Safety Net- SP 2 ✔️

Chapter 25- The Wicked And The Divine Pt1

"Hey Arch what you got there?" I ask my brother who has come into Pop's while I'm working 
"Err dry cleaning for Mr Lodge"
"Ok and why?" I frown at him 
"I'm working for him. I guess he's tutoring me in the world of business"
"You mean the world of being a mobster" I raise my eyebrows at him 
"Can I just order please?" 
"Fine, what do you want"
"2 black coffees please"
"Ok Pop will bring them out in a bit" I write up the note and place it on the counter top for Pop. I walk over to Jug and sigh 
"I have a bad feeling about him working with Hiram"
"So do I Rory. It's a classic trope of mob movies"
"Exactly, I told him that he's being prayed on to become a mobster" Jug looks up from his laptop at me "ok not my exact words but still. The rich gangster takes the small town kid under his wing"
"Here you go Archie" Pop says coming out of the kitchen 
"Thanks Pop, bye Jug, Rory I'll see you later" 
"Yeah bye"
"Yep, then the boy is ushered into an intoxicating but dangerous life of crime" Jug says watching Archie leave 
"All for a girl" I sigh "like don't get me wrong I don't hate Veronica, I just..." I pause trying to think of the right words 
"Hate her family?" Jug asks with a smile
"Something like that" 
"Rory your shift is over" Pop says coming over to Jughead and I. I take of my little apron as the bell rings and in walks Sweet Pea, Fangs and Toni 
"I'll see you at school" I walk over to my boyfriend and friends and we leave Pops to head to school. 

We all sit in the student lounge
"I already invited Archie, but I want you guys there as well" Pea and I look at each other then back at Veronica "yes Rory, Sweet Pea can come as well. Look usually these kind of events, baptisms, confirmations and family only, but since it's all about me.."
"When isn't it" Pea mutters in my ear. I nudge him and continue to listen to Veronica 
"I pulled some strings and reserved a pew since you guys are my chosen family"
"What is the dress code?" Kev asks 
"Catholic chic, dresses for girls, suit and ties for the boys" I burst out laughing 
"I'm sorry, I just, I've never seen Pea wear a suit. Babe do you even have one?" I face him
"He can borrow one of mine" 
"No offence Arch, but I'm not sure Pea will fit, your not exactly the same hight" 
"I'll sort one out for you don't worry, just give me your measurements"
"Jughead Jones, Betty Cooper please report to the principals office" Veronica is cut off by a speaker 
"What have you done now?" I ask 
"God knows" Betty sighs picking up her bag and walking out with Jughead 
"So erm my dad says he's trying to find Pickens head" Kev starts 
"Well tell you're dad to stop banging on our trailers, we've told him it wasn't us"
"It was someone Sweet Pea and I don't think..."
"A Northsider would do it, that' what you were gonna say isn't it" 
"Boys" Veronica tries to interject but it doesn't work 
"You know, I thought since you dated Joaquin you would be on our side"
"I'm on no ones side"
"Could have fooled me. I'm gonna go class is gonna start soon. I'll see you later Rory" Pea kisses me on the lips before grabbing his things and walking out of the lounge.   

After school Pea takes me to his trailer 
"What the hell is this" he yells pulling off a note 
"Is that a..."
"Yes, it's a fucking eviction notice. They're blaming us for that damn head"
"We will figure something out" I put my hand on Pea's arm to try and comfort him. We soon find ourselves on Pea's bike off to the Whyte Wyrm where FP is ranting about these eviction notices "We all got the eviction notices, but I swear to you no one is going anywhere. The heat has been on us since Pickens day and they are using that damn statue as an excuse to turn it up. If we're gonna fix this I gotta ask, is anyone in this room responsible for cutting off Pickens head?"
"Why don't you ask your son what he has to say?" Tall Boy walks through the crowd of Serpents
"What is your problem with me Tall Boy" Jug yells rather annoyed
"You wrote the article that started this mess. You and your posse fired the opening shot at Pickens Day" Tall Boy looks down at us "also what the hell she doing here?" he nods at me 

"It was a peaceful protest turncoat" Toni now yells "and Rory is here because she's one of us, shes just as much as a Serpent as we are" Toni points to Fangs, Pea and herself 
"She didn't do the dance"
"But she's proven herself time and time again that she's one of us, so shut the hell up Tall Boy" Fangs now yells
"Whatever, anyway that protest accomplished nothing. What's to say you and your boyfriend didn't go back that night with a ladder and hacksaw?" Tall Boy points at Toni and Jug
"Hey. We didn't do it. Hell Tall Boy you're the tallest guy in this room you wouldn't even need a ladder" Jug walks up to Tall Boy shouting
"Jughead, Tall Boy the last thing we need right now is to turn on each other. Hey we'll find a way out of this" Tall Boy walks off and Jug walks back to us
"I probably shouldn't say this, but I don't really like Tall Boy" I say as I watch him leave 
"You and me both" Jughead rubs his face in his hands sighing.