heartbeats ; bughead

13

veronica;

Guys, don't do anything reckless after midnight. 

You'll regret it. 

Like how I forgave Archie at around 12:30? Worst  decision ever. It seemed like a good choice at the time. I mean, you don't want to get on Loverboy's bad side, right? 

Anyways, I was heaped up in his arms, and we were both sitting on the grass near his shed. I was crying out my feelings to him, my tears already soiling his stupid shirt. 

But still, my heart was pounding with exhilaration, happiness, desire. A desire to cry forever, so I could be in his arms. 

And I kept telling myself, like I always did, This is wrong, he has a girlfriend who's your best friend, but no. 

It never worked, and it probably never will. 

But then, maybe it was because of me being caught up in the moment, or maybe I actually meant it, but I said something I knew would change both our lives. 

I looked up into his innocent brown eyes, and I whispered, "Damn it, I think I'm in love with you." And he just stared at me. 

For what seemed like forever. But then he smiled, his eyes becoming soft and full of happiness, and he opened his mouth to say something, but then there was a knock on the wall. 

"Um, Archie?" He turned around. "Sorr-sorry to interrupt-uh-this, but Cheryl's trying to teach your, like, toddler cousin to twerk..." 

He slapped his forehead. "Hi. Jughead. Jesus. Who even invited her?" 

"Um, you were the one who told me to give her a chance, so I think--"

"Thinking of Allie twerking is already giving me nightmares, and I'm not even sleeping. Let's go, Jug!" He looked back at me, and gave me a what-the-hell-was-she-thinking face, and I just shake my head in embarrassment. 

The crunch of gravel. And then silence. 

Suddenly the tiny lightbulbs hanging on a cord that looked like tiny stars snapped off. But I was just smiling in the dark. 

The knives slashing against my broken heart had stopped. Maybe, just maybe, my wounds would be healed. 

forsythe;

I had to tell Archie. I had to. 

I was hiding a secret I couldn't keep for long. So when Archie and I were rushing into the house because Cheryl was being, well, Cheryl, I was filled with dread. 

"Um, Archie. So, I gotta tell you--"

"CHERYL FIRST!" 

We ran in, to hear loud trap music, and of course, Cheryl twerking and Allie watching with glee. Betty was covering her mouth with horror, and Reggie, well, he was enjoying it (duh). Everyone else was too. 

When everyone saw Archie come in, the music stopped abruptly. His face was contorted into a raged expression, and his ears were flaming red. 

"Allie, come here. Now." Allie ran to Archie's arms, smiling as if nothing was wrong. 

Then Cheryl spoke up. "This party really was getting to be a bore, so I--"

"You were what? Teaching my 5 year old cousin to dirty dance?"

"She was actually getting kinda good at--" 

" You know what Cheryl? Veronica was right. You really are a pain in the ass. No wonder Jason left you. No wonder your mother preferred Jason over you. No wonder your father hung himself. If I were Penelope, I would have sent you instead of Jason to die." 

Everyone was silent. Archie just took it to a new level, and he knew it. Cheryl was staring at him with shame, anger, sadness. 

With a quivering voice, Archie said, "Leave my party. You're not wanted here anymore."

And with a last look back, Cheryl Blossom stalked away. 

Now was my time. 

I had to tell Archie.

"Arch, I gotta tell you something," I said in an almost whisper. 

"Yeah, Jug, what's up?" 

I beckoned him to follow me to a secluded area, and with a trembling hand, I took the bloody knife out of my pocket. 

Archie looked at it, and looked worriedly at me. "What happ--"

Then he stopped. He paled a little, and stepped a few feet back. "Don't tell me you..."

I nodded my head. He had finally understood the true depth of what I did. I was a murderer, and he knew. 

"But you don't know why. So don't judge," I whispered. 

Then Archie came a few steps closer. He put his hand on my shoulder, but not with pity.

With understanding.

"I won't tell a soul. I promise."

And that was the moment when I knew Archie Andrews could be trusted. Ah, silly me...

oml 1k reads i'm shookkkk! TYSM ilyg! thanks for carrying this book so far, i couldn't be happier. i'm sorry i haven't written (there's no excuse this time lol). tell me if you guys like it so far! as i said before i rly appreciate you guys for showing sum love to this book, i'm vvvv grateful

~mo