Chapter 24: It Lives In The Sewers!
*Aria's POV*
It was Saturday night, after Veronica's 2nd party, and I was trying to sleep. I couldn't. I felt horrible. Poor Jughead had a pet alligator, super cute named peanut, and he ended up getting flushed down the toilet. I wish I had gone in the bathroom faster to stop Veronica. The guilt was eating me up. I woke up and decided to get a glass of water to see if that helps. A few minutes later I gulped down the water and heard the phone ring.
"Who in hullabaloo is calling?" I wondered. Before long, as I started up the stairs, Archie, fully dressed, came running down and grabbed me before heading out the door.
"Wha?" I asked in a daze we were now outside Betty's house.
"Betty called." Archie said as he knocked on the door. Soon we were in Betty's house and I snapped out of my daze.
"Dang it you two. Can't even wait till morning or for me to get dressed?" I said in a snippy tone. I saw Archie setting up and wondered when he brought the stuff over.
*I must be tired if I'm not paying attention.* I thought as Betty asked about the electronics. Archie explained how Dilton lets him borrow it.
"Archie! He let's us borrow the equipment. You're not the only one who uses it." I scolded him.
"Heh. Sorry." Archie said nervously. He knew I was cranky now.
"If my parents saw this mess." Betty started.
"No worries. I'll make sure Archie cleans it up before your parents return on Monday from vacation." I said as I looked at Archie.
"Right. And your haunting as well." Archie agreed as I sighed.
"Do you know how to work this stuff?" Betty asked Archie.
"No." I muttered.
"Of course I do." He said as he went to plug the two cords together to turn it on.
"Archie wait! Dont-" I started to warn him but too late.
"Waaaahh!" He shrieked as he was then electrocuted to where the power went out.
"Archie are you alright?" Betty asked as she now shined a flashlight on him. I busted out laughing. His hair frizzed out.
"This is so typical." Archie said in a dazed tone.
"I tried to warn you." I said in a childish way. Archie soon went to turn the breaker on, without electrocuting himself, as the power came back on. I began re-wiring the machines and plugged it all in properly without getting shocked and overloading the power.
"Told you he didn't know." I said to Betty. Archie soon explained what everything did as I started nodding off. Man I needed sleep. He then mentioned something about an earthquake and was next to the machine that could detect it.
"Archie? Why did you bring that?" I asked him.
"I got carried away." He said as I sighed and shrugged.
"Whatever. I'm tired." I said as I started to nod off again. Just as I did the earthquake detector went off and made me jump.
"Holly Milkshakes that's loud!" I shrieked out and held a hand over my heart. Yup. I'm awake now.
"Is it an earthquake?" Betty asked as I looked at the machine with Archie.
"No. The vibrations the machine is detecting doesn't show an earthquake. But it does show something large underground." I said as they looked at me.
"Dilton showed me different vibration grids." I said simply as they said ah and nodded in understanding. That's when we started hearing noises.
"The sound. It's coming from everywhere." Betty said. As Archie pulled out a small gadget I started speaking.
"No. It's not. It's echoing. Trust someone who knows different sounds. I can't pin point it like the gadget Archie's holding but I can guarantee that it's an echo coming from maybe that way." I said as I pointed upstairs.
"Actually Aria it is coming from everywhere." Archie said to me.
"That's impossible unless it's in the sewers." I said as we then decided to go up the stairs, where I pointed to, and ended up in the bathroom. The sound soon came from the bathtub drain as I sighed.
"Archie. Remind me to stop talking." I said as I soon found out I was right. Whatever it was, it was in the sewers, and it sounded big! Seriously? Why did I have to be right? I'd love to be wrong.
"This'll make a great article for the story." Archie pointed out.
"Now what?" Betty asked.
"Isn't it obvious? We need to get into the sewer. Simple as that." I said as I started to head downstairs. They soon followed and, after Betty got us flashlights, went outside to an already open manhole occupied by a yellow truck.
"Hold on." I whispered to them.
"Why?" Archie asked me.
"I've seen a few of these trucks in the city before. This is a chemical truck. If it's near an open manhole then they're either dumping illegally, which doesn't seem right that they would right here, or they lost a chemical container and they're trying to find it and detox the place before something bad happens." I said to them matter of factually.
"Are you serious?" Betty asked me as I nodded.
"Yes. Take it from a city girl whose been near chemical plants once or twice. I know my vans and box trucks." I said as we then decided to approach but with caution just in case. Once we got close enough he spotted us.
"Who's there?" The man suddenly asked.
"We were going to ask you the same thing. Archie Andrews. Reporter for Riverdale High and my cousin, Aria Andrews, assistant reporter for Riverdale high." He said as he neglected to introduce Betty. Made sense.
"Look kids I'm busy." The man said.
"That's exactly what I want to talk to you about." Archie said with a smile. Archie could be persuasive but how well would it work here?
"I'm afraid that's classified." The man said.
"It's because you're either dumping toxins in our sewer or lost a container correct?" I asked him. The man was taken aback from what I just said.
"What are you-" He started before I stepped in front of him and continued.
"I know this type of truck from the city limits. It holds toxic and very dangerous chemicals that can do more damage than people think. And if I find out you're illegally dumping here than I sure as crackers can have you arrested. I've already memorized the plate number and your face through your hazard suit." I told him as I was starting to become intimidating. Thank you city skills.
"Kids I'm going to have to ask you to leave and don't go down that manhole." He said sternly.
"Did you dump illegally or lose a container by accident?" I questioned him.
"I have a right to remain silent." He said to me. Now I was starting to fume.
"That's it. I'm going down there to see for myself." I said as I headed to the manhole. I was being stubborn.
"Hey! I said don't!" He said as he grabbed my wrist. I just flipped him on his back and went to the manhole.
"Archie! Betty! Keep an eye on him. See if he talks. If they are illegally dumping then call the sheriff." I said as I then slid down the ladder and was now in the sewer. I held up the flashlight and looked around. I gulped a bit.
*Why the sewer? Why? I swear if there's a clown or a mutant gator down here then I'm done!* I thought as I shook the fear away and saw a large holder with a sprayer. I looked and soon saw it was for cleaning chemical spills to make them less toxic.
*So it was an accident.* I thought as I saw a container, small one, that was broken on the side and it was empty. I then heard that weird noise and shot up straight.
*Sounds like an animal. Oh no! Not a gator! Please no mutant gators!* I thought in a panic as I turned around and saw nothing.
*I'm going to regret this.* I thought as I decided to walk where I heard the noise. I know it screams bad idea but I had to know if something got mutated. I am an assistant reporter after all. I swear I could hear footsteps but saw nothing. I soon got near a corner and ran into a man in another suit as he shined a light on me. Great.
"What are you doing down here? It's a restricted area." He told me as I rolled my eyes.
"Actually the sewer is a somewhat public area especially under investigation for mysterious acts or anything along those lines and as an assistant reporter I have a right to investigate." I plainly told him.
"You're out of here. Now!" He said as he began to guide me out when we heard the growling noise behind us.
"I'm gonna turn around and somethings going to be there. I'm gonna turn around and somethings going to be there. I'm gonna turn around and somethings going to be there." I muttered quickly in a nervous tone as we turned around and saw big yellow eyes looking at us. We shined a light on it and it was a giant mutant alligator. I shrieked loudly and began running with the man following me.
"I Fudging knew it!" I shrieked out as we hurried to the manhole we arrived from. I made it to the ladder 1st and edged the man up.
"Go go go go go!" I said quickly as he made his way up. I was close behind him when I misstepped and fell off the ladder and onto the wet ground. Wonderful. I heard growling and looked to see the creature had stopped and started at me, standing on two legs and over 6 feet tall, before opening his jaws and letting out a growl sound.
"Aria! Get up here now!" I heard Betty say as it got closer. I shrieked and bolted up that ladder faster than you could say hamburgers. I practically leaped out of there and was soon held by my cousin as I panted. Then it's jaws went through the manhole and snapped a few times before it lowered back into the sewers. The adrenaline was coursing through my veins from all of that. If I wasn't awake before I am now. The 2 guys put the lid back on the the manhole.
"Now do you wanna call for backup?" The one from the sewer asked.
"Wait! You didn't call for back up to report this accidental spill?" I questioned as I let go of Archie. Archie had to hold me back so I wouldn't hurt them.
"You two are morons!" I yelled at them before we heard another growling sound and then the jaws of the beast lunged up, shooting the cover off the manhole, and flew through the air.
"Take cover!" Archie yelled as he pulled me away from the truck. We were at a safe distance when the cover landed on the truck and caused it to explode. Me ears rang a bit so I couldn't hear what the guys were saying.
"I think we need to call in backup." I heard Archie say as he helped me and Betty off the ground.
"Can I change real fast?" I asked Archie as he sighed.
"Fine." He said as I ran back to the house and changed into different pajamas, this time it went from my black tank top and black and white stripped shorts to a purple tank top that had outlines of shells on the breast part and green shorts with a light green fringe and dark green scale designs on it, as I threw on my light green slippers Aunt Mary insisted on getting me and quickly brushed my hair as I rushed outside quickly and quietly.
"Really?" He asked me.
"It's easier to move in pajamas." I said as he shook his head.
"I meant the pajamas." He said as I glared at him.
"I can't always wear black you know." I told him before he gave up. Now we made it to Jughead's house, we had to walk there to be quiet, as we climbed up the side of his house to his bedroom window. I hurried up 1st before Archie and Betty. What? I was faster at climbing. And besides I had to check on Jughead. Poor guys probably still mourning. I saw him sitting on his bed, eating a burger, and looking sad. Poor guy. I've never had a pet before so I wouldn't know how it feels to loose one. I knocked on the window to catch his attention as he saw me and came over.
"What're you doing here?" He asked after he opened the window.
"Can't I check on one of my boyfriends?" I asked him as he shrugged.
"May we please come in?" I asked him.
"Sure. Wait we?" He asked me as I slipped in and soon Betty and Archie entered as well.
"Besides me checking on you we have a problem." I said simply to him.
"Somethings going on in the sewers." Archie said to him.
"What are you talking about?" Jughead asked him.
"One: Noises in Betty's house coming up from the pipes." Archie stated.
"Two: Hazard waste people cleaning up toxic waste in the sewers." Betty said next.
"Three: Giant mutant alligator with 9 inch teeth that tried to make me dinner!" I pointed out next.
"Sounds like there's something in the sewers." Jughead said in a monotone.
"You're telling me. I-hey. What's wrong with you?" Archie asked while Betty said huh.
"Archie you're so insensitive. He's still mourning over Peanut." I said as I pointed to his black arm band he was wearing.
"She's right Arch. You are insensitive." He said as I went over and gently hugged him as I followed him to his wall of pictures.
"I wish I could relate Jughead. But I can't. I can only support you right now." I said and rubbed his back.
"At least you care." He said.
"Who's Peanut?" Betty suddenly asked.
"His pet baby gator." I said to her as something clicked in my head.
"Archie! Do you think that mutant gator was Peanut? I mean with the toxic waste you never know what it's capable off." I said to him.
"Let me tell Betty about Peanut 1st but I think your right." He told me as we began the flashback.
*Flashback Aria's POV*
Archie was bringing me to Jughead's house so we can have our date night. Veronica actually agreed to meet Archie there to make things easier. I had been worried about Jughead. I hadn't seen him since Veronica's party on Saturday. I had been helping Dilton in the lab and picking up extra chores around the house until I find a summer job. It was still tough but I had to keep trying. Anyways I had called Jughead to see if we were still on for our date and he wanted me to come over to show me something incredible.
"I wonder what Jughead wants to show me. He didn't say anything." I said as Archie pulled up in front of his house.
"I'm not sure." He said as I got out of the car.
"He said his parents were gone and that we can just come inside." I said as we got up to the door and we let ourselves inside. I bolted up the stairs faster than Archie so I could see Jughead.
"Hey Jughead. I'm here. What did you want to show me?" I asked him as I saw him taking pictures of something in a shoe box. What?
"Hey Aria!" He practically yelled out as he grabbed my hand and yanked me over to the shoe box.
"Meet my new pet!" He exclaimed. I gasped. It was a baby alligator.
"Is that?" I asked as he replied yup.
"It's-it's." I started to say before I picked it up.
"So~ Cute!" I exclaimed as I kissed it. It nipped my nose and I giggled.
"I think he likes me." I said as Jughead took a picture of him nipping my nose.
"That's my favorite picture now." Jughead said as I blushed.
"What's his name?" I asked him.
"Haven't thought of one yet." Jughead said as I put him back in the box. He was playing with the packing peanuts.
"How about Peanut? Because he likes those packing peanuts a lot." I suggested before I was pulled into a hug.
"That's a great idea. That's the name we've been looking for. Huh Peanut?" He asked as Peanut made a little sound of approval.
"Hey Jughead." Archie said as he came in.
*Uh oh. He'll tell Jughead it's a wild animal. I know he's right but Jughead can keep him for a couple years before donating him to the zoo or something.* I thought as Archie came over.
"We haven't seen you for days and-" He started before he stopped and saw why Jughead was taking pictures.
"Is that what I think it is?" Archie asked him.
"It's my new pet, Peanut! Isn't he the cutest?" Jughead asked with a huge smile on his face. He just looked so happy.
"Jughead. This is a very bad idea." Archie scolded with his arms crossed while Jughead said huh.
"Cute baby alligators grow up to be big alligators." Archie explained while he used his hands to show small to big for the alligator growth.
"So?~" Jughead asked while he picked up the box with Peanut in it. Archie looked at him and Peanut used his mouth to spit a packing peanut at him. I giggled at that.
"So he's a wild animal. He can't live in that shoe box forever." Archie pointed out. He made a valid point.
"But I love my little Peanut." Jughead said as I then felt a ping in my chest. He loved Peanut. Not once had him nor Dilton said they loved me. It kinda hurt but I never said it to them either.
"If you really loved him then you'd let him live in a place where he belongs." Archie said as Jughead gave him a skeptical look.
"I think I understand." Jughead said to him.
"You do?" I asked.
"Good. I-" Archie started saying before Jughead cut him off.
"Obviously you're jealous that I have this cool new pet and you don't." Jughead said with a huff as he started walking into the bathroom.
"That's not it. Hey! Don't leave." Archie called out to him.
"Sorry Arch but it's time for Peanut's bath." He said as we soon heard the water run.
"Aria talk to him. He'll listen to you." Archie said to me.
"What?! Oh no! Leave me out of it!" I told him in a panic.
"He's your boyfriend! Well one of them. Tell him it's a bad idea. You know it is." He told me as I sighed. Once the water stopped running Jughead re-entered the room.
"Jughead I'm serious about this. Tell him Aria. Tell him it's a bad idea." Archie said while starting to raise his voice.
"I'm serious too. Peanut's my pet and he's not going anywhere. Right Aria?" Jughead said as he then brought me into the fight as well.
"Why the swamp am I brought in the middle of this?" I questioned. They were both glaring at each other before looking at me.
"I think both of you are right in a way." I said to them.
"What?!" They both questioned me loudly.
"Jughead. Archie is correct. Not only is Peanut a wild animal but he'll soon get too big and might hurt you or someone else one day. And Archie. Jughead is right too. Peanut is his pet. Plus Peanut is a baby and is too young to be left in the wild without a mother to teach it how to hunt for food or protect it from danger. Do you want my opinion on what to do?" I asked them both just as Veronica showed up.
"Hi Aria. Hi Jughead. Hello Archie-kins." Veronica said as we ignored her.
"Ahem." She coughed next to Archie's ear.
"Veronica not now. Archie will be ready in a moment. This is important right now." I told her in a snippy attitude.
"Fine. Let me freshen up then. Be right back in a few minutes." She said as she went into the bathroom.
"My opinion is Jughead should keep him for a while. He won't get bigger for a few years. Once he gets to a proper size then he could give Peanut to the zoo or a preserve where he can be happy and grow up and they can allow Jughead to visit him or send him letters and pictures of how he's doing." I said to them. Before anyone could comment we heard Veronica scream.
"Veronica!" Archie shouted.
"Peanut!" Jughead shouted after. I bolted past them just in time to see Veronica flush Peanut down the toilet.
"No!" I shouted and actually reached in the toilet to try and grab him. It was too late though.
"My pendant!" Veronica shouted.
"My Peanut!" Jughead said after words.
"My Goodness." Archie exclaimed in shock. I was frozen I can't believe what happened. I then stood up with a wet hand.
"Jughead I'm so sorry. I tried." I said as I felt horrible.
"Veronica how could you!" I turned and shouted at her. I had yelled and scolded her as Archie held me back. Through the rest of the evening until late at night I comforted Jughead the best I could while Archie went on his date with Veronica, who felt no guilt at all, while I couldn't help the guilt that build up inside me.
*End flashback Aria's POV*
"And that's basically what happened." I commented as Betty was shocked.
"I think that mutant gator is Peanut." I said to them.
"But that's impossible." Betty commented.
"Not really. Those kinds of chemicals can have so many different side effects like make two headed animals or enlarge them. It's highly possible." I said as Jughead looked at me in a needy hopeful way.
"Look. The news." Betty said as she then turned up the TV. It basically talked about how a giant creature destroyed the truck and the TV's inside but only stole the packing peanuts. That's when Jughead gasped.
"Aria's right! It's my little Peanut! Only Peanut would want those packing peanuts!" Jughead exclaimed while jumping up and down. I wanted to giggle at his happiness but we had other things to worry about.
"I need to see him! Archie take me to him!" Jughead said as my mouth dropped.
"Jughead you don't get it. It's dangerous. He almost ate Aria!" Archie scolded.
"He didn't know any better! If I see him then maybe he'll stop! I grew a bond with him over a few days and-" Jughead started before he was interrupted.
"Jughead Peanut is a wild animal who won't hesitate to eat you!" Betty tried to explain.
"I'll take you Jughead." I said after snapping out of my daze.
"Huh?" Jughead asked.
"What?" Archie and Betty asked me.
"Jughead has a point. If he can get through to Peanut and stop this before he gets killed then we have a shot. Besides I'm the one who saw him. I know where to enter. If I can see a map then maybe I might know where he's nesting." I said as Jughead glomped me.
"Wah!" I said as we nearly fell over.
"Oh thank you Aria!" Jughead said as he hugged me tighter. I could feel the air supply thinning.
"No! Absolutely not! Mom and dad would kill me if anything happened to you 1st off and 2nd it's to dangerous!" Archie scolded me.
"Don't care! Jughead's feelings are important! Peanut's life important! Can't Breathe!" I said through a strained voice as Jughead then released me.
"Oops. Sorry." He said as I took large breaths of air.
"Archie she's right in a way." Betty said as I smiled at her. I didn't even wait for Archie as I took Jughead's hand and lead him out the window.
"Aria! Wait for us!" Archie yelled out as now the four of us made it to the spot Peanut attacked.
"See Jughead. See the damage he did?" Archie pointed out the cracked pavement to him.
"Gee. My little Peanut sure has grown." Jughead said.
"You have no idea." I muttered as I started down the sewer.
"Aria!" Archie scolded.
"Archie! I'm taking Jughead to find Peanut! You can come too or stay up here with Betty to be look out." I said to him as I slid down the ladder. Jughead soon followed.
"Let's hurry." I told him as I grabbed his hand and we ran deep into the sewers of Riverdale to find Peanut the mutant alligator. We stopped running and began looking around. We wondered around for 10 minutes until.
"Jughead? Aria?" We heard Archie.
"We're over hear." Jughead said as he took my hand and lead me down one of the splits we ran into.
"Where's here?" Archie called out.
"Quiet guys! We might wake Peanut if he's sleeping!" I scolded in a normal tone. We continued walking to find one another.
"Jughead. Aria." Archie called out.
"Archie." Jughead and I said loudly at the same time. Soon we crossed paths and we looked to our left to see Archie and he was now looking at us. That only lasted a few seconds though. Why? Because Peanut stepped between us and Archie and let out a growling sound with its jaws opened.
"Wah!" The three of us yelled as we started running for out lives. I looked behind us and saw him chasing us.
"Crud!" I yelled as we picked up the pace. We rounded a corner and ended up at a dead end with a pile of packing peanuts all over to form a nest.
"Well we found his nest." I said.
"I guess your theory was right Aria. That was Peanut." Archie said as Jughead got closer and picked something up. Veronica's medallion.
"And here's exhibit A!" Jughead exclaimed.
"And exhibit B is these packing peanuts." I exclaimed. We then heard a growl and when we turned around we saw Peanut looking at us.
"Oh no!" I nearly shrieked.
"When did Peanut get a nasty attitude?" Jughead questioned.
"Now can we get out of here?" Archie asked us.
"I think I'll come back when Peanut's had a nap." Jughead exclaimed as we ran around him. I knew he was chasing us. We then hit a split.
"Which way?" Archie asked.
"You're asking us?" Jughead exclaimed the question.
"Sorry." Archie said as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"Ugh. Archie! You go left and Jughead and I will go right so then at least one or two of us make it out of here alive." I exclaimed.
"I don't think that's a good-" Archie started but then was cut off by the growling sound Peanut made.
"Never mind!" Archie yelped.
"So what are we waiting for?" Jughead asked.
"Last one to the manhole is gator chow!" I yelped as I grabbed Jughead's wrist and ran right while Archie ran left. We kept running until I looked behind us and screeched us to a halt and leaned us against a wall.
"What-" Jughead started but I interrupted him.
"It's okay. We got away. That means he's chasing Archie. We can rest and figure out where to go." I explained as we took deep breaths. It didn't last long though. We heard the growling sound and looked to our right in fear.
"Maybe not." Jughead said as we then bolted down a path. We didn't realize we just missed Betty as she started to head to where we were before. That's when we heard a scream.
"Jughead wait. I heard Betty!" I said as I stopped him.
"Does that mean-" He started asking before I started dragging him back to where we were.
"Yup! She's down here and Peanut found her. We have to go back!" I said as we hurried back to where we were.
"I was afraid of that!" Jughead said fearfully as we continued to save Betty. We made it near a manhole and saw Archie on the ground and Peanut there about to eat him.
"Archie!" I yelled in fear.
"Peanut! Stop!" Jughead said as Peanut saw us and walked over to us. Jughead put me behind him as he stood there in a parental way.
"Now I told you if you're going to be my pet then you weren't going to eat my friends and especially my girlfriend." Jughead scolded while waving his finger in a scolding manner. I blushed at the girlfriend part.
*He was teaching Peanut not to eat us? Especially me?* I thought as Peanut hovered over us.
"Get out of here while you still can." Archie yelled to us. I clung onto Jughead and refused to leave him.
"I'm not leaving him here alone." I said as I held him from behind and him still shielding me.
"Why? No problems here." Jughead said in a normal, not terrified, voice as Peanut then roared in his face. I yelped lightly from the loud sudden roar.
"Bad mutated alligator." Jughead scolded as then Peanut's gaze softened. Wait softened? Jughead then patted under his jaw and smiled.
"My little Peanut." He exclaimed as I let go of him so he could hug Peanut's jaws. Archie walked over right next to him as Peanut lifted Jughead in the air.
"My big Peanut." Jughead exclaimed before he was let down.
"Now apologize to Aria!" He then exclaimed as he suddenly pushed me in front of Peanut. We just looked at each other for a second.
"Um. Hi Peanut. Remember me? Um." I said as I looked at Jughead who nudged me to pet him. I looked back at Peanut and went to pet him.
"Um. You still like those packing peanuts huh?" I asked as I started petting him.
"Heh. I guess you're still Cute." I said as he then nuzzled into my hand before his jaws got close to my face and nipped my nose gently for a moment before pulling back.
"You do remember me." I exclaimed as Jughead smiled.
"Well at least he apologized." Jughead said as we both smiled.
"I hate to spoil the moment but Betty will be here any minute with the police." Archie exclaimed. Oh crud. Jughead then gasped.
"They'll hurt Peanut!" Jughead exclaimed in fear.
"I let my baby down before. I can't do it again." Jughead said in sadness. I felt for him. The guilt soon came back.
"I couldn't save Peanut in time last time. I won't fail this time. That guilt has been eating me up. Now it's time to make up for it." I said with a new passion as I looked at Jughead.
"But he doesn't belong here." I said to him.
"What?" Jughead asked me.
"She's right Jughead. This is what happens when you take a wild animal from it's home." Archie started to explain.
"Even though Peanut was a baby we still should've found a way to bring him to the wild like a zoologist. Either way this is what happens. The problem gets bigger and soon it becomes a mess." I said as I understood what Archie meant now.
"Though Aria was right about the baby part and him needing care until older but just not as a pet like she just said." Archie added in as Jughead sighed.
"Maybe you two are right. I should've listened. I knew it was a bad idea but I loved him. I wanted to help take care of him and raise him." Jughead explained.
"But how do we get him to where he belongs?" Jughead asked in wonder.
"I have an idea how." I said as Jughead looked at me.
"You do?" Archie asked me.
"Yes. It's a win win for all of us. Including Peanut." I said as I pet the top of his nose. He then bent down and nuzzled under my chin as if he was willing to listen.
"I think Peanut trusts me on this one." I said as I explained what we would do. Archie then climbed to the top and started to get things situated while Jughead and I stayed down here to keep Peanut company. He was a snuggle bug and a nipper.
"So. When you said 'the guilt was eating me up' what did you mean by that?" Jughead asked me as I looked down at a now half asleep peanut, head resting on my lap since we were both sitting, and petting his snout/upper jaw while blushing a soft pink.
"Well. Um. I-I kinda, sorta, felt guilty that when Peanut got flushed down the toilet that I wasn't fast enough to grab him before he was flushed down all the way. If I had been a second faster then I could've caught him. I'm glad Peanut's not mad and I'm surprised you didn't blame me." I said to him as I refused to look a him.
"Is that all? There was nothing to do. You tried and that's all that mattered. I couldn't blame you at all. Especially since not only you weren't the one who flushed the toilet but were the one who rushed in to try and stop it." He said as I looked at him.
"You didn't blame me for even a second?" I asked him while he got up and sat behind me. He then wrapped his arms around my shoulders in a hug and rested is chin on my right shoulder.
"No. I knew you were just as upset as I was over this. I knew that, even though you've never had a pet before, you felt the same thing I did over Peanut getting flushed. I never once blamed you. I was shocked you tried but I also know you loves animals and would try to save them. That's why after you suggested once Peanut hit a certain size to have him transferred to a safe haven type resort showed you cared for, not only Peanut, but my feelings as well. That's why I don't blame you." He said as I blushed a darker shade and looked down at Peanut, who was looking back at us, and mumbled 'oh' under my breath.
"It's actually silly that you thought I'd blame you." He said as I grew embarrassed.
"W-well s-sorry for thinking that." I stuttered.
"Are you embarrassed for thinking that?" He asked me.
"A little." I mumbled as he held me closer and nuzzled his face into my neck.
"That's kinda cute." He said to me.
"No it's not." I mumbled as he chuckled.
"Why do you think I taught Peanut not to hurt you at all? I care to much to let you get hurt. That's why I thought we could take care of him together." He said as I grew shocked.
"R-really?" I asked.
"Well sure. If I'd be willing to raise anything living with someone it would be with you." He said as I blushed.
*Raised anything living? Does that mean he'd be willing to be a parent one day?* I questioned in my head as I then mentally shook the thoughts out of my head. We soon heard people and before we knew it the sun was up and Peanut was out of the sewer and being guided into a helicopter. Jughead and I hugged Peanut goodbye, he hugged us back and even nipped my nose one last, before he walked inside the chopper completely. Jughead and I walked off, me comforting him, as the chopper closed up and soon flew off to Peanut's new home. Once it was gone I went over to Veronica.
"Thanks again for this Veronica. It not only made Jughead feel better but me as well to know Peanut will go to a special reserve to live the rest of his life happily." I said as she smiled at me.
"I didn't do it for just you and Jughead. I didn't even do it because Archie-kins asked me for, not just himself, but for you two as well. I did it because I started to feel bad about what I did. And also because I haven't been a good friend to you and I was hoping this might help us be better friends." Veronica admitted as I smiled and held back tears. I then hugged her.
"Thanks Veronica. This means a lot to us. I know you're trying to be a good friend in your own way. Thank you." I said as she then hugged me back. I then pulled away and went on my way with Jughead, Archie, and Betty back home to get out of my pajamas. Archie and Betty walked ahead of us while Jughead and I lagged behind to talk.
"By the way, You look super cute in your 'Little Mermaid' Pajamas." He said as I blushed lightly.
"Maybe next time you stay the night at my house you can wear it." He said bluntly as I blushed a deeper shade of red.
"Oh. Um. Thank you. And um. Sure." I said as I got flustered. Stay at Jughead's again? Oh boy. Soon we made it home and Jughead gave me a quick kiss before leaving to go home. I then, with a blush on my face, went upstairs and took a shower and started getting ready for the day when I heard a knock on my bedroom door.
"Come in." I said as Archie opened the door and entered my room.
"You ready to start the Article? I figured we'd do it early so if we wanted to sleep for a bit we could after." He said as I smiled at him.
"Sure. Better to do it while it's fresh." I said as we exited my room and went to his to fire up the laptop and start the article.
"There was someone who wanted to help. Veronica made amends by having her father pay to relocate Peanut to a special game preserve in Florida. ~Archie. She felt guilty about what she did and did that, not only to help Peanut, but to keep her loyal friends. She's come a long way. ~Aria. Yes. She also made sure to have special Eco-scientists, upon Aria's suggestion, to give special care that a mutant alligator requires. ~Archie. After all Peanut deserves to live the rest of his life happy, healthy, and free in the wild where he should be and not cooped up in a small place or in the sewers. To often we forget that nature needs to take it's course. Though it doesn't hurt to help when needed. We just need to learn boundaries is all. ~Aria. But Jughead realized Peanut's well being was more important than his need to have a pet. Even one he wanted to raise with Aria. ~Archie. Archie stop teasing me darn it. You scold me for straying so I get to scold you about the teasing. ~Aria. Sorry. It was too good to pass up. ~Archie. Anyways Jughead was almost willing to stay down there to raise Peanut. It was cute actually but not factual. And besides it's hard, even for Jughead, to get burgers in the sewers. ~Aria. ….Even in a little town called Riverdale! ~Archie and Aria." We finished the article and, while Archie decided to clean up the equipment from Betty's house, I decided to go over and ask her about the babysitting job she was doing.
"Well actually I'm going to need help Monday night with babysitting these twin boys. I usually do it by myself but lately they've become a handful and I could use the extra help." She said as I smiled at her.
"Sure. Just charge a fair price, not double, and we'll split it." I told her.
"Sounds like a plan." She said as we shook on it. Wonderful. It was a start and I was glad about that.