"i swear i'll only make you cry."
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
Neveah stared at her phone, watching as the minutes ticked by. She sat on the couch, still in her pajamas and wrapped up in a blanket. Normally the guilt of skipping school would be too much for her to bear, but today was different. She couldn't go back. She couldn't face Sweet Pea. The thought of seeing him again made her stomach churn. Sure, she knew she couldn't hide forever. But for now, she could.
She tossed her phone aside, letting it fall onto the cushion next to her. It buzzed once, signaling a notification from social media, but she didn't bother checking. Instead, she pulled the blanket tighter around her, sinking deeper into the couch. The silence in the house felt suffocating. Normally, her mind would be racing with thoughts of homework or plans for the weekend, but now all she could think about was yesteday, in the hallway.
Neveah's phone buzzed again, but this time, it wasn't a random notification. The screen lit up with a name she couldn't ignore—Toni.
With a sigh, Neveah reluctantly grabbed her phone and answered, her voice quiet. "Hey."
"Hey, girl, where are you?" Toni's voice was concerned but gentle. "I didn't see you at school. Are you okay?"
Neveah paused, debating how much she wanted to reveal. "I just... couldn't deal today."
"Because of Sweet Pea?" Toni asked knowingly.
Neveah clenched her jaw. She didn't want to rehash everything, but Toni was her friend, and Neveah knew she could see right through her. "Yeah... yesterday was a mess. I just need space."
"I get it," Toni replied softly. "But you know avoiding him forever won't help, right?"
"I'm not trying to avoid him forever, just... today." Neveah sighed, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. "I don't even want to think about the Jubilee tonight."
Toni was silent for a moment, then said, "You should go. Your old friends will be there. Maybe it can help clear your head. Speaking of old friends, dude, you missed it today. They came rushing into the cafeteria thinking Jughead was in danger or something."
The thought made Neveah giggle a bit. "I'm assuming Betty lead the pack..."
"The blonde? Yeah, she was freaking the fuck out."
Neveah smiled, some of the tension easing. "That sounds like her."
Toni continued, her tone light. "But seriously, if you don't want to deal with all the Jubilee nonsense tonight, my door's always open. We can watch movies, order pizza, avoid all the drama."
Neveah's smile softened. "Thanks, Toni. I'll think about it."
"Good. Just take care of yourself, alright? And don't stress over Sweet Pea too much. He's not worth your peace of mind."
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protection of my own || sweet pea
Fanfiction"When you dance with the devil, you wait for the song to end." In the gritty world of Riverdale, Neveah James, a spirited yet misunderstood student, finds herself expelled from the confines of Riverdale High. With no choice but to transfer to Souths...