Author's Note: I hope you guys are having a great day! Also, are you guys as hyped for Riverdale coming back as I am?! I have watched the teaser probably a million times already and I am so excited! Other than that, please review and lemme know what you guys think of the story and what you guys wanna see moving forward!
In this chapter, Max, Jughead, and Archie take on the Ghoulies in a race with everything on the line. But things don't go according to plan. Also, Max/Sweet Pea hit a major milestone in their relationship.
Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN RIVERDALE! I ONLY OWN MAX LOGAN, HER FAMILY, MY STORYLINES, AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE!

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"Honor isn't just something, it's everything..."

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Chapter IX. Let the Race Begin...

It was high noon and the Serpents were getting ready to race against the Ghoulies. Despite it being sweltering hot, Max was wearing her Serpent jacket. Max was doing some last minute checks on her Camaro to make sure it ran perfectly. There was a lot riding on this race. The Serpents had everything to gain in the race and everything to lose. Max wasn't going to give up the Serpents and her home without a fight.

As Max bent over to check the engine of her car, she heard whistles behind her. It was no secret that Max was beautiful, and she owned it. Max wasn't a prude. She wasn't afraid to show off her body because she knew she looked good. Max also wasn't above using her body to get what she wants, caring less what people think. Max thought of her body as a weapon that she could use however she pleased.

Standing up, Max noticed a few Northsiders present, most likely to support Archie. Max was very apprehensive about letting Northsiders in Southside business. But at this point, she had more important things to think about. All Max was hoping was that these Northsiders knew their place and watched themselves.

Rolling her eyes, Max kept working until she felt someone stand next to her. Max didn't even need to look to know that it was Sweet Pea. "How's it looking?"

"She's ready to go" Max closed the hood of her car. "I'm ready to kick some Ghoulie ass."

"Those idiots won't see it coming" Sweet Pea smirked as Tall Boy shouted, "Let's do this!"

"Maybe afterwards, we can talk?" Sweet Pea scratched the back of his neck.

"Yeah, we have a lot to talk about" Max chuckled as Sweet Pea kissed her cheek.

"What was that for?"

"For good luck, not like you need it..."

"Let's do it! Get these cars up on to road!" Tall Boy announced. Smiling, Max gave Sweet Pea one more kiss on the cheek before heading to the driver's seat of her car.

Staring Malachi down, Max got into her car with Jughead next to her and Archie in the backseat. Max smiled when she saw that Sweet Pea, Fangs, and Toni were cheering her on. Sweet Pea gave her a wink, earning a playful eye roll from Max before driving up to the starting line.

"She'll be fine" Toni smiled.

"Huh?" Sweet Pea turned his head to her.

"For a Serpent, Max can race a car better than any Ghoulie. She's got this" Toni reassured Sweet Pea, before getting up to the start the race.

Once she parked her car at the starting line, Max got out to face Malachi. Shaking his hand, Malachi smirked. "I get you're the Serpent Queen and all, but shouldn't Jones be the one driving?"

"Race over Herk Harvey Bridge to Dead Man's Curve, first one back here wins" Max glared a hole through him.

Once Max got back to her car, she took in a deep breath before sharing a glance with Jughead. Tightening her leather gloves, Max started revving up her car. As Toni was about to start the race, Max couldn't help but laugh when she was overrun by a redheaded Northsider that had legs for days.

"Engines warm and ready?" she smirked. "Gentlemen? Lady?"

Max nodded as she revved up her car, as the Northsider gave the signal for both of them to go. Max slammed on the gas, making Archie and Jughead lean back into their seats. The rush of racing made a smirk grow on Max's face. Max could race with the best of them, but after getting busted by the cops, she decided to hang up her racing gloves.

As Max got the lead, the Ghoulies kept crashing their car into her's. "Hang on, boys" Max told them as she crashed her cars into theirs to get even.

The Ghoulies managed to get the lead, as they came up on the bridge. As Max started to speed up, Archie spoke up, "Max, Jughead, we're coming up on the bridge."

"We know, Max's got this" Jughead nodded.

"It's too narrow for both of us, guys" Archie rationalized only to be ignored. "Guys, we should abort."

"And, let them win? Not a chance in hell" Max sped up.

"Guys, we'll both crash on that bridge!"

"The Serpents are joining the Ghoulies over my dead body, Archie!" Jughead shouted.

"Might be the smartest thing you've said Jones" Max agreed as she slammed harder on the gas.

"I'm sorry guys, but I'm not down for those terms" Archie shook his head, leaning forward and pulling the emergency brake.

Max's car quickly swerved, before stopping right in front of the bridge. Max and Jughead looked over at Archie with daggers in their eyes. The three of them quickly got out to see the Ghoulies crossing Herk Harvey Bridge

"Why would you do that?!" Jughead shouted, grabbing Archie's jacket while Max kicked a tire in anger.

"Trust me, guys. You both are gonna thank me for this..." Archie told them.

Hearing sirens, Max and Jughead exchanged looks, before running up the bridge with Archie not too far behind them. "Jug! Max! Stop!"

When they to Dead Man's Curve, the three of saw Sheriff Kellar and several of his deputies blocking the street. Malachi was stopped as Kellar was ready to arrest him. "Come on, both of you. We gotta go, come on!" Archie told them as they ran back to Max's car.

As Max started up her car, all she could do was stare a hole at Archie. Max was really starting to question why Archie was even involved in this.

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"Everyone scatter! The cops are rounding up Ghoulies!" a Ghoulie yelled, making every Ghoulie present flee from the scene. As Max, Jughead, and Archie arrived, Tall Boy stormed over to them.

"You called the cops, Jones! You won't throw in with the Ghoulies but you'll work with the cops! Where's the honor in that!" Tall Boy shouted in Jughead's face, clearly pissed. Tall Boy had known Max long enough to know that she would never do that.

"Calm down, Tall Boy. You think we knew Keller was going to be there?!" Jughead shouted back.

"I called Keller..." Archie revealed.

"What the hell, Archie!" Jughead faced off against his Northside friend. Max just stood there, glaring at Archie. If looks could kill, Archie would be ten feet under already. Max was really starting regret involving Archie in Southside business. The Southside didn't play by Northside rules. It definitely didn't help that the Serpents didn't have the warmest with the Kellar and the cops. "Did my dad tell you about this too?"

"No, it was my idea to get rid of the Ghoulies and it worked! They get arrested for street racing and now they're off the chess board" Archie explained.

"For how long, huh? One month? Three months? You know what they're gonna want on the other side, your head on a stake! All of ours!" Jughead shoved Archie.

Max just stood there, livid. "I was trying to help..." Archie reasoned out. Wiping her mouth, Archie was met with a fist to his jaw.

"Archie!" Veronica went to her boyfriend's side. "Are you okay?

"Remember that the next time you think of getting involved in Serpent business. Don't come crying to us when the Ghoulies decide to make an example out of your ass!" Max shouted in Archie's face. "And the next time you think of involving your Northsider in Southside business, don't!" Max glared at Jughead, before getting into her car with Sweet Pea.

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Later that night, Max and Sweet Pea were at the quarry, having a beer. After the race, Max was just hoping that this wasn't going to come back and bite the Serpents in the butt. Max knew the Ghoulies all too well, and even though they were in jail, they weren't going to take this lying down. In their minds, the Serpents were the ones that got them locked up.

"You kicked ass today" Sweet Pea smiled as he sat next to Max on the hood of her car.

"Yeah, was that before or after we got busted by the cops?" Max chuckled humorlessly as Sweet Pea's Serpent jacket hung off her shoulders. "I can't believe that Northsider involved the cops. I could've won."

"I know, you would have" Sweet Pea chuckled. "That Northsider is just that stupid. We don't play by their rules."

"Thanks for being there today, it means a lot to me" Max looked down at her feet.

"You know, I would always have your back" Sweet Pea scratched the back of his neck.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Max fiddled with her fingers, nervously. Max was normally a very confident young woman. It was very rare that she showed her nerves. But when it came to her feelings, it was a whole other ball game. Max had no idea where this conversation would go.

"I'm real bad at this, but I just wanna tell you how I feel" Sweet Pea took a deep breath. "I know you have a lot of things happening with Rafe, but I just can't be your friend..."

"What do you mean?" Max looked up at him.

"I want to be more than just your friend. I want to be with you..." Sweet Pea took Max's hand.

"Sweet Pea, I don't know how any of this works. I've never been with a guy as more than just my friend..." Max meekly admitted. "I don't want to mess this up, I don't want to lose you."

"We'll figure this out together, I just want to be with you" Sweet Pea cupped her cheek. "I want you..."

Max smiled, leaning into his cheek. Max doesn't remember the last time she has felt comfort. "You're so corny, Sweets..."

"Only for you" Sweet Pea smirked as he brought her lips to his. Smiling against the kiss, Max snaked her hands around Sweet Pea's neck, tangling her hands in his hair. Slowly pulling away, Max kept her forehead on Sweet Pea's. "You're my girl, Max..."

"I'm your girl..." Max repeated. "I like the sound of that."

Max has never really let a guy into her world before. But if it had to be any guy, Max was glad that it was Sweet Pea...

Author's Note: Well, even though the race didn't go exactly as planned, the Ghoulies are out of commission at this moment. Do you think the Ghoulies are going to go down quietly? Or is this gonna come back and bite the Serpents in the foot? Also, do you think Archie did the right thing by calling the police? Max and Jughead don't think so. BTW, I think Max totally could've won that race!
Also, Max and Sweet Pea are making progress. You guys have seen Max as this confident, badass but this a more vulnerable side of her that we won't see too often. But what do you guys think of their conversation and what do you guys wanna see from them moving forward?
Finally, what do you guys think of this chapter as a whole? Yay? Nay? Any/All feedback is welcome!
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