Strawberry. [J.J]

39.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
"I'm the gift that keeps on giving."

Marley was sitting crossed legged on a bench eating Cotten candy at the Pickens day event.

"It was good for us to get out the house together don't you think?" Gina said from her position next to her niece and Marley just shot her a look.

"Sure. Just let me know when it's time to go home. I'm not a fan of being at a event that celebrates a mass murderer," Marley said and Gina just looked at her niece before sipping on her drink. Rhea looked around at all the people at the Pickens day event and groaned.

"This town has no eye candy," Rhea said as she bit into her hotdog and Gina scoffed.

"Feel free to go back to England," Gina said and Rhea rolled her eyes at her sister.

"What? And miss all the darkness that is bound to unravel in this town? I'll pass," Rhea said and Gina just rolled her eyes at her.

Marley, Gina and Rhea watched 'Veronica and the pussycats' perform when the Serpents walked towards the stage with signs.

"Ah, this is the drama I've been waiting for," Rhea muttered and Gina shot her a look. Marley handed her her cotton candy before standing up and walking towards the stage as well to find Jughead who had tape over his mouth.

"Jug," Marley said as she stood besides him but before she could continue Toni bought a megaphone to her mouth and started to speak.

"We're here to represent the dead and the silenced. Pickens day is a lie. General Pickens slaughtered the Uktena tribe, my grandfathers family. And the land that we are standing on, the land that would soon give way to a new southside was stolen from them. We can't bring them back but we can and we must honour them-" Toni spoke before she was interrupted my Hiram Lodge.

"Hey folks. I think we can all be proud to live in a Riverdale where young people can stand up for justice. Where a young women can defend the honour and legacy of her grandfather. We can celebrate the legacy of the Uktena who contribute to the rich tapestry that is Riverdale, that is the southside and that would be Sodale. So let's here a round of applause for that," Hiram spoke and everyone started to clap and Marley shook her head in disbelief.

Jughead ripped the tape of his mouth and just as he was about to match up to the stage but Marley and Toni's grandfather pulled him back.

"This is a battle that can't be fought with rushed decisions. You go up on that stage now and then what? You got to think before you act, Jug," Marley said and Jughead looked at her before nodding.

————

It's been a few days since General Pickens head was stolen and a few days since Elijah kicked Marley out of his car. Marley was sitting in the student lounge with Kevin, Betty, Jughead, Archie and Veronica. Veronica was telling them about her confirmation but Marley wasn't listening.

"Marls," Veronica said snapping Marley out of her day dream at Marley looked up to see the whole gang staring at her.

"Huh?" Marley asked and Veronica frowned before crossing her arms over her chest.

"My confirmation. Are you coming?" Veronica asked and Marley nodded.

"Is the sky blue? I'll be there,Ronnie," Marley said and Veronica smiled. Before anyone could say anything Mr Weatherbee's voice spoke through the intercoms.

"Jughead Jones and Betty Cooper please report to the principals office," Mr Weatherbee said and Marley sighed before looking at Jughead and Betty.