The Only One (Archie Andrews x OC)

Chapter 1

Archie's P.O.V
June 18th

I sank down into the fine sand, Vegas panting heavily next to me, chewing on his barely intact tennis ball. We had been running and playing on the beach for the better part of the morning, splashing through the waves and kicking up wet sand behind us.

Although it was a last minute trip, North Carolina wasn't proving to be all that bad. Dad has some guy here who supplies him with a certain material that allows Andrews Construction to operate the way it does; an important client who had been responsible for a third of our revenue...So when Dad found out this guy was considering backing out of the contract to sign on with a bigger company, he insisted he needed to see him in person instead of negotiating over the phone. 

I wasn't complaining, I didn't have anything else to be doing over the summer aside from getting ready for football season. But the training camps wouldn't be until August anyway, so I packed up and came further south with him.

We've been here only two days now out of the five or six my dad has planned. We're staying in a B&B that's right on the beach, owned by a sweet old woman named Claire. She loves dogs, and has one herself, so decided her B&B would be pet friendly. That's how we were able to bring Vegas with us too.

"Come on boy," I say, pushing off the sand and getting to my feet.

Vegas shoots off in front of me, enjoying the sun beating down and the cool feel of the sand. I start off at run after him, and our game starts: I'll chase him, touch his leg or his back, wherever I can reach and turn around and he'll chase me down in return. Tag at its best. It can keep us busy for a long time and Vegas loves it.

As we run further down the beach more homes come into view, sitting easily on the bank. Most are brightly painted, with windows open and an American flag flying proudly outside. I wonder briefly what my life would be like if I had lived here myself. I definitely would've learned how to surf. That would be my thing if not football.

After fifteen minutes of running Vegas and I are now playing a much slower paced game of catch. He's lazily trotting to the ball instead of sprinting to it as he had done twenty minutes ago. But he and I are both tired and putting less effort into it.

"Okay Vegas," I sigh and run up towards the bank of a light blue house before collapsing down in the sand again. He follows me and promptly slumps down into the sand and his panting seems harder than ever. I frown slightly; I should have brought a water bottle with me or something. The poor guy has got to be dying for a drink right about now.

I close my eyes and lay back, the sun probably bringing out more of my freckles and the vibrant hue of my hair. I stay like this for a few minutes, the only sound being Vegas's panting and the waves crawling up on the shore. 

But then I hear something different: music. The soft strumming of a guitar's opening notes to a song. I open my eyes and sit up slightly. I turn my head in the direction of the music and my eyes land on the sundeck of the light blue house we're laying next to. I've always loved guitar, I would love to learn one day when I have the time. Football is just too important for me to get distracted by other things.

I stand up and Vegas, as I figured he would, stays planted in his shady spot. I walk around the side of the house, following the faded white railing until reaching a set of stairs that goes to the deck. I stay there for a minute, not wanting to appear as some creepy kid listening in.

"You'd think for all the days I've known you, that I would have you memorized by now. Every question answered, every single page turned, but you just keep me on the edge somehow..."

Her voice is the most melodic thing I've ever heard. My chest has tightened at the sound of it. Soft, but clear to listen to, it makes me more envious than I've ever felt before. To have that kind of talent, and to just be singing on your back porch...Who would keep that hidden away? I want to see who this person is. Just watch for a bit, that's all. Is that too weird?