See You Again~Archie Andrews

2.

•Ricki•
I waltzed into Pops with my close friend Veronica Lodge, laughing and chit chatting as we made our way into our usual booth where Jughead and Betty would be waiting. Only it wasn't just them that awaited our arrival. A certain ginger sat there as well.

I saw Archie before I'd even sat down, I grabbed my friend's wrist and whisked her to the side. "You never said he would be here." I hissed, my cheeks heating up.

"Yup!" Veronica grinned, popping the 'p'. "I wanted you to formally meet. Ricki meet Archie."

I gave an awkward little smile, trying to hide my thoughts. "Hey,"

Archie smiled in my direction. "Ricki Hemmings, right?"

I nodded, shrugging out of my cozy hoodie as I was getting a little warm. "Yeah, Jonas—my brother—plays too."

"He's pretty good... Jonas." Archie nodded, sipping his milkshake. Jughead emitted a faint snicker.

"Yeah..." I shrugged and glanced at Betty for help. Betty gave me hopeful smile.

Veronica elbowed me, causing me to look at her with a hope for murder in my icy blue eyes. "Anyway." Veronica started. "Archie, why don't you show us some of your songs?"

The ginger raked a hand through his hair. "I don't know... I mean we're in a restaurant." Veronica gave him a look.

"There's no one here, anyway Arch." Jughead added.

He sighed. "Fine! Jeez." He took out his lyrics for I'll Try and sang the opening lines.

I was instantly entranced by his soft voice, deepening during the chorus and brightening towards the end. It seemed I'd lost all ideas of time when I heard him sing. I even related to the meaning of the song, its subtle mentions of letting go and forgetting reminded of me of when Jonas and I moved from a town nearby to go to Riverdale. My friends never returned any of my calls and my late boyfriend hooked up with a new girl the week we left. I shook the thoughts and continued listening to Archie's soothing voice, realizing a tad too late that he'd already finished and I had no excuse for gazing into his sparkling hazel eyes.

"Um, so uh... what did you think?"

I snapped from my embarrassing trance and my cheeks flushed bright red. "It was just... amazing. Did you write it yourself?" I quickly recovered.

•Archie•
I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to remain modest. "Yeah, I uh... did. Write the song."

Ricki then bombarded me with questions on my inspirations, musings, and ideas, the two of us both eagerly entranced by each other's talents, barely noticing our huddle of friends leaving the restaurant to get home.

"So yeah. Kinda simple really." I finished, smiling at the pretty girl in front of me who was currently chewing on her bottom lip and twiddling her thumbs. I also couldn't help but notice how she looked quite cute with those stray wisps of hair sticking up on her head

"I think that's magnificent. I could never write songs, only sing them."

"Maybe one day I'll teach you."

"I'd like that. A lot actually." Ricki smiled at me, cheeks pink and rosy.

"Here, give me your phone. I'll put my number in and you can text me whenever you like." I offered, Ricki handing me her phone which I quickly typed my number into. "There."

Ricki took her phone and slipped it back into her denim purse. "Thanks, I'm really psyched to learn your rad writing skills!" She joked.

I laughed and grinned at Ricki. "Me too. See you in class, Ricki." I said standing up and setting a twenty on the table.

"I'll see you, Archie." She smiled and they both parted ways.

•Ricki•
I bumped into a pair of spindly legs on the way to my car, nearly tripping over my feet. I heard a soft giggle.

"V! How long were you here for?"

"Long enough." Veronica giggled again.