Alphabet ≫ Jarchie

Recalcitrant II

Recalcitrant— the one where a guy makes a local criminal turn soft. Also see: fluffy platonic relationship with the local police.

☀︎☁︎☀︎

"You really did it this time," Officer Miller said with a frown. He was sat next to Archie, who seemed eerily remorseful, as his partner spoke to the principal. "What were you thinking?"

"I didn't think they would expel me," he choked out.

"That's the least of your worries right now. You can be convicted of an actual crime."

Archie snapped his head up at that. "I really didn't think it would be this bad," he mumbled as he closed his eyes and tried to escape from this nightmare of a situation. As if on cue, he was bringing his hand to his mouth and working away at the nail on his pointer finger with his teeth. He had managed to chew down his thumb in the last hour.

He'd never been genuinely sorry about something before, and Officer Miller had never seen him this anxious. It was serious this time. This wasn't something he could cover up with a paid fine or a few hours of community service, this was an actual felony.

"Kid," Officer Miller sighed. "I thought you were trying to do better." He hadn't seen Archie in months and that was a good thing. It seemed that Archie was staying out of trouble and he thought it had something to do with the black-haired boy who made him all blushy and apologetic. Although he'd grown to like the redhead over the last few years, it was a good thing they haven't crossed paths in a bit.

"I am," he whispered. "I didn't think it would be this big of a deal," he explained again, clenching his other fist and digging his nails into his skin.

"You really messed up."

Archie didn't need the reminder. He understood his disappointment and he understood how fucked he was. For an officer, Miller wasn't being very helpful.

He took his hand out of his mouth and took a deep breath. "Please don't let them expel me," he muttered. "Please, I can't leave." His voice was shaky, and for once he seemed so small and helpless. It was weird to see Archie like this, worried and fragile. It was enough to make Officer Miller frown, who had never heard the boy utter a 'please' in his life.

"Why did you even do it?"

Archie slouched down into his seat. "Jughead had a science test today that he didn't study for because he was busy hanging out with me," he hesitated. "So I pulled the fire alarm to get him out of it. Nobody tells you how bad the consequences are when they do it on TV."

"Whipped," Officer Miller groaned as he slapped his hand over his face. "All of this for a boy? Did he ask you to do it?"

"No of course not. I just didn't want him to do badly," he whined as he sank further into his seat. If he knew pulling the fire alarm would end up getting the police involved, he wouldn't have done it. He was expecting detention, or at worse a suspension, but he never thought his principal would suggest expulsion.

Officer Miller shook his head and stole a grin at the boy. He was good at heart. He'd always known Archie to be good at heart, even before he became lovesick and stupid. He was still finding his way through the world and Officer Miller thought he was doing a pretty okay job at it considering his circumstances. Taking Archie away from the school, and from Jughead, was probably the worst thing for him.

"If I manage to get you out of this mess, you have to do something for me," he said after a few minutes of silence. Archie looked up at him, hopeful yet curious.

"Anything."

"You have to tell Jughead how you feel."

Archie stared at him, unblinking, as he tried to process the request. He was expecting something more humiliating or demeaning, not possibly life-ruining. Did he not understand how crushes work?