Authors note: Here is an extra-long chapter for you guys! Thank you all so much for reviewing, please feel free to so, I love reviews, even critical ones. I should update again soon, as I don't want to leave you on this cliff hanger for to long
Xx G
After staying with the Cooper's for a few days, Jughead came over at 5 o'clock, inviting Betty and I to the Whyte Wyrm to hang out. Betty and I looked to Alice, and although she looked sceptical, she agreed, telling us to be home by 10.
We stopped by Pop's on the way to the Wyrm, quickly grabbing a dinner that didn't even compare to what food the bar might serve. I followed Betty and Jug into the bar, looking around for Ryder, hoping to see him here. I noticed him standing at a pool table, cue in hand, lining up for a hot. I watched as he made the shot, hitting two balls in the pockets, raising his arms in a cheer. Tapping Betty on the shoulder to tell her where I was going, I headed over to the pool table. I waited for Ryder to notice me, and when he did I watched the smile break out on his face, making him look even more handsome than he was before. I sucked in a breath, calming my racing heart as I told my self no to act like a cliché love-stuck teenager.
"Hello, JB", he greeted me once he had walked up to me.
"Hello to you, Ryder", I replied, chuckling at our simple greetings.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, "not that I'm complaining or anything."
I smiled. "I'm here with Jughead and Betty, just to have a fun night."
"Cool", he smiled back. "How's your baby sister – Kattie, isn't it?"
"Caddy", I corrected. "Short for Cadence. She's staying with Alice tonight, you know Betty's mum?"
"Yeah, everyone kinda knows Alice Cooper around here", he said mysteriously. "Let me introduce you to some of my friends", he offered.
Ryder acquainted me with a few of his friends, giving them a death glare if they looked at me in the slightest wrong way. It made me feel special, knowing that someone cared about me and that I cared about that same person. I met Sweet Pea- odd name- Fangs, Joaquin- all weird names to be honest. Bu then my name is Jellybean…A fact that Ryder seemed very determined to remind me of after Jughead had introduced him to me using my full name.
"So, do want a drink, Jellybean", he asked humorously.
I smiled and whacked him on the arm playfully. "I prefer Jb, if you don't mind".
"Oh, I do mind", He grinned at me as we headed to the bar. "I think I'll just keep calling you after my favourite candy."
"Jellybeans are your favourite candy?"
"They were after I met you."
I blushed, looking down at the floor. We took a seat at the bar, the bartender coming up to us asking what we would like. I ordered a lemonade, as I wasn't old enough to drink like most of the people there, not like that stopped anyone, but Mom had raised me well, strictly not allowing any alcohol until I was 21. Even though she was gone now, and Dad would surely allow me to have a drink, I still felt that I had to do what she wanted. As I explained all this to Ryder, he nodded his head in understanding.
"I know the feeling", he told me. "I lost my father and mother when I was 11, and then I moved with my Aunt to Riverdale."
"Wow", I replied, a bit curious. "How did your parents die? If you don't mind me asking."
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"Ok," Jb tried to think of another topic. "What was your dream job?"
"I wanted – and still want to be honest- to be a lawyer." He chuckled, sipping his soda. "I know it's ironic, me wanting to study law and justice when the serpents are known for repeatedly breaking the law, petty thieving, drug dealing- that kind of thing, but I've never liked being a part of that stuff."
I nodding quietly, interested in what Ryder was sharing with me.
"So, what's your story?" He asked me, it only fair that I share something about me too.
"Well, I moved to Toledo two years ago, my mum was running away from her life here with Dad, and then Mom found out she was pregnant, then 9 months later she had the baby but died while in labour. I took care of Caddy until she was old enough for me to be away from her for a short time, and then I came here." I explained, Ryder looking genuinely interested in what I was saying. We talked for hours more, telling each other things we had never told anyone else; it just seemed right to share our secrets and dreams to each other. A while later Betty and Jughead came over to me, Betty telling me that Jug was giving her a ride home and wondering if I would like a lift. The way that those two lovebirds were looking at each other, I didn't want to interrupt their time together, so I declined, Ryder offering to drop me off at Betty's in a while.
Ryder and I continued talking until I realised what the time was. 11 pm. I really needed to get some sleep tonight, and I didn't want to wake up anyone at the Cooper house at this hour, so I went over to Dad where he was standing on the far side of the room, drink in hand.
"Hey Dad, I was wondering if I could stay over at your place tonight? I don't want to wake up the Cooper's." I asked of him.
"Yes, of course. I was just heading home in a few minutes if that's alright", He answered, surprisingly not sounding drunk at all, despite the drink in his hand. 'I guess he has changed a lot then, if he isn't drunk after spending all night in a bar,' I thought to myself, recalling the times when my father would get his hands on a drink any time he could.
"Thanks, and yes, that's fine. Just tell me when we're leaving", I smiled at my Dad, happy to see such a change in him- a good change.
I headed back to the bar, taking my seat again besides Ryder, explaining to him that I was leaving soon. I was in mid-sentence when Ryder suddenly leant over and kissed me. I smiled against his lips, it wasn't my first kiss, but it sure was my best. We heard a clearing of someones throat beside us, causing us to jump apart, me blushing like a school girl. 'There goes me not acting like a love-struck teenager' I thought to myself. I looked up to see my Dad looking down with a stern expression plastered on his face, but his eyes were smiling. He just gruffed, motioning for me to head to the door.
"You go on ahead, JB. I just need to have a little talk with Ryder here." He said, not taking his eyes of the boy. Ryder looked towards me, looking worried, but I gave him a look that said it was going to be alright. I saw that smile in my father's eyes. I grabbed my jacket, giving a small wave to Ryder before heading out in the cold. I realised I didn't know what car was Dad's, so I leant against the wall of the building. There was a few Serpents outside, but they all knew who I was from when Dad introduced me to all of them, and they knew better to mess with the leader's daughter, although that didn't stop them from giving my body glances every now and then. My Dad comes out of the door, glancing over at me before turning his head towards the Serpents to the side of the building who had quickly looked away from me when Dad came out.
"Those guys giving you any trouble?" He asked me, ready to give some serious warnings to them if they had.
"Not really, just staring at me", I told him, which apparently was enough for him to walk over to the group of about for Serpents and give them a talking to.
Although I couldn't understand exactly what he was saying to them, it sounded like he was giving them a fair warning. I watched from the entrance to the bar as the group nodded, their faces full of fear. I smiled, knowing that Daddy would always protect me. Dad walked back to where I was waiting patiently, and he motioned toward a broken down pick-up truck was parked.
"What did you talk to Ryder about?" I questioned, hoping that it was not too serious.
"Just that should he hurt you in any way, I know where he lives." He replied seriously.
"Dad!" I exclaimed, shocked at my father for a minute.
"And I also got this from him for you." He handed me a slip of paper containing what I assumed was Ryder's number. "I assumed you would want that".
"Thank you, Daddy!" I hugged him before we got into the car. Ryder and I had forgotten to exchange numbers earlier, so this was great. I realised that I needed to tell Betty that I was staying at Dad's tonight, so I called her.
"Hey Betty, I just wanted to tell you that I'm staying at Dad's tonight, so I won't be home until tomorrow." I told her. "I hope that's alright."
"Yeah, that's fine," Betty said over the phone, oddly sounding relieved at the thought of me not coming to her house.
"Is everything alright?" I asked her, concerned.
"It's fine." She assured me, but I was still sceptical. "Hey, why don't you and your Dad go get breakfast at Pop's tomorrow? There's no rush for you to get back here."
"Okay" I replied, still confused. "Are you sure everything's alright? You don't seem yourself."
"I'm alright" Betty assured her again. "I got to go. See yah."
The phone hung up. I stared down at it, so confused.
"Is everything alright?" Dad questioned, noticing my look.
"Yeah, Betty just sounded really weird over the phone," I told him.
"Maybe she's with Jughead", he said.
"That would make sense", I thought out loud. "It was like she didn't want to come to their place for as long a possible."
We pulled up at the trailer, surprised to see Jughead's truck already parked there. I quickly walked in the trailer, asking Jug who was sitting on the couch if he knew what was up with Betty. He told me that she was going to ask her mom to sign a consent form for Betty to get a tattoo, and that maybe she was nervous about that. She apparently wanted to get a Serpent tattoo to be officially in the gang, since she supposedly performed the honorary Serpent dance a few weeks ago.
I concluded that that was the cause of Betty's oddness, not knowing then that the real reason was that someone was hearing everything Betty was saying to her, someone dangerous