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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
- 6
- 7
Summary: Caps and gowns, after parties, and no more excuses.

“Man, Bets, that’s harsh,” Nancy soothed while the girls stood in line at the Cinnabon shop at the Riverdale Shopping Center. Betty miserably scanned the menu while Ethel ordered a small lemonade and a large bun. Betty had hoped that the noise and bustle of the mall would perk her up, along with the empty calories and rich aroma of junk food. It hadn’t kicked in yet.

She still felt like crap.

“Ronnie’s such a bitch sometimes. I mean, she’s my friend, but then I see her doing stuff like this to her other friends.” Ethel waited off to the side as Nancy placed her own order. Betty leaned glumly against the counter. “Almost makes me glad I don’t have a boyfriend to steal.”

“Neither do I,” Betty sniffed. “It just sucks. I mean, it’s not like I was in love with Reg, or anything, but…I liked him. I was really starting to like him, and we had fun together. Lots of fun.”

“Really?” Ethel probed. “Like, was he good boyfriend material?”

“Pfft,” Nancy gagged. “Reggie Mantle’s slick, girl. You can do better than that, even if he doesn’t think anyone can do any better than him.” They paid for their food and retired to a nearby round table in the court. Betty absently unrolled the coil of pastry and licked the icing from her fingers.

“I hate it. Everyone’s talking about it,” she complained.”

“They aren’t talking about you as much as they are Ronnie and Reg,” Nancy pointed out.

“And Archie,” Ethel reminded her. “Reggie got him good. I almost peed my pants!” Ethel had made it to the prom and contented herself with taking her visiting cousin. Betty teased Jughead that he didn’t know what he missed by turning her down. “Guess I’ll always wonder,” he sighed, uninterested.

That opened the flood gates for more lectures from Juggie about her folly in asking Arch to the prom in the first place, let alone going with Reg.

“Talk about the lesser of two evils,” he muttered during study hall. “What were you THINKING?”

“I wanted to go to the prom,” she shrugged. “Thought I wanted Arch to take me, but look what happened. He totally flaked!”

“So you go with Reggie. Bets, this is the guy who used to pull your pigtails in third grade. He hasn’t stopped being an asshole.” She wanted to argue with him but was drawing a blank.

A brief memory flashed in her mind’s eye of Reg winding a tendril of her hair around his finger after he kissed her. She closed her eyes and shivered.

Why did life have to treat her like shit? She’d been good, hadn’t she? She played by the rules!

In the meantime, shopping therapy wasn’t helping much.

“I have a pair of shoes on hold,” Nancy piped up as she finished her bun and scrubbed her fingers with a paper napkin.

“I already have my dress picked out,” Ethel boasted. “Wait’ll you see it!”

“I have a white sundress that I already wore last summer that still fits and doesn’t look bad,” Betty decided.

“Live a little, Betty.” Nancy fished in her pocketbook for her Wrigley’s and handed both girls a piece. “Get something! It’s no fun shopping unless we all walk out with something new! No leaving empty-handed.” Betty sighed. “C’mon!” Nancy prodded again.

“I don’t need anything,” she protested. Ethel was shaking her head and looping her arm through hers, beginning to drag her toward a Wet Seal.

“Less talking. More shopping,” she chided her. Betty spent the next hour as a reluctant dress dummy as both of her friends pulled dress after dress from the racks and held them against her. She made several trips back into the dressing room until they found what they deemed the one dress she couldn’t leave without.

And earrings to go with it.

Ethel eventually parted ways with them, pleading an errand she swore to run for her mother.

“I just don’t know how she could do this shit. She’s supposed to be my best friend.”

“You’re her purse holder,” Nancy explained. “You get the thrill of being with her everywhere she goes and watching her operate. It’s entertaining, but ultimately, you end up holding the purse.”

“That’s depressing, Nancy.”

“You’re not telling me I’m wrong.”

“You’re mean,” she pouted back, sticking out her bottom lip for emphasis.

“You’re so lucky to have Chuck.”

“He knows his place.”

“And where might that be?”

“Begging,” she tossed back, making Betty giggle. “Can’t let a man get too cocky. You can’t give him too much. He might take you for granted.”

“He can kiss.”

“Who?”

“Reggie. I mean, he can KISS.” Betty fanned herself.

“Dang, Betty!” Nancy crowed. “That good?”

“Hoo, yeah,” she agreed. “Boy has mad skills.”

“Uh-oh. Now she’s talking about mad skills…you didn’t, ya know?” Betty shook her head.

“That’s why I hate this. I just feel like we left it at a loose end.”

“Were you planning on doing it with him?” They arrived at Nancy’s house and hopped out of her tiny, well-used Civic. “It’s probably just as well that you didn’t, after what happened.”

“He’s not speaking to me.”

“Have you tried to talk to him?”

“No,” she admitted. “I don’t know what to say. I’m embarrassed. I feel like I treated him like shit.”

“What were you supposed to think? Ronnie twisted things around, and you were still mad at Archie, and there he is, showing up right when Reggie can see it.”

“It was a mess. A big, freakin’ mess.”

“Talk to him, then. Make the first move.” Nancy set her books down and motioned for Betty to do the same. Finals were at the end of the week, and they planned a sugar-fueled cram session to prepare.

“I can’t.”

“You said you like him.”

“I do. I just…I don’t know.”

“You’ll always wonder about what you could have said to him if you don’t say anything,” Nancy tsked. “Talk to him.” Nancy walked over to the phone and picked up the handset. “Here. Call him!”

“NO!” Betty was agape. “Not NOW!”

“Call. Him.” Nancy was implacable, shaking the handset at her and shoving it under her nose with her hand on her hip.

“Nance,” Betty argued. Nancy gave her “The Look” with raised eyebrows and quirked mouth. Betty rolled her eyes and took the phone.

“You’re killing me,” Betty moaned as she dialed.

“You’ll thank me later.” Nancy retired to the fridge to get some milk. Betty waited nervously while his phone rang. Her stomach twisted into a knot, and she felt flushed. Darn cinnamon roll…it felt like a lump in her gut.

It rang once. Twice. Betty chewed her fingertail until Nancy reminded her to stop. Three times…

“Hello?” Her heart nearly stopped. Betty wrung her hand and paused.

His voice sounded…yummy. She missed the sound of it.

“Hello?” he repeated impatiently.

“Oh…uh, hi. Reg. It’s me, Bets.” She pressed onward, hoping to get it all out at once. “I wanted to talk to you, if you’re not too busy. I didn’t know if I’d catch you at home, but I, uh, wanted to call.” After a moment of silence, he sighed.

That didn’t bode well.

“What’s on your mind, Bets?”

“You. I’m sorry,” she blurted out. “I’m sorry for how I treated you at the prom.”

“It’s no big deal.”

“Yes, it is,” she pressed on. “I was having a good time, and I ruined it. I was a total bitch for saying all the shit that I did. It wasn’t fair. I made a mistake.”

“Yeah,” he drawled, “you did.” She pictured him leaning back with his arms folded over his chest, brow cocked.

“I wanted to say I’m sorry. I hated what Ronnie was saying.”

“What else did she say?”

“She said that I chased Archie, and that he never wanted me, but that I just didn’t have a clue. She acted like it was just so funny that I kept beating myself on the head, and that you just…y’know, went with me out of pity.”

“Wow,” he mused under his breath. “That’s shitty. I guess it makes sense, now.” Nancy pretended interest in her trigonometry book as she stared at Betty’s back while she paced. “Pity. I don’t rent a limo for a pity date.” His tone suggested that there was a first time for everything.

“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, Reg.”

“That’s all?” he accused dryly. “That’s why you called?”

“No. I missed you. You won’t talk to me.” Her voice was lowered. Nancy took the hint and tiptoed out of the kitchen, not waiting for Betty to shoo her out. “So I wanted to talk to you.”

“Talk away. Why didn’t you talk to me at school? Were you worried people might talk about it if they saw us?” She guiltily realized that it was true, and she felt ashamed.

“No. I should have just talked to you; I wanted to. I still want to.” She shyly admitted. “I like you, Reggie. A lot.”

His sigh was less heavy, and then, “Why didn’t you say so?”

“I dunno,” she shrugged. It sounded lame, even to her.

“God, Betty,” he groaned. “You’re driving me nuts. You get mad that Archie let you dangle, but you’re doing the same to me. Tell me something.”

“What?”

“Do you still have a thing for Arch?”

Her breath caught. Well, shit.

Did she?

No. Really. No.

Two weeks had gone by where she’d avoided talking to him in the halls and gave Ronnie the cut direct when she walked past their usual table in the cafeteria. Betty was tired. Enough was enough.

They’d had one awkward conversation when he caught up to her at her locker. He’d had the weekend after the prom to let his bruised eye heal, but the dark purple tissue was still fading to yellow. The gossip mongers at Riverdale High were still having a field day with it.

She heard his voice at her elbow as she put away her science book. “Hey.” He leaned against the adjoining locker with his hands tucked into his pockets.

He was still floppy-haired and boyish. Her stomach still flipped when she saw him, but the look they shared was tense and uncomfortable.

“Hey.” She closed her locker and stepped back, making him straighten. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. You headed to class?” It was ninth period. Of course she was headed to class. It wasn’t a creative opener.

“Uh-huh.” She began to move through the milling students, and he kept up with her nimbly. She waved hi to some of her friends in an effort to be nonchalant, but her heart was pounding.

“I haven’t seen much of you lately.”

“I’ve been busy. Getting ready for finals. Helping Mom with some stuff.”

“Yeah. It’s almost over.”

“Seems like everything’s going so fast.”

“Not fast enough. I cant’ wait to be out of here.” Graduation day was looming around the corner, and truth be told, Betty was scared out of her wits.

“What are you gonna do after the summer?” she asked politely.

“Junior college for a year, then transfer to state. You?”

“State. I got financial aid and a dorm. Early admission.” He rocked back on his heels.

“Wow. That’s great, Bets.”

“I’m pretty stoked about it.” And she was. Her mother danced her around the kitchen when they got the acceptance letter in the mail.

“Gonna be here for the summer?” His tone was hopeful.

“I might go to my parents’ cabin that they rent every summer. Or I might just work at the animal shelter again. I’ll be pretty busy. But hey, I’ll get going. ‘Bye!” He looked slightly crestfallen as she dismissed him before they’d even reached her class.

~0~

So, there it was.

Reggie’s question hung in mid-air.

“I don’t feel that way about him anymore.”

“Just since the prom?”

“No. Since everything. It wasn’t just that he broke our date.”

“Sure it wasn’t.” He was unappeased.

“No, it wasn’t. It was how he treated me, and how he let Ronnie treat me, when she decided to have him take her after all.”

“You let her treat you like that for a long time. Everyone saw it, Betty. You’ve always been her sidekick.” Betty flushed with irritation. It was one thing hearing that sentiment from someone like Nancy, but from someone she’d basically called to apologize to, it was bitter.

“Really. That’s what you think.”

“Tell me I’m lying.”

“I didn’t know it was so funny watching me just be a sidekick. Glad I entertained you.”

“It didn’t. It’s not funny. Not one bit, Betty. You think I like watching you let her kiss her ass?” At her shocked gasp of outrage, he continued. “You cant always worry about what everyone thinks, Betty. We’re almost out of school. You won’t see most of these people after this summer! I know I’m gonna be working for my dad here in town. I know I’ll be glad when I’m off at school and I won’t have to worry about going out on a Friday and hearing people talk about me on Monday. You can do what you want. You can see who you want. You’re eighteen and almost free of this school!”

“Reggie…you’re right. Fine. You’re right. I’m just sorry. I was mad at what happened. Not just because anyone would talk, but because our night was ruined, too. Ronnie pissed me off and said a lot of shit that hurt my feelings. But right now, they still hurt because you think I can’t think for myself, and you’re mad at me. I didn’t mean to piss you off.”

“Betty…” He sounded like he was searching for words.

“I don’t like playing games, Reggie. I didn’t mean to make it seem like I did. I want to make this better, but I don’t know how.”

“That’s what made it so weird. You’ve never played games, Betty. Not since I’ve known you.” This time she sighed.

“I’ll get going. I won’t get in your way anymore today.” She swallowed around a lump. “Bye.”

“Wait!”

“What?”

“You call me to say you’re sorry, and you tell me you like me…” He let his words trail off.

“I did say that.”

“You like me.” He sounded unconvinced.

“Yes. But I won’t bother you about it. Talk to you later.” Betty gently hung up. When Nancy came back, she was leaning her head back against the wall with her eyes closed.

“Wow. That didn’t sound good at all.”

“It’s all your fault. You made me call him.”

“You told him you were sorry.”

“He’s still mad at me.”

“You did what you were supposed to do. You tried to make up with him. So no more guilt. C’mon, back to the books.” She fished a package of Oreos out of the cupboard, and they set to work.

~0~

Back up in his room, Reggie flopped back onto his bed and stared up at the ceiling.

“Why. Why. WHY?” he muttered into the silence.

She just had to tell him she liked him. And that she wouldn’t bother him about it???

“Shit.”

…what if he wanted her to bother him about it???

The last day of finals ticked by torturously slow. Betty’s hand ached from writing and scribbling in bubble sheet answers and her pencils were all dull, but she felt a rush of joy at the last bell of the day.

She wasn’t alone. Shrieking and hoots filled the school courtyard as students spilled outside. She dodged a binder that someone threw up in the air, just to watch the papers flap loose and spill to the ground. They were free!

Ethel and Nancy caught up to her and linked arms. “We’re done! What next?”

“Home.”

“Then what?”

“The beach?”

“Heck, yeah!” Nancy agreed. “Let’s ditch this popsicle stand!”

They all rushed home to each other’s homes to grab suits, towels and snacks. Betty rubbed sunscreen on her face and limbs before she even left her house, since her skin was delicate.

It felt exciting, knowing she didn’t have school the next day or a test to study for. She could stay up late, sleep in late…no homework, no projects, no cheerleading practice. Life was good.

The girls talked a mile a minute in Nancy’s car and blasted her stereo with the windows open, not caring who stared at them from the street. Betty smelled the salt and spray from the parking lot as they showed the attendant their sticker. Heat roasted her toes through her thin sandals as they crossed the asphalt. Ethel found them a spot near the snack shack.

They watched Midge walk by in a tiny red bikini and waved. Moose was almost a meter away, working his shift as a lifeguard. They caught him watching her and waved to him, too. His smile was goodnatured and friendly.

“He’s cute. Just a great big teddy bear. Why does she always run around on him?”

“Because she can,” Ethel replied sourly. “Granted, he’s not the brightest bulb, but he’s nice! What a waste.”

The girls played a game of “boxers or briefs” as various beachgoers milled by. Gradually more of their classmates showed up and set up a volleyball net. Betty took a short dip up to her waist in the water at Ethel’s behest before deciding it was too cold and there was too much seaweed.

She was just warming herself in the sun, lying on her back when a long shadow loomed over her body. Icy droplets of water dashed themselves on her skin.

“ACK!” she cried, quickly sitting up. She squinted up into Reggie’s sardonic face. His dark hair was sleek and shining, forming ringlets from being wet.

His skin was already bronzed from occasional time at the beach, and he wore long red and black board shorts as his swim trunks. He was dripping, his chest bare and broad. Betty stared at him, feeling a frisson of excitement at how sexy he looked, muscular, half-naked and wet.

“Think you can just be lazy now that school’s out, huh? What about that job you said you had at the shelter?”

“Look who’s talking, Clark Kent,” she accused back. His lips twisted at her use of the nickname.

“No. You’re the one I caught napping, so I get to grill you first.”

“Grill away,” she offered, making room for him on her beach towel. They watched the waves rising on high tide, threatening to wash away a girl’s crumbling sandcastle.

“Why did you hang up?”

“Because I didn’t know what else to say. And because you didn’t have much of an answer when I said that I liked you.”

“What did you want me to say?”

“What do you think, Reg? Hello?” She gave an emphatic shrug and an impatient stare. He read frustration in her crystal blue eyes.

“Tell me!” he prodded. He playfully bumped her shoulder with his. Betty was glad that Ethel was still swimming and that Nancy had gone off to the bathroom. His skin was chilled from the water, and she shivered. He felt solid and smooth.

“How about ‘Gee, Bets, I like you too? And I won’t let you keep putting your foot in your mouth, wondering how I feel?’”

“Women,” he grunted. “Always gotta be so specific…” He was still staring out across the water. His posture relaxed as he leaned back on his hands. “So you like me.”

“We already went over that. YES, Reg, I LIKE you!” she practically shouted.

“Good.” His voice was matter-of-fact and filled with satisfaction.

“That’s all you can say…GOOD???” She felt her face turning beet red – as usual – and she wanted to slug him. The conversation didn’t seem to be going anywhere.

“Nope.” He turned to face her, and his expression was wicked.

Heat flooded the sensitive zone between her legs at that look. He eyed her up and down, taking in her creamy skin, athletic legs and lean curves in her aquamarine bikini. Her nipples stiffened; Betty inwardly blamed the wind.

“Then what?”

“I’ll tell you what. Just come on.” He rose and reached for her. He grabbed her wrist and tugged her to her feet. He pulled her after him like a kid with a secret. She trotted to keep up with his long legs, inadvertently kicking up sand.

“Reggie!”

“Move it, slowpoke!” he scolded, but he gradually caught her hand instead. To anyone watching, they looked like an attractive young couple who were a study in physical opposites, but who still had chemistry.

Ethel nudged Nancy as she approached to buy a soda.

“What’s going on?”

“Look who decided to pay attention to what was in front of his face,” Ethel chuckled.

“Her, or him?” Nancy challenged. Ethel nodded in agreement.

They walked until they reached a stretch of beach that wasn’t as heavily populated, and Reggie dragged her over toward the jetty. He sat on a huge rock and spread apart his knees, tugging her until she stood between them. His fingers feathered over her skin as his hands circled her waist. His skin felt supple and hot beneath her hands as she laid them on his shoulders.

“I like you,” he announced firmly. “A lot. I guess I didn’t think I had to explain myself, but you proved me wrong. Get it through your pretty little head, Elizabeth Cooper. I. Like. You,” he spelled out slowly, so he wouldn’t be mistaken. Her face softened, and she gave him a lopsided smile.

“Jerk,” she murmured, but she was already moving in more closely and tightening her embrace.

“Sure, call me names when I tell you how I feel,” he teased, but his brown eyes were full of mischief. “So are we good, now?” She nodded as his hands ran up her back.

“You had me worried. I didn’t think you were gonna speak to me anymore.”

“Ditto.” His fingers were driving her crazy, tracing light patterns over her back.

“I didn’t want you to stay mad.” She gave him a butterfly kiss on the edge of his hairline, then trailed them down his temple.

“I couldn’t.” He was leaning into her caress and nuzzling her back.

“Maybe you didn’t notice, but I’m really stoked right now that you showed up today.”

“I didn’t notice. Show me,” he murmured against her lips before he crushed them in a hard, thorough kiss that made tingles of electricity bring every nerve in her body to live.

The sounds of the gulls and waves faded away for Betty. Each kiss seemed endless and made her dizzy. He lingered in the satiny interior of her mouth, hearing her moan in approval.

They only stopped a few minutes later when a different lifeguard came along and reminded them to get off of the jetty.

Graduation Night:

“Elizabeth Cooper!” Mr. Wetherbee’s voice boomed through the microphone, and her legs felt like rubber as Betty trotted up the short flight of steps to take her diploma. Her palm sweated as she gripped the small, hard folio and shook his hand. She almost wanted to kiss his plump cheek from excitement.

“And I’d like to introduce Elizabeth here as our salutatorian of Riverdale High School this year,” he added proudly. She didn’t have sour grapes for Dilton, who’d earned valedictorian. He was a shoe-in.

She wanted to ignore Veronica’s brief, imploring look from her row as she hurried back to her seat. Archie sat in the row ahead of her, since they’re names were close in the alphabet. He craned his neck around to smile at her.

“Congrats, Killer,” he grinned. She grinned, then stuck out her tongue.

“Now I’m off to the White House,” she quipped.

“Why not?”

“Because she’s coming to my house next,” Ethel reminded them. “I’m having a barbecue tonight!”

“I’m gonna be at Ron’s. You gonna stop by?” he asked Betty.

“Probably not.”

“She mentioned you today.”

“Goodie for me.” Betty’s smile faded. “Tell her I said congratulations.” She still felt a pang of guilt at not talking to Ronnie, but that was it. She was done. A friendship that lasted most of her lifetime was over all in one night.

Archie sighed. “Why don’t you stop by and tell her yourself.” He turned back and faced the stage. Betty stared down at her diploma miserably, until she watched the last of the graduated file across the stage, jumping up and cheering loudly as they called Reggie Mantle.

Betty narrowly missed getting hit between the teeth with a flying cap as they all went up into the air. She was jubilant.

She was looking for Reggie.
~0~

Her hand was stiff from shaking so many at her parents’ and she practically had whiplash from all the hugs. Betty let her dad snap pictures of her cutting the enormous cake, wearing the dress Ethel and Nancy nagged her to buy.

A half an hour into the festivities, she went to answer a knock on the door.

Ethel and Nancy were looking impish, already garbed in comfortable jeans and halter tops. Ethel looked surprisingly pretty in a black handkerchief top that exposed her back and with her hair down, flipped up at the ends.

“I thought I was meeting you at your place,” Betty wailed. “I’m not even ready yet!”

“Look nice, though,” Jughead offered as he bounded up the steps after them.

“Juggie!” she whooped as she gave him a crushing hug.

“Oof,” he grunted. “Watch my ribs!”

“Lightweight,” she nagged. “C’mon, let’s have something to eat, or a drink.”

“I’m eating at my place.”

“Then let’s have a drink.”

“Soda?”

“My mom promised me a ‘thimbleful’ of wine,” Betty gloated.

“Ooooh. You party animal, you,” Jughead kidded, but he was game. As promised, her mother handed each of them a wine goblet and poured a teaspoon of white Zinfandel into each. It was just enough to make a toast. Everyone clapped for Betty, and she felt like a star.

The party was in full swing when someone else knocked on the door.

“Reggie!” she cried breathlessly. His smile was sly, and he gave her the once-over, taking in her white, spaghetti-strapped dress that laced across the back. Her hair was down for a change, curled and finger-combed into loose waves.

“You look hot!” he exclaimed, and he tugged her into a kiss that could only be called the same.

“Reg, my neighbors might be watching!” she squeaked, but she didn’t pull away.

“You taste good,” he murmured into her neck, oblivious. She melted against him and sighed, and she looked up into his face.

“I’m glad you came.”

“Good. Now let’s get out of here.”

“I’m headed to Ethel’s.”

“Tell her you’ll come by tomorrow!”

“I can’t!”

“Then we’ll tell her together,” he shrugged.

He was up to something.

“I promised her.”

“I know. Betty the Girl Scout, on my honor, blah blah blah,” he nagged, holding up his hand in the scout salute. “Live a little!”

“You’re a bad influence.” He gave her a wolfish look before kissing her again. His tongue darted into hers and stroked her, and her fingers clutched handfuls of his wonderfully thick hair.

Desire pooled her belly when he gripped her hips and ground against her. Betty thanked God that the porch light wasn’t on…

He palmed her ass, testing its warm firmness as he pressed his knee between her thighs. Instinctively she ground against it, moaning and writhing in his embrace.

“Damn it, Betty!” he hissed into her neck.

“Shit!” she hissed back, eyes closed and head thrown back. “We’ve got to stop, someone might come out here. My FATHER might come out here,” she warned.

“I’ll tell him you had something in your eye,” he offered. She was backed up against the door and grinding against his hardness now. Her hands caressed him through his polo shirt. He felt firm and solid and was making her lose control…Betty’s nipples hardened into stiff points against his chest. Briefly, he reached up to brush one through the thin acetate of her dress. “Betty…d’you want me?” He felt her nod and moan in agreement.

Click… They sprang apart when her mother came to the door.

“What was all that noise?” she accused.

“Huh?”

“I wondered who was out here ringing the doorbell,” she muttered, tsking with her hands on her hips.

It rang, and rang, and rang when Betty was leaned up against it, making out with Reggie without a care in the world.

Oops…

They inevitably went to Ethel’s house. She seldom strayed from Reggie the entire night. They held hands, they sat together, and she occasionally sat on his lap to conserve seats in her friend’s basement. Archie showed up briefly with Jughead, shot her a look while Reggie was snuggled up to her on the chaise out back, and bailed.

They left Ethel’s and made the rounds to two more parties, staying briefly and shooting the shit. It felt so good to be free.

They gradually went back to Reggie’s house to check in with his parents. She was surprised when he mentioned it and they turned into his driveway.

“Look who’s reporting to Mommy and Daddy,” she accused, cocking a brow and folding her arms. He grinned and tweaked her nose.

“I told them I was bringing you by. My mom has something for you. Stinker.” She was speechless as he led her inside.

His father greeted them at the door. “Here’s the woman of the hour,” he chuckled, giving her a hug. It felt like hugging her own dad, and Betty beamed. Reggie’s mother was elegant as usual, and she crossed the room with a small package and a card.

“We’re so proud of both of you. You both did so well this year, and now it’s off to college!”

“You didn’t have to get me anything!”

“I just wrapped it,” she replied, eyes dancing. They were so much like her son’s. “Open it.” Betty peeled off the silver foil with shaking hands and butterflies in her stomach.

It was a tiny silver pendant with the two-digit year and a graduation cap and scroll. “Oh, Reggie, you didn’t!” He took the box from her and removed the chain. Ricky Mantle looked smug as his son fastened it around her neck while she lifted up her hair.

“Looks great on you. Congratulations, Betty.”

“Are you two headed to another party?” his mother mused.

“Til we drop,” Reggie agreed. “I’m gone.” Betty’s eyes were round and apologetic as he dragged her back out the door in a way that suggested “don’t wait up.”

His parents stood staring out the picture window after them as his car pulled out of the driveway.

“There goes trouble,” Ricky sighed.

“And what a nice girl to get into trouble with,” she murmured thoughtfully. “Her parents are about ready to kill us, aren’t they?”

“Yup.”

“Just checking.”

~0~

She almost wished she’d changed into jeans again. Reggie remedied the problem easily when they reached the beach and pulled a backpack out of his trunk.

“I didn’t unpack this from my last trip to my aunt’s. I never wore these while I was there.”

“You think of everything, Mr. Mantle,” she quipped as she took it from him. She unzipped it and helped herself to a dark blue tee shit and a pair of too-big shorts. He watched her meaningfully as she turned her back to change.

“Don’t be shy,” he rumbled. His voice was husky and low, and he ran his fingertip down the length of her arm.

Her eyes were sultry and liquid. “Okay. I won’t.” She leaned over the console and kissed him, wrapping her tongue around his. Slowly, he slid the strap of her dress down past her shoulder, caressing the graceful slope.

He continued what he started on the porch. His touch was gentle as he teased the bodice of her dress down, lower, until her pale pink strapless bra was exposed. He toyed with the tiny bow in the middle.

“You’re so sexy, Betty,” he marveled. He cupped her breast, which seemed to crave his caress. He feathered her nipple with his thumb, and it strained into his touch. Her eyes closed in pleasure, and he kissed her again with growing passion.

“You make me crazy,” she breathed. “You make me feel like I’m not myself.”

“That makes two of us, then. I only feel like this when I’m with you,” he groaned into her mouth.

Her dress was on its last gasp, pushed down to her waist, and he was exploring her body slowly and in fine detail. Her bra lay on the car mat along with her shoes. Betty straddled his lap, having the advantage of his body rippling beneath her. His kisses were languid, liquid and set her on fire. She tugged off his shirt so she could savor the feel of his bare chest, craving the contact of his skin. His car was parked in the back lot of the beach, and they steamed the windows with casual abandon.

“You’re beautiful, Betty!” he gasped as he ground herself against him again. His seat was slid back as far from the dash as it would to go make room for her. He caught her nipple between his teeth and laved it, lapping hungrily at her. Arousal pooled in her center, and she grew wet.

“Don’t stop,” she pleaded weakly. Her resolve was slipping with the sensations he was creating with his hands and mouth. It wasn’t just a furtive grope in the dark. Reggie was pleasing her, unselfish and giving, and had his attention focused only on her.

“Lift up, baby,” he whispered, nipping her chin when she cried out. His fingers probed between her legs, stroking the damp sheen of her satin briefs. He found her pearl and rubbed it, acquainting himself with it. Betty moaned and cried out as he created delicious friction and heat. “You like that, don’t you?”

“Reggie!” Her voice was frantic and needy. He scared her. He excited her. He made her forget herself.

She had to tell him.

“Reg, I’m a virgin!” she blurted out, cupping his face in her palms.

He stopped, looking up at her in a haze of confusion.

“You are?” She nodded, embarrassed but still clinging to him. She rested her forehead against his. “So, is this gonna be a problem?”

“No. Kind of. I’m just…scared.” His pupils dilated sharply, and he felt humbled. He cradled her protectively and kissed the tip of her nose.

“Don’t be scared of being with me, Bets. I’ll take care of you. It’s hard when it’s your first time. It’s always a little scary,” he admitted.

“Yeah?” She felt incrementally better, but she read the strain in his face that stopping so abruptly caused him. “Were you scared?”

“I was stoked,” he huffed, chuckling, “but yeah, I was scared. I didn’t want to mess it up. And I think I kinda did, but man! Wow. It didn’t stop me from wanting to do it again, and it got a lot better, even just with the second time.” She leisurely plied him with kisses as he spoke, tracing his features with them. His hands tangled in her lush fall of blonde hair, tousling it and making her look even more wanton.

“I want you so much. I love being with you like this, and I want you, Reggie. I don’t want this night to end because…you just make me feel so much. You’re incredible. I mean that,” she said softly. He looked content and thoughtful. The moonlight and stars cast dim, silvery light over them, and he looked handsome and precious to her in the dark.

Carefully they moved into the back seat of the car, and Betty heard the low zip of his jeans and the snap of something being unwrapped and fitted into place before he loomed over her again. The rest of their clothes ended up in a pile on the front seat. Reggie’s radio played softly in the background as the moved together. Her hands explored his body’s secrets. He was patient and his need for her grew when she reached down to coddle him in her hand.

She was sweet, untried and undid him as he mustered his control and breached her. He felt her clench up around him as he pushed forward as carefully as he could.

“Ow. Ow. Ow,” she chanted slowly until he stopped, peering down at her concern. He looked worried. “It’s okay.”

“I won’t move unless you tell me it’s fine,” he murmured, caressing her cheek. They were tangled together, and he was supporting most of his own weight until she pulled him down to her and wrapped her legs around his waist.

“Slowly,” she told him. He held his breath and closed his eyes, drawing back and pushing into her in one smooth thrust.

Her walls stretched and burned, and she ached from the pressure of his filling her, but something about it felt right. She felt him throbbing inside her, and he followed her body’s dictates, moving back when he felt her strain, coming closer when she relaxed.

He wanted to make it right for her. He wanted to take his time, really make love to her, but it was hard on her, causing her pain even though it wasn’t intentional. He was honored that she gave herself to him before anyone else. He wanted to make it worth the wait.

So he caressed her. He kissed her. He whispered over and over again how beautiful and sweet and sexy she was and how good she tasted, and how she was driving him crazy. He felt the rush of his own climax coming and decided to follow where it took him so they could finish, and to end her discomfort.

And she responded to him. She saw the mixture of pleasure and pain cross his features. She felt him strain and hold back, even as he savored her, reveling at the feel of being deep inside her. She held him. She rocked beneath him, taking him in. She squelched the occasion grunt of discomfort when he kissed it better or delighted in her breasts. He rubbed her clitoris to make it tingle and to distract her from the pain.

When he came, it was profound. He literally saw stars. She felt him buck and arch, stiffening and shuddering as she wrung it out of him. She felt the throb and pulse of his dick, and her arms tightened around him at his ragged cry.

Her shoulder was wet.

Before he unburied his face from her throat, he wiped his eyes. She looked concerned and panicked as she stared up at him, but he kissed her.

“Thank you,” he croaked. He was moved by her trust in him.

“No, thank you,” she corrected him as he disengaged himself and sat up. She rolled up and watched him chuck the spent condom out the window. “Litterbug.”

“Beats my dad finding it in my car,” he shrugged. He gave her a hooded look. “You okay, Bets?” She nodded, then eased toward him and kissed him. He returned it, then pulled her onto his lap, cradling her like she was made of glass.

“I never thought anything like this could happen,” she said. “Not between you an me.”

“Why?” he replied, somewhat miffed as he stroked her hair.

“This was just unexpected. I mean, you live down the street from someone, and you see them everyday, and…I don’t know.” She looked at him pointedly and gave him a sly smile. “You used to pull my pigtails.”

“You always pitched me out when we played baseball,” he retorted. “Give a guy a break!”

“Snowballs, calling me Wetty Betty, flicking frog parts at me during eighth grade biology, reading my notes to Ronnie, snapping my bra straps during sixth grade when I finally got one…” She ticked off points on her fingers until he took her hand and drew her index finger into her mouth. “Wimp!”

“People change,” he insisted. “Look at you.”

“What about me?”

“The Betty I know is a good girl.”

“I’m still a good girl,” she pouted indignantly.

“You’re naked.”

“Look who’s talking,” she murmured into his neck. He stroked her and watched the beach grass blowing over the dunes through steamy windows.

“If you had to be in by curfew, we’d both be dead.”

“You don’t have curfew anyway,” she shrugged.

“My parents keep reminding me that you’re a nice girl,” which he said with a leer and a wiggle of his eyebrows. “So that makes this off-limits.”

“You hate limits.”

“I do,” he nodded solemnly, then gave her a smug grin that she returned.

“Speaking of limits,” she considered, “we’d better get going. I have to get up early tomorrow to help clean up from the party.”

“Then what?”

“Thank-you notes. Renewing the beach sticker on my car. Calling the animal shelter for my schedule when I start work.” Then her voice grew sober. “Giving Ronnie back her stuff.” She felt him stiffen in the dark.

“I don’t know what’s gonna do without you for a friend, Bets.”

“Find someone else to hold her purse and be her personal journal.”

“Archie shouldn’t be in the middle of breaking up your friendship.”

“It wasn’t Arch.”

“Could’ve fooled me, from what I saw at the prom!”

“It was how she treated you that night that cemented my decision.” The silence between them was heavy and charged as she snuggled up beneath his chin. “I know you’ve liked Ron for a long time.” There was no spite in her tone. “I know what it’s like to want to be with someone who takes you for granted.”

“I guess you do.” He was contemplative. “I had fun with her. I had a crush on her since the fourth grade. But it was always so much work! And she still waited at home for Carrot Top to call. And so did you,” he added. She pinched him.

“Lesson learned.” He tugged on her hair to get her to look him in the eye.

“Promise?”

“Girl Scout’s honor.”

-FIN.-
- 6
- 7
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