Our Hearts beat as One

At Royale Club

‘BETTY!’ Ron exclaimed engulfing her in a bear hug. She planted a kiss on her cheek and had wet eyes. ‘This is the best birthday everrr.’

‘Ron!’ Betty replied with a heavy throat. ‘You’re my best friend. This is nothing.’

‘Now, now guys. You don’t want to ruin the make-up already, do you?’ Nancy said. ‘Come let’s take a picture.’

Betty ‘Noo..No..n..noo! You know am not photogenic.’

Ron shushed her and pulled her in an embrace and the girls clicked a selfie. Ron  continued, ‘I still cannot believe! All our childhood memories in this one video.’

Midge joined, ‘I still remember when Ronnie and Michelle wore exactly the same dress on the first day of kindergarten.’

Betty and Nancy laughed.

Ron: MIDGE!!

Nancy: That day and now! Our Ron still refuses to shop at Laney’s. Hahahaha..

Midge: And how can you forget Jug’s and Ron’s first meeting!

Chuck: Ronnie couldn’t eat for two days straight seeing our li’l Jug’s appetite.

Jughead and Dilton followed.

Ron: It’s not just the appetite. He’s just a lucky ectomorph  (sticking her tongue out). My scale shifts if I even think of ice-cream. And look at him gorging himself on that sundae. 

Jughead: Who’s stopping you? I don’t mind sharing it with you today. That’s the least I can do for your birthday.

Dilton was enjoying himself thoroughly, grinning ear to ear. 

Betty stood in a corner, silently enjoying watching her friends and blessing her stars. She had the best bunch of friends. Best ever! How everyone, despite their contrasting personalities were so closely knit. And Ron! She adored her from the core of her heart. Not only was she her best friend, she was like an off-home mother to her. Always concerned and protective. She made her feel like a little girl, thought of her before everyone else. She could recall vividly when she first saw Ronnie. It was after the second day of kindergarten. Ron stood surrounded by a group of girls (like Queen Bee) and complained about how unfair it was that students who were to be picked up by their chauffeurs had to walk all the way down to the next block.  Betty snickered, inviting wry look from Ron.

And then, after almost two weeks seeing Ron fail miserably at her block painting assignment, she did it for her, out her own free will. She didn’t know that in the process, she’d made a friend for a lifetime.  Friends for a lifetime.

And today, even after college, when they’re all working and absorbed in their lives, the gang still took time out for each other. 

It was everything she could’ve asked for, almost.

 Her thoughts drifted to Reggie Mantle. She wondered idly if he could be a  part of her group and suddenly, out of nowhere, somebody whispered very close to her left ear, ‘Hey Blondie.’