It was the next day, and I was totally exhausted. After my three-hour long discussion with Archie, I collapsed onto my bed and stayed there until morning. When I woke up, my head pounded, and my eyes stung. I sighed, trying to convince myself to get up and take a shower. While I was in the bathroom, taking a shower, I must've nodded off a million times. But when my foot slipped, and jammed into the side of the tub, I was awake for the remainder of the shower.
The entirety of that morning, until I got to school, I had spent avoiding Archie. It wasn't like our talk went bad or anything. I just didn't know what to say to him after what I said to him last night. All the way to school, I must've replayed our conversation a dozen times in my head.
"What did you do?" he asked, curious. That is the question, isn't it? What I did? I had been trying to reason with myself, to tell him I was a serpent ever since I got off the phone with him. I sighed, fidgeting with my fingers in my lap.
"I…" I trailed off, picking at the dry skin on the side of my fingernail. "A few weeks before our thirteenth birthday, I…I spent a lot of time on the Southside," I said, slowly, trying to figure out how to say it.
"Yeah, you were tutoring Jughead."
"Right, but um…one time I went there, Jughead introduced me to his friends there. Fangs Fogarty, being one of them. And we hit it off. Then Jughead stopped needing my tutoring. But I kept going back there. In secret."
"Why?"
"Because I knew Dad would never allow me to be there any longer than I needed to be. But then…something else happened," I said, as I flicked my eyes up to Archie's for a reaction of some sort.
His face contorted in confusion as he sat up more. "What?"
"Archie, the reason why I was sent away to Maine a month early was…because Dad found out I was a Southside Serpent," I said, slowly at first. But then I rushed the last bit, trying to get it out before I changed my mind.
His facial features stayed the same confused expression, except his eyes rounded. "Y-you, you were a…Serpent?" He nearly spit out the word 'Serpent', and I had half a mind to slap him right there and then. But I held back, and let him calm himself down. "So, so Dad found out, and sent you away to Maine?" I nodded, not saying a word. "Why would he do that?"
"He thought he was protecting me. And I guess he was. In a way," I said, slightly scoffing. I looked back down at my fist encircled in my other hand then. Something still nagged at me. My stomach was tied up in tight knots, my heart raced, and my hands a bit shaky.
"What's wrong?" he asked, just now realizing how I looked.
"Archie…I still am one." He was silent. I didn't dare look up at him. I just kept looking at my hands.
"You're what?" he asked, a bit flabbergasted.
I sighed, dropping my hands, and looked at him. "I am still a Serpent."
"Why? I thought you said you stopped that when you left," he said, confused.
"I did," I said, nodding. "But then I came back. And I went to the Southside. And I started to feel like I was before I left. Happy. Free. And I wanted that back so, so bad that it physically hurt when I had to come back up North. Archie," I said, my voice cracking a little. "You have no idea how much I wanted to tell you, I just…couldn't."
"Why?" he asked, his voice stern, his jaw clenched. He wasn't looking at me. He was looking off in the distance at his closet door.
"Because I thought that if you knew, you would tell Dad, and I couldn't let that happen. Because I thought that if Dad knew, he would send me away again," I said, trying not to break. After a few seconds of him looking away, thinking, he sighed and looked back at me.
"I won't tell Dad. You have my word." That took me by surprise. I thought he'd be furious. Maybe even tell me to get out. Or he might've gone down stairs right then and told Dad everything. But he didn't.
"Thank you," I said, relieved. He nodded, but I could tell something still was holding him back. "What?"
"Who else knows?" he asked, acting as if he was the only one.
"Up North...just you. Almost everyone down South knows, though."
"And you want to keep it that way for how long? Your whole life?" he asked, bitterly.
"Archie, I..." I sighed, thinking. "I want to keep it that way for as long as I can, yeah. Please, can I trust you with this?" I asked, looking desperately at him.
"I don't know. I need some time," he said, slowly, looking down.
I huffed, mumbling, "Imbécil," as I got up, and walked out.
I sighed, pulling into one of the spaces reserved for 'motorized bicycles.' I had literally only taken two steps inside the school, and Veronica was at my side. "Hey, Alex. How are you this morning?" she asked, as smiley as a morning bird as we walked to my locker.
"Fine. You sound rather chipper for someone with an undoubtedly massive hangover," I commented, dryly. Given my conversation with Archie last night, and the bitter comment Veronica made also last night, I wasn't in the mood for any of it. I unlocked my locker, and started to rearrange my books, not paying much attention to her. Her face dropped for a millisecond before she bounced back, returning to her normal self.
"Yes, well, nothing a little aspirin won't fix," she said, as she fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. I nodded, not really listening as I grabbed my books.
"I have Archery in ten minutes, Veronica. Why are you being so nice to me, given the stark contrast of how you treated me last night?" I asked, cutting to the chase. Her eyes rounded, as she cleared her throat.
"I came to Apologize. Yes, I was drunk, but that is no excuse. I shouldn't have smarted off, especially when you were trying to help. I am so sorry, Alex," she rambled, worried how I would react.
"Apology received, acceptance pending," I said, as I closed my locker.
"Alright. I guess I deserve that," she commented, dryly.
"And while you're at it, tell your boyfriend to work on his apology as well," I said, referring to Archie, as I turned, and walked down the hall.
"Wait! Why?" she asked, as I tuned her out. I know I might've handled that a little better, but...YOLO. I'll explain and apologize to her later.
The whole way, I was practically running to the archery ring. I pushed open the door, and instantly, I ran into something. I gasped, and stepped back.
"Eh! Watch it, will you?" a male voice said, annoyed. I instantly recognized it as Frank's, and internally groaned. I ran into him.
"Sorry," I said, trying to pick up my backpack, the one I unknowingly dropped when we hit. He looked down at me with utter disgust.
"Ugh, you again," he said, as he straightened his shirt.
"It's not like I wanted to run into you," I said, defensively.
"Well, don't let it happen again, little girl. I don't have time to deal with people like you," he said, utterly disgusted. I raised my eyebrows, opening my mouth to counter him when I heard a voice behind us.
"Hey! Dungbell! Knock it off," Avigail said, as she walked over to us. Frank instantly rolled his eyes, and looked behind him. Standing there was the assistant-coach.
"It's Dunkbell," he corrected, standing up straight.
"Oh, I'm sorry. You'll have to excuse my misspelling given you're acting as such. Get to the line-up, Frank. Now," Avigail said, a stern look on her face. He rolled his eyes, but backed off and walked away.
I smiled, and walked over to Avigail. "Avi, you are the best," I said, smiling.
"What are assistant-coaches for?" she asked, smiling back. I chuckled, lightly shaking my head. Avigail and I went to the same archery school in Maine.
We were best friends until I had to come back here, and we stayed pen pals until she came here herself. I then got my stuff put down, and walked to the line-up with a smirk.
The bell rang, and everyone rushed to grab their things and leave the ring as Coach Zanlock was spouting orders and assignments for the day. "Alex!" I turned at the sound of my name, and saw Avigail walking toward me with a warm smile.
"Hey, Avi. How are you?" I asked, as I picked up my backpack.
"Good. What are you doing this week?" she asked, as she grabbed her bag from her slot.
"Um…" I started, right as my phone chimed. I looked at it, and internally groaned. It was a text form Archie.
Archibald
10:23 A.M.
Jug was arrested. Meet us at the station. NOW.
My eyes widened, and Avi asked, "What's wrong?"
"Jughead was just arrested," I said, realizing it as I said it.
"Then go. I'll be fine. We can catch up later," she said, knowingly.
"Thank you," I said, as I gave her a quick hug, and then I was gone.
I raced down the road to the station, going faster than I probably should have. I entered the parking lot, and saw Dad was just getting out of his truck, followed by Archie and Betty. I guess they gave her a ride, I thought, as I parked two spaces away.
I had just taken my helmet off when Dad saw me, and walked toward me.
"Ready?" he asked, worried. I nodded, quickly getting off. Betty looked surprised to see me, but she gave me a warm but worried smile. I returned the gesture, and followed them inside. Dad quickly walked to the receptionist desk and tapped on the glass so the woman behind it would know he was there.
"Fred," Sheriff Keller said, behind us. He walked out of an interrogation room, and walked over to us, stopping a few feet away.
"How is he?" I asked, knowing he was probably a wreck.
"Jughead's not helping himself in there. I asked him for an alibi and he just gave me lip," Sheriff Keller said, annoyed.
"I want to talk to him. Now," I said, as I stepped forward. Archie gave me a look, but I ignored him.
"Of course, Alex. He's in there," he said, gesturing to the door behind him. I nodded, thanking him, and walked into the room. I closed the door behind me, and glanced at the one-way glass to my left before I fully looked at Jughead. His eyes were red-rimmed and blood shot, and his chin was microscopically quivering.
"Alex," Jughead said, relief flooding his voice.
"Jug," I said, as I sat down on the chair opposite him. "I didn't do it, Alex. You have to believe me," he said, a panicked and worried look accompanying his red-rimmed eyes and chewed on lower lip.
"Of course I do," I said, trying to be reassuring. "Jug, I know you didn't do it. Ok? I'm gonna get you out of here."
"Well, those paradise lost kids went to death row because they wore black, and listened to Metallica. I don't want to become a scapegoat," he rambled, a panicked and worried look plastered on his face.
I tilted my head to the side in a really? expression. "I'm not going to let that happen. And besides, all of the evidence against you is circumstantial. We are going to get you out of here," I said again, as I put my hand on his elbow, which was resting on the table. He sniffled, and looked at me.
"Is my dad here, yet?"
"Um…Betty's here, with Archie and my dad. They're talking to Keller. Jug…no one knows where your dad is. He's not answering any of Betty's calls, or mine," I said, just above a whisper. A lie. I knew where he was. He was probably at his trailer, passed out on the couch, totally wasted. Just like he always is.
Jughead scoffed, and opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by the door opening. We both looked, and saw Sheriff Keller holding the door open for us.
"It seems you are free to go," he said, tiredly.
"What? How?" Jug asked, sitting up.
"New evidence has come to light. Fred can tell you on your way out," he said, as we got up, and headed for the door.
We walked out, and I saw Archie and Betty sitting in chairs. "Hey, where's my dad?" I asked Betty. Not even paying attention to Archie.
"Filing paperwork. He'll be just a second," she said, as she stood up, walking over to Jughead. "I'm so sorry about your dad, Jug."
"Me, too," Jug said, slightly angered. He wrapped his arm around her waist, and sniffled again.
Dad came out of the back office a moment later, and said, "Okay. Let's go." I nodded, and then we were escorted out of the back door into the parking lot.
We had just walked down the steps and were walking to the road when FP appeared from behind an evidence van. "Jughead!" he called for Jug, as he stopped several feet away from us. "I'm sorry. I came as soon as I got your messages," he said, referring to when Betty was trying to call him earlier.
"My phone, the stinking battery, I forgot to plug it in last night," he said, with a dry and nervous laugh. I glared at him as I had a hand on Jughead's shoulder. FP's eyes were bloodshot, and his skin was pale and pasty. I knew it wasn't because of his battery, everyone knew, but he tried to pass it off as nothing.
"What happened?" he asked, jutting a hand out at his side.
"Nothing," Jughead quickly said, "it's fine now. Mr. Andrews took care of it."
"What jacked-up stuff did they accuse you of in there, huh?" he demanded, as he pointed a finger at the police station. "Those guys try to throw you in jail like they did your old man? Well, forget that!" Betty slightly jumped, and Jug and I flinched.
"I will rip Keller a new one for pulling that…" FP growled out, as he started to walk past us. Dad walked up to him, his hands up.
"FP, settle down," he warned, as he pushed him back.
He pushed Dad away, and yelled, "He's my son! He is my son, Fred! You'd do the same for your kids." He walked closer to the station, just past me. I quickly reached out, and took a fist full of his jacket. He tried to pull away, but once he saw it was me, he stopped walking.
"FP! Don't make things worse," I said, just above a whisper as I gestured to Jughead with my eyes.
He seemed to register what I meant, and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, alright, then," he said, as I let him go. He looked over at Jughead, and then slightly stumbled back to his last position a few feet away. He blinked away a bit of his drunkenness, and pointed to Jughead.
"You uh, coming home…with me?"
Archie spoke up, and said, "He can stay with us, Mr. Jones. We already offered." FP stopped walking, and raised his eyebrows at Jughead.
"Is that what you want?" he asked, looking at Jughead from across the crowd. Jughead looked down then, thinking of his dilemma. FP nodded, and said, "Yeah. Maybe that's for the best. If uh, if you don't mind, Fred."
"Whatever you want, FP. It's between the two of you," Dad said, as he turned to him. I looked to Jughead then, and my heart broke. His eyes were brimmed with unwanted tears, and he sniffled again.
FP nodded again, and then turned to leave. "I'll…"Jughead said, cutting himself off to clear his throat. "I'll go with you, Dad." He looked at me right after he said it, and I nodded, slightly rubbing the side of his shoulder.
Jughead walked to FP, and he held onto Jug's shoulders as he spoke to him. We all kind of tuned them out, trying to give them some privacy. I glanced at Archie, and he was already looking at me.
"What?" I asked, annoyed. He shook his head slowly, making a never mind gesture. I looked back over at FP and Jughead, right as Jughead reached up, and hugged him. FP looked surprised, but he hugged him back, for a moment anyway. He pulled away a second later, chuckling, and walked back to his truck.
Betty instantly flocked to Jughead, wrapping her arms around him. He nodded to an unspoken question she asked him, and then they turned, and walked away as well.
I sighed, looking at Dad. "Let's go," he said, as he guided us to the road with a hand at my back and a hand on Archie's shoulder. Once I got close enough, I split off and went to my bike and Dad went to the truck. Archie walked over to me as I sat down on the seat.
"Are you coming home?" he asked, putting his hands in his pockets to ward off the cold chill in the air.
"No," I said, not looking at him.
"Then where?"
I sighed, and stopped getting the straps out of my helmet, and looked at him. "Serpent business. I'll be home later," I said, as I looked back down, and put on my helmet. He looked a little uncomfortable then, glancing at the truck to make sure Dad didn't hear me.
"Be safe," he commented, as he walked behind me, and to the passenger door.
"Oh, so now you care about me?" I asked, annoyed at him. Again.
"I always cared, Al."
"Right, 'cause telling me you'll have to think about not telling everyone I'm a Serpent is just the perfect way of showing it," I said, glaring at him as I turned on the engine. It roared to life as he opened his mouth, but then he closed it again.
"Thought so," I said, nodded my agreeance, and then drove off.
I made it to the Wyrm twenty minutes later, and cut the engine. I was wearing dark jeans, combat boots, and a neon green tank top under a black lace, long-sleeved top. So thankfully, I didn't need to stop off at the house.
I got off, leaving my helmet on the seat, and opened up my side-bag on the end of my bike. I traded my logo-less leather jacket for my Serpent one, which I now keep in the bag, and went inside. I was instantly engulfed in semi-familiar voices and loud, half-drunk laughter.
I smirked at that, spotting Fangs and Sweet Pea by the pool tables. Fangs made a joke, causing Sweet Pea to nearly spew his beer on his pool stick. Fangs cackled, and almost fell off his stool, and then laughed because he nearly fell off his stool. I chuckled at that, knowing no matter what happened with me and Archie, this place, and these people, are my true family.
