Unlikely - Sweet Pea

Chapter 18.0

Andy stood solemnly between her brother Archie and her boss Pop, a white rose between her hands. Sweet Pea stood near Jughead and FP Jones, next to Kevin Keller and the sheriff. When it was her turn, Andy approached the casket, snow crunching under her feet. She placed her rose, and returned to her spot.

She remembered the briefing that she went through with Sheriff Keller after they found Midge. 

"Andy, Svenson was the Black Hood," Sheriff Keller assured her, leaning across his desk.

She gave him a look of despair. "Even if that's true . . . does it even matter if it's still him or it's someone copying him? Either way . . . there's a murderer out there. Someone murdered Midge Klump, whether it was the Black Hood or not."

"We are going to get to the bottom of this," he said. 

"Sheriff Keller, you know I like and respect you but I have to be honest. Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones were the ones to find Jason's killer. Then, Betty and my brother found Mr. Svenson. If I were you, I would listen to anything they'd be willing to tell you."

"We are going to find Midge's killer, Andy. I promise." 

--

Andy laid on the floor of her bedroom after the emotional events of the morning. Her head rested on Sweet Pea's legs as he ran his fingers through her tangled red locks. 

 Andy closed her eyes and sniffled. Her face was damp with dried tears and snot. "She didn't even get to finish her first starring role," Andy said, numbly. 

"She seemed cool. She didn't deserve to die," Sweet Pea said, squeezing her hand.

"He's back. Or someone's continuing his work. Either way . . . death is upon us."

"Jones thinks it's Chic. The Coopers need to get their shit together," Sweet Pea joked lightly.

Andy gave a tiny laugh before returning to her state of panic. "If the Black Hood is going after victims who escaped him, my dad is next."

Sweet Pea glanced down at her, black hair sweeping over his brown eyes. "Nothing's gonna happen to you. Or your family . . . Well, maybe I'd let your brother get beat around a little but I wouldn't let him die."

Andy sat up. "You shouldn't have to protect me or my family. I'm not a Serpent and you don't owe me anything. I didn't do anything for you."

"You did actually. You proved me wrong."

Andy tilted her head in confusion.

"I thought that all Northsiders were stuck up, entitled, corrupt assholes. And while a lot of them are . . . you're not. That's somethin'."

--

"You look like you had a rough night," Fred Andrews said to his son. His daughter then stumbled down the stairs as well, red eyes and puffy face. "Oh, no. You too?"

Andy insisted that Sweet Pea go home last night even though she was terrified. While she felt protected with him there, she also felt like she was making him a target. As a result, she stayed up the entire night gripping her pepper spray in her hand.

"I can't stop thinking about what the Black Hood wrote, Dad. 'All those who escaped me before will die'. Maybe you should leave town and visit Chicago, go stay with Mom," Archie suggested.

"For once, in a long time, I agree with Archie. You can't stay here," Andy sighed, leaning her elbows on the counter.

"Uh-huh. And where would you two stay? Here? Alone?" he asked sarcastically. "Sheriff Keller has put a deputy outside."

Just as Andy let this knowledge comfort her the tiniest bit, Archie made a valid yet terrifying point. "Midge was murdered in an auditorium full of people. You really think a deputy will stop the Black Hood?"

--

"Cheryl! What the hell are you doing?" Kevin Keller burst into the gym full of Vixens.

"Kevin. No doubt you've read my think-piece in 'The Register," Cheryl said cheerily.

"Yeah, I did and I demand a retraction. You're smearing my father!" he complained.

"Let's unpack that, shall we? Your father's been incompetent since the beginning of time." Holy shit, Andy thought, pressing her lips together. Cheryl cuts deep. "And now that more bodies are dropping, he needs to step down. Lady Justice will be served. My Vixens and I will see to it," she declared, turning on her heel and returning to the Vixens. 

Andy then approached Kevin, taking his shoulders and turning him around. "Hey, let's take a walk."

They strolled down the empty halls of Riverdale High.

"This is ridiculous," Kevin complained, gesturing to the article. 

"Kev, your Dad shouldn't be blamed for Midge's death. There was no way he could've known," Andy began.

"I know!"

"But," she continued, treading lightly. "Cheryl's brother was murdered on his watch and your dad didn't catch the killer. Betty and Jughead did. And later, Betty and Archie found Mr. Svenson. He hasn't been doing his job." As Kevin started to argue, Andy spoke again. "And that's not entirely his fault. People are less likely to tell the truth to the Sheriff, especially if they've got other secrets."

"He's been trying his absolute hardest. People don't understand what this is doing to him. He's getting no information and it's driving him insane," Kevin sighed heavily.

"Maybe it's not a bad thing to have your dad step down. He's been taking the heat for this for two years. Maybe he needs a pair of fresh eyes."

After Kevin left and practice finished, Andy returned home to find her brother nowhere in sight. She texted him but received no reply. She then proceeded to text Veronica, assuming he was with her.

After a few minutes of watching the dots on the screen pop up and leave, Veronica finally texted back.

7:37PM Message from v lodge: Yes, he's with me! Sorry to worry you. Archiekins just noticed that his phone died. Charging it ASAP!!

Andy, not thinking anything of it, accepted this as the truth and tossed her phone onto her desk, ready to try to catch up on sleep. 

She had no knowledge of the intense, violent adventure that her brother had been on. 

She also had no idea that she was about to go on one herself.

--

(This is short and definitely a filler I'm sorry!!! And I didn't proofread it lol Thank you for voting and commenting!! I have no idea where this book is going lol thanks for sticking along!)