Archie's POV

After Veronica and I's fight in school and my almost fist fight with Jughead, I needed time to think. That night...I didn't sleep. I stayed up thinking about what Jughead had said. I wasn't there for Betty...he was right about that. In fact, after I told her that I would never be good enough for her, I backed up from our friendship altogether. I focused all my time on Veronica and now I've realized that I pushed away the very girl I proposed to when we were just 8 years old. In second grade I was having trouble reading, Betty worked with me tirelessly until I finally got it and passed my test. I proposed to her right after that. She just laughed, looked at me and said: " We're too young for marriage Archie, ask me again when we're 18 and I'll say yes". Now that we are 18 I realize I wish I had asked her. Betty's been hurting so long and I chose to ignore it all this time. I was right about one thing...I will never be good enough for her. Maybe that's what scared me, how this girl was everything I wasn't and could never be. The way I talked to her the last time I saw her, how could I do that? How could I say I should start planning what to say at her funeral because at this point she was as good as dead anyway. I needed to make it right, I needed to apologize for what I said. The next morning, I told Ronnie I'd meet her at school. So when I talked to Betty I could do it alone. I pulled up in front of the high school and waited for Betty's mom to drop her off. But that was not what happened at all. The Serpents pulled up on their motorcycles. Jughead leading the pack and right behind him was Betty. She had her own motorcycle now and she was already a natural at it. She pulled up right next to Jughead, sporting a pleated mini skirt and long sleeve bodysuit that dipped in the back. That's when I first saw her tattoo, there it was on her shoulder, exposed for the world to see...for me to see. She was officially one of them. Jug threw her jacket over her shoulders as they walked hand in hand into school, the rest of the Serpents following behind them. They really had become the king and queen.

I followed behind them, waiting for the bell to ring so I could catch Betty alone because she was in my homeroom. I waited by the classroom door, trying to avoid my girlfriend as best as I could. I knew Veronica was onto me and it was only a matter of time before I had to be honest with her. I watched Betty and Jughead interact with one another. I noticed they were intensely talking about something, it looked as if Jughead was getting visibly angry as the conversation progressed. "Betty if you even remotely suspect it's him. You can't go meet him alone." He yelled at her.

"Jug if it is my dad...I have to meet him alone. If he knows you know he could hurt you. That's the last thing I want! Then I'd be responsible for it and that's not something I'm capable of living with Juggie. Please, you have to let me do this. He's...calling me again. If I don't put this to an end once and for all, murders are going to start happening again." Betty pleaded with him.

"Betty, the Black Hood already attacked you, how do you know this isn't a trap to finish what he started? Or do you...and this is your way of being reckless." Jug said cupping her face with his hands.

"You have to let me go...there are no other choices...anyone else gets involved and someone dies. I won't let that be you or any of the Serpents for that matter. I won't be able to live with myself.  He wants me for some reason and he's going to get me. Just me...please respect that Juggie." She said back to him. He sighed and nodded his head in agreement.

"Betty Cooper you are truly an enigma...alright but I expect you to call me when you are done. If I don't hear from you, we're going looking for you. I will tear up the North and South side if I have to.  I'll do whatever II need to, to keep you safe. You know that right Betty?" Jug asked her.

"Of course Juggie...and I love you for that. But you've got to let dark Betty take care of this one." She said back to him as the bell rang.

"Yeah and dark Betty is the one I'm afraid of...but also extremely turned on by so this is a lose-lose for me." Jug said as he kissed her goodbye and they both headed opposite ways to class.

"Hey, Betty. " I said as I walked into class right behind her. She half smiled when she saw me, I could tell she was still hurt by what I had said. And I didn't blame her.

"Arch, look I'm not really in the mood to have you yell at me again." She said back starting to walk away. I put my hand on her shoulder, to stop her.

"No Betty wait!" I said as she turned back around to face me.

"What?" She said back.

"I wanted to apologize for what I said, how I acted...I never meant to hurt you. I was mad at myself for not being there for you when you needed me the most. I took my own feelings out on you." I said to her. Her expression changed as she opened her mouth to speak. She stopped for a minute, trying to think of what to say back to me.

"Arch, I want to talk about the kiss. But I want to make it clear before we do...you and I are and will never be more than friends. You understand that right?" Betty said. I nodded already knowing she was going to say that. I mean she was with Jughead for the long haul, after that tattoo there was no doubt in my mind about that.

"Yes completely, I just wanted to say..that kiss made me realize I may have rushed things with Ronnie. I don't know what to do now, I feel like Riverdale is spinning out of control and I'm going down with it you know?  I told Veronica I was going to school late because I had to help my dad with something, just so she wouldn't have Andre come to get me on the way. I avoided her this morning too and now I'm sitting here talking to you and I miss this...I mean our friendship. Betty and Archie...like our talks really meant something to me, Betty. " I said. She smiled as she looked at me.

"I miss it to Arch, things became so complicated after your father was shot. The Black Hood's really trying to tear this town apart, slowly but surely it's working. My mom and dad are splitting up...Polly came to visit with the twins. Now she's gone off the deep end and is trying to get my mom join her cult. So my mom told me to go move in with Jughead, can you believe that. My mother told me to move in with my gang member boyfriend because she said our house was too toxic for my healing process. Maybe she's right about that. Not that I wouldn't have snuck out there every night to see him anyway. I love sleeping in Jug's arms. He's the best part of me Arch. The part I actually like. The part that makes me want to live to see the sun rise another day. If Ronnie doesn't do that for you...maybe she isn't the one. Or maybe you two are moving too fast. But tell her how you feel Arch. Nothing is worse than not knowing. Trust me...I've been there." She said referencing how I lead her on last year.

"Betty I had no idea all of this was going on...I'm so sorry I got too preoccupied with my own life...and Ronnie I didn't even realize." I said trying to find the right words to say, but there were none...the damage had already been done.

"Arch, we used to be best friends...we used to know everything about each other. I talk to your dad more than I talk to you now." Betty said starting to tear up. "Look I don't want to live in the past...I'm having a hard time living in general right now." She said as she looked down at her phone. " Oh, god...I'm late!" She said as he got up from her desk.

"Wait where are you going?" I asked wondering if it had something to do with the conversation I overheard her and Jughead having.

"It's nothing Archie...do what you do best...forget I was even here. " Betty said as she ran out of the classroom and down the hall. I got up to follow her, I wasn't going to be that guy anymore. I wanted my best friend back. I watched as she got on her bike and sped out of there. I followed her as discretely as I could. Till she drove into the woods and towards this back road leading to a cemetery. She got off her bike and answered her phone. "Okay I'm here, now show your face. Yes, I came alone. Come out here now!" She screamed into her phone, tears falling down her face. She walked up the grass hill to a bench and sat there with her head in her hands. That's when a whole bunch of motorcycles pulled up way too close to the bush I was hiding behind.

"Well Well Well, Betty Cooper..what are you doing on my side of town? I thought we had a deal?" Malachai the leader of the Ghoulies said as he walked up to her.

"I'm not in the mood." She said back to him as he handed her a cigarette and sat down next to her on the bench.

"Who said I was." He said back to her.

"Are you working with him?" Betty sighed as she inhaled.

"That hooded dude...you know me too well Cooper. He sent me as a warning. The day of reckoning for your precious little Riverdale is coming to Betty. I hope your town's ready for it. I also hope you make it out alive...but that doesn't seem likely. Such a shame a beautiful girl..with a doomed future." Malachai said to her.

"You tell the Black Hood, I'm done playing games. If he wants me...he can come and get me. Leave everyone else out of this. It's between him and I. " Betty said about to get up. Malachai grabbed her and pulled her down. I was about to jump out of the bush but something stopped me.

"Let go of me now." She said to him.

"Little one you've got a lot to learn. You're playing with the big dogs now. We bite back." He said squeezing her arm tighter, until she screamed out in pain. I was frozen from my fear, I couldn't move...speak or breathe.

"Let go of me, I won't say it again! " She yelled this time.

"Not so fast Serpent queen, I have to claim my property like Jughead claimed his. " Malachai said as he stared at the "J" initial pendant that was hanging from Betty's neck. He pulled out a pocket knife and looked at her with a devious smile. "You intrigued me with the level of pain you could endure in the woods. I mean you took my knife blade and bent it back with your bare hands. You won't be so lucky this time. Shouldn't have come alone." He said as she screamed, this was my chance to save the girl I loved. I was about to jump out when another Ghoulie heard the bushes rustle.

"Don't touch me... I can promise you'll be sorry. " Betty said to him.

"No sweetheart that's you." He said back as he held her down and used his pocket knife to mark her hand with an M for Malachai. She screamed and sobbed and I didn't do a damn thing. He let go of her after that. "Tell your boyfriend...this is just the beginning...let's ride!" He yelled as the whole gang left. Leaving Betty there bleeding and sobbing. She took off before I could get to her. She pulled up in front of the school and called Jughead.

"Jug...Jug..come outside...Come outside now. Something happened! " She cried. That's when I ran up to her.

"Betty oh my god what happened!" I said pretending I didn't follow her.

"It's nothing Archie..it's fine really." She said covering her hand. Probably worrying I was going to say I told you so. Jughead ran out took one look at his girlfriend and pushed me out of the way. Betty explained the story to him and suddenly I was right back there watching it happen all over again.

"Oh my god he put his hands on you..he's dead! " Jughead yelled noticing the bruising on Betty's wrists from being held down. He untied his plaid button down and began wrapping it around her hand to stop the bleeding.

"Jug, he's working with the Black Hood...Malachai said the day of reckoning for Riverdale is coming. " Betty said.

"You fucking bet it has. Not for Riverdale for him. " Jughead said as he looked at me suspiciously. "What are you doing out here Archie? Better yet what are you doing with my girlfriend. I told you to stay away from her." He said back to me.

"It's fine Jug, Archie and I talked before..he apologized. We worked through it." She said to him.

"Yeah I was just coming out here to meet with Ronnie and I saw Betty crying. " I said covering my tracks.

"Ok well...I've got it from here. Thanks for staying with her." He said as they walked away, Betty half smiled at me as they walked towards the rest of the Serpents. This was the beginning of the worst week of all of our lives. Nothing would be the same. Judgement Night was upon us.