𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒

sweetpea x cooper! reader | Secrets and Revelation

Based on this request: "y/n cooper is secretly dating sweetpea and nobody knows. during a town meeting everyone finds out."

Warning(s): language

Word Count: 1130

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IT WAS supposed to be a routine town meeting. The kind of dull, overly formal gathering where everyone sat stiffly in the community center, pretending to care about curfews, potholes, and festival plans. You'd attended out of obligation—your dad was part of the town council, after all—but you hadn't expected him to show up.

Sweet Pea.

He'd slipped in through the back door of the meeting hall, dressed in his usual black jacket and combat boots, looking distinctly out of place among the neatly dressed townsfolk.

You shot him a warning look from your spot near the front row.

What are you doing here?

Sweet Pea leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, smirking like he didn't have a care in the world. It was infuriating and—annoyingly—endearing. You didn't know why he'd decided to come, but you had a sinking feeling it wouldn't end well.

For the past few months, you and Sweet Pea had been seeing each other in secret. You'd meet up at the quarry, sneak off for drives in his beat-up truck, and text each other late into the night. He wasn't exactly the kind of guy the town (or your family) would approve of, which made the whole relationship feel even more exciting—and dangerous.

But you'd kept it quiet, careful to act like you didn't even know him when you crossed paths in public.

Tonight, though, you were praying he'd keep a low profile.

The meeting droned on, Mayor McCoy discussing the upcoming Founders' Day Parade while parents murmured about increasing Riverdale's curfew for "safety concerns." You tuned most of it out, sneaking occasional glances at Sweet Pea.

He was staring right back at you, of course. When your eyes met, he raised an eyebrow and smirked like he knew exactly what he was doing to you.

You rolled your eyes and turned back toward the front.

It all went downhill when Reggie Mantle stood up to speak.

"Yeah, yeah—curfew, sure, whatever. What about Southside kids still sneaking into town late at night?" Reggie said, his voice dripping with disdain. "We all know they're causing trouble."

The room erupted into murmurs, and you could see Sweet Pea shift against the wall, his jaw tightening.

Mayor McCoy raised a hand to quiet the room. "We're not here to place blame, Reggie. That's not the purpose of this meeting."

"No, seriously," Reggie pressed, gesturing dramatically. "They come over here, cause fights, vandalize stuff—"

Sweet Pea's voice rang out, sharp and loud, cutting him off. "You done yet, Mantle?"

The room fell silent. All heads turned toward Sweet Pea.

You froze in your seat.

Reggie grinned like he'd been waiting for this. "Oh, look—one of them showed up. What, Sweet Pea? You here to defend your 'honor'?"

Sweet Pea pushed off the wall, standing straighter, his voice calm but dangerous. "I'm here because I can be, Mantle. And don't act like you don't cause just as much trouble as anyone from the Southside."

The tension in the room was palpable. You shrank in your seat, silently begging Sweet Pea to stop.

But then Reggie turned, his smug grin widening as he scanned the crowd. "Actually, you know what? I'd bet Sweet Pea's got other reasons for being here. Like someone he's here to see."

Your stomach dropped.

Sweet Pea's glare sharpened. "Watch it, Mantle."

"No, seriously! There's gotta be a reason." Reggie's eyes flickered toward the front rows—toward you. "Wait a second... Y/N Cooper, why do you look like you want to disappear right now?"

Every head in the room turned to stare at you.

Your face burned. "Reggie, don't—"

But it was too late. Sweet Pea stepped forward, looking straight at you now, as if daring you to stop him.

"Yeah," Sweet Pea said, his voice cutting through the stunned silence. "Maybe I am here to see someone."

The crowd collectively gasped. You buried your face in your hands.

Oh no.

Reggie's grin grew impossibly wider. "No way. Y/N, are you—? You're dating Sweet Pea?"

Your dad shot up from his seat, his face a mix of confusion and frustration. "Wait, what's this about Sweet Pea and my daughter?"

Sweet Pea looked completely unbothered. He shrugged, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. "You heard him. Y/N and I are together."

The room exploded into noise—murmurs, gasps, questions—but all you could focus on was the way Sweet Pea's gaze never wavered from you, steady and calm.

You stood abruptly, heart pounding as you turned to face your dad. "Look, I can explain—"

"Y/N," your dad said, clearly struggling to process the news. "How long has this been going on?"

"Does it matter?" Sweet Pea cut in, stepping closer to you. "We're not hurting anyone."

Reggie let out an obnoxious laugh. "This is gold. Little Miss Perfect Cooper dating a Southside Serpent. You guys keeping that secret must've been exhausting."

"Shut up, Reggie," you snapped, finally finding your voice. "It's none of your business."

The crowd quieted at your outburst, and you turned to face Sweet Pea fully. Despite everything, he looked calm—almost proud.

You sighed, reaching for his hand. "Yeah. It's true."

Sweet Pea's lips twitched into a small, smug smile as his fingers curled around yours.

The crowd buzzed again with whispers and murmurs, but you tuned it out, squeezing his hand.

"Y/N..." your dad started, clearly unsure what to say.

You glanced back at him, your voice steady. "Dad, I'm sorry you had to find out like this. But Sweet Pea's not who you think he is."

Sweet Pea gave your dad a curt nod. "I care about her. That's all you need to know."

The two of them stared at each other for a moment, tension thick in the air. Finally, your dad sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "We're talking about this later, Y/N."

"Fine," you replied. "But don't blame him."

Sweet Pea squeezed your hand reassuringly as you both turned to leave, ignoring the wide-eyed stares of the entire town.

Outside, the cool night air hit you like a wave of relief.

"Well," you muttered, glancing at Sweet Pea, "that could've gone better."

He chuckled softly, pulling you closer. "Hey, at least now it's out in the open. No more sneaking around."

You sighed, resting your head against his shoulder. "Yeah, but I think I'm grounded for the rest of my life."

Sweet Pea smirked, pressing a kiss to your temple. "Totally worth it."

And despite the chaos you'd left behind, you couldn't help but agree.