A Good Time [1]

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

I'll do something different in this chapter, I'll start with the future (like in the episode of Jughead's party) and then back to the present. So if you don't understand something, ask. 

A GOOD TIME [1]

Love is all about beauty, it's extraordinary, until one day it isn't. We get this person who is right and wrong at the same time, and it's so confusing because it's love. That's what Archie Andrews is to Eleanor Cooper, and the reason why they didn't last is because it was the wrong time, the wrong words. If you do the right thing at the wrong time all you get is pain, and they got pain, lots of it, because, unfortunatelly, we don't get to choose who we love.

"I wasn't supposed to like you but I just did." Before Archie can say anything, she continues. "But that's all it is, that's all it was. Maybe, yes, I ended it because of Betty but it was also the right thing to do. We would end anyway, and it'd be ugly, and there will be nothing left of us."

The music is too loud and the alchool is getting to him, but he still manages to hear her, talk about them in the past, perfectly. He almost wishs he hadn't.

"I'm sorry." I'm sorry I wasn't good enough, he thinks to himself.

"I know you are." Ellie gives him a sad smile. "I've always known you're sorry."

"Give me a chance, give us a chance." Archie tries. "I'll prove to you that we can make it work."

"I can't. I'm sorry, Arch."

She turns around, Archie's hand goes to her left wrist to stop her. Ellie keeps her back to him but turns her head over her shoulder. She waits for him to say something, but she's afraid of what it can be and Archie's afraid of saying it. So he removes his hand painfully, and Ellie nods before walking away, the tears forming in her eyes because, once again, we don't get to chose who we love.

That's what is coming their way that weekend. That's also Jughead's birthday, but as they can't predict most things, they don't forsee it. At least not until it hits them like a train, and it will hurt, just like everything that envolves Eleanor Cooper, Archie Andrews, and the word sorry.

When Ellie steps outside the Coopers' household that morning, she sees Archie and his Dad talking by the house next to hers, and the red-haired boy seems very upset – they both do. So when Fred Andrews gets into his car and drives away, she walks towards him.

"Hey, Arch."

"El." He tries to smile, but the memories of their talk the other day and the thing with his father, makes it hard to.

"Is everything ok?" She wonders. "You and your Dad seemed very upset..."

"He's leaving for the weekend to Chicago." Archie explains. "He's going to sign up the divorce papers with my Mom."

"Oh," Eleanor looks down. "that's not what you wanted."

"It isn't." He licks his lower lip before continuing. "I always hoped that... I don't know."

"It's ok." She approaches him. "It's your parents, everyone wants their parents to be together. Jughead, me, you..."

"Now it's gone." Archie sighs. "It doesn't matter."

"Hey." Ellie touches his arm. "Your mother is still your mother, even if she lives way too far. She still loves you more than anything even if you chose your Dad."

"I know that." He gives her a sad smile. "Thanks to you, I've always known."

"I'm here for anything," It doesn't matter what happened between us, she completes only to herself, I'm always here, "Arch."

"I'm here for you too." Archie touches her arm as well. "Anything, just tell me, and I'm there."

Kindness is the best way to tell a struggling person that there is hope left in the world, that's what Eleanor has been doing her whole life, with Jughead, with Archie, even with Jason, showing them the way into the light. Now, she's struggling as well into the darkness, and her best friend, Archie Andrews steps forward and shows her that she, too, is worthy of kindness and, because of that, she's worthy of the light, as is Veronica Lodge.

"Veronica, there's something we need to talk to you about."

"Bring it." She replies to Betty. "After the morning I've had, I'm ready for just about anything."

"Archie was with the Blossoms and the board." Ellie continues. "And..."

"Why don't you tell her?" Betty faces Archie, and interrupts her sister. "You were there."

"Why is this suddenly feeling like a friendtervention?"

"I overheard Mr. Blossom say he's the one responsible for your Dad being arrested and put in jail." The red-haired boy tells her.

"Are you kidding me?" Veronica replies, confused. "Why the hell would Clifford Blossom have anything to do with why he's in prison?"

If there is one thing Eleanor loves so much about thedark-haired girl is that she's strong – possibly, one of the strongest persons she has ever met – because Veronica doesn't play the victim, she doesn't feel sorry for herself, she stands up and deals with it.

There's only one other person that's just as strong – if not more – and that's Jughead Jones and his endless strength. It doesn't matter how cruel life is with him, he always finds a way to stand up and fight for a better future, his own future. And if it depends on Ellie, she will be part of that future, because she has been part of everything in Jughead's life, even all his birthdays with his, still whole, family. This year won't be any different.

"So, you know Jughead's birthday is tomorrow," Ellie faces her sister. "right?"

"What? No!"

"Yes." Archie nods.

"And he didn't say anything?"

"He doesn't like to make a big deal out of it." Archie explains. "Every year he goes to a double feature at the Bijou. It's like this tradition."

"Yeah, and as a lover of traditions, the past few years, Archie and I have been his movie-buddies." Eleanor tells her. "But now with you..."

"Yes, now that you're his girlfriend..." He agrees. "You should –."

"Well, of course, I'll take him." Betty smiles. "But you two should still come."

What would be weirdest that Eleanor and Archie going to a see a movie with Betty – who has been in love with the red-haired boy for years – and her new boyfriend, that's also their best friend. Honestly, it's completely unecessary.

"No!" Ellie stops her. "I'm sure Archie would love as much as I to be the light in the room but not the candle."

"I agree." Archie says right away. "It's not ok."

"What? Guys! Like old times?" Betty tries once more. "Come on!"

"No, it's your time and Jughead's. You two deserve this." I won't stand in the way of your happiness, Eleanor thinks to herself, not again, Betty.

Archie Andrews may not have been her sister's prince charming, and Ellie's sure Jughead Jones isn't either, but the dark-haired boy is something far better , hopefully he's Betty's happy ending. Which is more than Archie ever was to Eleanor, they didn't even have an ending, not a satisfying one. And thinking it through, Ellie realizes that perhaps that's why they can't move on from that summer. They deserve an ending, because they are good people and they've suffered enough because of a wrong love.

"Ellie?"

"Sorry, what?" She comes back to reality. "What is it?"

"Huh, I was just saying that I talked to Jughead's Dad." Betty repeats. "He's not going."

"FP probably thinks he's doing what's best for Jughead."

"But wouldn't he like it?"

"Maybe." Ellie gives her sister a sad smile. "You did your best but there are some things, Betty, that are out of your control... like happiness."

Veronica nods. "E is right."

"What's the point then?" Betty shakes her head slowly.

"Jughead's happiness will come." Eleanor tells her, touching her sister's hand over the table. "Or maybe it's already here, maybe it's you."

"Wow," Kevin gasps. "you've turned into a poet. If you joined Mr. Music Talent here, you'd make people cry in their beds every night."

"I would pay to see that." Veronica states. "That would be epic."

"I'm not a poet and I sure don't write songs. 

"You seem ok to me." Archie shrugs.

"Well thanks." Ellie smiles amusingly. "But no."

"Wait guys," Betty remembers. "Mr. Jones also said Jughead never had a party."

"That's true." Her sister confirms as the red-haired boy nods with his head. "Never."

"Let's have one for him. Like, a low-key surprise party."

"That's a fantastic idea!" Veronica exclaims.

"Bad idea!" Archie and Ellie speak at the same time.

"See you're already talking in synchrony!" Kev mocks. "Half way there."

Eleanor rolld her eyes, and ignores him. "There's a reason why he hasn't, Betty."

"Yeah and that's because he hates his birthday." Archie says.

"Everybody says that, nobody means it." Kevin gestures.

"Jughead is a lone wolf."

"Ok. Ignoring the negativity." Veronica faces the blonde. "Betty, you know me, any excuse to wear a cute pretty dress. So a quaint gathering, inner-circle only."

"Girls, what part of –."

"Oh my god, don't turn around." Kev interrupts Ellie.

Before Kevin can even finish, everyone's head turns. A knot forms on Eleanor's throat when her eyes see Chuck Clayton – the same Chuck that was tortured by her sister –, and now he's back. She faces Betty then, with concern. Kevin is s talking but she can't hear a word, her eyes are analyzing her sister's movements.

"Betty!" She calls out as soon as the blonde stands up, but is ignored. "Oh no."

"Oh my god." Veronica gasps.

"Why is she even..." Ellie stands up. "Shit."

When Betty gets back to the table, Eleanor keeps her green eyes on her, not listening to any word from her friends. Then her eyes go to her sister's closed hands, wondering what she~s hiding inside, even though Ellie has seen it before, and already knows what it is.

"There's a lot of things I can't control but I can make sure my boyfriend has the best birthday party."

Ellie looks to the boy sitting by her side, Archie, and sees his eyes drift to her as well. She's waiting, patiently, for him to tell her sister how much of a bad idea that is – cause it is, and they both know it very well – while the red-hsaired boy is remembering all the reasons why they didn't work, how Eleanor has taken from them the chance to make it work like Betty and Jughead do. It pisses him foff in that moment.

"Screw it." Archie turns to the blonde in front of him. "I'm with Betty."

"Wait what!?" Eleanor's eyes wide. "You know this is a bad idea."

"My Dad's away. We can do it at my house."

"Archie!" She touches his arm, making him face her. "What the hell?"

"What? We all could use a good time." Archie says.

"Now you're talking my language." Veronica smiles widely.

"You are going to regret this." Eleanor warns them all. "I know I will."

The thing any of them know is that she's right, regret will be one of the many things they will be feeling that night, along with pain and love – all at once.


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