, and the quiet strength that lay beneath the surface.

Eventually, he looked down at you, his expression soft and full of affection. "So... what happens now?"

You shrugged, smiling up at him. "Guess we take it one day at a time."

He nodded, his thumb tracing gentle circles on your shoulder. "Sounds good to me."

The two of you stayed there until the first light of dawn began to peek over the horizon, casting a soft glow over the river. You knew that life wouldn't suddenly become easier, that there would still be challenges to face. But with Sweet Pea by your side, you felt ready to face whatever came your way.

And as you walked back to town hand in hand, you knew this was just the beginning of something beautiful.