CHAPTER ONE:

↳ POP'S

     RYDER ANDREWS WALKED INTO THE well known Pop's Chock'Lit Shoppe, his stomach rumbling with hunger. It was a Friday night and Ryder knew who would be occupying booths at the family diner. 

Sure, his friends would be there but his thoughts were focused solely on the blonde girl in a booth in the corner. Archie sat across from Betty, facing away from the doorway so Betty saw Ryder approaching. A smile lit up her face at the sight of the older Andrews.

"Ryder? What are you doing back, oh my God!" Betty jumped out of her seat, getting on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck in greeting. It was habitual for the two to hug, growing up together made sure there was no boundaries between them.

"Hey, Bets." Ryder smiled down at the blonde girl, ruffling her hair up to the best ability. He frowned at the ponytail that pulled her beautiful hair back. He loved when she had her hair down, he loved to play with her hair as much as possible. 

"Hey, Ryder." Archie said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck as Betty finally let go of him. She blushed, sitting back down in the booth. "What's up?" He wasn't sure how to act with his older brother around. He liked to keep his friends and brother separate. Why? Because his brother was already so much cooler than him.

"Dad's busy so there wasn't dinner," Ryder explained with a shrug, sitting down beside Betty. He threw his arm behind her shoulders on the vinyl leather. 

On the outside, Ryder was calm and collected but inside, his heart was beating rapidly. He was hoping he was doing well, he liked Betty and didn't want to screw it up.

His fingers lightly traced Betty's back and she stiffened for a moment before relaxing against his touch. She had missed him. 

A half hour flew by as the trio laughed over past memories or what antics happened over the summer. Until the topic was changed to the death of Jason Blossom. 

"He was your friend, wasn't he Ry?" Betty asked, a frown sent his way. She didn't think much of Ryder in his absence and she felt guilty she hadn't texted him more often.

"Yeah," Ryder shrugged, trying to play off his emotions. Inside he was torn between anger and relief that Jason Blossom was dead. But he wasn't so sure anymore. 

"What the hell, is Ryder Andrews back?" Ryder's attention was diverted from the girl beside him as he noticed his friends Reggie Mantle, Chuck Clayton, and others. 

"Yo!" Ryder yelled back, pulling his hand away from the warmth of the young girls shoulder. She sighed, knowing that he had to leave now but felt solace within his embrace. 

Ryder turned back, an apologetic look on his face. He gave her a quick side hug, leaning close to her ear to whisper. His warm breath tickled Betty's ear, causing her to shiver involuntarily.

"Meet me outside at the treehouse at midnight."

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this takes place in chapter one, right before archie and betty meet veronica. next chapter will be betty's pov... do you think she's still confessing to archie or...? ;)