SOUTHSIDERS

Uninvited Guest

Veronica yearned to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Northside. She wanted a quiet yet edgy lifestyle. Safe but dangerous at the same time. So she moved to the Southside, home of the Southside Serpents. She had only been here a couple of days and was already loving it. From a distance, the southern parts of Riverdale looked like a mess, a waste land. But to her, it was her paradise. Her blank canvas to do with what she pleased. She loved the gangster vibes and more than anything, the gangsters themselves. Veronica always had a thing for rough, bad boys.

Living in the Southside made her feel fifteen again. She felt free and driven. She loved it here. She made friends quickly and became a topic of discussion among all of the Southsiders. A Lodge living amogst the serpents?

Soon, word got to the Leader of the serpent gang, Toni Topaz about a certain raven haired princess, plotting to take her place. Toni wanted be Queen of the serpents ever since she was a little girl. She was not going to let Veronica Lodge or 'Daddy's girl' as she called her back in high school, ruin her plans to rebuild and repair her home.

Torn apart by countless wars. Toni was determined to get the Southside back to what it used to be. Veronica just wanted power, to be in control. She saw a place in need of some.. renovating and wanted to.. help. She had no place in the Southside, despite her being a former serpent herself, Toni didn't want high school's wanna be prom queen anywhere near her serpents. They were hers and hers only.

"Listen up guys" Toni, said pacing slowly around the dimly lit room. It was 2 AM and she had gathered all the southsiders, serpents and non-serpents alike. They all sat on the ground, legs crossed patiently waiting for the snacks Toni promised them. Sitting in the front row were Serpents Fangs, Sweet pea, Peaches and Joaquin. The four were like family to her, she only trusted them.

"There is an outsider among us" She said, fiddling with the ruler she held behind her back. There was a chalk board in the middle of the room and on it was a picture of a brunette with brown eyes and olive skin. Thin lips, masked with dark red, almost black lipstick with a pearl necklace around her neck.

"Veronica Lodge" she said, smacking the ruler against the board, startling those who were dozing off. The young boys at the back whistled "Damn.. is she married" a boy asked with a smug look on his face"

The boy sitting next to him said "She's gotta be married with that hot bod" They both chuckled

"Dustin, Dylan" Toni pointed her ruler and them "Don't make me call your parents"she said making them shut up.

Their parents were in Europe, enjoying their lavish lifestyle while she took care of them. They said they couldn't quote: Handle two kids at the same time and didn't want to separate them. Toni had a soft spot for children. She loved seeing their happy smiles, playing with them and teaching them good values. Dylan and Dustin were about the same age as her son Anthony, who is at a boarding in New York. She didn't want to expose him to the Serpent life just yet but she sent letters to him everyday.

She cleared her throat "So, as i was saying-" She paused, her gaze moving to Peaches who was laying in Sweet pea's lap, eyes closed.

"Ah!" the girl yelped after Toni slapped her butt with the ruler, leaving a mark on her jeans. Peaches winced, holding her ass. It stung from the slap.

"C'mon guys, we need to focus. If we don't do anything to stop her, pretty soon she'll be calling all the shots. And i'll be damned if i let a Lodge take over us. Who's with me?" she raised her hand but put it back down when she realised that they had all fallen asleep. She shook her head and walked out of the room, still holding the ruler.

She walked downstairs to the spacious living room and tossed the ruler on the couch. She peeled off her jacket, grabbed a beer from the fridge a turned on the Tv. She sat on the couch, popped open the bottle and took a sip. She layed back as memories of Veronica Lodge back in high school played in her head.

She never really hated the girl, she just couldn't stand her. Her optimism, her stupid sense of humor. The way she swayed her hips when she walked. Toni felt weak around her. Her mind when blank whenever she tried to talk to her. She'd catch herself staring in the girls' bathroom, and would simply melt whenever the girl said her name "Toni"

"Toni, wake up" Sweet pea shook her

She stumbbled off the bed and stood up straight "What is it?" she asked in a raspy voice, running her fingers through her hair.

"We have a problem" Sweet pea said after a beat

She raised an eyebrow.

The sun had risen and Everyone was out and about. The kids were giggling, chasing each other. The birds where chirping and Toni was freaking out.

She sighed, examining the collapsed building.

"Luckily, we we're all at the apartment so nobody got hurt. But now, they don't have a place to stay" Sweat pea explained.

"They could stay at the apartment" she shrugged before taking a bite of her hot dog.

"Yeah but only temporarily. What's you plan long term?"

Plan? she questioned in her head. If she was being completely honest. She hasn't been a great leader lately. Some say she's losing her touch, other say it's just hormones. She says, she's tired of always having to fix everything by herself and having so many people rely on her. She loved being Serpent queen, but after having Anthony, it had proved to be a lot of hard work, leading the gang and making decisions on her own. Luckily she did have to do that anymore

"Howdy Neighbors" Veronica said, pulling up behind Toni and Sweet pea, making them turn around immediately.

Toni looked down "Is that my motorc-" he eyes glanced up to Veronica's face. She smirked at her. That same damn smirk that she used to greet her when they were younger.

Toni, hadn't seen Veronica in years. She looked taller, stronger and.. hotter.

Veronica was wearing a tight black body suit, matching boots and Toni's helmet.

Toni bit her lip as she undressed her with her eyes.

Veronica took off the helmet and jumped off the bike "Long time no see Topaz" She said walking up to her

Toni froze.

Veronica chuckled and hugged her former classmate "Mmm i missed you so much. Muah!" she kissed her cheek, leaving a hug lipstick mark on the girl's cheek. she looked over at Sweet pea "Can i steal her for a sec?" she asked and he nodded she pulled her by her waist "We have so much to catch up on"

Toni sighed. How was she supposed to lead the Serpents when her only weakness was around? She wasn't sure if was attracted to Veronica or just scared of her. Either way she was going to be a problem.