Believer ➵ Bughead

Chapter 2

Betty couldn't concentrate, either it being from the cheesy jokes her teacher used to make her class on quantum physics slightly more fun, or the encounter she had an hour ago with Archie Andrews. He (apparently) loved her. After years of eating Ben and Jerry's in her room alone, crying, wishing he would love her back, Archie loved her. But, she didn't. After her and Jughead became an item, Betty still cared about Archie, just not in a romantic way. Hearing him say those words made her head spin, though. As if that relief she longly craved was finally given. 

"Mrs. Cooper!" Her teacher yelled out.

"Uh, yeah?" She replied timidly.

" Could you give us a detailed recap of today's lesson?"

She gulped. She barely listened to a word the teacher spoke. She couldn't even remember what quantum physics were.

"I'm sorry sir, I have a headache and would rather not say." It was true. Her head was already pounding, and it wasn't even near the end of the day.

"Alright, well I guess that's fine. Esther!"

She sighed, relived. Although, she was kind of mad to be once again, stuck in her own thoughts.

...

" Archie, are you okay?" Veronica eyed him cautiously. His eyes narrowed directly in front of him, as if he was lost in his head. This had been happening for a few weeks. Archie would act suspicious, and whenever Veronica would ask what was wrong, his face would flip into a fake teethy grin and he'd say he was fine. She waited for him to respond, expecting his annoying response. His eyes blinked, and his mouth formed into a smile.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me." He responded, the same automatic response as always.

She had it with him. If he was going to continue to lie in her face, she'd prefer he'd do it more believably.

"UGH! I am so done with you Archie! You used to tell me everything about yourself, now all I get is some half-assed lie!" She screamed, not caring about the students around her.

"You really want to know why I've been so mad lately? You've been acting like a real bitch lately, y'know that? You've become so superficial and fake! All you care about is the shit you get from your dad! And I've had it!"

She was shocked. Her mouth hung agape, surprised to hear the words coming from his mouth.

"I am NO such thing Andrews! And I am hurt of you calling me so! I'm sorry if the pressure of my mom's recent behavior and my dad's arrival made me change temporarily, but that certainly does NOT mean you have the rights to label me! UGH!" Her temper was really starting to wear thin, she stomped to the ground, trying to relieve some of the stress.

Archie watched her run around and yell, and rolled his eyes. At that moment, Veronica took her Hermes handbag, and walked away.

"You can't keep running away from your problems like a goat Veronica!"

She laughed, and gave him the finger.  Kevin was just around the corner, trying to figure out how the vending machine near the parking lot worked. Ronnie could see him physically struggle. He would click a button, add in the money, and wait. When the candy bar would not come out, he'd push the machine and yell profanities at it. He was smart, but not intelligent, that was for sure.

"GIVE ME MY SUGAR FIX, YOU METAL JOANNE THE SCAMMER!"  He pushed the machine once again, surprisingly making it drop a skittles bag with it.

"It seems like you've gotten yourself into a little dilemma, Kev." She giggled as she came a bit closer to him.