Psycho ⚕Riverdale

SEVEN.

CHAPTER SEVEN

YOU'RE SO LITTLE

"Mr Jones, I am really impressed with your work. So much so, that I'll consider reopening the Red and the Back on two conditions: One, No gangs. Two, no jingle-jangle. You can write about them. If I see you trafficking in either, we're done" Mr Phillips told Jughead.

"That will not be a problem for me" Jughead replied making me look at him in shock. I carried on looking at him as the teacher walked away. "What?! Izzy this is something that I love to do and if I have to prevent myself from associating with the Serpents then I'm gonna do it"

"I just don't want you to get hurt Juggie," I told him thinking about what Toni said that morning.

"Don't worry about me I can take care of myself" He said bringing me into a hug.

Jughead, Toni and I walked into a room that looked as if it hadn't been touched in decades. We coughed as Jughead pulled open the curtains from the amount of smoke that came of them. "Well, it's no New York Times," Jughead said dusting off his hands.

"But, hey, kudos on finding your safe space, snowflake," Toni said.

"Yeah, now all I need is a photographer with an amazing eye and a hunger for social justice and I think I'll be set," Jughead said suggestively.

"Aww thanks, Jug," I said cuddling into his arm.

"Not you. I meant Toni" He told me pushing my head away with his hand.

Sweet Pea and some other Serpents I haven't bothered to learn the names of walked into the room "Topaz. Let's bounce" Sweet Pea said. He finally noticed that Jughead and I were there too "Jones' you wanna come with? We're going to the quarry"

"Uh I don't have my beach bod yet," Jughead said making me laugh and agree with him.

"Yeah sorry Sugar Snap looks like the Jones' won't be attending"

"What? You'll ask for help from the Serpents but you won't hang out with us? Well, don't come crawling to us when some Ghoulie tries to earn his stripes by going after one of FP's kids" Sweet Pea asked us.

"Duly noted. Thank you Sweet Pea" I said sarcastically.

"I appreciate what you and the Serpents have done for my family. I do. But we're done. ok? No more favours coming your way" Jughead told them

Sweet Pea started to advance on us causing Jughead to push me behind him. "Hey, hey, hey he made up his mind okay? Take the hint, Sweet Pea. He's just not that into you. Let's motor"

"What about you Shortie? You gonna let your brother talk for you?" Sweet Pea asked me.

"Well I'm not gonna ditch my family now am I Sugar Snap," I told him getting annoyed.

"God, why are you being a bitch all of a sudden" He mumbled to himself.

"Do you wanna say that to my face. Huh?" I shouted walking up to him. Before I could get any further Jughead was pulling me away. The Serpents walked away and I quickly turned to Jughead hitting him on the arm causing to look down at me in shock "Jughead! Don't do that again! I can look after myself"

"Ugh, I know Iz it's just... god... I worry about you cause you're so little and I just don't want you to get hurt" He said grabbing my face in his hands.

I held his hands that were on my face "Juggie, me being short doesn't mean I can't look after myself. I'm nearly the same height as Toni and she can look after herself fine on her own. Look I know that you care about me and want to protect me but I want to be my own person, I want to be able to make my own decisions"

"I know Izzy, just be careful okay? I love you sis"

"I love you too big bro" He kissed my forehead and brought me into a tight hug.

"Jug, I can't breathe"

...

"Juggie! What the hell happened to your face" I said dragging him to sit on the sofa.

"I got jumped by some Ghoulies its not big deal Iz honestly," He said trying to comfort me.

"I am going to call Toni and Betty right away" He sighed before nodding his head in agreement.

Once Betty and Toni had finally arrived. Betty went straight to Jughead to clean his wounds and I went to stand with Toni near the doorway. "Are you sure you have to go to school today?" She asked him.

"It's not that bad. Just some cuts and bruises" He replied.

"I told you that motorcycle was risky, Jug. You promised me you were always gonna wear a helmet" Betty told him disappointedly. Toni and I looked at each other suspiciously before turning back to Jughead.

"It was just around the block," He said trying to reassure her. "Don't blame me okay? Blame the pothole"

"I thought you were gonna say you got jumped by the creepies--"

"Ghoulies," Toni said correcting Betty "But, no. The Serpents wouldn't allow that. They got Jughead and Lizzie's back. Even though they're not members, it's just family loyalty"

"Great, well... I've gotta go to school, try and fix this mess with Kevin" Betty said collecting her things "Toni will you keep an eye on him and Iz?"

Toni saluted saying "All over it" Betty rushed out the door in order to make it to her first lesson on time. Toni and I turned to Jughead instantaneously crossing our arms and raising our eyebrows.

"Please don't tell Betty," He told us making my mouth drop. "She doesn't need to know"

"We warned you about the Ghoulies. You'll take them more seriously now"

"Yeah" He sighed "I will now"

Toni and I left the trailer "Ugh what are you doing here?" I asked Sweet Pea.

"What's your problem midget?"

"I don't know Sweet Pea, I didn't think we were friends"

"oh, uh, I'll see you guys later," Toni said walking away.

"Look, Sweet Pea, I thought we were friends, but you completely blanked me. I didn't even do anything wrong. Pea if you didn't want to be my friend you should have said this before completely cutting me away from you" I told him walking up to him as he leaned against his motorcycle.

"Look, I'm sorry okay"

"Whatever Sweet Pea," I said turning around and walking back inside.