"So how was it?"

Raising her head from where she'd had it rested on her bag Noelle sent the smirking Sweet Pea a questioning look "What are you on about?" she asked scowling as he pulled the chair beside her out and dropped down into it.

"You know," he replied nudging her with his elbow as Fangs sat opposite them "Meeting the angel of the northside Betty Cooper."

Noelle rolled her eyes before she lay her head back down and shared a glance with the unimpressed looking Toni sitting on her other side. The previous night, after Jughead had called her to tell her about the attack, had gone better than she had ever expected it to.

Betty Cooper, also known as the girlfriend she was constantly reminded of, wasn't as bad as Noelle had been picturing. Sure she wasn't exactly thrilled with her boyfriend being over on the southside and she did look to Noelle with slight suspicion when she hooked a finger under Jug's chin to inspect the injuries she was cleaning up for him but she wasn't...terrible.

Not that she was going to admit that to Sweet Pea and Fangs or anything.

"He told her it was a motorbike accident," she said with an arch to her eyebrows. Betty Cooper may not be terrible but she couldn't keep the fact that Jughead wouldn't tell her what was actually going on to herself.

"Wow Bambi, you'll be married within the month."

"I am literally going to kill you one of these days," she said laughing through her scowl as she leaned over to poke him in the side "I'm serious, you better watch your back Sweet Pea!" she continued as he caught her hand at the wrist and countered with a poke of his own as Fangs rolled his eyes at them from his seat opposite.

"Will you two behave," Toni said with a sigh as Noelle elbowed Sweet Pea in the side. The four of them all glanced up at the sight of a shadow crossing the table they were sitting at.

Jughead, still looking a bit beaten up and very tired, had wandered over to where they were sitting. Bag slung over his shoulder he looked a little sheepish as he sent them all a small smile "Is this seat taken?"

Noelle sent the two boys already sat with them a look as Toni reached over to move her back from where it was sat on the table in front of the seat Jughead was talking about "So," she began leaning over and crossing her arms "Are we having a meeting for the paper today?"


"I just think it's something everyone's afraid to say."

Noelle nodded as she wandered after Jughead through the endless amounts of bookcases "So you're really saying we have a serial killer on our hands?" she asked with a frown of confusion as she hugged some of the books they had already picked out against her chest "Don't you think that's a little...dramatic?"

It had been something they had discussed at the meeting for the Red and Black the previous day. Being the true crime nerds, as Noelle called them, that they were Jughead and Toni had begun to discuss the case of the Black Hood, a menace going around the town seemingly hunting down people he viewed as sinners.

She had just listened at first, chin in the palm of her hand as her eyes darted between the two. She only spoke up when they began discussing other cases ("New Orleans had the Axeman" "There was the Zodiac in San Francisco" "Texarkana Phantom Killer!") to reluctantly admit she wasn't as educated on the world of serial killers as they seemed to be.

They had looked at her in an offended manner, she had reminded them they were the ones obsessing over killers and Jughead had asked her if she wanted to accompany him in the library the next day.

Which was why she was trailing behind him in the true crime section accepting books she 'should read' that would probably never let her sleep again.

"So, what made you interested in these types of things?" she asked as he handed over a copy of a book about someone named 'Jack the Ripper' "Do you just never sleep or…?"

Jughead let out a laugh as he grabbed hold of a book for himself "It just interests me," he said with a shrug "Especially with everything that's going on in Riverdale recently."

"Not getting tips from these things then," she replied with a wriggle of her eyebrows as she lifted her pile of books the best she could.

He laughed once more "How many times do I have to tell you I'm not a serial killer?"

Noelle stumbled slightly before regaining her composure. It had been the first time he had mentioned their meeting in the alleyway, she'd started thinking she had dreamt it all up in her mind and it hadn't actually happened "Probably just a few more," she said sending him an overdramatic terrified glance as the two of them plonked their books on the librarian's desk.

"Are these research for school?" the older lady asked as she glanced from the titles of the books sat before her to the two teenagers. The look of suspicion in her eyes and tone a lot more real than Noelle's earlier joke.

"Research, but not for school," Jug admitted as she began to scan them.

"It's a terrible thing, what's going on in this town."

Sharing a smile with Noelle Jughead nodded his head in agreement "Who would've thunk it? A serial killer in Riverdale?"

The librarian looked confused for a second before she waved it off "I'm not just talking about him," she said as she moved from Jughead's books to Noelle's "I'm also talking about that awful video those boys put out."

With her eyebrows furrowing in confusion Noelle accepted the pile of books being pushed her way and smiled her thanks before she and Jughead turned to walk away "What was she talking about?" she asked nudging his shoulder with her own. She knew that if anything else untoward was happening in Riverdale he would be the first to know, even if it did mean admitting her journalistic brain was slacking.

But, to her surprise, Jughead was also frowning in confusion as he slung his bag to his front and jammed his books inside "I have no idea," he said with a shrug as they wandered out of the doors "But I plan on finding out."

He emerged from around the corner as the two of them wandered down the library steps. Hands deep in the pockets of his dark denim jacket Fangs practically glared up to the two of them expectantly, barely even glancing Jughead's way as both he and Noelle reached the bottom "Serpent meeting," he said as though those two words explained exactly why he was there.

"And a good morning to you too my love," Noelle answered reaching out and earning herself a smile and a roll of his rich eyes as she pinched his cheek. With her book filled bag slung onto her back she accepted the helmet Fangs was offering her before she turned to Jughead "I'll be seeing ya Jones," she said with a smile, not waiting for his answer as she hurried to catch Fangs up.

"Rude much?" she asked as she hopped up onto his bike behind him, sweeping her hair off her shoulders so it was lying down her back before she shoved the bike helmet over it.

"We're late," Fangs answered as she slid her arms around his waist and he started the bike up, roaring away from the sidewalk "I didn't know you liked books?" he continued once they had come to a halt outside of Toni's trailer.

Noelle made sure to take the helmet off quickly so he could see her roll her eyes clearly "How can I be late for something I didn't know was happening?" she asked slightly breathlessly as she swung her leg round and landed on the solid ground. No matter how safe a driver Fangs was she still wasn't too keen on the motorbike experience "And of course I like books," she added in a grumble as she reached out to shove his shoulder "Everyone likes books."

He sent her a look out of the corner of his eye as she met him at the front of his bike and hummed almost disbelievingly beneath his breath.

"So what's this about?" she asked as they made their way over to the steps leading up to Toni's front door, her eyebrows arching when he shrugged his shoulders.

"Sweet Pea said they had something to show us," he explained as he reached up to knock on the door. A smile lit up his face as Toni answered and ushered them inside "We best get this over with quick guys, Noe has some books to read."

"I didn't know you liked books?"

"They're books to give me tips on how to kill you all," she said in a grumble at Sweet Pea's comment mirroring the one Fangs had said "Now are we here for a reason or do you all just like dragging me away from things I enjoy?"

There was a slight smirk, a smirk which worried Noelle more than she was willing to admit, on Sweet Pea's face as he opened up his laptop and gestured for them to gather around "Some of the Northsiders have made a little video," he explained as he typed in his password "I thought you should see it."

Noelle's eyes narrowed as a familiar looking redhead came to the screen. He was flanked by shirtless guys wearing red balaclavas "What the fuck is this?" she asked with a laugh "Dude I don't know what kind of porn you've been searching for but-"

"This is a message for the coward calling himself the black hood…"

A hush fell around Noelle, Fangs and the others watching over their shoulders as they listened to the Northsider speak, calling the murderer running around their town out.

"Well he sure thinks a lot of himself doesn't he," Fangs said as he straightened up and folded his arms across his chest once the video was over.

"I know him," every single set of eyes turned to Noelle as she let the words escape her mouth without thinking, Sweet Pea's narrowed with more anger than the others "Well not know him. I've met him. Once."

Fangs frowned as he glanced between Noelle and the screen "That's the douche you met in Pop's picking up the take out?" he asked exchanging a glance with Sweet Pea.

She shrugged her shoulders and folded her arms loosely over her stomach "Does it matter?"

"Only if you're attached to his pretty face and dumb personality," Sweet Pea said as he slammed the lid of the laptop down and got to his feet "I think I've just thought of a serpent trial for you Fogarty," he continued, that smirk back on his face, as he clapped his friend on the back.

Noelle looked between them in confusion, noting Toni's eye roll, when they didn't expand on their comments "Fangs," she said reaching out and grasping onto his sleeve before he could follow Sweet Pea into the kitchen "Is he asking you to go after the redheaded northsider?" she asked pulling him around so he was facing her.

"The guy is getting too big for his boots Bambi," Fangs answered narrowing his eyes "And if taking him down a peg or two is one of my trials then so be it."

"Are you for real?" she snapped in a hushed whisper "The Black Hood is a legit murderer Fangs and you wanna get involved? Why? Because I called the ginger dude cute once?"

"Y'know, not everything in my life revolves around you Bambi," he snapped back pulling his sleeve from her grasp "Sweet Pea has his own issues with Andrews, you calling him cute one time is at the bottom of the pile."

Noelle watched as Fangs walked away from him, a smile alive on his face as he accepted a beer Sweet Pea was offering him "So, what's the beef with this Andrews character then?" she asked as Toni appeared by her side.

She shrugged a shoulder "Northside versus Southside. The divide has only gotten worse while you've been away," she said with a sigh "You know boys and their thickheaded testosterone. You want a drink?"

"No," she answered sending Toni a smile and reaching out to squeeze her hand "I'm gunna head off," she explained as she plucked her bag from where she had left it on the floor, the reading material inside making her groan slightly as she slung it onto her back "I'll see ya in school," she continued as she leaned forward to drop a quick kiss on Toni's cheek before turning to leave.

"Hey! You're leaving?"

She let out a huff as she jogged down the steps leading from Toni's front door "Didn't think I was very welcome," she replied to Fangs without turning to face him.

"Come on Noe…"

"Oh so it's Noe now is it!" she answered rolling her eyes and keeping up her walk "I just get the serpent nickname when I'm being shouted at then huh?"

"Noelle," Fangs groaned as he jogged to catch up with her, reaching out and grasping onto her hand "Stay, have a few drinks with us?" he asked, his bottom lip jutting out in his infamous puppy dog eye look "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to snap."

"Too right you didn't," Noelle answered snatching her hand back and turning to continue her walk home.

"At least let me give you a lift."

"Fangs. Go back to the Northsider hunting party, I'll be fine."

"If you think I'm leaving you to walk back alone when the Black Hood is out here killing people you've got another thing coming," he replied as he quickened his pace to catch her up, glancing to her out of the corner of his eye as he drew level with her side.

"You calling me a sinner Fogarty?" Noelle asked with an arch to her brow "I'm not far from here. Honestly. I'll be home before you know it."

He looked suspicious as he nudged her with his elbow "Why don't you want me to see your place? Is it your aunt? She a babe?"

"No one says babe anymore you weirdo," she answered nudging him right back and unable to hold back her amused smile "I'll text you as soon as I walk through the door."

The only response her offer got was him continuing to walk alongside her. The stubborn look on his face made her want to dig him in the ribs.

"Fangs please, just go back!"

His eyes were narrowed as he turned to face her, reaching out to stop her as well "Everything is alright isn't it Noe?"

She bit down hard on her bottom lip as she plastered a smile across her face "Of course!" she exclaimed tucking her hands in the pockets of her jacket as she turned to continue her walk home.

A confused look came to Fangs' face as he continued to follow her out of the trailer park "Where is your place?" he asked without getting an answer.

She led him down the road toward the school. Scuffing her boots against the sidewalk beneath them she kept quiet as she took a right and headed down a quieter, darker avenue "Okay," she began, coming to a stop and placing her hands on his chest to stop him as well.

"Have you brought me here to kill me?"

Noelle's eyes rolled "You can't tell anyone okay, promise me."

"You know I-"

"Promise me Fangs!"

"Okay!" he exclaimed holding his hands up innocently "Okay, I promise!" he continued before he took in their surroundings. The street was hidden away from the rest of the Southside, tucked away in a corner with a lone one story house sat at the top "Where's your place?"

She sent him a sheepish smile as she gestured over to the bungalow "You're looking at it?" she said slowly, hooking her arm through his and leading him up to her home "That's not the only thing," she continued as she dug her key out of her pocket and opened up the door. Flipping the lights on she took in a deep breath and tucked her hands into the pockets of her jeans almost uncomfortably.

Fangs was quiet as he glanced around the hallway and his suspicion mounted "Where's your aunt?" he asked slowly before his eyebrows shot up "Noelle you live here alone?"

"Sssshhhhh!" she replied quickly, hurrying over and placing her hand over his mouth as though someone could be listening in "You don't know what she's like! She's awful!" she exclaimed in a hushed tone "She still lives around here but there's no way I could live in the same house as her!"

Shaking his head he took a step back away from her and wandered into the door to his left, taking in the kitchen before he turned back around to face her "And how can you afford this place?"

He regretted asking as soon as the question left his lips and the tears sprung to Noelle's eyes "My mom," she answered quietly "She sorted it all out for me before she...got too sick," she explained with a shake of her head and a sigh "She knew I'd wanna come back to Riverdale."

"Wow," Fangs breathed as he glanced around once more, acting as though he was stood in the reception room of a grand mansion rather than her Southside Bungalow hallway "And groceries? Bills?"

"Never had you down as the responsible type," she answered him with a wink "C'mon let me make you some hot chocolate," she continued tapping him on the arm with her fingertips as she walked passed him and headed into the kitchen.

It had always been something he had looked forward to when he was invited around to the Bamber household. Noelle's mom was the only person he knew who could make a hot chocolate better than Pop.

"She let me in on her secret," Noelle said once he was sat at the breakfast bar and she was able to slide a mug his way "She also had a stellar life insurance and savings account which are giving me a weekly allowance," she continued with a sigh as she sat down beside him with her own drink "I get the lot on my twenty first birthday."

Fangs' eyebrows arched over his mug and he was left with a trail of cream across his top lip as he moved it away from his mouth "Dude so you're, like, rich?"

The smirk on his face told her he knew he was the only person who'd get away with a comment like that. Leaning over she nudged his shoulder with her own before she sighed "Something like that...but it's a secret okay?" she answered pointing a finger in his face until he nodded his agreement "And I'm also not changing myself for Jughead Jones," she added with a pointed look as she slid down from the stool she was sitting on at the breakfast bar.

"I didn't-"

"But you were thinking it," she called over her shoulder as she waved for him to follow her "I know that's why you were all snappy with me earlier. We've been friends our entire lives, you think I don't know why you're pissed at me?"

He bowed his head slightly as he sent her a smile "Sorry, I should never have jumped to that," he said reaching out and squeezing her hand "But, Noe, you were at the library…"

Rolling her eyes Noelle let out a laugh as she poked him in the side and he struggled to keep control of the hot chocolate clutched in his hand "There's a serial killer in the town where I live alone Fangs. If I gotta read a few books so I have some info on these types of people then so be it," she explained as she dropped down onto the sofa and reached for the television control "Now, do you wanna stay over so we can christen my new place with a movie night?"


I know it's been like a million years and I'm sorry! I promise I'll try not to leave it so long next time :)

If you want to see more Noelle my tumblr url is the same as my username on here!