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Rebound Love	By : sandyl666 Category: Comics > Archie & Co. Views: 13319 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The comics Archie and Co, with its plot, characters, setting, etc does not belong to me. I guess they belong to John L. Goldwater, and a few others but I'm unsure. I make nothing by writing this fiction, and I don't plan to.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Chapter 14

Reggie drove around for hours. It was pretty therapeutic, actually. She just stared out the window. He went in circles around Riverdale, and she just sat there in silence next to him. It was almost sundown before he seemed to drive towards an actual destination.
He took a few turns and she had no idea where he was going, until he hit a dirt path with a forest on each side. He kept going then, until he reached a place she recognized.
The lake. As a gang, they used to have picnics by this lake all the time.
He parked his car by the lake, then shut off the engine. The car actual whined in relief. Reggie leaned back and looked out onto the crystalline water with a sigh. It reflected the orange and pink sky and Betty knew that in the daylight its waters were clear and blue as a robin's egg.
Betty reached into the handbag she had somehow remembered to bring – though she had left her casual clothes behind, and was still dressed in her maid of honor dress – and pulled out a container.
“It's kind of warm now, but you want some dessert?” she asked.
He took a look at it, then nodded. She handed it to him, with a spoon and serviette. He dug in then, and they enjoyed the view of the sunset, watching the sun sink until it was covered by the row of trees. Neither said a word as Reggie finished off the sugary sweets.
The silence stretched out and Betty tried to fill it, unfortunately stepping into dangerous territory as she did so. “So... what happened?”
“I fucking hate Andrew's guts,” Reggie hissed, covering the container and setting it aside.
“...Why?” She asked after a moment's pause.
“Because he's always – always! – taking things for granted, that asshole,” Reggie spat.
“He tried to chicken out again?” Betty guessed.
“Worse – he even bought the ticket. It was to France. He told me, 'Just in case. I got them just in case.' I ripped the fucking ticket apart. Seriously Bets – how does he not know what he has? How can he keep changing his mind about whether he'll stay with her or not?” Reggie said. He placed his hands over his eyes and groaned. “And in the end I talked him out of it. You moron, Reginald Mantle,”
She shook her head. “No. No, Reggie. You did the right thing,”
He removed his hands from his face and gave her a wry smile. “Thanks, Blondie,” He looked away from her, and back at the sky. Stars had appeared in the sky – she hadn't seen them so bright for a while. Living in the city meant she'd given up being able to see the stars.
She was so busy studying the stars that she didn't notice him staring at her arm until he touched it softly. She winced and looked down at her arm, where a bruise was forming from when she'd slammed against the couch too hard as a result of him tossing her there.
“I'm sorry, Blondie. I didn't mean to do all of that to you. I was just so angry that I-”
“I know,” she smiled at him. “It's okay,”
“No, it's not. I just... maybe Archie's not the only one who's been taking things for granted,” He sighed. “I'm sorry, Bets,”
She studied him – he really did look guilty. What he did to her was pretty bad, that was true. But in the end – she couldn't call it rape. In the end, she didn't stop him. It wasn't that she couldn't. On the contrary, she knew self-defense. But she didn't, because she knew he needed it. Still, it wasn't a particularly pleasant experience. She held out her pinkie finger to him. “Just promise me you won't do it again,”
He didn't laugh at her for using such an immature method to make a promise. He nodded, and didn't hesitate even a moment to hook his pinkie with hers. His eyes locked on hers, and he spoke seriously despite the childish gesture.
“I promise, Blondie. I'll never hurt you like that again,”
“Okay,” She nodded. He smiled then – a sincere one – and she felt relief flood through her. She hadn't seen him smile like that the whole day.
“Man. I'm tired. I kind of don't want to drive home,”
“Yeah. It's so pretty here too. I wish we brought a tent so we can just camp under the stars,”
Reggie mulled this over. “Well. I do have a blanket in the back,”
She stared at him. “Why do you have a blanket in the back?”
“I just thought that having a romp in the car someday may be... fun,”
“Fun,” She echoed. He grinned. “Well, there'll be no more romping today. I'm too sore,”
“Eh, that's okay. I don't think I'm too in the mood either,” He said, unbuckling his seat belt. “Come on, let's move to the back. I've got a sun roof,”
With some difficulty, they moved to the back. She thought she'd be wary of lying so close to him, considering the dark side she'd seen of him that day, but she didn't mind in the slightest. She knew how he felt and she accepted the way he expressed his pain because nobody knew of it better than her.
So there she was, under the blanket with him, both cramped into the rather limited space of the backseat. They stared up, out the sunroof, admiring the stars.
“You know Blondie, I think I'm really going to give up on Ron,” he informed her.
“...Really?” Betty had told him ages ago that she'd given up on Archie and accepted the inevitable. Reggie refused to, though, despite knowing it was the best thing to do. It was too hard for him.
“Yeah. I'm going to wish them the best... and stop doing stupid stuff, like hoping things will turn around,”
She grasped his hand, squeezing his fingers. “You won't be alone, Reggie,”
“I know. That really helps,”
“That's what I'm here for,”
He kissed the top of her head.

“Man, this is the best,” Reggie said over his full mouth.
“Burgers for breakfast,” She sighed. “So much for my reputation as a chef of healthy, yummy food,”
“Bah. Everything in moderation,” He said, waving his hand in the air nonchalantly. She smiled at him, then took a bite of the burger. She had to admit – it was good. They'd stopped on the way back to Riverdale at a diner they'd almost passed by. After not eating dinner – or lunch, actually, if she thought about it – the day before, they were ravenous.
They'd overslept too. It had been too comfortable in the car, and in each others' company. They'd only decided to abandon sleep because the sun starting shining in through the clear roof and it heated them up to the point of discomfort.
“I think I'm going to order another,” Reggie said. She blinked.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I'm starving,”
Someone stood by their table and they glanced up at a teenage girl with blonde hair that had obviously been a home dye job. Another girl hid behind her, looking over the blonde's shoulder curiously. She was a bit younger and had red hair as well as freckles dotting her cheeks and nose. Both girls squirmed excitedly as they looked at the celebrities.
“I'm sorry – but, you're Reggie Mantle and Betty Cooper, aren't you?”
Reggie and Betty shared a glance. “Yes, we are,” Reggie said.
The girl squealed. “Can I please take a picture with you both?”
Reggie flashed them the most charming smile he could muster. “Of course,” Betty smiled at them too – she was in a good mood.
The girls took turns standing by them and taking pictures on their cells.
“That's a pretty dress,” The blonde told her, and Betty looked down. She'd almost forgotten she was wearing her maid of honor dress. “I can't believe you guys really are in Riverdale!” she said as the younger girl browsed through the pictures on her cell. “They said so in the magazines, but I didn't believe it,”
“And you're a couple. You guys are so cute!” The younger one said, keeping the phone away.
“A couple?” Betty blinked. “No, we're just friends,”
The girls looked at each other.
“But...” The younger one looked confused.
“Hold on,” The older one said, and she dashed to a table where a middle-aged couple was seated. They smiled up at the girl as she rummaged through a bag and retrieved a magazine.
Betty could feel dread gather in the pit of her stomach.
“Look!” The girl showed them the front page.
Beggie! The headlines screamed. The newest A-list couple are 5 stars on the cuteness scale! The subheading said. And on it was a picture of him with his arm wrapped around her waist. They were in the Lodge Hotel lobby. The picture was clear – taken by a professional photographer, not by some person's cell.
So the paparazzi had already taken over Riverdale. Great.
“You caught us,” Reggie said, seeing no way out. “We are a couple,”
The girls squealed. “I knew it!”
Betty inwardly groaned.

“Ron?” Why was Ronnie calling? Did she want them to attend something else? Betty sighed in her head. She would probably break down in relief when the wedding was over.
“Hey Betty. Is everything okay? You guys kind of left abruptly yesterday,” Ron said.
“Yeah. Sorry about that. Reggie wasn't feeling so good,” Reggie, who was driving beside her as they made their way back to Riverdale, glanced at her.
“I know. I kind of saw the dressing room,”
Betty froze. “Uh. Ron, about that,”
“No, it's okay. I mean, it's not like I haven't been there,” Betty could hear the cheekiness in her tone. “I'm sorry for being so harsh on you yesterday.”
“No, I'm sorry. You were right, we shouldn't have skipped out on rehearsals like that,” She could hear sniffing over the line, and Betty smiled, unable to hide her mirth at how dramatic Ron was with her pregnancy hormones.
“Thanks, bestie,” She said. “By the way, do you still have your dress?”
“Um, the maid of honor one? Yeah, I have it with me,”
“Please don't tell me you still have it on,”
“Does that need to be the truth?”
Ron sighed. “Just return it to me ASAP and I'll get Giotto to clean it up. Oh, and before I forget... do you guys want to go shopping with us?”
“Shopping?”
“Yes, shopping,”

“And we need disguises... to go shopping?” Betty asked, looking at Jughead who had been separated from his precious hat, and was dressed up in a trench-coat and a fake – very fake – mustache that made him look like the Pringles logo.
Ethel had a red wig on, and a low dress, topped with a fur coat that hugged her shoulders. She looked like a rich heiress. Or a model. She looked at the outfit prepared for Betty and gave the blonde a look of sympathy.
Archie was wearing a knitted cardigan, and thick glasses. His hair had been styled differently and his freckles hidden. Ron was wearing a baggy button-up shirt, and she had glasses on too. She was also wearing a blonde wig.
“Of course! No one besides you guys know that I'm you know, having a baby. And if we're going to be shopping for stuff for the baby, we need to be subtle,”
“We're going shopping for the baby?” Betty asked.
“Of course! What did you think we were going shopping for? And I can't just stroll up to the mall wearing what I usually do – everyone will recognize me and they'll all know what I'm doing there.”
“Why don't you just shop online for baby stuff?” Reggie asked, eying the outfit they picked out for him with amusement.
“Because I don't know where to start!” Ron snapped, her patience wearing thin. “Now are you guys in or not?”
“We're in, of course,” Betty said. She grimaced at the clothes intended for her. “But do we have to wear this?”
Ron's eyes shone with glee and Betty wondered if this was punishment for the day before. “Of course,”

So there they all were, at the mall. Betty put a finger inside her collar, trying to loosen it up.
“Now you know how I feel,” Reggie said in amusement.
“Oh shush. Look, here comes the salesperson now,” she said, as a brunette walked towards them. He had a dazzling smile, perfect for his job.
“Well, hello, gentlemen. How can I help you today?” He asked.
“We're planning to adopt a little boy – Andrew Ron is his name – and we just thought we'd look around in the children section,” Reggie said smoothly.
“And how old is this child, sir?” If the salesperson – whose nametag said Billy – was bothered by the supposed gay couple, he didn't show it. Betty just hoped her wig would hold – her long blonde hair was hidden underneath it. It wasn't fair – all Reggie had to do was style his hair differently. And wear a stylish suit, as per Ron's orders.
“Just a babe. His mom left him on the orphanage steps when he was a few days old. That was about a month ago,”
“I see. How tragic,” Billy said with what looked like actual sympathy. “Let me show you two our cots then,” Betty and Reggie nodded.
As they followed the salesperson, they nodded to Ron and Archie who were pretending to browse elsewhere, while keeping close to their friends so that they'd be able to hear everything Billy said. Ethel and Jughead kept close to the entrance to the shop, keeping watch in case anyone they knew happened to enter.
Billy took them to every display in the shop. From cots, to playpens, to those wheelie chairs that toddles could sit in to move around, so that they don't bump into stuff, to pacifiers and milk bottles.
She'd thought she'd be bored, but she wasn't. Everything Billy said was out of necessity – he wasn't trying to sell them stuff. He was just trying to recommend to them what would suit them best, which wasn't always the most expensive item. Betty was almost tempted to buy something, because what he said made so much sense. It wasn't like she'd need any of the stuff in the near future, though.
Would she?
Wait a moment. Her eyes widened as she realized something that she should have weeks ago, but had been too preoccupied with her grief.
“Honey? Are you okay?” Reggie waved a hand in front of her face.
“Huh? Uh, yeah. Sorry, what was that?” She said, barely remembering to keep her voice low.
“I was just saying about how much we appreciate Billy's help here. Don't you agree?”
“Oh, totally. I'm so glad we came to this shop for help,” She said.
“Of course. Any time,” Billy smiled.
Betty and Reggie left the shop. Ron and Archie had seen them saying their farewells, and had left so as to not seem conspicuous. Ethel and Jughead left a few minutes after them. They walked separately, on the way back to their cars where they would go back to the Lodge mansion, change, then meet at one of Pop's many franchises to grab some food.

“Phew!” Ron said as she slid into the booth. “That went way smoother than I thought,”
“Yeah. You're really incredible, Reggie. I mean, even the way you walked was convincing,” Archie remarked.
“Of course, you're speaking to Mantle the Magnificent,” Reggie said.
“Well, order whatever you want, guys – it's all on me!” Ron said. “I'm so glad that's done with. Now I can make a list of all the things Billy recommended, and when we get back from our honeymoon I can order them,” She sighed blissfully.
“Glad we could help, Ron,” Betty said.
“Yeah. And that was fun. Kind of gives you ideas, doesn't it, Jughead?” Ethel asked her partner.
“Oh? Uh-huh. Yeah,” Jughead said. He was distracted by the platter of burgers that had just made its way to their booth.
They were about to dig in when someone's cell began to ring. Ron immediately retrieved her phone from her purse and frowned at it.
“Excuse me for a minute, guys,” She said, leaving the table. She went to a corner not too far from them and answered her call.
“What's that about?” Reggie asked Archie.
“No clue,” was Archie's answer as he stretched his torso twisting it so that he could look at Ronnie, thinking that maybe the sight of her would help him understand what the call was about.
“No. No, no, no, no, no!” Ron groaned over the phone, loud enough for the occupants of the booth. “What do you mean, not enough rooms? There has to be enough rooms!”
The five at the table exchanged a nervous look.
“Really? Really, Stevens? You're going with that excuse? I'm disgusted,” she said harshly. Betty's eyebrows shot up. Archie left the booth, and went to his fiancee.
“Baby. What's wrong?” He asked her. She just placed a finger on his mouth while shooting him a stern look, telling him to be quiet.
It was obvious who was going to wear the pants in the family. The conversation continued, with Archie still silenced by his to-be wife.
“Fine. Whatever. Call me back when there's any openings,” She snapped, and ended the call. She stared at her phone murderously.
“What's wrong?” Archie asked again, softer this time.
“There aren't enough rooms for the rest. Apparently we're booked up. Stupid reporters with their fucking stories, trying to ruin my wedding. They've taken up too many of the rooms meant for my guests. I swear I'm going to charge them triple, those asses,” She massaged her temples. Archie grasped her shoulders and started rubbing them.
“It's okay, Ronnie. Calm down. Everything's going to be fine,”
She let out a small whine. “No, it's not, Archie. What are we going to do?” Her eyes began to moisten. Archie looked at her helplessly.
Betty gave Reggie a look, then left the booth and approached the couple. “Ron, it's fine – I can give up my suite.”
That, she thought, was the moment she'd given up completely on so much as breaking the couple up. They were at their most vulnerable – impossibly close to freaking out and canceling the wedding.
But she couldn't let that happen.
Ron gaped at her. “But, Betty, where would you stay?”
She shrugged. “I'll find somewhere,” she said cheerfully. Hopefully someone would be willing to put her up for a few nights. It wouldn't be too long. After all, the wedding ceremony was only in three days, on the weekend.
“She'll stay with me,” Reggie said, and Betty spun around, having not realized that he was right behind her and had been all along. “At my parents' place,”
“But... are you guys sure? I mean, you're the maid of honor and best man – we don't want you to feel obligated to suffer for us-” Archie said.
“They won't suffer,” Ron said, fanning away Archie's worried with her hand. “Betty – I won't forget this. I really won't. Thank you,”
“Don't thank me, Reggie's the one who's going to be putting me up,”
“Both of you. Thank you,” Ron said, grasping both their hands. She let them go and put a hand to her forehead, frowning. “Now I just have to figure out who's going to stay there at the suite, I don't want just anyone to stay at the suite and think they're being given to royal treatment for no reason. But in that case I'll have to rearrange the plans, and-
“No, Ron,” Archie said firmly. “Look at you – you're so stressed out. Tomorrow, we're taking a break,”
“I can't!” Ron insisted. “There's still so much to do! I need to-”
“It can wait. I am not jeopardizing your health or our baby's. We have time, Ron. And even if we don't, it doesn't matter. All that wedding needs is you, me and an ordained minister,”
Ron pursed her lips, but Archie didn't back down. “Fine. We'll take tomorrow off. But I disagree – I still think an actual wedding is necessary,”
Archie's face broke out into a relieved smile. “Whatever you say, babe,”
Betty glanced over at Reggie, wondering how he was taking the affectionate display. She blinked when she realized – he was smiling. Smiling at Ron and Archie. She looked at him in wonder. Was that really the same Reggie from the day before?
He caught her eyes and his smile widened.
Wow. She thought to herself. If he's okay already... I think we're going to be fine. She reflected, and unknowingly reached out to hold his hand, gripping it tightly to both give support and to receive it.
He squeezed her hand back.

A/N: I know some people may have been upset by the pretty much rape scene in the previous chapter, and I'm sorry about that. But if everything went well between these two, this fiction would be over in a few more chapters and I want to develop things a little further.
Still, thank you for your support and comments, they really keep me motivated. I want you guys to know that your displeasure with the last chapter makes me unhappy too, and I wish I could always please you guys. Unfortunately reality doesn't work that way.
Nevertheless, I will at least try to make my updates faster, since I've been given some free time recently. So you can expect more chapters sooner.
- 13
- 14
- 15
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Rebound Love