CHAPTER THREE:

↳ FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

     BETTY HOPPED INTO RYDER'S CAR, a giddy smile sent towards the older boy. She had rushed out of her house in a hurry, ignoring her mother's words of warning of the older Andrew's boy. The blonde quickly buckled her seatbelt as Ryder rolled his eyes at her bright mood.

"Ugh, get out," Ryder jokingly groaned, looking at the girl beside him. "You're too happy for seven o'clock in the morning!"

Betty giggled, throwing her school bag onto the ground, smiling at the older boy. "I'm not always this happy!" She tried defending herself, but honestly, she was happy to be there with Ryder.

"You pretty much are, sunshine." Ryder smirked, turning the engine on and getting them moving.

Betty blushed, turning her head to watch outside as they passed the neighborhoods and got closer into town. She was a morning person but she liked to savour the morning– listen to the birds chirp and look at the dew on the grass. So that's what she did as they passed by small homes, she observed, while listening to Ryder's album of the Rolling Stones.

"Did you eat?"

Betty turned back to Ryder, her mind had been elsewhere. More specifically, on last night. "What?"

Ryder chuckled, turning to Betty with a knowing look in his eyes. "Did you eat breakfast?"

"N–No," Betty said shyly. She was more worried on getting ready to see Ryder than eat. If she did eat she might throw up from being so nervous.

º º º

     AFTER THE TWO TEENS HAD SETTLED IN AT Pop's did they order and get their food. They had found a perfect booth and sat across from one another, both nervous to be around each other.

"So, ready for your sophomore year?" Ryder breathed out, he felt stupid that he was nervous– he was Ryder Andrews for god sake, he was everyone's crush. Everyone's but Betty's.

"What? No!" Betty told Ryder with a nervous smile. "My mom's already talking about applying for colleges."

"My dad too," Ryder grimaced, taking a bite of his bacon. "He really hopes that I graduate high school."

"You'll graduate," Betty said with a frown. "You're smart, Ry, you just don't—"

"Don't show it?" Ryder finished with a smirk. "I gotta keep the whole bad boy vibe going."

"No you don't," Betty insisted as she munched on her own breakfast. "You have friends that love you and we don't care about you trying to be a 'bad boy'." Betty put finger quotes around bad boy. "Honestly you aren't that bad."

"What!" Ryder exclaimed, "I drive a motorcycle!"

"Yeah but you still help old ladies across the road." Betty said with a small smile, watching as a light blush coated the older boys cheeks. 

"Shut up," Ryder mumbled, his hands fidgeting with his fork. 

Betty reached across the table boldly, grabbing onto the older boys hand, "Ryder, you're cute. Ryder cursed himself because he couldn't stop his blushing. "Ryder, I have to ask, why did you ask me to meet you at the treehouse last night?"  The two had met up last night and sat in the old treehouse and talked for two hours about Betty's internship and Ryder's boarding school. It was perfect to just reunite and be with one another. 

Ryder felt his heart stop at the question and didn't know what to say. In all honesty he wanted to just be with the blonde girl. He knew that Archie and Betty were best friends and suddenly hanging out with the two would be very suspicious. 

Betty and Archie were one thing, Ryder and Betty were a separate thing. The boys didn't really mix well together. Ryder cleared his throat with a smirk, staring into her bright blue eyes.

"I–I just missed my sunshine, that's all."

º   º   º

     BETTY AND RYDER FINALLY GOT TO SCHOOL, both parting their separate ways. Betty had to go show Veronica Lodge, the new girl around, while Ryder needed to get his new class schedule. After Ryder had gotten his schedule from the front office did he find his old locker with his lock still attached.  

"Yo, Moose. Ryder!" Reggie called out, grabbing Ryder's attention from his old locker. "Look who grew up over the summer."

Ryder Andrews did have to admit, his brother did grow up during the summer. "Yeah, he finally learned from the best," Ryder boasted, flexing his arms to show off his biceps. 

Reggie, Moose, Archie, and Ryder walked through the hallways. It had been weird for Ryder to start hanging out with the sophomore boys but now that Jason was gone, he was low on friends.

"Yo, be honest with me. You work on any houses? Any private homes?" Reggie asked the younger Andrews.

"Yeah, a couple." Archie shrugged, pulling his backpack back up his shoulder.

"Did you tap some cougar ass this summer?"

"You know what, I think that's more a fantasy from your wank-bank, Reggie. I'll catch you guys soon." Archie told him, looking off into the distance. 

"Peace out, brother." Chuck called out. 

"Totally did it, bro. He totally did it."

Ryder rolled his eyes, shoving his buddy's shoulder. "Shut up, dude."

"Hey, Ry, don't be jealous that your game might be ruined by your brother."

º   º   º

     BETTY COOPER FELT LIKE SHE WAS ON a natural high after having breakfast with Ryder. "Oh, and of course there's the Back-to-School semiformal dance this weekend."

"Oh! There's the hottie we were with last night. The red-headed Ansel Elgort. Is he your boyfriend?" Veronica pointed in the distance, watching him.

"No, he's straight." Kevin pouted, "his brother is also straight."

"No, we're just friends." Betty said at the same time. 

"In that case, mind putting in a word? I've tried every flavor of boy but orange." Veronica smirked as she looked the red head boy up and down. 

"Actually, to clarify Betty and Archie aren't dating, but they are endgame."

"What?" Betty's eyes were wide when Kevin told Veronica that. Maybe she shouldn't have told Kevin about her summer crush on the boy. "No, it's not like that."

"You should ask him to the semiformal then." Veronica and Kevin didn't seem to hear Betty's words of denial. No one knew of her crush on the older Andrews boy. 

"She should, but I heard it might be getting canceled. Because of what happened to Jason. They're gonna tell us at the assembly." Kevin said.

"Who's Jason and what happened to him?"

º   º   º