Young and In Love

Betty woke up the next afternoon feeling depressed and hating every aspect of her life. She felt so alone. Nancy didn't call her anymore because Betty had been rude to her whenever Nancy had called. Nancy's solutions to all of Betty's problems were: "Get back together with Reggie!"

Not, thought Betty. I'd rather go out with fucking Peter or Archie than Reggie even though Peter was such a prick, she thought. She couldn't believe what a fool she had been. Peter had called her that morning, leaving a message on her cell to see if she made it home okay, but she had gathered up her self-esteem and refused to associate with him anymore. She didn't have anybody in her life anymore. Well, there was a boy named Larry she still talked to sometimes.

At least he seemed to care about me, she thought painfully. Nobody else does.

***

"Will you just leave me alone?" snapped Reggie.

"God! I'm just trying to help you," responded another one of Reggie’s jock friends, Darren. He was a linebacker on the football team and wanted Reggie to go out with his cousin, Laurie.

"Well you're not helping me, okay? You're just fucking making it worse! I don't want another girlfriend right now. I don't need another girlfriend!"

"What, are you gonna spend the rest of your life alone because of Betty Cooper? How about when she invites you to her wedding? Are you gonna bring a date or will you still be hoping she comes back to you? Wake up, Mantle! She's not gonna come back! It’s over between you two."

"I know she isn’t coming back. But maybe I don't want another girlfriend right now! And you're constantly bugging me about this Laurie chick. So fucking knock it off, will ya?"

"God. It's just that Betty's getting on with her life, and it just bugs me to see you all by yourself feeling lonely and shit."

"I'm not by myself and I’m not lonely and shit. I've got enough fucking friends to keep me company! Just because I don't have a girlfriend doesn't fucking make me lonely."

"Okay, Reg! I mean, I know it sucks and stuff, losing a girl like Betty and her sleeping with Archie Andrews and all.”

“W-What did you just say?”

“Betty slept with Archie. I heard it from Archie himself. He’s telling all the guys that Betty’s his girl now. It happened on prom night, and I heard she was very drunk too.”

“I don’t believe you, Darren! You've been on my ass since the minute Betty broke up with me," Reggie said angrily. "Don't you even fucking understand how I feel?"

"Sure, I understand. I told you, I know it sucks. Everyone knows Betty slept with Andrews because he was bragging about it in the locker room the other day."

"You know what Darren? I don't think you do understand. You've never given a shit about anybody. You've never been in love, have you? You don't even know what love is."

"Man, fuck you. Why do ya gotta get so personal?"

"Because we're talking about personal shit here! And you can't tell me what to do, because we're not in your territory here. You don't know shit about love or loss or anything because you've never  loved anyone. And I'm sick of your shit and you ragging on Betty all the time, like it's

supposed to make me feel better if you call my ex-girlfriend a slut or something. So why don't you go out and get some knowledge about the world and a real fucking relationship and then you can come back and maybe I'll listen to you."

"Fuck off Mantle. You're so fucking pathetic that ya don't even know how pathetic you are. Fuck you!" Darren told him, hanging up.

"No, fuck YOU!" Reggie yelled as he hung up the phone. "Goddamn fucking prick," he muttered.

Oh God! She wouldn’t sleep with that douche bag, would she? He picked his books up off the floor and threw them on his bed. He stared down at his physics notebook, the one he had gotten from Betty's house after he had taken her home after Peter had left her at that party. He looked at it, his heart skipping a beat as his eyes ran over Betty's handwriting.

‘Reggie is da best,’ it said. ‘Betty  wuvs Reggie.’ His eyes filled with tears as he remembered when she wrote it. It was old, written one time when he was over there and they were studying together.

He picked up the notebook and threw it against the wall, papers flying out. It felt good to throw it.  He picked up his math book, a heavy bound book, and threw it at the wall as hard as he could. It made a satisfying thud. He picked up his physics book, and threw it at the wall. He threw all his books, even his small paperback English books, against the wall.

He was on such a high, his anger causing his blood to race through his veins. He felt like driving his car one hundred miles an hour, crashing into a brick wall or off a cliff. He imagined his car exploding as it rolled down the cliff, a fiery ball.

Did she sleep with Archie? Did she really?

He jumped on his bed, scattered with papers, and buried his head in his pillow. He screamed as loud as he could until he went hoarse.

***

The next day Reggie was waiting for Archie to leave the school. He stood by the entrance, waiting tensely for Archie to come outside.

I’m  gonna find out if he slept with her.

It took an hour, but there Archie was, leaving school alone.

“Andrews, I have to ask you a question.”

“What is it Reggie?” Archie was tense because Reggie had a very menacing look on his face.

“Is it true? Did you sleep with Betty?”

“Yeah, it’s true. We slept together on Prom …ugggh!”

Reggie had begun to beat Archie. Archie tried to fight back, but was no match for Reggie’s rage. Reggie actually felt hate and if some of Reggie’s friends had not stopped him, he probably would have killed Archie.

“You better keep your mouth shut about this, you fucking rapist. You knew she was drunk. Why else would she sleep with you?” Reggie said as he kicked Archie in his ribs to emphasize his words.


“You knew Betty belonged to me. She’s my girl. You took advantage of her ‘cause she was drunk. Why would she have slept with a dick like you when she knows how much I love her? She just used you to get back at me, as if I’d be jealous of a piece of shit like you! It’s me she loves, not you!” Reggie felt like breaking Archie’s neck, but was restrained by Moose and Chuck.

“I told you before to keep your big mouth shut, punk. You picked the wrong girl to fuck this time. I hope you fucking croak.” Reggie yelled, breathing hard and struggling not to commit murder.

“Come on Reg, he’s not worth getting in trouble for.” Chuck and Moose led him away.

None of them spared Archie another glance.

***


              

Archie was able to call Betty from his cell phone, and she came flying to the school to get him.

“Oh God Archie, who did this to you?” When he wouldn’t answer, she had a gut feeling.

“Did Reggie do this to you? Don’t be afraid to tell me.”

Archie nodded.

“Why would he do this?” she asked him.

“It’s my fault Bets. I told a few of the guys about us. That was when I thought you’d be my girl. Sorry.”

“It’s still no excuse for what Reggie did to you.”

“Forget it Bets. Just help me home, Okay?”

She did as he asked, but drove to her house instead of his. She knew her parents weren’t at home. She washed his wounds with antiseptic and wrapped an elastic bandage around his chest.

“Archie, maybe we should go to the hospital, you may have some broken ribs. I’m sorry about this.”

“It’s all right Bets. Can I call you later?”

“I-I have a date. Archie. I wanted to apologize to you for my behavior on Prom night,”

“Why?”

“I told you I loved you that night when I didn’t. I was drunk, but I knew what I was doing.  I don’t love you, and you deserve someone who loves you totally and completely. I don’t love you like that.”

“You mean like how you used to love me and how you now love Reggie.”

“Yeah, something like that.” She kissed his cheek. He noted she didn’t deny that she loved Reggie.

“Come on Arch, I’ll take you home now.  Call me tomorrow?”

“Sure Bets. Have a g-good time on your date tonight.”

I see she still loves Reggie. I’ve lost her, forever this time.

He had to fight back bitter tears because Betty didn’t love him.

Now he knew how she had felt all of those years when she did love him and he threw her love back in her face.