It's Always Being You

28- Double Date

Bettys POV

The entire car ride to the game, Archie had being strangely quiet. I hadn't asked him what my dad said since we left and I figured I wouldn't until after the game so I wouldn't shake his focus, I knew how important this game was to him. As we pulled into the school car park, I could tell something was bothering Archie and was consuming his thoughts. "You okay?" I questioned as I slid my hand up his arm before resting it on his shoulder giving it a light squeeze. "Yeah I'm fine." Archie responded in a calm yet not believable tone. Did he really think that after all these years I wouldn't know when he was lying. "Did you forget who you where talking to?" I questioned with a laugh as I gave him a smile and a look telling him that I knew he was lying. He let out a small stifle laugh as he turned to look at me while grabbing one of my hands in his before bringing it up to his lips and planting a soft kiss on my skin. "Not exactly. Can we talk about this later. There's so much pressure on me with this game that I really need to stay focused. I promise I'll tell you later just not right now." He explained as he ran his thumb along my knuckles while his eyes stayed gripped to mine. He was right, he needed to focus and If that meant waiting to hear what was going on, then I could wait. I gently slid my hand out of his before sliding it up his arms so that they where resting on his broad shoulders. "Yeah we can talk about this later. You'll do great out there and if you freeze up at any moment just focus on me." I responded with a smile as my hands gently squeezed at his shoulders. We both broke out with huge smiles before leaning in and moulding our lips together. As our lips separated we both slid out of the car heading in the direction of the field.

The atmosphere of the game was wild. It seemed like the entire town had managed to squeeze onto the bleachers somehow. Rain poured down onto the field creating mud puddles, Popcorn was scattered everywhere, streamers where flying all over the place and the screaming of the audience filled the air. There was only seven seconds left in the final quarter and the bulldogs where down by a touchdown. I knew that this would only add extra pressure to Archie, I couldn't imagine what he was feeling right now. I could feel my palms sweating as my grip against my pom poms tightened as if nothing else mattered in life right now except for this touchdown. Archie always felt the need to be the best that he could and push him self to the limit if it meant helping others in anyway, It was one of the many qualities that I loved about him. This game was so important to him and we both knew what the two outcomes would be if he won or lost. Chuck would never let him forget the game if they lost, he'd breath down his neck for the remainder of our schooling years reminding Archie of that time he caused them to lose one of the biggest games of there lives. That was the last thing Archie needed. As if on cue like he knew I was thinking about him, Archie turned his head from the huddle only for his eyes to meet mine. I could see the fear in his eyes as his eyes linked to mine. To reassure him I gave him a small smile before silently mouthing "I love you."  While I was from the sidelines and due to the pouring rain I couldn't see much I could see the beaming smile that spread across his lips before he turned back towards the huddle. The field had grown extremely silent as the teams prepared for the final play, both Veronica and I shared a quick glance of nervousness before turning our sights back to the field just in time to see the ball snap before hearing the commentary blast through the loud speakers.

"Andrews takes the snaps, hands it off to Mantle, oh wait Andrews faked the hand off and is now running down the field. He's just made it past the thirty yard line looks like a clearing is in the open for the remainder of this ru—, oh wait number 37 of the Southside is coming his way but a big hit by Moose Mason has cleared Andrews of the tackle. He's in the open, he's at the twenty, the ten, only ten yards to go and touchdown. The bulldogs have won the first game of the season with a record touchdown from number 10, quarterback Archie Andrews! What a comeback!"