Sweet Pea wasn't in the best mood. He had been ecstatic when Southside High closed and he learned he would be attending Riverdale High with Toni, Fangs and Jughead. It was a much better school, with better facilities and actual learning, no Ghoulies or jingle jangle in the hallways. But now, here he was, walking up the large, white steps that lead to the front doors of Riverdale High, leading the pack of Serpents into northsider territory right behind Jones.
They were all wearing their Serpent leather jackets, dressed like it was any other day, and not the day they were all going to be surrounded by northsiders. Sweet Pea's mask of intimidation set on his face as he followed Jones through the large, wooden doors of the school, finally stepping into a clean, new and expensive looking hallway filled with students, which was a far cry from the run down, graffiti covered halls he was used to. So this is how the other half does school.
The bustle of early morning before classes was apparent around them, but students still parted like the sea and parted at the whole group as they walked further into the room. Jones seemed to be enjoying the attention, strutting down the hallway like he owned the place. Toni was peering around at the walls, lockers and other students with a curious look in her eye, but her fingers were fidgeting with the blue flannel tied around her waist, which was a dead giveaway that she was nervous too. Fangs had his head ducked down a bit and look scared. Sweet Pea really couldn't blame him though, his last northsider encounter was Andrews pointing a gun in his face.
Jones turned right to walk down the main hallway and Sweet Pea followed, his tall frame towering over the other students and also giving him a clear view of his surroundings. Always helpful. It was then that he spotted a table set up a few feet away from their current position, jutting out into the hallway so it couldn't be missed. But Sweet Pea almost did because of the familiar raven haired, pearl wearing princess standing behind it. Veronica Lodge was their welcoming committee. Sweet Pea would've bet money it was going to be Betty Cooper, so this day was already full of surprises.
Sweet Pea moved to stand beside Jughead as the group walked closer to the table and his eyes briefly left Veronica's to survey the papers and items on the table, as well as the appearance of both Andrews and Sheriff Keller's kid. Andrews looked bored, not even offering a smile or a greeting to Jughead, while Veronica fussed with some of the papers on the table, making sure they were all in order, before looking up to provide the group with a wide, teeth bearing grin.
The difference between her appearance now and the last time he saw her, running off the stage at the Whyte Wyrm was like night and day. Veronica was dressed in a conservative black dress, with two bright metallic looking flowers adorning the collar. Her hair and makeup was perfectly done, and even her black nail polish was bright against her tan skin as she clasped her hands together in front of her. Something was off though. No pearls. Veronica's usual strand of pearls was absent from her slender neck, her high collar taking its usual place, but a small necklace with one teardrop pearl did hang around her neck, and a tiny pearl bracelet lay against her right wrist, which Sweet Pea noticed when he finally managed to tear his gaze from her face. Old habits die hard.
"Friends," Veronica said brightly to the group when all the teenage serpents had stopped at the table. "On behalf of the students and faculty here at Riverdale High, welcome to your new school," Veronica stated proudly, flashing her winning smile again.
"To ease this transition, I've set up a registration desk where you can get your locker assignments, class schedules and a list of sports and extracurriculars," she continued, motioning to the various packs of paper on the table as she spoke. She captivated everyone's attention, looking between all the serpents, even back at her boyfriend, but Sweet Pea noticed she was somewhat avoiding his gaze.
He hadn't stopped staring at her since she began speaking, his intense brown eyes baring into her, unable to believe he was really this close to her. Aside from standing at Andrews' front door, it was the closest they'd ever been standing to each other, but at least she wasn't in his face threatening to call the sheriff. She was providing helpful information so he could be a successful high school student in unfamiliar territory.
Sweet Pea continued to stare, completely drawn in by her beauty and personality. He had never had the chance to really take in her presence, since their previous encounters including threatening him, shooting a gun in the air to break up a fight, and singing at the bar before getting emotional and running off stage mid song. Veronica Lodge was calm, composed, intelligent, authoritative, compassionate and clearly in charge. He was riveted.
It was at that moment that Veronica finally looked over and meet his gaze with a warm smile, and he was so sure she could read the intensity of his thoughts about her that he glanced down to collect himself. When he lifted his gaze again, he noticed Andrews was giving him some serious side eye, clearly affected by his attention to Veronica. Sweet Pea smirked a bit at that. Serves Red right.
"We encourage each and every one of you to drink deeply from the cup that is fair Riverdale," Veronica finished with a proud tone, which Andrews just looked confused next to her. All of the serpents and even Keller's son had their focus locked on Veronica, who was used to and clearly expected to captivate her audience. Whatever had been holding her down that night at the bar was clearly no longer an issue. After a beat of silence, Veronica looked right at Sweet Pea again, a confident smirk on her dark lips and a happy glint in her eyes. This time he couldn't look away.
"Stand down, Eva Peron," yelled Cheryl Blossom from somewhere in front of them. Sweet Pea looked up to see the red headed maple syrup heiress descending the wide staircase in a cherry red cocktail dress, matching stilettos and huge black spider brooch on her shoulder. Topaz is going love this. To her left was Reggie Mantle, the Bulldogs football captain that Sweet Pea had not yet had the pleasure of beating the crap out of. A hoard of cheerleaders followed the pair and it was clearly a privileged turf war situation if Sweet Pea ever saw one. Must be her minions.
Sweet Pea saw Veronica sigh and look back at Jughead before turning around to fully face the vampire wannabe headed straight for them.
"There is the school spirit I so fondly remember," he heard Jughead quip beside him, as Sweet Pea crossed his arms over his chest and widened his stance, fully prepared for a fight.
"Cheryl," Veronica answered flatly. "No one invited fascist Barbie to the party," she continued through gritted teeth. There's that vicious wit.
"Wrong, Veronica. No one invited southside scum to our school. Listen up ragamuffins," The red head yelled, while Sweet Pea shared a knowing look with Topaz about the attitude they were about to witness firsthand.
"I will not allow Riverdale High's above average GPA to suffer because of classrooms that are overcrowded with underachievers," Cheryl practically hissed, causing Topaz to huff and throw him a look that meant he was going to get an earful of rant about fascist Barbie later.
"Please, do us all a favor and find some other school to deface with your hardscrabble ways," Cheryl finished, a polite fake smile on her cherry red lips with her long red nails topping as she hands her hands together in front of her.
"Why don't you come over here and say that to my face," Toni hissed at Cheryl, moving around the table to get right in Cheryl's face. Sweet Pea, Fangs and Jughead all moved to back her up.
"Happily, queen of the buskers," Cheryl added harshly, stepping up to Toni, clearly not afraid of the jacket or the fiery personality wearing it.
"Okay, guys. Everyone," Archie interjected, attempting to stand between Toni and Cheryl. Sweet Pea's gaze went from being focused on Cheryl to locked on Andrews. "Can we just put our northside southside differences apart and start over? A new slate?" Andrews stated, looking between Cheryl and to his amusement, right back at Sweet Pea. He cannot be serious.
Of course, Andrews also showed up on the southside with a gun and pointed it at gang members, so he's not exactly intelligent. Sweet Pea was about to make this point out load, but Mantle beat him to it.
"You don't speak for the bulldogs, Andrews and need I remind you these greaser snakes showed up at your place, trying to kick your ass," Mantle spoke, throwing a pointed look at Archie. Sweet Pea was getting annoyed and wanted to punch Mantle in the face even more than when Sweet Pea had showed up and Mantle challenged him at Andrews' house. Without a second thought, Sweet Pea shoved past Topaz who was standing in front of him and lunged for Mantle. "Time to finished what we started," he spoke smartly, but stopped in his tracks when he felt Jughead and Fangs' arms hold him back.
The next thing he felt was a rather dainty hand rest on his leather jacket covered left forearm, and Sweet Pea knew without breaking his gaze from Mantle that the sudden warm touch had come from Veronica.
"I'm so over the toxic masculinity in this hallway right now," Veronica announced loudly, her voice laced with both anger and annoyance, although she turned to stand more next to Sweet Pea and face Mantle. Good to know the badass is still in there.
"Alright! That's enough pomp and circumstance!" came the voice of a man back near the front doors of the school. Sweet Pea and the rest of the serpents turned to face the voice, which clearly belonged to a school administrator. "Everyone let's get the class, now," he finished and Sweet Pea turned back to see that the northsider had backed off a bit at those words.
It was at that moment that Sweet Pea realized Veronica's hand was gone from his arm, and in his rage he couldn't recall which one of them had pulled away first. Sweet Pea's gaze was focused back on Mantle as he began to walk towards the staircase and he felt Jughead give him a small shove to pick up the pace. He didn't meet Veronica's gaze again but he could make out the rustling of papers, so she was busying herself with organizing again.
Sweet Pea and the rest of the serpents stomped towards the stairs until Jughead guided them into a student lounge where they just cooled off and hang out until the bell rang. Sweet Pea's head was still swimming between the confrontation with Mantle and Veronica's touch. He knew he would be seeing Veronica, since they both went to the same school now, but he really wasn't expecting her to reach out and touch him like that. Sweet Pea sighed, as he raised his right arm and hesitantly touched the leather of his jacket where her hand had been, but the warmth was gone. But it had been there. And her pearls had touched it as well.