Redemption [Sweet Pea x OC]

Chapter 40

"This isn't a demolition notice," Jughead said, holding up the paper for us to see. Not that we could or were really interested in reading it. "It's a notice of extermination.

"We've already said our goodbye to Southside High, Jughead," Toni said.

Jughead shook his head in disappointment. "Today, it's Southside High. Tomorrow, it's the Wyrm. Everything that makes the Southside home is gonna disappear. If we roll over now, it's all over."

"It's just a building," Toni protested.

"One that's been condemned," I added. "You had to have known they'd be tearing it down sooner or later."

"No! Toni, Abigail, it's the soul of Southside," Jughead snapped. "The Uktena fought and died trying to protect that land. Our parents fought to keep it sage during the riots. Now it's our turn. This is our fight. So who's with me? Who's ready to go to war?" he asked, looking around the room.

"What's the plan?" Sweet Pea asked from beside me.

Jughead leaned back against the teacher's desk up front. "I don't know yet, but we need to do something fast. Hiram Lodge has already paid Andrews Construction to start tearing the place down by the end of the week. Archie said his dad is against this whole plan. Maybe we can get to Hiram through him."

"What makes you think Mr Andrews will listen to you?" Sweet Pea questioned.

"His own son has been sucked in by the whole Lodge family. Fred Andrews isn't one to turn his back on family, even if they disagree," I said.

Jughead smiled at me. "You're right, he's not. But you're still coming with me to talk to him."

I groaned, leaning back against Sweet Pea. "Can I not and say I did?"

"I'll come with you if you want," Sweet Pea said, kissing the side of my head. "Keep you from being dragged all over town with this thing."

I looked to Jughead for approval. "Fine, but he stays outside," he said.

"Good, now Toni and I have to go," I said, kissing Sweet Pea quickly.

"Wait, we need to do this now," Jughead protested. "Did you not hear me say we have less than a week to stop the demolition?"

I sighed, trying to keep my temper down. "Yes, we're all excited about there being an end in sight for your hunger strike. But I have better things to do than sit around his office waiting for him to show up."

"Just call him and find out when he can talk, Jug," Toni said, pulling me to the door. "If you need us, we'll be at the hospital visiting Cheryl and her nana."

The minute we walked into the hospital room, Cheryl threw her book aside, hugging Toni and I tightly. "Thank you both so much for coming," she said. "I know Nana Rose will be so glad to hear we had visitors when she wakes up," she added, glancing at the bed.

I followed her gaze, looking at the woman laying still. I'd never met her, but I wasn't about to point that out to her granddaughter.

"How are you holding up?" Toni asked. "Any updates?"

Cheryl shook her head, sniffling. "Dr Masters says she's stable, though she hasn't woken up yet. I'm praying it's because of the medicine they've given her, not the fall. We're waiting on test results to come back." Toni grabbed her hand, the two smiling at one another.

"Tell me again what happened," I said, crossing my arms across my chest. I'd heard Toni's version, but I wanted to hear it from Cheryl as well.

Cheryl took a breath, steadying herself. "Well, as you know, I had some of my Vixens over for a girls' slumber party under the guise of celebrating TT joining the team. Everything was going splendidly, and we were all snuggled in, safe and warm in our blankets when there was a horrendous crashing noise from outside my bedroom. We all ran out and that's..." she paused, wiping the tears that had begun to fall. "That's when I saw Nana at the bottom of the stairs, thrown from her wheelchair."