Thanks to those who review: bluexaphyre, Boris Yetsin, weircdream, and Guest27!
Guest27: Who wouldn't want to go to a pack bbq?
Song for this chapter is 'Raise The Dead' by Phantom Planet! But, another name for this chapter totally could be 'The Chapter Where Shit Gets Explained'. Hope that makes you excited.
FP did not get a chance to return to his trailer until early the next morning. Pack Meetings were always long, tedious, and slightly stressful, but nothing had been as equally tiring as well as terrifying as the knowledge that someone in his pack was more or less encouraging the killing of humans and the changing of werewolves. If Keller got wind of this at all, his furry ass might end up a fancy rug at the police station.
FP wasn't stupid enough to ignore this. He had wanted to give whoever it was the benefit of the doubt. Still, there could be no chances taken.
After such a draining activity as welcoming new wolves into the Pack and the literal headache on his end of linking new members, all FP wanted to do was finish off a nice cold beer, take a hot shower, and then sleep for the whole rest of the day. Tall Boy knew how to handle things. It wasn't unusual for FP to vanish after a full moon.
Instead, the moment he stepped foot onto Sunnyside land, he could smell her. A cloying metallic tinge mixed with something rotting. He gagged a little, never having gotten used to the stench of vampires.
"Not today, Hermione," He snapped to the woman sitting outside his trailer. He purposely slammed the door in her face. Hermione opened the door but could step in no further.
He ignored her completely, grabbing a beer and heading for his shower, hoping she'd get the hint. Surprise, surprise, she had not. Half an hour later, she was still there, arms crossed, expression stony.
"You vamps always were impossible," FP said, throwing on his clothes and going out to meet her.
"Lodges, you mean," Hermione replied with a grin.
"One in the same." He crossed his arms, giving a shake of his shoulders and a 'what' look.
"You didn't show up at Fred's."
"Uh, yeah. Thought you'd be thrilled." FP frowned.
"I'm…" She thought over her words carefully, "Surprised. I can tell it hurt Fred's feelings."
"He's a big boy." FP said, though looked down at the ground.
"He would never ask me to come over, but I know how much it upset him. And your boy."
FP's eyes flashed dangerously, "Don't bring Jughead into this."
He half expected Hermione to laud over this victory, but instead, she nodded.
"No children, understood," She said tightly, "I just...if it's me that's keeping you-,"
"Oh, you think far too highly of yourself, Gomez." FP said, "Lodge." He corrected himself after a moment, "It's not...Jughead doesn't understand. I'm not taking that job."
"Not after how generous it was to even offer it to you? You could have made some real money. I know you have a brain in there, so, please, tell me...how does the infamous FP Jones get caught stealing from a man he knows like the back of his hand?"
FP didn't appreciate the calculating look on her.
"Got sloppy?" He offered, but knew that she had picked up on it.
"I doubt it," Hermione tilted her head, "I think you knew exactly what you were doing."
Frustrated, FP looked around, seeing a couple people watching their interactions. He grabbed her forearm, shivering at the coolness of it, and dragged her to the back of his trailer, near the tree-line, out of the way of prying ears.
"Hermione-," He warned.
"Fred would probably believe me if I told him it was all fake. That you were trying to break his heart." Hermione added, but it wasn't as much of a threat as it was a thought.
"You should be doing the same."
"I tried," Hermione whispered, "After high school. You remember."
FP did. Fred had been despondent about it for days, weeks even.
"Then you know I'm doing him a favor." FP muttered gently, "He's only human."
"Yes, I suppose, if I heard right...it was only six months after you turned that you were fired."
If FP were more casual with her, he might have asked if she was keeping tabs on him in a flirty sort of way. Instead, now, he just shrugged.
"Had just been given the keys to the kingdom, guess you could say. Juggie was a toddler, Jelly was a baby...and it was too dangerous for Fred to get involved with my shit. I was the Alpha heir, people were coming at me. Gladys could protect herself and the kids, but Fred? Naw, the best thing to do would to have a falling out. Never talk again. He let me off too easy, but I've kept my distance. There are days I miss it, fucking course I do."
"As you said yourself, Fred's a big boy." Hermione began.
"No. Things are worse now that your kind is back. At least everything's been paid off. We're no closer to finding out about Jason, got wolves turning left and right, someone hunting down a witch...you came back at the least helpful time, Hermione. To Riverdale." He clarified.
Hermione was silent, "I get why you did it. It's admirable what you're trying to do. And, I don't think I could ever estrange Veronica from me. That's not a judgment, it's...respect. Still…"
"You can't help but have judgment. I remember." For a second, FP wanted to laugh. Lodge or a Gomez, Hermione was still annoying opiniated.
"I'm just thinking. At least if I'm around Fred, I can put safeguards up to protect him. If I'm not, and someone still comes, he'll have nothing. We may not see eye to eye on much anymore, but I know that we both care deeply for Fred. I don't want to see him dead any more than you do. Consider it, FP."
"You gunna stay on your side?" FP grumbled, "Or come back here again?"
"Depends on your answer."
XXxxXX
"Mom, Dad, Polly isn't gunna stay at Grandma's forever, right?"
"Isn't going to; please," Alice sharply stated, "I hate it when you use improper grammar, Elizabeth."
Betty resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "Sorry mom."
"No, of course she won't," Her father cut in, answering the question, "This was always meant to be temporary."
"Are we going to put the crib in Polly's room, then? Or the guest room?" Betty asked carefully, stirring her cereal with her spoon. She saw her mother stop altogether, and take a second before she replied.
"Sweetie," She said in a sickeningly sweet voice that always made Betty feel like she was eight, "We've talked to Polly about this, and she's agreed to give the baby up for adoption."
Freaking lies.
"She did?" Betty tried to sound conversational over shocked or angered or suspicious.
"It's a hard decision for a young mother, but given the circumstances, it's the best."
"Only," her father cut in, "Only." he repeated a bit quieter. There was a beat in which Betty decided what to do next. Her father looked at his watch, "I'm meeting with Mr. Hamming at 8. I'll see you at the journal, dear." He said, kissing Betty's forehead before leaving.
"But mom…" Betty finally found her voice, "Don't you want to know your grandkid?"
"It's the best choice," Alice said, but sounded less sure.
"How? Surely, with family-,"
"Betty," her mother spoke over her, though it was not in the usual sharp tone, but it was soft. Too soft. It caught Betty off-guard, "I just want this baby to be safe. Polly too. We both know it's not safe here. As much as like the thought of grandchildren, though not this young, being a good parent is sometimes doing what is best for your child, even if it hurts you. Polly realizes this."
There was a tenderness to her tone Betty didn't' think she's ever heard her mother so tender. Then, like a switch, the moment is gone. Alice pulls herself up and her usual commanding tone has returned.
"You'll be late for school. Eat up."
XXxxXX
"What do you want Cheryl?"
Betty crossed her arms, examining the red-head. Ever since waking up, remembering that Cheryl was a witch, she'd been trying to find the perfect opportunity to bring it up. However, in light of Polly's situation, it seemed like it would be put onto the back burner. Until now…
"What we both want. For the baby to be safe." Cheryl said, completely sincere.
Betty was quiet for a second. Not thinking if she believed Cheryl, something told her to, but thinking if it would be better to come right out with what she knew, or ease into it?
"How can I help?" Cheryl asked. When Betty still didn't answer, Cheryl pressed her lips together, "I get you don't trust me. Watch me like a hawk. Tell me the barest minimum, but let me help."
"So you suddenly care?" Betty spat.
"She's carrying Jason's baby. You can't imagine what it's like to hear that. As much as I don't like her, being honest, I already love her kid. This trumps everything."
Betty chewed on her nails.
"And your parents? They seemed ready to crucify my sister, just like you. Plus, his co-mingling with us peasants can't be denied now."
"True," Cheryl said, ignoring her cold jabs, "But, Betty...I don't think you understand."
"I don't."
"If you only ever trust me on this one thing, let it be this. My parents would never do anything to harm that child."
"Because of Jason?" Betty raised her eyebrows.
"Because blood means everything," Cheryl said, which basically meant the same thing to Betty. It was a strange way of agreeing, but Cheryl was strange. So, her response was almost normal.
Betty inhaled sharply, "Okay. Fine, you want to help? We need to talk about this not here. And soon. Meet me at my house in...two hours?" She needed to talk to Cheryl about magic, and Polly. In private. The only time she knew with certainty her parents would be gone is during her school hours. While Betty had never purposely skipped class before...well, discussing Plato's Allegory of the Cave just seemed so insignificant, all things considered, "That fine with you?"
"I told you, I'll do whatever you ask of me." Cheryl said, "Two hours."
XXxxXX
BETTY COOPER to SWEE PEA and KEVIN: Are both of you willing to be a little bit bad today?
SP: Hot damn, sign me up. Geo-trig is boooorrrring
BETTY: We need to talk to Cheryl. About specific things. I got her to agree to meet me at my place in two hours. Can you both be there in 1 ½? I think you'll wanna be there
SP: You don't even have to ask
KEVIN: I would normally try to talk you out of this
KEVIN: But i'm hella curious
KEVIN: So, yes
KEVIN: Who needs bio in real life anyway?
XXxxXX
Betty had made friends with the front office ladies early into her high school career. She knew them by name, what their children's ages were, and what sort of baked goods they enjoyed. She'd also never missed a single day of school and always got her forms signed in on time. So, when she went to the office, feigning feeling sick and telling them she'd barfed, they let her go home with nearly no problems. In fact, one asked if she wanted some soup from the cafeteria while she waited. Betty figured she got only once or twice to pull this card; today seemed like the best use she could think of for it.
Sweet Pea was already waiting on her porch when she walked home.
"I was already looking for an excuse to skip." He shrugged.
Betty unlocked her front door, allowing him upstairs with her.
"We're going to get to the bottom of this, Sweet Pea. I am also sure she knows more about Jason. Maybe, now that we're on her side...hey, is that agreement still in place?"
She still did not want to be a bat.
"Only lasts about a week." Sweet Pea waved a hand, "But, um, Alpha's commands…"
"Oh crap!" Betty had forgotten, "So, dammit. I mean, it all leads back to him, doesn't it?"
"Suppose so."
Sweet Pea's forehead was sweating. She was about to ask why when she let out a squeak.
"Your nose!" She darted into her bathroom, grabbing tissues. He followed, holding his face over the sink, letting the dark blood drip against the pristine white porcelain.
"Trying to get past it. Resist the Alpha command." He growled, fingers gripping the counter.
"You're killing yourself!" Betty shoved him, "Stop it, please."
"I want to be here. I gotta...I gotta know. I nearly got killed once over this." Sweet Pea said, looking paler than she'd ever seen him.
"Stop, stop! We're not going to ask her about Jason. Just talk about baby clothes with Polly. Believe it, Sweet Pea," She said, poking his chest. She let out a sigh of relief when his nose stopped bleeding.
"I know you're lying. Your poker face is awful."
"What were FP's exact words? That you weren't allowed to basically go looking into this. Superficially, you actively pursuing it, right?"
"Yeah?"
"What if you happened to overhear it?"
"I like the idea, but no," Sweet Pea pouted, "As soon as Cheryl theoretically started talking about him, I'd be bound to leave."
"Well, what about wolf connection? You said yourself that just the other day, despite Jedi really not wanting you all to see it, you got a very good look at him having sex with that girl?"
"As soon as FP, or any other wolf heard, we'd be over too."
"Not if you're in the portal," Betty's eyes shifted to the painting, "Phased wolves outside of it can't hear your thoughts. But, we know that mental telepathy is strong between two people, since I can talk to you in your mind."
"Except that you have to think about putting those thoughts in. To be talking to Cheryl, connecting with my mind, thinking at all outside of that...you'd exhaust yourself. It's fine."
"No, not me! Another wolf. You both could be phased, the wolf could happen to have their mind open, as it often happens to overhear it. And, since the magic of the portal is a block between you and other wolves, they wouldn't overhear any...sensitive information."
"Betty Cooper, you are a certified genius," Sweet Pea said, "I'm texting Toni."
Toni arrived in less than five minutes. Was everyone so ready to cut class, Betty wondered? Honestly, it should have scared her, but then again, this was more important than any lesson. She decided to have a talk with Toni and Sweet Pea about the importance of classes later. Betty instructed her up to her room, and through the portal.
"God, anything to have gotten me out of that awful science lesson," Toni said, one leg swung into the forest, "Daymn, girl. Nice pad."
"The nonchalant way you both blow-off class should scare me," Betty said with narrowed eyes.
"Pfft," Toni waved a hand, "So, what the plan?"
As Sweet Pea began to explain it, Betty's phone rang, indicating Kevin was here. Betty popped out to meet him downstairs.
"So, we're just going to have a little meeting in your living room?" He asked, looking very nervous to be skipping class. Betty felt that too.
"Not exactly."
Kevin's eyes widened with glee, "The portal?" She'd described it to him, but he hadn't had a chance to go in it, but was deadly curious.
Betty grinned.
Back in the portal, Kevin started to itch.
"Is that how magic feels? God, that's uncomfortable."
"You can feel that? It's not itchy to me, it's...like a warm sweater." Betty said.
"I feel like it's one of those scratchy sweaters," But Kevin was tapping his chin, using his notes in his phone to type something, "All I know if I wandered into a place I wasn't supposed to be and felt this, I'd want to get aw-ah!"
Toni was already phased.
"Uhm, hmm, you've never actually seen a werewolf turned this close, huh?" He said he'd seen them from a distance, in the woods, but Betty racked her brain to think of a time he would have been up close and personal. Well, he was dating one...Kevin must have seen her expression, because he blushed. Betty decided in that moment she did not want to know what kind of furry, kinky things they did or did not do.
"No. It's not like Joaquin and I…" He coughed, "Nevermind."
"Right. Well, this is Toni. Sweet Pea's…" She felt his presence mentally, "Around. Actually, I'm not sure if you've ever been formally introduced to her either." It was strange. She could hear Toni's thoughts through Sweet Pea's, but not her directly. She thought about trying to connect into Toni, but Sweet Pea protested. He wasn't sure what had linked their bond, and it could be disastrous for her to so casually attempt it.
She turned back to her friend. Kevin was just blinking at the larger-than-life wolf.
"Err...hello?"
Toni grinned. It looked very human, something that seemed to weird Kevin out a fair bit.
"I'm going to go wait for Cheryl. And then?" Betty gave a shaky exhale, "Yeah."
Cheryl arrived right on time. Her punctuality was something Betty had long ago noticed and appreciated, as she was the same.
Betty wordlessly motioned for her to go upstairs. She recalled the last time Cheryl had been in her room. It seemed like so long ago, when in reality, it had hardly been over a month. Cheryl remembered which door was hers, and breezed into it.
"So-,"
"I'll be honest, I lied," Betty closed her bedroom door behind her, "We'll talk about Polly, sure, but there's other things to discuss."
"Such as what?" Cheryl blinked, and Betty considered that she truly didn't know. No, Cheryl wasn't stupid.
"Let's go...somewhere more private," Betty motioned to the picture. She saw Cheryl's face flash, and then smooth back over.
"Betty, I'm not sure I-,"
"We both know, Cheryl. I'm not asking for your confirmation, I'm asking for explanations." Betty said simply.
Cheryl seemed torn. Finally, she gave a stiff nod, "I suppose, if it's already been deduced."
"More or less."
Cheryl crawled through the portrait with more grace than Betty ever had. She spied Kevin first, and pulled a face.
"You brought a human in here?"
"And two werewolves. Just so we can all be on the same page," Betty tilted her head, "Now you, I know you've met Toni."
Cheryl frowned, "Who?"
"I think she interrogated you about this," Betty pointed to the chain with the bone, "At the drive-in."
"Oh. Yes, Bubblegum Queen," Cheryl confirmed in her usual biting nicknames. Toni growled.
"Let's...cool it." Kevin stepped in. Cheryl gave him a once over, her lips quirking like he amused her somewhat.
"So what is this? Some sort of communal witch burning?" Cheryl crossed her arms.
"No. Hell, I'm a witch too, which you knew," Betty pointed a finger, "We're just trying to get to the bottom of all this."
Cheryl probably could have bolted if she wanted, or fancy-magicked her way out. But, maybe she was tired of running. Or, maybe she was relieved. Either way, she just nodded with a sense of resolution.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything," Betty leaned against a tree. She made sure to keep an open communication to Sweet Pea, in case he had any insights. Not a conscious translation between the pair, but more just an existing low frequency.
Cheryl gave Betty a withering look, "You're going to have to be more specific."
"Okay," Kevin rubbed his chin, "Why does no one seem to know you...and I'm guessing your family...are witches?"
"Yeah," Betty cut in, "Your mom, I think, drugged me after the wake. Your grandma had mentioned you were a witch to me."
"Preservation." Cheryl said simply, "Witch hunts might be technically extinct, but that doesn't mean someone still wouldn't try to kill us. Especially since we trade in...less socially accepted things, even for witches."
"Dark magic," Kevin growled.
Cheryl gave a devilish smile, "More or less. Poisons, curses, hexes...a lot of other things that some other witches are too terrified to touch. So, we made our monopoly on it." She sounded proud, "And we're good at it."
Doesn't she mean she's bad it? Gettit?
Betty groaned. Cheryl and Kevin glanced toward her. Toni rolled her eyes.
"Just, go on." Betty encouraged. She wasn't going to even give Sweet Pea a hint of satisfaction by trying to explain just how awful that dad joke had been.
"How many people know," Kevin seemed to slide into an interrogator position with ease.
"In town? None, as far as I know, but mumsy and pops have to have some clients, so people do know, but we do it from behind the shadows." Cheryl said.
"You're not going to wipe our memories again?"
Cheryl was looking at Betty with a smidge of respect, "Somehow, I doubt there'd be little point."
"How long have you been practicing' Betty asked.
"Since my powers came in, at age 12." She tucked a hair behind her head, "You're not too bad, all things considered."
"Why was your family making me and Polly suppressants? Or, the Notice-Me-Nott. Did you make those? Did your mom try to kill me?" Betty said. Kevin's eyes bugged a little. Had she not explained that night to him? Oops…Well, she'd fill him in on that later.
"God, one at a time," Cheryl waved her hands, fashioning a chair from some sticks with far more magic ease than Betty could even dream of, "My mom made those."
"I thought it was through the father-,"
"It is. Thank god, she's a dreadfully pitiful witch at that." Cheryl shuddered, "But, the easiest answer to all three of those is yes."
A spike of anger, hot and disgusted. The sky around them darkened, "Explain." Betty's voice was deadly. She could feel Dark Betty purring, telling her to make Cheryl pay. But it hadn't been Cheryl, it had been her mother...and Alice too, perhaps.
"The Coven seat in this section of the country has been open for nearly fifty years. It's claimed by the strongest bloodline. Power and influence beyond what you could ever imagine. All I know is that my family's blood and your family's blood are two of the oldest, most sacred. Possibly the strongest in the country. We'd be in direct competition. It was only logical to suppress your witch powers until you were too old to claim them, so you couldn't try for it at age 18. Same with Polly. The notice-me-not...if people weren't asking about Polly, the better for us. As for the attempt on your life…"
"I'd come into my powers," Betty finished, scowling, "Is that why they're so interested in this baby? If it's a girl, it would be a witch from the two strongest bloodlines, right?"
"I couldn't fully guess."
"So, am I still in danger?"
"Of course, a little. Will they try to actively murder you? You've made quite the band of werewolf companions, which makes it difficult. Plus, your mom figured out what we tried, so doing it covertly isn't an option. Rest assured, you don't have to sleep with one eye open."
Okay, concrete proof her mom knew what she was. Next person on her list to talk to, if the visit to Polly hadn't confirmed it.
"Next," Kevin said, once there was a small silence, "Jason. Everything. All of it. Anything you know."
Betty tilted her head. So far so good for Sweet Pea. He wasn't spontaneously combusting, so they might be okay.
"And tell the truth." Betty snapped.
"I am. I frankly have no reason to lie, not when I feel like things are...converging," She tried to explain. She shook out her thoughts, "Jason came to me and said he needed my help. I didn't know it was Polly or about the baby, but he just said he needed to get away from our parents, forever. They're horrid and I love Jay, so I couldn't say no. The plan was this. On the Fourth of July, we'd row across the river, and he'd go to the other side, as I told your dad. I'd get myself wet, tip the canoe, the whole big thing. But, in between those two events, I'd more or less sever his life connections. That was the ritual Dilton saw me doing," Cheryl nodded to Betty, "It would, to try to describe it, more or less give the utmost illusion that he was dead if my parents tried to reach out to his magical signature or get me or another witch to do it. It would permanently take away his magical genetics, but he said that it was worth it. That's when I knew this whole thing was serious. Jay loved magic, even if he couldn't wield it." Suddenly, the crying conversation with Veronica in the locker room seemed to burn with clarity.
"Would it actually hurt him?" Kevin scratched his head.
"Maybe some pain when the process was done, but nothing lasting. it wouldn't have actually killed him. I had been brushing up ways to regain a little bit of the magic. I couldn't imagine him having to go without. After he was settled wherever, around three years, I was going to try to re-open the link, after claiming the Coven seat."
"Well, I guess I can see why you couldn't tell my dad that, but he'd get it, at least," Kevin let out a low breath.
"But then he actually died," Betty glanced toward her, feeling ill. It made her think of losing Polly.
"Yes." Cheryl's voice was quiet. In the back of Betty's mind, she could hear Sweet Pea talking to her. She tuned in, catching a couple of words.
Ask about Veronica...the wake...the cut...necromancy.
"Necromancy," Betty echoed. Cheryl snapped her head toward her.
"As in zombies?" Kevin echoed, looking green. Cheryl made a low sound in the back of her throat, annoyed, maybe about that suggestion.
"Zombies aren't real," Cheryl sniffed, "Not like you're thinking, all a-la-Walking Dead."
"Then I'm confused."
"When done right, you can bring back someone as though they spent no time dead," Cheryl said, "And we do do it right. Usually. If the power is strong enough…"
"You tried to take Veronica's power. Vampires are magical. You didn't realize she was human." Betty felt the pieces click together.
"Correct. Raising a human is hard, and takes immense skill and power. Jason had already been dead for so long, I knew I'd need more than just crystals. But, I was wrong." The grief was written on her face, "My mother blames me. I suppose she's right. I did fail him. I should have realized in that week that he was...in trouble. I should have felt it when he died, but the connections were gone. I could have raised him right away, if I'd found him soon enough."
Cheryl sniffled, quickly wiping away a tear.
"And now it's too late. He's been dead too long." Kevin quietly finished, looking sad. Jason had been well-liked, and Cheryl's tears were genuine.
"Wait." Betty said.
She frowned. Sweet Pea was trying to convey something to her, but his thoughts were all scrambled. She tried to sift through his excitedly rambling brain, his thoughts coming and going too quickly for any sort of logical conclusion to be made. From the way Toni's eyes were flashing, it seemed she had even less of an idea of where he was going with this.
"Do you think we should tell our parents?" Kevin asked Cheryl as Betty tried to sort through thoughts to make a coherent idea.
There was a resounding 'no' in Sweet Pea's brain before he continued on his tangent, loud and enough to make Betty jump, pausing all his other thoughts, before the rest washed in like high tide.
"I would think not," Luckily Cheryl was in agreement, even if she did not know that, "They're all hiding something from us, and I don't think they'll be too keen on sharing their combined news. No, this is something we need to take into our own hands."
"Okay," Betty sighed, "Uhm, Sweet Pea is asking if having a second very powerful witch and literally as many werewolves as you needed would do it? Raise Jason?"
Cheryl blinked, "As in a theoretical, I'm guessing, because it's already past the time when there was something to do. But, if I'd had that, then yes...perhaps," She said, frowning.
"Apparently, not a theoretical. Erm, he's saying Halloween...solstice?" Betty tilted her head, trying to tune into his connection.
"The days in which the veil between the spirit world and our own is weakest," Cheryl supplied, but still was examining Betty with utter confusion. Betty felt that, very much.
"He's, urg...wait? No...that doesn't...Sweet Pea, I don't' know what you're getting at!" She snapped angrily finally, tugging at her hair.
Then, she felt a change to his mind. Before she could stop him, Sweet Pea stumbled into the forest, buckling his pants with one hand and holding his already profusely bleeding nose with another.
"I'm not saying we bring him back to life, he's already dead. Dead as a doornail. Dead is dead is dead is dead is- " Sweet Pea said.
"Your point, dollar-store knockoff Jughead?" Cheryl snapped.
"Ouch, that one hurt, Cherry," Sweet Pea licked his lips, "He's dead. As established. I'm not saying we bring him back to life I'm saying we bring him back to death."
"Yeah, I'm confused." Kevin announced.
"Cheryl," Sweet Pea said, grinning through the blood dripping down his chin, "What's dead, but sort of alive, magical, and made by witches?"
Cheryl seemed to understand, because she laughed out loud.
"Vampire."
"Gold star for-," Sweet Pea never finished, because pretty much immediately, he collapsed. Alpha's Command knocked him out.
"Least his nose isn't bleeding anymore."
"Thanks Kev."
XXxxXX
"Where are you going? And don't say clubbing, it's a school night."
Veronica paused in her doorway, raising a carefully manicured eyebrow.
"Oh, but that's exactly where I'm going. You know why? Because I want to." Veronica said, grabbing the door.
"Okay, Ronnie, enough. Checkmate. What do you want?"
"I want you to admit what you did," Veronica said simply.
"Fine, I kissed Fred Andrews."
"Not that," Veronica felt her anger and disgust rise up her throat, "No, I'm talking about the other thing."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"The signature," Veronica hissed.
"The one you signed in your own hand? Of your own free-,"
"Don't!" Veronica snapped, "Don't finish that sentence. I...I didn't sign it."
"Honey, I know you've been under a lot of stress, but you signed that."
"You made me!" Veronica thundered, "You got inside my head, somehow and you...you…" Veronica felt her poise rapidly slipping, "Do you know how it feels, mother? To feel like your own hands betrayed you? Like your own mind can't be trusted? I can't say how you did it, but trust me, I will find out."
"Veronica, don't be dramatic."
"Dramatic?" Veronica gave a harsh laugh, "You haven't seen anything yet. My friends are waiting."
With a flourish, Veronica slammed the door shut behind her. She inhaled hard, trying not to cry. Then, she pulled herself together. She had a night of fun ahead of her.
Do you all like this VERY consistent update schedule? I know I do...I know it's only been like...three weeks...but this is a win for me so far :)
In terms of notes, we have a lot, and some big exciting ones!
*First off, I have been nominated by the Bughead fanfiction awards on tumblr for best 'other couples' author as well as Sci-Fi/Fantasy one-shot for the first chapter of Hic Sunt Dracones (the Bughead Sex pollen one) which is of course connected to this universe. Being nominated is just an honor in itself, but I would be totally in your guy's debt if you considered going over and voting for me :)
*For those of you who like Swetty, I'll be posting a very smutty one-shot that one of my reviewers requested on the story 'Karios' in the next few days!
*I've been watching a lot of True Blood recently, and I got to the part where the actor that plays Penny Peabody showed up, and she's a biker-gang werewolf in it. I had this split second thought 'huh, weird, she basically is playing the same thing on Riverdale', before I remembered that the werewolf thing is just me. Maybe it's good I think this world is so second nature to me, but it's just so WEIRD seeing her in that role...ya feel?
*In actual story notes, I don't believe for a second that FP was dumb enough to have gotten caught by Fred Andrews, so this is my reasoning behind it
*Clarke's little trick with her HS workers was something I actually did. It's no joke; not only should you just be friends with usually ignored workers like office ladies, janitors, IT people and etc because it's nice to be a good person, but sometimes it also comes in handy
*I always planned to raise Jason, long before all that Farmie crap this new season. I had picked out this plot point WAY back in September. Just want to make this clear...
*The Dollar store knock-off Jughead comment actually came from an interview with Jordan Connor, who commented that the casting call sheet for Sweet Pea was described as a 'knock-off Jughead', so for those that found similiarities between them, that's probably why hehe
Anyway, please review!