princess || s.p

-2-

"You're sure about this, Jughead?" Aria questioned, looking up at the boy in concern as they stood outside of the bar, the brightly lit letters 'WHYTE WYRM' illuminating the ground in front of them.

"Absolutely." He nodded, glancing down at the girl before turning to look up at the bar ahead of them. "My dad's not here to step up, so somebody else has to. And if that means me being initiated, then that's what I have to do."

"All I'm saying is, it's not the only move. But if it's the one you want to make, I'm glad you called me to watch these guys flip out." She grinned, pushing a hand through her hair and pulling the sleeves of her leather jacket over her hands.

"You're the only one I'd want here." He shrugged, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and squeezing her briefly. "That, and Toni kept asking if you were going to swing by the Wyrm some time, like she offered."

"Right. Could you not-"

"I won't say anything about your dad, or tell anyone your last name. If you're not ready, it's not my place." He shrugged, nodding and leading her towards the doors.

"Thanks, Jug." She smiled, glad he would understand. The truth was, her mother was right. She wasn't entirely ready to hear what her father had to do with the Serpents. What she was focusing on at the minute was adjusting to the idea that he had something to do with them, and kept it from her, and she would find out exactly what it was, and what it had to do with his death, in her own time.

"No problem. You've been there for me through this whole thing with my dad, the least I can do is return the favour." He shrugged it off casually as they entered the bar, the two of them pausing for a moment to allow their eyes to adjust to the dimly lit room, crowds of people wearing the same Southside Serpent jacket that Jughead had plastered across his own back filling the room. Almost the second they entered, Aria could feel everyone's eyes on them, knowing they were Northsiders, everyone in the room wondering the exact same thing of why the hell are they here.

"Don't stare at anyone, Jug." She nudged the boy's elbow, rolling her eyes and allowing him to lead the way through the crowds, assuming he would know his way around much better than she did.

"This Northsider's lost." They stepped down into the area surrounding a pool table, a boy's voice sounding from the other side of the dim lights. His tall frame ducked out of the shadows, clearly taken by surprise at the girl following Jughead into the room, his eyes scanning her up and down with raised eyebrows, while she did the same to him.

"We're not." Jughead stated, looking up at the boy with a stony glare, while Aria simply raised her eyebrows and checked the guy out. She knew she definitely shouldn't think this about a Serpent, but he was undeniably attractive, his dark eyes shadowed in the dusky room, raven hair pushed messily out of his face, a snake tattoo stamped on the side of his neck. "I'm over being half a Serpent."

"Wow." The guy scoffed, shaking his head and stepping further into the light, the deep purple bruise around his eye only just made visible. "You'll do anything to protect your Northside buddies." He glanced once more at the girl stood next to Jughead before shouldering his way past them, rounding the pool table, attempting to ignore that a Northside girl was both here, and definitely pretty - he hates them, and she probably already hates him too. That's what he told himself, anyway.

"My father was a Serpent. He led you. I want to stand with you guys." Jughead looked around the room, Aria following his movement, when her eyes landed on Toni, who shot her a small smile. "Tall Boy was the one who gave me this jacket, it's finally time I start wearing it." The girl raised her eyebrows at the name 'Tall Boy' - these guys were clearly creative with their names.