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ONE
"I can't believe you're moving, M," Betty sighed as she slide next to Jughead in the booth at Pop's.
Marina sat across from her, with Veronica by her side. She shrugged, playing with her milkshake straw, "I'm only going to be an extra ten minutes away. It's not that big of a deal."
Veronica opened her mouth, leaning into the girl as she spoke lowly, "Yeah, but it's the Southside."
Jughead sat up in his seat as his arm rested around Betty's shoulder. "And what's wrong with the Southside?" Before Veronica could start an argument, Marina intervened.
"Absolutely nothing, Jug."
"You know, except the drugs of course," Veronica mumbled, earning a glare from everyone.
Jughead leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table, "Plus you'll be going to school with me, I can show you around."
"Haven't you only been attending Southside High for like three days?" Marina joked.
Jughead rolled his eyes, "Now you take my place as fresh meat."
Jughead extended his arms outward as the two stepped into the cafeteria. So far, this school was just as bad as the rumors made it seem to be.
45 minutes into the tour, Marina witnessed teens doing Jingle Jangle in the hallways, two fights and the sickening tensions between gangs. The cafeteria was no better, just another place for the kids to become rowdy. She looked around at the dim room, seeing the overwhelming amount of students. They were all screaming, sitting on the tables, pushing each other around.
"Welcome to the West Cafe," Jughead pointed over to a separated area of the cafeteria, which seemed kind of closed off from everyone else, "We sit over there."
Marina squinted, noticing that the students weren't as hyper as the others and took notice of something else. "Those are Serpents," she looked up at Jughead, who nodded.
"Yup," he gestured to his face, which consisted of a black eye, "I've learned it's better to stick with them."
"What happened?"
Jughead gestured to the rowdiest teenagers in the whole cafeteria. Their eyes were dark and black with face makeup and their screaming made Marina's ears hurt.
"The Ghoulies happened, so we stick with the Serpents." Jughead started walking over. Marina quickly grabbed his forearm, dragging him back over.
Her eyes widened, "I can't just go over there! They don't know me, I don't know them! I'm not a Serpent!"
"Neither am I," he shrugged.
"You're a Serpent by blood, that's different."
"Just come on," Jughead grabbed her wrist, dragging the girl behind him. As they got closer and closer to the table, Marina's hands began to sweat. Jughead stopped, standing in front of the table. A girl with brown skin and vibrant pink hair sat next to a boy with round, babyface and messy dark brown hair.
"Look who joined us," she smiled, her voice coming out deeper than Marina expected. The boy next to her, leaned forward as he sat on top of the lunch table.
He placed his forearms on his knees, nodding his head towards Marina, "Who's this?"
"This is Marina," Jughead gestured to the girl, "she's new. I know her from my old school."
"Why the hell is she here then?" Another Serpent laughed, a boy with spiked blond hair and a matching leather jacket. Marina didn't say anything as she watched Jughead's face twitch at the question. "Because she is. Is there a problem with that?"
The boy sitting on the table scooted over, a slight smile on his face, "No problem at all. You can have a spot next to me, sunshine."
Marina looked at Jughead for an answer and he widened his eyes, eyeing "Go!" before taking a seat.
As Marina climbed up on the table, Jughead took a seat next to the pink haired girl. Marina awkwardly placed the palms of her hands on her knees, looking around the cafeteria.
She could feel the boy's eyes on her but ignored it, scared of what he was possibly thinking. She couldn't resist and turned next to her, looking back at him. "Would a picture be better?" She questioned, furrowing a brow.
He chuckled, bitting the corner of his lower lip, "Of your face or something else?"
The girl scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I'm only teasing, sunshine. I'm Sweet Pea."
"Sweet Pea?"
"Long story."
Marina placed her bag down on the floor as she walked into the house. Her dad was kneeled down next to the door, power tools scattered on the floor.
"Do I even want to know what you're doing?" She asked, walking into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator, pulling out a bottle of water as she watched her father.
"I'm putting in new locks," he answered as the power tool started up.
"Cause one wasn't enough?"
"Not in this neighborhood. How was school?"
Marina chuckled, "Interesting."
iMessage Monday November 12 10:32 PM big jugs
A bunch of us are going to the lake after school tomorrow. Wanna come?
who is us?
Toni, Sweet Pea, Fangs and the rest of the Serpents
idk /: they probably wouldnt even want me there i dont wanna make it weird
It won't be weird. They're the ones that suggested you come
