Adult-FanFiction.org : Comics

Wallflower	By : CeeCee Category: Comics > Archie & Co. Views: 10156 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Archie & Co, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Summary: I’ll hate myself in the morning for this…

Betty’s day dragged on one grueling period after another; the clock seemed to mock her over the drone of Miss Grundy’s lecture on grammatical structure for their spring thesis that was due in two weeks.

“Come on,” she silently urged, tugging on the spiral wire of her battle-scarred binder. She doodled in the margins, drawing a little stick figure wearing a long, tapered facsimile of her prom dress hanging up at home. Just for kicks, she drew on some little spiral curls sticking out from her head. She mentally planned her hair and nail appointments and considered having her makeup done at the Merle Norman shop at the Riverdale Galleria.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGGGGG! There was the bell. Thank goodness. She practically galloped out the door and darted out into the hallway for her locker. She retrieved her copy of Hamlet and stuffed it into her backpack, as well as her trigonometry text. She popped a piece of Wrigley’s into her mouth and headed for the side exit. Archie said he’d meet her in the courtyard, and that they could each drive over to Pop’s.

Her heart was beating in overdrive as she caught sight of him by the tall elm tree before the parking lot. He looked yummy in his relaxed fit Dickies and a forest green skater shirt with long white sleeves. He scuffed his already beaten pair of Vans in the grass as he waited for her, looking strangely impatient, even though he could have only just made his way out there a minute ago.

“Ready, Freddy?” she grinned up at him as she sidled up.

“Hmmm? Oh, hey! Yeah, Bets, let’s hit it.” He was distracted; Betty clutched her backpack more tightly and slung it over her shoulder as she made her way to his car.

“Pop’s?” she said.

“Yup. That’s what we said,” he replied, but his smile was uneasy.

“I’ll head straight over.” She smiled at him warmly, then leaned in for a quick peck. He accepted it, even returned it briefly, but his body was wound tightly as he turned to climb into his car. It started after he rolled over the engine twice. She climbed into her parents’ sedan and fastened her seat belt, pausing when she noticed Veronica entering the sun-dappled courtyard. She was giggling and flirting with Reggie when she noticed Betty, allowing her smile to drop slightly for a fraction of a second before she waved. Reggie followed her gaze. His expression held an odd mixture of concern and caution, but he smiled with his lips, nodding hello. He looked casual and fresh in chinos and a short-sleeved, plaid cotton shirt.

Betty fell in line behind the stream of cars exiting the lot. Through her rearview mirror, she peered back at her friends. Veronica was toying with Reggie’s shirt collar and giving him “the Eye.”

Reggie smiled indulgently at her, before turning his gaze in the direction of the exit. Huh.

Veronica rushed off. Betty resumed her wait for the faculty attendant to wave her through. Out of the corner of her eye she caught a tiny movement. Her eyes darted back to where Reggie was standing, only to find he was gone.

She nearly jumped out of her skin at the rapping against her passenger side window. “ACK!” Her hand flew up to her chest, and she shot him a sour look as she hit the window button. He had the decency to look sheepish.

“Jerk,” she hissed. “What’s up?”

“Where you headed, doll?” She caught a whiff of that cologne of his again. The scent piqued her as she pondered why she was stopped.

“Pop’s,” she offered. His face was flushed, as though he had run to catch up.

“Just grabbing a bite by yourself?”

“I’m meeting Archie.”

“Same difference,” he scoffed. She rolled her eyes. He peeredat the her backpack on the floor of her car. “You look like you don’t have enough time to hand out with Carrot-Top, Bets. Gotta get home and crack those books.” His tone inferred that was how she spent all of her free time.

“I’ll work around that,” she assured him, smiling sweetly. I’ve always got time for Carrot-Top. “Don’t you have anywhere to be, Reggie?”

“Nice. That’s the thanks I get, not only for gracing you with my presence, because let’s face it,” he demurred, styling for her and evoking giggles, “I’m stunning…but I’m even doing you a favor – quit laughing, I’m not done – a FAVOR of saving you from the cheeseballish mediocrity that is Archie Andrews. Come on now,” he urged, cupping his ear with his curled palm. “I don’t hear you thanking me.”

“Thanks for making me late, Mantle!” She rolled her eyes with disgust as the car behind her honked impatiently for her to move. “Nice. Thanks for that, too. Better yet, thanks for nothing!”

“Okay, geez. A guy tries to be nice.” He squinted thoughtfully. “I’m headed across town. I’ve gotta run an errand for my dad at the paper.”

“And?” She took her foot off the brake and began to roll forward. Reggie kept pace at a leisurely walk.

“Nothing. I’m just gonna be on that side of town. Just in case something comes up…” He didn’t saddest what. “Or you needed rescuing from the inevitable pile of Archie’s homework crap that he saddles you with. Today’s Monday,” Reggie pondered. “Wasn’t this Archie’s biology lab, when he’s about due to write a report?” More honking assailed her ears. She scowled at him. He pouted back.

“Bye,” she carped. She floored the gas and sped out, burning rubber. Reggie jumped back reflexively, and she laughed at the look on his face, deciding that she almost liked him. Almost.

She enjoyed the mild sunshine, and was delighted to find a free parking space right in front of the Choklit Shoppe. She fed the meter and rushed inside, purse swinging from her shoulder. She scanned the interior of the shoppe; Archie occupied the booth closest to the old fashioned, lovingly restored jukebox. He idly spun the dessert menu carousel around on its stand until he heard her approach. His eyes flitted to her face, and he smiled like someone caught with a guilt secret.

“Hey, Bets,” he greeted her. “Squeeze a cheek.” She obliged him, sliding into the opposite seat and making herself as comfortable as she could against the chilly vinyl. Goosebumps crept up her legs, exposed by the denim skirt. She absently rubbed them away.

“Have you ordered yet?”

“Nah. I don’t really want anything.”

“Well…okay. I don’t want to have anything by myself, Arch. Sure you don’t want me to buy you a soda, or-“

“Its okay. I don’t need anything, Betty.” He fiddled with the jar of sugar packets. His blue eyes were sober and thoughtful. “God…this is hard.”

Her heart thudded hollowly in her chest. “What’s hard? Is there something wrong?”

“No.” A pause. “Yes.” He scrubbed the back of his neck with his knuckles before meeting her eyes again. His shoulders were slumped tensely, which made no sense in the context of their afternoon outing to their favorite spot. “It’s about the prom.”

Her lips wanted to quiver, but she mastered it. Nothing could take away the sudden dryness, though, threatening to cinch her throat shut.

“Well.” She leaned back in her seat and studied him, her good mood evaporating. “Is this
‘what kind of flowers are you allergic to, so I don’t get the wrong corsage’ prom stuff, or are we talking ‘I didn’t mean it when I asked you to be my date, I just meant to ask you if you had a breath mint?’” He winced. She let her eyes drop to her hands, now folded over the table.

“I did mean to ask you,” he began.

“Okay. So, with that in mind, Archie…what? What’s the problem?”

“I…I can’t take you. I know I asked you to go with me. It’s just…I don’t know what to say, Betty. I asked Veronica first, and I never really told her I wouldn’t take her.”

Her blood ran cold, and her stomach lurched, even though she hadn’t eaten anything yet. The smell of fries and hot fudge sauce mingled in the air, sickening her.

“But you did tell me you’d take me. So, it seems like since I told you ‘yes,” instead of ‘maybe,’ that you should really consider me the one you committed to take to the prom.” She felt her logic was pretty reasonable.

“Betty…I asked her first. I can’t just back out of it.” His words were squeezing the air from her lungs, and she suddenly felt dizzy. She reeled in her seat, but sobered quickly. “Betty?” Her silence made him uneasy. He tore the wrapper from his straw to bits as she let his words sink in. “C’mon, talk to me, Bets. I’m sorry. I want to make this up to you. There’s still time for you to –“

“Don’t,” she ordered, cutting him off. She held out her hand, pleading for him to stop. “Don’t even say it. You know it isn’t true. I have four days, Archie. Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-Fri-fucking-day,” she barked. His eyes grew into saucers at her harsh words.

“Bets, take it easy!”

“Sure. Easy for you to say. You’re going with who you wanted to go with from the beginning, even though it didn’t look that way for a minute, huh?” Random eyes peered at them in their booth before neighboring diners resumed their meals. Betty didn’t want to make scene. The new waitress stopped by and deposited two glasses of ice water on their table. “You got what you wanted, Arch. Goodie for you. That’s just great.” She rose from the table and grabbed her purse, dragging it off the seat by the strap.

“BETTY!” He flung his arms wide in entreaty. “I didn’t want it to end up like this, I’m sorry. Bets, I’m SO sorry!”

“No,” she gasped, eyes welling. Silvery tears dripped down her cheeks before she could stop them, tearing him to bits with her anguish. She telegraphed it with her defeated stance, with her pale cheeks and whitening knuckles, strangling the strap of her bag. “I wanted to go with you, Archie. I wanted to be with you. I wanted to spend time with you. I always try so hard…so hard to be what YOU want. To do what YOU want. You never see me. You just see Veronica when she just walks all over you, and when she treats you like you treat me!” She struck her chest for emphasis, and he felt the blow. His chin trembled for a moment before he had to look away from her, acting as though the jar of sugar packets had all the answers. “Well, now…n-now I know y-you don’t…feel that way about m-me.”

“Betty,” he groaned. She shook her head.

“Thanks for showing me where I stand,” she finished. She spun and ran out before the waitress could reach the table to take their order. Archie released a heavy sigh and raked his hand through his hair, knowing he’d really stuck his foot in it this time.

It didn’t mean anything to him. She didn’t mean anything to him. Not even after…she didn’t want to think about it. Those stolen, sweaty minutes in his bedroom, trying to please him. Hearing his strangled voice in her ear as she pleasured him, at the expense of her dignity, and wondering if his parents were going to walk in on them like that. She’d been filled with trepidation and shame, even while she assured herself that this was right, that he would want to be with her now. That he needed her. That he found her desirable. She swallowed him. Imbibed him, nearly choking. Her eyes watered, and her shoulders spasmed with the effort, but she was rewarded with his breathless statement that she was the best, that her mouth felt so good. He merely helped her get dressed and promised to call her when they got closer to the big day.

Betty ran to her car and worked the lock futilely, her hands trembling too hard for her to get it open. She smacked the roof of the sedan with the flat of her palm until it smarted, and her vision was still blurry. She leaned over the door and cried, loud, wrenching sobs. Tears dripped down the tip of her nose and into the corners of her mouth. She wanted to hate him.

She ended up hating herself.

“What’s wrong with me?” she whimpered into the sleeve of her shirt as she wiped her eyes against her shoulder.

“Betty?” A low voice, male and concerned, called to her from a few feet away, and she couldn’t find a voice to reply. She sniffled and sobbed, unable to master it. She wasn’t expecting a warm, firm hand to cup her shoulder and tug at her, prying her away from the car. She nearly stumbled back up against the curb, but those same strong hands caught her and held her steady, restoring her balance. She was pulled back against a solid body, supporting her as she struggled to breathe without that funny wheezing sound that wouldn’t stop creaking out of her chest. She felt her nose begin to run, but didn’t get the chance to reach up and wipe it before she was spun around into an embrace that enveloped her.

The faint scent of cologne, mingled with freshly starched cotton and detergent tickled her nose.

“You okay, Bets?” the voice asked her, rumbling and low in her ear. Hands stroked her back, soothing her, inspecting her gently, palming her heartbeat through her back. Her hands crept up, searching out the textures of her knight’s warm skin and the cool slickness of his hair as she clung to him.

“No.” She grimaced against the words. “He told me…he isn’t taking me.”

“Archie?” That was when it dawned on her. She leaned back, pulling away from the addictive warmth and contact, and looked up into Reggie’s dark brown eyes.

“Geez…Reggie, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…man, this is bad, isn’t it? I’m crying all over you!” She scrubbed her cheeks with her palm until he caught her wrist, stilling it so he could finish the task.

“Hold still a sec, Bets,” he murmured, cradling her face in his palm as he feathered his thumb beneath her eyes, cleaning away the streaky tears. His eyes were full of concern and barely restrained irritation, but Betty realized he wasn’t annoyed with her. “You’re a mess, you know that?”

“Thanks,” she grumped.

“That’s what I’m here for,” he quipped, smirking. The noble gesture evaporated; Reggie was back to his old flip self. “Arch dumped his lab report into your lap, didn’t he?”

“Oh, do shut up,” she whined, glaring at him and backing off. She reached up to settle her hair, tidying her ponytail and tucking stray tendrils behind her ears. He watched her efforts, staring his fill of her as she recovered her bearings. “Why are you here? I thought you were running an errand for your dad?”

“I was. He sent me to pick up his lunch, he had a meeting with the editorial staff that lasted an hour longer than he planned.” He nodded to the white plastic bag that contained a styrofoam carry-out box and that was looped shut at the handles, resting on the ground beside them. “I was also gonna head to the tuxedo shop and pick up their camera-ready art for the full-page ad we sold them for the weekend edition.” He looked proud, almost as though he were responsible for selling the lucrative ad space in his father’s publication. “I saw you come out in a hurry.”

“I didn’t see you come into the Choklit Shoppe.”

“I got there after you did. I was at the counter when you ran out.”

“I didn’t run,” she argued.

“Looked like you were moving pretty fast to me,” he shrugged. “Hate to tell you I told you so…”

“Then don’t, since you didn’t. Archie backed out. He was going to take me to the prom.”

“He told you that, huh?” His face looked doubtful.

“He asked me. Not the other way around. I said yes. I thought that meant he meant it.”

“That’s how it’s supposed to work. Of course, Carrot-Top’s not too bright, Bets.”

“Don’t talk about him like that!” she hissed.

“Why are you defending him? You’re usually pretty quick on the uptake, Betty, so why stand here and back him up when he just made you cry your pretty little eyes out and make a scene?”

“I didn’t make a scene,” she railed, planting her hands on her hips. “It’s none of your business.”

“Everyone in the shop saw you run out, Bets. It’s everybody’s business now. And if you’re gonna stand up for Archie, make sure he’s at least around to appreciate it.”

“What?”

“He left.” He nodded to the space where Archie’s battered Chevy had been parked. It was empty. Betty’s cheeks grew hot, and she knew she was blushing, mentally kicking herself for letting Reggie get the best of her.

“Glad I got to help fill your quota for catching someone in an embarrassing moment for the day, Reggie. If you don’t mind, I’ve gotta bail.” She managed to yank her car door open this time and fling herself inside, strapping herself into her seatbelt in one smooth motion.

“Hanging out with Archie’s the embarrassment,” he continued, but she didn’t see any of the usual cruelty in his face. His smile didn’t reach his eyes, and there was no smugness in his tone, only resignation. “He’s just using you. Why does a nice girl like you want to waste time following him around like a puppy?”

“Plenty of girls follow you around, Reg. Do you pay attention to the nice ones, or do prefer the ones who want to give you half an answer when you ask them out?” She didn’t plan on going on the offensive. A mean little voice in her head prodded her, Don’t let him get away with twisting the screws, making this mess worse. “Aren’t you late for a date to grovel at Veronica’s feet? Or Cheryl’s? You’re not the one to tell me who I should follow, Reg. You’re just like Archie in that respect. It’s more fun to chase after someone you won’t catch. Veronica’s just using you, too. She likes what you can do for her, Reggie. She likes how good you make her look, when she shows up somewhere with you. Too bad it wasn’t the prom,” she jabbed.

“Shit.” He looked slightly deflated, and his lips tightened, turning white around the corners. “Nice. That’s the thanks I get for trying to make you feel better.” He nodded at her backpack again. “Better get home and crack those books. Get that out of the way before you pine over Andrews some more. Go home and cry, if it makes you feel like you’re being loyal to him, or like it’ll magically make him stop liking Ronnie and change his mind.” His spine was stiff and proud as he bent to retrieve the to-go bag and leave.

Her quavering voice stopped him.

“Reggie…don’t. I’m sorry,” she called out. “I didn’t mean it.”

“Yes you did,” he insisted quietly. His jaw was stubborn and firm, and hurt shone out from his eyes. His nostrils flared briefly as he watched her. “I’m not chasing after Veronica. She likes to play the game, so I play it with her. That’s the way it’s always been. She’s hot, sure. We have fun together. I get a kick out of her and some of the stuff we do. And I like it when people turn and watch us walk into a room together. I like it when guys want her, and how I get to rub their nose in it that she came with me. It’s fun. I’m not gonna lie, Bets. I know how to treat her, too. She knows a night out with me won’t involve going Dutch or me showing up late, or expecting her to drive because my car’s not some piece of shit. I like to take care of myself and my stuff. I’ve got standards for myself, Bets, and any girl that spends time with me knows that.”

“Make sure that isn’t all they know. Sometimes you can be full of yourself, Reg.” Her eyes softened, and the last of her anger left her voice. “C’mon. Get in. I’ll give you a ride back to your dad’s.” He shrugged, then got in on the passenger side. The food carton rested on his lap after he buckled himself in, and he scooted the seat back a few inches to make more room for his long legs. “You can throw my pack into the back,” she offered. He obeyed, and she started the car. The CD in her player chirped to life, and they enjoyed the leisurely drive to the Riverdale Gazette plaza with the windows rolled down.

“Don’t let the nice ones get away just because you’re big on how things look,” Betty advised.

“Nice ones, huh?”

“Yep.”

“Define ‘nice ones,’ and what I’m supposed to be looking for.”

“Well, gee. Let’s think about that for a second. Someone who makes you laugh.”

“Big Ethel makes me laugh, but I wouldn’t date her.”

“Shut up! And she is nice, too, by the way. But I’m talking someone who lets you get a word in edgewise.”

“I want someone who actually uses words, Bets. Especially to tell me how great I am,” he preened, making silly muscle poses for her benefit.

“I know, but hear me out, you goofball! How about someone who does something else besides spending half her life at the mall? Someone who has hobbies?”

“Are we talking bug collecting? Square dancing? Fly fishing?”

“Sheesh…or even someone well-read.”

“I don’t want to date a librarian.”

“Even if you found a hot one?” A snort of laughter escaped him. “Gotcha,” she grinned.

“When I think nice…I think boring. Wishy washy. I like someone who will tease me and laugh at my jokes. Someone who’ll know how to be sexy and keep me interested. Someone who’s a smart aleck,” he explained. “That’s Ronnie, in a nutshell, or at least some of the other girls that I’ve dated who remind me of her.”

“Yeah…that’s nice, I guess.” She left out But those girls are bitches. “I guess if you’re a guy, those girls are cool, Reggie. But they suck as friends to other girls. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been friends with Ronnie since we were six, but…sometimes, I feel like she just wants someone to be a mirror for her. Not act like her, just to show her how great she is. It’s kinda all about her.”

“You don’t have any friends like that who do that for you?”

“I don’t need those kinds of friends. My friends show me I’m great by treating me like they enjoy my company and time. Like Nancy, also a nice girl,” she pointed out by way of example.

“Who’s taken,” Reggie retorted simply.

“Well, okay. But at least she’s an example.”

“Midge is nice,” Reggie added.

“Midge is taken, but there you go again. You chase the girls who need all the attention, Reg. Or the ones you can’t have.”

“Eh. It isn’t like she says no.”

“Oh.” Silence.

“Well, she doesn’t.”

“I didn’t know things were like that between you two.”

“Everyone else knows.”

“Good way to end up a grease spot in front of the school, Mantle.”

“Moose thinks he scared me away.”

“Again, ask yourself why you want to be with anyone who plays games.”

“She was a great lay.”

“Oh, God…TMI, Reggie! I SO didn’t need to know that!”

“You asked.”

“Eeerrggggh…that’ll shut my yap from now on.” They were out of the car now, heading up in the elevator to the newsroom. The building was buzzing with activity, and they landed on the third floor. Reggie tugged Betty by the elbow and they veered left. His skin felt warm, she thought. The building felt cool, and the office was decorated with myriad grey-walled cubicles and pale blue carpeting. They made their way to the large, airy office that said “Ricky Mantle, Editor-in-Chief,” across the pane in gold letters. Reggie knocked sharply before letting himself in.

Ricky was a slightly portly man, perhaps an inch shorter than his son, who was just shy of six-foot-two. His hairline was receding slightly and strands of gray invaded his jet black hair. He was still handsome, Betty noticed, and Reggie took a lot of looks from his father. Keen intelligence shone out from his eyes, and he smiled broadly when Reggie set the food container on his desk blotter.

“Hey, son,” he greeted. “Who’s the lovely lady?”

“Betty Cooper, this is my dad,” he announced.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she gushed, hurrying to shake his hand. Their grip was firm, and she made appropriate noises of approval. “This is a great office, Mr. Mantle. You’re so lucky working for a place like this.” Reggie puffed up with pride, and chuckled to himself as he watched his dad do the same.

“It’s my second home. Just ask the boy.”

“He never comes out of his cave,” Reggie cracked. “So I have to feed him.”

“You forgot soda. Here, buddy, grab me a Pepsi out of the machine in the break room?”

“Sure, Pop.” He nodded to Betty. “Make yourself at home.” She sat in the swivel chair opposite Ricky’s desk and smiled.

“Are you in classes with Reggie?”

“A couple,” she explained. “He was coming out of the Choklit Shoppe at around the same time I was. I’ve known him for a long time.” She didn’t add that Reggie used to make her life miserable on the playground when they were in grade school.

“Nice to know he doesn’t just hang out with hooligans,” he chuckled. “You look safe enough.”

“Thanks!”

“What are you planning to do with yourself after you graduate high school, young lady?”

“College. I would like to write, but not necessarily in journalism.”

“It pays the bills, kiddo. Don’t completely discount it as an option. I have to work hard, but I love what I do.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Reggie plans on having an internship with me this summer, just to get his feet wet before he goes to school. I’m proud of him.”

“He’s a riot. He works hard, too, sir. He was a great quarterback.”

“He focuses too much on football. He won’t play forever,” he mused. “That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy watching him play.” He reached into his wallet and unfolded a long string of photos in cellophane holders. “This was him when he played Pop Warner ball. This was Reggie with his first tooth. This was him after he skinned his knee riding his skateboard down a rail, the kid’s trying to give me a heart attack!”

Betty was in that position when Reggie got back with the drinks: Engrossed, smiling fondly and laughing at the elder Mantle’s stories of him as a kid that he’d never dare to share with anyone. Her body was relaxed, her skin was flush with happy color, and she looked so damned pretty when she smiled. She pushed back a loose tendril of hair behind her ear and swung around to face him.

“Hey. Your dad was just entertaining me and telling me all kinds of dirty secrets about you.”

“And on that note…bye, Pop!” He set his father’s drink on his desk and hoisted Betty out of the seat, dragging her after him.

“Later, buddy!” He laughed at Betty twisting around to wave sheepishly over her shoulder at him as the door banged shut.

The two of them looked cute together.

Betty gave Reggie a ride back to his car, almost bereft at having to let him go, even though she knew she should be relieved. No more criticism. No more arguing. No more potshots. Right?

Well, right?

The sun was setting and throwing a warm orange glow over the street, bathing it in growing shadows. Reggie let himself out and shut her door gently, and stood there hesitantly, as though there was something he had forgotten.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, I guess,” Betty offered.

“Sure.” He stroked the edge of her window and stared at his shoes for a moment. “Betty?”

“Yeah?”

“Wait.” He climbed back in before she could turn the car away from the curb. He shut the door, surprising her. “Don’t go yet.”

“It’s getting late.”

“I know. No rush. Just…wait. About what I said earlier, Bets…I’m sorry. Back when you were upset, I shouldn’t have been there, rubbing it in. You already felt like crap.”

“Yeah.” She shrugged, her attitude cavalier, but he saw that she was still smarting from that moment. In the fading light, her hair was set ablaze in the sun, and her eyes were a clear, tourmaline blue with specks of violet that he’d never noticed before. She even had a few faint freckles around her nose. “Nothing like flogging a dead horse. Guess I was asking for it, though. He’s just not that into me, I get it.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Okay.” She was waiting.

“Maybe you’re too good for him.”

“That’s what you tell someone who doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell with the person they want.”

“No. That’s what you tell someone when it’s true. You’re really something, Betty.” He reached over and turned off the ignition of her car before she could protest.

“Reg…what are you doing?”

“Not so fast, Cooper.” He leaned over and unbuckled her seat belt. Her lips were full and pink and shaped like a cupid’s bow. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, and her skin felt smooth as water when he reached out to stroke back errant strands of hair that slipped loose from her pony tail. He took her hand and tugged her closer, and he felt the pulse in her wrist quicken as the gap between them narrowed.

“Reggie…” Her voice held no resistance.

“C’mere,” he murmured. He pushed himself out onto that limb, wanting to find out something for himself that he pondered from the moment he caught up to her outside of the restaurant.

Did she taste as sweet as she smelled, and how would it feel to kiss a so-called “nice girl.”

Heat surged through his veins at the first touch of her lips, and he cupped her face in his palm, caressing her as he brushed his mouth against hers. The kiss was sweet and slow, hesitant at first as Betty attempted to find out what he wanted out of it. She emitted a small moan of contentment when his lips turned out to be as warm as the rest of him, even hot as they probed hers, sucking her lower one between his and lapping up her flavors. The kiss was a melting fusion of heat and want, and he brushed his lips over hers again, slanting her mouth to suit him, fitting together like puzzle pieces. He kissed her just the way she loved to be kissed, stunning her that it could be this perfect.

Her hands began to explore him of their own accord, treasuring his jaw, playing with his earlobe as he teased her with his tongue. He traced the seam of her lips with the tip, then swirled around hers in a sinuous dance that dragged a moan from her that set him aflame. Her fingers curled in the open collar of his shirt, tangling in his rich hair. His voice was strangled as he trailed kisses over the crest of her cheekbone, bathing her flesh in his hot breath.

“Oh, my God,” he whispered. “Betty…”

“Please…don’t stop,” she pleaded. Her voice was ragged and desperate, and she clung to him, twining her arms around him as far as she could reach, clutching at his broad back. Her common sense screamed alarms in her head. This was Reggie. Reggie Mantle, who thought she was beneath his notice…hey. Since when did she want him to notice her, anyway? He wasn’t supposed to feel this right, so solid in her arms. He was lean and muscular, and his skin was smooth beneath his shirt. He held her in an iron grip, muscles tensing as she caressed him, trailing fire with her touch. He was aroused, and every nerve ending felt alive as she submitted to his nipping, hard kisses along her throat. Her breasts were mashed into his chest, and he could smell her flowery shampoo and the remnant of a breath mint she must have finished earlier.

She was gonna waste a perfectly good breath mint on Andrews? He mentally shook his head at badly spent effort, gloating that it made her taste even sweeter now, wrapped up with him like this. She was a better kisser than Veronica, who turned him on, sure, but she always held back a little. Always teased him, made him work for it. There was never this all-consuming, hungry need that radiated from Betty, drawing him in.

They broke apart, both panting, eyes wild with disbelief.

“Right,” he began, recovering first. “It’s late. Homework…I’ll let you…do your homework.”

“Uh-huh,” she replied, nodding lamely before turning to stare at her steering wheel. She shook herself briefly and murmured, “Reggie?”

“Yeah?”

“What was that?”

“I’ve gotta go,” he evaded, jerking open the door and high-tailing it out of there. She sat there in his empty car. His spine was stiff as a poker, and he was moving pretty fast back to his own car.

She didn’t realize that he had an erection he could hang his hat on.
- 4
- 5
- 6
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Wallflower