Sorry this is so late! This weekend I went to Chicago to see Hamilton, so that pretty much took up all of my free time :)

Thanks so much to my reviewers: Boris Yeltin, Guest, Guest, and orangiethefox!

Guest: ;) Really, out of like those eight questions, the only two that I can answer without giving away spoilers is that a) Polly will be in this story and b) Sweet pea is for sure NOT Alice's son, but there is a question of his family that's important. As for the rest of your questions, they all will be revealed in time!

"We'll be a very forgiving audience, right guys?" Veronica was saying, saddling up next to Archie, pouring over his sheet music. He sent a frenzied deer-in-headlights look towards Betty, as though pleading, and she just gave a watery smile. His music was good, and she'd meant what she said that she wanted to remain friends, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to dive into sitting with him at lunch like nothing ever happened.

Even if that's what she'd asked him to do.

It was funny in that way, she decided.

She realized they were still looking at her, so she plastered a broad grin.

"Yeah, totally. Let's hear it."

Yet, as he started to play, something filled her stomach like dread. She hadn't touched any of her foot yet, but something tumbled in her stomach and threatened to come back up. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't hear, she felt tiny and alone.

She loved Archie, and he didn't love her back. He didn't love her back and he was sitting right across the way from her, doing what Archie always did and she'd usually find it adorable, but right now it just reminded her she couldn't have that.

"Betty? You okay?"

She hadn't realized she was standing until she looked at her fingers, clenching the side of the lunch table.

Keep your emotions low, that's what Sweet Pea had told her.

She tried to swallow it, she really did. She tried to shove her emotions into a little box and throw away the key and say she just forgot some paper in a locker or that she realized that she left her wallet at the register, but when she opened her mouth...she couldn't.

"I'm supposed to say 'yes'. That's what a good girl says and that's me but today…" She looked right at Archie, trying to beg him to see, "It's too fast." She whispered faintly, turning and striding fast across the field. She bit her lip to keep it from quivering and all she was trying to focus on was getting into the school, where she could lock herself in a stall and ride out these toxic and dangerous emotions.

"Betty, wait!" Archie called behind her, jogging to her side, "C'mon, listen to me," He pleaded.

Betty turned, clenching her fists, trying to stay grounded, "No." She whispered. She remembered the night she'd lost control, the night her powers had appeared. She could feel that same inkinesss rising inside of her. From the table, Kevin was standing, watching her with worried eyes.

She took three deep breaths, "I need to go, Archie." She said, broken.

"Betty, wait." Archie said more forcefully, grabbing her arm.

"Really, let me go." She pleaded.

"Betty...I...I hate I hurt you." He said. And oh, that just made it worse. Somehow, she wanted him to be an ass, to act like it was just another day in the life of Archie. Somehow, that would be easier. But this? The anguished look on his face? The pain he felt too? As though somehow, it was painful for him? Betty couldn't stand that.

"Really, Archie. I...I used to feel safe with you. You and me at Pop's that was my safe space. And it's not anymore, do you know what it's like to lose that? And I...I…"

"Betty, let's just talk about this-,"

"No!" The words came tumbling out with a ferocity that shocked Betty. It's not what everyone was focused on, however, they were more focused on the fact that all of the trees in the vicinity of Betty had just violently lost all the leaves, despite it being August and still relatively warm.

"What the…" Veronica jumped up, trying to save her lunch from the sudden rush of leaves. The whole field covered in still-green leaves, which was quite the site to see. Archie was blinking around in shock, as though he wasn't sure what he was believing.

Betty did that. She knew it. She felt the tingle of the branches in her finger tips. She felt the leaves disconnect from that cycle as she shook them to the ground. She felt their early deaths.

Kevin was at her side, "Look, Andrews, let's just leave well enough alone right now. Put a pin in it, right?" He encouraged, ushering Betty back into the building.

He led Betty to her locker, shaking his head.

"Betty…"

"I didn't mean to! I can't control it, Kevin. It just comes out with emotion. I don't know what I'm doing or how to be a good witch or how to stop it," She hiccuped, "And the more I think about it, the more I get overwhelmed."

"Awe, babe, I wish I could help," He sighed, "But my knowledge is more furry in nature, specifically the werewolves," He dropped his voice to a whisper, "Witches aren't common in these parts."

"So I've heard," Betty used a spare t-shirt to wipe her face off, "I just...I feel so lost, you know? About it all. Everything!"

"Woah, emotions steady. Let's not burst the pipes in the school. Actually, you know what-,"

Betty cracked a smile.

"I'm not doing that." She murmured, "Because being at home right now would be even worse." She shuddered, "My parents are all over Jason's murder and Polly is almost never home and they've practically disowned her and so all of their attention lies on me. Who is now dealing with magical problems way beyond I think either of their abilities."

Kevin rubbed her back comfortingly, "You just need to get through the week. It'll be easier soon." he sighed.

Betty pulled out her phone, scrolling to Sweet Pea's number.

"Who's that?"

"It's complicated," Betty said, not really wanting to re-hash her near death last night. She typed out a quick question, specifically, how to help keep emotions down.

SWEET PEA: oh boy...what have you done.

He followed it up with a frown face, but then changed it to a worried face.

BETTY COOPER: I might have made fall come early to the fields behind the school yard. Just leaves.

There was the triple dot symbol, and then it vanished, and then re-appeared again.

SP: How is that on the DL?

SP: But joking aside.

SP: You gotta just be careful.

Betty closed her locker, sighing, "Thanks for the help," She muttered, throwing her phone back into her backpack. She turned.

"You didn't get to finish lunch, huh?" She realized.

"Well, you didn't either." Kevin pointed out.

"I'm not hungry. You should go back, though. Really. I'm better now. I'll just go read in the library. Something relaxing, soothing."

Kevin told her to text if she felt the urge to 'raze a few perfectly good trees' again, and she took off.

Her phone buzzed and she pulled it out to see Sweet Pea had sent a list of 'relaxing activities' as well as a playlist of relaxing songs. He ended it with a shrugging emoji and 'hope this helps?'. Something about that warmed her, even if he'd seemed like a reluctant protector, he certainly didn't have to be going to all this trouble. But, maybe it was like FP said...she was part of a bigger community now.

She nearly collided with Jughead, who was storming off from the music hall.

"Hey, you okay?" Betty said, tugging on his flannel.

"I'm tired of liars. I'm tired of so called friends keeping shit from me, okay?" He snapped at her. Betty took a step back. Did he know about her magic? About his dad? That she was texting a Southsider?

"I…"

"Archie really has a lot of gall," Jughead continued, crossing his arms. Betty relaxed a bit. Okay, this was about Archie.

"Hey, I mean, if you need a friend-,"

"What, you're going to offer yourself up?" He asked, snorting. Betty was a bit thrown off.

"Well, yes." She said quietly, "We haven't talked much at all and I mean to say you are my friend, so…"

Jughead gave her a smile that was anything but friendly, "Betty," He said as though she was a child, "You were Archie's friend and the three of us hung out because of him. Ever since I stopped seeing Archie, I stopped seeing you. And, you sort of picked him this summer, I know where your loyalties lie."

"Picked him? I...I didn't pick any side?" Betty asked with confusion, a little bit of anger, "What are you talking about?"

"Look, you're a prep...he's a prep...I'm the outsider. Don't feel too bad about it, I don't." He said, but it seemed like it was anything but, "I'm not sure our 'friendship' would have lasted long anyway."

He brushed past her and Betty frowned, "Well, still...If you want to try again...I didn't mean to cut you off, Jughead. I just…" She trailed off, "What I'm trying to say is I can still be a friend. Really, I mean it."

Jughead paused, as though he was surprised. He offered something that looked more like a genuine smile, but it was still very small, "Thanks, Cooper. Even if you don't mean it, it's nice to hear to you say it so convingly."

"But I do mean it," Betty sighed as he left, feeling like Jughead was in a mood of his. What had Sweet Pea called him this morning? A moody Hemingway? Well, it was apt. When Jughead was set on thinking something, hardly anything else could change it. He was clearly going through one of his self-mourning moods, and Betty was his friend enough to know that time would fix it. She had actually considered him a friend, not just a friend of a friend, so his dismissal had hurt.

However, he and Archie had been on the rocks for months. When it came down to it, those two had always been inseparable. Jughead was a little strange and didn't have a lot of others to hang out with, so she understood that he was lashing out because he was hurt.

She made a note that when she thought she could face Archie again to have a talk with him about Jughead.

XXxxXX

Cheer practice was good for Betty. It gave her something to do and it seemed to spread her magical energy out in a better way than just having it sitting and festering. Plus, they were all so busy with doing their moves that they couldn't talk at all.

Which, up until Cheryl called a break, was working in Betty's favor.

"After this practice, I'll totally need a pedicure," Veronica groaned, attempting to make conversation, "You?"

Betty bit the inside of her cheek. Veronica was flaring up her emotions, so she knew she couldn't hang out with her, not right now.

She prepared herself, trying to feel a little brave instead of lying or making excuses or lashing out, just as Jughead had done to her earlier in the day, "Veronica...I...I do forgive you, sort of, but I thought I could just move on right away but I'm not sure I can. I just need a couple days. I don't blame you for Archie not liking me, but seeing you...and knowing and not knowing…"

"I see," Veronica said, "I can't say I'm not a little hurt, Betty."

"It's not my intention to hurt you, really." Betty said, wincing at how similar Archie had sounded today, "Just, give me some time to sort it out. Please?" She whispered in a hollow tone.

Veronica thought about it for a second before nodding, "When you're ready for a spa day, I'll be ready for a spa day." She got up to do her cool downs somewhere else, "Betty? I really want to be your friend, though, not to guilt you into it but just know I'm not doing it for ulterior reasons."

Betty nodded a little absently, feeling a whole lot better immediately.

After practice, she saw Cheryl standing off to the side. Putting aside all the times Cheryl had been mean to her, Betty approached the red-head.

"Betty Cooper, I must say, this is quite the improvement in the wardrobe. I love a girl in flannel," Cheryl greeted her. Betty had narrowly forgotten she wasn't wearing her own things.

"Oh, this? It's..I ruined my sweater today. I just wanted to say that I'm really, really sorry. About Jason. And even if you've been mean to me in the past, still, if you need someone to talk to...just know I can put aside past fights and listen if that's what you need."

Like it or not, they had a connection. Polly was the last person Jason dated, whether or not he didn't like her quite as much as her sister had loved him, but it meant something. Or, it did to Betty.

Cheryl examined her, and then gave what Betty thought was trying to be a true smile, "Well, I'll be frank, I have been feeling the tiniest bit lonely since I heard."

And that's how Cheryl somehow ended up back at Betty's house, with plans for the pair of them to see a movie. Betty's parents were at the Register, presumably, which was great because otherwise Cheryl likely wouldn't have been able to get in the door without her mother cursing the Blossom female out.

Cheryl was being...nice, even. As nice as Cheryl could be, Betty decided. She was keeping her insults to a near minimum and making efforts to give compliments. Betty toyed with the idea she truly was lonely. Her best friend was gone too. And, not just in a fight like Jughead and Archie, but truly gone forever.

"Your room is so sweet," Cheryl crooned as she looked through the figurines.

"It's too pink. It doesn't feel right anymore." Betty scrunched up her nose. She'd wanted a make-over for ages, but even just since last night, she felt like a new person. Not that she meant that she wanted to go out and make her room an Occultist's dream, with pentagrams and blood or something, but she wouldn't have minded a more refined taste.

"This poster, my god," Cheryl laughed, pointing at the wall portal. The one that was totally still working. Betty had checked it while Cheryl was using the bathroom. Could other people go through? Betty wasn't sure, "I know exactly where that picture was taken."

"You do?" Betty couldn't help but sound very surprised.

"Of course. It's on Blossom land, at one of our abroad abodes. If I recall correctly, this one is from somewhere in England."

"Really?" Betty said, standing, "You're sure?"

"Positively, Biker Betty," She purred, since Betty was still wearing the flannel and dark jeans, "I'm sure my great granddaddy or someone took a picture of it and sold it. It's quite stunning, isn't it?" She asked, reaching out for it. Betty held her breath. Inches before Cheryl touched it, she sat back, "Just unreal."

"Yeah, totally weird." Betty agreed.

"So, you and Veronica? I'm surprised you've dropped her."

"I haven't dropped her," Betty felt like she needed to defend Veronica, as upset as she was with her, "I just need some time."

"Well, on the topic of being friends," Cheryl said, clambering from her bed, "I'm sorry I've been such a witchy-witch to you. I mean, it's a little unavoidable," Which Betty thought meant that Cheryl realized she couldn't change her nature even if she wanted to, "And maybe a witch isn't the right word. Why are witches always a bad thing?"

"Uhh," Betty felt her mouth go dry, "I guess, Salem and white men writing the narrative?" She wasn't sure if this was a rhetorical question. Cheryl laughed.

"Oh, Betty, you're so cute. Probably right. I guess this is my apology. I was just angry and used to having Jason to temper me. And now I don't have that." She said, sitting down, "In a way, it's like we both lost siblings, wouldn't you say?"

Betty frowned, "Well, I haven't lost Polly."

"But haven't you? Where is she now, for example?" Cheryl pointed out. Betty opened her mouth and closed it again.

"I don't know." She admitted after a second.

"Her bed hasn't been slept in, I checked." Cheryl said as though they were discussing the weather, "Do you think she knows Jason was murdered?"

Betty felt a suspicious gut feeling rise up, "Not sure," She said cautiously.

"Well, what do you think happened between them?" Cheryl continued.

"If Polly wanted to tell me, she would have. It's not my place to ask." Betty said, pretending like she didn't know what Cheryl was doing.

"He was murdered, Betty. Perhaps you should be asking these questions." A tone very similar to the mean Cheryl emerged for a second, then Cheryl readjusted herself, "I mean, what do your parents think of it?"

"They don't like Jason." Betty replied bluntly.

"Funny," Cheryl said, although didn't elaborate, "Did your parents say something about your sister bursting out when this all happened? That maybe she was feeling a little...full?"

"Of what? Sadness? I guess." Betty said. Now she really wasn't sure what Cheryl wanted.

"Well, do you think she'd capable of...doing something to him?" Cheryl's inquisitive eyes trained on Betty.

"Do you mean like she killed him? Are you insinuating that my sister murdered him?" Betty asked, fully offronted.

"Well," Cheryl said, coming dangerously close to Betty, "Someone killed my brother and I think it was your dumb cow of a sister, a girl with a screw loose and a little too much...energy lying around." She said carefully, like she was speaking in code.

Betty felt her emotions rise up, but this time she let them. She stood, and though she was a couple inches below Cheryl, she made herself seem intimidating.

"Get out of my house," Betty commanded in a low tone, sorry for thinking that she could be nice to Cheryl or that this girl had a decent non-deceiving bone in her body.

"Not until you-," Cheryl started to stay, but Betty willed her magic to surge. The lights flickered out in Betty's room and her window clattered open, the wind rushing around them like a vortex. Cheryl jumped as the gusts of wind knocked some things of Betty's dresser.

"Get the hell out of my house before I kill you," Betty hissed.

Cheryl's face went white as a sheet, changing from shock, to disbelief, to a dawning of understanding and then for the tiniest of seconds...awe. Before betty could decide what all those looks meant, Cheryl was gone, ducking out and practically running down the stairs.

As soon as Betty heard the door slam, she collapsed on her bed, feeling drained. She saw her medication laying on the side table. It had been a long time, but maybe she needed to take it. She was feeling like she was losing her grip on things. She popped two and spat it up immediately. It tastes vile, like poison in her mouth. It made her limbs feel like lead and she couldn't breathe for a moment, not until she gargled water to get the taste out.

She didn't dare take another.

She heard her parents coming up the stairs and covered her head with her pillow, wanting to just melt into the bedspread.

"Betty Cooper, what in the world...was that Cheryl Blossom I just saw leave?"

XXxxXX

It wasn't Sweet Pea's intention to adopt that North Sider; in his mind, when she walked out the door of FP's cabin, he sort of expected to never hear from her again. He didn't expect to contact her either. She, despite being a witch, was still from the other side of the tracks and everyone knew you just didn't associate with those people more than you absolutely had to.

It wasn't until he noticed that FP had put her number in his phone that he considered texting her again.

And, it wasn't very long after he left that Sweet Pea realized she was really and truly alone. There wasn't another witch around for miles and she had all these new and exciting and downright scary powers. While new wolves had a whole pack to look to, and maybe even a parent if things got desperate enough, Betty didn't even have that. Sweet Pea had basically thrown her out into a shark-infested ocean with no life raft and said 'have a nice swim' while he was lounging on the Promenade Deck sipping a Mai Tai. He had answers, not all of them, but a lot.

It's what Sweet Pea did. He adopted lost magical folk. Yes, usually they were wolves, but that was beside the point. He adopted them into his life the way FP had done for him years ago, showed them the same kindness that everyone deserved to be shown in this tumultuous time of change. Once he convinced himself to basically treat Betty as a werewolf-not-werewolf, it wasn't that far of a stretch to want to help her. Plus, a female-witch-Northsider was the combination of three of the world's most mysterious beings...Sweet Pea would be crazy if he didn't take this time to examine all three aspects of her life with a slightly educational interest.

Thus began the texting of Betty Cooper.

It was a way to break up his day, a day that he decided was very boring. At least at school he could think about all the ways he didn't want to be there, but now he was sort of left to his own devices. He did, in fact, catch up on Orange is the New Black, but after living such an active lifestyle, Netflix binging just didn't have much of an appeal

He started by texting her helpful hints, things that weren't in any rulebook (if there was one, somewhere) but every basic magical creature should know. At first, he just saw her read receipts but chalked it up to that she was in class. She seemed like the type of girl who wouldn't text during class.

He took no offense. She was juggling a lot of things and a strange werewolf texting her probably wasn't on her list of things she was looking forward to. Even just knowing that she was seeing the texts put Sweet Pea's mind at ease, because maybe she'd absorb what he was saying and be better off for it.

It was to his great surprise that somewhere after school ended, she began texting him back.

It wasn't like they were having conversations, but she was starting to question things and ask him, which told Sweet Pea she was handling this conversion moderately well. At the very least, she had accepted it. Her questions, up until this moment, had gone like this:

3:45pm

BETTY COOPER: So, if I bleed anywhere, will those things come out and attack me again? Do I always have to be super careful if I get a paper cut or a bloody nose or something?

SWEET PEA: No, I don't think so.

SP: The caster who sent those shrieks on you have to be waiting for your connection. Like they have to be reaching out to you and hope you drop a blood somewhere. They have better things to do than wait for that all day. Whoever it was probably read your bursting magical signature and figured you'd get hurt when you manifested.

SP: You can actually sense magical signatures, did you know?

She didn't respond, but Sweet Pea felt pleased she'd even texted him once. And then, a couple more came.

4:02pm

BETTY COOPER: Are the Blossoms supernatural?

SWEET PEA: One hundred percent human. Still dangerous af, though, don't make that mistake.

BETTY COOPER: Are you sure?

SWEET PEA: Yes? Why?

BETTY COOPER: I just get a really creepy feeling around them, my magic detection whatever is spinning out of control and Cheryl made some strange comments. I just get a yucky vibe.

SWEET PEA: LOL. Everyone gets that vibe around em, don't they?

7:22pm

BETTY COOPER: So it's my dad that's the witch bloodline rite? But neither of my rents were magical?

SWEET PEA: That's our theory. Because, if it was your mom she'd be a witch too and FP is strangely adamant she's not (I think they knew each other in HS?) but if your parents did know, wouldn't they have...i dunno...warned you? Like a helpful rent?

BETTY COOPER: Ha. Helpful. That's one thing my parents rarely are, but I see your point.

7:30pm:

BETTY COOPER: Does sage actually ward of evil spirits?

SWEET PEA: Def, for sure. I mean, minor spirits, but like...it's sorta like bug spray for mosquitoes.

BETTY COOPER: Could someone know about this without being magical? Or…?

SWEET PEA: Some actual magical theory and shit is bound to work it's way down into the human world. There are things that even non magic folk can use, like charms or lighting sage. I mean, half of the media stuff about vampires or witches or wolves is true, half isn't. So, if someone's waving sage around, they're more than likely just superstitious or like 'fake' magic theory and not magical themselves. It might seem like we're everywhere but assume someone is human until proven they aren't.

7:50pm:

BETTY COOPER: Right, okay.

BETTY COOPER: If someone wasn't magical, but did do a human sacrifice to a pagan god (do those exist?) would it work?

SWEET PEA:...

SWEET PEA: Wut?

SWEET PEA: Uhm. Pagan gods...maybeeee? I'm not a theologian. Please elaborate the other part of your question

BETTY COOPER: Something my mom said. That she was pretty sure that the Blossoms killed Jason themselves as a sacrifice to 'some dark pagan god they worship in that insane mansion of theirs'.

SWEET PEA: Sacrifice is a very sacred thing, Cooper. We keep a close eye on it. Plus, it's rare that full death sacrifices are done anymore.

SWEET PEA: So in short. No.

SWEET PEA: They're super creepy and if they worship a dark pagan god, it's all BS

SWEET PEA: And didn't Jason drown?

This is how Sweet Pea got the whole scoop from Betty about how, no, actually Jason had not drowned. He'd been shot in the head and had washed up this weekend and how now, it was being investigated as a murder. This all seemed very strange to Sweet Pea, since the wolves hadn't been able to sniff Jason out. Unless someone shot him under water, blood and gray matter were some of the most pungent stenches out there, so even if they couldn't find him specifically, the would have smelled that he was dead. Maybe they thought he bashed his head on a rock, but at any rate they had just acted like they had no idea where he went or what happened. Like that he just poofed away. They said they couldn't sniff him out, which if he had drown, would have been acceptable, even for a wolf's nose. But even Fangs could have found Jason's death scent if he was truly shot, and Fangs couldn't even smell the difference between a female wolf and a male wolf which was super duper obvious.

Not that he expected FP to tell him everything, but FP usually didn't lie when giving out tidbits of info. It might not be enough truth to put it all together, but it was almost always the truth. FP was an honest guy like that.

So, when FP came by the trailer at near 10pm, Sweet Pea wasn't going to take any more lies.

"You've been holding out on me, boss," Sweet Pea growled, "Like, apparently, Jason was murdered."

FP, whatever he was going to say, was paused. He squinted, "How'd you hear that?"

"So it's true?" Sweet Pea blanched a bit, "Betty Cooper." He said after a beat.

"You two are talking, then. Good." FP said simply.

"The hell that supposed to mean?" Sweet Pea demanded.

"Kid...you're right. I haven't been honest. I spent today researching because I didn't want to drag you into something that I could afford to keep you out of."

"But now you realize you can't?" Sweet Pea said, his courage dying a little from the way that FP was looking at him.

"Yeah. Truth; I knew that Betty had witch's blood. However, like you said, she's way past the age of it coming about, so I stopped paying attention. I mean, sometimes, magic just doesn't take hold to a generation, so i thought that her and her sister were just non magical. Someone's been trying to hide it though, keep it away, and for whatever reason...it didn't work, and thus, magical powers." FP said.

"OKay," Sweet Pea said cautiously, "A witch is cool to have, but why would someone want to suppress it? Why do we care?"

"Betty Cooper isn't just an average witch, Sweet Pea. She comes from one of the strongest witch bloodlines out there. Like pack alpha bloodline, my bloodline, but for witches. And, just because there hasn't been a witch in the area for a long time does not mean that the magic they can harness isn't here. Betty could take the Coven Spot, which would only make her more powerful. Unstoppable even. Someone- though I don't know who, and I've looked-clearly doesn't want her to be able to do that."

"Is it that they just don't want someone taking it, or that they want someone else to?" Sweet Pea asked.

"I couldn't say. I mean, if they have a witch, I don't know why they haven't had her try to claim it, unless they're waiting for her to mature. And, if so, we would have heard about it...I'd think. Point of the matter is that Betty Cooper does not realize the power she has and someone else does so this puts her in danger, immediately."

Sweet Pea mulled over this, "This is the whole truth, FP?" He croaked, still feeling like there was other information FP was holding out on him, "No ifs ands or buts?"

"Yes," FP nodded without missing a beat.

"Well," Sweet Pea shrugged, "I mean, we aren't just going to...I dunno, not help? Right?"

"It's paramount that we keep this girl alive. Not just because I knew her as a kid, not just because it's the decent thing to do and because having a witch on our side will pan out, but because something much bigger is unraveling and we need to choose the best side, the winner. Betty Cooper will be that winner." FP said with a certainty that felt like a prophecy. And if it was a prophecy...

"You been talking to Penny?" Sweet Pea asked, disgust curling at his lips.

"Briefly," FP groaned, "But you can't say she doesn't know how to read the unseen."

"Okay. Betty Cooper is in danger. Probably best we didn't tell her today, that would have freaked her out. I'm guessing you didn't just come back with me to chat." Sweet Pea thew FP a beer from his kitchen and pried the cap off his own.

FP almost smiled, "No, I didn't. Betty needs a protector and a teacher, which is why- as of tomorrow- you'll be staring at Riverdale High."

Sweet Pea did a literal spit take. One he thought only happened in movies, or badly written comics. Something he didn't think his body could do, and it couldn't, since it ended with him choking on the draft a little.

"Excuse me?" He managed to spit out.

"You heard me, Little Wolf." FP said, face even.

"Uhm, first off- no. Second, how? We live on the Southside?" He reminded FP, still believing that maybe he misheard his alpha.

"Number one, yes. I am your alpha, so I don't need to remind you that my word is law. More than that, I'm your legal guardian and have been since you were 11," At Sweet Pea's shocked face, FP gave a dry laugh, "What? You think you've been an uncharted minor all these years? It never seemed worth it to bring up, but actually, I do get to say where you to school. And how? Due to some bureaucratic bullshittery from eons ago, Sunnyside students can go to either or. How do you think Jughead goes there?"

Sweet Pea opened his jaw and closed it, scowling.

"Fine, whatever, you have me there. But why me? Send Joaquin there, since he's used to being farmed out to other schools."

"It's going to be you, Sweet Pea," FP gave a tired sigh, "You want me to explain it all? Okay,to be fair, I will. One; Joaquin has his own assignment in Greendale to watch the borders over there and he's too far out to go to Riverdale even if I was going to pick him. But it never was going to be him. No one knows magic like you, but more than that, you're a helluva wolf. You're not just a blind follower, you question, you have brains, you care about the Pack. I think of you as a son, Sweet Pea and in a delicate situation like this, the biggest assignment that I could ever give anyone, I'd want it to be someone I trust unwaveringly that I also know can hold his own. This isn't something I'd ask any other young wolf, maybe not even an older wolf. This is something I'd only ever ask of an inner circle wolf and you have to believe that."

"You're just buttering me up because you know you're throwing me the short end of the stick," Sweet Pea grumbled, trying not to let the praise cloud his anger.

"No, I'm doing this because it's important and because there really is no one else." FP said calmly.

"But...what about the other wolves? They look to me at Southside High." Sweet Pea argued weakly.

"And we'll find a replacement. I was going to ask you who, actually, since you would know." At Sweet Pea's furious silence, FP continued, "To have a nose in all three corners of this area is going to be a good thing. Kid, I know you're pissed at me and you have the right to be, but it's a done deal."

Just as FP was leaving, Sweet Pea gave a long sigh, "Toni. She's thoughtful and cares about the pack and she'll make a good 'me'." He mumbled.

"I owe you a lot for doing this, Sweet Pea. I won't forget that you were a good sport about it."

XXxxXX

Next morning, Sweet Pea paced outside the entrance to his new school building. He, even without his jacket which FP advised for him to leave at home, felt out of place. A couple people gave him strange looks, since he was 'the new kid' but Sweet Pea just glared right back and that caused them to look elsewhere.

FP had come this his cabin this morning and given him five objectives to achieve while at Riverdale High, which likely would continue until he graduated.

1) Protect Betty Cooper

2) Teach Betty Cooper Magic

3) Feed FP back information about the Jason Blossom case, since this is where all the gossip was about it

4) Since anything could happen, try to make sure that Jughead didn't trigger his curse

5) Be on the lookout for anything else

The number one was the primary objective, clearly, and all the rest were going to fall into place with little effort. He'd teach Betty magic so she could defend herself too. He was going to hear about Jason just by sitting here, since he'd already heard at least three different whispers about it. He would be around Jughead, very begrudgingly, since Betty was friends with him. And for number five? Well, he was always on the lookout for trouble.

He scratched his turtleneck. Riverdale had a strict 'no visible tattoo' policy, something that Southside probably had but never really enforced. Thusly, it meant he could either put makeup on everyday, wear a scarf like he was a gay New York hipster, or wear a turtleneck. None of them were appealing options, but the third was the best, at least until he could teach Betty a glamour spell that she could do for when he was at school.

After a second of hesitation, Sweet Pea inhaled. He was a werewolf for fuck's sake, he shouldn't be nervous. He strutted into the school, got his class list and locker and set out to find Betty Cooper.

I took all the time to find a website and actually manually make all the text messages, because I'm weird like that. You can find it on my a03 under 'Art of Blood of My Blood' or my tumblr youngbloodlex22 :)

My other notes for this chapter!

*I haven't seen Sabrina yet, because I'm trying to keep my witch stuff separate from her witch stuff until I get a better grip on how I want to write this world. When I feel like I've done that, is it worth watching?

*the picture in Betty's bedroom is actually (i imagine) that tapesty from Urban Outfitters of a forest. I have that same one and I always just wished I could reach out and touch it and go through to a warmer beautiful forest, which is where I got inspiration partially for this whole story!

*Jughead is a little cruel to Betty, but no fear Bugheads! It's coming earlier in the timeline than usual. He's just being Jug...when he decides he's moody, he can't really be convinced out of it. He also is just feeling very alone right now

*So, since Jughead is going to Riverdale and his mailing address is still probs the trailers, I'd imagine that means any of them can go? *shrug* Well, it works well enough for this

The flashback episode is tomorrow! Though I know it means SP probs won't be in it, I've been looking forward for this for a long time! I hope it's a good one :)