The Damaged -RIVERDALE-DISCONTINUED

THIRTY THREE

I can't even say how many times IVE rewritten this chapter. I'd keep finishing or getting halfway done but something just didn't feel right with each chapter. This one feels pretty decent so hopefully y'all like it.

Madelyn Jones had been huddled into Parker DeSantos when her phone rang and knocked the two of them out of their dazes.
Parker groaned before reaching over and grabbing the redheads phone and handing it to her. Manic didn't bother to look at the number before answering it, and was greeted with the voice of her twin brother.
"Mad, something happened and you're going to be pissed, but I need you to just listen for a second, okay?" Jughead's voice came out of the phone, causing Manic to worry.
"What happened?" Manic asked, rubbing her forehead as she glanced at Parker, who was watching her with intent.
"The services found out that you weren't living at home, and since the Blossoms' aren't your legal guardians and your guardians are either in jail or unreachable, you're being put into the system along with me. Some family in the Southside agreed to take us in, both of us."
Manic was quite for a moment, an apprehensive look on her face.
"On the Southside? We have to go to Southside high?" She asked, already knowing the answer was a hard yes.
As much as she loved her old friends, she couldn't deny the fact that she had changed drastically since moving in with the Blossoms' and attending Northside High.
She had been gone for months, and unconscious for months before that, which meant that her title as the queen of the school very well could be revoked. And if the teen Serpents weren't as welcoming as the old timers, then Madelyn would be a sitting duck to the ghoulies. She could only protect herself so well, after all.
Madelyn hung up the phone, closing her eyes and dramatically flopping back, letting out a whine.
Parker shook with laughter, shaking his head.
"Stop being so dramatic, Mads. You're forgetting who you are. Maybe your brother will drown under the scrutinizing gazes of a bunch of gangsters and drug attics, but those kids practically adore you. You should have heard all of them when they found out about your infamous return," Parker said, trying to calm his closest friend.
Manic peaked open her eyes, looking to the older male with a look one could only describe as childlike.
"Really?"
Parker smiled and with a roll of his eyes, nodded.
"Yeah, now shut up. I'm tired," he said, leaning into her and burying his face in her neck. Manic huffed, but couldn't hide her smile.

For the next two days Manic ignored any calls she got from any unknown numbers and continued to stay at the DeSantos residence. Both herself and Parker noticed the absence of Joaquin, and when Parker came into his bedroom with a note in his hand and terribly hidden tears, they learned that the younger male had been an accomplice of FP Jones.
Joaquin had left in hopes of keeping his aid a secret.
Neither could stop the stray tear or two from falling down their cheeks as they read the letter over and over again.
With his absence also came the realization that Madelyn's first day back at Southside High was only mere days away.
There was no putting it off, not with the threat of child services looming over her. They had noticed her lack of presence at the twins foster home, and left countless voicemails voicing their concern and anger about it. But they had retreated from their constant pressuring when Manic made a single appearance at the house, and had promised to at least attend school.
Manic didn't think they were very official in their actions, but she was getting what she wanted, so who was she to judge.
But when the morning came for her to make her return to her old school, Parker could barely get her out of bed.
Madelyn had stayed up almost all night, talking herself down and imbedding doubt in her mind about going back, and when Parker came into the room at 7:30 am. she wasn't having it.
The redhead did her best to ignore him, eventually tiring the poor boy out.
"You are pathetic, Manic," he groaned, standing next to the door with his hands on his hips, looking suspiciously like a annoyed mother, "You're a godamn serpent, one of the most known too, and you're letting the mundane idea of social shunning get to you? I've already told you that the newcomers basically worship you, they all have this outright unrealistic idea that you're going to be their bestie and be all about giving them a voice in the higher ups. Literally, you being gone for a while isn't the end of your social status in the gang, you know that right? So get your fat ass up, and get ready. You're Madelyn Jones for God's sake."
Manic was quiet for a second before sitting up, a newfound determination in her eyes.
"You're right. I'm Madelyn fucking Jones, since when I have I cared about what others think of me?"
Parker rolled his eyes and left the room, telling his friend to get ready.
Manic pulled herself out of bed before rummaging through her clothes, which she had managed to save before Cheryl set the Thornhill Manor ablaze.
She picked out a pair of denim jeans that laced up on the sides, a black cropped tank top with chain straps, serpent green sneakers with a wedge platform, her signature leather jacket, and a string choker that tied in a bow.
She dressed herself before throwing her hair up in a pony tail and quickly applying makeup. Manic then grabbed her phone and backpack, and left for what she could only describe as hell.

When Manic pulled into the high school parking lot, she didn't miss the stares thrown her way.
Everyone knew just who's car that was, which meant everyone knew that she had come back from her hiatus in the north side.
With a grimace, Madelyn got out of her car and walked up to the front steps of the graffitied building.
Jughead stood by the stairs, clear discomfort on his face, when his twin bumped shoulders with him.
"You look like a lost puppy," Manic said as he fell in stride with her, "puppy's don't survive here."

OUTFIT