Author's Note: I hope everyone is having a great weekend! I'm currently in San Francisco with my brother and boyfriend for a basketball game! It was a great guy and hopefully I can come back! Thank you so much for the favs/follows it means a lot! Don't be afraid to review! I love hearing your guy's feedback on the story and all that awesome stuff! I'm almost caught up with all the Riverdale episodes and I have some fun stuff planned out for you guys.
In this chapter, tensions come to head at a school hall for Riverdale Student Council. Max and Toni have an open and honest conversation since their falling out, and the Serpents question Betty's loyalty.
Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER! I DO NOT OWN RIVERDALE OR ANY OF IT'S CHARACTERS! I ONLY OWN MAX LOGAN, HER FAMILY, MY STORYLINES, AND ANYTHING YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE!

...

"We're in a powder keg ready to blow...
One spark and we're all done for..."

...

Chapter XXIII. Ticking Time Bomb

After the events that transpired the other day, Riverdale High was more divided than ever. Everyone had an opinion on what was to come to Southside High and Veronica's involvement in the entire situation. Tensions couldn't be anymore higher.

After dropping off Rafe, Max approached Riverdale High to see Sweet Pea and Fangs waiting for her.

"How you holding up?" Fangs asked.

"I've been better" Max sighed as Sweet Pea wrapped an arm around her. The three of them walked into school and when they entered the hallway, they saw Toni standing with Veronica. Toni glanced over her shoulder to see her fellow Serpents glaring at her. Not wanting to give Toni the satisfaction, the three of them walked away, leaving the pink haired Serpent disheartened. Since her argument with her a few days ago, Toni was essentially ostracized from the rest of the Serpents. It got to the point where Toni limited her visits to club meetings to spare any kind of arguments. Even though Toni was starting to like her life on the Northside, there was no denying that she was a Serpent and that Max, Sweet Pea, and Fangs are her family. But it was clear that they wanted nothing to do with her.

"You okay?" Veronica asked her.

"Uh... yeah" Toni snapped back to reality. "Sorry about Max, about what she did..."

"I don't blame her, she's mad" Veronica sighed. Veronica was done denying that she had no involvement in all of this. All she could do was control her actions and decisions. "They all are..."

"Give them some time, they'll get over it" Toni reassured her, but she knew that wasn't going to be the case. The Serpents were good at many things, including holding grudges.

"I'm hoping" Veronica sighed.

"Good luck at the School Hall" Toni smiled as she went into the auditorium.

The Riverdale Auditorium was packed to the brim with people to listen the candidates that were running for Student Council. But this forum wasn't just about who could better Riverdale High. It was a battle with every candidate having an agenda and something to prove.

"Why are we here again?" Fangs rolled his eyes.

"I'll tell you afterwards" Max breathed out as she saw Jughead and Betty sit down. Jughead and Betty were running for President and Vice President of Riverdale High. While Max wanted to praise her fellow Serpent for having initiative, she didn't know if she could get on board with this. It would be difficult for them to garner any kind of support, given that the Serpents weren't the most beloved in Riverdale High.

"Okay now just a quick reminder that this School Hall is a PTA sponsored event" Alice Cooper reminded everyone in attendance. "Oh, it looks like we have our first question..."

"Yeah no offense to the current administration..." Sweet Pea stood up with Max and Fangs alongside him. "But it doesn't feel like anyone is looking after the students who are being bussed in from the Southside, is that gonna change?"

"Absolutely Sweet Pea. That's our priority" Jughead reassured him, as the three of them shared unamused looks. Jughead and Betty may feel that way but everyone else doesn't. "No one should feel marginalized or excluded here."

"Jughead and I will be representing all students, North and Southside alike" Betty added.

"Next question!" Alice cut off Betty. "Yes Midge..."

"My question is for Archie and Veronica..." Midge stood up. "Rumor has it that your parents will soon be on opposite sides of the mayoral election. Won't that negatively affect your working relationship?"

"Archie and I will adhere to the old maxim that politics are never discussed at the dinner or the cafeteria" Veronica quipped, earning laughs throughout the auditorium.

"Veronica and I are on the same page about everything, including her family's plans for a prison on the Southside" Archie added, making the tension in the room spike up.

"I'm gonna kick his ass..." Max gritted her teeth, only for Sweet Pea to hold her back.

"Don't, there are more of them then there are of us" Sweet Pea calmed her down.

"I need a smoke" Max sighed as she left the Student Hall.

Max made her way out of the auditorium and went out to the student parking lot. Taking out a pack from her denim jacket, Max pulled out her father's old lighter from inside her boot.

As she took a long drag, a voice spoke out. "I thought you didn't smoke anymore?" Max turned around to see Toni.

"I had to get out of there or else I was gonna kick someone's ass" Max breathed out, taking another drag. "What do you want Topaz? Shouldn't you be fooling around with your little redhead?"

"Max please..." Toni pleaded to her. "Can we just talk?"

Rolling her eyes, Max took one more drag to calm her nerves before throwing the bud on the ground. Stepping on it, Max crossed her arms. "Okay, talk..."

"Remember when we were kids? We always wondered what it would be like to live on Northside?"

"Yeah, was that before or after they told us that we don't belong in Riverdale?" Max chuckled, unamused.

"Max, I hate fighting with you. You're my best friend, it doesn't have to be like this. We're in a good spot right now, why can't you just accept it?"

"Because they'll never accept us" Max sneered. "To them, we'll always be criminals, wastes of space they'll just throw out to make something better. That's how it is, how it's always been."

"It doesn't have to be like that..."

"But it is. If I remember correctly, your girlfriend told us that we didn't belong here. What changed?"

"She's been through some stuff... a lot of stuff" Toni sighed. In the time she had gotten to know Cheryl, Toni was starting to see that Cheryl was not all that bad. That Cheryl was putting up a strong front to hide the fact that she's suffering on the inside. "She's not as bad you think..."

"She hasn't given me a reason to think otherwise. And newsflash, she's isn't the only one who's been through things. She's never been spit on, she's never been pushed around and exterminated like vermin. That's our reality, Toni. " Max opened old wounds. "Toni, we've been through hell and back together. We've always had your back. Do you know how much it hurt when you picked them over us?"

"Max..."

"You might not want to let yourself believe it, but like it or not, Southside High is our home. The Southside is where we come from. Where we grew up, made memories together, where we became Serpents together. Where I became who I am. I can't let them destroy the one place that matters most to me, the place that gave me my family..." Max gritted through her teeth. "That prison is what they think of us. Disposable, that the only we're good for is working in a prison..."

"That's not true..."

"They've really got your mind warped, but I guess that's what happens when you fall in love" Max chuckled bitterly. "I'm done telling you what do Toni, I'm done. But lemme ask you this. When this war is over and the dust settles and you look around, can you say that Cheryl will still be there for you? That she's going to fight for you like we do?" Toni stayed silent. "It's when you're in battle that you see who's really on your side. You better be careful Toni. The people you wanna trust are the people that are out to get you..."

With that said, Max left, leaving Toni by herself. For Max, loyalty was simple: you were either with her or against her. Toni couldn't be with Cheryl without the Serpents taking offense to it. Toni couldn't have it both ways. But while Toni couldn't agree with her methods, she couldn't help but think that Max had a point. No matter how far she tried to run from it, Toni had and will always be from the Southside.

Walking back into Riverdale, Sweet Pea and Fangs were walking out of the auditorium looking for her. "You good?" Sweet Pea.

"I'm good" Max ran her fingers through her hair. "Is it over?"

"Yeah, talk about a massive waste of time" Fangs rolled his eyes as they saw Jughead and Betty walking up to them.

"What the hell was that?" Sweet Pea gritted his teeth.

"Come on guys" Jughead put his hands up, as Max got in between them.

"Enough, we need to stick together. Club meeting now" Max demanded as they walked to their classroom. Inside, Max and Jughead stood in front of the classroom as the rest of the Serpents went to their seats.

"Sweets calm down" Mary tried to calm down her boyfriend.

"You promised us a war, then you're on stage lookin like Buddy Holly sucking up to the Northside" Sweet Pea sneered at Jughead.

"We need those votes, Sweet Pea. It's the only way we can affect any change. Whose ever elected gets a seat on the school board, that means we're on the inside..."

"In the meantime we're sitting ducks" Max rolled her eyes. The more time they were wasting was time they could be using to fight back.

"No war was won overnight" Jughead reassured her. "A seat on the school board means they can't silence us..."

"You and the Northside Princess, you mean?" Fangs raised an eyebrow as every Serpent glared at Betty.

"Wait, is that why you guys are pissed? Betty's on our side!" Jughead defended his girlfriend.

"Yeah! I've helped the Serpents on numerous occasions!" Betty defended herself. "I-I helped find the Picken's Statue head. I got Cheryl to testify in court so FP, your king could get early parole..."

"You did all that for your boyfriend, not the Serpents" Sweet Pea dismissed everything.

"Alright, take it down Sweet Pea" Jughead gritted his teeth.

"What? It's only a matter of time before she bails on us, just like her mother..." Every Serpents knows Alice Cooper's story. Once a respected Serpent, Alice bailed on them after she got caught by the Sheriff. Cutting all ties from the Southside, Alice has been smearing the Serpents ever since despite being one of them. Alice was determined to rewrite history and the Serpents didn't appreciate it.

"Okay, so you're objections aren't even about me. They're about my mom" Betty argued.

"Her legacy, yeah. She's an enemy of the Serpent state, taking shots at us in the register for years. Blaming us for crimes we didn't commit. Running with the turncoat's daughter is a slap in the face, and for that reason alone you're not getting the Serpent vote..." Sweet Pea sneered.

"Max come on. Say something" Jughead turned to her.

Max turned her gaze to Betty, "If Jughead wasn't a Serpent, would you give a damn about us?"

"I..."

"It's simple: yes or no? Would you look at us any differently if Jughead wasn't one of us?" Max doubled down. "You had no problem pointing a finger whenever anything happened. All you've done is prove your loyal to your boyfriend, not to us..."

"Max..." Jughead breathed out.

"You proven nothing to us, the decision stands" Max stood up. "I'm sorry Jug. I understand what you're trying to do for us, but you can't blame us for not trusting her. I'm sorry, you're not getting the Serpent vote..."

After a very tense meeting Swords and Serpents club, Max was headed to class only to be met by her grandfather.

"My god are you serious?" Max rolled her eyes. "Why are you here?"

"Had to come show my support" Nathaniel smiled. "How have you been?"

"Better before you showed up. But you didn't answer my question, why are you here? Shouldn't you be getting ready to tear down my school?"

"Please don't be like this" Nathaniel tried to walk towards her, but Max backed up.

"What it's the truth" Max sneered at him.

"Actually..." Before Nathaniel could speak, Hiram and Hermione made their way over to them.

"Nathaniel, good to see you" Hiram smiled.

"Hiram, Hermione" Nathaniel shifted from side to side. "I hear you're running for mayor, good for you."

"I have a vision for Riverdale, and I hope with your support it will come into fruition" Hermione smiled.

"Seriously?" Max turned to her grandfather. The Lodges vision for Riverdale was to either break the Southside into submission or cast them out if they even thought to fight back.

"Hiram, Hermione, meet my granddaughter: Max" Nathaniel introduced the her to his associates.

"Granddaughter?" Hiram's eyes widened. "You're Miranda's child?"

"Don't sound so surprised" Max sneered at him. "I gotta go, I'm gonna go to class. I wanna say it was nice meeting you but I don't wanna lie..." with that said Max left to go to class, leaving Nathaniel with Hiram and Hermione.

"I see she has Miranda's moxie" Hermione sighed. Hermione remembers Miranda from their teenage years, and the former considered her as a rival. Whatever Hermione did, Miranda did better, sometimes without even trying. Even in death, Hermione still loathes Miranda.

"Didn't think Miranda and Jake had children" Hiram put his hands in his pockets.

"Hiram please..." Nathaniel pleaded to him. "I already lost Miranda, I can't lose Max too..."

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it. As long as she doesn't give me a reason too..." Hiram smirked. "All we want is a safe home for our children, you understand that. I hope we have your support for Hermione's bid for Mayor..."

...

Later that afternoon, Max was at the Whyte Wyrm with Sweet Pea and Fangs. After an eventful day of school, all they needed was some time to themselves. They didn't want to think about the war they were fighting, all they wanted to spend some time together.

As Max threw a dart on the dart board bullseye, she got a text from Jughead. "Who texted?" Sweet Pea asked, shooting the cue ball.

"Jones, he needs some back up" Max sighed.

"Why should we help him?" Fangs played Street Fighter, trying to beat Max's high score.

"Because he's still one of us" Max stood up. "And what's the first law?"

"No Serpent gets left behind" Sweet Pea hit the cue ball, before standing up. "Let's go..."

"But let's make one stop first" Max smirked. "We're gonna need some stuff..."

Arriving at the Cooper Residence, the Serpents were armed. Sweet Pea had a crow bar and Fangs had a baseball bat, while the other Serpents were armed too.

"You called Jones?" Max smirked.

"I need you guy's help" Jughead asked.

"Let's do it" Sweet Pea smirked as Max kicked the door in. Barging inside, Alice looked terrified as the Serpents got ready to stir up some trouble. Max and Jughead flipped their switchblades as the rest of the Serpents stood behind them.

"You think you two can take all of us, try it" Betty challenged them.

"You brought back up. Does that mean you want me to go the Sheriff, start making a stink?"

"That's your call, but my backup and me are friends with the Sheriff's son, so whose side do you think they'll pick?" Betty challenged.

"The Coopers are one of the most respected families in Riverdale, two are just a couple of Summerville scumbags" Jughead sneered.

"Anything that was in your car at the swamp washed away or else we would've heard about it by now. So, why don't you just grab the money and run" Betty advised them before it go ugly.

Smirking, Max walked up to the tall man in front of them. "I would listen to her if I were you..." Max ran her switchblade across his cheek. "Cause, we don't play nice with others..." Max cut his cheek, making him yelp in pain. Before he could rush her, Sweet Pea stepped up and pointed his crowbar into his chest.

"I wouldn't do that I were you..." he growled. "Get the hell out..."

Refusing to fight, the two of them left, leaving Betty and her family alone. After taking care of business, Max, Sweet Pea, and Fangs were waiting for Jughead.

"I can't believe we helped her" Sweet Pea rolled his eyes.

"We can't rewrite history, Sweets. At one time she was one of us and we don't leave one of our own for dead, no matter how despicable they are" Max displayed wisdom beyond her years.

...

The next morning, Max was walking into school before getting a text from Jughead, saying there was an impromptu Swords and Serpents meeting. Walking into the club room, Max was surprised to see Alice Cooper there, clad in a snakeskin blouse.

"Why is she here?" Max asked.

"Just hear her out" Jughead pleaded.

Not wanting to argue, Max sat in between Sweet Pea and Fangs, reluctant to listen to Alice Cooper.

"I asked Jughead to thank you for me but I reconsidered because I wanted to do it myself. So thank you, for what you did..." Alice thank them as the Serpents smiled at Jughead and Betty. "I also wanted you to hear it directly from me that I am done attacking and disavowing the Southside. It's where I'm from and I should be proud of that. And from now on I will be. And like my daughter, I will fight tooth and nail for it..." The bell rang, signaling it was time for the students to go to class. "Now get to class" Alice smiled at the Serpents.

As Max was about to head out, Alice stopped her. "Max..."

"Yeah?" Max turned to her.

"I'm sorry... about your father..." Alice breathed out.

"You knew my dad?"

"Jake was a good man..." Jake had saved Alice on so many occasions. "He didn't deserve any of this..."

"Thank you" Max smiled a genuine smiled. "It means a lot, it really does..."

Author's Note: Well all's well that ends well. I feel like Riverdale hasn't had a happy ending in a while. With the ending of one chapter, begins another one.
There is a bit to unpack here...
First, Max and Toni come face to face for first time since their falling out. What do you think about their conversation? Does Max have a point? Or is it simply Toni doesn't want to pick between the people she cares about? Well whatever you think, it's clear that Max is reluctant to trust Toni, especially when they're fighting a war. Do you guys think they can work past this?
Also, it's clear the Serpents don't appreciate Betty essentially forcing her way into their world. Do you think they have a point, in that Betty is loyal to Jughead and not Serpents? Playing Devil's Advocate, I think they have a point in that if Jughead wasn't a Serpent, Betty would essentially look at the Serpents as the same criminals as everyone else does.
Also, there is a little moment between Nathaniel and Hiram. This really sets things up for what's to come, so lookout for that ;)
Overall, that do you guys think of the chapter as a whole? Yay? Nay? Any/all feedback is welcome!
Please Read&Review