The investigation- a riverdale fan fic

Chapter 14

Jughead watched Archie and Cheryl arrive at the White Wyrm. Cheryl was dressed in only red lingerie, but to Jughead's relief, was covered in a long, black trench coat. Toni hurried over and whisked Cheryl away, leaving Archie alone. Jughead understood why Betty had told Archie he could come, but at the same time he wished the bulldog wasn't here to look at. Not like he wasn't good looking. Archie ended up walking over to Jughead.
"Seen Betty?" He said, shortly.
"She's not able to come tonight. Polly's having a bad night." Jughead answered. Archie nodded, now with no one to hang onto as an anchor.
"Wanna drink? It should be starting any minute." Jughead offered.
"I'm good." Archie looked around the room, locating Cheryl by the snake pit. Archie walked over and Jughead trailed behind him. Toni and Cheryl were talking in hushed voices.
"Ready?" Sweet Pea asked. He seemed sad but Jughead couldn't tell why. The only thing different about tonight was the fact that Betty was gone. Cheryl jumped into the pit. She held her breath as her feet landed and snakes immediately looked her direction. A knife lay on the farthest edge, surrounded by snakes. Archie looked fine but Jughead could tell her was freaking out. Jughead put his hand on Archie arm.
"She's already halfway towards it." Jughead promised. Archie shook his hand off angrily and focused on Cheryl. She was stepping over snakes, now barely two feet from the blade. The largest serpent wrapped his tail around it. Cheryl bit  down hard and grabbed it, preparing for pain. The snake lunged at her, getting his fangs onto her wrist. Cheryl gasped in pain, barely holding onto the knife.
"She got it! It's over now!" Toni yelled before Archie could. Cheryl barely made it to the edge but the second she was in reach, Archie pulled her up.
"Are you okay?" Archie whispered, refusing to let go. Cheryl nodded, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Time for the laws!" FP shouted but Cheryl didn't move.
"Go on Cher. The hardest part is over." Archie pushed her to Toni. Cheryl pulled a fake smile onto her face and walked over to FP. Her arm had started bleeding and yet she showed no pain.
"She did well." Jughead said. He and Archie were still at the pit.
"She's always been good at masking her pain." Archie replied. As Cheryl recited the laws, Jughead studied Archie. He had hair as red as his sister and a fiery spirit to match hers but there was something different about him. Maybe the way he held himself or the way he spoke to people. It wasn't the manipulative tongue he had heard Cheryl use with everyone but Toni and Archie. Archie didn't waste his tongue on compliments or small talk. Before Jughead has even realized it, Cheryl was up on the stage. Music came on and Toni started giving people death stares. Archie made sure no one got to excited as Cheryl pulled off her Coat. Her body was lean but also incredibly tough. Years of cheerleading and helping her brothers prepare for football have her muscles and a six pack. Jughead turned around out of decency. He hoped Archie noticed. Wait, why should I care what Archie thinks?, Jughead quickly thought. The next five minutes seemed to last an eternity but finally Penny handed Cheryl a new serpent jacket, in red. Some serpents gasped but others cheered as Cheryl donned her new skin. Jughead watched Archie smile, really smile for the first time that night.
"What?" Archie asked.
"Just didn't know you could smile." Jughead laughed. Archie couldn't help but laugh as Cheryl ran over to hug him, but he wouldn't forget what Jug had said that night. Or what he had done.