Redemption [Sweet Pea x OC]

Chapter 35

I sat next to Sweet Pea in the student lounge, listening to Jughead and Lodge discuss the fate of Sunnyside Trailer Park.

"Veronica, are you trying to manage me?" Jughead asked.

"Define 'manage', Lodge replied.

"People are gonna lose their homes."

"Jughead, why don't you come over with your dad and sit down with my dad, and hash this out like civilized humans, face-to-face?" Veronica offered, playing the diplomat.

Jughead glanced at me. "You're coming too, Abigail," he said.

"No thanks," I replied. "Having to put up with one Lodge is enough for me."

"You should go," Sweet Pea said. "FP's been relying on you a lot more the past few days. Do this for us, for the Serpents."

I sighed, knowing he was right. FP had been involving me more with running the Serpents, his way of showing me he trusted me, that I was doing the right thing. Neither of us had brought up our conversation in the truck but we hadn't forgotten it. I looked back at Jughead who pleaded with me silently. "Okay, one condition," I said. "Your dad comes to Sunnyside Trailer Park," I told Lodge.

"Yeah, I want him to see the people that he's gonna be displacing," Jughead agreed.

Lodge glared at me, thinking it over. "Fine, she huffed. "And trust me, no one is being displaced."

"Oh, my God, did you guys hear?" Kevin burst out, coming into the room. "My dad's scanner's blowing up. The police found another dead body this morning, there's blood everywhere."

"Could the Black Hood have risen from the grave?" Jughead joked.

"Did they say whose body?" Andrews asked.

"Where did they find it?" Betty asked right after him, seeming paranoid.

Kevin sighed at the questions being shot at him. "The investigation's ongoing, but apparently it was a gruesome, gangland-style execution at the motel, with blood and brains splattered all over the duvet–"

"Okay, Kev, we get it," Andrews said, cutting Kevin off as Lodge sat back in her seat looking disgusted.

"I gotta go," Betty said, running out of the room.

"Is she okay?" Kevin asked, looking after her.

"Man, you're way too excited about that crime scene," I laughed.

"I'll go check on her," Lodge said, glaring at me again before walking out.

"Sorry, it's just that it's been quiet around here since the Black Hood was killed," Kevin said sheepishly. "I'm gonna go to class, see you guys later."

"Uh, yeah, I should go too," Andrews said, rising.

"And I'm gonna check on Betty," Jughead said. "She hasn't been herself all morning."

I leaned my head against Sweet Pea. "Please don't say you're going too," I pleaded.

"Nope, I have nowhere to be right now," he replied.

"Good, then one of you can spare a dollar so I can get some Twizzlers," Fangs said, joining us.

I glanced around the room. "It's just us in here, pick the lock," I said with a shrug.

"Abigail," Sweet Pea said warningly.

"What? Vending machines are the easiest to open."

"Do it for me, please?" Fangs begged. "Lockpicking isn't one of my skills."