Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Thirty-Two

When Caia exited the speakeasy, she was surprised to find Reggie still sitting in a booth upstairs. He looked up as she entered the room. He immediately rose and made his way over to Caia.

"Hey," he greeted.

Caia averted his gaze. "What do you want, Reggie?"

Reggie ran a hand through his hair. "Was what you said true? Were you really there as a favor for Betty?" Reggie questioned.

Caia nodded. "She wanted me to see if I could buy some drugs off of Gladys. It was kind of an experiment to prove something to Jughead," she explained.

Reggie bit his lip and looked away. Now he felt bad about getting Caia caught up in his mess again. "So you're not like taking drugs or anything, right?" He inquired.

Caia shook her head. "No, I'm not," She glanced toward the window then turned her gaze to meet Reggie's. "But what do you care anyway?" She shot.

Reggie was a bit taken aback. "I know we ended our relationship a bit rocky, but I don't want you to get hurt. I still care about you, C."

Caia shook her head, her expression incredibly sad. "No," She refuted. "No you don't. You wouldn't have done what you did if you still cared about me."

With that, Caia turned on her heel and made her way out the door. Reggie watched her go, his spirit crushed.

He had really messed it up hadn't he.

*

"Hey, can I help?" Reggie questioned a few nights later as he entered the speakeasy.

Veronica turned around to greet the boy. "You can start by telling me what's gotten into you," Veronica replied. Reggie stayed silent. "Are you seriously self destructing because I won't make you my partner?" Veronica quizzed.

"Partly," Reggie admitted. "I've got an issue with how I'm being treated by you."

"Really?"

"I wanna be more than just your errand boy!" Reggie exclaimed. "Or pit boss. Or casual hookup." He paused. "I wanna matter, Roni."

"You do matter," Veronica refuted. Reggie scoffed. Caia would never have treated him like Veronica did, and he was trying to keep that thought from his mind. He had mattered to Caia. "And, lest we forget, I just went through a wrenching breakup. Just a few months ago." Veronica reminded.

"So did I."

Veronica ignored the statement and continued her speech. "So, yeah, I'm taking things slow." She stepped forward and crossed her arms. "And I'm not gonna go any faster just because you're guilty about the way you and Caia's relationship ended. You can't rush things with me just to make yourself feel like you didn't make a mistake with her."

Reggie gritted his teeth. He didn't want to reply to that. So what if it was true? He wasn't going to give Veronica the satisfaction of knowing that. "Answer me honestly," He finally called. "Would we even be dating if not for the speakeasy?"

Veronica's face dropped as she looked away, trying to compose herself to answer. "Probably not," She admitted. "But I'm glad we are. Aren't you?"

Reggie sighed. "I've given up so much for you. I feel like you owe me. And I'm not getting an ounce in return."

Veronica sighed. Finally, she relented. "In that case-" Veronica walked over to her purse and pulled out a set of keys. She held them out to Reggie. "I bought your car back from Gladys." Reggie looked up from the keys to Veronica's eyes. "Now we don't owe each other anything."

Reggie nodded, taking the keys back from Veronica. He slowly back up before turning and exiting the speakeasy.

He was starting to think maybe this relationship with Veronica hadn't been such a good idea.