The Only One (Archie Andrews x OC)

Chapter 9

CONTENT WARNING:

This chapter will discuss subjects such as sexual assault and stalking, viewer discretion is advised!!

_______________________________________________________________________________

Jasmine's P.O.V

October 30th

I wait anxiously outside the front doors of Riverdale High, checking my phone for what seems like the thousandth time to see the text message from Archie sent six minutes ago saying "on my way". This is where we agreed to meet, and even though I know he's not backing out on me, some horrible part of my mind tells me maybe he's smartened up and decided not to be together.

I watch as the younger students load onto busses, calling out goodbyes, and shoving each other while they file into line. They're fourteen and fifteen years old, and I remember how simple my life was back then. Before the world I knew came tumbling down around me.

I jump when I feel someone's hand on the small of my back, startled. But when I look to see who it is, and register the familiar warmth and touch of this person, my heart swells and my body relaxes.

"Hey, sorry--I didn't mean to scare you." Archie smiles as I turn to face him. I haven't seen him since our history class earlier this morning and even that felt like too long.

I smile and shrug while placing my hand on his arm; any form of touch I can have with him is as comforting as it is intoxicating. "It's okay Andrews, I was just starting to get worried you were standing me up." I joke lightly and Archie rolls his eyes.

"As if I'd be capable of doing that to you." he says and I give a light laugh as we both turn to walk towards the direction of my car.

"You wouldn't be the first." I say with a smirk as I step down the small set of stairs which give way to the gravel parking lot.

Archie looks to me incredulously, eyebrows raised. "Wait, seriously?" he asks and I laugh and nod. "Someone stood you up?" he asks and I look to him while I dig for my keys.

"Yeah, why is that so hard to believe?" I ask him and he just sighs and shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. I watch him do this and decide I like it a little too much.

"Well, I mean, I don't know...You're just...You." he says to me and I laugh at his simple explanation and bump into his shoulder playfully as we near my car.

"Happens to everyone at some point Andrews, just a matter of when." I say to him as I walk away to get to the driver's side door.

Archie pauses and looks to my car, face concentrated and thoughtful. "This....Is your car?" he asks me as I unlock the door.

"Yes. Archie, meet Nancy." I say to him with a proud smile as I put one hand on her roof and stroke the white metal lovingly.

"Wow, you're just full of surprises aren't you Rockwell?" he laughs and I shrug. "Seriously, what year is this car?" he asks me and I meet his teasing brown eyes.

"She's a nineteen eighty eight station wagon and I love her with all my heart. I worked two jobs all summer to fix her up and while she may not be much, she is mine." I say to him, gazing over my endearing shell of a vehicle.

"Okay, okay, I can respect that." he says, putting up his hands in surrender of any possible attack.

I laugh and duck inside before reaching across and unlocking his door. He swings it open and sits down by the time I have the key in the ignition, turning it to bring Nancy to life.