Okay okay okay, I really swear from now on it's going to be once a week that I update XD
Thanks to those who still reviewed: Boris Yeltsin, top story, and wericdream!
Song for this chapter is Rattle Them Bones by Chu Dat Frawg (more on this song choice at the bottom!)
BETTY to TONI: Um
BETTY: In case you were wondering, SP's in my portrait
BETTY: So you weren't worried
TONI: Oh, thnx. I figured it was something like that
BETTY: So this is normal?
TONI: Ya. His temper rivals all of ours, but whenever he's real upset he needs to get away
TONI: He claimed once he ran all the way down to Disney World but I call BS
TONI: Point being, he'll go all wolfy for a few days to try to shove down his dreaded human emotions
TONI: and then be fine, or better
BETTY: How long should I give him?
TONI: Another day and I'm sure he'll be rite as rain
XXxxXX
Veronica finished unboxing the last package. She could, of course, carted these up their drab cardboard homes, but that wouldn't be much of a spectacle, would it now? She always loved a good dramatic flair, and taking the time and effort to transport these new clothes and shoes into their specific mall bags for Smithers to parade through the apartment was exactly what she was about.
"Veronica, the nest egg your father left us barely covers the rent of this apartment. We can't afford beyond our means." Her mother noticed. Good. Veronica pretend to be surprised she saw or would comment.
"Are you sure mother? Not even with your cushy new job working for your high school boyfriend?" Veronica asked harshly, "And please, I saw the new Valentino in your closet. What, did you just have the saleswoman magically hand it over, free of charge?"
She saw her mother stiffen, for some reason, though her accusation was insane. Sure, her mother was well known in New York and sure, her mother had met Valentino years ago at a gala in Paris, but Veronica highly doubted they'd just be throwing free money to her mom.
"Of course not," Her mother recovered swiftly, "Mija, let's be responsible-,"
"Save it, mom. I don't want to hear it."
XXxxXX
"Hey, guys? Can we, uh, talk?"
Jughead broached the subject, a rare occurrence.
It was the Wednesday after Betty's weekend excursion, after the car was torched. First day, she'd been home. Second day, she'd been busy with make-up work. Third day...well, she should tell Archie and Veronica about Polly, or some details like it. Plus, she could tell Jughead was bursting to talk about the strange occurrence that left him bandaged, and one conversation would lead to another.
Sweet Pea was still in the portal. Betty had thought about trying to edge him out today, but hadn't the time before leaving. She just reminded herself that Toni said this was normal, and would throw a sandwich or a bottled water every so often through the portrait. She knew he was still alive, because he threw the plastic wrappers back onto her bed, so there was that. She'd considered waiting until Sweet Pea was around to talk about this, but Jughead was going to bring it up today.
Thus, his question.
Archie, strumming at his guitar softly, and Veronica, scrolling on her phone, glanced up in surprise. Jughead was rarely so open about anything.
"Yeah, duh," Archie said, setting his guitar next to him, "Sup, man?"
Jughead looked at Betty, and she pressed her lips.
"I guess maybe I should start. You know how we went on an...excursion this weekend? It was to find my sister."
"Did you find her?" Archie was instantly drawn in. He'd always been kind to Polly, let her join in their playdates as children, had raced her around the block on trikes. He'd been worried about her this whole time too.
"Yeah. And here's the kicker. She's pregnant." Betty pressed her fingers to her forehead. She mouthed the last word silently, settling in quietly, so only Archie and Veronica could read her softly moving lips, "She's with my grandma. I guess when she heard about Jason's death, she sorta…" She couldn't finish her sentence. Her face seemed to indicate the struggle she had to find the right words.
"Hey, well, I think I'd too." Veronica said.
"She told us where a car was, one Jason left for her," Jughead took over, "And that's where I got injured."
"You said it was a fight with a Serpent?" Archie scratched his head, "Though, not Sweet Pea?" He looked at Betty, "Where is he?"
"He got hurt pretty bad too. He's recovering," Betty fibbed quickly. Though, it wasn't far from the truth.
"No, not him. At the time, I couldn't figure it out...I wasn't sure…" Jughead bit his jaw, "I'm not sure it was a Serpent. I'm not sure what it was. It was really strange. I was there, looking for the car. There was something I couldn't explain happening, and maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me, but I can't be sure."
"Weird like what?" Veronica's eyes were narrowed.
"The car popping out of nowhere. One second it wasn't there, nex it was." Jughead waved a hand, "Shit, I'm starting to sound like Dilton." He gave a near-angry laugh.
"I think it was raining and you knocked your head," Betty rubbed his back, hoping to dissuade him from this path.
"Yeah," Jughead seemed less sure, "There was also the wolves."
"Wolves?" Betty echoed, brow creasing. She just knew the car burned and someone had stopped Sweet Pea and Jughead from stopping them. Since Sweet Pea was inside her walls, she hadn't really talked to him about it.
"Yeah. Wolves. Or, wolf. Maybe there was more than one. I'm not sure. They were huge though. And just gone when I woke up."
"Well," Veronica gave a wry laugh. "They probably didn't like the fire."
"Wolves?" A voice behind them asked. Betty turned to see Reggie staring, "Think they're a threat, Jones?"
Betty could almost see Jughead trying to think if Reggie had ever talked normally to him before. Probably not. Something about his tone set her on edge, but she didn't know why.
"I mean, one nearly killed me, so maybe," Jughead shrugged.
"But you also bumped your head," Kevin added, plopping on the couch, "Are you sure you're remembering it right?"
Betty threw him a grateful look. As Jughead's...well, whatever she was to him, she didn't want to make him feel crazy by saying that herself. Luckily, Kevin had no such qualms.
"I know what I saw," Jughead's voice was tight.
"I believe him," Reggie said, shocking most, "There were wolves in Riverdale before that killed people, and stands to reason they'd return. There's only one way to deal with 'em." His voice turned menacing.
Veronica gagged, "What is it with men and hunting? God, leave the poor animals alone! They're just acting on instincts. They're not sentient like we are."
"Who do you think burned the car?" Archie turned the conversation back.
"Who knows?" Jughead threw up his hands.
"Kev?" Veronica prompted. Kevin ran his fingers through his hair.
"I know just as much as you guys." He said, mumbling it with a tired look. He'd been texting Betty as carefully as he could about this. He'd been pulled into it too, and he was just as frustrated. Knowing about wolves and witches didn't seem to be helping them at all, only complicating it.
"Not surprised," Veronica put her hands on her cheeks, leaning forward, "Your dad answers to a higher power now, I'd figure."
"God?" Archie asked with confusion the same time Kevin asked, deadpanned 'Cthulhu'?
Veronica looked around at the confused faces, "The Blossoms? Duh. I mean, i get it's their son, but...well-,"
"Ugg, Ging, hurry up! Pick what you want, or I'll pick for you," Tina whined, cutting off Veronica, "You've been standing there like five minutes."
Betty turned around to see Ginger shoot a nasty glare at Tina, before hastily punching in a number into the vending machines and stalking away.
A moment later, the bell rang for the first class. Jughead squeezed Betty's hand, leaving for Computer Lit, while Archie and Veronica scattered to their respective classes. Betty had study hall, where she usually worked on the Blue and Gold. Instead, today, she grabbed Kevin, who she knew was also off and had a free period.
"We have a mission."
"Uhm, okay?" Kevin looked a little taken aback. Betty steered him to the practice rooms. To her relief, she found Josie there. She rarely spoke to the girl one year her senior, often finding her a little standoffish. However, their recent revelation changed things, and Betty was tired of everyone and their magic so disparate.
"Hello? Working?" Josie waved a hand as Betty and Kevin answered. Betty pushed aside her usual feelings of embarrassment, and just raised her chin. Kevin crossed his arms, curious.
"Look, I just want to talk." Betty locked the door, "About things so we're all on the same page."
"Oh?" Josie quirked an eyebrow.
"The magical community of Riverdale needs more communication, because frankly, right now it sucks." Betty began. Josie didn't even make a face. Okay, "I know you're a siren. I'm a witch. Sweet Pea is a wolf. Kevin is...well, he's human, but he knows." Betty said.
There was another silence.
"A witch? Seriously, huh?" Josie dropped her sheet music down, "Well, there's something." She seemed to waffle between sending them away and being open. She eased herself onto a desk, "And the Lodges? They're-,"
"Vamps. Yep. At least her parents, not Veronica," Kevin interrupted, "Which, has all been news to me."
"What are you?" Josie scrutinized him.
"Keeper of the humans?" Kevin offered with a bashful look, "Doesn't quite have a title, but someone has to speak for the larger population."
"Fair," Josie shrugged.
Betty clapped her hands, "Good. Okay. Well, I'll leave you to your music."
"That's it?"
"For step one, yes." Betty blinked, "Eventually, we have to get all the magical people together, or at least a spokesperson of each race, like a council. But, I'm not expecting Rome in a day." She said. Kevin snorted.
"Good luck with that," Josie seemed a little interested, but was putting up a front, "Most magic folk don't interact for good reason."
"With a killer out there, good reason doesn't cut it anymore."
XXxxXX
"Jug, you seemed a little...hesitant to move in with me? Is it because of your dad? Do you want to stay close to him?"
Jughead opened his lunch box, raising an eyebrow, "Can we not do this and say we did?"
"C'mon man, you can tell me." Archie said. Jughead swallowed hard.
"He's been...it's…" Jughead was not usually one at a loss for words, "Ever since he was fired by your dad, he just got worse, until my mom took Jellybean to my grandparent's. I was living with him up until about three years ago. I just felt him slip away. I don't get it, since I know he has the capacity to be a good dad, but-,"
"Naw, man. I get it." Archie tilted his head.
"I think he fell off the wagon." Jughead hunched his shoulders, "But what would I know? I can't remember the last time we talked."
"Do you think if he got his old job back, that would help?" Archie's voice was soft. Jughead picked at his sandwich.
"Maybe," He said doubtfully, "But, like I said, how would I know?"
XXxxXX
Talking to Midge is far less terrifying than talking to Josie. Betty does it solo because ,well, she needed Kevin for the backup for the former, but not here. And, her and Midge have gym together. She would have grabbed her at practice, but the Vixens had been lacking of late. She'd never openly admit it, but at least Cheryl got shit done. Nancy just whined and waffled.
She goes through the list of the council in her mind; Kevin, herself, Josie, Sweet Pea, Midge. Maybe Cheryl, once she's sussed out. It's a shame they don't have a young vampire, but Betty is not about to go knocking on Mrs. Lodge's door asking her to tea. No, they'll have to make do without.
Midge, she figures, will be an interesting one, since she's really never had a conversation with her.
For both being River Vixens, she doesn't know much about the petite girl. She knows she's quiet, she's Moose's girlfriend, and hangs around the football guys when not in uniform. Even though her hair is short, she's not a tomboy, because she is always wearing something that accentuates her curves.
"Midge," Betty calls as the girls are getting dressed, "I'm sorta embarrassed...can you?" It's a universal signal for girls and periods. Midge understands, and dips into the connecting bathroom.
"This isn't about your period, is it?" Midge leans on the sink, "I was wondering what took so long." She rolls her eyes, but is grinning.
"Wait, you know what I'm about to say? Why didn't you ever say something to me?" Betty asks.
"I did have the thought I could be wrong. Doubtful, but not impossible. And, it would have been totally bizarre if I walked to up you and talked about magic that you didn't know about instead of me waiting for you. You took your time."
"I didn't even know. Sweet Pea offhandedly suspected it, or said something." Betty realizes she can't remember, "Anyway."
"Oh. I've done business with wolves before. Not him, but others. DeSantos, for one." Midge says, nodding.
"Excuse me if I sound stupid but...what are you exactly?"
"There's lots of names for us. I guess I'd say I'm a fae. My elemental strength is in the woods, so I'm called a wood nymph on occasion. It's not like, a slur or anything." Midge says, "I connect directly with the earth and reap its benefits. You, as a witch, draw from all the elements. I can only use earth."
"Oh, thanks." Betty blinked.
"I get asked that on occasion. Magic education has really gone downhill," Midge trilled. She glanced at her watch- Tinkerbell (she had a sense of humor, apparently) and hummed, "I also know what you're trying to make. Just tell me when and where, I guess. Though, I'll be honest, I'm not very much in this whole business. The big hullabaloo about a dead kid, even if it is supernatural." She warned.
"But," Betty frowned, "It affects all of us."
"Does it though?" Midge didn't sound unkind, just tired. Or, rather, neutral, "Supernatural kind is like human kind. We just hurt more when we have wars. But, things always right itself, int the end. It is simply the way of nature."
Midge hopped off the sink, fluffing her hair in the mirror, before held out a hand.
"Either way, it's nice to finally meet you, Betty Cooper." Midg sounds genuine, "The real you. The magic you, that is."
XXxxXX
"We're this close to a break in your son's case-,"
Cheryl resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she walked up. Yes, someone had set his car on fire. If that didn't provide something, then Keller was useless. Of course, he should have realized Jay-jay's car was gone from the very start, but that's neither here nor there.
Cheryl was, in fact, about to give him a little something extra to push him along. She could not believe Betty Cooper would be stupid enough to discuss what Ginger had overheard right in the commons, without putting a silencing spell up or something. Jughead too, when she thought about it, even if he didn't know what he was saying. Archie, she'd put it past him. He was cute, but darn was he slow sometimes. Veronica? Well, she was an enigma. A regular, human enigma, at this point.
"Speaking of breaks," Cheryl purred as she strode up to her mother and Keller, "What's a big one worth to you, mother? Letting me be River Vixen again? Allowing me back into Jason's room?"
"What are you talking about," Her mother pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Well, when I was in the ladies' room, Ginger happened to overhear some most interesting news," Cheryl said with absolute dramaticism. Now, she didn't like her mother. For sure didn't love her, so going to Mother did leave a bitter taste in her mouth. She didn't even dislike Betty (Polly, another story), but Cheryl knew when she had a juicy bargaining chip when she saw it. And she wanted the River Vixens back, her place of solace, but needed to be back in Jay's room...or all of this would be for naught. Thus, time to cash in.
Betty really shouldn't have been talking so openly.
She saw Keller leaning in. Even mother looked interested.
"But first, the two promise. Vixens, Jason's room."
Mother's jaw locked, "Fine."
"Splendid. Now, apparently, Polly hasn't been off locked up in a medical care facility for her 'breakdown', unable to speak to the police as we previously believed. She's up with Betty's grandma in some woodsy nowhere cabin. All this time we haven't had proper tabs on her? I'm just saying, she seems awful sure to not talk to the police, keep herself hidden. If it's true she had a metal break, and that seems likely, who's to say she didn't take a little trip down to burn a car, conveniently after telling Nancy Drew and Co its location. And, if she did burn the car and skipped down right after Jason's body was found, well, you do the math."
There was a sudden moment of silence. Then, Cheryls phone began to buzz incessantly. She threw a charming smile to the adults.
"This was just a formality, me telling you outright. I've already texted the word out to my minions. Everyone will know within the hour. Chop chop, pressure's on, Sheriff."
xxXXxx
"Oh, oh no," Kevin grabbed Betty's sweater, pulling her out of the halls. He was looking at his phone, much like everyone else was. Like they were looking at the same thing. And, if Betty had seen enough teen dramas, she knew this was always a bad thing, "Cheryl just sent this out…#PollyCooperKilledMyBrother #She'sHidingSomething #LetsCutABitch."
"What?" Betty grabbed his phone out of his hand, "No, no…" She shook her head incredulously.
"Can you contact her?" Kevin said, lowering his voice.
"If she comes back, she'll be arrested! Veronica was right about your dad and the Blossoms!" Betty spit back.
"We could go, tell him everything now."
"Oh, yeah, that will look really good." Betty rolled her eyes. Kevin opened his mouth, biting his cheek.
"You are spending far too much time with Jughead and Sweet Pea. I hate Sarcastic Betty." He grumped.
"We'll do nothing for now," Betty decided, though her fingers nearly clasped around the necklace, but she pulled back at the last second, "The truth will prevail and this whole crusade is built on assumptions and hearsay."
"And if this doesn't go away?" Kevin asked.
Betty pushed his phone back into his hands, "We'll figure that out too."
XXxxXX
As Betty returned home, she saw a pack of werewolves congregating on her lawn. Or, she assumed they were werewolves, or else Riverdale truly did have a wolf epidemic.
Betty saw no cars in the driveway and hastily shooed the group of five wolves into the forest behind her houses.
"Are you crazy?" Betty hissed, "If my mom saw you, no doubt she'd come after you all with a shotgun? What are you doing here?"
None of them were Sweet Pea. Betty didn't see his wolf here. Betty had fairly good guesser to who the rest were, except one. There was a silvery wolf in front- Toni. A wolf with large Fangs- Fangs. Two identical gray wolves, one with longer hair and one with shorter hair-Jedi and Vade. Finally, a small gingerish wolf. She didn't think it was Deni, but she wasn't sure who else it could be.
Toni shifted in front of Betty, fishing a pair of shorts and a tank from a duffle bag. Betty averted her eyes. Toni obviously had no shame, or was used to it. As much as it was another girl, Betty wasn't good enough friends with her to see her stark naked yet.
"Sweet Pea still in there?" She sounded nervous.
"You said this was normal!"
"I stand corrected. This isn't." Toni winced, "Is he...alive?"
"He keeps throwing notes about food request at my head, so yeah, I think so." Betty rolled her eyes.
"Well, we just…" Toni swallowed, "He's never been away from the pack for so long. We're all sorta starting to get worried. Feel his anxiety, though, we can't hear his thoughts. Is he human in there?"
Betty gave a shrug. She felt bad. She should have checked more often than she had so far. But then again, it wasn't as though her life was so easy of late.
"I can drag him out right now." Betty offered.
"Well, don't rush about it," Toni chewed her lip, "just, when you got a chance. We just wanted to make sure he was okay. Or, well, alive."
"What happened?" Betty asked, "I still don't know."
Fangs had shifted, and when Betty was distracted with Toni had put on clothes, "FP gave him an Alpha's order to stop sniffing into the Jason case. He got too close to something, but no one can figure out what. As it, we- as wolves- won't figure it out now."
"FP has almost never had to give him an Alpha's command." Toni took over, playing with her long hair, "Sweet Pea is a little shit sometimes who gets away with a lot, and FP lets him. There's a relationship that's more than just a standard mentor ship. I mean, imagine it's the first really big fight you ever had with a parent or adult you really respected, who you thought understood you."
Betty's mind instantly went to her mom, "Oh."
"There's something more to it, but we don't know." Fangs rubbed his neck, "Something else is eating his tail. We thought you might."
"Sorry no." Betty felt so embarrassed. What sort of friend was she?
A car pulled into the driveway. Betty and the wolves froze.
"Let him know we came by, when you get a chance," Toni said in a rush, "Let me know he's alive too, when you see him. We'll be in touch."
"I-," Betty began, but the wolf pack bounded away. Betty locked her jaw and went up to her room. Or she started to. She got all the way to the porch when she saw the small wolf, who was now a human small girl, settle herself in the forest. It didn't look like she was on watch, she was just...staying.
Betty came back out.
"Uhm, what are you doing?" She didn't want to sound rude, for she was more concerned.
"Oh! Sorry. I, well, I don't know," The girl admitted. She had strawberry ginger hair and a smattering of freckles. She was wearing a bedazzled shirt, something Betty would have gotten from Limited Too as a kid.
Betty slid down against a tree, across from her.
"What's your name? How old are you?"
The girl nervously chewed on a piece of her hair, "Ginny, though they call me Sanders. I'm 13, but I'm nearly 14. I'll be in high school next year."
Jesus, this kid was so young. She had to kill someone this young. She's only in 8th grade. She's practically a baby!
"What do you want me to call you?" Betty asked.
"Sanders."
"Okay, Sanders. Why are you here?" Betty asked gently.
"Sweet Pea has been taking over my training. Lots of the adult wolves don't wanna deal with a kid like me, a girl no less. Toni's been nice, but she has so much other stuff to deal with. I know Sweet Pea does too, but I go to him when I have a problem and I can't right now. I don't want to bug him, but I nearly turned in class today when I couldn't figure out a math problem. He usually cools me down. I just feel like I'm failing as a wolf and as a human. Plus, I'm really worried about getting my Serpent tattoo. I don't like pain, Betty," She all but wailed.
"Hey, hey," Betty crooned, leaning forward to encourage the girl into her arms, "No need fo tears. I'm sure they wouldn't force a tattoo on you if you didn't want it."
"But...but...it's a tradition...to be a serpent!" Ginny's eyes were wide, "And I'm not even in the Pack yet. There's a whole thing and Sweet Pea was supposed to explain it to me and I'm worried I've already missed it and-," She began to quiver, and just when she started hyperventilating, Betty knew what was next. Betty jumped back just as the girl poofed into a fuzzy wolf, her clothes ripping everywhere.
Darting back to her yard, Betty snatched a pair of sweats and a shirt of hers drying on the clothesline. Back in the forest, she approached the wolf quietly, and then rubbed it's soft puppy fur until Ginny morphed back into a human. Betty offered her the clothes. Ginny blubbered, a bit, still shaking.
This girl was so lost, Betty realized. So moored and adrift in this confusing world, much how Betty would have been had Sweet Pea not swooped in, as he was doing with her. Her heart warmed at the thought. She knew Sweet Pea had a big heart, even if he'd never say it. She rubbed the girl's arms comfortingly, making soft shushing noises.
"I'll get his butt out of that portrait, don't worry." Betty said. Ginny looked up, her eyes liquid.
"Oh, don't bother because of me," She squeaked.
"No, it's not fair to you. He can grow up. He's nearly an adult." Betty snapped, "In the meantime, do you want to stay here? I can make something up to my mom. Say I'm tutoring you or something."
"I'd rather just say in the woods, if it's all the same ." Ginny whispered, "They comfort me."
"No, yeah, sure," Betty stood, brushing the dirt from her legs, "Don't worry, Sanders. If Sweet Pea doesn't have your back, I do."
Time to go bother a grumpy-ass wolf.
XXxxXX
FP was not in his trailer. That is, of course, where Jughead expected him to be on a usual basis...in his trailer, drunk, passed out and snoring.
That was not the case.
From what Jughead could see as he peered into the window, cupping his hands over his vision, the trailer was clear of debris or empty cans.
"What are you doing?"
He turned to see Toni raising an eyebrow at him, her arms full of her school books.
"You seen my dad? Or, know where he is?"
Toni chewed her lip.
"You try texting him?"
Jughead narrowed his eyes, "He has a phone?" In the grand scheme of things, a drunkard without a job usually didn't have a cell-phone. Although, this seemed to not exactly be the case, though Jughead wasn't sure when it changed...or if it ever had. In all, it didn't make him feel better. It made him feel like shit because if his dad was put together, why hadn't he ever reached out to him?
"Well, okay, um...you stay here. I'll text him." Toni said, pulling out her phone.
"It's important," Jughead added, in case his father couldn't be bothered to come for something minimal.
"Sure," Toni's smile was warm, but it made Jughead feel strange.
He plopped down on the stoop of his old family trailer, looking through his notes on the Jason Blossom case. Nothing new was jumping out at him, so he took out his copy of 'Crime and Punishment' to read until his dad arrived.
FP came strolling through the camp with a whole convoy of Serpents or Trailer Park inhabitants at his heels. He seemed to be explaining something, or, giving instructions. And the way that these adults looked at his dad...it was one of utmost respect. It was a look Jughead didn't associate with his father, so that threw him for a loop. Tall Boy was following behind, taking notes on what also looked like a phone, intermittently adding a comment. Right before they came across Jughead, the other Serpents his father had been conversing with went off with a nod and a salute.
"In the middle of something?" Jughead bit out sourly, seeing a couple other people start to mill to ask his father something. It annoyed him that his father was so...popular?
"Actually," Tall Boy said, but FP sent him just a single look and he quieted. Jughead watched their interaction with scrutinizing curiosity. He wished he could see them interact more, but Tall Boy was dismissed with just a tilt of his father's head.
FP looked at Jughead, his eyes lingering on his stitches. He reached out, as though to touch it, but Jughead jerked away. He regarded his dad with a wary expression. His father looked hurt, but Jughead was too upset to care.
"I always have time for you, kid," FP said to Jughead. Jughead rubbed his lips together, pressing them into a thin line.
"History says the opposite," He said quietly, "But, dad...I think we can fix it."
"Fix it?"
FP motioned to two folding chairs to the side of his trailer. A bit more private, as it was backed up to the woods. Jughead, on some level, itched to get inside, but his father offered him no such opportunities. He pulled out a beer for himself and offered Jughead a variety of sodas. Jughead took a cold Coca-Cola, a little overwhelmed with the juxtaposition of how he thought his dad's life was and how it actually existed.
"I came back to ask if you'd consider going back to work for Fred Andrews'." Jughead decided to come right out with it. No small talk for them. He wasn't going to gush to his dad about how he'd gotten an A on his last paper, or that he was really proud of what he and Betty were doing on the Blue and Gold, or that he even had a girlfriend. His father could have asked him those things at any time in the past four years, but he hadn't. Jughead was done trying to fix something that was long ago broken.
FP picked off the bottle cap like it was tinfoil, "Yeah. He called." FP said curtly, "I said no."
"But-," Jughead began to argue, and his dad gave a dark laugh.
"He fired me, Jug. What kind of man would I be if I just went back like that?"
"For starters?" Jughead chuckled angrily, "A man trying to get his family back together."
"I'd say talk to your mother. She's the one who packed up and left when things got difficult." FP spat out, his eyes narrowing.
"Dad, don't make me beg. But please, just talk to him," Jughead implored, feeling small and furious he thought his father was any different, "He's willing to give you another chance-,"
"Oh, willing? How generous of him." His dad sounded unnecessarily cruel, for reasons Jughead couldn't figure out, "Jughead, don't ask."
"But this could fix things. Mom and Jelly could move back…" Quieter, wondering if he dare to speak it, "I could come home."
"Oh, son," FP's whole expression shifted. He looked heartbroken, "You, at Sweet Pea's? That's a safe place for you. It's a good place."
Jughead felt tears prickle in his eyes, but he would not let them fall, "Don't you want me?"
"Juggie, I," FP seemed torn, unable to speak, "It's not that simple-,"
"It's fine." Jughead stood abruptly, "Don't have to pretend. I get it. Sorry I tried."
"Jughead!" FP stood up, calling after him, but he was long gone. Tall Boy eased out of the shadows, his head tilted.
"Well, boss, in less than a week you've managed to alienate the two kids that mean the most to you. Of course, better for Jughead's part, but maybe you deserve a prize." He commented.
"If you want to keep your head, Tall Boy, you'll shut your muzzle," FP growled, stalking past him, "One day, both of them will get it. It's for their own good. It's better like this."
So the song is very country, which I currently like, since I just started watching 'True Blood'. It's sorta in this genre of the story I'm writing, so I thought it was worth a mention XD
But things that actually relate to the story:
* Here starts the point in the story where, at this episode (i can't recall the title off the top of my head), there's now almost 100 pages to cover it. So much shit happens in this time, it's crazy y'all. Like, 3/4 of the biggest events are going to come about now!
*The magical council thing may vanish for awhile, but I just wanted to show you that Betty's starting it so when it DOES appear again, you're not like 'wait, how did this happen?'
* The reason that I decided to have FP not take the job like in canon isn't because he's a disaster, but because his JOB is to be the Alpha...which seriously takes up most of his time as it is.
Big things are coming! Hope you guys are all super psyched! Leave a review it you are :)