Just One Summer // Varchie

VIII

The greasy cheeseburger in front of me seems to mock my hesitation, sitting on the table as if it's daring me to take a bite. Across from it, a boy with a grin that's too eager for comfort stares at me expectantly. I press my finger down on the top bun, and oil seeps out, glistening in the dim light of Pop Tate's diner. I glance up at Archie, his excitement palpable, a little too invested in my first bite. I can't help but wonder why he's so keen on watching me devour this monstrosity of a meal.

No big deal, I remind myself, inhaling deeply. I've eaten a burger before. But somehow, with Archie's intense gaze fixed on me, this feels like a test—a bizarre rite of passage in the small town of Riverdale.

I lift the burger, my fingers slipping slightly on the greasy bun, and bring it to my mouth. Closing my eyes, I hope to make the experience a bit less horrifying. I take the smallest bite possible, and the flavors explode in my mouth, shocking me. My eyes snap open in disbelief, and I'm met with Archie's triumphant grin.

"It's the best burger you've ever eaten in your entire life, isn't it?" he declares, as if he's the one who made it.

I nod, still processing the deliciousness. "I don't know how it's possible that something that looks so disgusting can taste so good," I admit, going in for another bite.

"That's a secret Pop Tate will never reveal," Archie says with a knowing smirk before taking a huge bite out of his own burger. I try a few fries, and to my astonishment, they're just as incredible.

"Are you a senior this year?" Archie asks, setting his burger down on the plate.

I finish chewing my fries, giving myself a moment before answering. "Yes, and I'm assuming you are as well?"

Archie nods, picking up his burger again. "Yeah, I am. I'm so glad about it. I can't wait to get out of here."

His response surprises me. "You don't plan on staying in Riverdale?" I ask, curious about his eagerness to leave.

"Not at all," he says, his voice firm. "It's not that I don't love Riverdale—I do. But no one ever leaves. Everyone graduates from high school, maybe goes to a small college in one of the neighboring towns, marries their high school sweetheart, and has three kids. Then their kids grow up, and the cycle continues. I don't want that. I want to make a life outside of this place."

I stare at him, intrigued. There's more to Archie Andrews than meets the eye, and I find myself wanting to know more. "So, what do you plan on doing once you get out of here?" I ask, taking another bite of my burger, still amazed by how good it is.

Archie hesitates, as if he's deciding whether to let me in on his secret. "I want to study music," he finally says, his voice quieter.

"That doesn't sound like a practical job," I say, noticing the way his shoulders sag a little. Before he can get too disheartened, I add, "But I admire that. Looking for a music career isn't easy, and you, Archie Andrews, have the face of the next Justin Timberlake written all over you."

His ears turn red, and a bashful smile spreads across his face. His reaction sends a flutter through my stomach, something unexpected and a little thrilling. I've made boys blush before, but something about seeing Archie like this makes me feel... different.

"What brings you to Riverdale anyway?" Archie asks, his cheeks almost back to their normal color.

My body tenses. The question I've been dreading. It was bound to come up eventually, but that doesn't make it any easier. I take a deep breath, trying to decide whether to tell him the truth. But there's something in his gaze, something that tells me he won't judge me if I do. So, I tell him everything—about Daddy, the mess he's made, and why Mom and I are here.

He listens, really listens, as he eats his burger. When I finish, I feel lighter, like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

"Wow, that sounds like a lot to process in just a few days," he says thoughtfully. "How are you holding up?"

His question catches me off guard. No one else has asked me that—Mom, Daddy, not even my so-called friends. It's the first time someone seems to genuinely care about how I'm doing. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I blink them back. I don't cry in public, especially not in front of a boy. "I'm fine," I say, forcing a smile. "It'll all blow over soon. I know my Daddy's innocent."

Archie looks at me, his eyes soft with understanding, and I know he doesn't believe me. But he doesn't push, and I'm grateful for that. The conversation shifts, and soon we're laughing as Archie recounts the story of how his ex-girlfriend's parents walked in on them, and he panicked, introducing himself right then and there. I try not to die of laughter.

"I'm not lying," Archie insists between laughs. "I panicked and didn't know what to do."

"What happened after that?" I ask once I've calmed down a bit.

"Her parents kicked me out, and she broke up with me the next day."

"Ouch," I say, clutching my chest in mock sympathy. "That's a painfully awkward breakup."

He shrugs, brushing it off like it's no big deal. "What about you?" he asks. "What's your worst breakup story?"

"I don't have one." The words are out before I even realize they're true.

Archie raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Oh, come on, now that is a lie."

"Nope," I insist, shaking my head. "I've never had an actual boyfriend, so technically, I haven't ever had an official breakup."

He looks at me like he can't quite believe what he's hearing. "I find it hard to believe that a girl like you has never had a boyfriend."

"A girl like me?" I echo, intrigued by his choice of words.

"You know," he says with a grin, "smart, beautiful, and confident."

My cheeks flush at his compliment, and I can't help but smile. "You think I'm beautiful?"

Archie nods, his gaze sincere.

"In that case, I think you're beautiful too." The words slip out before I can stop them, and I immediately feel a rush of embarrassment. But when I see the shy smile spreading across Archie's face, I'm glad I said it.

We keep talking long after our milkshake glasses are empty, the hours slipping by unnoticed. When the diner is finally empty, and it's just the two of us, I realize how comfortable I feel with him. It's like we've known each other for years instead of just one night.

As Archie walks me up to my apartment building, the night air cool against my skin, I find myself thinking about his laugh, the way it could light up an entire city. And as I lay in bed later, staring up at the ceiling, I can't help but wonder if this night, this unexpected connection, is the beginning of something more.