Sweets [Sweet Pea]

VIII

"Where to?" Sweet Pea asked Cindy as he started the truck. Cindy scanned the items on her list. "The furniture store." she replied.

The two ran errands, and Cindy managed to pick up the home goods she needed. Sweet Pea followed her around the store, fascinated by her. As the cashier rung her up, Sweet Pea caught sight of the amount due: $1540.83. Sweet Pea looked at the girl as she swiped her card, surprised that the purchase went through. Some workers helped load the items into the truck, and the two teenagers threw some bags inside the truck.

"So, you're upper class?" Sweet Pea asked Cindy.

"Something like that" Cindy replied, not wanting to show him how uncomfortable she was by the question. She turned to look at the raven-haired boy directly.

"So, do you know of any places we can eat lunch at?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Sweet Pea asked her, a smirk growing on his face as he saw the discomfort on the girl's face.

"No, I'm asking because I'm hungry" Cindy answered. "Plus, I have an irrational case of being hangry, and you won't want to deal with that."

"Trust me, you're easy to handle" Sweet Pea retorted as he started the car. "I know of a diner."

-

The two arrived at Pop's Choc' Lit Shoppe. Cindy hopped out of the truck and scanned the outside of the diner.

"This seems like the only place alive in this town," Cindy remarked, loud enough for Sweet Pea to hear.

"I thought the Southside was alive enough," he said as the two walked up to the door. Sweet Pea held the door open, causing a bell to ring. Cindy steps inside and scans the diner from the inside. A multitude of booths were displayed, the seats mostly covered in red. Neon signs covered the walls, and a jukebox was playing music. Sweet Pea took Cindy by her elbow and walked her to a booth on their right. They slid into the booth, the two sitting on either side of it.

"You've impressed me so far" Cindy addresses, causing Sweet Pea to make eye contact with her.

"Glad I have."

Pop walked up to the two, and proceeded to introduce himself to Cindy.

"You're not from here, are you?" Pop asked.

"No, I'm from California" Cindy replied. He nodded his head. Pop took their order, which consisted of 2 burgers, 2 orders of fries, and a strawberry milkshake.

"Can I get a glass of water? Add a slice of lemon with it please." Cindy ordered. Sweet Pea laughed and proceeded to take out his wallet, handing Pop some cash. "It's on me," Sweet Pea said.

Pop left the two, and Cindy was quick to complain.

"I could have paid for myself" Cindy hissed.

Sweet Pea fixed his posture in the booth. "Well, I thought I would try to do something nice."

Cindy let out a sigh, and the two sat in silence until their food came.

"So, your FP's daughter?" Sweet Pea questioned, his curiosity finally kicking in.

"Yeah, which makes me half-siblings with Jughead" Cindy answered, plopping some fries in her mouth. Sweet Pea let out a small laugh. "I hope you're not like your brother."

Cindy raised her eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"He has our protection, since FP is his son. He's Serpent royalty, just like you. But what does he do? Take all that shit for granted and hangs out with his buddies on the Northside, who practically give us shit for everything. He's a half Serpent, plain and simple." Sweet Pea rants.