"That's it for today, ladies! Next week's practice is Wednesday at four, be there or get booted!" Called Cheryl Blossom, Taylor's best friend into the locker room full of Riverdale's very own River Vixens. "Tay, great job. Next time, try not to outdo me? Just kidding, you were fab. Keep it up. See you tomorrow, bae." With a wave and a wink she was gone and through the door, leaving Taylor all alone.
Finally. A minute to think. A minute to not be a River Vixen. Of course, she loved her best friend and the cheering and the dancing, but something she couldn't stand was being full send Northside Priss. From straight A student and co-Vixen captain, Taylor needed a break from all of the head trauma that was her life.
With a sigh, Taylor slung her bag on and headed out into the hallways of Riverdale High. School had ended an hour ago and the halls were bare. She quickly pulled her long black hair into a messy bun, accepting the fact she was a hot, sweaty mess in her Vixen practice uniform. She was too hot to change back into her daytime clothes. Taylor tugged her shorts down and proceeded out the front doors of the school and began her journey home.
She didn't live far from the school, so she wasn't worried about being abducted or shot by the Black Hood. Man this town was a mess, according to the Black Hood, it was full of Sinners. Wouldn't he be considered one if he's been doing all these awful acts against the people in this town?
Taylor pulled her earphones out and hooked them to her phone, pushing the buds into her ears and blaring her favourite song, Sorrow by Pink Floyd. It fit the mood, Taylor thought to herself.
When she was nearly two blocks away from home, a rev of an engine came from behind her, so loud even over her music. Taylor jumped and pulled the earphones out of her ears only to find a biker pulled up beside her.
"Need a ride, Northside Princess?" she recognized this tall, raven haired boy to be none other than Sweet Pea, a Southside Serpent that hung around with Jughead Jones.
"Not today, Sweetie. Thanks anyway." she waved her hand dismissively, starting to walk again.
"You may want to re-think that." Sweet Pea nodded his head behind her and Taylor looked over her shoulder to see an old, beat up black car trailing behind the two of them, about fifteen meters away. It contained two men, who looked to be mid twenties from what she could see.
Eyes wide, Taylor didn't know what to do. A panic rose inside of her and Sweet Pea tapped his seat behind him. "Jump on, I won't let them follow us and see where you live. Taylor, now." his deep voice demanded, and she found herself crazily jumping on behind Sweet Pea, her arms instinctively wrapping around his middle and for some reason, it felt oddly familiar.
Sweet Pea sped off down the road, and Taylor looked behind just in time to see the black car pull away from the curb and follow them. "They're coming!" she squealed into his ear, and he revved his engine and peeled down the street.
"Hold on, we're taking some sharp turns!" Sweet Pea called over the sounds of the engines. She tucked her head against Sweet Pea's leather jacket clad back, trying to stay calm as she breathed in the scent of him. Comforting. After what seemed like a long time to her, Sweet Pea finally slowed down and she began to relax, lifting her head from Sweet Pea's back. She quickly turned to see if they were still being followed.
"Lost them." He told her, as they pulled next to a building that looked quite run down, but had a sign that said 'Whyte Worm'. "I had to take you some place safe." he turned off the bike and climbed off, holding an arm out to assist Taylor who was trying not to appear as visibly shaken.
"Why didn't you take me home?" she asked, folding her arms over her chest, trying not to show the discomfort that she felt all over her body.
"I don't know where you live. They wouldn't stop trailing us until we crossed the tracks." the tall boy explained. "It's cold. Come inside, we'll warm you up and then I'll take you home when you feel better."
Taylor never expected this kind of comfort from a Serpent. Her whole life she was taught that the Northside was good, and the Southside was bad. Perhaps the universe was trying to show her otherwise.
She followed Sweet Pea into what was a dimly lit bar, and it was full of people wearing Serpent jackets and regular biker clothing. He held out his hand for her to grab and he led her through the crowds of people and up a set of stairs, which led to a single room with the door closed.
Sweet Pea knocked, and the wooden door was soon open by a familiar face, the man who was said to have killed Jason Blossom over a year ago, but was wrongly accused.
"Sweet Pea, who do you have here?" Fp Jones asked, his eyes resting on y/n.
"This is Taylor. She was being followed by Ghoulies. Didn't know where else to take her." he explained, and she saw Fp come to an understanding in his eyes. She was visibly shaken and frightened. He opened the door further and motioned for the pair to enter the room.
Fp's office was complete with a couch on one side, and a desk, computer chair and an old desktop computer. There was a shelf with cabinets above.
Sweet Pea guided Taylor over to the old couch, while Fp dug through the cabinets and pulled out a blanket, handing it to y/n, a soft look on his face.
"You stay here as long as you need, girl." Fp told her.
"Thank you, really." she graciously accepted the blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders, coming to sit on the couch. It smelled musty, but it was warm.
"Sweet Pea, can I get a description of the Ghoulies?" Fp turned to the taller boy, who was now leaning against the wall, arms crossed and a distressed look on his face, almost angry.
"Two men, maybe mid twenties. Driving an old beater car, black. That's all I got." he told the older man with a shrug.
"I'm sending out a group to hunt them down. You in?" Fp asked Sweet Pea.
"Damn straight I am." he responded, leaving y/n to protest.
"No! No, please, stay with me. Please." she begged Sweet Pea. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble. You don't have to go after them."
"Taylor, they've been doing this for years. It can't go on." Fp explained to her, worry in his eye. "I'm getting the crew together. You stay, boy." He turned and left, shutting the door behind him.
Sweet Pea and Taylor were left alone, and the boy took a seat next to her, rubbing his hands on the top of his thighs. "Are you okay?" he asked, turning his head to meet her gaze.
"I am now." she clutched the blanket tighter around her. "Thank you, so so much." she truly was grateful, for who knew what would have happened.
"Don't thank me, Taylor." Sweet Pea carefully raised an arm, draping it over her back.
"You think I'm some Northside Princess, Sweet Pea. Why would you care?" she looked to the floor before Sweet Pea used his other hand to turn her chin to look at him.
"You're not like the rest of them. You put on a show, you show your friends and family what they want to see and hear. You're the only one out of your friend group that looks at us like we're not monsters. I notice. I always notice these things." he explained to her in a gentle tone. "You're adifferent. I like different." Sweet Pea slowly leaned in and pressed his lips against Taylor's. She let out a slight gasp but kissed back. The kiss was slow and soft, like Sweet Pea was afraid to scare her off.
This is insane, she thought to herself as she allowed this boy who didn't know her at all, to cup her cheek in his large hand, holding her in place. Taylor was pulled closer by his other hand, and the two sat there for minutes, mouth on mouth.
Eventually the kisses slowed and Sweet Pea pulled away. He had a shy look on his face and he wrapped his arms around the wrapped up girl, pulling her against him. She leaned in, grateful for the comfort and protection this boy gave her.
"Does the kiss count as a thank you?" she smiled up at him shyly.
"If it does, you can thank me whenever you want." he kissed her forehead.
Soon enough he received a text from Fp, saying he and the other Serpents dealt with the Ghoulies and it was all clear for her to go home.
Sweet Pea folded up the blanket and guided y/n back down the stairs and out of the Whyte Wyrm, his arm never moving from around her and keeping her securely next to him.
As the two climbed on the bike, Taylor laughed to herself.
"What?" Sweet Pea asked, turning to her.
"Nothing, just this afternoon I was hating myself for who I am and where I come from. I needed a change. You're that change." she explained, causing Sweet Pea to smile.
"The universe works in mysterious ways, Princess." he told her. He revved the engine on his bike and took the long way back to the Northside. Shs told him the directions in his ear over the wind, her arms secure around his middle.
Finally, they made it to her house. Her destination only a couple hours prior. She slipped off the back of his bike, and leaned against the handle bar.
"Thanks again, Sweet Pea. I couldn't have asked for a better knight in shining armour." she smiled, and bent slightly to kiss him once more. Taylor kissed him a little deeper this time, her hand at the back of his neck and his hand just above her waist. She'd never been kissed like Sweet Pea kissed her, she'd never been treated so much like a lady.
It was nice.
The two pulled away after a minute and said their goodbyes, planning their next meet up within a couple of days. Sweet Pea gave a salute with a wink and made sure she got inside safely before she watched him through the window, and he pulled out of her driveway and tore down the road.
Something inside Taylor changed that day, and it was for good. She would never be who she was before, and with Sweet Pea as her new guide through life, things would be much better.