Riverdale Imagines

The Melody Lingers On⇔Archie

"So, what did you think?" Archie asked, putting his guitar down.
"It was good. Like, really good. I'm glad that Valerie has been able to help you," I told him, leaning down to give him a kiss. Which, of course, was the exact moment that Archie's dad walked in.
"Oh, hey, dad," Archie said, pulling away from me. "I was just showing (Y/N) some of the new stuff I've been working on.."
"Hi, Mr. Andrews," I said, meekly. I liked Archie's dad, a lot, but I didn't want him to get the wrong impression. Thankfully, he wasn't mad.
"Hi, (Y/N). Nice to see you," he smiled. "But what did I say about calling me Mr. Andrews? Fred is fine with me."
"Sorry, Fred," I said, smiling back.
"I just came up here to tell you both that it's getting kind of late, and it's a school night, so how about you start walking (Y/N) back to her house soon? I love hearing you play," he said, gesturing to Archie, "but I also have to get some sleep."
"Sure, dad."
"Alright. Well, it's good to see you again, (Y/N). I think I already said that, but it's true. You should come over more often."
I laughed a little. "Ok, Fred. It's just hard sometimes, with Archie playing football, and focusing on music," I said, kiddingly poking Archie in the shoulder. "But I don't mind," I quickly add.
Archie's dad carried on the conversation for a little while longer, mostly asking me questions, like how I was doing in school, and how my parents were doing, but the time quickly came for Archie to walk me home.
The night air was a little cooler than I had expected, and since I was only in a thin sweater, Archie let me wear his letterman jacket. It was huge on me, but warm. All through the walk home, I couldn't get his new song out of my head. It was so catchy, even if it hadn't been perfected yet. There were many instances where I almost started singing out loud, but I caught myself before I could ever let it slip. It wasn't that I couldn't sing; I was actually very good at it. I just didn't like people hearing me. Even Archie, who I'd been dating for a few months, didn't know that I liked to sing, or even could.
Archie and I stopped outside of my house, the front porch light bathing him in a yellow cast, making his hair look even redder.
"I'm glad that you came over today. I know that I'm always busy, but I liked spending my day with you, and being able to play for you. Valerie told me today that they're having another concert next weekend, and they want me to be kind of an opening act for them, so, I'm glad that you were the first one to hear the new stuff I've been working on, besides Valerie, and the Pussycats, of course," he said, a sheepish grin on his face.
"I'm glad too! It was nice being able to spend a day together, as much as I like watching you play football."
We smiled at each other, and he leaned in for a kiss. When we pulled away, he took a lock of hair that had fallen into my face and moved it back, off my shoulder. His thumb swiped my lower lip, and he kissed me again, before saying goodbye.
I walked into my house and bounded up the stairs to my room, forgetting I still had his jacket on, until I felt the right arm of it get caught on my doorknob. I let it slip off off and tossed it on my bed, to change out of my clothes and into pajamas. After I put my clothes in my hamper, my parents thankfully still doing all the laundry, I sat down at my mirror, and grabbed a makeup remover wipe to start taking my makeup off. I started singing lightly, not loud enough for anyone in my house to hear. "You get ready, you get all dressed up, to go nowhere in particular. Back to work or the coffee shop, doesn't matter 'cause it's enough."
Looking over myself in my mirror, satisfied that I had wiped everything away, I tossed the wipe in my garbage and stood up, whirling around to go to the bathroom. What I didn't expect was to come face to face with my boyfriend.
"A-Archie! What are you," I cleared my throat, trying to calm the shock in my voice at seeing something I wasn't expecting. "What are you doing here?"
Instead of answering, he asked me a question. "How come you never told me you could sing?"
"I, um.."
"I mean, I don't really mind, but, with my music I just figured that you would have said something," he said, walking over to sit on the edge of my bed.
"Well, if it's any consolation, I've never told anyone." I gave him a weak smile, and sat down next to him.
"Ok, but..why?" He took my hands in his, curiosity etched all over his face.
"I, don't really know? Honestly, I just never really thought of it, I guess. I'm not going to walk around going, 'oh, hey, people! I can sing! Just thought you oughta know!'" Archie laughed at that. "And, besides, music is your big aspiration. Not mine." I smiled at him, letting him know that I supported him 100%.
He kissed my forehead and smiled back, but I could tell from the glint in his eye that he was planning something.
"Sing with me. For the opening I'm doing for Josie and the Pussycats."
"Um, no?" I said, more of a lilting question than a straight out answer. "Did you not just hear what I said?"
"No, I know, I did," Archie said, reassuring me, "but you and I would sound great together. Honestly. And we could spend more time together that way, too!"
I sighed a little, knowing that there would be no way for me to say yes to my boyfriend. "Arch, I'm sorry, but, I can't. I just, don't want to."
He paused for a few seconds, smile falling. "It's ok, (Y/N), I understand." He stood up, and grabbed his jacket off my bed. "This is what I came here for, anyway," he smiled. He shrugged it on, and made for my door. Before he crossed the threshold, I told him again that I was sorry. He stopped and turned around, and gave me another reassuring smile.
"Seriously, don't worry about it, (Y/N). You'll still come to the concert though, right?"
"Of course, Arch. I wouldn't miss it." I walked over to him and kissed him, before he left that night for good.
Before I knew it, it was night of the concert, and Archie was more nervous than I thought he would be. He had practiced every day after school, and I had heard the songs so many times that I could sing them from memory. I was standing in the front, coming to the concert with Betty, Veronica, Kevin, and Jughead.
Soon enough, the stage lights turned on, and Archie was introduced to the crowd. We all cheered for him, Betty the loudest, and as he walked to the mic, he awkwardly waved. I could hear him clear his throat, and he grabbed the mic, ready to speak. Except he didn't. He eyes were averted to the floor, and he was just standing there, eyebrows knit together. His breathing was becoming ragged, and the sound from the crowd died down into a hush.
"What's he doing? Is this some weird performance art stuff that I don't understand?" asked Jughead, but no one laughed.
"Oh, god," Ronnie said, after a few beats. "He's choking. He's too nervous."
I could feel my stomach sink, but I knew the only way to save Archie's performance had just completely fallen into my hands. Quickly making up my mind, I took a deep breath, and started heading over to the stairs next to the stage, to take a place next to my boyfriend. I heard Betty ask where I was going, but I couldn't slow down. If I did, I knew I would never be able to go through with this.
I took the stage and went over to Archie, grabbed his hand, and took the mic away from him. He stared, wide-eyed at me, but didn't say a word.
"Um," I began, "hey everyone! I'm (Y/N) (Y/L/N), this is Archie Andrews, and we're opening tonight foooooor Josie, and the Pussycats!!"
The crowd started clapping, questionable, still unsure of just what was going on, but I could hear Betty, Veronica, Kevin, and even Jughead cheer for us. I glanced up at Archie, trying to communicate what I was doing without saying it, and thankfully, he seemed to understand. I put the mic back in its stand and Archie began to play the first few chords of one of his songs.
I noticed movement from my right, just offstage, and turned just in time to see Valerie toss me my own mic. I caught it and she smiled, giving me a thumbs up. Taking another deep breath, willing my nerves to leave me, I started singing along with Archie, silently praying that I had done the right thing.
We only played a few songs, but by the end, the crowd was into it, and were pumped for Josie and the Pussycats. I was so glad that it was over, but mostly, I was ecstatic that Archie had gotten through it. Even though my biggest secret had been shown to what was basically the entire school, I had done it for my boyfriend, and I had never seen him happier.
We walked backstage after our set, amongst literal yells and whistles from our friends, Betty the loudest, and seemingly most proud, and I felt like I could finally breathe again. That moment, however, didn't last, because Archie took me in his arms, giving me a bone crushing hug. He pulled away after a minute, and I started to talk, but he shut me up with a kiss, hands on the side of my face keeping me there. I moved my arms up to his shoulders and held on, basking in the moment.
"God, (Y/N)," he said after he pulled away, panting a little. "That was amazing! I don't know how I can ever thank you. Seriously. If it hadn't been for you, I.."
"Shh, Archie," I laughed, trying to calm him a little. "I did it for you. I know how important music is to you, and I wasn't just going to let you stand there doing nothing. You, or singing," I said, "the choice was an easy one." I grinned up at him, and he pulled me in for another bruising kiss.
"Now," I said, in between kisses, "as amazing as you were, please don't make me have to do it again."
I would like to say that the concert was amazing. I would like to say that I had the best time of my life dancing amongst my friends, laughing and singing along with the Pussycats. And, I guess, part of that is true. I did have the best time of my life that night, but in lieu of enjoying the concert, I spent it all backstage, kissing my boyfriend.
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credit to riverdalewritings on Tumblr