Alphabet ≫ Jarchie

R is for Recalcitrant

Recalcitrant— stubbornly resistant to authority or control.

☀︎☁︎☀︎

Archie felt terrible. He really didn't mean to drag Jughead into this mess, but here he was sitting handcuffed in a cop car next to him.

Jughead looked to be on the verge of tears, which was probably the second reason why he refused to make eye contact with the redhead— the first being how angry he was with him. Just because Archie relished in the familiar comfort of handcuffs didn't mean Jughead ever wanted to experience it for himself.

"How many times do I have to say I'm sorry?" Archie whispered quietly.

Jughead shook his head, not trusting himself to answer. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how much he was to blame for getting himself into this situation as well. He was always doing stupid things because of his feelings for the boy.

"Do your wrists hurt?" Archie asked worriedly, just as hushed as before.

Jughead bit his lip and nodded slightly, trying to take his mind off of the tight metal wrapped around his wrists.

"Okay, here's the trick," the redhead whispered gently, nudging him with his shoulder. "It hurts less if you keep your hands close together."

Jughead looked up, for the first time since he was escorted into the police car, and watched Archie straighten up so that his wrists lined up with the center of his back. He repeated the action himself and sighed when he could no longer feel the cuffs cutting and brushing. He didn't say much after that and Archie didn't bother to open his mouth either.

Their silence was interrupted by the pop of the driver-side door opening and the jingling of the officer's keys as he climbed into the vehicle. "Alright boys, time to learn your fate," the officer called out.

Archie rolled his eyes. None of this was necessary in his opinion. So he stole a few things from the mall and damaged a window, he didn't see why the officer was making such a big display about the whole thing. He had been in this situation a couple of times and knew what his punishment would be. He'd have to do more community service and pay back the damages, it wasn't anything he wasn't prepared to do. He just didn't understand why Jughead had to be dragged into it. He didn't do a thing.

"Officer, may I ask you why you handcuffed my friend for no reason?" Archie asked as the officer put the car in drive and sped off from the mall parking lot.

"Archie, we're practically on a first name basis now. There's no need for that," the officer began. He was right. Archie was always getting into some type of trouble because he didn't like to listen. If someone told him one thing, he was guaranteed to do the opposite. Officer Miller was a direct testament to that. He had even seen the boy shamelessly disobey his parents with no regard for consequences or other people's feelings.

Archie hated doing what he was told and he made sure to let everybody know.

"Answer my question Miller," Archie huffed, adopting his ever so charming attitude.

"Your friend is obviously an accomplice," Officer Miller concluded, sneaking a glance into the rear view mirror to take a look at the both of them.

"Did you hear that Jug? Apparently by you standing behind me and yelling at me to stop, you became an accomplice!" Archie explained dramatically, causing the officer to roll his eyes.