Author's Note: I hope everyone is having a great day! I apologize for not updating yesterday! I don't know why but I was just exhausted and I was studying for an exam, which I have today! We're so close to the weekend, I can feel it! Thank you for the favs/follows. Please review and lemme know what you guys think of the story so far!
In this chapter, Southside High is officially closed down and our Fab Five (Jughead, Max, Toni, Sweet Pea, and Fangs) is heading to Riverdale High.
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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"You have Bulldogs and Serpents under one roof, that's a powder keg waiting to explode..."

...

Chapter XIII. Crossing Enemy Lines...

It was another enduring day at Southside High. Jughead, Toni, and Max were chilling on the steps of the courtyard, while everyone else was in class. Since their Greendale escapade a few days ago with Penny Peabody, Max and Jughead had gotten considerably closer. While they were already cordial with each other, Max and Jughead had developed a genuine friendship. Even though they have different ways at approaching situations, at the end of the day they both wanted the same thing: to make the Southside matter. With that, came a new-found respect for one another.

"Wow, Jones. Props to you, it's very... lovecraftian" Toni joked as she read over Jughead's article.

"Is that your safe word with your girl?" Max raised an eyebrow, earning a shove from Jughead.

"I was just starting to think you were cultured" Toni rolled her eyes.

"Whatever that means, I'm pretty sure that's the intention, Toni" Max chuckled, looking over her shoulder. "Did you write that on a typewriter?" Max squinted her eyes.

"Uh, yeah..." Jughead meekly admitted. "I wanted to get into Lovecraft's headspace."

"Oh? So it wasn't like Betty bought you a manual typewriter for Christmas? Or anything weird like that?" Toni teased Jughead.

"No comment" Jughead took back his article as Maya playfully rolled her eyes. As the three of them hung out, Sweet Pea and Fangs came bursting through the doors, cheering.

"Whoo!" they both cheered as they playfully hit each other in the chest.

"You seem happy" Max stated the obvious as Sweet Pea wrapped an arm around her shoulder, kissing her cheek.

"What's going on?" Jughead questioned, standing up from the concrete steps.

"This hell hole is officially closed. We're done, no more Southside High" Sweet Pea smiled from ear to ear, as the Serpents exited the school.

"What? How?" Toni asked, shocked. While Southside High was crappy, it wasn't crappy enough to be closed down.

"They say it's dangerous and gonna get quarantined. Who cares?" Sweet Pea shrugged his shoulders. "We're all going to different schools."

"Wait, this doesn't make sense. Where are you going?" Jughead asked.

"Same as you and you..." Sweet Pea pointed to Jughead and Toni. "... and you..." Sweet Pea wrapped an arm across Max's chest, bringing her body into his. "... and Fangs. We're going to Riverdale High." Sweet Pea revealed. "Think of all those Northside heads to knock," Sweet Pea and Fangs threw playful punches. Giving Max one more kiss on the top of her head, Sweet Pea and Fangs raced over to their bikes to celebrate.

"I think that's the most excited I've ever seen him about school, like ever" Max looked on confused.

"How does that even happen? Everything was okay yesterday" Toni questioned.

"I have no idea..." Jughead looked at Max with suspicion on his face. Something just didn't add up.

...

Later that day, Jughead and Max met up with FP to discuss Southside High closing. Like Jughead, Max was suspicious. Mayor McCoy could've closed down Southside High whenever she wanted, so why now? With the Northside and the Southside on the brink of war, throwing the Bulldogs and Serpents together was a recipe for disaster.

"Mayor McCoy has deemed Southside High a public health hazard. Due to toxic fumes from the methamphetamine lab in the basement..." Jughead read the public statement.

"Yeah, I've been at Southside High long enough to know we don't have a methamphetamine lab" Max pointed out. Max knew the inner workings of Southside High and other than Jingle Jangle, no other drugs were dealing dealt.

"Yeah, just Jingle Jangle" Jughead agreed with her.

"Oh the worm turns and it's back to Riverdale High, huh?" FP looked at his son.

"The way that all this went down, something smells fishy" Jughead pointed out.

"I'm with Jug. McCoy could've shut down Southside High whenever she wanted, why now? We're trying to avoid war with the Northside. Putting a bunch of Southside Serpents in Riverdale High, craps gonna hit the fan quick" Max sighed.

"How are you doing?" FP knew how much Southside High meant to Max.

"I mean, Southside High was crappy but it was our place. We ran the halls, now we're walking into hostile territory with every Northsider wanting our heads on a plate" Max breathed out. "So, not that good..."

"This could be a good thing... for both of you" FP looked at Max and Jughead. He knew that they were bright kids, all they needed was the opportunity to prove it.

"I gotta go pick up Rafe from school" Max checked her phone. "I'll see you guys later..."

...

Waiting outside, Southside Elementary, Max was just picturing how tomorrow was gonna go. Max and the other Serpents has made a lot of enemies on the Northside and now, they were walking on to their turf. This was a whole new playing field.

As Max waiting, she saw Rafe running up to her. "Max, you're early" Rafe smiled at her.

"Yeah" Max wrapped an arm around Rafe's shoulder. "So, I wanted to talk to you about something..."

"What?" Rafe looked up at her.

"So, something went down, but long story short Southside High is closed down" Max revealed.

"What happened?"

"Who knows? I've stopped trying to figure out what Mayor McCoy is up to. The point is, starting tomorrow I'm going to Riverdale High..."

"Really?"

"Yup, me, Jughead, Toni, Sweet Pea and Fangs..." Max rolled her eyes in disdain.

"Why there? Why Riverdale High?" Rafe was very aware of his big sister's disdain for the Northside.

"God knows what Mayor McCoy was thinking. But with me being on the Northside, it might take me awhile to pick you up from school."

"You know, I could walk home from school on my own" Rafe droned at her. "You don't have to keep picking me up."

"I do it because I love you" Max kissed the top of his head.

"I'm serious Max, can I please walk home from school on my own? All my friends are doing it, I'm ready" Rafe pleaded to his big sister. Rafe was ready to prove to Max he was a grown up.

"I don't know..." Max wasn't ready to let Rafe go, yet.

"Please..." Rafe used the puppy dog eyes that Max could never say no to.

"Okay, we'll do a trial run tomorrow" Max rolled her eyes as Rafe jumped up and down happily. Walking home from school was a milestone for every young child, so Max understood. As Rafe danced happily, Max chuckled as they walked back to their trailer. While they walked home together, Max and Rafe didn't realize that they were being followed. It was Nathaniel Hart.

"Is that them?" the man with him asked.

"Yeah..." Nathaniel breathed out as their car was parked just out of sight. "They look just like her..."

Once they got back to their trailer, Nathaniel pulled up in front of them. "Stay here..." Nathaniel told his company has he got out of the car, approaching Max and Rafe. "Mackenzie, Rafael..."

"Who are you?" Rafe asked him.

"I-" Nathaniel tried to speak but Max wasn't going to let him, "What are you doing here?! How do you know where we live?"

"I wanted to talk to you, to both of you..."

"Rafe, go inside" Max whispered to her little brother.

"But, Max-"

"Go" Max said firmly, as Rafe scurried into their trailer.

Turning her attention back to Nathaniel, Max glared a hole through him. "Why are you here? I don't want your money, I don't want your charity. I don't want anything from you! Is this payback for me burning your money?"

"This is where you live..." Nathaniel pointed to the small trailer.

"What do you want?" Max crossed her arms. "I doubt you're here just to chat..."

"Look, I just wanted to apologize. I wanted to help you guys, I didn't want you to feel bad. I thought I was doing the right thing..."

"I don't need your pity and I sure as hell don't want your charity" Max sneered. "If you're looking for some kind of special project to bolster your public image, me and my brother want nothing to do with it and you..." Max knew full well how the Northside operated. None of them would go out of their way to do something nice for the Southside, without there being something it in for them. It was all about themselves and Max wanted nothing to do with it.

"Mackenzie, I-"

"It's Max! My name is Max! How do you even know my name?" Max shouted. "Just leave! Or I'll call the police and they'll haul your ass in for trespassing" Max threatened.

"Okay" Nathaniel put his hands up in defense, as he left.

"I better not see your face here again! Cause if I do, it won't be pretty for you" Max growled before walking back in to her trailer.

Watching her slam the door, Nathaniel jumped a bit before walking back to his car. "Well, that went well" Nathaniel's company smirked at him.

"Just go..." Nathaniel breathed out as he drove back to the Northside.

Inside the trailer, Max was still a bit shaken up. "Max, who was that?" Rafe walked up to her. Not saying a word, Max brought Rafe into her arms. "What was that for?" Rafe asked her, curiously.

"Just cause... I love you" Max smiled.

Author's Note: Well, that just happened...
There are two big things to unpack in this chapter.
First thing, Southside High is officially shut down! While Sweet Pea, Toni, and Fangs are excited, Jughead and Max are suspicious. Do you think Max has a point about Southside High and Mayor McCoy? Southside High was pretty bad, but is it bad enough to close down? Also, with the timing or everything and the Northside/Southside on the brink of war, is it really smart to throw them together?
Also, Nathaniel makes another appearance, this time on the Southside. What do you think his game is? Does he genuinely wanna help Max or there something larger at play?
What do you guys think of the chapter as a whole? Yay or nay? Any/All feedback is welcome!
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