Strawberry. [J.J]

54.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
"Let's hope it ends with Chic in jail."

Tw: sexual assault.

Marley was sitting at the back of the classroom, sketching while the Serpents had their meeting.

"You promised us a war. Then you're on stage looking like Buddy Holly, sucking up to the Northside?" Sweatpea said and Marley just popped her gum and Jughead sighed.

"We need their votes, Sweet Pea." Jughead said, he was absolutely exhausted. 

"It's the only way that we can affect any change. Whoever's elected gets a seat on the School Board. That means we're on the inside, that means that they can't silence us," Jughead explained and Fangs scoffed.

"You and the Northside princess, you mean?" Fangs said and Marley looked up from her sketch book to see all the Serpents looking at her.

"Wait, is that why you guys are pissed? Marley is on our side," Jughead said and Marley nodded in agreement.

"I've helped the Serpents on numerous occasions. I helped find the Pickens statue's head, I got Cheryl to testify in court so FP, your king, could get early parole," Marley said trying to justify herself.

"You did all that for your boyfriend, not the Serpents," Sweatpea said and Marley scoffed.

"Yeah, and guess what Sweatpea? You reaped the benefits. Almost everything I've done for Jughead has helped you and the rest of the Serpents in some way. So don't you dare act-" Marley said beginning to get angry before Jughead interrupted her.

"All right! Enough!" Jughead said stopping them from getting at each other's throats.

"What, it's only a matter of time before she bails on us, just like her aunt did," Sweatpea said and Marley scoffed.

"Okay, so your objections aren't even about me, they're about my aunt," Marley said and Sweatpea nodded.

"Yes. She erased her history with the Southside and doesn't even defend us when we are getting blamed for crimes she knows that we didn't commit." Sweatpea said and Marley chuckled in disbelief.

"And that's my fault?!" Marley asked and Sweatpea looked at Jughead.

"Running with her niece is a slap in the face.
And for that reason alone, you're not getting the Serpent vote," Sweatpea said and there was a long silence before Marley spoke.

"The only reason you're not going to vote for Jug is because of me?" Marley asked and the Serpents nodded apart from Fangs and Toni.

"Fine. I withdraw from being Jughead's running mate," Marley said and Jughead shook his head.

"No. Marley you aren't withdrawing from anything." Jughead said before looking at the Serpents.

"Marley defends you guys, even when you aren't around. She stood in the rain with nothing but a denim jacket and chained herself to a school she didn't even go to, for you guys. Look, you can either vote for me, or you can vote for Veronica or Reggie. Neither of them give half the shit Marley and I give about you." Jughead said before looking at Marley and nodding the the door.

————

Marley and Jughead were sitting in Marley's bedroom. Betty was at cheerleading practice and was going to meet Marley at her house when she's done.

"What does Sweetpea want from me? What will it take for them to accept me, Jug? I already wear fucking plaid. Do I need to get a leather jacket? Or a snake tattoo? Fucking pink highlights?" Marley asked and Jughead sighed.