
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/12562260.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Riverdale_(TV_2017)
  Relationship:
      Archie_Andrews/Reggie_Mantle, Betty_Cooper/Veronica_Lodge
  Character:
      Archie_Andrews, Veronica_Lodge, Jughead_Jones, Betty_Cooper, Cheryl
      Blossom, Reggie_Mantle, Fred_Andrews
  Additional Tags:
      Gay, betty_and_veronica_are_together, jughead_is_asexual, really_gay, ALL
      THE_GAY, Sex, Maybe_-_Freeform, Im_not_sure_yet, Reggie's_parents_aren't
      the_best
  Stats:
      Published: 2017-10-30 Updated: 2018-01-04 Chapters: 4/? Words: 4940
****** Not Again ******
by TrashTrashTrash
Summary
     “Well, that was close.”
     “ We can’t keep doing this, I mean it this time.” He can hear a snort
     coming from beneath the covers in response.
      
     Or the one where Archie and Reggie are foolin' around, but of course,
     they both want more, and of course, the other doesn't know.
***** I Wanna Be Yours *****
“No Jughead, I’m good, I promise,” Archie said, peering at Jughead through the
crack in the door he’d created.
“You sure? You love going to Pop’s with us.” Jughead looked confused and hella
suspicious of him, but Archie just smiles and says, “ I’m fine Jug, I promise.
I just need to catch up on some sleep.” Jughead’s face immediately molds into
concern.
 
“Are you sick?” He says as he begins to open the door wider, now seeing more
than just Archie’s head, “Because I can stay home if-”
 
“NO,” Jug stops mid-step,”no- I’m, I’m good Jug, really. I’m just tired.”
Archie can see Jughead grow more suspicious, but he turns to leave anyway,
saying, “ alright, well if you’re sure.”
“Promise Jug, go have fun. Tell Ronnie and Betty I said hi.” With that, Jug
nods, gives Archie a look one last time, then shuts the door. Archie waits
until he hears his footsteps dissipate and the door open and shut before he
finally breathes again. He sighs, rubbing his eyes.
 
“Well, that was close.”
“ We can’t keep doing this, I mean it this time.” He can hear a snort coming
from beneath the covers in response.
“See, I don’t think your dick agrees with you,” Reggie pulls back the covers to
reveal his head lodged in between Archie’s legs, a shit-eating grin on his
face. Archie looks back at him, unimpressed, swatting at his head.
“Reggie I’m serious.”
“So am I, you talked to Jughead and you’re still hard.” Archie blushes. It’s
true. Even Jughead couldn’t take away from how turned on he is right now. Just
the image of Reggie between his legs makes him feel like he’s gonna blow.
“That- That’s not the point. We can’t keep fooling around like this. What if
Jughead had actually opened the door all the way? What would’ve happened then?”
For a quick second, a look of concern passes through Reggie’s face before he
quickly puts back on his sly smile.
“Come on, Andrews. Stop getting your panties in a bunch. We’re just having some
fun, right?” There’s a small pause that almost goes unnoticed, a slight twitch
in Reggie’s brow, his mask falling for not even a second before it is back in
place, his snarky smile returning. “Nothin wrong with that.” Archie just stares
at him for a moment before throwing his head back with a groan.
“Reggiee-”
“ Relax, Andrews. No one’s gonna find out.” The look on Archie’s face is a
mixture of distraught and lust. It’s a look Reggie’s witnessed many times now.
It’s a look that reminds him that what they’re doing is a sinful affair and
nothing more. He immediately shakes his head and smiles back at Archie with his
signature shit-eating grin as he begins to slink back down, pulling the covers
back over his head.
“Now, where were we?”
***** Sexy Dirty Love *****
Chapter Summary
     "Hittin' me up late always be blowin' up my phone
     I'm lying awake wonderin' why I'm still alone
     Lord knows I am sinning, please forgive me for my lust..."
     Basically, the whole song by Demi Lovato inspired this chapter (hint:
     that's why it's the title of this chapter). I would rate it M, so if
     you're not into that, don't read on. This was my first time writing
     anything remotely smutty so please forgive me if it's total trash.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Archie decides that Reggie Mantle is the biggest tease ever to live- ever. He’s
sitting up at the counters at Pop’s, across from where Archie’s sitting in a
booth with Jughead, B, and V, drinking a milkshake. Except he’s not just
casually sipping it. He’s looking Archie straight in the eye while his lips
wrap around the straw. Archie can see his Adam's apple bob every time he
swallows.
 
It’s torture- and he can’t get enough.
 
“Hello? Earth to Archie.” Archie is pulled out of his Reggie trance, snapping
his head back to whoever’s calling him, which happens to be Jughead.
 
“I’m sorry. What were you saying?” Archie says, shaking his head, looking at
Jughead. Jughead gives him a look similar to the one he’d given him a couple of
days ago when he almost caught him and Reggie in bed. Now, the look is fueled
by even more concern and inquisitive.
 
“Archie, are you, okay? You’ve been acting kind of weird lately.” Archie starts
to panic, and now both Betty and Veronica are staring at him too, sharing the
same look.
 
Shit, come on Andrews. Think of something.
 
“Um, ya- I- I’m just, uh, a little sick. That’s all.” The gang’s faces
immediately morph into concern. At the same time, Reggie gets up, gives Archie
a pointed look, and then walks into the bathroom.
 
“Are you ok, Arch? Do you need to go to the doctor or something?” Betty asks
with a motherly worry.
 
“Uh-um no. I’m just gonna splash some water on my face. Be right back,” Archie
responds, abruptly standing up and half-way running towards the bathroom.
 
His friends watch as he runs off and wait until he’s in the bathroom before
they begin to speak once more.
 
“He’s totally fucking Reggie, isn’t he?” Betty speculates aloud.
 
“Oh ya, one hundred percent” Veronica spews back without hesitation.
 
“I caught him the other day in bedwith the guy,” Jug says, the look on his face
a mixture of mortification and confusion. “I don’t know why he won’t tell us.
Does he think we’ll judge him or something?”
 
Veronica shakes her head, leaning in, “He can’t, I mean, Kevin’s gay, right?
Why would we not care about Kevin and then suddenly give a damn when Archie
decides to get a boy toy of his own? For Pop’s sake, Betty and I are dating!
We’d have no room to judge.”
 
Jug notices that throughout this entire conversation, besides her initial
statement, Betty has said nothing. He looks over to Betty and sees her face-
she looks disappointed.  “What’s wrong Betts?”
 
“Well, it’s just- we’re all his best friends- or I thought we were, at least.
It just makes me a little sad that he doesn’t feel the need to share this part
of his life with us.”
 
Veronica reaches out to squeeze Betty’s hand reassuringly. “He’s obviously not
ready yet for God knows why, but we’ll definitely be there when he is.”
 
-------------Meanwhile In the bathroom--------------

Archie’s head bangs against the stall wall as he throws it back. He can’t
believe he is doing this- making out with Reggie Mantle, Riverdale High’s
premier dealer for Jingle Jangle, in a Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe bathroom stall.
Fortunately, he can’t worry too long, being pulled out of his thoughts when he
feels the zipper of his pants being ripped down.
 
“Woah, Woah, Woah. What are you doing, Reggie? We’re in a public place!” Archie
whisper screams, eyes looking as if they were about to come out of his skull.
Reggie laughs softly as he looks back up at Archie, his signature shit-eating
grin plastered on his stupidly beautiful face.
 
“Andrews, chill. No one’s gonna come in here.” Reggie begins to slowly slide
down to the floor as he continues, “the only other people here right now are
your geek friends, and they think you’re pukin’ up your guts or somethin’ right
now, right?”
 
“Ya, but-” he stops mid-sentence as Reggie takes him into his mouth.
 
“O,” Archie’s mouth immediately goes slack with unnerving pleasure. How did
Reggie get so damn good at this?
 
Reggie pulls off and he smiles widely. If Archie had the necessary brain cells
to do so right now, he would have definitely rolled his eyes, but he doesn’t so
he lets out a sad, sad whine instead, which only fuels Reggie even further.
 
All Reggie does is put his index finger to his lips as he makes a low shushing
noise before getting back to it.

Yup, Archie thinks as he looks back down at Reggie, I’m screwed.
 
Chapter End Notes
     Let me know if you want to hear more. Comments and critiques are
     always appreciated.
      
     Stay spicy, fam.
***** Take Me To Your River *****
Chapter Summary
     This chapter was inspired by the amazing Leon Bridge's song, "River."
     It gets a little angsty, so strap in kids.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Reggie was currently home alone, his parents out of town, as usual. Coming
Home, the album, is playing on vinyl as he drinks a glass of wine and reads one
of his favorite series, Harry Potter. He’s just about to get to the part where
Harry gets put into Gryffindor when the doorbell rings. Confused, considering
he’s not expecting anyone, he stands up and makes his way to the front door.
When he opens it, he’s surprised by who stares back at him.
“Archie?” He looks down at the teen from where he stands on his front porch,
tear stains on Archie’s cheeks and a look in his eyes that makes Reggie want to
fall to his knees. He looks tired, but most of all, sad. A type of sadness that
he can’t read, but he can tell it’s the kind that makes the soul ache and your
heart feel physically heavy, almost as if it’s drowning in its own sorrow. He
also looks like he’s about to flee at any moment as if he isn’t sure if he made
the right move by coming here. Reggie feels like he knows this because, well,
he knows him. The past couple of months of hooking up has given Reggie the
chance to come in acquaintance with all of Archie, body, mind, and everything
in between.
That’s why he knows that if he doesn’t immediately pull him into his house and
shut the door behind, he’ll leave within the next couple of seconds. So that’s
what he decides on, cautiously grabbing his hand and pulling him in
swiftly.Since no one’s home, Reggie isn’t worried about any interruptions- he’s
only worried about Archie. The redhead looks a little stunned from the quick
action, but also a little more relaxed that he’s finally inside, like he’s
proud that he actually got in, which makes him wonder, why is Archie here?
So, he asks again, this time grabbing Archie’s shoulders, so his friend has no
choice but to look Reggie straight in the eye.
“Archie, what’s wrong? What happened? Did someone hurt you, because if someone
hurt you, then they better get ready for one hell of an ass whooping because I
swear to God when I get my hands on them-
“Reggie-” but Reggie cuts him off, too wound up now to realize he began
speaking, pacing around the room with anger illuminating his features.
Who hurt his Archie? Whoever it was they were fucking dead.
“No, I’m serious, Red. I know you have this thing against violence, especially
after our run-in with that trash from the Southside, but I swear, Archie, I’ll
make it right for you. If you just tell me who-
“REGGIE,” Archie’s voice cracks with desperation, and it makes Reggie
immediately pauses his rage to look at Archie again, “stop, please.”
Reggie’s face resides to worry as he guides Archie to one of the many couches
in his living room. He sits down next to him and tentatively grabs his hands.
“Archie, please tell me what’s wrong.” He’s got a look in his eyes that would
break down even the most stubborn of men, and they finally break down Archie.
His face scrunches up as he begins to cry. Reggie quickly raps him in a
protective hug, rocking him back and forth.
“Shh, it’s ok Arch.You can tell me, what is it?” Archie breaks the hug and
wipes his eyes, sighing in defeat.
“It’s not-” he looks up, trying to collect himself enough to get out what he
wants to say next, “it’s not just one thing Reg, it’s everything. Everything
that’s been happening the past couple of months- I can’t- I can’t deal with it
anymore. Jason dying, my dad getting shot, others getting hurt by, by some
lunatic in a hood. Jughead and the Southside, B and V getting wrapped up in
everything- I just can’t deal with it anymore. It’s too much, Reggie. It’s all
just way too much. I, I can’t-”
Reggie cuts him off with a kiss, pressing his lips to his hard but soft at the
same time, trying to make him feel how much he cares about him, trying to
convey everything he’s ever wanted to say in one kiss. He keeps his lips there
for a while, waiting for Archie to calm down a bit more. When he does break the
kiss, he can’t help but think about how beautiful Archie is. He’s always
thought this, even since they were kids. He’d stare at Archie, him running
around on the playground, laughing, while he sat on the bench alone. Archie
always looked as if he didn’t have a care in the world while Reggie always felt
the weight of it on his shoulders. The day that young Archie ran over to his
younger self and asked him to be his friend was a turning point for Reggie. He
finally started to come out of his shell and make friends, most importantly
make friends with the redheaded boy who always smiled.
Now that boy is sitting in front of him with tears in his eyes, and Reggie
can’t stand it. He brushes a piece of hair from Archie’s head and caresses his
cheek.
“Listen, I know it’s been hard, especially with your dad, but it won’t last
forever, Red. All of this- will be some distant memory a couple months from
now. You’ll go back to your old self, you and your weirdo friends, laughin’ in
a booth at Pop’s after school,” Archie let out a little laugh at that, which
makes Reggie’s heart jump and he looks down.
God, he is so gone on this kid, and Archie has no clue. ‘Nor does he feel the
same way,’ Reggie reminds himself. He draws his eyes back up at Archie, and he
already looks better.
“I mean, in a couple months, when all of this is over, you won’t need the guys
on the team as much. Hey, you probably won’t even need me.” When he says it, he
immediately feels a pang in his heart. He doesn’t want it to be true, but deep
down, knows it is. Archie looks confused and hurt.
Probably didn’t plan on breaking it to me so early on.
“No Archie, it’s ok. I mean, come on? We both knew this wasn’t a long-term
thing- just a little fun, right?” With every word, Reggie’s heart gives a ping
of pain that only gets worse the longer he speaks.
Archie looks like he’s about to speak, but Reggie decides he needs to cut him
off before he says something that’s really gonna break his heart.
“You should probably get goin’, you know, before your dad starts to worry?”
Archie looks stunned, his eyes wide with an emotion that Reggie can’t pick up
on. Archie blinks back a few tears, which just confuses Reggie more, making him
want to ask what’s wrong again, but he’s gone before he has the chance.
Archie’s up and gone in the blink of an eye, leaving with a quick ‘you’re
probably right’ and ‘see you at school’.
Chapter End Notes
     The next chapter is back to Archie's perspective with his point of
     view of what just went down and his reaction to it afterward.
     Every chapter is inspired by a song. I have a playlist of all the
     songs used for inspiration (and then some) so far, so if you want
     that just let me know.
      
     Later, losers.
***** Fallingforyou *****
Chapter Summary
     They stupid, I don't know.
     This chapter was inspired by a mix of songs, including Fallingforyou
     by The 1975. It's the longest yet, so strap in squad fam.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
“Listen, I know it’s been hard, especially with your dad, but it won’t last
forever, Red. All of this- will be some distant memory a couple of months from
now. You’ll go back to your old self, you and your weirdo friends, laughin’ in
a booth at Pop’s after school.”
 
 Archie lets out a little laugh at his statement. He knew he made the right
choice by coming here. The moment when he finally broke while driving back to
his house, he knew who to go to. It was like an instinct, to go to Reggie. His
heart guided him as he had immediately stepped on the breaks and turned around,
beginning to head towards the other boy’s house, and he’s glad he did. Looking
back at Archie is the boy he’s been in love with for over a year now. And
Reggie‘s here with him, comforting Archie like he cares, like he’s more than
just a hook-up for him. Maybe tonight’s the night Archie finally tells him how-
 
“I mean, in a couple months, when all of this is over, you won’t need the guys
on the team as much. Hey, you probably won’t even need me.”  A look of
confusion spreads across Archie’s face. Didn’t Archie just confide in him? How
could he think this?
 
“No Archie, it’s ok. I mean, come on? We both knew this wasn’t a long-term
thing- just a little fun, right?” Archie’s heart begins to sink.
 
No, no, no, no, no- don’t do this to me, Reggie, please.  Archie goes to
explain that  no , that is not what this is for him, but he’s cut off.
 
“You should probably get goin’, you know, before your dad starts to worry?”
With those words, he feels his heart hit the bottom of his chest. He’s frozen
in shock, his face a mixture of confusion and hurt, until he realizes what
Reggie’s words mean.
 
He doesn’t like me back.
 
He feels his chest tighten, and suddenly the walls feel to close together and
he’s gotta get out. He stands up and starts running towards the door, throwing
over his shoulder some bullshit about seeing him at school tomorrow.
 
When he finally gets outside, he just stands there for a moment, trying to
collect himself after the pile of shit that’s been thrown in his face.
 
I really thought he liked me,  with that a tear slips down his cheek.  How
could I be  so stupid?  He shakes his head and lets out a pathetic excuse for a
laugh.  Like Reggie Mantle would ever have feelings for me.
 
He runs off the porch and into his dad’s truck. As he shuts the door, he slams
his head into the steering wheel, hitting it hard with his palm.
 
“Damn it. Damn it, damn it . Damn, it!”  He shouts aloud. What does he do now?
Does he go home- wait, no, he can’t. His dad’s there, and he doesn’t want him
to worry about him any more than he already does. He’s lost, which just makes
him even more frustrated, hitting the wheel even more.
 
I definitely can not stay here , he thinks to himself.  No way in hell .
 
He puts the car in drive and speeds away, hoping that once again some instinct
will pop up and guide him to the right place to be.
 
---------
 
The right place to be is apparently Jughead’s trailer in Southside. When he
arrives, Jug opens the door and sees Archie’s face and immediately pulls him
into a hug. As he does, Archie can’t hold it together anymore and begins to cry
again. Throughout his crying spell, Jughead just continues to hold him. No
questions, no talking, only support.
 
And when Archie finally stops, Jug leads him into his trailer and sits him down
on the couch.
 
“Do you want to talk about it,” Jughead asks while rubbing Archie’s back.
Archie looks up and takes a deep breath, his heart still not back in place. As
he’s about to tell Jug, he pauses and remembers that he hasn’t actually told
him about Reggie yet. He thinks about making up some lie, maybe saying that his
dad and he got into some fight or something, but knows that Jug would smell his
bullshit from a mile away.
 
 So, he decides to be honest- with his friend and himself, for once.
 
“I haven’t been completely honest with you Jug.” When he says it, Archie
notices that Jughead doesn’t look confused at all. That he actually looks a
little relieved.  What the hell? Does he know about-
 
“Is this about you and Reggie?” Well, that answered his question.
 
“What-wait- how did you know?” He looks up at Jug to find him giving a knowing
smile.
 
“I may or may not have seen Reggie’s varsity jacket in the living room that one
day I came over to ask if you wanted to come to Pop’s with me and the girls.
When I didn’t see him anywhere, and you were acting so secretive, not letting
me open the door and everything, I kind of pieced it all together.” Archie
groans and puts his face in his hands. Jug laughs at this and pats his back.
 
“Archie, I’m not, like, mad or anything. I’m just wondering why you wouldn’t
tell us in the first place.”
 
Wait.  “What do you mean ‘us’, Jug?” His friend’s mouth forms an O shape. “Are
you saying the girls know too?!” Jug looks panicked now.
 
“Jughead, how do they know?!”


“Well, they just figured it out too, I guess.” Archie still looks perplexed, so
Jughead shakes his head and continues. “Remember that day at Pop’s that you
said you didn’t ‘feel good’,” Jughead says with air quotes. Archie immediately
freezes up but begins to nod slowly. “ Well, I’m pretty sure that’s when Betty
figured it out, with you all but tripping after Reggie’s dick into the
bathroom? Anyway, I’m pretty sure Veronica knew even before I did, you know,
with her being Veronica and all.”  When Jug says this, Archie once more puts
his head in his hands, but this time to hide the embarrassment of just how true
that statement was. He was indeed basically tripping after Reggie’s dick that
day.
 
“God, Jug, I’m so sorry. It’s, it’s like I can’t control myself around him. I
don’t know why he just makes me crazy.” When Archie looks back at Jughead, his
friend, once again, has a knowing smile planted on his face, but this time
Archie can’t help but think it’s for a different reason if the playful look in
Jug’s eyes mean anything. That’s why, after rolling his eyes, Archie asks, “
what jug? What do you know that dumb Archie doesn’t?”
 
“Hold on a second- you’re not dumb, number one, and number two,” Jug sinks into
the couch, hands behind his head, “I don’t know anything per say.” Archie just
looks at him with an ‘mhm, sure Jan’ look and Jug can’t help but laugh.
 
“It just seems like he’s more of a crush than he is just a, as Veronica so
eloquently put it, boy toy.”
 
Archie starts to sputter and crosses his arms across his chest. “ Pshh,
whaaaat. Jug that’s- that’s crazy.” Jug returns his ‘mhm, sure Jan’ look.
Archie stares at him, trying to convince himself and Jug that, “ no, no crush
here. This is a crush free zone.”
 
“Mhm.”
 
“I’m serious Jug,” Archie stands up and begins to pace. “I am crushless. I’m in
a secret club where crushes aren’t allowed. I am captain of the S.S. No Crush.
I ’m, I’m-,” Archie looks down and then back up to Jug and sighs, plopping back
down on the couch.
 
“I am so  gone  on him, and it sucks because he doesn’t like me back.” God, it
really did suck. “And the thing is, that I thought he liked me back, you know?
I went to his house tonight, before I got here, because I was really down about
everything that’s been going on lately, and he comforted me. Not in a ‘bro’ way
but like, I don’t know, in a way that made me think that he actually cared. And
then as soon as I stopped crying he said that I wouldn’t need him soon and made
some bullshit excuse for me to leave, like he didn’t want me there anymore.” A
tear rolls down Archie’s cheek. “God Jug, I feel so stupid.” After he finishes
that sentence, Jughead leans back over and hugs him.
 
“He’s stupid if he doesn’t like you back, Archie. Never liked him anyway. I
mean we both know that he deals jingle jangle, not to mention he’s just kind of
a raging prick in general.” Archie gives a pointed look at that comment. “All
I’m saying is that you’re probably better off without him.” The redhead sighs
again, this time with sadness.


“I know he’s not the best person, but I can’t help it. I just like him Jug, and
I know too that I’d probably be better off with him, but I can’t stop thinking
about him.”
 
“Seems like you got it bad.”
 
“Ya, unfortunately, I do- but you’re right: I need to forget about him.” With
that, Archie stands abruptly and heads to the door.
 
“And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”



-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
“I fucked it up with Red, Moose. I fucked it up so bad.” His best friend rolls
his eyes. He’s standing in Reggie’s bedroom, looking back to his friend who
currently is sitting on his own bed with his head in his hands. He’s doing that
thing where he rocks back and forth, and Moose immediately recognizes that that
means this is  not  gonna be good. When he sits there, just rocking, it means
that he’s really thinking, which is never a good sign.
 
When Reggie first told Moose that he was having this, this  thing , with
Archie, he thought he was shitting him. And you can’t blame Moose for it. Come
on, Riverdale High’s premiere Jingle Jangle seller and the town’s golden boy-
together? You can imagine why that when Reggie said to him that he sucked
Archie Andrews off in Pop’s bathroom, that he thought Reggie might have gotten
into his own supply. But then he had gone on this ramble, like he had finally
gotten the courage to actually tell Moose, and Moose realized that,  oh shit,
he’s serious.
 
And it’s not like Reggie hadn’t talked about guys with him before. He’s always
been very open about his bisexuality with Moose, so when he introduced the
subject with, “hey, there’s this new guy I’ve been bangin’ ” he wasn’t
surprised, but when he followed up with, “ Damn, does Andrews know how to give
good head,” he was shook, to say the least. Now, to have Reggie sitting in
front of him, losing his shit over Archie Andrews because he apparently ‘fucked
it up so bad’ with him, is making Moose fucking quake.
 
“Come on, Reg. It can’t be that bad.” Reggie finally breaks his trance to look
over at Moose, who is smiling warily. Reggie heaves a sigh and flops his upper
body down on the bed.
 
“Oh but it is. The guy came over to my house tonight and poured his heart out
to me, and I fucking loved it. I loved that he came to  me ,” he flips over to
look at his friend once more, “God, what’s happening to me, man? Me bein’ all
sappy and shit.” He looks down, about to drown himself in pity, when he hears
Moose let out a laugh.
 
“What’s so funny, asshat?”
 
“Oh, nothing, except that you’re totally fucking whipped, and by Andrews of all
people, “ at ‘Andrews’, Reggie immediately stands up and rushes over to Moose,
pushing him up against the wall.
 
“You better watch your fucking mouth, pal.” Moose laughs again, only angering
Reggie further.
 
“You have feelings for him, don’t you?” Reggie shakes his head, grabbing the
front of Moose’s shirt and further pressing into the wall.
 
“Shut the hell up, Moose.”
 
“Admit it. You love Archie Andrews.”
 
“I SAID SHUT UP, “ Reggie explodes, picking Moose up and slamming his body into
it. He’s breathing heavy now; hair in his face when he looks back up to Moose.
There’s a sad, but understanding look on his friend’s face. A look that says
‘it’s ok’, and it makes Reggie loosen his grip and drop his friend.
 
“I’m sorry,” Reggie mumbles. Moose looks at him, gets his grounding, walks over
to where Reggie’s revisited his bed; hands back to cradling his face, a steady
pace of rocking back and forth is set, and wraps his arms around his friend to
hold him still.
 
“Reggie listen to me: it’s ok. I forgive you.” Reggie leans into his grasp,
finding the same warm, caring person there keeping him from completely losing
his shit. He hates it when he does this- lets his anger come over, taking
control and fucking things up even further than they probably already are. But
Moose has always stuck with him, even through his fits of anger, through his
asshole-e-ness- through it all really- which is why he lets him hold him, see a
side of Reggie that very few, not even Red, have seen.
 
“And it’s ok for you to love him.” Moose is rubbing his back in a rhythmic
motion, trying to keep his friend’s breathing steady. A few minutes go by, with
Moose’s statement hanging in the air, and when Reggie finally replies, it’s
with a timidness that Moose has never witnessed from Reggie before.
 
“I don’t know if I love him, Moose. I mean I’ve never really been in love.” He
pauses, eyes blowing wide. “Oh god, what if- what if I do love him, Moose? I
can’t love him. I can’t-” Moose cuts him off by bringing him back into his
arms, starting the rocking once more.
 
“You don’t have to know Reggie; it’s ok. It’s ok, I promise- and hey, if you
do, who gives a rat’s ass? There’s nothing wrong with loving someone.”
 
“It scares the shit out of me, Moose.” His friend laughs a little at this.
 
“Ya, it scares the shit out of a lot of people, Reg.” His friend looks down,
and with a quiet voice asks, “ do you think he loves- or, at least  likes-  me
back?”
 
 “To be honest, I don’t know.”
 
“Ugh, what am I going to do??”
 
“Well, do you know if you have feelings, at least, for Archie?” Reggie nods
vigorously. The mention of the redhead’s name makes his face soften, and his
eyes light up.  Ah, shit, this guy’s a goner,  Moose thinks to himself.
 
“Yes- God, yes. Every time I think about the guy I feel like my heart’s gonna
explode.”
 
“Then you gotta go after him.” Reggie stands up at this- Moose is right. He’s
gotta get his guy.
 
“You’re right, I gotta get my guy, and imma  do whatever it takes.” Reggie
smiles, nods, now ready to do what he feels like he was born to do- win over
Archie Andrews’s heart.
Chapter End Notes
     Hey guys, sorry it took me so long to post this, but shits been
     crazy. I applied for colleges while also having a big depressive
     episode. It was a mess, to say the least. I've been writing this
     chapter for like a month and finally finished it.
     I hope you guys enjoy.
     I'm thinking about posting the playlist I listen to when writing
     this. Let me know if you want it.
     Stay funky fam.
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