I'm Darkness || Archie Andrews and Jughead Jones [2]

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With another day, comes another problem. Only to Eleanor this – much to her liking – is a normal teenager problem, which includes setting up a kissing booth at school for her and Veronica's campaign, and of course Betty's trying to tell her it could be worse, and that's true.

"Ethel, wait" Veronica calls out for the girl.

Ellie sighs as she watches her friend run after the short-haired girl, and comments. "Right, we probably ain't getting Ethel's vote."

"Maybe Veronica manages to make a miracle." Betty replies with a shrug. "You never know."

"That would take like a million kisses."

"Or maybe just one." Archie leans against the improvised balcony, and looks over to Ellie. "How much for a kiss?"

For a moment, they're just two happy teenagers flirting with one another just like they were back at the start. And Eleanor can't help but think that if they can still be like this around each other, then that must mean that they're not done. That there's something worth fighting for.

But on the other side of that track stood Jughead Jones and the Serpents, and every value Eleanor stands for. That's not something she can turn her back on, not now not ever.

"We've already said our goodbye to Southside." Toni shrugs.

"Today it's the Southside High, tomorrow it's the Wyrm." Jughead speaks up with a point hard to argue against. "Everything that makes the Southside home... is gonna disappear. If we roll over now, it's all over."

"It's just a building, Jug."

"No, Toni, it's the soul of the Southside." He insists.

"Look," Ellie calls their attention, and she turns around so she can face everyone. "when I found out the Lodges bought Pop's I was really angry because every good memory I have of the Northside, it's there. We can't let that happen to the Southside too."

"Ellie's right!" Jughead points to the blonde with one hand, and takes her strength as an oportunity to continue his statement. "The Uktena fought and died trying to protect that land. Our parents fought to keep it safe during the riots. Now, it's our turn! It's our time! This is our fight! So who's with me? Who's ready to go to war?"

Ellie raises her arm right away, because she would follow Jughead anywhere before she even hears what he has to say. She followed him to the Southside, so here she stands. And now she marches with the Serpents, fighting for a home that somehow became hers too.

. . .

"What are you doing here?" Ellie is rather confused to see her close friend Kevin exiting her house with an expression that tells her he's been busted in someway. "Were you breaking into my house, Kev?"

"What? No! Of course not," He quickly replies, but somehow the explanation is worse than that. "But actually that might have made you less angry at me."

"What did you do?" She frowns in anticipation.

"So I helped Betty with her catfish scheme to bust your brother through the online chats, but turns out I felt bad and sold her out and I was here on a kind of date with Chic?"

"No." Ellie climbs up the stairs to approach the boy. "You can't date Chic!"

Kevin raises his eyebrows at her. "Wait that's all you got from what I just told you? That's really what bothers you the most? I catfished your brother, Ellie."