You Got Me || Jughead Jones

The Noose Tightens // Part One

As if by magic, Jughead and I were soon entered into the school political race, jumping headfirst into the fray with the rest of the candidates. It proved to be a chaotic mess right off the bat. Not only days after our announcement, the school wide debate was on in the auditorium.

I was sitting next to Jughead with my back slightly towards my sister as Mrs. Cooper began to ask questions.

"Okay, now just a quick reminder, that this school hall is a PTA sponsored event. Looks like we have our first question." Alice smiled and pointed to someone in the crowd.

To my humor, Sweet Pea stood up with a determined look on his face. "Yeah, no offense to the, uh, current administration, but it doesn't feel like anyone's looking out for the students who are being bussed in from the Southside. Is that gonna change?"

Thankfully, Jughead got to the microphone first. "Absolutely, Sweet Pea. That's our priority. No one should feel marginalized or excluded here."

"Jughead and I will be representing all students, North and Southside alike," I added before Alice cut me off quickly by asking for the next question.

Midge stood up abruptly, her chair scratching the floor. "My question is for Archie and Veronica. Rumor has it that your parents will soon be on opposite sides of the Mayoral election. Won't that negatively affect your working relationship?"

I chuckled as I spared a glance over my shoulder at Veronica. Midge was right. You'd think for the dual going on between the Lodge and Andrews families, we wouldn't be able to handle each other. The ironic part, was half the time, the Lodge family can't handle themselves. We're constantly at each other's throats. For example, right now.

"Archie and I adhere to the old maxim that politics are never discussed at the dinner or the cafeteria table," Veronica quipped, earning a reaction from the crowd.

Archie jumped in to further support Veronica's statement, "Veronica and I are on the same page about everything, including her family's plans for a prison on the Southside."

My sister gave Archie a surprised look on the fact that he had made the prison comment in the first place before she attempted to save them. "In the meantime, however, we're committed to improving the quality of life at Riverdale High, which means more extracurriculars-"

"Reggie and I agree, except for the fact that we can and will deliver results," Josie interrupted.

"And we're chill," Reggie said with a shrug, "Unlike these guys."

More laughter rang from the crowd which made me roll my eyes. The only reason Reggie and Josie would get votes, Reggie in particular, would be their status on the social hierarchy of Riverdale High. If anything, Josie had a better shot by running alone than with Reggie.

"I feel like we have a pretty good chance at winning this thing. Or, at least beating Archie and Veronica, I guess," Jug laughed as we walked down the school hallway later that day.

I shook my head at him, grabbing his hand in mine. "You're not wrong, bub. If I could finally beat Veronica at something, game on." I looked up at him and bit my lip to keep back a smile.

Jughead grinned, bumping his shoulder with my own. "Then let's make it happen, pretty girl."

We both came to a stop at the sight of the Andrews parents facing my own. Jughead's other hand gently traced down my empty arm as he pulled me to face him fully, both hands holding mine.

"How's that whole battle going, anyway? Tense, I'm assuming?" His eyes didn't leave the group at the end of the hall.

I sighed, "It's like a civil war sprouted in my house, Jughead. Veronica's defending Archie, Archie's defending Daddy and Mom's just a supporter of whoever hands her a full glass of wine. I feel like the lone horse in this whole thing."

"So, the Natasha Romanoff of the group?" He joked as we started walking again.

I smiled at him. "If you want to put it into Captain America terms, sure, why not."

"Double sided agent." He nodded. "I like it."

"Yeah, well," I exhaled as we stopped at my locker, my fingers beginning to spin my combination in. "I wish I could pick a damn side and stay on it but they keep pulling me both ways so it's hard to handle."

Jughead shrugged as he leaned on the locker next to me. "Natasha Romanoff," He hummed and gave me a guilty smile.

I rolled my eyes before slamming my locker shut after grabbing my bag. "You're just saying that because you think she's cute."

"Well, if you're her in real life and I think she's cute in that life, you're essentially cute to me too." He crossed his arms and smiled.

I pressed a kiss to his cheek before squeezing his left arm. "Smooth, Jones, smooth. I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?" I winked at him before slipping past to follow Veronica and our parents out the door.

The ride home was practically silent on my behalf as Ronnie and Archie spoke with our parents. Even though I was completely in wraps with their plans, I didn't want to be more involved than I already was. I knew the second I let them take control, I would be in for a whirlwind of trouble.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lodge, you have some unexpected guests," Andre announced as soon as we walked in the door. I shifted from my spot behind Archie and Ronnie to see two men stand up from the couch. By the look on Daddy's face, he wasn't looking forward to what they had to say.

"Lenny, Carl. How are you, fellas?" Dad greeted as he stepped away from our group.

"We have some business we need to discuss, Hiram," One of them said.

The other one took a step forward to be even. "In private."

Dad didn't budge. "Well, I'd invite you up to my study but it's late."

"Please, Hiram. A few minutes of your time. Is that so much to ask for?"

Veronica, Archie, and I all glanced at each other. The pressure of the question seemed to strike the same emotion in each of us: fear. There was a reason these two men were standing in front of us at almost ten at night and it wasn't just to talk.

"No, no at all." Dad shook his head before turning to look at Mr. Adams who was standing next to us. "Take Hermione and the girls upstairs."

The tone of his voice was another red flag in my mind as I quickly fell into step behind Mom and next to Ronnie. I looked over my shoulder to see Archie's concerned eyes following us out of the room. When we disappeared around the corner, I let out a breath and began climbing the stairs.

As soon as I closed my bedroom door behind me, my phone began buzzing as if on cue. I groaned loudly as I pulled my dress over my head and replaced it with one of Archie's hoodies he left in my locker before picking up the device.

"Hello?" I mumbled as I ripped a makeup wipe from the package.

"Savanna, have you seen the news?"

I shook my head, forgetting that Jughead couldn't see me. "No, why? I swear, Jug, if this is about the double agent thing-"

"Sav, they found it. They found the car."

I felt my face go pale at the revelation. "What?" I whispered in disbelief.

"Meet us at Pop's tomorrow morning, okay? Don't say anything," Jughead hissed before hanging up the phone without a goodbye.

I pulled the phone away from my ear with shaky hands. As if the tension with the arrival of strangers in our home wasn't enough, the world had just decided it wasn't done torturing me yet. And I had a feeling, this was going to be the worst ride of them all.

--

please excuse my marvel references, i'm trying to recover from infinity war and it's just not working.