Always the Mysterious Ones

Chapter 3

"So, why are you mad at Lark?" Jughead asked as we sat in a booth at Pop's eating pancakes.

"She's being irrational. She's all worried about me going to the drive-in later because it's Serpent territory. I don't see the big deal, but Lark has a running grudge against the Serpents for some reason, and it's stupid."

"Well, considering the trailer park you live in is also Serpent territory, she shouldn't be worried about the drive-in."

"How do you know that the trailer park is Serpent territory? Just curious."

He sighed and took another sip of his coffee. "It's the trailer park where my dad lives."

"Oh, Jug, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up."

"No, it's fine. It was gonna come up at one point or another anyway. He can't resist a good movie, so he'll probably be at the drive-in later. But there's still something that's puzzling me."

"What?"

"Well, usually only Serpents or their families live in the trailer park. The Serpents drive them away. They don't like outsiders. So, how are you guys living in the trailer park undisturbed? It doesn't make any sense."

"I don't know. That would be a question for whoever the head of the Serpents is."

"Him and I aren't really on speaking terms right now."

I gave him a quizzical look, then just decided to drop it. "So, am I gonna get to meet any of your friends before we start school?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Archie might show up here today. If he does, you'll meet him. He's really my only good friend. We've known each other forever, but there's been something off about him lately. He bailed on the road trip we were supposed to take over the summer. Hence the reason you found me here on the 10th."

"Hm. Maybe you need someone else to talk to him. I can, if you want me to."

"If you wouldn't mind, that would be great. Thank you."

"No problem."

I heard the bell on the door ring, and when I turned around I saw a guy around my age with brownish-ginger hair walk in. "Speak of the devil. Hey, Archie!" Jughead said, waving him over toward us.

Archie nodded and walked over to us. "Hey Jug. Oh, who's this?" he asked.

"I'm Phoenix Brenton, nice to meet you Archie," I said.

"Nice to meet you too. Jug, where'd you find her?" Archie asked jokingly.

"Her parents grew up here in Riverdale, and her mom and my dad were good friends. She's originally from Brooklyn, but her and her sister just moved to Riverdale," Jughead said.

"Well, welcome to Riverdale. Hey, Jug, I gotta go. Can I catch you guys later?" Archie said.

"Yeah, we'll be at the drive-in later," I said.

"Great. See you there," he said before getting out of the booth and walking out of Pop's.

"See, it's not like Archie to rush out like that. He didn't even get a milkshake. Something's going on," Jughead said.

"Let me talk to him at the drive-in. I'll let you know what he says," I said.

"Thanks."

I took a sip of my vanilla milkshake and smiled. Then we finished our pancakes and headed toward the Twilight Drive-In.

~Time Skip~

As soon as Jughead got ready to start the movie, he pointed to a truck as it pulled in. "That's Archie. You gonna go talk to him?" he asked.