Playing Hard to get

     Since the night of the disco, Reggie had been very jealous seeing the guys ogle, drool, look at or talk to Betty. He started to fight, bully and threaten his friends,

acquaintances and strangers alike if they came near her. Reggie had to keep them from trying to snatch Betty away from him.

    Betty looked so different now. A virginal sexpot. He aimed to keep her that way.

Why is she changing? It made him feel ‘strange’.  He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Reggie never felt like this about anyone before. Reggie never thought of dating Betty

seriously or going steady with her, or anyone else. Maybe it was just a fluke, you know, bad burger, sour punch, a passing fancy, or something....

     Betty had decided she would keep up the momentum she started at the disco.

 She would not wear such revealing outfits to school, but she would keep her hair down, and were dresses and skirts, not baggy jeans and sweat shirt and sneakers.

After school, was a different story. The sexier outfits would appear. Mr. Mantle had more lessons to learn. Betty wore short dresses and tight skirts, tight jeans, dress slacks,

shorts, tight blouses, low cleavage. No more tomboy attire for her.

    Now Betty was the girl the guys fought over. She had her pick of dates, but it seemed like she did not get the one guy she wanted.

     Archie had the nerve to try to get Betty to promise him at least 3-4 Saturdays, and some Fridays a month. But Betty let him have an occasional Saturday.

“Take it or leave it”, Betty told him. Archie took it. Before this would have been a great thrill, that Archie wanted to date exclusively, but Betty just had no more interest in Archie.

Except to use Archie to make Reggie jealous.

After the disco episode, Reggie decided to steer clear of dating Betty and to keep his distance from her. He wouldn’t ask her on dates anymore. That would cure him of

whatever ailed him. He didn't want to think his reaction to Betty was jealousy.

Reggie was just being protective of his ‘sister’. He did call her once and a while, to keep in touch. She was always busy dating. Reggie had to try make up with Cheryl. He

may need her to keep an eye on that brother of hers. Jason was dating Betty a lot it seemed. Cheryl was really upset over Reggie fighting over Betty at the disco and  she

made him wait for sex. But she eventually gave in to him. She wanted him too much to make him wait too long.

One morning at school, Reggie was getting a book out of his locker when he heard:

“Come on, sweetie, gimmee just one little kiss, humm?”

There’s that stupid Carrot, making out with Veronica, again, he thought, smirking to himself. He was getting ready to walk away when he heard a familiar female voice,

laughing...

" I don't think I should Archiekins, what if Ronnie, or a teacher sees us?"

That was Betty! And she was giggling like a silly goose, it seemed to Reggie.

"I don't care who sees us ,baby, come here and kiss me", then silence. Betty and Archie were kissing in the hallway for all to see. Reggie flew to where he heard the voices.

Reggie saw that Archie and Betty were kissing, no making out, in front of him!

Betty had seen Reggie at his locker, and let Archie flirt with her.

She knew Reggie could hear them....she hoped he would come around and get an eye full.

" Hey meathead, no smooching in the halls. I'm surprised at you Blondie!"

Reggie said, trying to look, sound, and act calm. He had a bland expression on his face, and was attempting to smirk. He was failing miserably. Betty knew Reggie well

enough to know he was a time bomb waiting to explode.

"Reggie, you have some damn nerve. Mind your own business!" She might as well start  to light the fuse under Reggie, the ticking dynamite.

“Yeah, ratfink, get lost!” Unknowingly Archie was helping Betty add fuel to the fire. Good, she was thinking. Reggie refused to budge. His eyes were that dark green color that

Betty knew meant trouble. Archie and Betty broke slowly apart, much too slow for Reggie. They were both staring daggers at him.

“I had enough of this!” Betty said and stormed off.  She had a smile on her face. She watched them from a distance.

"Look, Mantle, mind your own fucking business! You have Cheryl, leave Betty alone!"

"You leave Betty alone Andrews! You have Ronnie, remember that??"

     By this time they were shoving each other, making loud slamming noises against the lockers, with the sounds carrying down the hallway, where the principal, Mr.

Weatherbee's office was located. 

‘Slam! Slam!

And Mr Weatherbee heard them. They kept this up until the principal caught them both, and each got a week's detention for their trouble. They both watched in amazement,

because from the detention class window, they saw Betty passing by with Jason Blossom, and she blew them both a kiss as she and Jason passed by