Hit Me With Your Best Shot ~ VARCHIE

Chapter 2 ~ Are you ready?

Archie turned the corner, he shifted gear in his red truck, the evening street lamps shone dimly on the bonnet. He read the street sign. "Snakes End Road." As he drove down the road, he watched gangs of strangers gathered around garage doors spray painting, or couples  making out on old park benches. He pulled up at the end of the car park. And looked around the pub. It was run down and old, but inside it was filled with life and loud people singing, shouting and throwing darts. As he slammed open the door he walked quickly over to the bar. From the outside Archie may have looked tough, but inside he wasn't prepared to get into a fight. He sat carefully down at the bar. "What'll it be?" The guy at the bar asked. "I'm actually looking for someone, Veronica Lodge?" He chuckled, stroked his fuzzy brown beard and nodded his head in the direction of the stage. Unsure of what he was going to see Archie spun around.

The music played quietly in the background, "It's a very vey Mad World... Mad World." The speaker played. Archie was stunned to see a beautiful girl dancing elegantly around a silver pole in the centre of the stage. She extended her leg gracefully upwards, and spun slowly around the pole. The music played on. "And I find it kind of funny, I find it kinda of sad. That dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had..." As the song came to a close, an applause rose from the audience and the next girl walked onto the stage as the other left. As the girl who I assumed was Veronica walked quickly through the back I followed. She stopped at the back of the stage and she carefully wrapped a button up around her. Doing up most of the buttons except three at the top and then slipped on leather jeans. She pulled down her medium raven hair, and shook her head slowly. She turned quickly around to see Archie watching her. "Oh hey, you must be Archie."

"I'm sorry you had to see that. Every year the female serpents have to renew their trust. It's like a promise to the serpent kind." She explained. As she walked over to Archie he noticed her log red nails. She had a gorgeous face, and a perfect body. She muttered something in Spanish to a guy down a little further down the back. "So? How about this date?" She said playfully. Archie mind thought only one thing. "Wow." He blurted aloud. Veronica seemed like she'd never heard this before. "Wow what?" She asked confused. "Wow you, you look stunning." Archie admitted. Veronica pushed a piece of hair out of her face, and tucked it behind her ear. "Thanks." She blushed. "So," Archie began. "I'm taking you to a restaurant in Northside. Is that okay?" Veronica nodded. "Sure, sounds nice." The door behind them swung open. And in cane Jughead Jones. "Room for a double date?" He said pointing to Archies car. "I'm supposed to meet Betty at Pops. I presume that's where your taking her, because I don't know anywhere else." Jug chuckled.

"Veronica." He greeted her. "Nice dance you did there." Veronica walked over to us. "Ready?" Archie asked before leaving. "Mhm." Veronica replied chirpily. Archie could stare at her smile forever. It was beautiful, just like the rest of her. They quickly walked outside to Archies trailer. "Hey there she is!" All of a sudden someone ran behind Veronica picking her up by the waist and pulling her up into the air. "Hey! Get off!" She cried. He dropped her down to the ground as they both laughed. "Oh my god? Sweet Pea? Your back!" She squealed excited. Veronica wrapped his arms around him and kissed him on the cheek. "Sweet Pea?" Archie asked Jealous, you could read his face clearly. "This is Sweet Pea, he left me to go to Greendale for a week. How was work with your dad?" She asked him. "It was great actually." Jughead intercepted quickly reading the look on Archies face. "Hey listen, were late for a double date with my girlfriend. So if you could wrap this up?" He chuckled. "Okay, well we've gotta catch up." Sweet Pea said. His hair was her black and he had  a tanned skin tone, he wore fingerless leather gloves with a leather jacket and ripped black jeans. She shouted something in Spanish as we walked away. "Sorry, I haven't seen Sweet Pea in ages. He's like a brother to me." That word, 'Brother' and Archie snapped out of it. He wouldn't lie, he was the Jealous type. That was one of the reason him and Valerie hadn't worked. But maybe if he could let that go he could make this work. As they climbed in the car the drive to Pops was eventful. Mostly, Veronica talked to Jughead about recent brawls in serpent turf. Then she talked a little about Goolies too. What they were, Archie didn't have a clue.

As they reached Pops, Archie swung round and opened the door for her and held out his hand for her to take. She took gladly and jumped out. "Woah! Who's the babe Andrews?" Idiotic boys shouted over the parking lot. They wolf whistled and cheered. "Do boys normally do that around here?" Veronica asked. Archie nodded. "Only he stupid ones." She drew in a breath and said silently 'oh'. "They don't do that near you?" He asked, confused as to why the boys were worse here than in the south side. "No, were like a family down there. We would never do that. It's degrading and rude and families don't do that." He nodded. Quickly they pushed open the door as he bell rang.

Are you ready? Archie though to himself. Are you ready to try and impress this girl? This girl who's so gorgeous it hurts. Archie drew in a breath. Go.