SERENADES { Toni Topaz }

v.

hisses and howls

As the morning rays shone through the trailer windows, Raya ambled to the living room area to find an odd sight. She found dirty blonde hair scattered across the couch, her sister fast asleep with drool. Leigh was a morning person who slept early and would always be up and at 'ems when it came to school days.

They still managed to make it on time for school. Leigh mumbled her rushed goodbyes and left her sister, head first through the double doors of Riverdale High. Although it hurt to see her older sister so confused, she had to avoid any conversations if she wanted to ignore last night's discoveries.

"What was that about?" Toni's brown eyes followed the younger Cortez as she scuttled away in a hurry. She herself understood that this was bizarre.

"I- I don't know." Her brows knitted together in confusion. "She didn't even have her morning coffee earlier. She woke up late."

"Maybe Cheryl's got something to do with it." Jughead suggested and walked with the ladies into the dreaded building.

As they headed to the student's lounge Raya caught the band of Coyotes by Carter's locker in the corner of her eye. Although, Steel wasn't there, which made her wonder of his whereabouts. Did she scare him off? I highly doubt it- her mind scoffed.

"Hey." She managed to gather up the other girl's attention, "You guys go ahead, I need to return something." Jughead said an 'okay' and left to find Betty.

"You better come back quick." Toni raised her brows at the brunette, instantly knowing what she was referring to. "Before anyone notices."

She nodded in response before she paced to the Coyote herself. "Back so soon?" The Latina smirked.

"Here." Raya huffed out a light laugh and handed her the troublesome leather. "I still had it on after detention. I don't know how I didn't notice."

"That's what everyone says when they've worn it." Faux shrugged and leaned against the locker beside her. Carter pulled on her jacket and patted it down.

"I'm never gonna wear it permanently."

"Never say never Raya." Ash teased with a grin. "So? I saw you walking in with two snakes instead of your preppy sister. What was that about?"

"Those two snakes are my friends. And as for my sister, I- I don't know what's up with her." Raya started to feel quite uncomfortable, her paranoia crawling back to catch up with her.

"Well I wouldn't hang around the Serpents for a while." Jayden faced a different direction whilst he made his comment.

"Why not?"

The loud scolding of principal Weatherbee could be heard across the hall. Raya's brows furrowed as she quickly followed the crowd, the Coyotes trailing behind in no hurry. The Serpents had been called out to the hallway where an emerald snake was graffitied onto the school seal. A smug Reggie stood by the angry principal, whom she assumed had done the vandalism in the first place. After a few squabbles the principal came to a conclusion.

"Effective immediately; no gang behavior of any kind will be tolerated in my school. No more gang jackets either."

Both the Coyotes and Serpents were angered by the statement. They tried to test against the ruling but he had made it final and walked away.