Redemption [Sweet Pea x OC]

Chapter 9

"Where were you last night? The Serpents could have used your help last night," I said, falling into step with Jughead.

"Uh, yeah, sorry I missed your call," he replied, barely glancing at me. "I was helping Betty with some Black Hood stuff."

"Why do you even care about the Black Hood?"

He sighed, messing with the strap of his bag before answering. "Because he's targeting my friends, their families. Archie's dad was shot by the Black Hood. I can't just stand by and do nothing."

"Of course you couldn't, that's why you gave Andrews the idea for the Red Circle," I snapped, stopping us both in the middle of the hall. "I remember how the two of you were obsessed with that comic when we were kids."

Jughead stared at me, open-mouthed. "What...what are you talking about?" I raised an eyebrow, waiting as he racked his brain. "I remember that comic, but I had nothing to do with that video, I didn't know anything about it or what Archie was planning."

"So it's all just some big coincidence that Andrews picked now to become the town's hero? Sorry, but I find that kind of hard to believe," I scoffed, beginning to walk down the hall again.

"Wait, Abigail," Jughead called, catching up to me. "It had to be something Hiram said the other night. Something about taking matters into our own hands."

"Wait, Hiram as in Hiram Lodge?" I ran my hand through my hair, groaning inwardly. "What were you doing with him?"

"Veronica invited us over, said she wanted us to meet her dad," Jughead said, confused. "Do you know him?"

I paused, considering how to answer. "I've never met the guy, but I heard stories about him in some of the circles I used to run with." I turned to Jughead, eyeing him. "Since when are you friends with people like the Lodges?"

"Betty and Veronica are pretty close, and since Archie's dating Veronica, we all hang out together, so we're friends by extension, I guess."

"You should stay away from her," I warned. "They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. You'd be better spending your time with us."

"You also told me to stay away from Betty, but that's going just fine," Jughead muttered. "I'll think about it," trying to appease me.

I sighed, glaring at him. That's exactly what he'd said before, and yet here we were again. I pushed open the doors, leading Jughead down the steps toward the group of Serpents I'd spotted through the window. "This isn't one of your stories where you can decide not to pick a side and everything turns out perfect in the end. You need to face reality, Jug, and cut your losses before you get burned by those Northsiders you call your friends." I may have been a bit harsh, but the truth hurts.

"Nice article your girlfriend's mom wrote," Sweet Pea called out to Jughead as we got closer.

"Yeah, I saw that. Dilton Doiley said he was stabbed when a bunch of you guys jumped him," Jughead said. I ignored his questioning look as I rounded the table to stand next to Sweet Pea, his hand finding mine..

"Idiot stabbed himself," Fangs told him. "With his own knife."

"And we didn't jump him, there was a fight, Bulldogs vs Serpents, and you see this?" Sweet Pea pointed to his black eye. "Your boy Andrews gave it to me. Just before his girlfriend shot a gun into the air."

"The same girlfriend who demanded there be no weapons," I muttered, inspecting the papers spread out on the table.

"What happened?" Jughead sputtered, seemingly confused.