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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
- 19
- 20
- 21
Chapter 20

“You look tired, Betty,” Vicky remarked with a tinge of concern.
“I'm fine,” Betty tried to smile as she pushed her food around her plate. Breakfast. It should have been appealing – bacon, sausages and eggs. It was her favorite. An oldie, but a goldie. Yet she couldn't even stomach the look of them. At least she wasn't throwing up.
Yet.
She was quiet the entire car trip to the Lodge Mansion, which made Ricky and Vicky worry. She tried to reassure them, and immediately started an inane talk about the weather and what kind of food they thought would be served for the after-ceremony feast.
Reggie hadn't talked to her any further about his plans. Hadn't even asked what she'd thought about it, and if he hadn't she wasn't willing to talk to him about it.
The Mantle family dropped her off at the Lodge Mansion, before making their way to the church, where they would be involved in the preparation for the groom, while she was going to change and help with Ronnie's preparation, before she would pull up before the church in the most gorgeous limousine.
“Betty – thank God you're here. Get dressed, now!” Ethel said hurriedly, the usually calm woman seeming disheveled, despite having her bridesmaid gown already on.
“What's the hurry?” Betty asked.
Ethel opened her mouth to speak when she heard a yell. “No, not that color, you ass! I said peach. Peach, goddammit!” Ethel closed it sheepishly.
“Bridezilla?” Betty asked. Ethel smiled in a sort of helpless manner, and handed a dress bag with what Betty guessed was her dress to her.
“Just hurry,” Ethel said, giving Betty a little push towards an empty room that she could change in.
Bridezilla didn't begin to describe Ron. She was a tyrant, yelling and screaming at everyone, before bursting into tears abruptly, shocking all bystanders. Betty ordered everyone out, thinking that some air would do the bride-to-be good.
“Ronnie, Ronnie, you're ruining your make-up,” Betty tried to console her.
“I'm sorry!” Ron wailed. “I'm just so nervous – I can't do this, Betty!” She hugged the blonde tight.
“Yes you can!” Betty said, pulling away from Ron so she could see her face. Amazingly, Ron still looked beautiful. Her make-up was waterproof, so most of it had stayed intact. She was still in her bathrobe though – she had barely made it through hair and make-up before she broke down, which did not bode well for the punctuality of the wedding. “Ronnie, you can do this. This is what you've lived for. Archie is going to be your husband, and a short ceremony shouldn't stop you,”
“You're right,” Ron sniffled. “You're right,”
Betty patted Ron's marvelous up-do, even though some of the dark strands had escaped it. “Look at you,” Betty sighed, then hugged her tight. “You're gorgeous, Ron.”
“Oh, Betty,” The best friends hugged each other for a long time, and all rivalry and ill feelings between them melted away.
“Ron, no matter what, no one can spoil this day, not even you. This is your day. Remember that, okay?” She told the brunette seriously, squeezing her arms in support.
“You're right. You're so right Betty. I'm so glad you're my Maid of Honor,” Ron dabbed at her eyes. She glanced at her clock. “Oh god, is that the time? I have to get dressed!” She yelped.
“Houston, we have a problem!” Betty yelled to all the people waiting outside the room to finish their work on Ron.
Somehow, they managed to finish in twenty minutes.
“Ron, you look gorgeous,” Betty voiced out the thoughts of everyone in the room. No one could possibly figure that she had been crying just a few minutes ago. Her hair had been fixed too, with the veil slightly obscuring her face in lace that definitely was not gaudy. Her dress was as divine as she had bragged, a marvelous white sleeveless creation with a full skirt of white silk and lace.
“Are you sure?” Ron patted at her skirt nervously.
“Don't mess with the creation,” Giotto told her. “You look perfect.”
They were doing some touch-ups on Ron as they bundled her into the limousine when Betty excused herself.
“Where are you going?” Ron asked, the look on her face almost vulnerable.
“I need to get to the church first. Don't worry, I'll definitely be behind you when you walk down that aisle, bestie,” Betty assured her, then left for the church. She needed to get there and talk to Reggie before the ceremony started.
Luckily, the car arrived almost five minutes before the ceremony had begun. The church hall was full. Betty hurried to the front. The wedding attendees stared at her. She ignored them. The men in the front peered at her curiously.
“I need to borrow Reggie,” was all she said as an explanation, then she dragged him to the dressing room.
“Bets- wha?” Reggie sputtered as she stopped. “You look beautiful, but is this really the time for a tumble?” he asked, straightening the collar she had been tugging on.
“You can't object to the wedding,” she said, getting straight to the point. To assert her seriousness, she crossed her arms over her chest.
“What?” His jaw had dropped open.
“You can't. We agreed – we can't mess with them anymore. Reggie, this is serious. Ron and Archie have a child on the way, you need to think of this baby as well,”
“I have! I'll father it. Betty, Archie is useless! I can do so much better,”
“That doesn't give you a right to destroy their relationship!” She yelled, knowing that people could probably hear her. Reggie was getting riled up too.
“I'm not destroying it – I'm rescuing it from the catastrophe it's going to become!”
“You don't know that and even if it was going to, that's not your job!”
“Oh, and who else's is it? Sorry to say, Bets, but Archie Andrews is a lousy person! He's going to be a terrible husband and I'm sure he'll be a terrible father!” He turned on his heel to leave.
She caught hold of his jacket to stop him from leaving. “Reggie, don't do this,”
“You can't stop me, Betty,” He tried to pull his jacket out of her grasp.
“I'm pregnant,” She blurted out the words, even though she was sure there couldn't possibly be a worst time to tell him. His entire body tensed – she could see it. He didn't even turn around, so she couldn't see his expression.
When he finally did, his face was completely pale. “What?”
“I'm pregnant,” She repeated, tears in her eyes.
“But-” A knock sounded on a door, before Jughead peeked in.
“Guys. We need to get a move on. Ron's here,” He stared at the two. “Is everything okay?”
Betty barely managed a nod before she almost ran out of the room past Reggie and Jughead.
“What's up with her?” Jughead asked Reggie, jabbing a thumb in the direction she had left.

A baby?
Reggie couldn't stop himself shaking. He needed to get a grip. Ron was getting married. He could see her walking down the aisle, and people gasping at how dazzling she looked. Betty was two feet behind her, smiling happily. But the joy on her face was a farce. He knew it was.
His head felt light. How the hell did he... How could he have possibly...
Why didn't he use any protection?
He wanted to slam his head against the nearest wall. Of course this was going to happen. What did he think? They'd been together almost a month and she didn't get her period even once. Why didn't he suspect anything?
Reggie wanted to yell out excuses, citing heartbreak and drunkedness, not to mention lust.
Damn, this puts a dent in my plans.
He needed to object to the wedding. He needed to make Ron his. He wasn't going to go down without a fight.
“Look how happy Arch looks,” Jughead commented suddenly, pulling him out of his reverie. He glanced at Archie's face and was stunned at how happy the redhead looked.
He almost seemed ecstatic... as if someone could kill him now and he wouldn't have minded. It wasn't a look that seemed right on someone who had cold feet. No... it was the look of the happiest person on Earth.
Reggie then wondered what Ron's face was like. Was she as happy? Despite all his mental claims that he would make her his, he hadn't been looking at her closely at all.
He was taken aback. If he thought Archie looked happy, Ron was twice that. She arrived at the front and Mr Lodge gave her away to Archie, who took her hand instantly. He couldn't pull his eyes away from them. They almost... beamed. Beamed with wedding bliss.
Before he knew it, the priest was talking. And then that line popped up – but the only reason he knew it was because Betty looked at him sharply as the priest said it, a look of warning.
“If there is anyone that believes there is a reason why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Reggie tried to get himself to speak, but the protest stuck in his throat. Ron and Archie didn't even seem to think anyone would protest. They just grinned at each other stupidly. His chance passed, and as it did, it finally hit him. That was the right thing to do. To let them be.
His love for Veronica Lodge was meant to die... just as Betty's love for Archie was meant to die too.
It was strange, but he felt content with letting them stay as joyful as they were. Even though it sort of hurt, he was happy for them. Which was a strange sensation for him – usually he only cared about himself and his own feelings. He was selfish by nature. But at the moment he didn't feel selfish at all.
“You may now kiss the bride,” As the spectators cheered, and when the couple sealed their commitment with a kiss, Reggie braved a look at his Blondie. She was looking back at him. His heart throbbed.
Maybe his love for Ron was meant to die, but that didn't mean he wanted another one in its place. It wasn't too late. He wasn't going to fall in love again and hurt that much ever again.
And he didn't want to ever feel this wish of ill will on anyone else ever again. He didn't want to feel like a monster ever again.

As the wedding ended, everyone adjourned to the hotel for the feast. Before they did, Reggie searched the hall for Betty. He had to clear things up with her. He found her bidding Ron farewell as she and her new husband entered the limousine together.
The door closed and as it did, Reggie took Betty aside. She went without argument. He led her back into the dressing room, the same one he had ripped into pieces before.
She stood in the middle of the room, her arms wrapped around herself. She almost looked afraid.
“How long have you known?” He asked. “About being pregnant?”
“Since two days ago. I went to the pharmacy and bought a bunch of pregnancy tests,”
“But are you sure?” He pressed.
“I used four. They were all positive,” this silenced him.
He swallowed, feeling his throat dry in mere seconds. “I think you should go get checked out by a doctor, and get it confirmed. Also, we should make some inquiries about an abortion,”
Her blue eyes widened at him. “An abortion?” The words emerged from her lips as a whisper.
“Yeah,” He frowned at her. “You aren't seriously considering having the baby?” She placed a hand on her stomach protectively. “You are,” He realized, taken aback.
“I can't abort it, Reggie. I can't,” She seemed near tears.
He let out a frustrated groan. “Bets, you can't have the baby. We've both got careers which we're at the peak of, and we're not even going out. This was just a rebound. Don't you get it?”
“Of course I do,” She said defensively.
“Then let's just abort it,”
“I could just have it without you,” She murmured. “I have enough money saved up, and a place of my own,”
“I'm the father. I have a say in it too,” He argued. “And I don't want a child with my DNA running around,”
“Why do you want to get rid of it so badly?” She asked, hurt.
“Because it was a mistake and I don't want to be reminded of it,” Reggie said, running a hand through his hair, frustrated that she didn't seem to get it. “And I just want to forget about it, alright? Don't you?”
She was silent for a long while, a silence that manages to demoralize him just a little. “No. I don't,” Then she walked to the door. Reggie watched her go in surprise.
It took him far too long to run after her. “Bets. Come on, Bets,” But she was nowhere in sight. His voice echoed around the empty church. He groaned to himself and left for his car. She must have gone to the hotel for the feast.
When he got to the hotel, the feast was just starting. A buffet of sorts, except with long tables pressed up to the side labeled according to each course, since Ron couldn't decide what dishes to go with and she had more than enough money to just cover them all. The guests wouldn't have to go to the tables to retrieve their food, however. They only had to tell the waiter assigned to their table what they wanted, and they would go and fetch it.
“Reggie! Here comes the Best Man!” Archie said. Reggie managed a small smile and how red Archie's face was, presumably due to his joy. Or the champagne.
“Have you seen Betty?” he asked. Archie blinked.
“No, not since the ceremony,” Archie answered. He turned and begun to inquire about Betty to other people as Reggie walked around the hall, scanning the hoards of people for her.
He failed miserably in his task. Betty was nowhere to be seen.
“Everyone, if you could please take your seats!” The MC – coincidentally, the same one from the night before – said and people bustled about to take a seat at their tables. Concluding that he'll find Betty at the table, he made his way to the one with the married couple, the bridesmaids, best men and the close family of the married couple. He sat at the seat he was assigned to, and it didn't escape his notice that the woman usually seated at his right was missing.
He craned his neck to look around the hall, eagerly peering at the entrance to see if maybe she would walk in.
“Reggie? You looking for someone?” Ethel asked, noticing his distracted manner.
“Have you seen Betty?” he asked. Ethel nodded.
“I saw her earlier talking to your parents,”
“In this hotel?”
“Yeah,”
“Oh. Good,” Reggie said. At least he knew she was in the hall somewhere. He waited, but halfway through the meal a sinking feeling came over him.
“Where's Betty?” Ron asked him, frowning at the empty seat.
“I don't know,” Reggie responded. “I'm going to go look for her,” and with that, he excused himself from the table. He headed straight for where he saw his parents sitting. “Mom, dad, have you seen Betty?”
They shared a look, then Ricky spoke to him. “She said she'd left something at the house. We gave her the spare key. Isn't she back yet?”
“No,” Reggie said, but he was already walking away. He didn't even say where he was going to Ron and Archie, who called out to him as he sprinted by.
He ran to his car, and after he got in he sped all the way to his house. How could I be so stupid? He groaned. He was such an ass. Why did he treat her that way?
Why was he always treating her like that?
God, please still be there. Please let this be a misunderstanding.
His parking left much to be desired. He didn't particular care. He slammed the car door shut and when he tried to open the front door to his house, the keys in his hands shook like mad. He even dropped the keys once.
Reggie climbed the stairs two at a time, then went to her guest room.
Her stuff was gone. She had even made the bed.
He checked his own room, and even his parents'. As if she would be hiding out in those rooms. As he did, he whipped out his cell and dialed her number repeatedly. But her phone was off. This didn't deter him. He called her again and again.
His scan of the house got more frantic. He looked everywhere. Until his eyes fell on a sheet of paper on the table, written out neatly.
He picked it up and scanned it quickly.
Dear Mr and Mrs Mantle,
Thank you so much for allowing me to stay. I'm sorry for leaving without much of a goodbye. Something unexpected had cropped up. Again, thank you so much for everything and I apologize for not having been more help around the house.
Love, Betty.
She hadn't even mentioned him. His heart fell into the pit of his stomach. He felt tossed away, like garbage. How could she treat him like this?
Abruptly, he remembered what he had last said to her and he wanted to smack himself.
His phone vibrated in his hand, making him jump. Immediately, he thought it was Betty and answered it without even looking at the caller ID.
“Reggie?” It was Ron's voice, and he wanted to wail in disappointment.
“Yeah, what?” He snapped. He needed to get to the airport. Maybe he could catch Betty.
“I got a text from Betty. What happened?”
“You got a text? What did she say?”
“Just that she was leaving due to unforeseen circumstances. What the hell is going on?”
“I'll talk to you later,” Reggie said, dashing through the door and towards his car, before he would speed to the airport in the hopes that he would catch his Blondie.
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Rebound Love