On the drive over Izzy decided to focus her attention on the few people loitering around the street instead of the reason why her right hand was stinging, she refused to acknowledge the fact that Cheryl had tried to kill herself and while she was at it she wasn't about to acknowledge the voice telling her that she should turn around and go talk to best friend.
Instead, she was refusing to acknowledge Archie or anything he had ever said, in fact, nothing else mattered; part of her knew she was compartmentalising, another part called it being in denial, either way, the only thing she was concerned about for the next four hours will be serving burgers and milkshake.
Absentmindedly she noticed the people waiting outside the arcade; it seemed that Alice's article was doing the trick it was nice to see people walking about made the place look less like a ghost town.
x.x.x.x
"Toni Topaz, newspaper photographer meet Izzy Tate a PussyCat and my best friend," Jughead stated by way of introducing the two girls once Izzy came back out of the changing room in her mustard yellow dress.
"Hey." Toni greeted, she had heard all about Jughead's new job thanks to his best friend and her family's diner, she was glad that he had the opportunity at more legitimate employment than doing some of the shit jobs the Serpents did.
Jughead was taking to be Serpent-adjacent like a duck to water but Toni still wasn't sure he was ready to be a full-time Serpent, he obviously had a lot of ties to the North side like the fact that his girlfriend and two best friends all lived and worked here not to mention nothing of the fact that he spent every weekend going over to the North side rather than having his friends visit him.
"Izzy Tate" the girl replied shaking her hands. "Nice hair." she complimented nodding to the purple dye job, ignoring the serpent jacket Toni was proudly wearing, Izzy correctly assumed that Toni was tired of being judged by her jacket or maybe she might just not care that Toni was a Southside Serpent.
It was nice to finally put a face to one of the names of person now that the Jones boy wanted to be protected. If Toni knew what Archie Andrews looked like then it would be easy to look out for him too but apparently he was the only ginger-haired boy in town so she wasn't about to look too hard to put a face to the name as long as she didn't go curb stomping on a ginger-haired teen she wasn't breaking any rules.
"I had to promise her a free burger and milkshake if she helps us track Shady man." Jughead preemptively confessed explaining why Toni was there.
"I accept my payments up front for jobs like this. Now, what do you need me to do exactly?" Toni asked leaning over the counter.
"Depends on how involved you want to be, but the goal is to find out who the shooter was and since we have no clue other than the fact that he was wearing a very expensive watch. We are looking into anyone suspicious and 'Shady man' seems to be the only one in town not scared to be out and being shady" Izzy explained while Jughead stepped away to deal with a family of four take out order.
"That's fine with me, don't really care who this guy is but I am tired of waking up to the police banging on our doors every morning for more bullshit questions" Toni replied making sure to start into the brunette's eyes as she responded. "Just tell me where and how you would like me and I'll be in position."
x.x
Just as expected Shady man came back to the diner sitting in his booth at the corner, Izzy quietly noted that it gave him a clear view of both the counter and the door and he was able to see almost every part of the diner without straining his neck, it was the same booth she usually sat in.
Just by walking in Izzy knew Shady man wasn't the shooter, he was too slight and the shooter had been broader and a lot heavier.
She was ready to call the whole thing off but then Joe had called out 'Shady man's' order and she had delivered it, gone was the dismissive attitude he gave Jughead when he took the order in its place was a…. Izzy wasn't sure what but it sure as hell wasn't dismissive.
She had his entire focus. "Can I get you anything else with that salt, pepper, a drink?" She questioned if she had his focus she might as well use it.
"No thank you, ma'am." Shady man replied sitting up straighter and running his hands down the front of his shirt as if he wanted to make sure he was presentable in front of her.
"Really, is no problem" she prodded, studying him some more, tall, black hair, olive looking skin, looks like he works out.
"I'll take a glass of water please"
"Sure, still or sparkling?" Izzy continued, it didn't matter she just needed more time to finish studying him.
"Still please, thank you"
"Ice or lemon?"
"Just some ice please"
"Are you sure you don't want any mustard with that? Vegan burgers always taste better with mustard" Izzy continued still testing him.
"No thank you, ma'am, I'm okay."
"I'll bring you one anyways, you might change your mind."
"I…. Sure thank you."
It was that politeness that made Izzy do a double take, sure she wanted to fill the time asking pointless questions but he should have already told her off by now, asked her to leave.
So why wasn't he, why was he still being polite.
She wasn't exactly sure what was happening but there was something here
"Do you want any desert today, we have some muffins?" Izzy questioned wanting to see what he would do now.
"No thank you" Shady man replied.
"Are you sure I baked them myself this morning"
"Oh, sure I'll take one."
"Great" Izzy grinned back. "Which one?"
"Anyone."
"We have blueberry and bran, banana and chocolate chip, oh and we have bran by itself" Izzy stated. "I was thinking of making a plain one but didn't think that would sell out maybe I should try them out on the weekend like a buy one get one free thing. Or I should probably bake something else on the weekend cupcakes, I'm really good at those, I can even make a red velvet one although those take time" Izzy mused waffling on, still Shady man was silently listening to her.
"Chocolate chip" Shady man responded with no sign of him being annoyed or losing his temper once she stopped talking.
"I think we've run out of that," Izzy lied "Why don't you pick another one?"
There was clearly chocolate chip muffins left, they were in the display counter with a giant label in front of them, if he didn't say anything now she might actually have to call the police and report him.
"You decide ma'am"
"No problem, would you like any tea or coffee with that sir?" Izzy questioned pulling the note pad out as if waiting on some signal.
"Tea, Lemon tea if you have it."
"Lemon tea, is that just lemon with hot water or would you like the actual tea bag?" Izzy asked.
"Either one will do ma'am"
"Of course, if there's anything else we can get for you don't hesitate to tell us" Izzy waited for his response but when Shady man didn't say anything else she left, going to the kitchen and less than a second later Jughead joined her like she knew he would.
"What was that?" He questioned.
"There is something definitely going on, when you took his order what was he like?"
"Iz-"
"What was he like?" Izzy questioned again.
"Told me he wanted a vegan burger with fries and that he didn't want to be disturbed"
"Yeah that wasn't the attitude I got, he was creepily tolerant and even when he should have told me to fuck off, it was all yes ma'am and no ma'am"
"Maybe he…" Jughead didn't have anything, he knew how Izzy could get when she wanted to annoy someone, so the question was why didn't Shady man complain.
"Yeah, exactly"
"Okay maybe is a female thing."
"Get Daisy to give him a glass of water with ice and see how he is with her. I'll finish up the rest of his order."
x.x
"I know you said you wanted lemon tea but we have a really good pot of black coffee why don't you try that instead," Izzy asked placing the cup down along with a small plate of with a bran muffin.
"I..-" Shady man paused for a second but instead of saying something he just paused and stared at her.
"Is something wrong?" Izzy even went as far as to tilt her head to the side as if she had no clue as to what could possibly be wrong with what she had given him, this level of trolling would be something Cheryl would appreciate, at the thought of Cheryl the fake smile fell off her face.
"Er…no. Thank you, ma'am"
"No problem, enjoy. Let me know if you need anything else." If Izzy had been playing a game called 'what can I do to annoy you' Shady man was playing 'there's nothing you can do to annoy me'
x.x.x.x
"Thanks for coming to Pop's the total will be sixty dollars please" Izzy stated staring straight at Shady man refusing to bat an eyelash at the price she named.
"He just had the burger and coffee," Daisy said interrupting the transaction.
"And a muffin, plus there is tips" Izzy continued staring down Shady man wanting to see what he would do now.
"It doesn't even come up to twenty dollars why-" Daisy began once more.
"I'm sure he doesn't mind after all we gave him such an astounding service, sixty dollars please"
"Please ignore her, I'll"-.
"I served him all night, sixty dollars." Izzy insisted staring at Shady man, Pop will probably be having words about this day light robbery but that was a problem for another day.
"What the hell is going on with you" Daisy questioned trying to figure out what was going on.
"Is alright I don't mind paying" Shady man replied cutting into the bickering and pulling out his wallet.
"You don't have to, don't let Izzy force you to pay extra, just twenty will do" Daisy replied.
"Oh it's no problem, after all, it was a really amazing service." Shady man continued, at this point, he and Izzy were playing a game of chicken and neither of them was going to back down first. "Here, why don't we call it an even hundred it's been a great service all week long"
"No, no. we couldn't possibly" Daisy shook her head trying to decline the additional money.
"Why not? If the man wants to give us a hundred dollars I say we let him."
"Well good night ladies"
"Come back again" Izzy smiled grabbing the money, she didn't even need to look down to know he had given them the full hundred.
"See you soon Isabelle." Shady man waved before leaving.
"What a fucking creep" Izzy muttered as soon as Shady man was out the door.
"Izzy" Daisy rebuked. Daisy was this sixty-two-year-old grand mother who had been working at Pop's as far back as Izzy could remember, the only one with more authority and experience was Pop himself.
"Tell me that wasn't weird" Izzy stated trying to keep an eye on Shady man as he walked away.
"Yeah okay there is something up with that guy" Toni admitted having come back to the counter as soon as he saw Shady man getting up to pay for his bill as well.
"You shouldn't have taken his money," Daisy said worrying.
"He was the one who decided to give it to me even after you told him the price, he knew I was fuck- messing with him and he still went through with it."
"Pop won't be happy about this." Daisy reminded Izzy.
Well, Izzy wasn't happy about what just went down either so there was enough of that to go around. "Hey Daisy, I think the table in the corner needs help" Izzy quickly threw out, she needed Daisy gone to plan how to stalk Shady man with Jug and Toni.
x.x
"Did you see how he just gave me the money?" Izzy asked placing the hundred dollars back onto the counter for Toni and Jug to see.
"If he wasn't onto you before, he is now." Toni pointed out.
"Onto me for what? I haven't seen him before, the only reason we thought he was 'shady' was the fact that he came in every day last week while everyone stayed at home like a normal person."
"Well he knows you are onto him" Jughead stated grabbing one of the twenty dollar bills and running his fingers across, he didn't think it was a fake but you never know, what guy allowed a teenager to bill him for sixty dollars for a twenty dollar meal then end up giving another forty on top?
"Again onto him for what? We need to follow him"
"That might have been easier if you hadn't basically played chicken with him, he knows you are onto him."
"I repeat about what? That did not look like a man caught in the act, he was fucking enjoying this" Izzy mused glaring outside, with the stupid weather and snow she couldn't see anything but Shady man couldn't have gone that far, there had been no engine sound so he wasn't driving a car and he hadn't gotten on a motorbike so that meant he was on foot, it had been maybe a minute or two since he left she could totally catch up to him.
"Don't even think about it?" Jughead warned he didn't even need to be psychic to know what Izzy was thinking.
"Think about what?"
"You aren't following the guy, it was one thing when we didn't know who he was and what he wanted but we know he's interested in you" Jughead moving to block Izzy.
"We don't know that for certain," Izzy stated.
"Sure we don't, that guy just gave you a hundred dollars for no reason, you aren't following him"
"How are we meant to find out who he is or why he is interested in me because I don't think Sheriff Keller will be particularly interested in this someone coming to the diner and giving an eighty dollar tip isn't on the top of their priorities right now"
"You. You are the one he's interested in, there is no way you are following him" Jughead warned, Izzy could be stubborn and reckless but he wasn't about to allow her to endanger her life like this.
"How did he know your name?" Toni asked breaking up whatever tension and staring contest Izzy and Jughead were planning to have, she didn't have time for relationship drama tonight.
"What?" Izzy asked confused.
"Isabelle that's your name right, so how did he know? That other lady called you Izzy, Jug called you Izzy, everyone has been calling you Izzy all night, your name badge says Izzy, I thought you were an Elizabeth like someone shortened Lizzy into an Izzy but he called you Isabelle so how did he know?"
Toni let the question sit for a few seconds watching as the statement hit both of them while Izzy just keeps on blinking in surprise Jughead had become furious.
"We need to follow him"
"No!" Jughead did the thing where his jaw got all tense meaning there was nothing Izzy could do to change his mind short of knocking him out and running for the door.
"Yes Jughead, you two need to follow him like now" Izzy responded giving up.… for tonight at least. "I'll stay here, I won't leave but we've got to figure out what the hell this is all about."
"I-"
"Tell me after you come back, see if you can catch up to him" Izzy ordered. "Please. He has to be interested in me for a reason and if we can figure it out tonight there will be no reason for me to go looking tomorrow."
x.x.x.x
Andre pulled out his phone and made his call as he walked across Pop's parking lot, there were more cars here today than all of last week's combined but the lot was still held empty.
"Boss she's onto me"
"How Andre?" Hiram asked, now wasn't the time for Izzy to find things out, he needed a week maybe less but not today, her room wasn't ready.
"I don't know but after she delivered my food she just knew, I-"
"Get to the Pembroke, I'll be there in a few minutes, wait for me in the study. I hope for your sake that you haven't ruined this for me Andre" Hiram warned before hanging up.
x.x.x.x
Toni and Jughead were following the footprints leading out of Pop's, they weren't exactly sure which one belonged to Shady man but most of the footprints out of the diner were all heading in one direction so they just had to follow it for a while. "Jug-"
"What do I have to do to get her more protection," Jughead asked, thinking of all the things the serpents might ask him to do in return.
"Jughead she's already protected, the serpent won't harm her"
"I'm talking about actual security" Jughead spun around to face Toni. "What just happened wasn't norma.l"
"Look we don't know what's going on, it could be just a guy who thinks she's pretty, he's thinks throwing his money around will make her interested."
"That wasn't it, he knew her name, he's been coming to the diner for over a week now, who knows what else he knows."
"Don't think like that, he doesn't. If he knew anything else he won't still be coming to the diner. You saw the way he was, polite and respectful he doesn't want to hurt her, maybe someone told him about her, they could have been talking about Pop and mentioned his granddaughter, told him her actual name."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Jughead fumed. "She's been my best friend since I was six years old Toni, six. When Pop had his heart attack I couldn't do anything to help her, when she was dating that loser Reggie and he cheated I couldn't do anything to help her, then Fred got shot and now she has a stalker."
"We don't know that. Look I say we go back now, tell her we couldn't find him, spend the rest of the shift keeping an eye on her and I'll see if I can get some of the guys to help out, we will keep her safe. She's your family and we protect our own. " Toni found herself promising.
She didn't know what it was like to be Jughead or Izzy or what their relationship was really like and it didn't matter, Jughead was on his way to being a serpent, FP was their king even in prison and Izzy… Izzy was definitely Jughead's family.
writer's note:
Izzy is on to Andre, Toni and Izzy have met and Izzy is now determined to ignore all things Cheryl but it won't last for very long. Jughead now has to deal with how far he is willing to go to in order to get help for Izzy and keep her safe from the stalker.
IT is very late at night so sorry for any spelling mistakes, I will try to upload the next chapter tomorrow.