Redemption [Sweet Pea x OC]

Chapter 3

"Sorry babe, but I volunteered to give the new student the grand tour this morning, and he's supposed to be here any minute now" Toni said.

"Someone else is starting today?" I asked, switching my phone to my other ear as the school came into sight.  "Are you still able to meet up first?"

"I've gotta go, but I'll find you later," she replied before hanging up abruptly.  Sighing, I took my place in line for the metal detectors. 

As I grabbed my bag after it's inspection, I spotted my pink haired friend rounding the corner.  If nothing else, I'd at least catch up with her at lunch.  I made my way through the halls, passing more than a few Ghoulies and obvious use of Jingle Jangle, two things I'd been hoping to get away from.

Without warning, Fangs and Sweet Pea appeared on either side of me.  "Welcome to Southside High," Fangs said, flourishing his arm dramatically.

I raised an eyebrow at him.  "Sorry to break it to you, but you're a bit late."

"Whatever," he sighed. "I'm surprised you're not with Toni, you two seemed to hit it off pretty quick.

"We did have a plan to meet up this morning, but she bailed on me for another new student in need of a tour," I explained.  "So instead, I've been thrown to the wolves already."

"I told you last night, stick with us and you won't have any problems," Sweet Pea said, glancing down at me before resuming his constant scan of the hall.  

"Where should we take you first?" Fangs asked, checking the time.  "Teachers here don't pay much attention to tardies or attendance, but you still don't want to be alone in the halls after the bell."

"Looks like Chemistry first," I said, pulling out my schedule.  What a great way to start every day, my least favorite class.  

Fangs grinned.  "Looks like you're stuck with us then."  I allowed the pair to lead me to class, falling in line behind Sweet Pea with Fangs behind me when the halls got too crowded for us to continue on next to one another.  I took a seat between the two in the classroom.  

There seemed to be no official start to class, just the teacher droning on robotically when the final bell rang.  I quickly zoned out, having already covered this at my last school.  

I was pulled back to the present however, when Fangs nudged me with his elbow.  "Give me your phone," he said softly.  I pulled it out my pocket and handed it to him, stifling a laugh at his shocked expression as he turned it over in his hands.  "Does this thing even work?"

"Damn, and I thought my phone looked bad," Sweet Pea chimed in.

"It works most of the time," I said with a shrug.  "There have just been other, uh, more important things to pay for than replacing it.  What are you doing with my phone anyway?"

"Putting our numbers in so you can reach us," Fangs replied, passing the phone to Sweet Pea.  I pocketed my phone when he handed it back to me.  

Fangs and Sweet Pea passed me off to another Serpent in my next class, who in turn did the same until lunch.

I took a seat at the table across from Sweet Pea again, waiting for Toni, who appeared a few minutes later.  "Where's Jones?" he asked.  

"Over there," she answered, nodding her head to a table in the corner.  "He claims he's a loner and wouldn't join us.  Claims he doesn't need our protection," she added mockingly.

I caught sight of him across the cafeteria, sitting at the table with his book propped up against his bag.  "I'll talk some sense into him," I said, standing up.

"Don't  waste your time," Jinx said from further down the table.  "If he wants to act like an idiot and act like he's too good for us, then let him."

"Lucky for me, that idiot happens to be my cousin, so he has no choice but to listen to me."  For the second day in a row, I walked away from the lunch table with a group of shocked Serpents sitting around it.  Would I win a prize if I did it again tomorrow?

Jughead either didn't notice me sit down across the table from him, or was deliberately ignoring me.  Either way, I wasn't having it and reached over, snapping his book shut.  "What the--" he started, looking up in anger that quickly changed to surprise and joy.  "Abigail?  When did you get back?  And what are you doing at Southside?"

"I got back the other day, but that's besides the point," I snapped, watching his smile fade.  We hadn't been the best of friends growing up, but that cousin bond kept us close.  "You think you're too good for the Serpents?"

He looked down at his half eaten sandwich.  "I appreciate what they've done for me, and for my dad, but I'm not one of them.  I'm just trying to survive here and get through the day."

I rolled my eyes.  "This is the real world, Jughead, not one of those stories you were always coming up with as kids.  You can't just be some background character who happily skips around and somehow manages to survive the world burning around him."  I paused for a moment, before continuing.  "FP was, and hell, still is the Serpent King.  You're a Serpent by blood, and whether or not you like it, you're a Serpent by blood, and everyone here knows it."

"The Serpents helped me after my dad was arrested, which is great.  Protecting the family of a Serpent, and all that.  Tall Boy gave me the jacket, but I'm not wearing it.  I'm not a Serpent, and I don't need any help.  I've been fine on my own."

I sighed, tugging harshly at my hair in frustration before leaning forward.  "I don't know if you've noticed, but that pack of Ghoulies over there have had their eyes on you since you sat down.  All you're doing is putting a huge target on your back by staying here alone."  

"Save your breath, Abigail," Jughead replied.  "I'm a loner, I can take care of myself.  Besides," he added coldly, "you're one to talk about sticking together."

"What are you talking about?  The first place I went after getting a place to stay was the trailer park, then the Wyrm.  I've been with the Serpents almost constantly since I got back to town."

Jughead shook his head.  "I'm not talking about now, I'm talking about when you skipped town without even saying goodbye.  You knew my dad was messed up with my mom and Jellybean leaving, then you disappear.  You were like another daughter to him, and you just left," he snapped.

"I was 8 and had no idea where my parents were.  Hell, I still don't know what happened to them.  FP knew I was leaving, he was in on the deal.  It was his choice not to say goodbye, not mine."  I pushed myself away from the table, done trying.  "You need to figure out your priorities, Jughead, and fast.  You don't want to make an enemy of the Serpents."

I made my way back to the Serpent's table, taking the only open seat, next to Sweet Pea.  My thoughts were spinning so fast it was making me dizzy.  

"Hey, you okay?" he asked softly.

"I'll be fine," I replied, glad he didn't press for more.  

Why hadn't FP just told Jughead he knew I was leaving?  The deal was made by him and Tall Boy I'd been told.  Did he regret what he'd done, basically selling me off to Penny under the guise of earning my stripes?  I'd made so many mistakes and watched so many people get hurt because of my actions.  I'd come back to Riverdale to try and straighten my life out, not watch my cousin fall to the hands of the Ghoulies because I couldn't change his mind.

The bell rang at last, pulling me out of my thoughts.  "Come, on, we have our next class together," Sweet Pea said, rising.  I followed him to class where he raised my spirits with a game of what started as 20 Questions, but considering neither of us were keeping count, more than likely went past 20.  

By the time we left for the day I was feeling back to myself.  I still had work to do to get through to Jughead, but at least I had friends by my side.  I couldn't help smiling to myself, sandwiched as I was between Sweet Pea and Fangs the rest of the Serpents following behind.