Sapphire Stone was once of the most well-known names across Riverdale. She was a descendant of one of the founding families. The Stones were right there on the list next to the Blossoms for the richest families in Riverdale. She lived basically the perfect life. She had loving parents that doted on her at every turn. Spoiled rotten yet humbled.
Her childhood associates thought it was strange of her to not take pleasure in her apparent superiority of their classmates. But Sapphire had a reason. If she lived in the area that they did, then she probably would have relished in the power and control she had over those in her presence. But unlike the Thornhill Mansion, Stone Manor was located on the Southside of Riverdale and Sapphire had the pleasure of watching the area wither away from her lonely manor.
Sapphire grew an interest in the area that her mother grew sick with at every mention. The Stones have always donated to the Riverdale community, but nothing ever change for the better on the Southside. It only seemed to grow worse.
Alongside her relationship with her acquaintances with her Northside business partners, because Sapphire knew from an early age that none of them were supposed to be her friends. It was all just business. Business that took nose dive as Sapphire fascination grew deeper and deeper with the Southside.
Sapphire was eight when it happened. When she got a reality check that just because the Northside looked pretty, its heart was darker and more poisoned than anything the Southside could come up with. She had been at home when it happened. Her babysitter, Mrs. DeSantos, was over watching her as usual as her parents were out of town on a business trip.
The phone call came around six that evening, and Sapphire could remember it well. She had been lying across the floor coloring Get Well cards for Mrs. DeSantos son. Her gaze had switched over to Mrs. D when she heard her sharp intake of breath and for a moment, Sapphire was worried that her son had died or something. The woman had been on the verge of tears, but her eyes turned to Sapphire and the sad expression on her face had left Sapphire reeling and confused.
When Mrs. D got off the phone, she walked over to Sapphire slowly like one wrong step would set the young girl off. Sapphire wanted to punch her for making her feel scared. Mrs. D had taken a deep breath before she took Sapphire's hands in hers and told her with the gentlest voice that her parents had died in car crash.
Sapphire was old enough to understand the meaning of death. A goodbye in the most permanent form. And Sapphire could only let her tears out drop at a time as she heard the news. She hoped that they at least had a smile on their faces when they went. Holding hands as they always do when they rode together with their thumbs tracing over each other's fingers.
Sapphire felt as she was having an out of body experience. She processed nothing. Not even when it became apparent that despite her mother's revelations about the Southside, in their will, Sapphire was to live with the DeSantos and quote, "Do not let that bitch Penelope or her stale wig wearing husband get their hands on my child and our company. I swear I will come back from the grave and raze this town the ground." The lady awkwardly chuckled but Mrs. D obliged and took Sapphire in. Though it may have helped that they were to be payments that had been set aside to pay her for her services. Apparently, her parents were always convinced that they were going to leave her orphaned.
It was at the funeral where Sapphire began to hate Northsiders. No one came to see her parents off. Oh, she was seething. None of them could even bother to show their face especially since it was those assholes of Blossoms that hit had her parents. Well, she wouldn't say none of them. The Andrews, the Coopers, Mr. Tate, the Mayor and her family, and the Sheriff and his son should up. They gave their condolences, but Sapphire could still see when Mrs. Cooper took pictures of her as Mrs. D consoled her.
She faked a smile for each business partner from out of town that came up to her. Giving her thanks for their kind words, but she knew that they would try to buy her families' company from under her. Jokes on them, her father had contingency plans like he was some sort of Batman of the technology business.
What surprised her was the amount of people from the Southside that were there for the funeral. She had been used to seeing them wrapped in leather, plaids, jeans and cotton t shirts; it took her by a surprise when they showed up in slacks, dress shirts, skirts, blouses. She almost thought she was surrounded by more of her father's friends at their casual dinners, but their various states of snake and skull tattoos made it apparent who they were. Her father's friends wouldn't be caught dead, too soon, with tattoos visible on their bodies at a serious occasion.
After the funeral was over and her parents were laid to rest in the Stone Family's burial grounds, Sapphire made her way back to her room of the manor to get the last of her belongings. Her longtime home doors would be close for many years to come.
Eight Years Later…
Sapphire woke up to the sound of her brother banging on her door. She groaned and stuffed her head back under her pillow. Fuck, it was way too early to be getting up. Sapphire ignored the sounds of her brother entering her room, but failed to fall back asleep. She sat up with scowl on her face at her brother who stood near the foot of her bed with a smirk on his face.
"Time to get up Saph," he stated as he was already dressed only with his jacket missing.
"It's the summer, Quin. Go away," she groaned as she flopped backed on her bed.
"You see I would," Joaquin started before chuckling softly at her look of impatience. "But FP just called about the Northsider so you gotta be up to let Toni, SP, and Fangs in."
At the mention of her three best friends, Sapphire perked up a little before realizing what else he said. "He still having trouble with that punk?"
Sapphire didn't know who they had from the Northside. All she got was he was some little punk that was trying to run off with his girlfriend who he knocked up. She didn't even know why they kept him. Whatever the case was, FP had wanted them staying on the Southside and away from the River after her old long-ago child acquaintance drown there. She found it stupid since all of them knew how to swim.
"I guess so. Get up and get dressed. I'm leaving in a few and the others should be here in thirty," her brother stated as he headed out the door of her room. "I fixed some breakfast for you too."
Groaning, Sapphire stood up from her bed and made her way over to her closet. She pulled her favorite pair out a pair of black high waist shorts and a dark plaited shirt. She moved away from the closet and reached into her drawers to pull on a black bandeau before slipping on her pants and tying the shirt around her waist. She ran a brush through her hair a few times before walking out and into the kitchen to eat the breakfast her brother made for her. A simple plate of eggs, bacon, and blueberry pancakes sat before her next to a glass of apple juice. She ate quickly yet slow enough to savor the taste of the food before heading to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She didn't hear when her brother called out his farewell, but she did hear the door closing as she made her way to the hall closet to get supplies to set up her nest.
She finished quickly before moving back to the living room to sit back and catch up on the new season of Supernatural. She had fallen behind a little with all her late-night joyrides with Sweet Pea and Toni.
The knock on the door startled her from her focus on watching the Winchester brothers kick ass as usual. Sighing through her nose, she made her way over to the door and unlocked it before heading back to the couch. "It's open!"
Her three friends each walked in and plopped down in the seats around her. Toni took the recliner for herself while Fangs took over the love seat. Sweet Pea sat beside her on the three-seater which led Sapphire to immediately stretching her legs on top of his.
"Why is life so boring all of a sudden," Fangs complained from his spot as he too watched the Winchester brothers. "Is this what we have to do now? Watching bad shows on tv?"
"Fangs, dude, mi amigo, I love you but if you ever speak down on the wonders that is Supernatural again, I will kill you," Sapphire spoke seriously not even sparing him a glance. Toni and Sweet Pea chuckled, and Sapphire kept very still as Sweet Pea's hand trailed up her thigh and traced her own serpent tattoo that unlike most serpents wrapped around her upper thigh.
"We should do something," Fangs complained. The other three turned their heads towards him.
"Still looking for a way to get your stripes," she questioned. Out of the four of them, he was the only one left. Sure, he got a rep by being with them all the time, but he hadn't earned his spot to be by them. It was only because they said that he was cool for him to be in their presence was it allowed. The three of them were basically Serpent royalty right behind FP's northsider son.
He nodded a little sheepish. He wouldn't admit it, but he desperately wanted to earn his stripes to be able to have the right to be by their side instead of just their word of mouth. Toni smiled over to him encouragingly, "You'll get them eventually. Don't rush it. Trust me."
The four of them shared smiles before settling in to watch tv show marathons varying from Supernatural to Voltron to Stranger Things and even to some Disney movies. Sweet Pea complained about the movies, but Sapphire saw him wipe his eyes at some of the sad parts. Gets him every time, she thought.
Afterwards, the four of them went riding through the Southside tagging everything with the Serpent symbol and smirking at Ghoulies they passed. They stopped by Sweet Pea's family store and joked around with his mom and brother. Sapphire even stuck her head in the backroom and greeted Grammy Sweets before Sweet Pea pulled her away as Grammy got to talking about if she or Toni were going to bless her with some great grands.
It was late in the night when her brother made it back to their house with blood seeping through his shirt. Sapphire's wide eyes took him in and she barely managed to hold in a scream before he told her that it wasn't his own. She still felt a little light headed and had to onto Sweet Pea's shoulder for support to ground her in case she fainted.
Her brother came back to the front and made them swear on their most treasured memory and person to not mention what he was about to tell them. And right after he did, Sapphire wished he kept it to himself.
She had always known that the Northside was sick and twisted, but for one to murder their own son in cold blood? Fuck, that was on a completely different level. The four of them promised her brother to never speak on it. Joaquin smiled gratefully before settling in to watch television with them.
Sapphire found that she couldn't really concentrate on the show before her. Her mind kept imaging the scene of when the boy died. When he was murdered by his own father. And that was a shock for Sapphire. Poor Jason. He was somewhat nice to her when they were little even though it was all business between the two of them. He didn't deserve that and another part of her couldn't help but to wonder if she would've been in that position if she was forced to live with the Blossoms. Hell, she could see why Jason had previously wanted to run away and that had nothing to do with his girlfriend. She couldn't help but to wonder if the girl even knew that her baby's father was murdered.
As the others were leaving and Joaquin went out to make sure their bikes were properly secured, Sapphire latched onto Sweet Pea's arm in a show of vulnerability. He looked down at her in confusion and his eyes widen slightly at the outright fear in her eyes. "Stay with me tonight?"
The two of them both swallowed deeply. This was new territory between them. It went pass the harmless flirting and none too innocent touches and glances that lingered for seconds too long. It went pass keeping barely restrained jealousy and anger at bay whenever someone flirted with the other. And sure, the two spent nights over each other houses countless of times. But never had those encounters ever dealt with raw emotion and unguarded feelings. So yes, this was new territory for them.
And before either could question if it was worth it, Sweet Pea was agreeing to stay before moving outside to go secure his own bike. Sapphire headed back to her room, grabbed some night clothes for herself, set some of the spare clothing she kept for Sweet Pea, and disappeared into the shower. When she exited and got dressed, neither of them said anything as he went to shower, and she climbed into her bed. Her brother had walked into the room and quirked a brow before kissing her on the forehead.
"Night, sis. Be safe," he chuckled at the look of shock that crossed her face before exiting to his room and that look of shock stayed even as Sweet Pea returned back, closed the door, and climbed into the bed beside her. Neither of them said anything, but Sapphire scooted into his embrace and tucked her head under his chin and let the sound of his heartbeat lull her to sleep.
Weeks passed and neither Sapphire nor Sweet Pea mentioned that night. They weren't embarrassed but what was there to say? Nothing had changed in their friendship except the touches lingered even longer and gazes strayed minutes at time. Their jealousy was much more prominent, and their flirting developed just a bit more. To a passing eye, they would seem to be behaving the same as usual but those close to them knew the truth. A line had been crossed and something shifted. It was only that Sapphire and Sweet Pea where determined to not focus on it.
Sapphire had heard through the grapevine that rich girl Veronica Lodge and her mother had moved to town after her father was arrested for fraud. She had mentally gone through the list of her family's most known partners and was relieved that the Lodge's name didn't come up.
And that was about as far as Northside drama that she had felt comfortable talking about. She had much more interesting things to think about on the Southside like her snake's den. Newbie Serpents that she took to training herself. She helped walked them through the motions of going through the initiation. Fighting with them so they can pass through it all. Even when Sweet Pea got jealous and threatened to kick all their asses, she was there for them and helped them with everything. Homework. Girls. Boys. Older Serpents.
Sapphire had been on her way to her locker when Sweet Pea walked up to her. She felt a prick of annoyance when she had to look up at him. She hated being so much shorter, but she said nothing and rose a brow. Sweet Pea had leaned against the wall of lockers. He ran a hand through his messy wavy hair as his rosy and slightly chapped lips pulled into a smirk. His dark eyes burned into hers and Sapphire fought off the blush that she could feel rising.
"What is it, SP? Come on. Hurry up, I have accounting next."
He rolled his eyes in response at her need to get to class. As if he didn't have some of the highest grades in school. His 'too cool for school' act doesn't fool her. "Are you going to the drive-in tonight?"
The Twilight Drive In where Sapphire has some of her fondest memories. Where she lost her virginity to the same boy in front of her during one drunken night that she doubts he even remembers considering he was more smashed than she was. It's also where she went through her own initiation into the Serpents and made her feel even closer to her family of misfits.
"I am," she replied as she moved around him and continued to her locker knowing he would follow. She heard his heavy footsteps as she opened her locker and switched out her books.
"I need a date," Sweet Pea started, and Sapphire turned deeper into the locker to keep the scowl forming on her face from showing. The last time he needed a date somewhere he asked her to convince Jazz Towers to go with him.
"What does have to do with me," she cut him off sharply and internally winced at how bitterly jealous she sounded.
He placed a hand on her arm and used the other to turn her face to him. A soft yet sharp smile danced across his face and Sapphire decided that she loved the look. "I'm asking you to go with me."
Okay, wait.
Pause.
Rewind.
Play it back.
Did he just ask me on a date, she thought as her heart beat sped up. She was sure that her eyes were wide and shocked like a deer in headlights except she wouldn't tear up your front end if you don't manage to move out of her way. Well, she would but not at that second.
Her face flamed red and Sweet Pea could easily see how flustered she was. And that was fucking hot. Sapphire hardly ever blushed or stumbled over her words as she tried to find her footing. He decided that he liked this side of her. He liked it a lot.
He watched as her eyes flickered away from his and back before turned back to her locker with her cheeks still burning. She cleared her throat as she pulled down her textbook before once again turning to look back at him.
"It's not the most romantic way to ask a girl out," she stated as a small smile made its way to her face and the spark in her eyes smothered the flustered look in its return. "But I'll take it this time. Seven-thirty, don't be late."
She closed her locker and replaced the lock before turning away and headed towards her class. He watched her walk away and smirked when she spared a glance behind her to see him still watching her. She shook her head with a smirk of her own before he lost sight of her in the crowd.
Lunch Time rolled around, and Toni rushed over to Sapphire with a sly smile on her face. "I heard someone has a date with Sweet Pea."
Fighting down her blush, Sapphire nodded back with a bright smile. "He asked me earlier. Who all knows?"
Toni smiled back at her before looping their arms and pulling her towards the Serpents side of the café. They ignored the Ghoulies that catcalled them and stuck their fingers up at the ones that insulted them. "Oh, just you know every Serpent here and maybe a few regulars."
Saph laughed as they reached their table and sat down. Toni sat on the other side of her and started flicking through the pictures of her camera and showing them to Sapphire. They were barely sitting there for five minutes when her brother, Fangs, and Sweet Pea joined them.
"So, what's the plan for the drive in," Fangs questioned as his eyes flickered from Sapphire to Sweet Pea with a knowing smile.
"Quin and I are riding with you," Toni told him without even looking up from her camera. Fangs scrunched his nose up but before he got say anything, it got deadly quiet around them. Their gazes flickered up to see one of the regulars strut her way into their section. None of them could think of her name, but she did look familiar. She was treated to blank faces and suspicious glances as she made her way to closer to their table.
Once she stopped, she turned to look at Sweet Pea with sly smirk on her face. Sapphire barely managed to keep the scowl from dropping on her face. The girl tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear before she said, "Hey, Sweet Pea. I was wondering you wanted to go to the Drive-In with me for its last night."
Sapphire turned to look at Sweet Pea only to notice that he was looking back at her before she turned her head away. She didn't see his expression, but she heard how smoothly he rejected the girl. "Sorry, doll. I'm already going with Sapphire."
Saph's eyes flickered up towards the girl who sneered down at her before huffing and walking away.
Bitch.
The rest of lunch passed without much fanfare. Hell, the rest of the day went by normally. Well if you didn't count the other Serpents coming up to Saph and Sweet Pea congratulating them on their date like it was some sort of fucking engagement.
Sapphire rode her bike home and secured it before she rushed to her room to find something to wear. Okay, it must be something smoking hot yet still look like you didn't put any effort in it but still looked like you deserved to be on Sweet Pea's arm or like Sweet Pea deserve to have you on his arm. And fuck this isn't prom or even a gala!
She sighed deeply before just rummaging throw her closet until her eyes caught sight of favorite pair of black skinny jeans and matched it with a red crop top. She got her Serpent jacket and her red fingerless gloves and set all of it out on the bed. Then spent the next twenty minutes searching for her black combat boots growing more frustrated by the second until she found one under her bed and the other in the microwave for some reason.
She spent the next two hours doing homework before stopping and instead scrolling through her twitter. She noticed quite a few Northies hash tagging the Drive In and how they'd be there and she mentally sighed because she just knew that FP was not going to let them mess with them. Such a shame really.
By the time seven o'clock rolled around, Sapphire had gotten dressed and was working on her hair because if it wasn't a simple ponytail or just letting it hang freely, it took at least fifteen minutes to style and five before that to tame. She decided to forego makeup. It was going to be dark and she'd more than likely sitting at the back of the drive in with the rest of the Serpents.
But imagine her surprise when Sweet Pea didn't pull up to her house on his bike, but instead in his family's pickup truck. He made it there five minutes before, but being the little shit that he was he waited until it was exactly 7:30 to knock and let go of the door handle so she could finally open it. She gave him an unimpressed look at his actions, but her mouth went a little dry at seeing him in a fitted t-shirt under his jacket. And fuck him because he knew that she liked fitted t shirts on guys.
The ride to the drive in was filled with small talk, but Sapphire could feel her nerves eating at her. This was her first real date with Sweet Pea. She had been crushing on him for so long and she wouldn't know what to do if he was just doing this for a fuck. Probably kill him or move away from Riverdale to London and work in a chippy.
Sweet Pea parked the truck close enough to see the movie, but still far enough to be near the gang. Toni had rushed up to her and hugged her the second she saw her.
"Fuck me, those Northerners are hot. Boys and the girls," she whispered into Sapphire's ear. Honestly, with Sweet Pea standing near her with that fucking shirt on and his own leather jacket, she hadn't paid much mind to the Northies. She just smirked at Toni though because Toni loves scoping out the rare delicacies.
The two of them made their way to the concession stand and were about to pay when FP came up behind them and paid instead. Neither girl missed the way he glared at the boy working the booth at his not-so discreet staring at Saph's boobs and not-subtle flirting with Toni. If anyone ever said that FP wasn't a softy, then they just needed to see him with most of the girls in the gang. He treated them like his own daughters. I made a lot of mistakes in my life and one includes not being able to see my little girl grow up. My son avoids me, so if I'm going to repay for those mistakes then I'll start by being the dad you girls need.
"Thanks, FP," the girls told him.
"Anything for Southside's Gems," he replied patting the both on the head before moving to walk away. Though he did stop and turned and threw a smirk in Sapphire's direction, "And congrats on your date with Sweet Pea."
Fucking hell, just who doesn't know.
The two girls made their way back to the gang before Sweet Pea pulled her away to go sit on the back of the truck. The movie was good, but their attention kept dragging back to their friends right behind them making noise and with the occasional teasing remark thrown their way.
"Do you know what happens to a snake when a Louboutin heel steps on it?" Sapphire heard which drew her attention from throwing popcorn over at Fangs who was trying to catch them in his mouth. Her gaze snapped towards a dark-haired girl not too far ahead of her who was standing up glaring back at the rest of the Serpents.
First of all, bitch…
Sapphire was moving to stand up and give it to her as good as she got when Sweet Pea's hand curled around her wrist. Her scowl dropped onto him as he shook his head before nodding over in FP and Tall Boy's direction. Both gave her the look to drop it and she plopped back down in her seat with a pout.
"No need to pout, love," Sweet Pea laughed at her. "You'll get your turn for revenge sooner or later."
"S' not fair. How come she gets to snap at us and we don't get to say nothing back," she mumbled before blushing as he wrapped an arm around her. She forced herself to relax as he pulled her closer to him.
"FP doesn't want us to draw attention and he especially doesn't want them to know one of their finest grew up with them. He doesn't want them to think we tainted you."
"Well you didn't, if anything I tainted you all," she muttered childishly. He laughed again, "Sure you did, doll."
And then…
Then he tilted her face up towards his and kissed her.
Oh, my fucking fish sticks, Sweet Pea is kissing me! His lips are touching my lips!
She got over her shock rather quickly and kissed him right back. Before it could any further though, he pulled away from her and smiled. "How about another date next week?"
She smiled softly at him, "I'd like that," she replied as she laid her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arm tightly around her even more.