Redemption [Sweet Pea x OC]

Chapter 49

I ignored the looks everyone gave me as I passed them in the halls, keeping an eye out for members of the Dark Circle. Every hall I turned down, people were on their phones watching that damn video clip over and over. I sped up when the speaker cackled.

"Attention students, this is Principal Weatherbee. I need Fangs Fogarty to come to my office immediately."

I spotted Toni and Jughead running down the hall frantically. "Have you seen Fangs?" Jughead asked.

"If I had, I'd be getting him the hell out of here right now," I snapped. The pair fell in behind me, looking in every classroom we passed until I turned the corner, running into Fangs.

"What the hell?" he cried, spinning to face me. "That video's everywhere! How did it get out?"

"We have to get you out of here, all right?" Jughead asked, trying to stay calm.

"My bet's on Hiram Lodge," I muttered.

Jughead and Toni pushed us down the hall, away from the stairs where I caught sight of Mantle leading the Dark Circle our way. "You're dead, Vixen killer!," Mantle shouted.

"Do you have your switchblade on you?" I asked Fangs quietly. He nodded quickly, digging in his pocket. "Hurry up, give it to me."

I held my hand out, ready to take it but as always happens in times of urgency, everything went wrong. Fangs' hands were shaking and he couldn't free his switchblade from his pocket. The Dark Circle were closing in on us. And Sheriff Minetta rounded the corner with none other than Deputy Fowler, who I remembered from the night of the Serpents versus Bulldogs fight.

"Mr Fogarty! We need you to come with us," Minetta called out, catching sight of Fangs.

"Fuck, just leave it," I hissed to Fangs If they took him in, it would be better that he kept it out of sight. They still might hold it against him for having a weapon on school property, but at least it wasn't out in the open. Or maybe it was worse that it was concealed. My mind raced as we watched Fangs make a horrible decision.

"I didn't do anything," he said before attempting to run past the two officers. When they grabbed him, I took the opportunity to duck behind Jughead, out of Minetta's sight.

"Okay, okay. Come on," I heard Minetta mutter as he and Fowler struggled to hold Fangs back against the wall. I shouldn't have worried about Minetta seeing me though, Fangs' switchblade freed itself and dropped to the floor, bouncing between his and Fowler's feet. The two men didn't hesitate to throw Fangs to the floor, cuffing him. We stood there, unable to do anything to help as Fangs was led out of the school and I assume, to the waiting police car.

"I'm going to talk to Attorney McCoy," Jughead announced, leaving Toni and I behind.

"We should go too," she said, glaring back at the Bulldogs still blocking the hall behind us. I let Toni lead me away and we found ourselves comfortable in the Wyrm. The remaining Serpents straggled in after us.

As the bar filled, I retreated upstairs to FP's office, not in the mood to be around so many people. I could hear the hum of conversation, but no real conversation which is what I wanted, but that only gave my thoughts a chance to start up.

I was failing as a leader. I should have gone with Jughead to convince McCoy to take the case. I should be downstairs right now, giving some motivational speech about how Fangs would be released soon. I shouldn't have told Fangs to give me his switchblade. If I hadn't done that, he would have just been taken in for questioning. It was my fault he was arrested.

It echoed in my mind, taunting me. My fault. I did this. This was my doing. I caused all of this.

At some point I fell asleep. Fell asleep, passed out, whatever you want to call it. It was dark outside the small window behind FP's desk though. I forced myself off the couch, sneaking out the back way and home.