SMOKESTACKS
CHAPTER | FOURTEEN
He was screwed, Jughead realised, as he watched the group of girls sitting in the common room at school. He had been talking to Archie outside about his dad, when he glanced through the door window, to see her.
She had her hair down in loose curls and wore gold around her eyes, bringing out the flecks of amber amongst the deep brown. Her lips were painted a faint red, leaving a print on the green straw that protruded from a clear Starbucks cup.
She'd always liked her caramel frappuccinos.
"I don't want Polly to run away." Betty sighed, confiding in her two friends. "But if she can't live at home, then I don't know. I can rent her an apartment?"
"Let me talk to my mom." Veronica held a perfectly manicured finger up to Betty, the gears in her head grinding together furiously.
"No." Betty protested.
"Yes." Veronica insisted.
"You have your own stuff that you're dealing with right now, V." Betty told her friend with a shake of her head.
"I'd offer," Savannah piped up, setting down her cup on the table and crossing her legs. "But we all know that would be extremely awkward and uncomfortable for me and Polly to be under the same roof."
Veronica wasn't finished, "Betty, Polly needs doctors. She needs prenatal vitamins -"
"She needs her family." Cheryl interrupted dramatically, drawing the attention over to her. "Betty, can I have a moment?"
Savannah and Veronica shared a curious look as Betty let out a sigh and stood up, sending a save me look in their direction before leaving with Cheryl.
"Think she'll kill her?" Savannah asked bluntly, picking up her cup once more and darkening the imprint of her lipstick.
"If she does, let's hope she's merciful."
"Hmm." Savannah nodded along thoughtfully.
Veronica frowned and then turned to the brunette sharply, "What are you doing tonight?"
"Other than binging ice cream, not much." Savannah told the girl, staring down the straw to see ice clogging up the end. "Why?"
"Kevin and I are going clubbing." She said excitedly, "Getting back at my mom for stabbing me in the back."
"As you do." Savannah nodded along in agreement.
Veronica shot a half exasperated, half amused look toward the girl before she continued, "Do you maybe wanna come? Get your mind off everything?"
It was a strange turn of events, considering that less than a week ago, Savannah would bristle when Veronica even took in a single breath. Although, if nothing else, there was one thing that Riverdale was good at, and that was familiar dynamics changing severely in such little time.
Savannah could vouch for that.
She pursed her lips in thought, white teeth grazing her painted red lips. "Okay." Savannah agreed, self-consciously wiping her teeth. "Yeah, okay." She nodded with a half-laugh, "What the hell, right?"
Veronica smiled and nodded in agreement, as if she had achieved something. She leant back into the seat, feeling rather content as they waited for Betty to return.
It was official, Savannah decided.
She had no clothes that seemed appropriate club wear. Her cupboard was full of worn grungy t-shirts and black jeans, long-sleeved shirts and one black skater skirt.
With a sigh, she pulled out a plain black long-sleeved shirt and threw it down next to the skirt, making a frown at the combo. She'd stand out like a sore thumb against Josie and Veronica, both looked like they'd strutted out of a fashion magazine.
Fortunately for her though, Savannah had a mother who was never out of clubs, bars or anywhere she could rock a dress too short. It almost made her disgusted when she ventured into her room to find her mother missing.
Savannah skirted past the piles of clothing on the floor, hopping over a discarded pair of heels. She pulled open her mother's wardrobe with a sigh, not quite believing that she was sinking that low.
Somehow, she managed to come away with a few items that she was sure she could fit into, and that didn't pose a threat of accidental flashing.
And when Veronica and Josie arrived at her house, the two of them cheering as they hung out the side of a taxi, Savannah felt confident and comfortable in her skin.
She'd settled on her own black jeans, a pair of slightly heeled combat boots and a loose silver top that she'd fished from her mother's risque clothing.
Savannah slid into the back next to Veronica, the girl realising that she didn't know Josie all that well, nor did she speak to Kevin that often. She shook it off, telling herself that new experiences brought new opportuniries, and maybe this was one of them.
Josie flashed a bright smile from the front, tossing a compliment over her shoulder and instructing the driver on where to go next.
"We're meeting Kevin there." Veronica told Savannah. She looked gorgeous in a simple glittery crop and a black skirt.
Savannah simply nodded and licked her naked lips anxiously. "Is it just us four?"
Veronica shook her head with a devilish smile, "Maybe I brought a piece of eye candy along for the ride."
The brunette cast a glance in the other girl's direction as Josie leaned over from the front, a smirk on her lips. "Oh god. Who?"
It was Josie who spoke, impish mischief evident on her face. "Reggie."
Savannah's mouth popped open in disbelief and she stared at Veronica, "Really? He's your eye candy?"
Veronica merely shrugged and her eyes flittered over to the window, taking in their surroundings. "We're here!" She almost sang, excitedly.
The three clambered out of the taxi, Veronica handing over what Savannah assumed was her mother's credit card, before sauntering ahead into the club.
The bouncer wanted to stop them at the door, but with a flash of a smile and the slip of a couple dollar bills in his front pocket, he let them in. Veronica paid for their entrance and continued on, losing herself in the strobe lights and loud music.
For a club, Savannah thought it was rather quiet as she glanced around, still walking on to meet her friends on the dance floor. Probably due to it being a weekday, most people had school or work and weren't as crazy as they were to be out that late.
Veronica and Josie made for the bar, the latter turning back to wave Savannah on after them. The brunette nodded and waved in return, gesturing that she'd be there in a minute.
Her hand fell to her back pocket, slipping her phone out and into the palm of her hand. She couldn't help but let a slight smile slide across her face as she saw his name pop up on the screen, calling her.
Suddenly, a set of hands landed on her shoulders, startling the girl into locking her phone instantly, rejecting the call.
Kevin Keller whirled her around to face him, his face was bright and full of excitement. "Hey!" He cried over the music, before he gestured to the boy beside him. "Look who I found."
Savannah looked up at Reggie and offered a smile, to which he smirked back. Always flirtacious was Reggie, a complete pig - but Veronica had one thing right. He certainly was eye candy.
"Hi Reggie." She said before looking over her shoulder to where the girls disappeared to. "The girls are over there, come on."
Veronica looped an arm around Savannah's shoulders and pushed a drink into her hand. It was clear and had two straws popping out the top, floating up to the top.
Savannah pushed the straws back into the liquid and took a hesitant sip. It was strong, she recognised the smell immediately, after all her mother smelled like it each time she had to put her to bed.
Veronica winked at the girl, took her own glass and pushed off from the bar, her and Josie making straight for the middle of the sweaty dance floor.
The brunette had always been slightly uncomfortable when dancing, but after a few drinks encouraged by Veronica and, surprisingly, Kevin, she lost herself in the music. Her hands slid up and through her hair, spinning around as she was dazzled by the lights.
She could feel her phone vibrating in her pocket, ignoring it as Veronica pulled them all into a little huddle, grouping together such an unusual pick of people. It was surprising what a couple of drinks and dancing could do.
Their group became two as Veronica, Josie and Kevin motioned to go and sit at a booth. She and Reggie continued bouncing around on the dance floor, his hand sliding through hers and spinning her like a ballerina.
Savannah could tell that Veronica had planned this whole thing, she'd seen her whisper into the other two's ears, before conveniently needing to sit down.
Reggie wasn't all that bad, she decided, but when she noticed his head turn to check out a girl that passed by them, she couldn't help but scoff.
Her phone started to vibrate once more and this time, Savannah pulled back from Reggie, to find that she had a few texts and a missed call from Jughead. Her heart suddenly sank when she opened his messages.
He'd been with his dad, Archie and Fred Andrews. Savannah knew that his relationship with his father was difficult, although he'd never said much, just that he was a drinker just like her mom.
Instantly, Savannah walked away from the loud music and Reggie, until she found herself outside, bursting through the door for fresh air to fan her face.
Her phone was to her ear in seconds, the familiar rings clouding her mind as she leaned back against the wall for support.
"Hello?"
"Jughead." Savannah blurted out quickly, "Hey, sorry I missed your call."
"It's okay." She heard him say, although she knew it was not okay. "Where are you anyway?"
"Doesn't matter," Savannah avoided the question, biting her lip in thought. "How did it go with your dad?"
"It could have gone better."
Savannah winced at his tone, he was so quiet. "I'm sorry. What happened?"
"Hey." Reggie appeared from behind her, touching her shoulder lightly. "Who you talking to?"
"Who's that?" Jughead asked on the other end of the phone.
Savannah looked up at Reggie with a frown before answering, "It's Reggie."
There was a beat of silence before Jughead responded. "Oh."
"It's okay, he was just leaving." She said pointedly, shooting a glare at the boy, who rolled his eyes and wandered back inside.
"I'll just see you at school tomorrow." Jughead told her.
"No, Jughead -"
"Talk to you later."
There was a click and Savannah knew that he'd hung up. She cursed Reggie, she cursed Veronica and Josie and Kevin for setting her up. She cursed Jughead for hanging up on her when she was trying to be there for him.
With a sigh and a shake of her head, Savannah pushed off from the wall and ventured back into the club.