Sugar ran out of the diner and almost into the road. She reared back as a car resembling Reggie's sped by next another vehicle. Sugar turned back toward the quarry and began to run with all her might. She had to stop Jughead and the rest of the Serpents from the biggest mistake they were about the make. Even if she agreed with their motives and didn't exactly trust them again, Sugar knew deep down that this would come back to haunt them. Her skin began to bead with sweat and her heart bounced off her ribcage. Every time she gasped for air, a puff of heat was visible before her face.
Sugar made it back to the quarry as the sun began to set, but there wasn't a single Serpent in sight. Where was the next place? If she were Penny she'd be at…a light bulb flickered over Sugar's head as she began to head for the warehouse in Greendale. She knew going after dark was dangerous, but she didn't have any other choice at this point. Sugar made her way back to the road and began to push for Greendale. Her muscles burned as badly as her lungs and her eyes watered from the profuse wind. The lights from Riverdale began to disappear behind her as she found her way onto the darkened highway.
The sun was setting faster than Sugar could run and her heart was beginning to race with exhaustion and fear. Sugar came to a small clearing and had to stop. She placed her hands on her knees and doubled over attempting to catch her breath. Standing erect, Sugar swung her arms over head, continued to take deep breaths and tried to drag her feet along the road. Sugar willed herself to break into a light jog, but her calves began to cramp. Sugar looked at her, now, blackened surroundings. The lights of Greendale grew closer and closer while Riverdale became nearly impossible to see. "Almost there." Sugar coached herself, even though she could barely hear over the wind.
A clutch of lights began to appear on the road, moving at a quick pace. The gravely roar of motorcycle engines began to sound off as the lights grew closer. They were coming from Greendale. Shit. Sugar should probably find a place to hunker down, so she could- one of the bikes hit the started to,move faster than the rest. Shit! She had taken too much time to figure it out and they spotted her! Sugar started to scramble, but the vehicle was too fast. "Sugar?" A familiar voice called from right behind her. Sugar turned quickly to face the bright light on the front of the bike. "What are you doing out here?"
"Jughead…" Sugar breathed. "Please tell me you didn't…"
Jughead reached into a pocket on the inside of his jacket and pulled out a small cellophane bag. He held it out in front of him toward Sugar. With a slow approach, Sugar made her way to Jughead and placed her hand underneath the bag. A thick patch of flayed skin with a Serpent tattoo stared back at her. Sugar jerked her hand back as she realized what it was. "I was going to meet you at home, but, I guess this is as good a time as any." Jughead broke the silence.
"What have you done?" Sugar wanted to be fearful...but she felt this odd rush of reverie.
"She won't be back." He promised. "We got our message across."
Sugar felt the same relief as she had when she saw FP at the hospital anf the same as when the cops rescued her. In the back of her mind, Sugar knew that this wouldn't last. Penny would return and seek the heads of each member who betrayed her. That didn't matter right now, not yet. Sugar felt a heat begin coarse through her. It was different than the running she'd just done, but it almost made her feel the same. Her breath caught in her throat as she took Jughead by the jaw, cocked her head, and sealed her lips over his.
Jughead was a stunned at first. His hands flew open dropping the bag and he held his his arms up in surrender. When Jughead realized how soft and warm she was against him, he felt himself relax into her. Jughead took a handful of the back of Sugar's hair and drew her closer. His mouth opened to hers as Sugar bundled the front of his shirt in her opposite hand. She slipped her tongue inside passed his teeth and brushed over his. Jughead gasped and pulled back unexpectedly. "Too much?" Sugar wondered as she continued to struggle with her breathing.
"No." Jughead whispered feeling his nervousness. It wasn't so bad this time.
"Then take me home." Sugar ordered as she hopped on the back of his motorcycle. She wrapped her arms around his midsection, pulled him close and rested her cheek against his spine. Jughead was reminded of the day he first saw Sugar ride off with Sweet Pea and remembered how he wished he was the one on the bike with her. A small smile crept up onto Jughead's lips as he revved his engine and took off. The wind began to blow Sugar's hair to and fro, but she didn't care. She finally felt free and this only intensified it. If Jughead could do it, Sugar thought to herself, she could definitely do it.
As Jughead pulled up to the trailer, Sugar leaped off and ran for the front door. Jughead followed her slowly inside. He saw Sugar digging through the cabinets for something. "No alcohol?" She questioned turning to face Jughead with her hands on her hips.
"FP quit drinking." Jughead informed her.
"That sounds awful." Sugar commented as she kept digging.
"It's actually better." Jughead assured as he pulled off his jacket. Sugar stopped searching and leaned against the kitchen counter. She watched Jughead plop down on the sofa and rest his head against the back. He took a deep breath, then released it slowly and seemed to melt into the couch. Sugar made her way over to him and pushed the coffee table aside just out of her way. Concerned by the noise and sudden movement, Jughead snapped up to meet her gaze.
Sugar pressed Jughead's thighs together as she climbed into his lap. "We don't have to have sex," She promised as she placed both her hands on his cheeks, "But I definitely want you." Sugar turned her head to the side and planted one soft kiss against his lips. Jughead knew that he was as hungry for her as she was for him, but knew that he needed to let this moment pass. As his mouth fed hungrily on hers, Jughead knew that the passion Sugar felt for him was primarily based on the fact that he'd slayed her demon. He wondered if she'd still feel the same about him tomorrow.
The last time this had happen, he promptly implied that she was a coward and they hadn't touched each other this way since. Sugar's hands were beginning to tug at the hem of his shirt and, at the moment, he didn't have the willpower to stop her. They broke away from each other long enough for Sugar to remove and discard his top. Jughead buried his fingers in her hair as he bit down on her bottom lip. Sugar let out a whimper Jughead had never heard drew away from her suddenly and stilled her hands on his chest.
"I'm sorry." Jughead whispered as he tucked his chin into his chest.
"Don't apologize because you don't want to sleep with me," Sugar chuckled flipping her leg back over him and taking the seat beside him, "You're a prize, Jones."
"Jones?" Jughead questioned as he rested both hands on her shins and began to tap his index fingers against her calf muscle.
"That's how I know," Sugar informed him, "You're the first boy I've ever met who rather gain affection through sweet nicknames and extended conversation. Do you know how rare that is?"
Jughead held up a hand and splayed his fingers, "Wait," He shook his head dumbfounded before replacing his hand on her leg. "It's rare to want conversation?"
"Actually," Sugar replied moving her leg off of his lap and folding both of hers together. "It is."
"But I thought Reggie-" Jughead started.
"Don't even say that name to me." Sugar threw up a hand dramatically and rolled her eyes.
"I thought it was…amicable?" Jughead laughed tucking one of his legs to turn as face her a little better.
"It was," Sugar started quickly and then slowly, she followed up, "Sort of."
"Can I ask what happened?" Jughead reached for Sugar's hand, placing using only his index finger to flip it over, and linking his fingers with hers. Sugar's heart warmed to Jughead that much more.
"The day in the trailer," She started taking a breath, "Reggie-he-I-" Sugar stammered almost as if she didn't know how to explain it, "Reggie said that Sweet Pea ratted me out and then," Sugar's eyebrows pulled together, "Joined in."
"He said Sweet Pea a part of Penny's plan?" Jughead questioned defensively as he took his hand back from hers and sat forward.
"Sweet Pea said Reggie lied." Sugar finished. "Now, I don't know who to believe… I guess as far as anyone is concerned I chose Sweet Pea," Then with a heavy sigh, "Again."
"You don't sound too happy about that." Jughead observed.
"Why didn't he pick me?" Sugar's inquiry caught Jughead off guard. He did his best to hide the shock under a stoic facade, but even he knew it was see through. Just last night, he had to bribe her with information for any kind of answer. "He admitted that he told her where I was," A humourless chuckle escaped Sugar as her mouth turned down. "He was my best friend." Then, Sugar thought it about it. Why was she spilling to Jughead? She knew that Jughead was incomparable to Reggie, but if one could hurt her so badly, then the other probably would, too. "Sorry, I'm stupid." Sugar shook the thoughts out of her ears, her features seeming to perk back up. "I'm really tired, anyway, so…"
"You're not stupid." Jughead corrected bringing her back to the subject.
"Thanks." Sugar gave him a playful punch to thigh.
"It's none of my business…" Jughead started and then stopped speaking.
"But…?" Sugar had a feeling she would regret asking.
"Sweet Pea never stopped talking about you," Jughead gave a weak shrug. "What he did was wrong, but, tonight, it felt like going after Penny was his way of making it up to you. I understand when apologies aren't enough and we always talk about how actions speak louder than words and I think he's finally taking action. He didn't back down, Sasha."
"You think I should forgive him, too?" Sugar questioned crossing her arms and giving him a hard stare.
"No," Jughead answered quickly looking over at her. "I just think you should let him try to earn it. If you still feel like you can't forgive him, then, at least, you can say you gave it your all."
Sugar was silent for a moment as her brows knitted together. "Who took Penny's tattoo?" She wondered out of the blue as her forehead relaxed.
A slow, knowing smile drew along Jughead's lips as his eyelids lowered just so.
"You get hotter and hotter." Sugar observed in a dry tone making Jughead laugh out loud. The laughter dulled and Jughead still felt the urge to hold onto her. The first time they had held hands, it wasn't for very long. Both, too heartbroken, decided they would keep it simple. Remembering that time so vividly, Jughead began to question himself. He was being given a second opportunity to make things real with Sugar and he was chickening out again? What was he afraid of?