Smokestacks - Jughead Jones [1] ✔

Chapter Twenty-One

SMOKESTACKS

CHAPTER | TWENTY-ONE

Somehow, and Savannah couldn't recall the moment that she agreed be satan's servant, Betty had roped her and Kevin into helping set up for the homecoming dance. And so, there she stood, perched atop a ladder whilst Kevin held it still, stringing up very large twinkle lights.

"This sucks." Savannah sighed as she twisted one of the lightbulbs, causing it to light up. "I should be doing literally anything but this."

"The faster you work, the faster we can go home." Kevin reminded from beneath her, his body resting against the ladder, making it more unstable than it was stable.

"Face it." Savannah insisted from above, moving down a step for each lightbulb that she would fit. "We're not getting out of here for a while yet."

"I hear you." Kevin sighed in agreement, straightening up and holding the ladder steady as she hopped to the ground. "How many more do we have to put up?"

Savannah glanced down at the box at her feet with a painful wince, "You don't wanna know."

"Polly?" They heard Betty ask from atop a ladder near them. "Thank god, what's going on?"

With a curious look exchanged between them, the two edged closer to their blonde friend in hopes of overhearing.

"And why are you running to be homecoming co-queen with Cheryl?"

Savannah looked to Kevin in disbelief, who shrugged. "What?"

"Cheryl says it's because Polly and Jason were going to be King and Queen." Kevin explained in a hushed voice. "Said it's the next best thing."

Savannah scoffed as they turned their attention back to Betty.

"Did you find something?" There was a pause as Polly replied, "Remember our deal. If you don't find anything by homecoming, it's over, you're coming home."

"Wait, so Polly's their spy?" Savannah asked Kevin, once more, who nodded. "How did I not know this?"

"You don't listen."

"Sounds about right."

"You're not putting yourself in any danger are you?" Betty asked her sister, worried. She then sighed and looked at her phone before sliding it into her pocket, implying that Polly had hung up. "You guys are terrible eavesdroppers."

"Shut up." Savannah cried in mock offense, "I'm better than Archie, come on!"

"I wouldn't say that's an achievement."

"Boo."

"Get back to your lights."

*

It was an hour later that Jughead appeared, carrying a box of lights toward Betty. The sight alone made Savannah's stomach churn with jealousy. She recalled their almost-kiss moment, which couldn't really be described as one since they hadn't even closed their eyes.

Savannah and Jughead hadn't really spoken since that night, going the first weekend since they had properly met without sending at least one text. She felt as if the isolation was suffocating her.

Kevin held a hand out to Savannah who took it and jumped down, the soles of her shoes banging against the wooden floor. Jughead and Betty looked in their direction, the former snapped his head back to the blonde quickly.

"Why didn't you tell me about the dinner?" Jughead asked Betty, who looked very confused. "Your mom basically tackled me in the hall to invite me and my dad over before the dance."