His Serpent Queen || Sweet Pea

Chapter 5

Pulling up to Thornhill brought back flashbacks. Memories of the last time I step foot into that house. Cheryl telling me about how she thought her parents were gunning after her and Nana Rose, then that same night, we find Nana Rose on the ground. A few days later, Cheryl herself went missing. I sighed as I parked my bike in the front of the house and got off. I wrapped my arms around myself, insecure because now the scars that are on my body from Riot Night are gonna be on full display. My biggest scar that decorates my skin is on my stomach, the one that Malachi gave me, the rest are tiny ones but I can still see them.

"There you are. Thought I might have to send a search party for your ass," Elio said as he walked next to me.

My eyes trailed down him as I noticed that his eight pack is on full display with his swim trunks hanging low just so you can see enough of his harsh v-line. Quickly, I pulled my eyes away, while pushing back a strand of my hair.

Elio chuckled, "It's okay to look, Andy. I don't bite... unless you want me too."

I snapped my eyes to meet his to see a smirk dancing on his lips, "Shut up Elio."

"You only know I'm teasing," Elio mumbled something else under his breath but I couldn't make it out.

"What?"

"Nothing," he said all too quickly, "Let's just go in. Make your big entrance Andriette Lodge," he wrapped his arms around my shoulders as we walked through the open front door and weaved our way to the back door, seeing all of my friends around the pool.

I took a breath, "It's now or never, I guess."

I fixed my hair before taking off my jean shorts, fixing the bottoms and the top.

"Stop stalling," Elio said as he leaned against the couch, "You look beautiful as always. Now, can we please go. It's freaking hot. Besides," he pushed himself to stand up and place a hand on the small of my exposed back, "I'm with you."

With a sigh, I stood tall with my head held high as I finally took a step out of the house and into the backyard. Almost instantly, I felt all eyes on me, but I never let them see how it affected me. Truthfully, I felt scared, like everyone was starring at the flaws that plagued my body now. However, I walked with confidence as the guys cat called me and I felt glares from the girls. I smiled,

I guess some things just never change. A Lodge always demands the attention in the room with or without trying.

I met up with Veronica who was clinging onto Archie. Red pointed towards me with a smile and my sister turned with a huge smile as she saw me, "Oh you're back! I missed you Andy," she brought me into a huge hug.

I laughed into the embrace, "I missed you too, V."

When I stepped back, her smile fells slightly as she saw the person behind me. "Elio?"

Elio took a step to stand next to me, "Hey Veronica."

Veronica's eyes shifted between Elio and I, "What- Why is he here Andy?"

I shot her a look to play nice, "I asked him to come back with me."

Veronica just hummed off my answer, "Well boys, go off and do whatever you guys do because I'd like to catch up with my sister," she wrapped her arm around mine as she dragged me off towards Betty who stood at the drink table.

As Betty saw me, she smiled, "Welcome back Andy. Now, who's that hottie that you came in with?"

Veronica handed me a drink, "Yeah. Why'd you bring Elio anyways?"

I took a small sip of my drink and sighed, "Before either of you ask, no. We're not a thing. Secondly, I asked him to come back because for the three months I've been gone, he's been there for me. A support line if you will. Through the panic attacks, nightmares, and through the sob crying. It never bothered him that I'd be waking him up at night screaming, he'd always be there until I went to sleep. That's why he's here, to help keep me grounded."

Betty wrapped her arms around me, "I never knew that it was that bad for you. I'm so so sorry."

I shrugged as she let me go, "It's nothing that I can't handle."

"Yeah, but you shouldn't have to handle that Andy," Veronica said sharply, "If our father just stood out of the life that you were trying to build here, then you would be fine. It's all his fault."

I turned around and leaned on the bar table, looking out at the people before us. Deep down, I knew who I was searching for.

"Anyways, how does it feel to be Queen of the Serp-" Betty stopped talking, making me look at her with furrowed brows to see her eyes wide. Veronica and I looked in the direction she was looking at, only to have my heart drop.

"Oh my god," Veronica said in pure shock.

There before my eyes, was Josie and Sweet Pea sitting all too close together for my likingon the ledge of the pool, legs dipped into the cold water.

I tried to keep my calm and confident front on, but I felt my insides begin to get sick at the sight of how he was leaning closer to the girl next to him with his hand on her leg, slowly moving up.

Josie flinched with a laughter escaping her, as she met eyes with mine. She turned her head away from me as she dragged her finger down his chest.

Suddenly, the pair kissed and before I knew it, tears were threatening to fall down my face. Josie playfully pulled away from Pea, and left him there in the water alone. As if he could feel my eyes on him, Sweet Pea turned to see my broken composure and his eyes hardened.

I shook my head, drank the rest of my drink in one gulp, not caring that it stung my throat, and walked away into the house.

How could he? How could he move on that quickly?

After everything we both went through, him telling me that I was it for him, he was able to move on from me in a blink of an eye, while I've been left a wreck.

"Hey," Elio's voice broke me from my thoughts, "What's wrong? What happened? I saw you practically run in here."

I turned towards him, eyes wide as I saw him dripping wet, meaning he just got out of the pool. "I- I," I began to stutter from the view before me, not being able to think straight, "I just saw Sweet Pea kiss another girl."

Elio face softened as he pulled me into a hug, "I'm sorry Andy. I really really am. Sweet Pea is a fucking idiot if he can't see that he let the most amazing girl in this whole world go, but maybe it's time to move on. Maybe it's a sign for you to go out and find that there are other people in the world that would kill to give you the world. Perhaps, that person is a lot more closer than you think."

I sniffed, still in Elio's arms, "I don't know. It's hard to move on from someone you love."

After a couple minutes past, I was tired of feeling sorry for myself and let Elio go.

"I'm done."

Elio's brows furrowed, not knowing what I mean.

"I'm done feeling this way over Sweet Pea. I can't keep letting myself go through this."

I sighed heavily,

"I'm done with Sweet Pea."