IMAGINES ▹ ROSS BUTLER

↳ unlike others

( UNLIKE OTHERS )
by archiefics

As the fifth period bell sounded, you slumped your backpack over one shoulder and took your AP Biology textbook off of your desk. Thanking your teacher before you left, you exited the classroom, walking down the halls. As you walked, you watched the kids of Riverdale High interact with each other. Boys jumped on each other, hollering from down the hall as girls texted away on their phones, occasionally waving hi to a friend.

Riverdale High was a diverse place to say the least–phony girls, hyperactive jocks, and now gang members since the merger. And you? You weren't a River Vixen, you weren't an alcoholic, you weren't a druggie, you weren't friends with anyone popular. You were you. Home life was simple with a mom and dad who grew up in Riverdale and had three children who followed in their footsteps. Nothing really special about it. Just a normal teenager.

You did normal teenage things–hung out with friends on the weekends, watched television, did homework, worked a job. Nothing out of the ordinary. There were sometimes where you did feel left out; it almost seemed like everyone was a River Vixen, or was friends with the infamous "core four," or was dating a Bulldog. But your friends convinced you that you didn't have to conform to that. You were you and no one could take your place.

"Hey," your friend, Caitlin, walks next to you in the hallway. Caitlin has been a friend of yours since freshman year. Out of your whole friend group, she was the one you were the closest with. She was similar personality wise to you. She was smart (honor roll student), funny, kind, and very pretty. Caitlin was also Class President, which made her one of the more popular girls in your friend group. "I'm headed to lunch, you wanna come with? Taylor and Jill are coming, too," she tells you.

Sending her a warm smile, you link your arm with hers. "Sure. I gotta stop by my locker first if that's okay," you tell her as she nods her head. When you arrive at your locker, you shove your books and textbooks in there as Caitlin starts to ramble about how she has to start organizing student council ballots for some upperclassmen dance. Laughing, you say, "Cait, you need to calm down. I feel like whenever I talk to you, you're always stressed."

Caitlin groans, leaning against the lockers. "Mantle, what do you think?" she speaks to someone behind you. Turning around, Reggie Mantle, captain of the Riverdale Bulldogs' football team, stood in full glory. From what you understood, Reggie wasn't the nicest kid at Riverdale High, but only when he needed to be. Other said that he had a heart of gold, but a brain of oatmeal. Whatever they said, the one common denominator was that he was incredibly good looking. No argument needed. He was tall and buff with chiseled features and dark hair.

Reggie smiles and walks up to you two. "Well, Ms. President, I think Y/N is right. You gotta chill out. Take some time for yourself," he tucks his hands in his pockets. You just stare at him in shock. I didn't think he knew who I was you think to yourself. Reggie smiles at you before dipping his right eye into a wink. "I'll catch you two ladies later." With that, he makes his exit.

For a moment, you are frozen before you close your locker. "I had no idea he knew who I was," you reveal as Caitlin rolls her eyes. "I'm serious. I'd never think 'Mantle the Magnificent' would take an interest in Y/N the Average."

She laughs before speaking, "Riverdale is a smaller than you think Y/N. Plus, who wouldn't wanna know who you are. Honor roll student, president of Spanish club, not to mention a smoke show." She elbows you in jest as you scoff. "Come on, I'm hungry."

At lunch, you sit with Caitlin, Taylor, and Jill, all gossiping about whatever. While you listen to them talk, you look around the lunchroom, watching the student interact. The Serpents are huddled together in one corner, the River Vixens in another, the "Core Four" sit in the middle, and of course, the Bulldogs not too far behind. Taylor rants on about her Chemistry exam, you take the opportunity to look at Reggie from across the room.

He wears a bright smile on his face as he laughs at a joke Moose told him, slapping his arm. One of his hands runs fingers through his hair, pushing it away from his face. As he looks up, his eyes meet yours and you freeze. Reggie's face turns into a smirk as he winks at you, yet again, heat crawling up to your face as you turn away. Your heart thumps a little faster and you revert your attention back to Taylor. "Hold on a sec," Jill smiles. "Is...Y/N blushing?" Taylor pokes at your sides as you roll your eyes.

"Would you guys stop? It's nothing," you brush it off, sipping from your water bottle.

Taylor gives you a look. "This is not just nothing. This is Y/N blushing because of something or someone. Who?" she looks around the cafeteria, trying to find what you were staring at just moments ago. Finally, she finds it. Well, him. "No. effing. way. Reggie Mantle?"

You hush her and slap her arm. "Shut up, he's so into it," Caitlin laughs as she watches Reggie still looking at you. "Y/N, you have to talk to him," Caitlin says and your eyes widen as you shake your head. "You never know what could happen!"

The days started to go by and you and Reggie started to "coincidentally" bump into each other in the hallways or during lunch. The two of you started to talk more during school and even text after thanks to Caitlin giving him your number. You couldn't help but feel the more you talked to him, the more you started to like him. Even your friends noticed a shift in both of your behaviors. And soon enough, he finally asked you out on a date. Reggie took you out to Pop's and then the two of you drove out to one of the open fields to look at the stars. The night was very special and very intimate for the two of you and you never expected that out of him.

You two started going on more and more dates and eventually made things official after a month and a half of talking. Reggie would walk you from class to class, sneaking small kisses here and there even though he knew you hated PDA. He just wanted to show you off to everyone. Dating Reggie made you very happy, but it left many confused.

Why would the captain of the football team date a nobody? You weren't a Vixen. You weren't friends with his friends? Why would he chose you when he had some many other options available to him?

You never really noticed people's confusion until one day at school you came into the girl's locker room. "I don't get it," you hear Cheryl Blossom's voice call. "Reggie is so hot and he could have any girl in this school, but he chooses someone who I didn't even know existed until last week!" Some of girls chime in agreement while others remain silent. "Whatever it's his choice that he's stuck with some nobody."

After she finishes talking, you leave the locker room, saddened. Cheryl's words sink in deep. She was right, compared to everyone else at this school, you really were a nobody. Pulling out your phone, you shoot Reggie a text. Hey, can we talk?

Not even a minute later, he texts Sure, babe. Meet by the field? You text him an okay and head to the field to meet your boyfriend. A million thoughts cloud your mind that you don't even realize Reggie next to you until you feel his hand slip into yours. "Hey, is everything alright?" he smiles, squeezing your hand. He was genuinely concerned, you could tell.

"Honestly," you sigh. "No." He scoots closer to you and asks you what's wrong. "Reg, why did you ask me out?" you ask and he furrows his brows in confusion. "You have so many other options and you chose me. You could have had any other girl in Riverdale and you chose a nobody. You could have had a River Vixen or-"

You stop talking when you feel a pair of warm lips pressed against yours. His hand rests on your lower back, pulling you into him as you place your hand on his cheek. His kiss is warm and comforting, washing away all of your previous fears. His touch was gentle and kind, making you melt into him. Slowly, he pulls away and then speaks, "Y/N, I chose you because you are nothing like those girls. All of those girls are stuck up and self-absorbed and would only date me for the title. You wanted to date me because of who I am. Just like I wanna date you for who you are." Reggie's words are so sweet and it makes your heart flutter as you blush. "I don't care what anyone says about us, alright, babe?" You nod your head. "Good. Tonight is our rival game. I want you to wear my practice jersey," he tells you.

Smiling, you say, "I'd love to." He smiles before pressing another kiss to your lips.