When Crossing The Tracks-Sweet Pea

21

"Hey" I smiled shyly as I walked up to Sweet Pea, Toni and Fangs "Good morning" Fangs said "Good morning indeed huh" Toni nudged me "Hey princess" Sweet Pea said as he put an arm around my shoulders, kissing my lips "Aww" Toni said "Shut it, Topaz" Sweet Pea warned and she put up her hands in defense, laughing "C'mon love birds, politics are awaiting" she said and we made out way to the student hall room "Is it just me or you're getting an extra lot of stares today" Toni said to me "Must be the giant Serpent wrapped around her" Fangs said and Sweet Pea shoved him, chuckling. I laced my fingers with his, his arm lazily dropped over my shoulder still "Yeah, probably. Heard there was a fight yesterday" Toni said "Andrews was asking for it" Sweet Pea said "I'm sure he did" Toni laughed "You should've seen this guy, he was going nuts" Fangs laughed "Can we forget about it please" I sighed and we sat down "This better be good" Sweet Pea said "Lila" I heard and turned around to see Reggie call my name "Uh..." I said, glancing at Sweet Pea "Go" he rolled his eyes "I'll be back one second" I said and ran off "Hey, Reg, what's wrong?" I asked "What's wrong? What's wrong is you hanging out with those South Siders. I hope it's not true what I heard" he said "What did you hear?" I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest "Come on Lila, you can do better than that scum" he said and I scoffed "Get your head out of your ass, Reggie" I said, turning my back at him and walking away, sitting down next to Sweet Pea who was smirking "Uh oh" I said as I saw my mom in the door, talking to Mrs. Cooper "What?" Toni asked "It's my mom she said she won't be able to come I...oh no" I whispered to her "She doesn't know about Sweet Pea does she?" she said "Lila" I heard my mom call out and I winced "And I got my answer " she sighed "Mom" I said "Come here" she said and I sighed, standing up and alking over to her "What are you doing sitting with those Serpents?" she whispered "Mom, it's fine. We're friends and we're here to support Jughead and Betty" I said "FP's son? I can't believe this" she said "My my, I heard the rumor but never saw the bird, hello Lisa Baker" FP said as he walked up to us "Forsythe Pendleton Jones" mom said with venom dripping from her voice, making FP chuckle "Still as ravishing as I remember" FP said and I furrowed my eyebrows confused "Your empty compliments don't flatter me" mom said "You've changed, Lisa Baker" he said, pointing a finger at her "Unlike you" mom said "Wait, you know FP?" I asked "Your mom and I go way back, don't we Lisa" FP chuckled "It's outdated history" she responded "Call it what you want. Good to see you, Lila" FP said and left to sit down "Mom, what? Why didn't you tell me you and FP were friends" I said "Friends? Oh no, no way" she scoffed "Well it seemed to me that he knows you very well" I said "Lila this is not about me" she said "You should take a seat, it should start soon" I said "This discussion is not over" she said and I sat back down next to Sweet Pea "Yikes" Toni said "Double Yikes. Mom and FP know each other" I said "Really?" Sweet Pea asked, putting an arm around my shoulders "Yeah, I had no idea" I said "Well...." Toni said "Well?" I asked "She doesn't really fit the South Side scene" she said and I looked down "May I get your attention, please" Alice Cooper said and the party started but I wasn't too interested in in to be honest so I mostly scrolled through social media.

As soon as I got home after school tho, my mom didn't spare me "Lila-Rose Alvez, I will not allow you to have such an entourage like the Serpents! It's a gang for crying out loud" she said "Mom! They're fine, we're friends" I rolled my eyes "No, Lila. You don't know them" she said "And you do?" I asked "You're being smart now?" she asked "I'm just curious, you seem to have such a strong opinion on them yet you claim to never have any sort of contact with them" I said and she sighed "So what's the truth then?" I asked "Listen. When I was young, I got caught up with the Serpents, just like you" she confessed "What about FP?" I asked "We dated at one point" she said "I thought he was with Betty's mom" I said "FP Jones was a douchebag, he was with every girl" she rolled her eyes "So you were a Serpent?" I asked "God no, but he vouched for me" she said "He...vouched for you?" I asked confused "It means he was responsible for me, they took me in without actually becoming a Serpent. But it was complicated and that's why I don't want you hanging with them, Lila" she said "You can't forbid me from hanging out with my friends" I said "Look at this town. With everything that's going on, you could be in danger" she said "I'm not in danger and besides, they're fighting for the right cause" I said "Fine then" she said and walked out of my room