jock → reggie mantle [riverdale]

06

"You made captain!" I cheered, wrapping my arms around Reggie's neck after he pulled me into an empty janitors closet to tell me. He pressed his lips to mine, although a genuine smile made me pull away, "why are we always kissing in closets?" He mumbled, kissing me again before I could answer. "Reggie." I chuckled, pushing him back a little bit, "I've got a question, a real question." I stated, turning serious as I rested my hands on his shoulders, "what is it?" He furrowed his eyebrows, and I sighed. "The other day, at Jason's memorial, when you were holding my hand." I started off, making sure he was following, "Betty asked if we were together and I said no, so now I've been thinking, are we together?" I asked, chewing on my lip as I looked up at him.

"Uh." He looked around the surprisingly large closet, "I don't know I've never really been exclusive with someone." He explained, and I nodded, stepping out of his grip. "That doesn't make you any less of a man, if that's what your implying." I crossed my arms lightly, "Moose has a girlfriend." I pointed out, but then groaned, "wait, that's not a good reference, we're pretty sure he's in the closet." I added, but then looked around and realized we were in a little closet. Reggie laughed under his breath, "Jackie, we're together." He stated, making me smack his arm, "you just did that to make me embarrass myself." I whined, "but you're not going to go parading it around right?" He questioned and I sighed.

"Reggie, what's the big deal? Don't say we're together just to say it." I raised my eyebrows at the newly minted football captain, "the guys will make fun of me for it." He rubbed his neck, I rolled my eyes, "are you serious? Get over it Reggie." I shoved his shoulder lightly, jokingly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go tell Betty about my boyfriend." I teased, opening the closet door and walking off despite his protests, "Jackie, I swear." He mumbled, veering off to his group of friends that were already teasing him.

***

I tip toed into the auditorium going to meet Veronica in there to watch the Variety Show auditions. Kevin was in charge which meant it was almost mandatory for me to be there, or else he would shun me for life, typical Kevin fashion. "Hey, Ronnie." I slid into the seat next to her and shot Kevin a smile, and he returned it, he clearly must not know about me and Reggie yet.

Speaking of, he was a few rows back with a bunch of the guys from the football team, making stupid little remarks, Reggie will be Reggie. I sat up more in my seat when Archie came on stage, excited to see my best friend sing on stage, even if it isn't the actual show yet. "What's going on?" Veronica asked, watching Archie look out at the seats and not do anything. "He's choking." Josie declared, and I tilted my head to the side slightly, "come on, Arch." I whispered, so only Veronica and I could hear.

"Stick to football, Andrews!" Reggie called out and Archie left the stage seconds after, I turned around in my seat, "seriously?" I deadpanned, noticing Valerie go backstage to see Archie. "Someone's in trouble." Moose snickered and I glared at him also. "Boys are so frustrating." I mumbled to Veronica, turning back around in my seat to be sitting properly, "extremely." Kevin muttered, writing something down on his little list.

***

"Wait, why am I just hearing about this?" I practically gasped when Veronica told me about how she and Betty broke into Grundy's car, granted she's left town now but seriously, how did I not know this. "I am so out of the loop." I added, "says the girl who didn't tell me she's dating the captain of the football team." Veronica replied, leaning forward, "tell me all about it, was it cute?" She smiled, I mimicked her actions, leaning closer to her. "It was in the janitors closet." Is all I said, she grimaced, "he's quite the charmer." She retorted, popping a grape into her mouth. "He's an acquired taste." I corrected, looking up as Kevin sat next to me.

"Who?" He asked, suddenly wanting to be involved in the conversation. "Jackie was just telling me all about her new boyfriend." Veronica said before I could stop her, "um." I pulled both my lips into my mouth rubbing them together as Kevin sighed. "The inevitable I suppose." He shrugged, my jaw dropped. "You gave me a hard time about everything to do with him, until now when we're actually together." I threw my hands up, "I don't get you." I shook my head over dramatically, "what am I going to do? Torture you for the rest of your life? I had to at least try and stop the disaster before it could happen." Kevin didn't realize how harsh it sounded until Veronica and I both looked at him with surprised faces.