The Only One (Archie Andrews x OC)

Chapter 7

Jasmine's P.O.V

October 29th

"Good to see you again Mason!" Archie's dad Fred reaches forward to shake my dad's hand firmly. "This is my son Archie." he introduces, and Archie goes from being fixed on me to looking to my father, smiling and leaning forward to shake his hand.

"Nice to meet you sir." he says politely, and my dad chuckles.

"A firm grip you've got there Archie." my dad smiles and sounds pleased. "Please, call me Mason." he says to him, an Archie just nods and stands by his dad's side once more. "I see you've met my boy Jacob. This is my wife Claire," he introduces my mom, who Archie and Fred both shake the hands of. "Our little one Anna is around here somewhere." he laughs and gives a quick scan of the room with no sight of her but I can hear her rummaging through her toys in the living room. "And my oldest daughter Jasmine, who I believe you go to school with...?" he muses and Archie and I just both nod quietly. "Have any classes together?" he asks.

"History." we both say in unison, and this causes our eyes to meet before both darting away.

Fucking hell this is so awkward.

"Right," says my dad with a chuckle as he looks between the two of us and then briefly to Fred who shrugs and gives and easy grin.

"Honey, the ham is gonna get cold." my mom tells him, and with that my dad gives a curt nod before stepping aside. "Jacob, Anna, come on now!" she calls for them, and I automatically make a break for the living room to pick up Anna because I know for sure she won't come while playing with her toys unless you go get her yourself.

"Come on missy!" I scoop her up in one go and carry her through while she protests about needing to find her sparkle pony. "You can find her later, she's probably having dinner, like us." I say, and Anna just gives a slow nod as she considers this possibility. I sit her down in her chair before making my way over to my own.

I sit quickly until I realize I've chosen the seat directly across from Archie.

Our eyes meet once more and this time his gaze lingers, not leaving mine right away. I feel a blush rising as I feel thoroughly mortified this dinner party is even happening right now. God I should have known that a place as small as Riverdale can only have so many people in the construction business, and I knew from talking with Archie in North Carolina that his dad was in this line of work. God damn I am an idiot.

"Alright, I believe we're all set to go!" my mom says happily as she slides into her chair next to my dad. "Please dig in everyone!" she says with a big smile.

With that the dinner gets underway, and it's mostly Archie's dad and my parents talking the whole time. There's the odd moment where Anna will have a sudden outburst over wanting more ham or Jacob asking someone to pass the salt, but Archie and I remain quiet and chewing our food while avoiding looking at one another directly. Who would've thought the one guy I've cared about more than anyone would come to be the one I plan on avoiding as much as I can?

"So Archie," my dad begins, and this catches both our attentions.

He and I simultaneously look up from our plates where our eyes have been fixed for the majority of the dinner. His eyes meet mine as if saying "oh god here we go" and all I can do is keep chewing while sending a silent prayer that this doesn't get any worse than it is.

"What are you into? Sports, academics, the arts?" he asks and Archie straightens up and clears his throat a little before answering.

"Well I'm on the football team, trying to make captain. But I also have an interest in music as well." he says, leaving it brief and to the point....Good, this is good.