CHAPTER 2 - THE SERPENT DEN

My mind racing, It's his fault. HIS FAULT. HIS FAULT. I can't help blaming FP, if he never came out then Jughead and Betty would not be throwing him a retirement party and Jughead would never have had to join the Serpents in the first place for protection. And more importantly, my daughter would not be hanging around the Whyte Wyrm. Memories of my old days in that decrepit bar come flooding back to me. Days and Nights of drinking and playing pool. Well beating everyone at pool. Being the only teenage girl at the time I definitely had more to prove, in every part of being a serpent. I had to be more ruthless, more dangerous, be able to hold my drink and most importantly, defend myself. I don't want any of that for Betty. I'm furious that it's even a possibility. It can't happen. I won't let her repeat my mistakes. I WON'T ALLOW IT.

"Betty won't listen to reason, so I'm telling you FP. If Betty even thinks about putting on a Serpent's Jacket, I'll have your head." I storm through the doors, heading straight for my target.

"Alice, I'm working." He replies staring at me intently.

"I won't have our kids make the same mistakes we did."

"They weren't all mistakes." I can't believe he just said that. "If you're that worried, come to the party, chaperone."

"Are you high on fumes, I can't!" Is he serious?

"Yes, you can. Stop by, say hi to some old friends."

"Hal would never come." I object.

"Well then leave him." I freeze. "At home." He walks away, realising what he's just said.

I feel as though I'm stuck in the spot for an eternity. But I quickly recover to my normal self and walk out of the diner, with a steely determination. Fine, I will go to the party. But if I'm going, then I sure as hell am going to look the part.

I stare at myself in the mirror, contemplating what I'm wearing. I decided on my old leather jacket, one without the gang insignia on the back, a mesh top and black bra with a leather skirt and some thigh high heels. Is this really appropriate? I am going with Betty. I'm not sure I've ever worn anything like this in front of her. Or anyone for that matter, in a long time. The last time, well it would've been my last night with FP in the usual hangout, his parent's trailer when they were out on a bender. I'm finishing the look with my lipstick when Hal walks into our room. His eyes widen with shock at what I'm wearing.

"Where are you going?" He asks trying to contain himself. His attraction to me is abundantly clear.

"A retirement party with Betty," I reply, not looking at him, still focusing on my lipstick.

"Well then that begs the question, why do you look like teenage you in when you were in The Serpents?"

"Awh that's sweet. You think I look that young." I reply sarcastically.

"Answer the question, Alice!"

"I'm going to a retirement party with Betty at the Whyte Wyrm."

"Ah, there it is. So this is your precious FP's retirement party from the Serpent's lifestyle then."

"My 'precious FP' what the fuck is that meant to mean?" My voice is raising with rage. How dare he suggest that…

"Meaning, that you're not going to his retirement party, especially dressed like a whore. Neither is Betty." He shouts back. "I'm not having MY wife wandering around town like that."

"Oh, so what era is this? The 20's. You DO NOT control me and never will. I am my own person and I will do as I please. I am not your property. So, I am going out tonight with Betty." I grab my purse and walk towards to the door. "Don't wait up, Hal. BETTY!"

"Coming," Betty calls back.

Me and Betty walk side by side into the bar, all eyes towards us. The ex-Serpent and her north side daughter. I decided to fully embrace my old Serpent lifestyle with what I'm wearing tonight and it clearly worked. Walking in, I look around seeing some faces I remember from my past. The same bartender, the same old serpents and some newer faces, the new generation of Serpents. Jughead is staring at Betty as she walks in, with adoration on his face. That's one thing I hope doesn't change, the love he feels for her.

"Wow Betty, Mrs Cooper." He glances back to Betty. "You look incredible."

"Tell me about it. Unfortunately, I couldn't convince this one to dress appropriately." I couldn't miss a chance to fuck with them. "Hogeye, hit me."

"Tequila. Straight up" The bartender replied.

"Hold the worm." I joined in with him with a smirk on my face.

I down the shot in one. "Hit me hogeye." Turning to my daughter. "Honey, what do you want? Shirley Temple?" Betty smiles in reply and turns to talk with Jughead.

"Just give me two," I say to the Hogeye.

I sit at the bar, for a good portion of the party talking to some of the snakes who had the guts to come up and talk.

"She returns." A voice from behind me says.

"You knew I would." I bark back without turning.

"Well of course. I don't know how you resisted the charm of us for so long." FP replies, taking the seat next to me.

"What charm?" I smirk at him with a raised eyebrow, getting up and walking away with an extra swivel in my hips, feeling his eyes on me.

Mad World is playing in the bar, one of my favourite songs. I walk over to see what the crowd is gathered around watching. Betty. Their watching Betty. My hand goes to my mouth, covering the scream that's about to come out. Not her. Not the Serpent Dance. No. She's singing Mad World and doing the snake dance. I've worked so hard to protect her. My little girl. She ended up doing it. Why did I let her come here? I could've stopped this. I could've protected here. My heart is breaking. Tears slip from my eyes and glide down my face. I can't watch. I stare at the floor, until I hear the song end. I can't see my baby girl like this.

Silence. All around. Until, one person starts clapping, turning into the entire crowd applauding her. I look up. Betty is looking nowhere but at Jughead. FP is striding down to the stage, where Betty is stood almost naked, wearing takes off his jacket and places it over her shoulders and pushes her to the side of the stage.

"Let's give her a round of applause…" FP begins

"Betty, what are you doing?"

"...I've been in and out of the Serpents since I was younger than my son and er, it's been a wild ride. Good times, Bad times. Through it all, the Serpents stuck by my side, whilst other people turned their backs on me, my own family included. Now, the letter of the law says that I can't be here, in the Serpent Den, that I can't associate with my friends, my real family, my blood. Well, I've been thinking about that and it'll be a cold day in hell before a snake lets a pig tell him what to do."

I stare around the room, people raising their glasses and yelling.

"Alright Coyote Ugly, let's go."

"No, I'm staying."

"No Elizabeth, you're coming with me, now."

"No, I'm staying."

"Well, I can't." With FP's eyes on me, I walk away from the show, my mind reeling.

I hear the ending of FP's speech as I walk away. "Well FP Jones is not retiring. I am here to stay." A snake never changes.

"Arrrrrrre ya' gonna get me a drink or just stand there and stare?"

"Hogeye get the lady a double vodka orange." He takes the seat next to me at the bar.

"How's the retirement goingggg?"

"How's the marriage going?"

"Fuck you, FP."

"Same old Alice then," he replied smugly.

Hogeye slides the drink over to me. I look around the bar, trying to focus on something like watching the blurry crowds converse.

"I promise that I will not allow her to join. I promise you that. I'll try to protect her. I will not allow her to join.I don't know how she found out about that fucking dance, but I swear to you I will as leader refuse any pledge from her. I'm so sorry Alice."

I look up at him.

"Remember the days and nights we spent here? Me whooping your ass at pool and laughing about anything and everything."

"I forgot how tiring it is to have an important conversation with you Alice, especially when you're this drunk."

"Then don't."

I look up at him from my drink. He's so close. When did he get this close? He's looking me in the eyes and then his eyes wander down to my lips. I start to feel myself getting breathless. He's got me completely sucked in. I'm his. He leans in slowly, taking his time, making sure this is what I want. My brain should be screaming at me to get as far away from him as possible, but it's not at its full capacity at the moment. It's been dulled by the drinks this evening. His lips are an inch away from mine when I hear "Mum" being called from across the room. It's Betty. A wakeup call. Thank god she hasn't seen me. I pull away from FP, not even glancing at him as I jump up from the stool. He grabs my waist, stopping me from falling, forcing me to look at him.

"Mum." The voice is closer. I turn around and Betty's stood watching me. I force myself out of FP's arms, glaring at him.