Redemption [Sweet Pea x OC]

Chapter 33

As I walked through the trailer park, I noticed everyone reading something. Had Jughead written another article to stir up trouble? Climbing the steps to our trailer, I saw the paper stapled to the door and the words at the top, large enough to see without being close: NOTICE OF EVICTION. I pulled it off, letting myself inside, reading the notice quickly before calling FP, not caring that he was currently working a shift at Pop's.

"Have you heard?" I asked when he picked up.

"About the evictions? Yeah," FP replied quietly, "I've gotten a few calls already. Get everyone to the Wyrm. I'll be there in an hour."

I shoved the notice in my pocket and turned around, going back outside, spreading word that the Serpents needed to be at the bar in an hour's time before heading there myself. In the office upstairs I pulled the crumpled paper out, reading over it again while I waited.

"Is that one of them?" FP asked, coming in. I nodded, handing the paper over.

"McCoy may be mayor, but we all know she's doing what Lodge tells her to do," I said. "She didn't bother with the Serpents much until he came up with his SoDale project."

FP nodded. "She pulled her daughter out of the Pickens Day performance because of the Lodges, something to do with how they do business. I think she's struggling to stay in Hiram's good graces."

"Keller too," I said. "He's been putting more effort into finding the statue's head than anything else."

"Any leads on that?"

I shook my head. "I asked around earlier but the Ghoulies didn't have anything to do with it."

"Malachai and the others getting released anytime soon?"

"No, they still have a few months. I'm heading downstairs. Are you going to change or are you gonna get up in front of everyone dressed as a busboy?" I asked, eyeing his white uniform.

"Get out of here," FP said with a smile.

I made my way through the crowd, joining Sweet Pea, Toni, and Jughead.

"What's going on?" Toni asked. "Is this about the evictions?"

"We got one too?" Sweet Pea asked.

I nodded to both of them. "We'll figure something out." I leaned against Sweet Pea, waiting on FP.

Before long, everyone was watching the stage. "We all got the eviction notices, but I swear to you...No one is goin' anywhere," FP began. "But the heat's been on us since Pickens Day and they're using that damn statue as an excuse to turn it up. But if we're gonna fix this, I gotta ask: is anyone in this room responsible for cutting off Pickens' head?"

"Why don't you ask your son what he has to say?" Tall Boy demanded, coming in late.

"What is your problem with me, Tall Boy?" Jughead asked, walking towards him.

"You wrote the article that started this mess," Tall Boy said, looking down his nose at Jughead. You and your posse fired the opening shot at Pickens Day," he added, glancing at us. I felt Sweet Pea tense behind me.

"It was a peaceful protest, Turncoat," Toni snapped, stepping up by Jughead.

"That accomplished nothing. So what's to say that you and your boyfriend didn't go back that night with a ladder and hacksaw?"

Before anyone could grab him, Jughead stormed up to Tall Boy, standing chest-to-chest with him. "Hey! We didn't do it," he shouted. "Hell, Tall Boy, you're the tallest guy in this room. You wouldn't even need a ladder."