Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Between college applications, football practice, and finals, Reggie had a lot on his mind the next week after Betty made her proposition.

In spite of all his obligations, Betty Cooper’s blue eyes as she leaned over the counter at Pop’s, her plump pink lips inches from his, occupied 90% of his thoughts.

She hadn’t spoken to him much, just a “Hi, Reggie!” in the halls, being dragged along hand in hand with her new redheaded suitor. He’d wave, smile his patented Mantle smirk, ignoring the rock in his stomach.

At the end of football practice, ten days after they spoke at Pop’s (not that he was counting) he heard his iphone ding with a text message.

Hey Reg! Are you free tonight for a lesson? :)

Reggie’s heart jumped into his throat, and he rubbed at it, as if to dislodge the lump there. Betty Cooper, who he’d known since she wore her hair in pigtails and had constantly scraped knees, wanted him to teach her about sex. Sex with someone new. Someone exciting. Someone who wasn’t him.

In all the years that he’d known her and dated her occasionally, Reggie had never thought he’d have a sliver of a chance with her. He didn’t even know he wanted a chance with her. She was head over heels for Archie Andrews, even more so than the other girls of Riverdale who flocked around him.

So many things were changing.

He texted her back after waiting 20 minutes and deleting three responses.

My folks are out of town for a few days. Meet me at 7 at the mansion.

He made an excuse about studying for a Chemistry test and went home without showering. As he was getting ready, he wondered why he was anxious, shaking, dropping the expensive shampoo. He kept his phone in the bathroom near the shower just in case she texted back.

See you then!

Finally. He felt both relieved and afraid.

He slicked his hair back with wax and looked in the mirror. “You are Reggie Mantle. You’re great at this subject. It’s only Betty.”

When the doorbell rang, he thought he might be having a heart attack.

He opened the door and she had her hair down again, goddamnit, those gold curls long and bouncing around her breasts.

She was wearing cutoff jeans and a tanktop, causal.

He looked down at his tailored slacks and silk shirt, and felt embarrassed and overdressed. This wasn’t a charity ball, for god’s sake. What was wrong with him?

She put her hand on his shoulder and kissed his cheek. “Thanks for this, Reg. I’m really anxious about Adam.”

“No reason to be anxious, doll,” he said easily, not even thinking, the words coming out of his mouth as if he’d rehearsed them. “Guys are easy. He’ll be salivating just looking at you.”

Betty blushed. Reggie briefly wondered if the blush went down between those perfect apple sized breasts.

He took her hand, ignoring the skip in his heartbeat when she curled her fingers into his.

“Let’s get a drink.”

“Yes,” Betty said sounding relieved.

Reggie smirked at her. “I won’t bite, Bets. Not unless that’s what you’re into.”

Betty smacked his shoulder playfully. “Stop teasing me and make me a Redbull and vodka.”

Reggie saluted her. “Yes ma’am. Right away.”

Two drinks and an hour later, Betty leaned over to put her head on his shoulder on the barstool.

“It must be nice to live in a place with it’s own bar,” she said.

Reggie shrugged. “It’s ok. At least they buy the good stuff.”

“Hey Reg?” She lifted her head.

He looked at her and he couldn’t speak. The vodka had softened her face somehow, and her blue eyes looked liquid and dreamy. Her lips turned down at the corners though, and automatically Reggie put his hand on her face.

“What’s wrong, doll?”

Betty lowered her eyes, tears forming at the edges of her long, black lashes. When she spoke it was a whisper. “Why would Adam love me if Archie never did?”

 “Oh, Bets.”

Reggie put his arms around her, awkwardly since they were sitting on barstools. Her face felt hot and wet on his chest. He felt something swell in his heart, something he hadn’t known he could feel.

She pulled away, looking up at him. “I know what you all think of me,” she said, her voice stronger. “Innocent Betty Cooper. Goody Two Shoes. Good for a couple dates. She’ll let you cop a feel or steal a kiss, but at the end of the day, she’s a tease.”

“What are you talking about, Bets? No one thinks that.”

“That’s what I heard them say, Reggie. I heard Archie tell Adam that this morning.”

Anger rose in Reggie. “I’ll knock his block off! He’s just jealous, Bets. He wants you to himself. You’re the best thing that ever happened to him, and now that you’re seeing another guy, he knows that.”

Reggie wondered if he was speaking for Archie or himself.

Betty sniffled and wiped at her eyes. She chuckled. “Adam pushed him in the dirt.” She smiled up at Reggie. “All this time, my whole life, I thought I was destined to be Betty Andrews. Maybe I’m just destined to be plain old Betty Cooper.”

Reggie grinned at her. “I’ll tell you a secret, if you promise to keep it between me and you?”

Betty looked up at him curiously. “You know I can keep a secret, Reg. I’m not Ronnie.”

He put his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “I like plain old Betty Cooper.”

Reggie had never understood the expression that a smile could light up a room until he saw the one Betty gave him.