FP's POV

I watched as Alice and her Dad pulled out of the parking lot, and down the street, before I headed back inside of the bar. I was actually pretty relieved that Allie went home, the next task was something I really didn't want her to watch. Having the girl I like watch me get my ass handed to me, and not being able to fight back… yeah not a good look. I slid a hand through my hair, shaking my head in the process. I approached the table we were previously sitting at, joining TallBoy and Mustang once more.

"Oh here we go, look at that face." TallBoy said, looking in my direction.

"I don't know what you're going on about" I said picking up the brown glass bottle and bringing it to my lips, not stopping until the amber liquid was completely gone, leaving the bottle empty.

"Well it's not a secret FP, you had the hots for Alice since eighth grade." Mustang chimed in. I didn't want to think about what my face looked like, so I just shrugged it off instead.

"Yeah, and so what? Alice Smith is a good kid." I argued back. Sure she wasn't the most well brought up girl, and her tongue is sharper than a cobra, but I think she's quite the catch.

"I'm just saying, when you walk in a bar with that big of smile." TallBoy said leaning back in his chair, and signaling for another round of drinks. "It only means that you're getting some action." He finished. I knew I wasn't able to hide my response because TallBoy and Mustang broke out in laughter.

"I'm grabbing our drinks." I said standing up from the table very red in the face, and walked towards the large oak bar. Those two just live for me to show any kind of emotion. As I stood there waiting for our drinks I watched my dad walk up to the middle of the stage once more. The music eventually died down, bringing everyone's attention up front.

"The time has come, I hope your last drink was good, fellas. because you won't be drinking normally for the next little while." Dad said with a laugh, I was a little uncomfortable with his honesty. Once our drinks were ready, I carried them back over to the table, and sat down again. I personally wasted no time with grabbing my drink and taking a long

"Everyone outside in five minutes." Dad said loudly and the three of us looked at eachother. It was a mix circle of emotions. Mustang look terrified, and TallBoy had this crazy look in his eyes. He stood up from his seat, and chugged the remainder of his beer before throwing the glass onto the floor, causing it to shatter into a million piece.

"LETS DO THIS!" TallBoy yelled loudly. Mustang followed suit behind him, also finishing his drink in seconds, but he placed his glass down on the table. I felt stupid not to follow as well, I poured the rest of the liquid down my throat, placing the bottle on the table as well.

"Let's do this !" I said turning around and walking out the back door of the Whyte Wrym determined to face this next task. We were so close to becoming Serpent I could taste it. I've wanted this for so long, to carry on my father legacy as Serpent King.

"Line up boys, and let's get this show on the road." Said OneEye. Every remaining member of the gang stood in a single file line ready to get the ball rolling. I walked up first, wanting to appear brave, but I probably looked stupid and naive when the first punch landed directly in my stomach. I gasped instantly, but it didn't matter because the punches kept coming.

One after another they came. It took at least five or six blows to the face before I tasted blood from either my lips or from my nose, I wasn't entirely sure. What I did know was that my lungs were on fire from trying to breath, the chest and stomach punches were definitely the worst out of them all, and after a while I felt sick, but I didn't back down. I was nearing the end of the line when I got smashed in the left eye and my vision went fuzzy. I felt my eyebrow split and my cold skin burned under the fresh blood ran down my face. By the time I reached the end, both of my eyes were almost swollen shut and my legs were shaking as I stood in front of my father.

"Do you give up kiddo?" He asked lowering himself to reach my level.

I took a second to spit out more crimson liquid before answering. "A Serpent never shows cowardice."

"That's my boy-" he said before swinging his arm back and connecting his fist to my jaw bone with a sickening crack. I felt my head whip backwards from the blow, and my vision went black for a moment, but I held my ground. Once my Dad realized I made it, he collected me in his arms and held on to me for a second.

"Welcome to the Serpents kid, I'm proud of you." He said as I smiled a bloody grin back. He released me, patting my shoulders in the process. "Someone clean his face, he looks like he into a little bitch fight." Dad said laughing extra loud at his own joke.

"I got him." Said a female voice. My eyes were barely open but I could recognize who it was. Penny Peabody. "Cmon Slugger, let's get that face of yours recognizable." She lead me back inside and sat me down in a chair. She left momentarily but returned with a large white box. I could hear her open the case, and dig around it's contents for a moment as I sat back in the chair with my head leaned backwards.

"This will probably sting for a minute." Penny said as she began to dab my wounds with a cloth and a burning liquid, probably peroxide. I only grimaced as she patched me up, I was too tired to even speak or complain about the pain, I wish it was the same case for TallBoy who was crying over at the next table, for someone who puts on this big tough act, he really was a baby, TallBaby. I smirked.

"So what's the deal with you and Alice? You must be seeing her officially because you stopped calling me." Penny said dapping a little harsher than she needed too. "You can't even call a gal up FP and let her know you're no longer knocking boots? Instead I have to find out from Mustang tonight." She spat. Penny and I had a little fling last summer, only because Alice was in a relationship and I kind of spiraled for a bit. It wasn't anything serious, at least for me it wasn't.

"Look Penny, it's not like that. Well it is and it isn't." I tried to explain myself. "It's complicated."

"Well it doesn't have to be." Penny said "I like you FP, and I want to be with you, and I know you like me too." She finished. I felt her get closer and before I could defend myself I felt her lips against mine. It didn't feel right kissing Penny, her lips weren't perfectly round, or warm and welcoming, and she didn't smell like French vanilla lip chap. It was just completely wrong.

"Penny, Stop." I pushed her away, turning my face away from hers. "I'm sorry but I just don't like you that way. And even if I did have some kind of feelings for you, it's just-"

"I'm not that stupid, blonde bitch Alice Smith Right?" Penny said with a voice dripping with venom.

"Penny I'm sorry."

"Save it FP Jones, I don't want to hear it." She said as she left me sitting in the chair in complete shock. I didn't bother going after her, instead I finished patching myself up as best as I could. When I was finished I found my dad and we decided to call it a night. We never really spoke on the way home, instead we choose to sit in silence. We were almost home when we rounded the last corner before the trailer park when I spotted brake lights in the ditch.

"Dad slow down, it looks like an accident." I said sitting up in my seat, I felt the car come to a stop when I noticed a familiar vehicle sitting in the ditch, my stomach dropped instantly at the sight. I couldn't process what was going on for a moment until I blinked.

"Oh please go no-" my door swung open as I barreled out of the car. My heart was in my chest as my feet touched the dark pavement, wasting no time running towards the scene. "ALICE !!!"

A/N

Hope you Enjoy ! - L