𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 | 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐚

chapter three

✴︎°༄

"SO, YOU AND that Serpent guy?" Archie asked while they were walking back to his house.

"That was our first, believe it or not," Kiara replied. "He was the first person I met here. I was going to sleep on the street but he and a few other Serpents found and helped me. I joined after two weeks of hanging with them."

"Do you ever miss Riverdale? Like did you ever think of me after our break up?"

"Of course, Archie! I cried for hours after I called you that night. I never wanted it to end like that, but I knew I'd just drag you down."

"I'm dating this girl, Veronica now, but I can't lie and say I don't still love you, Kiara."

"Archie, don't do that to yourself. You know what happened was for the best."

"But what if it wasn't?" Archie stopped walking and reached his hand out to run his fingers down the side of her face. "What if we were supposed to stay together?"

"We can't do this, Arch," Kiara whispered but Archie closed the space between them. His lips were soft against hers and brought back memories to both of them. Kiara's hands trailed up Archie's chest and onto his cheeks as his arms wrapped around her waist. For a moment, everything stopped; but Kiara soon came to her senses and broke the kiss.

"We should get home," Archie mumbled and Kiara nodded.

"You know, I really am sorry about how it all went down, Archie," Kiara said as they continued walking.

"Me too."

"But we can't change what happened and we have to move on. Also, I don't appreciate the way you threatened Sweet Pea!"

"Oh c'mon Kiara! You know I wouldn't have actually fired that gun," Archie laughed.

"Actually Archie, I don't. You're different then what I remember. The Archie I dated was scared of the Serpents and would've rather cleaned a toilet then carry a pocket knife." She sighed heavily and shook her head. "You've changed, Arch, and I think it's for the worst."

***

"Ah," Kiara winced and Archie mumbled an apology before pressing the cleansing product back onto her open wound. He bandaged the cuts on her face, wrapped her stomach in medical cloth, and tightly braced her ankle.

"You can take the bed, I'll sleep on the floor," Archie said.

"Nope, I'm not sleeping there, Arch. It'll bring back way too many memories," Kiara replied. "Please, can I sleep on the floor?"

Archie handed her a pillow and a blanket. She laid down and pulled the blanket over her thin body. Her Serpent jacket was still around her shoulders and she hadn't taken off her black skinny jeans.