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( volume ii, chapter xxxviii )
shambles of the southside
RIVERDALE HIGH
FEBRUARY 19TH, 2018
RIVERDALE
''This isn't a demolition notice,'' Jughead ranted. He leaned against the teacher's desk in the serpent-dedicated classroom, crumpling a blazing yellow piece of paper in his frustrated grip. ''It's a notice of extermination.''
Toni sighed, slumped in one of the plastic chairs. ''We've already said our goodbye to the Southside, Jughead.''
''Today, it's Southside High. Tommorow, it's the Wyrm,'' he continued, as if not having listened to a word the pink-haired girl had spoken. ''Everything that makes the Southside home is gonna disappear. If we roll over now, it's all over.''
''It's just a building, Jug.''
''No, Toni, it's the soul of the Southside. The Uktena fought and died trying to protect that land. Our parents fought to keep it safe during the riots.'' His voice rose an octave with every sentence, bursting with passion. ''Now it's our turn! It's our time! This is our fight! So, who's with me? Who's ready to go to war?''
One by one, the Serpents raised their hands in the air. After all, in unity there was strength.
Mia rolled her eyes as Jughead turned to her for an answer, staring expectedly. She raised her hand slightly, with less enthusiasm than the others. ''You're lucky you're my brother, Juggie. If it's important to you, then I guess I'm in.''
He hugged her gratefully, before bounding out of the room. The rest of the group dispersed soon after, gradually pouring out into the hallway every couple seconds. Soon, it was Mia and Sweet Pea left alone in the classroom, the air a mixture of oxygen and tension.
''An empty classroom, all to ourselves . . . might as well make good use of it, huh?''
༺✧༻
SOUTHSIDE HIGH
FEBRUARY 20TH, 2018
SOUTHSIDE RIVERDALE
''I know you agreed for the sake of your brother, Mia, but I didn't think you'd actually show up at any point,'' Fangs confessed, chained to the old school building along with a few other teenage Serpents. ''Last time we checked, you said you wouldn't be caught dead back here.''
Mia nodded her head, handing out some fleece blankets and thermoses of coffee, courtesy of Pop Tate. ''You're not wrong, Fangs, but I keep my word when it comes to family. I may be a mythic bitch, but I'm not a psychopath.''
The blonde walked over to where her brother and father sat on the railing, the metal on Jughead's arms clanging with every burger bite he took. She seated herself between the two, making the most of any available body heat, like a huddle of penguins.
''So, uh . . . just like clockwork, I got a call from Hiram.''
Jughead chuckled mirthlessly, scrunching some foil furiously. ''What's he offering this time?''
''You know how they're saying SoDale will mostly be low-income housing? Well, apparently, there'll be a few penthouses at the top,'' FP explained. ''It would be more than enough space for all of us, your mom, Jellybean . . . just like the two of you always wanted.''
''Just imagine me . . . standing on that balcony and looking over a prison,'' he implored, turning to face his sister and father. ''Right in the same spot that all my friends, and my sister and I used to go to school. And Jellybean, growing up in a town where her best hope— her only hope, aside from getting the hell out, is to work at the prison?''
Mia grumbled, tapping the high heel of her boots against the wall, stressed. ''It's not right,'' she agreed.
''What'd you say to him?''
''Nothing. I hung up on his ass and went to Pop's and got some burgers.''
The trio laughed; the sound was genuine and pure, marking their moment of the three of them together, just like old times.
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