When Crossing The Tracks-Sweet Pea

39

I sighed and walked up to Sweet Pea "Where the hell is he going now?" Sweet Pea yelled "Sweet Pea, you need to calm down" I said and put a hand on his arm but he shrugged it off "How the hell am I supposed to calm down?" he screamed at me "Please, Sweet Pea" I pleaded and he clenched his jaw, sighing furiously. He stormed to the back and I quickly followed him "Sweets" I said, watching him lean with his hands against the wall "Fangs got shot! Those fucking scumbag Ghoulies are back and demanding blood! And you just want me to sit here and do nothing?" he yelled, looking at me with angry eyes "I know you're hurting" I said "I'm angry!" I said "I know that" I said and cupped his cheeks "I'm so sorry Fangs got shot, he didn't deserve it. None of you deserve to have South Side taken from you. But I promise everything will be fine, you'll have your revenge and justice will be served. But right now I need you to not loose your head" I whispered and he sighed, closing his eyes as his jaw and shoulders relaxed "I'm here for you, we'll do it together I promise" I said. He wrapped his arms around me, bringing me flush against his chest in his strong embrace, hiding his face in the crook of my neck. I sighed when he let out a small sob. I ran a hand through his hair as the other one rubbed his back. He would never admit it but he's in so much pain, he's scared I know it. "I'm sorry. I should've....you could've gotten hurt in that fight at the station or at school or with the riot on the streets. I didn't even think of you, I just went head first and let my anger overcome me" he said "It's fine, I didn't get hurt" I said "But you could've! That's the point! And I promised I'll take care of you" he said "Sweets, look at me" I said and he did "I'm fine, I'm here now" I said and he nodded, leaning his forehead against mine "God, I love you. So fucking much, Lila" he said "I love you too" I said, kissing me and when he did, he did it in the most slow, passionate and meaningful way he ever did "Alright" he cleared his throat and adjusted his jacket "I need a drink" he said and put an arm around me, walking us back. I was waiting on nails for Jughead to return, the longer he was gone, the harder it became to reason with the Serpents "It's time we end the Ghoulie scourge and that traitor Penny Peabody" Vic said "You can't just go to war over territory you don't even control anymore" I said "What do you know, North Sider? You think just cause you opened your legs for him, you're all of a sudden one of us?" he spat at me "What the hell did you say to her?" Sweet Pea said, standing up from his chair "We can't just hand over our home to those drug dealer low lives!" Jesus yelled "Hiram Lodge's hand is in this! The Ghoulies and Peabody are working with him, I'd bet on my life" I said and he scoffed "I'm not scared of them, or Hiram Lodge. Come what may" Jesus said and I shook my head "It's a suicide-run! Look at the bigger picture" I said "Like Jesus said, your words mean nothing. A suicide-run is better than a coward's death" Vic said "It's not called being a cowards it's called being smart, you idiot" I said and he punched the table "Don't think that you can come here and order us, Serpents around" he said "If you don't listen to me right now, the Serpents will fall to their knees at the hands of Hiram Lodge. You need to stay put until Mr. Jones gets here" I said "Vic, enough" FP's voice boomed through the bar as he walked in, followed by Jug, Toni and Cheryl "You're okay, on my God" I said and hugged Toni and then Cheryl "Betty told me, you were very strong Cheryl" I said and she smiled. FP cleared his throat and Cheryl stepped aside "You did good, kid" FP whispered as he leaned down, putting a hand on my head "You tell that father of yours, Luke, that he raised a good daughter" he said before he moved to the center of attention. He knows my dad? "I got a call from the sheriff's office, Fangs...he didn't make it, he's gone" FP announced. They put up to vote and decided to get their revenge on the Ghoulies. "Now, anyone have a problem with her?" FP spoke up, pointing to me "Now's the time" he added "I just don't get it why she's acting like she belongs with us, giving out orders and telling us what to do" Vic said "Because I said so! She's done enough for us to be proven trustful. You may not know about every detail but in the end it's me who has to. And what I say goes and I say she's one of us" FP said, glaring at the younger Serpent. FP and Jughead left first "I'll go get what I can" Toni spoke up and Sweet Pea nodded. She and Cheryl left and I turned to Sweet Pea but before I could say anything, my phone rang "Betty" I answered "We got him, my dad. He confessed to everything" she said "Oh thank God" I sighed in relief "The police should be here any minute" she said "I'll come too, as soon as I can" I said "Okay" she said and I hung up "What's going on?" Sweet Pea asked "We caught the Black Hood" I said "I can't believe you still went against my words" he sighed "You do it all the time" I said and he let out a small chuckle "I'm proud of you, really. And I'm glad you didn't get hurt but from now on, no more secrets" he warned "I promise" I said and he kissed me "I have to go, I'll call you later" I said and rushed off to Betty's house just in time to see her dad being escorted out by Keller "Hey" I said as I walked up to Archie and Betty "He tried to shoot my dad again" Archie said "What's going on?" I asked "I was just telling Betty, the Black Hood just tried to kill my dad again, like an hour ago" Archie said "Wait, no that's impossible. He was here, with us" Betty said "Betty, why would I lie?" Archie said "His leg. I shot the Black Hood in the thigh when he tried to shoot me on the street. If Cheryl wounded your dad, who was the guy I shot?" I asked "Dad's leg was fine" Betty said "He was fine when he attacked us but he took off before I could even get a look under the hood" Archie said "Could've it been then when he saw me on the street?" I asked and Betty's phone rang. She picked up and stepped away "So if it wasn't Betty's dad...who was the guy in the hood that attacked us?" I asked, looking at Archie "I have no idea" he said. I quickly grabbed my phone from my pocket "What are you doing?" Archie said "My mom, she's not in Riverdale she said she's going on a cruise with....with William and that she'll call me as soon as she can but she only texted me 'Hey love, the cruise started and I don't know if I'll have signal over the ocean. Call you when I can'. I didn't give it too much thought when I first read it but now that I'm reading it again, it doesn't sound like her at all. She doesn't call me love she calls me honey and she always tells me to be safe. And ever since she figured out she can use emojies, she doesn't stop. This is way too blank" I said and dialed her number "Mom!" I said as soon as she picked up "Not quite" William answered instead. My breath hitched as I heard his voice "Where's my mom you sick bastard?" I asked.