Thinking 'Bout You- SP 3 ✔️

Chapters 42/43- The Man In Black/Outbreak

The next day at school was super weird. No Jughead, no Archie and also no Betty. In fact she didn't show up at all this week, right now it is Thursday morning and no matter how many times I tried ringing her, she just didn't pick up. I even went to her house, but no one answered the door which was strange. I tie my Pops apron around my waist as does Veronica
"Heard anything off Betty yet?"
"No. She's probably gone with Jughead and Archie" Ronnie says bitterly because Archie left her
"How did last night go?" I am referring to the poker night she had. Pops walks out of the kitchen
"It was excellent" she smiles at me before turning to Pop "morning"
"Good morning Veronica, Rory. You know this place has been in my family for generations. It's a family place at heart, crime free" Veronica sighs, oh shit does pop know about the poker night?
"Pop. The speakeasy wasn't making enough money and neither was the diner. So I had to take a big swing, bend the rules a bit"
"Please. For your own sake Veronica, don't be like your father" just then the doors swing open and in walks Pea, Fangs, Toni and Cheryl. I decided to remove myself from the conversation and go to serve the Serpent that have come in
"Want your usuals?" I ask them
"Yeah" Toni smiles at me
"Have you heard off Jughead or Archie?" Cheryl asks me. Sadly I lower my head and shake it
"No"

I walk the halls of Riverdale in my cheer uniform with the other Vixens, Cher is in front of us all
"Looking good, wanna go out sometime" Sweet Pea says joining my side
"Sorry I'm taken" I smirk at my boyfriend
"Oh damn do I know this lucky fella?"
"Hmmm maybe, he's really tall, very handsome and has a Serpent tattoo on his neck" we stop walking and I wrap my arms around Peas neck tracing the outline of his tattoo
"That's funny because I happen to have this hot ass girlfriend who is also a Serpent and a Vixen"
"Huh. What a coincidence" I go on my tip toes and give Pea a kiss. But I suddenly behind to feel funny
"Baby you ok?" Pea asks me but I can't get my words out
"I, I errm" before I can say anything everything goes black.

I wake up in my bed with both Pea and my dad by my side
"Hey steady" dad says as I try to sit up
"What happened?"
"You had a seizure baby. All the vixens did, except Cheryl" Pea explains
"A seizure?" I frown
"You need to eat and drink something" dad tells me
"You two shouldn't be in here"
"What why?" Pea is the one to now frown
"What if it's contagious?"
"Well if it is, then that's that, but it seems to be only affecting girls. Ethel, Josie, Betty now all of the vixens"
"What did you all eat today?" dad asks
"I had breakfast here. Haven't eaten since then"
"How do you feel now?"
"Hungry" I chuckle
"You want to go to Pops?" Pea asks
"I don't think you should be going out" dad says
"I'll be with her Fred, she'll be ok"
"If you feel sick you come straight home" dad points at me
"Yeah. Ok"

Pea and I enter Pops where Veronica and Reggie are. We walk over to them after ordering some food
"Hey, room for 2 more?" I ask
"Yeah" Reggie moves over for me to sit down, Pea opposite me "how are feeling?"
"I'm ok, just hungry"
"My parents are up to something" Veronica states
"They're always up to something" I comment
"This time they tried to banish me to New York, which is a new one for them. It's like they don't want me around for whatever's coming next"
"You know, your dads pulling Jingle Jangle off the market, replacing it with some new candy. Fizzle Rocks"
"The the fuck" I breathe out
"Dealt by the Ghoulies?" Veronica frowns, but Reggie shakes his head. Pops brings out our food and places it in front of us
"Thanks Pop" Pea says earning a smile from the man
"No a new gang"
"The Gargoyles" Pea says which earns a nod off Reggie
"With ties no doubt, to this godforsaken G&G everyone's playing" Ronnie scoffs
"Pea, I don't think we should be playing that game anymore"
"I agree"
"Reggie. I need you to do some sussing for me and find out what you can about these Fizzle Rocks"
"On it"
"Last year I helped my parents spin their criminal web, and good people like Archie got hurt" Ronnie gives me a little smile "this year I'm going to be a fly in their ointment. Whatever theyre up to, I will stop them"
"I hope so Ronnie, I'd like my last couple years to be calm and just drama free"

A few days later and I'm back at school, Pea Reggie, Ronnie and I are walking through the halls. Pea and I are holding hands
"Attention students. We are hereby closing the student lounge. Please exit immediately"
"First they cancel sports and extracurriculars. Now they're shutting down the lounge. What's going on?"
"Cher as you're student body president do you know any insider information?" I ask her
"Though my powers as dauphin of Riverdale High aren't absolute yet, I am Cc'd on all board emails and they're having a meeting tonight. I think to discuss shutting down the school"
"What?" I frown
"And Veronica, your parents are leading the charge"
"Of course they would be" I cross my arms and look at Ronnie
"That's exactly what my dad did with Southside High and he definitely has ulterior motives then"
"Oh my god" I turn around to see what Cheryl is looking at. Principal Weatherbee is walking in with men in hazmat suits "and now Riverdale High is officially a hot zone?"
"Why are they taking the Vixens?" I ask wide eyed. Principal Weatherbee then points at me a Ronnie
"They're two of the infected"
"Go Rory, Ronnie, run" Cher tells us
"Cheryl and I will try and stall them" Pea gives me a quick kiss. Ronnie and I run out of school and hide in La Bonne Nuit.
After school Sweet Pea and Reggie turn up
"Drugs, Gargoyles , mystery men in hazmat suits and secret school board meetings? how does it all tie together?" Veronica says
"No sure. But I got some suss for you. According to my sources the Fizzle Rocks distributors, aka the Gargoyles are giving their product out to people for free"
"I've seen enough episodes of Narcos to know this scheme"
"Well while you've only seen it on TV I saw it at Southside high" Pea says
"Hook them with the first taste. You've got customers for life"
"And daddy's always playing the long game" Ronnie scoffs
"For sure. And here's the kicker. Fizzle rocks are coming from the Southside, right out of the prison that your dad is building" Reggie says
"That must be where he's moved his candy factory after Cheryl Toni and I busted his lab at the Whyte Whyrm" I look at Ronnie
"Ok when did this happen and why wasn't I invited?"
"It doesn't matter Rory, but speaking of Cheryl.." Ronnie picks up her phone and brings it to her ear "Cheryl, what time is that school board meeting? and where?" Ronnie puts the phone down "I'm meeting with Cheryl. You three ok to hold the fort?"
"Yeah I guess, what are you doing?"
"Going to explain the board how daddy's little drug empire is growing and that the prison is his drug factory"