Cheryl walked up to our table. "Whatcha talking about?" She asked a she slid into the seat beside me, not minding that none of us had invited her to do so.
I looked at the others with a confused look as to why Cheryl was here but they all mirrored my look.
"Um, we were talking about family drama", I answered Cheryl hesitantly.
"Ugh, my family knows drama alright", the red-head sighed.
I looked at her curiously for an explanation.
She expanded on what she meant. "You probably already know about my brother being murdered by my father and then my Father killed himself" at this I nodded and she continued, "Well, a few months after that happened my uncle Claudius magically appeared- I had never known he existed before he showed up at my fathers will reading to try to claim all our money. He and my mother plotted against me and my Nana Rose to get rid of us, and they tried to kill my Nana by pushing her down the stairs. Luckily, they failed, and my Nana is fine. Then, a few weeks ago, my mother put into this horrendous institution- 'the Sisters of Quiet Mercy', where they tried to harm me, but Veronica and Toni saved me." She smiled at Ronnie, forever grateful to her. "I'll introduce you to Toni when I find her" Cheryl told me.
The bell rang. "I got to go, I've got Chemistry", I stood up from the table.
"So do I", Cheryl said, standing up as well. "I'll walk with you."
As we walked through the halls of Riverdale High to get to our classroom, we chatted.
She asked me if I was a Serpent like Jughead, since I was family to him. I told her no, and asked if she – like so many other people in this town- had a problem with the Southside Serpents.
"I used to", she answered, "but my significant other is a Serpent, so I don't really mind them anymore."
"Oh, really? Who's your boyfriend?" I questioned, thinking I might know them from the Whyte Wyrm or something.
"Not he- she", Cheryl corrected me. "It's Toni, the girl I've been telling you about."
I asked her where she was staying since she got out of the asylum she so vividly hated -not that I blame her, it sounded terrible.
"I've been staying with Toni", she answered, then suddenly hurried towards a girl closing her locker. The girl had long brown hair with pink streaks through it with a black and white bandana keeping the hair out of her face, and she wore an outfit similar to mine- black skinny jeans and a stripped crop-top under a leather jacket.
Cheryl dragged the girl by the arm over to me. "This is JB," she was telling the other girl, "Jughead's sister."
"Oh, I didn't know Jug had a sister" the girl said, her voice deep. "I'm Toni, by the way. Toni Topaz" she stuck out her hand.
"Hi" I greeted her, shaking her hand. "So, you're a Serpent?" I questioned, already knowing the answer because Cheryl had just told me.
"Yeah, I am" she answered. "Are you thinking about joining?"
I had been pondering the idea. "Maybe", I told her. "I don't really know much about the gang yet."
"I'll be happy to answer any questions you have." Toni offered. "We can meet after school at the Wyrm if you want."
"Thank you, that would be great", I accepted her offer. Toni smiled. "Well, we better get to class" I turned to Cheryl.
"Yeah, we should." Cheryl waved to Toni as we began to walk away. "See yah Toni!"
Cheryl turned to me as we entered the classroom for Chemistry. "Would I be able to join you later with Toni?" She asked me.
"Sure. Do you want to be a Serpent too?" I asked her, not really serious, although apparently, she was.
She nodded. "I've been thinking about it for a while, since I got together with Toni. I don't want to be a stuck-up North-sider anymore; I don't want to be like my mother."
"Cheryl, that's great but listen to me. You are nothing like your mother okay?" I told her as we sat down at a desk. "From what you've told me, your mother sounds horrible, but I'm telling you, you are not like her. You've been very nice to me since I got here, a good friend."
"I used to be like her." Cheryl told me. "Until I got out of that asylum I was a mean rich kid, hardly nice to anyone. When I was in the Sisters of Quiet Mercy, I promised myself that if I got out I would be nicer to others."
It was then that the teacher came in the room and shushed us. I was glad to have Cheryl as my friend, as well as Toni.
…oOo…
I went straight to the Wyrm when school finished, excited about my questions being able to be answered. Cheryl had told me that she would meet me there in a few minutes. As I walked into the Wyrm, I noticed Ryder playing pool with Sweet Pea and Fangs. I headed over to him. Ryder saw me and met me halfway. I greeted him with a quick kiss, pulling away with a smile.
"Miss me already?" He asked, mirroring my grin. "We did just see each other at school."
"Not exactly", I told him, and Ryder put a hand to his chest as his face took on a mock look of hurt.
"I'm meeting Toni." I explained, looking around for her. "She's going to answer my questions about joining the Serpents."
At this Ryder grin widened. "Mind if I come with? Maybe I can help you with your inquiries", He offered.
"Sure", I agreed, spotting Toni walking in. "There she is now."
I started towards her when Ryder suddenly pulled me back.
"What?" I asked him, confused.
He gestured to the entrance where when I turned saw Cheryl walking in. "What is she doing here?" He growled.
"Hey, calm down." I placed my hand on his arm. "I get you don't like her but-"
"Don't like her!" He exclaimed. "Yeah! She tried to get us kicked out of Riverdale High when Southside High closed down and we had to go there."
"Yes, well, she's trying to be nicer to everyone and she wants to become a Serpent now." I explained to him.
"She doesn't have what it takes to be a Serpent", Ryder scoffed.
"Just give her a chance, please?" I begged him.
"Fine", he agreed. "I won't say anything to offend her, for now."
I figured that would be the best I could get out of him. We walked over to where Cheryl and Toni had sat down in a group of chairs and couches similar to the set-up in the student lounge at school. It looked like Cheryl had just told Toni she was interested in joining the Serpents, as Toni looked a little shocked.
"Hey guys", I greeted them, sitting down on Ryder's lap once he had sat down on an armchair. There were other chairs, but I just felt like being close to Ryder.
"So what questions do you have?" Toni asked me, after blinking the shock out of her eyes.
"Well…" I answered. "Just a warning, be prepared for a bombard of questions."
Author's note: Hi everyone! Thank you all who reviewed/favourited/followed my story! Please review or IM me with any suggestions you have for where to take my story next. I have one more idea for the next 2 or so chapters, but I've got nothing after that. Help! 😊
I know that I said earlier that JB is 2 years younger than Jughead, but I still made it so she shared classes with Cheryl who should be in the same grade as Jughead. Sorry!
I should update in the next few days, but until then, please review!
Xx G