IMAGINES ▹ ROSS BUTLER

↳ just a break

( JUST A BREAK )
by Icthebtswriter

Being a Blossom triplet was time consuming. Your parents expected nothing but the best both academically and behaviorally, and you were held in the highest regard simply because your siblings were the king and queen of Riverdale High's unspoken social hierarchy. Being the only triplet who didn't resemble the other two, you were looked down upon by your parents and thus the most challenged. Year after year they enrolled you in school clubs, took you shopping to improve your wardrobe choices, and made basic decisions without consulting you first. It was harsh being a Blossom, which probably explained why you were the most reckless triplet.

Your reputation as a back talking, sarcastic, demon on Earth also mixed with whispers of your donations to charity and after school volunteering. Being a Vixen worked wonders for your position as queen bee number two because of your sister, and that's how you met the heart throb that was Reggie Mantle. Because you cheered him on at games and practiced near him after school, the inevitable cheerleader-jock relationship formed, much to your parent's dismay. They thought Reggie was a simpleminded toddler, but there was so much more to him than he let on.

For eight months you had gotten closer to Reggie. He was charming and kind, overprotective yet freeing, and he knew that when Jason's body was found that you could no longer be with him. You explained, heartbroken, on a walk home from school that you were mentally unable to be in a relationship, the grieving period over your brother's death too heavy to balance. There wouldn't be enough time or attention given to Reggie, and so he understood why you had to go on a break.

That didn't stop him from being jealous, though.

There was a rumor going around Riverdale High that Chuck planned to ask you out. Four weeks after Reggie told his friends you wanted to take a break, and the dog of a teammate was going for you. Reggie's blood boiled at the thought of Chuck doing to you what he did to Polly and Veronica, and half of the girls in the school too kind to turn him down.

Arms crossed, Reggie watched as Chuck escorted you to class and even held your backpack for you. Chuck was smiling, a joke obviously having been said that made you laugh, and God how Reggie missed hearing such a sound. He continued walking in the opposite direction, mind intent on devising a way to get you away from Chuck and back into his life.

Perhaps winning you over by hanging around your twin sister wasn't the best option, but it sure as hell got your attention. At football games he chatted her up, sneaking glances at you and catching you staring a few times. When Cheryl hosted the party at your house, Reggie went so far as to following Cheryl around like a lost puppy, knowing fully well that you were watching and doing your best not to say something. You were taking a break and that was that; you needed to spread your wings and leave time to mourn, right?

Your jaw clenched as Reggie's hands settled on Cheryl's waist, her friends surrounding them by her locker. Even from all the way across the hall you knew what he was doing, and you were even more pissed off because it was working. Whatever game Reggie played at didn't go unnoticed by your sister; she even encouraged you to take him off her hands once or twice. It's just he seemed so at ease around Cheryl that you didn't know for certain if Reggie was sincere or not. His smile was genuine, but his eyes always locked with yours and his smirk fell. Weeks had gone by like that: silent glances that held more meaning than either of you would give the other credit for.

Slamming your locker shut, rage filled a deep pit within your being that had you practically jogging across the hall to grab Reggie's sleeve. He let go of Cheryl, confusion winning over the urge to pull away, and the fact that you were the one separating him left Reggie all the more helpless. His sneakers skidded along the tiled halls, long legs having more difficulty keeping up with your quick pace than his heart keeping up with its own beats. When you shoved him into the supply closet is when he could finally relax.