Chapter 17: Two Worlds Collide
Ali waited for Reggie at the spot that they agreed over the phone. The curly haired girl felt her phone buzz and looked down. She had been texting Toni since she had left the Whyte Wyrm. Ali was pleased that she had made a friend with someone that she believed would understand her.
Toni: Make sure you come back soon
Ali: Why? You miss me already?
Toni: Of course! It's the first time I'll have a girl to talk to who's my age and just as badass
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything." Ali looked up to see who the owner of the voice was. Reggie was smiling at her with his window down and his arm hanging over the ledge.
"Nope." Ali said before walking around the car and getting into the passenger seat. When Ali entered the car her nose was filled with the familiar smell of pizza. She sniffed the air a couple times before turning around and seeing a box of pizza in the backseat.
"Pizza?" Ali looked back at Reggie as he pulled out of the parking lot.
"Ya, we're going to Andrew's house." Reggie explained.
"Why? I thought you were going to drop me off at home?" Ali was confused by the change of plans.
"With everything that's been going on, the football team wants to spend some time together and unwind. Just call your mother and tell her you're with me, I'm sure she'll be fine with it." Reggie smirked as he looked at Ali through the corner of his eye.
"Well I think I just want to go home." Ali said as she rested her head on the headrest and folded her arms.
"Come on! At least ask your mom. If she says no then I'll drop you off right away." Ali looked over at Reggie and realized that he wasn't going to let this go. She sighed and pulled out her phone. Reggie listened as Ali spoke in French to her mother. His heart began to beat faster as the French language sang in his ears. He always found foreign languages beautiful, but French was on another level for him, but it also had something to do with the girl who was speaking it. "So?" Reggie asked Ali when she hung up the phone.
"She said it's fine." Ali sighed. Reggie pumped his fist in the air as he turned onto Archie's street.
"I knew she would. I think she likes me." Reggie said as he made a right turn.
"She does, but my dad doesn't." Ali smirked as she looked out the window.
"That's because he didn't meet me." Reggie waved off what Ali said.
"You're so cocky." Ali rolled her eyes. Reggie's right hand reached over and playfully squeezed the British girls thigh.
"You like it." Reggie had pulled in front of Archie's house. Ali sighed and got out of the car. She really didn't want to be here, but when she asked her mother to just say no, her mother yelled at her on the phone and told her that she needs to socialize with Reggie's friends as well because she likes him. Ali knew that Cecile just wanted Reggie to be invited over to her house again.
"There he is. So that's where you went?" Ali looked over her shoulder and saw the rest of the football team walking towards the pair with pizza boxes in their hands and their varsity jackets over their shoulders.
"Ali wanted to come." Reggie shrugged his shoulders while he stood beside the beautiful girl beside him.
"So is this a thing?" The blonde boy pointed to the two in front of him as he asked his question.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Ali sighed as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Hey, I'm cool with you coming along, Ali, but you're not really a part of the Red Circle." The blonde answered.
"She's with me." Reggie wrapped a protective arm around Ali's shoulders. "So if you have anything else to say then you can say it to me." The blonde raised up his hands to show his surrender to the captain of the football team. Ali was a little taken aback with Reggie's overprotective nature. "Then let's go surprise Andrews." Without taking his arm off of Ali's shoulders – Reggie lead the pack up the steps and to the front door. Reggie looked over at Ali when they stood in front of the door and smirked – she knew that he wasn't going to let go of her any time soon, so Ali knocked on the door. Veronica opened the door with a confused face, as she looked at all the Bulldogs in front of her and Ali.
"Reggie?" Reggie smiled and nodded his head in the direction of the house.
"Can we come in?" Archie and Veronica took a step away from the door, so the group of individuals could walk into the house. Ali wiggled out of Reggie's grasp while he went into the family room and she went by the door, so she could talk to Veronica.
"Hey, if you want us to leave, then let us know." Ali explained to Veronica. Veronica just dismissed Ali's suggestion with a wave of her hand,
"Don't be ridiculous. It's totally cool. I am surprised to see you though." Veronica leaned on her leg as she crossed her arms and allowed her lips to turn up into a smirk. Ali had now deemed this pose the Veronica pose.
"Don't even ask." Ali scoffed as she rolled her eyes and dug her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket.
"You have been spending a lot of time with Reggie recently." Veronica interrogated.
"It's no longer my choice. My mother adores him and wants him around." Ali explained.
"Oh, he's already met your mother? That's pretty quick." Veronica teased.
"I don't mean like that." Ali slapped her palm onto her forehead. "Never mind, let's just go see what those dogs are up to." With that, Ali turned on her heel and made her way into the family room. It was a decent sized family room – nothing special. The boys had already placed the pizza boxes on the coffee table that was in the middle of the room, so they could all grab a slice and start eating while making small chat. Ali walked over to one of the boxes and pulled out a pepperoni slice. She saw one of the armchairs free, so she sat down on it while eating her slice. Ali watched as the boys talked to each other. She noted that Archie seemed to be on edge, but she put that down to the fact that the black hood frightened him. Reggie was smiling as he slammed his hand on the back of one of the other players while he laughed. Ali noted how Reggie's social skills changed depending on whom he spoke to. She was surprised that he was aware of how to change the way he spoke depending on the person. When Veronica walked into the room she sat down on the armchair across from Ali. She rested her arms on the arms of the chair and got comfortable. The boys in the room took this as a sign to sit down and begin their conversation. Reggie walked over to Ali and grabbed onto her wrist.
"What the hell?" Reggie pulled Ali out of her seat, so he could sit down. He then pulled Ali to sit in his lap. While sitting on his lap – Ali noticed just how much larger his frame was compared to hers. She looked up and met eyes with the one other girl in the room. Ali quickly got up form her spot and went to sit on the arm of Reggie's chair.
"What? Am I not comfortable enough?" Reggie joked with Ali. Ali finished her crust and wiped her hands together, so the crumbs would fall onto the floor. Ali then leaned into Reggie's ear with a playful smirk on her lips.
"I just don't want you getting too excited in front of all your friends." She whispered into his ear and Reggie could've sworn that goose bumps ran up his spine and he felt his excitement begin to boil in his bloodstream. Ali felt her phone vibrate in her packet and quickly brought it to her face.
Ali, Sweet Pea and the others are heading to the Northside to kick some ass. He didn't want to wait for you to talk to them and have them see sense! I don't know where you are, but make sure you're not in harms way! Ali's heart jumped into her throat as she read the message from Toni. Ali scanned it a second time to make sure that she read it right. When she finally looked up from her phone she was about to say something, but Veronica already began to speak.
"To what do we owe this unexpected honour?" Veronica asked Reggie from her seat in her chair.
"Archie could've told Weatherbee the hood was mine, but he didn't. In the Book of Reg, that makes you a top tier loyal badass." Ali looked at Reggie through the corner of her eye. She never heard anything about a hood. She was confused by what was being said, but decided to stay quiet anyways. "And we were talking, and decided, if you wanna keep the Red Circle going, we're here for you dude." Archie nodded his head in acceptance with what Reggie had said.
"I need to tell you all-" The sound of a revving car interrupted Ali and her words. Everyone turned towards the window with confusion written on their faces. Veronica got up from her chair and walked over to the door. Ali stood up and felt her heart drop into the pit of her stomach.
"And not a moment too soon. Archie, trouble." Veronica called for her boyfriend. Archie got up form the couch and hopped over the coffee table, so he could walk towards Veronica and stand beside her. Archie opened up the door and stood in front of Sweet Pea and other Serpents.
"How stupid are you Northsiders? You really think you can come to my house, stick a gun in my face, in front of my boys, and there wouldn't be payback?" Sweet Pea threatened Archie. Ali was about to take a step out from the family room, but Reggie grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, so he could step to the door. The other members of the football team all stood in front of Ali. Reggie pulled out the door, so he could look at Sweet Pea.
"You have crap timing, bro." Reggie took a few steps forward, so he could be in front of Sweet Pea. Ali managed to poke her head through some of the boys, so she could watch the exchange. "Bulldogs eat serpents for lunch."
"We'll see about that. And the more, the merrier." Sweet Pea took a step closer. Reggie pushed Sweet Pea back and Archie pulled onto Reggie's arm.
"Hey, chill." Reggie warned. Archie looked back at Veronica,
"Veronica, you stay here."
"What? Archie, no." Veronica reached for Archie's arm. Archie turned around to speak with his girlfriend,
"Veronica, after my dad I made a promise to protect him and this house. Stay here." Archie explained to Veronica. Archie turned back around to face Sweet Pea again.
"If you want a fight, we'll fight."
"What about your gun?" Sweet Pea questioned.
"What about your knife?" Archie asked.
"How about no weapons?" Veronica pushed her way to the front, so she stood beside Archie. "If you troglodytes insist on doing this, there are gonna be rules. Or should I call Sheriff Keller to be referee?" Ali ran her hands through her hair before turning around and cursing in her head. She didn't want this to happen. She also didn't want Sweet Pea to see her because she knew how he would react and his opinion mattered to her – even if she didn't want to admit it yet.
Oh no! What do we think is going to happen next? Is Ali going to get involved now? She seems to care about Reggie, but I think she has a soft spot for Sweet Pea...